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

Is gold the bold choice of the year?

We regularly poll our followers on both Houzz and Instagram on the latest interior trends. It gives us an idea of what our customers really think of some of the trends and ideas coming our way.

Metallic accessories have long been the preferred choice for use in framing a room, the equivalent of the black lines and streaks in the art world for picking out detail in a painting or image. For a long time, silver was the default choice but 2017 shook things up a little with brass effect finishes.

2018 promises to be no less controversial when it comes to trends and ideas in interior design, but we wanted to know what you thought of the gold metallic finish.

We Asked, You Answered

Gold has a yellower overall tone than the dark but golden hue of brass. But we wanted to know – do you love it or hate it? Is gold the bold metallic choice for 2018?

And the answer overwhelmingly was yes, with only a handful of votes on Houzz opting for stainless steel. All our fans on Instagram plumped for gold.

Let the love affair with gold accessories begin!

The two items we showed were the black dining chairs with rose gold frame and the navy velvet dining chair with stainless steel legs. Both are clearly stunning pieces but with the gold attracting the most attention, we thought we would look at how to use gold accessories to their best.

Gold is a fantastic colour to use across a range of styles, from the farmhouse to the modern, with many items of contemporary furniture glowing in its golden shine.

Gold works well with a variety of materials too. Velvet is a plush material that invites people to touch and enjoy it and, to a certain extent, the combination of velvet and gold is long steeped in tradition.

But it can be brassy and very yellow thus, using other colours and fabrics helps to even out its tone. Why not team this year’s must-have colours – the dark earthy greens and the delightful ultraviolet purple – with golden framed accessories?

It is a colour that works beautifully with white too. If your penchant is for crisp, white walls, tone down the starkness with gold foiled artwork or gold colour bases to a pretty table and floor lamps.

Retain the classic feel with leather furniture sitting alongside gold too and for a traditional appealing living room, there is no compensation for the iconic shape of a leather Chesterfield sofa marrying with gold framed accessories, from lamps to decorative mirrors. As this gold-framed round wall mirror shows, gold doesn’t have to have a high polish finish to it either.

Small gold details

Just like gold itself, the smallest nugget can have the most value. And with gold accessories, there doesn’t have to be an ostentatious display.

That means choosing dining chairs with rose gold metallic legs, or pretty framed mirrors or even a table lamp or two. It is also a metallic colour that will sit alongside other metal finishes too because it doesn’t say in the rule book that gold can’t be used with stainless steel.

How do you see using gold in your home? Will it be the bold accessory you’ll incorporate into the living room, the dining room and the bedroom?

How to renovate a hallway to impress

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Console Table

Every month we bring you interesting ‘how to’ blogs to aid you in any stylish renovations you decide to make in your home. This month we take a look at an important but often under-styled part of our homes – the hallway.

Style to Impress

You have probably heard that it takes less than seven seconds for someone to form an impression, good or bad, of something or someone that they meet. For guests stepping foot in your home, this judgement is based on many things, including the appeal of the hallway.

But more importantly than that, it is the space that welcomes you home after a busy day. So, why shouldn’t it be a stylish place, and an impressive one at that? But how do you achieve the elevated heights of an impressive hallway?

We show you how…

Plan it – first on our list is to think carefully about how the use of this space will change over the coming years. inevitably, the main issue will be storage. Consider carefully what will work for storing coats, boots, shoes and bags now, and in the coming years.

Draw it – if you consider how much technology has changed our homes, you will understand just how much the hallway has changed. For older properties, the hallway can be sadly bereft of electrical sockets, with a phone socket placed in the middle of an expanse of wall. If you can, get these moved so you can draw a plan of the best place for your furniture to be placed.
Consider bespoke storage – storage is usually bereft in the hallway and so, if you use it as the space through which everyone passes as they enter and leave your home, the biggest investment should be in the storage facilities. From bespoke under-the-stairs solutions to detailing such as drawers in small console tables, maximising as much storage as you can from the space.

Maximise light – many hallways suffer the same fate in terms of lack of light, both natural and ambient. Maximise light as much as possible and, if knocking down a wall isn’t on the cards, make sure that any window dressings are minimal in fuss but allow light to shine in. Consider LED lighting for up and down lighting on the stairs. Modern lamps nestling on slimline hallway console tables are also perfect for adding a soft glow and more than a hint of ‘welcome’ to your home.
Mirrors – great for reflecting light, they are also a stylish means of adding much-needed detail. In effect, you are looking to create a space that is welcoming and warm, a task that decorative mirrors fill with aplomb. If you find you constrain yourself in terms of finish and style in other rooms, let your choice run free and choose a mirror that us superbly ornate and full of sparkle!

Artwork – there is no reason why the hallway needs to be bereft of artwork and yet, we so often leave the walls blank. Either choose one or two key pieces or why not use the expanse of walls to create a beautiful picture and artwork gallery?

The 2018 hallway renovation trends are…?

… monochrome colour schemes, with matching hallway rugs and runners. And if you have the budget, consider adding detail to a barren hallway with wood panelling.

Amazing coffee tables that will help you have a clutter free home

When it comes to storage, there is no doubt that, at times, it presents a real headache. We all need and in every room too but sometimes, we can feel that the choices of storage solutions are limited.

Thankfully, there are solutions, from stylish sideboards to elegant display units and dressers. But, there is one item that we feel never gets the fair crack of the whip when it comes to providing storage solutions: the coffee table.

A coffee table with storage doesn’t have to be large and cumbersome, neither does it have to be a ‘box’. There is a growing range of coffee tables in all shapes and sizes, that offer extra accessible storage.

Open storage

Shelving is a versatile addition to any room and in the living room, you can open shelving with stunning display units. Accessing items, from books to magazines is simple, quick and easy. It is also the ideal space for showing off sculptures and other accessories.

And an open shelve on a coffee table can work just as well too. This modern style coffee table with ladder shelf won’t swamp a room and sits well with both a sofa and fabric armchairs to frame them in a space.

The box

Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest which is why we love the box coffee table so much. Unpretentious in design and style, this upcycled coffee table brings a fantastic level of detail into a space. It chunkiness is welcome in many different kinds of interior design styles, but if you like the story that upcycled, or reclaimed furniture brings, then you will love what this coffee table offers.

The drawers have it!

The best storage for many people or so they feel is to have drawers in the coffee table. And why not? It is a universal solution that works for all.

Again, styling it out is important and there is something delightful and very tactile about the button drawer handles on this rustic styled coffee table. The rustic style is simple, yet beautiful: it retains the warmth of the farmhouse style but refines many of the details hence, the beautiful drawer handles on this piece.

Following the same lines is this exquisite piece also leaning towards the rustic, but there are edges and angles to this coffee table with drawers that could align it with the contemporary style too.

But if you have storage needs that would spill out of two drawers, take a look at what this drawer and shelving combination coffee table would bring to your room. Delightfully solid and robust, this piece is satisfyingly robust looking, without being too boxy or angular.

How will you style it?

Coffee tables deserve your attention. And yet, so many time we simply opt for one based on its price tag alone.

Invest a little more and you will find that when it comes to maintaining a clutter-free home, that it provides a lot of help in the shape of storage.

But how will you style your coffee table? Will it be the sleek lines of the modern style or the reliability of the refined rustic approach?

Luxurious coffee tables for every style & budget

Whether you enjoy a latter or the depth of an espresso coffee, Coffee Break day celebrated across the globe on 4^th March and is the perfect excuse to indulge in something extra special.

We all know how important breaks are, whether we are hard at work or completing tasks at home. And although excessive intake of caffeine impacts on our bodies, the occasional cup of coffee is a welcome treat. The better the quality of coffee bean, the richer depths you will enjoy in your chosen coffee. But do you like yours?

Do you like the milky undertones of a cappuccino or do you prefer the velvet smoothness of a latte? Or maybe, the jolt from an aromatic espresso is your secret treat…

How do you enjoy yours?

Of course, coffee, like a fine wine or a rich chocolate bar, is meant to be savoured and enjoyed, not sipped from a cardboard cup through a plastic lid as you run for the train!

Creating the perfect corner in your home to relax and savour any beverage or break is the ideal solution to enjoying a break.

And thus, the humble coffee table comes into view. But is it ‘just’ a coffee table or something more?

Something More…

A coffee table plays an important role in the living room, the office, or any space where there is informal seating like sofas and comfy armchairs. It is the platform on which you will place your artisan coffee, your favourite paperback or magazine when you kick back and relax.

It is a piece of reclaimed furniture that adds depth and detail to a space and thus, it makes sense to spend some time on getting the right coffee table in terms of style, as well as price.

Shape – there are square ones, rectangle ones, oval ones and round ones from which to choose. The shape is a personal choice. Some people prefer the large rectangle coffee table as it frames the sofa in its position, whilst others prefer the curves of the round coffee table. Which suits your living room?
Style – reclaimed wood coffee tables are popular, simply because they offer style with aplomb but also because we fall in love with the romance of where the wood has been, the life and drama it has silently witnessed. Reclaimed wood is perfect for any style, including the brusqueness of the industrial style, to the warmth of the farmhouse styled living room.

Storage – of course, the humble coffee table is an important item in any living room but in the busy family home, it can be a furniture item that provides storage. A coffee table with storage is perfect for any home, but it can still look slimline, just in case you were worried about chunkiness that would not sit well alongside your chosen style.

The Coffee Table Budget

And finally, the cost of the coffee table reflects the quality and the style that it brings. And there is a reclaimed wood coffee table with your name written all over it, and within budget too. Why not take a look?

How to create this fantastic look with luxurious stainless steel

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Dining Table

For the last few seasons, brass has been the metallic of choice and although many pundits suggest that this is still the case for 2018, stainless steel is hotly tipped to face a re-emergence – and polished stainless steel at that.

This sparkly surface does a lot to open up a space, adding a sense of luxury and understated grandeur, especially in the dining room. Along with glass, it must surely be one of the most exquisite and coveted materials. And if you like the industrial style, you’ll love this Kensington dining table, with its polished stainless steel finish to the legwork sitting beautifully alongside the reclaimed wood top and the dramatically dashing black velvet dining chairs.

So how do you get the look?

An Elegant Industrial Dining Room

The Kensington dining table is a beautiful reclaimed wood furniture piece with a combination of polished stainless steel legwork with a reclaimed wood table top. The industrial style is all about the effortless combination of materials, such as metal, wood and the rawness of brick work and so on.

But it is not devoid of style nor glamour which is why this particular style of dining table is the perfect choice. There is glamour, without compromising on the combination of metal and wood.

But if you want to soften the edges some more, add a plush fabric to the mix. The dramatic black fabric of the Luxe Madison velvet dining chairs make the perfect foil to the utilitarianism of the industrial look.

Fundamentally practical, the industrial style is not necessarily about harsh angles or unromantic functionality: it is about the seamless melding function and beauty. There is cohesiveness between the table and the chairs in the shape of matching stainless steel legs, complete with an almost art décor inspired leg frames.

Supporting Furniture to the Look

Every dining room needs to have supporting characters in the shape of other pieces, all chosen and placed with sympathy to the main star of the show, the reclaimed wood dining table complete with polished stainless steel legs.

Display units or even a sideboard are ideal. Perfect for offering much-needed storage, there is no need to compromise on the basics of the industrial style either. Reclaimed wood furniture, including undressed reclaimed wood units, sit perfectly side by side. Just like the velvet dining chairs bringing cohesion with matching legs, it is the romance of reclaimed wood that blends with the reclaimed wood dining table in the room.

And beyond…

This inspiring industrial styled dining landscape can easily spill out into the rest of the home. Versatile, stylishly sharp and beautifully tailored, it is no wonder that many people continue this style into the living.

Cosy without being insipid, many people enjoy the clarity that the industrial and reclaimed style bring to a home. You can soften the edges as much as want using lush soft furnishings, along with similarly styled tall floor lamps to bring about a soft glow to any room, including the living room.

Is this a style that would suit your dining room and home?

Round coffee tables and how to style them at their best

Luxe Kensington Reclaimed Wood Round Coffee Tables

It may ‘only’ be a round coffee table, and you may not give much thought to where or how it is placed. After all, you just need it to be within reach of the sofa and armchairs.

But by not paying attention to this piece of furniture, you are missing an important styling trick. To help you out, we have some fantastic styling tips for all coffee tables, from a large to a small round coffee table.

Create a ‘visual reference’

We often talk of a focal point in rooms, as its inclusion helps the eye to make sense of the space. In effect, a well-placed round coffee table can do the same thing. It may not be the focal point but by being in the ‘right’ place is emphasising the space.

The beauty of a round coffee table is that its circular shape is naturally inclusive and can act as a point around which the seating options in the room can gravitate to. Ensure plenty of distance to walk around it to gain access to your sofa and chairs though!

Add detail

Adding detail to a room is done in many ways and a coffee table is just one way of doing it;

Vary heights – varying the height of furniture in a room stops it looking flat and one-dimensional. Coffee tables are great for adding height. The nest of reclaimed wood coffee table from the Kensington range can come with a glass top too, perfect for adding a hint of luxury to the industrial style living room.
Cluster – another way to add detail is to use matching or complementing side tables alongside the coffee table. For a quirky look, you could add square side tables alongside a roundtable but to promote a sense of cohesion, opt for complementing round side tables. This pretty Elm recycled wood table is perfect for acting as a small side table to frame the sofa. Team it with the beautiful Edale cream sofa, with exquisite button detail, for a stunning look to the living room.
Materials – cohesion is one thing, but it can soon tip into monotony. And so, if you don’t vary the height, consider varying the materials used instead. The rawness of the reclaimed wood top teamed with the elegance of the stainless steel leg detailing on the Kensington Luxe reclaimed wood round coffee table is simply stunning. Contrast the roughness of the top with the smoothness of a glass vase or another sculptured object. Alternatively, the super-smoothness of the marble top of this minimally designed Kensal round coffee table would be a stunning surprise in the industrial styled landscape of a living room.

Size – it is important! A large table works well where there is ample space to accommodate it, but if space is tight, don’t swamp the space. In effect, a well-placed coffee table that shines in the spotlight is as much about dimension as it is about the material. A small glass coffee table will dispatch its function just as well as large round coffee table, complete with a vast expanse of table top.

A round coffee table ticks so many boxes. How do you style yours?

Plan a wonderful atmosphere for the two of you this Valentine’s Day

The origins of Valentine’s day that we celebrate on 14^th February each year are shrouded in mystery. For centuries, February has been seen as the month of romance. But this doesn’t just mean celebrating the love, passion and romance between you and your ‘significant other’. It means revelling in the love you have for others too.

And that’s why this Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to get together with all your loved ones and celebrate the relationships and friendships you share. We’ve come up with some great ideas that work just as well for family time or for a romantic interlude between the two of you.

And better still, you don’t have to leave the warmth of your own home…

A Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt indoors is a great way to hide small gifts for your special ones to find. Valentine’s Day is not about giving expensive gifts but about showing people that you care. So, whichever gifts you choose to hide, put plenty of thought into them.

Personal gifts are the best, especially ones that have been made for the person in question. How about these as ideas…?

Create individual IOU notes to completes a pleasant task on their behalf at some point in the next few months, such as breakfast in bed on a Sunday morning.
Make your own presents such as a stack of cookies in their favourite flavour or a pretty box filled with delicious sweets.
Personalised gifts bought online can be expensive but are the type of gifts that people treasure for a long time.

Eat Together (but with a twist!)

You can always create a romantic ambience with a well-set reclaimed wood dining table and pristine upholstered dining chairs, serve up steak and oysters… but again, it isn’t about the expense but spending time with your significant other or others.

So, spread out on the warmth of a large sheepskin rug, serve up nibbles at your living room Valentine’s picnic, choose a film and relax, enjoying the chatter and the love in the room.

Board Games Bonanza

Consider this, when was the last time you played a board game together? The digital age has meant most of us have become welded to our phones and thus, there is a whole generation missing out on learning the rules of Ludo, Monopoly, Mousetrap and not developing dexterity to complete the buzzer game, Operation.

Now is the time, so hop on down to your local toy store, buy a board game and introduce your kids – and reintroduce yourself too – to the fun of a board game. How else can this digital generation learn to really argue with their siblings over fair play?!

Get Out and About

From a hike in the hills (check the weather) to a trip to a local museum or art gallery, to create the perfect atmosphere this Valentine’s, all you need is love and laughter.

In the spotlight: the Valentine’s Day table setting

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to make more of a fuss of your significant other, and a quiet meal for two is ideal. Cooking up a storm, you want to make sure that the setting is just perfect too. From the table to the ambience, we have it covered with our guide to creating the perfect Valentine’s Day table setting.

Ambience

This is created by the environment in which you enjoy your romantic meal together. And no matter how lovely you make the table setting, the romance of the occasion won’t be as forthcoming if the surrounding environment is cluttered.

And so, take advantage of the quick storage solutions you have in the living room and dining room furniture, from the sideboard to the coffee table with storage in which you can hide all kinds of things away.

Adding texture to a room stops it from looking flat and as well as the accessories for the table, consider the room as a whole. For example, deep pile sheepskin rugs in front of the fire are perfect, along with throws hanging gracefully from high-back dining chairs or better yet – fabric dining chairs.

The Table

Creating a theme of love can mean different things to different people but there is no getting away from the fact that red is the colour of love, romance and passion.

Red roses come at a premium price around valentine’s day – as do most flowers – so you can ring the changes by using either your favourite flower or colour for the backdrop.

But no matter what colour you use, a blank canvas allows the table setting to shine and so opting for a white table cover for your dining table. Opt for the best quality you can afford and for a touch of sumptuousness, copy what high-end restaurants do with a double layered tablecloth.

Or you may want to leave the dining table uncovered, and no wonder if you have the smooth elegant surface of the Farringdon extending table or the beautiful grain and lines etched in the surface of the Abbey reclaimed wood dining table.

Setting the Table

Start with cutlery for each course you are serving, remembering that your first course with start with the outer most cutlery. Shine it to a high polish, matching the cutlery where possible. Have the butter knife laying diagonally across the side plate which is placed to the left of the fork. As well as a glass for water, arrange the wine glasses at the head of the knife.

Keep the table piece in keeping with your theme, using colours that suit your love story. As well as red, many people use soft, pastel pinks – why not opt for pink candles in statuesque, tall candle holders, for example?

The finishing touches

With the candle lit, the soft, romantic glow is the perfect setting for the delicious meal you are about to serve. Somehow, you naturally whisper in hushed tones, aware that this is a pleasant interlude for you both. Enjoying the meal perched o high backed dining chairs, there is more than elegance to this table setting – there is genuine romance and long-lasting love.

Host the best party for single people this Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is not for everyone. But enjoying the single life doesn’t mean that they are a valentine sceptic – it is possible that someone who is single can enjoy what the romance and closeness that the day is trying to promote.

Throwing a party for couples and singletons is possible, without banning any reference to love and romance! And you can still have plenty of red hearts decorating the place too.

So, what are our suggestions for welcoming single friends to a Valentine’s party? We say go with a dinner party, serving delicious food matched by great company.

Decorate the dining room

Valentine’s is the time to overdose on red paper hearts and Cupid’s arrows and just because you have single people coming on over, doesn’t mean that you can use the basics of this romantic day as part of your decorations.

If hearts are not going to cut it, use plenty of red, mixed with pretty pinks with dashes of dark green as the accent colour.

Adding detail to the small round dining table is a great idea too, and frankly, anything that sparkles we think is a great addition. Buy ‘fake’ gems and table glitter, sprinkling it liberally around an amazing centrepiece. The glow of the candles will pick out the sparkles, creating a perfect setting for the delicious food you are about to serve.

Create a signature cocktail

The most important part of any social gathering or dinner party is the greeting. A warm welcome sets the tone for the evening and so, you need to be on hand to welcome guests and in the best way possible: with a drink in your hand!

Create a signature cocktail – there are loads of ideas online – creating a sublime cocktail that helps your guests unwind and enjoy the food. For non-drinking or driving guests, create a signature non-alcoholic version too.

Serve with an array of nibbles, all served in gorgeous serveware dishes and arranged artistically on your reclaimed wood coffee table in the living room.

Ditch formality

The best dinner parties are those where the food is delicious, but the company is even better. A formal dinner party is great but sometimes, you just need to kick back and do your own thing.

And as it is early February, the evenings still draw in early and the temperature is not climbing much above freezing. So, create something different…

BBQ outside on the patio, ferrying the food to the bar table and chairs, where your guests are super-relaxed with your cocktail signature. Serve up warming dishes alongside BBQ stuff, such as chilli that packs a kick, jacket potatoes with crispy skin and a selection of deeps, some with heat and some with a deep smoky flavour.

Theme it

A theme always makes a party go with a swing and just because you are entertaining singletons at Valentine’s doesn’t mean you have to stick with the ‘red and romance’ look. How about superheroes or ask your guests to come with an imaginary superpower and how they would save the world…