katie.lacy@letsgetcoffee.co.uk, Author at Modish Living

Amazing coffee tables with storage to celebrate Lazy Mom Day

Come Lazy Mom Day on 7th September, every mum should have their feet up and their entire day spent recharging their batteries.

This, of course, means one thing – a suitable space to put their feet up and enjoy the day lazing about catching up on reading, social media and whatever else the mum in your life likes to do.

If you haven’t got one already, maybe for Lazy Mom Day you should consider investing in an important piece of rustic furniture – a rustic coffee table. But, this time, one with an addition that makes it incredibly popular. Our reclaimed wood coffee table range with storage is literally flying out of the door. But, just why is it so popular? And why are these types of coffee table perfect for Lazy Mom Day?

Coffee tables with storage – the inside story

There are many reasons why this kind of coffee table is popular;

Functional

Every piece of rustic furniture in our home needs to tick more than just one box. In other words, it needs to be functional and practical as well as looking great with your existing décor.

The rustic coffee table with storage is universally functional. It suits almost every home and it is deceptively simple, but stylish too.

Size and dimension

A coffee table needs to ‘fit’ the space in which it sits. It should neither be too large nor too small but there is another dimension to consider within a coffee table with storage: depth.

A wooden storage chest can offer a depth of storage that is perfect in some living rooms, whilst in others, the slightly shallower depths of the rustic coffee table may suffice. Which would you opt for? If you’re not convinced by either, then the simple yet elegant mark of the wooden blanket box is another beautiful option – especially if crafting is a hobby – you can store all you need within your ‘coffee table’ if you choose one of these.

Versatile

Any room or any space will benefit from the addition of a coffee table with storage. Consider putting one in the hallway that will double up as a telephone table, or use one or two in the bedroom as a replacement for a bedside table – ideal if you have a low bed.

Longevity

And finally, there is a longevity to the rustic coffee table with storage that makes it such a popular choice. Built to last, and to be well-used, with that use only adding to their charm, it’s no wonder that they are becoming ever more popular in the home, and not just in the living room. Durable and sturdy, they’ll last for years of drawer opening and closing, whether you’re looking for keys in the hallway, or getting out reading glasses for a much-needed book break.

So, wherever mom wants to be ‘lazy’ (and let’s face it, she never is) why not consider looking at bringing a coffee table with storage into any room she likes to relax in – and why not bring her a nice coffee to go with it while she puts her feet up too!

Why every house should have a foot stool

An adaptable, functional and versatile piece of furniture, the worth of the footstool in the modern home is not to be undervalued nor mocked. It is an item that you will wonder how you lived without it by your leather armchair but how do you choose a footstool that is the perfect addition, one that mixes both style and function?

It can be done, and here’s how:

1 Consider all of its uses

The footstool isn’t just for tired and aching feet – it can also act as an impromptu seat for when there are many guests and visitors. It could technically become an occasional coffee table as well as a platform for magazines, newspapers, books and the like.

In this case, a footstool with storage would be the ideal solution. As well as a padded top for your aching feet, this rather delicious brown leather footstool is perfect for hiding away clutter when unexpected guests call or for storage of various items including living room toys, magazines and books.

2 Choose the fabric wisely

There are some fantastic examples of upholstered footstools on the market and this makes sense. Luxurious and soft, they make the ideal space for your aching feet.

BUT, fabric may not be as hardy as you want with coffee stains lasting for eternity, spilt tea and juice, sticky marks and fingers and build up on the fabric surface. All these ca leave you with a footstool that looks and feels jaded before its time.

Create a cohesive leather sofa set, for example, by opting for a matching brown leather footstool. Or, opt for another material completely such as a reclaimed wood coffee table-cum-footstool.

The ideal means of choosing the right material is not just style and budget, but where in your home the footstool will be used;

*Living room – opt for a luxurious looking and feeling footstool, such as plush leather footstool that sits well alongside armchair and sofa.

*Hallway – yes, a footstool works in the hallway too, especially one that acts as a hallway storage unit and occasional stool. It is one of the great small hallway ideas if ever there was one.

*Toy store – a footstool also works well in the bedroom and the playroom, as well as any area of the home in which toys needs to be stored or other items. In this case, and the hallway, choose a material that is robust and easy to keep clean.

3 Matching styles

The footstool doesn’t have to stand out unless you want it to. We think choosing a footstool that is in harmony with its surroundings makes sense.

For example, choose a sofa or small armchair from the fabulous Triumph or Spitfire ranges, and you’ll find a matching footstool to go with both. Or, if you are opting for a certain style, such as the rustic appeal, you’ll be looking for a material that sits well alongside the key elements, whether it is in the hallway or the lounge.

And so, with this in mind, this rather fabulous rattan storage stool with an upholstered top would make the ideal addition to the living room or even the bedroom or any space where you are welcoming the rustic feel.

From a coffee table with storage to a luxurious leather footstool for your aching, tired feet, success is guaranteed when it comes to choosing the right one if you follow the three key elements set out above.

How to decorate your home office like a pro

Working from home is something more and more of us are opting to do. And no wonder – the combination of working and home life can be balanced, although sometimes the scales drop in favour of one or the other.

But clearly, creating a space that is ‘the office’ is somewhat essential. But getting it right can be harder said than done.

Start with… THE DESK

Whether you are sat at a desk typing or making phone calls or need a space to do your paperwork every now and then, the desk is an essential piece of kit in the home office.

But a one-size-fits-all approach to a home office desk is not the right approach because what suits you, won’t suit another home worker. And what fits in your allotted workspace may not fit into another.

And so, when it comes to a customised industrial desk choose one that meets YOUR needs and the DIMENSIONS of your office.

But consider… THE LIGHT

We can often be driven by the shape and size of the room to place the desk in a spot where it means we are working in shadow.

Ber very conscious of where natural light is – you want plenty of it but not satin harsh, glaring sunlight for part of the day – and what ambient light you will need to add to make it a workable space.

Be conscious of… STYLE & FUNCTION

If you welcome clients into your home office, you need to be extra conscious of the impressions the home office leaves on them. And that means getting clever with;

·Storage and organisation – the chaos of piles of papers and documents may not be the impression you want to convey but (here’s the great news!), metal filing cabinets, irksome and awkward in shape and size, are no longer the only option. Opt for reclaimed wood furniture that doubles as hand storage in the office, complete all the warmth, style, and the beauty of wood.

·Seating – as well as your own ergonomic desk chair, you will want seating for your clients. Make sure you have plenty if you expect groups of people to call in or for smaller, 1-2-1 sessions choose an informal but comfy modern armchair.

Spend time… ON STYLE

Décor is important. It stimulates as much as it soothes, whilst allowing for function and form in the home office.

The small touches matter just as much as when you work on your own as when you share the space or when you have clients or visitors in your office.

Small touches can be anything from plants to a reclaimed wood coffee table with storage because can we ever have too much storage in the office?

Don’t forget… OPEN SHELVING

Books, sculptures and other items on display can be the perfect foil in the business meeting setting. There is a saying within interior design relating to commercial or business spaces – and certainly when designing the industrial style office – and that is personality, not personal.

So yes, add quirkiness and character but without adding the family portraits and the cute photos of the dog. Why not opt for an industrial shelving for those ‘bits and bobs’ or to showcase your work that adds character? Or opt for a stylish bookcase, for example, that is a talking point in itself…

The home office should be anything but boring – how do you plan on styling yours?

Update the home office to get the best from your work space

Quinton Reclaimed Wood Desk and Bookcase

We think of the office as a formal place of work which, for most of us it has been for a long, long time. But in recent years, designers have shown us another way.

It doesn’t have to be functional metal filing cabinets, monstrosities that graced many an office over the years. It doesn’t have to be an office desk, devoid of all character and detail.

In other words, it doesn’t have to be dull and functional. The home office can be beautiful and functional without compromising on style with reclaimed oak furniture, and all the right accessories.

So ditch the whiteboards and the filing cabinets, ditch the expanse of desk and miles of shelves, bereft of any character or personal bits and bobs.

The home office is about to undergo a Modish Living renovation.

What the home office means to YOU

Before we fire full steam ahead into creating the perfect home office, we need to ask the important question: how will you use it?

Just as we ask this question before we style a new kitchen or create the perfect family dining room, you need to be clear how you will use the space, for the answer to this question informs the best choice of home office furniture.

Are you a student? Is this your main place of work? Will it be the space where your kids do their homework? What tech do you have? How do you work – on a PC or stood at a desk, designing, sketching and drawing?

You see, we don’t all work the same thus the home office shouldn’t all be designed the same.

The home office desk landscape

It is, perhaps, the most important piece of home office furniture. And that means, getting the right home office desk, whether a wide or narrow desk, should be your priority.

Before you consider storage, consider dimensions. You may have space for a huge home office desk but do you need such a vast table?

Consider bespoke home office desk options for when you a. need lots and lots of work space and/or b. when you have limited space to work with.

Keep it stylish

Not everyone has the gift of a spare room to convert to an office and so, a smaller corner of the living room or dining room becomes the workspace.

It can work but in terms of style, choosing a desk that is functional but uber-beautiful and in keeping with its surroundings is essential. This simply designed home office desk, for example, is understated but functional, perfect for the minimal or even the rustic styled space.

Stylish storage

Storage is also essential in any office but again, it seems that for too long we assume that the only option was a filing cabinet and that the office had to be completely devoid of anything pretty or personal.

Those days are gone – hurrah! – and so you have a whole range of options before your very eyes. Choose from sideboards to display and shelving units to elegant bookcases.

And accessorise to your heart’s content. Beautiful sculptures mixing with books and files, offset with the glamour of standing floor lamps and tabletop lamps, dressed with mirrors are diving.

In fact, the home office will become a place you will WANT to work…

Create a successful office that suits your business

If you take a quick look at business offices online, you’ll notice that they have a lot in common; they’re streamlined and clean, sometimes perhaps verging on clinical. A great first impression is vital when it comes to a long-standing relationship with clients.

But to achieve that, you don’t have to go with bright white office furniture which seems devoid of all personality. Making a statement with colour and quirky furniture, especially if your business presents itself as fresh and modern, may be just as effective when it comes to first impressions.

We’ve recently expanded our aircraft inspired Aviator range, which we think is absolutely perfect if you’re looking for industrial style furniture with wow-factor which is still tremendously practical.

Desk Space

Arguably, having enough space to work at is the most important thing when it comes to furnishing an office. These days, there are plenty of ways of doing it.

Of course, you can opt for a standard single-desk arrangement (these Aviator Half Wing Desks would look incredible lining each side of an office in a smaller company). However, this is potentially an expensive way of doing things if you need to buy a lot of desks.

At Modish Living, we’re big fans of the community culture which a conference table inspires. Something like the Aviator boardroom table is absolutely perfect to sit lots of staff around (particularly great if you operate a hot desk system). If you need to sit a lot of people, you could even push two of these tables together to create a great team working atmosphere.

Seating

The new brass colour available in the Aviator collection is stunning when paired with leather. The warmth in the metal is really brought out by the rich colour of brown leather and makes for a truly spectacular pairing.

A comfortable leather office chair is great for creating a stylish space which is also uber practical. After all, there’s nothing worse than spending 8 hours sat on the world’s most uncomfortable chair!

However, additionally, if you often have clients popping in for a chat, a small seating area is a great idea; a couple of the brown leather armchairs look fantastically impressive and they are wonderfully comfortable. Perhaps you could even pair with the Aviator Coffee Table to create a snug area in your office where you can converse with clients over a cup of tea and a biscuit or two.

The industrial furniture collection also looks fantastic as home office furniture, creating an inspiring workspace you won’t mind being in for many hours at a time. Paired with more traditional furniture pieces, one or two items from the Aviator collection is set to become a fantastic centrepiece.

Creating the Look

When it comes to decorating an office, it’s important you consider the image you want to create when anyone walks through the door. With pieces as statement as the Aviator collection, you may wish to keep it simple with the rest of the space; think wooden flooring, soft grey walls and minimal decorations.

Alternatively, to really amp up the industrial styling, a faux brick on one wall of your office would look fantastic. Perhaps you could even add those industrial lights which spell out the name of your company along the wall or add a collection of unique, second-hand mirrors to create a stunning feature.
What do you think of our stunning new Vintage Jet Brass pieces?

A simple care guide for your leather and reclaimed furniture

Natural materials are hardy – leather can withstand all kinds of rambunctious play and reclaimed wood has already lived longer than most of us and had a long, long story to tell – but every now and then, they need tender, loving care.

Although robust, treated well and with more than a little care and thought, they will age even more gracefully and beautifully.

The beauty of reclaimed wood

Whether it is English beams from ancient lofts or discarded fishing junk from the other side of the world, most of the wood we use is reclaimed and of the best quality.

Woods such as oak have a dense structure and that means they age beautifully but unlike MDF and other timbers, they don’t always welcome a hot cup of coffee on the surface…

·Wipe up spills as soon as they happen

·Clean the whole item each time, rather than small patches or you’ll find different colours and patinas in one area to the other

·Furniture polish gradually builds on the surface so use a damp cloth to wipe the surface instead

·Use coasters and mats

·Don’t allow it to sit in full sun for days, weeks and months on end

·Always lift your furniture, never drag it across the floor

Nourish it

Nourishing it your reclaimed furniture, whether a reclaimed dining table or sideboard is about loving it and using it, but also about adding a little something to it – in this case, waxing it.

Buy a high-quality waxing product – we suggest Mylands Wax, a British wax that works well on our reclaimed wood furniture. Use a clear wax if you want to avoid adding a darker shade to it.

Follow the instructions but they are simple enough – use an old rag and apply the wax generously making sure it gets in all the crevices and the cracks. Rub it along the grain and leave it for half an hour.

With a fresh rag, remove the excess wax and buff it. Now sit back, admire it and fall even deeper in love with it.

Sideboards, a reclaimed dining table, coffee tables and our reclaimed wood bookcases and display units would love a little waxing every now and then.

How often should you wax? Regularly but don’t overdo it. In the first three months you have the furniture, wax it monthly and then alternate months after this.

Leather care

Leather is a cool to the touch material that is deliciously robust, and one reason why investing in a brown leather sofa or armchair is a great move.

But it too needs a little help;

·Gently vacuum leather furniture on a regular basis and flick a duster over it too

·Place the leather sofa or armchair in the right place – that is, away from stark sunlight and radiators, and not too close to the drying heat of the open fire or log burner

·Sunlight fades it, discolours it and cracks the leather too – as does moonlight, so take care placing it in the window

·Treat it with respect! Sit on the seat, not the arms!

·Dyed clothing can rub against the leather leaving a slight mark or staining

·Your aniline leather sofa and armchairs are not standard, so standard cleaning products and polishes don’t cut the mustard – opt for conditioning treatments specifically for leather!

5 Useful tips on measuring the space in your home

When something comes flat-packed, it often isn’t an issue to get the item into the home, through the doors and into its final resting spot. It may mean carrying it in bits, however!

With items of furniture that come readymade, there can be an issue. For example, the large headboard of a bed, a delightful piece of reclaimed wood, beautifully styled and finished may not fit up the stairs if you have a low ceiling height in the hallway.

Or maybe the turn in your stair means getting anything larger than the vacuum up and around the corner is nigh-on impossible.

And then when you do get the item through the front door, getting it into the living room or the kitchen proves problematic because there just isn’t the space…

When ordering readymade, reclaimed wood furniture, we suggest you do the following;

1.Measure the entry doors to your home

Whether that is the front or back door, making sure that the item will fit through the door is important. Measure width as well as height, making note of steps and lips, as well as other issues that could impact on the moving of items into your home.

Items may be readymade but they often arrive in separate component pieces, especially rustic furniture such as the rustic dining table that will need its legs attaching to the table top. But still, the bigger the table top…

Of course, if you have patio or bi-folding doors and we can access them through the garden, it shouldn’t be an issue.

2.The staircase

The staircase in any home can present a challenge when getting items up and into the bedrooms, whether the modern bedroom furniture or rustic bed, or double wardrobe.

For example, the headboards of many of our beds are large and inflexible. Thus, there needs to be the head height to manoeuvre it safely from the ground floor.

With the stairs, take note of its shape and measure the width of the staircase and the height too, important if you have an overhang of the floor above.

Beds require some assembly but the chest of drawers from most of our collections are completely assembled prior to delivery.

3.The kitchen

Access to the kitchen can be easy, depending on its location to the door we are using to bring the furniture in.

But don’t forget, if you have fixed wall and floor kitchen cabinets, manoeuvring pieces into or through the space can be difficult. Some of our items come ready-made, such as the sideboards.

Assembly of items is rarely difficult or problematic. We offer free assembly on items from our Beam Collection simply because items are much heavier to handle.

4.The dining room

Again, access can be an issue so measure the doorway – height and width – and note the position of any other features or items that are immovable. Most pieces come partly pre-assembled with just the legs needing to be adding to large sideboards and so on.

5.The Living room

It’s a similar story in the living room, with sofas arriving without their legs or castors, ready for assembly.

But remember, any sofa, whether it is a two-seater or a three-seater, is not an object that bends! Thus, to get your plush velvet sofa into position, we will need space in the hallway to manoeuvre it into the room.

Measure the hallway, as well as the doorway height and width. Are you confident the items you order will fit through the door?

Which is the desk that will fit your home office?

A stylish office and workspace can be the stimulation that we need to reach our work goals. For those of us that spend several hours a week sat at a desk, doing so at what that is both stylish and ergonomic is a critical factor in our choice.

And so we took to Houzz and Instagram, polling our followers on which choice they preferred for their home office furniture – the industrial desk or the traditional style desk.

We gave two choices – the ever-popular Oldman desk as the industrial option or the pedestal, traditional styled Colette writing desk.

We Asked, You Answered

The Oldman desk has always been popular and this popularity shows no sign of waning hence. Although the traditional Colette writing desk gathered a cluster of votes, it was not enough. The industrial style Oldman desk, with its strikingly stunning simplicity, came out on top.

Is one better than the other?

As with most of our polls, it is a question of your likes and dislikes. There is rarely one item better than the other and this is certainly true in the case of the Oldman desk and the Colette writing desk.

However, there are a few things you need to consider;

Smaller home office? The Oldman could be the answer

There is no denying the beauty of the Colette reclaimed wood desk but if you don’t have much space, you may find it looms too large in the space, swamping it despite its beauty.

The Oldman industrial desk is perfect as the small office desk simply because it can be made to a custom size. And because it has the open frame, it doesn’t block the room either.

Want a little individuality? The Oldman desk could be the answer

As well as custom sizes, there are custom finishes too as you can specify the colour of the Oldman desk frame too. So if you want an individually styled desk why not opt for the Oldman?

Want to make a statement? The Colette home desk could be the answer

We understand that sometimes, you want to make a style statement by opting for a piece that has a presence in both its size and finish. The Colette writing desk is a piece of reclaimed wood furniture that is beyond exquisite. And because it is made from reclaimed wood, there is a uniqueness to each piece that makes each one a sheer delight for any home office.

Enjoy a comforting style in the home? The Colette writing desk is just one solution

For many us, it is the warmth and appeal of wood that attracts us to the traditional style. The Colette reclaimed wood desk is just one option of many in our range of desks that would meet your expectations. Perfect with a statement leather chair, the Colette writing desk is a thing of beauty and for comfort too.

Which is best – the industrial Oldman desk or the Colette writing desk?

Both offer an ergonomic platform from which to work in your home office. Both hold their own against a leather office chair and both work well with the latest tech that tends to sit atop the home office desk.

Both have a stunning beauty all of their own so your choice is a real tough one…

Stylish and Functional – The Amazing Options for Office Storage

Kingsbridge Reclaimed Wood Console Table

Whether you are a student of one of the many millions of people who enjoy working from home, a stylish, comfortable and practical home office is a must.

Creating a stylish home office is something we have looked at a few times but this time we want to take a look at storage and how storage units, like industrial shelving, can be used in other ways.

Far from basic

You have basic storage requirements but that doesn’t mean the bookcase or storage unit has to be basic.

What tends to happen is, despite spending hours of our time in the home office, we opt for items to ‘make do’. Up your home office game with pretty items that offer the best of both worlds.

The Mitcham bookcase industrial styled unit gives you everything from open shelves to cupboard space, perfect for when you have confidential stuff that needs hiding away but books and the like on display.

Limited space?

The smaller home office usually means we have to be at our creative best to make the best use of space but that doesn’t mean you have to limit your style.

Console tables with storage work really well in the smaller office, providing valuable store solutions such as the Rocco console storage table.

In fact, we think that an item like the console table is perfect for use as a divider in a room too. It is not uncommon for couples to work together in the same space, or even have the kids in there doing their homework whilst you continue to work.

A divider is great for giving a room, like the home office, a little more structure. And, of course, using something like a console table limits the floor space it takes up whilst giving you open shelving to display things too.

The Kingsbridge industrial console table is the perfect example of this with its symmetrical design and beautiful industrial appeal. Not everything on display in your office needs to be ‘work-related’.

Why not include stylish sculpture, over-sized table lamps and fresh flowers for heady scent?

Repurposed furniture

Don’t forget that just because a piece of reclaimed wood furniture is in the ‘living room’ section of the website or featured on the ‘dining room’ pages doesn’t mean it can’t be used in the home office…

·The Maddox reclaimed wood TV unit is perfect for a TV in the living room as it is for low-level storage in the home office. The top is perfect for a pair of heavy bookends and files, and the slender shelf perfect for hiding away those smaller items that we all seem to accumulate. The Raffles TV unit offers the same versatility in the home office.

·A sideboard is an underrated piece of home office furniture in our opinion. The perfect complement to the reclaimed wood desk, the dining room sideboard easily fits into a productive office space. The Chalfont industrial wood sideboard with both cupboards and three drawers is perfect or maybe the bookcase is more your thing.

What are your home office storage requirements?