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

How to transform your rustic dining table for an amazing Easter

Oak Dining Table and Velvet Chairs Set fo Easter

Do you take advantage of each ‘holiday’ by decorating your home? You don’t need to go all out. But decorating your reclaimed wood dining table with some gorgeous Spring decor will make a fun addition to your Easter Sunday roast dinner with friends or family.

Start with the table

A simple dining table with wooden dining chairs is a simple yet classic look. But when it comes to entertaining, it’s good to add some colour and interest.

Start with the basics of table setting. Whilst decorations look great, a dining table has to be, above all else, practical for eating at. Set the table with a few spring additions – perhaps place cards or decorative napkins? You could even mark each place with a chocolate bunny or egg if you fancy.

Then think about centrepieces. For something simple, you can pop together really quickly, use a large round vase and filling it with pastel coloured eggs. You can also do a version of this with a terrarium filled with flowers or eggs. A bunch of flowers is another simple option, but one which looks fabulous.

Go all out

If you have the space for a rustic console table, make the most of it. Even something as simple as a gorgeous bunch of daffodils will add a pop of colour to your dining room.

And if you want to add something extra – add a wreath to your front door. Most of us put a wreath on the door for Christmas but refrain from adding decoration the rest of the year. However, a simple Easter wreath is a great idea to make an impact before guests have even stepped foot in your home.

For something understated, a simple design made of foliage and a few flowers in spring colours look great. Alternatively, eggs are big business at Easter so why not make a wreath using twine and pastel coloured eggs for something a little more playful. If you’re looking for a rainy day activity with children, painting polystyrene or plastic eggs to create a wreath out of is a great idea.

How do you plan on transforming your dining room table this Easter?

How to renovate a garden for perfect outdoor entertaining

Renovating the garden is possibly one of the most rewarding projects you can undertake. These simple hints and tips work whether you are stripping out the whole garden to create the perfect outdoor patch, or whether you want to make one or two changes that improve how you use the space.

Step 1 – Get organised!

Before you start digging or laying a patio, you need to get organised and that means asking a few key questions about what you need and want from your renovated garden. How will plan on using it, for example, is a question that often lays unanswered.

If you plan on entertaining in it, you will need plenty of flexible space that allows you to use it for formal and informal entertaining. For example, a patio that can accommodate one of the many stylish outdoor dining sets makes sense.

For less formal dining, a café garden set is a great alternative but like all renovation projects, you need to be confident you have the space so that it doesn’t look too cluttered.

Step 2 – Planning your look

What style of garden attracts you most? Does a formal garden, complete with manicured lawn and flower borders attract you, or are you thinking of something less formal, more relaxed and meadow like?

The style is important because you don’t want it to jar against the interior of your home. And with a bigger choice of outdoor tables and chairs to choose from – just look at this industrial styled outdoor dining set, for example – there is no reason why you cannot marry the interior with the exterior – especially with the ranges of rustic outdoor furniture available.

Step 3 – Start from the ground up…

Like most other projects, when it comes to renovation we can become sidetracked by the ‘exciting stuff’, like choosing outdoor corner sofas and the like when in fact, we need to concentrate on getting the essentials right.

And that means starting from the ground up;

Lawns – adding a pleasing note of green, a lawn to stay looking green and lush needs care and attention. If you don’t have the time, why not consider an artificial lawn instead?
Hard landscaping – from patios to decking, there is a range of choice when it comes to hard garden ‘flooring’. Add interest by mixing materials, as well as a change in level. This also helps to zone areas, such as the reading zone and a dining area.

Step 4 – Practical additions

We are being encouraged to use our gardens more and this means renovating it to withstand the British weather. Canopies and fire bowls are just two additions that mean enjoying the garden in the rain is possible without getting wet or that you can enjoy cooler evenings, huddled around the hypnotic flames of a fire pit or bowl. What about a wooden ladder to offer some handy yet decorative storage space?

There are many other options too, but this means taking the biggest step of all…

Step 5 – … leaving it to the professionals

Small garden renovation projects can be perfect for long weekends in the spring or summer but when it comes to stripping out a garden and starting from scratch, getting in the professionals can make a difference between an ordinary and extraordinary garden…

How to choose your perfect kitchen bar stools

The perfect perch for everything from informal get-togethers to working on a high surface, the bar stool is a versatile piece of kit. But getting the perfect bar stool for you means understanding what you need…

Bar stool or kitchen bar stools?

First, you need to make sure you are looking at the right stool. In terms of definition, a bar stool is higher than the other. On a kitchen bar stool, you tend to use it to fully sit at the breakfast bar whereas a bar stool is taller, and perfect for perching on at a bar too.

Measure

And this means it is important to measure the minimum and maximum height you need from a bar stool. Buy ones too small, and your elbows will be holding you up on the bar, too tall and you will be towering over it.

Most island heights are between 52 and 78cm. Bar stools tend to be taller, starting at 74cm with the tallest being around 82cm.

Features

Now that you have the basics in place, you need to look at what features the bar stool offers;

Swivel – a bar stool that swivels can make getting on and off much easier. This is personal preference!

Adjustable – not all bar stools are adjustable and so if you choose one that isn’t, you need to be uber-confident you have your measurements spot on.
Back and/or feet rest – there are various styles of bar stool. A bar stool with a backrest can make sitting on them comfier for longer but there is no denying that a bar stool with a footrest offers the most comfort. Consider whether you want a bar stool with armrests too.

Material – from wooden bar stools to metal, to leather upholstered to fabric bar stools, there is a growing range of materials and fabrics to choose from. The metal leg structure is perfect if you are looking for an industrial style bar stool to your kitchen/diner. Wooden stools, including oak bar stools, are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture you will ever buy. They last a lifetime and longer.

Upholstered or not – the bar stool doesn’t have to be devoid of character. For easy-to-keep clean options, leather upholstered bar stools are a great move – especially in a room where there’s also a reclaimed wood dining table. For an extra sense of plushness, opt for fabric bar stools. For a lighter, less formal look rattan bar stools are a great alternative and look good at an inside and outside bar area too.

One final point…

There is no denying that a bar stool or two is the perfect additional detail and focal point to a room. But when it comes to the width of the stool, you need to choose with care. Anything with armrests tend to be slightly wider and so if you don’t have the width, they might look a bit squashed together.

To keep it looking cool and elegant, make sure you have plenty of width so that the bar stools aren’t bunched together.

A unique farmhouse table for a modern dining room

The farmhouse style is a popular choice. Easy to achieve, warm and homely, it is the top choice for any home, from a busy family pad to a stylish apartment. But if you think that this means harking back to traditional long-gone days, think again.

A farmhouse table, along with subtle accessories and detailing, is ideal for the modern dining room. But how do you seamlessly marry the farmhouse look with a modern, light airy feel?

The farmhouse table

Undoubtedly, when it comes to the kitchen/diner or dining room styled along farmhouse lines, it is the farmhouse table that is undoubtedly the centrepiece.

The Windsor oak extending farmhouse dining table has all the key elements needed to pull off the look. Large without being imposing, it is the satisfying chunkiness of the top and the detailed legwork that makes this the perfect solution.

If you want more than a hint of modern, then take a look at its same table with white legs. The colour may be neutral but in a modern dining room landscape, the white oak farmhouse table is a great option.

Tying it together

With any design scheme, it is the details that tie it all together, bringing a sense of cohesion to the whole dining room.

With the farmhouse style, this can be relatively easy to do, IF you know what you are looking for!

Worktop and tabletop – the farmhouse style is all about natural materials but especially wood. For a farmhouse kitchen, opting for wood worktops and cupboard doors is a great move, especially if you can marry them to the farmhouse table top. Choose lighter woods and the best quality for your budget too.
Matching sideboard – a sideboard in the dining room is an essential piece of furniture for storage. And matching this with the farmhouse table brings a sense of cohesion and style to the room. The Windsor large white painted sideboard will work with either the painted or non-painted version of the Windsor table.

Modern twists – on one hand, you want the room to flow in terms of its appeal and looks but everything too matching means a boring landscape. Introducing small twists is a way of avoiding this and with the dining room, there is no denying that modern dining chairs are a great addition. From soft-to-the-touch leather dining chairs to fabric upholstered dining chairs, there is an array of solutions that allow you to create a unique finish.

Other farmhouse details

The farmhouse kitchen is as much about function as it is about style. And so, accessories can be as simple as you like. From fresh flowers as the table centrepiece to a functional wool rug that acts as a carpeted island for your farmhouse table, keep the colours light and pastel for a true homage to the farmhouse style.

Its no surprise that the farmhouse style is popular – always warm and welcoming, it is the perfect style for any dining room.

Beautiful unique velvet sofas to fall in love with

If you want your sofa to be the crowning glory of a room, you need to a piece full of drama, colour and texture. But that doesn’t mean only opting for strong colours or imposing shapes.

Velvet is the answer. No longer seen as old-fashioned, a velvet sofa brings the subtle glamour to a space that everyone is looking for.

Grey is your friend

When it comes to colour, if you shy away from deep, dramatic tones and shades, then a light grey velvet Chesterfield sofa is the ideal solution. As a colour, grey can be the subtle undertone to a room and when you opt for grey velvet, you get the best of all worlds. Plush to the touch, draw the eye to the sofa with bright, printed cushions and of course, a throw elegantly draped over the arm won’t go amiss either.

Echo sofa and wall colours

The trick to using colour well in a room, irrespective of its dimensions, is to bring about cohesion. This doesn’t mean everything being matchy-matchy. But keep the same tone of the colour because by doing so, the visual effect pushes the boundary of the room further away without compromising on the cosy feel. This olive Padstow sofa, for example, would look just perfect in a room with darker, dramatic wall colour of a similar shade.

Cream delight

Not all colour statements have to dramatic in tone and depth something that is proved by this cream buttoned velvet sofa. Soft and subtle, there are not many living rooms that could cope with such a light upholstered item and it is this ‘daring’ that make this little number stand out. Plus, it works well in a modern or traditional style interior. Better still, it works with earthy colours and brassy tones or light cool blues and moody navy too.

Moody blues (and grey and black…)

Darker colours can be more practical and so when this overtakes your choices, you’ll be pleased to have plenty to choose from. If there is one colour that screams opulence, especially in velvet, it is a dark grey velvet sofa – complete with iconic Chesterfield design and shape. Opt for similar in midnight blue or navy and, of course, for superior-elegance-without-trying, there is nothing better than a velvet black sofa.

The Sideshow

Any sofa, no matter what colour or material, needs to be ‘framed’ in situ and that means collecting and detailing items for the sideshow.

Armchairs are usually commonplace as extra seating, framing the sofa perfectly. As well as velvet armchairs, you may want to consider adding pizzazz in the shape of leather armchairs too (or why not Harris tweed and leather?) an ideal contrast of the smooth and the plush.

As well as an armchair or two, a round side table is ideal for placing the sofa firmly at the centre of the eye and complete with a contemporary rug, you have the ideal finish to the room.

Who wouldn’t fall in love with a beautiful velvet sofa?

How to create this amazing look with a unique reclaimed wood dining table

Simple, elegant, fresh – just three words we would use to describe anything from the Cotswold collection. But this Cotswold reclaimed wood table is particularly pleasing.

There is a pleasant sturdiness and appeal to all this reclaimed furniture; not just to the table, but to the dining chairs and the reclaimed wood bench. But how do you stop it looking too blocky? How can you go on to re-create this look in your home? We show you how…

Neutral walls and shades

The first this with this pleasing rustic look is to think ‘natural and neutral’ – we’ll add detail later with accessories. Everything should support this theme and that means plenty of reclaimed wood furniture that has a character all of its own. Those blemishes and imperfections are not flaws, but the story of its past before it reached you.

The reclaimed wood Cotswold dining chairs are a must. With a padded seat, they are sold in pairs, thus you can add two ‘heads of the table seat’ and two other on one side, with the reclaimed wood bench opposite adding a strong note of ‘the rustic look’.

The extendable dining table is a must if you host dinner parties and fantastic family gatherings. Simply adding extra dining table space without effort, the extending table is a must.

Display and storage unit

Adding extra details starts with a supporting piece of furniture that doesn’t detract from the appeal of the table. The tall Cotswold display case with drawers and glazed doors is a must.

You can store all kinds of items in the glazed unit, from tall candle holders that would make a great centrepiece for the table, to rustic inspired accessories. Although everything about this style is natural and neutral, the addition of glass gives it the sumptuous feel that stops the ‘blocky’ feel to this look.

As in this dining room, soften the edges with pretty flowers and greenery as well as unfussy accessories such as that of the reclaimed wood framed mirror.

There are other sideboards available in this range but if you want to continue the rustic theme with a heavy dollop of the practical, there is no better choice than the Cotswold sideboard and wine storage rack. If you entertain regularly, you’ll know how some wines need to be stored to preserve their fruity and spicy notes and thus, this is the ideal piece for wine connoisseurs.

Soften corners

Wood is a warm material, both to touch and in visual appeal. But without a few soft touches here and there, it can look a little too bland.

Getting the balance between detail and fuss is tough but stick with the natural and neutral mantra, and you won’t go far wrong. You only catch a glimpse of the pleasant rug on the floor in this dining room but notice the slightly longer pile and the neutral colour.

If you don’t want a floor rug, for the bench consider adding a sheepskin rug for a soft underlayer for when guests dine and an extra layer of warmth in the depths of winter. It also makes a great addition to the rustic look dining room (or any room for that matter!).

With subtle hints of colour and detail, this rustic-inspired dining room with this beautiful dining table is a sheer delight. Would it suit your home?

How to uplift your indoors with colourful velvet sofas

With spring on the doorstep, now is the time to give your interior an uplift by adding a dash of colour. Thankfully, this doesn’t always mean reaching for the paintbrush. Why not take a look at a modern piece of furniture, like this Chesterfield velvet sofa, resplendent in colourful velvet?

Ditch the Black, Welcome Colour

Black is timeless and elegant, but this sofa comes in three additional colours –understated grey, shimmering fuchsia and the deeper tone of amethyst. Not sure how to style it out? We show you how…

Grey

Grey is a fantastic pop of colour to work with. Never overbearing, this colour can be dialled up or down, depending on the accessories and details you add.

The best way to do this is to pull out the blue-y tones of grey, adding coolness and romance to a space. As well as a cascade of colourful cushions – consider adding crisp white with different hues of blues and don’t forget a variety of cushion sizes too – add other detailing that ties it all together.

The lighter shades and muted tones of a Grey Hare canvas and the barely-there blue in the Louis de Poortere Mad Men Tribeca rug will add colour to an interior without it being over ostentatious. If you want colour but muted this is your colour scheme.

Fuchsia

The colour of roses, some people describe this, and they are not far off. The thing about fuchsia is it can be fun and flirty or understated and elegant, depending on the mix in which it sits.

Monochrome schemes are still hot for the modern interior this coming season and this makes the perfect backdrop against which the flirtiness of fuchsia can shine. If you want contemporary, as well as the black and white backdrop, you need a hint of the industrial.

The Ohio coffee table with its angular lines and corners works well against the softer curves of the fuchsia velvet sofa, with the grey concrete resin and wooden legs sitting well with the clean, modern look too.

Keep the vibrancy of the fuchsia velvet sofa with a neutral rug. This Salt & Pepper Louis de Poortere rug is ideal beyond measure. With a hint of pattern, it adds detail without taking your eye off the colourful velvet.

Amethyst

If you want drama, you have it in the shape of amethyst, a deep purple sofa that oozes elegance from every stitch.

Like its grey and fuchsia cousins, it can take on a different character depending on what detailing frames it. The must-have metallic for the coming season, for example, is high-shine silver and this Kensington reclaimed wooden side table. Imagine the drama of the modern meeting the traditional shape of the amethyst Chesterfield velvet sofa!

Or maybe you want less of a gregarious tone. These simple, functional but ever-so-delightful oak nest of tables would be the perfect detailing. Finish the picture by framing the velvet sofa and side tables with a contemporary rug. Like the other contemporary rugs mentioned, keep the detailing and the colour light to avoid a clash of colours.

Colour lifts a room beyond measure. What accessories would you add?

Why choose unique reclaimed wood furniture for your home

English Beam Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

Did you know that on 21st March it’s the International Day of Forests. If you haven’t heard of it – the International Day of Forests is a celebration to raise awareness of the importance of woodlands and trees and to recognize the ways in which forests sustain us as a society.

At Modish Living, we love to work with natural reclaimed wood. We even have our Worcester Reclaimed Wood Desk in our gorgeous Sussex studio.

Why? Because not only does it look beautiful, and add a real charisma to your home, it is sustainable too. One of the big benefits of using reclaimed timber is that it prevents unnecessary waste entering into landfills, instead giving old wood a new lease of life and thus preventing the need for further trees to be cut down. And, one of the best things about reclaimed wood furniture, is that, as everything is handmade and nothing is mass produced, each piece of furniture is truly individual.

And its not only the prevention of cutting down trees that makes reclaimed wood wonderfully sustainable. Wood is a major renewable energy source, currently making up around 45% of the global renewable energy supply. Not only that, strategically placing trees in urban areas is actually said to lower energy bills and contribute to optimal urban living, specifically by cooling the air temperature.

It is certainly a resource we should cherish and make the most of – repurposing wood into beautiful reclaimed wood is just one of the many ways we can do that. So how do you like to use reclaimed wood in your home?

There is something calming about reclaimed wood – whether its the piece of mind that its natural or the beautiful unique markings on the wood, reclaimed wood makes for the perfect rustic bedroom. Two of our newest collections have been handcrafted from reclaimed wood and are truly stunning. Whether you’re looking for a light wood large chest of drawers or a grey-toned blanket box for the end of your bed, these collections may be the answer.

One of the other best uses of reclaimed wood is a reclaimed wood dining table. As the largest piece of furniture in most dining rooms, and with a gorgeous table top to showcase the beautiful natural markings of the wood, a reclaimed dining table is able to make a real statement whether you prefer classic styles or ultra modern pieces.

Are you a fan of reclaimed wood furniture? Let us know your favourite reclaimed wood piece in your home.

How to make the most of outdoor dining in spring

If March roars in like a lion, so the proverb says, it will leave like a lamb. In other words, come March 1^st, you are probably still looking at winter – and that has been the case this year with the Beast from the East and Storm Emma – but by the end of the month, the temperature could start creeping up toward double figures.

The evenings may be a little chilly still, and in some parts of the country, the night time frosts will still be a feature but as the days start to stretch longer, we find that spending some time in the garden is a possibility.

However, you may think that dining al fresco in the garden during March is still a little ambitious. But, with these clever hints and tips, you may find that you can enjoy dining out in March – for Mother’s Day or for another celebration.

The Solution – Create an exciting outdoor ‘room’

During winter, we retreat indoors, huddling around the open fire and snuggle on the couch under wool throws and blankets. And why not? And you can emulate this outdoors in March, creating a cosy outdoor ‘room’ that shelters you from the wind with an edge of spring chill.

Perfect for a Mother’s Day picnic – or a full three-course meal – creating this cosy space is relatively simple….

1. Choose your spot

From a pretty corner of the garden to the wooden decking with pergola, creating a space with a roof can be relatively simple. Attached large plastic sheeting to the top surface of the pergola, using vast expanses of voile panels on the underneath to hide some of the structure.

2. Deck it out

Start with the essentials such as comfy outdoor chairs or choose a dining garden set that is just like a dining room set but made specifically for the outdoors. In smaller garden ‘rooms’, bistro or café sets are a perfect choice.

Or you may want to create something more like an outdoor living room. A rustic corner outdoor rattan furniture set is ideal. The sofas come complete with comfy seating cushions made from weave material that means they can happily withstand spring and summer weather.

3. Lights and heat

Clearly, these are essential, but they don’t mean that you have to spend a huge amount on either;

Solar lighting has come on a lot since the early days of weak fair lights! From fencing panel lights to solar lights on stands, to fairy lights and stylish hanging pendant lights, the solar panels are more efficient at capturing solar energy and so you can have hours of gentle illumination when you dine out this March.
A fire pit is perfect for adding the level of heat you need but don’t have the fire pit under the cover of your garden room. As the coals start to cool, they give off carbon monoxide that will concentrate undercover. Place the pit out in the open air to avoid this happening.

4. Accessorise!

From flickering candles to pretty rustic lights, to soft scatter cushions to throws and an amazing centrepiece for your outdoor dining table, there are all kinds of ways of making the ‘room’ look cosy. There is also a growing choice of outdoor garden rugs to choose from but on a dry day, there is nothing wrong with requisitioning an indoor grey sheepskin rug for using as an extra layer of the warmth of garden seating.

Will you dine out this March – for Mother’s Day or any other occasion?