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Archive for the ‘Living Room Furniture & Design’ Category

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Bronze Beauties: Metal Accent Tables

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

There is something about accent furniture that adds a little “punctuation” to your décor; that perfect exclamation point to your living room interior design. It’s a combination of functionality and sophistication that lends a room that soupçon of style or drama. A popular choice for accent tables is wood, but just by placing a metal accent table with an antiqued or polished gold, brass or bronze finish next to an armchair, you can easily add a bit of flair.

Metal accent tables, especially an accent table with a touch of whimsy or novelty, can give your living room that something extra; an element of surprise that creates a focal point. The Powell Furniture Rust Glass Tricycle Accent End Table combines an end table and magazine rack together, resulting in a table that is sure to be a conversation piece. It will certainly transform the room with its rustic charm.

An accent table that includes wine storage is a popular, stylish way to incorporate a home bar or wine rack when you might not have room for a standard sized one. Small metal accent tables that function as a wine rack display functional and decorative features, providing a chic accent piece that allows you to entertain in style.

When selecting a metal accent table for your home:

  • Choose one that is unique in design to the majority of the other furniture pieces in the room
  • Look for “eye-catchers” such as distinctively shaped legs, intricate metalwork or decorative accents in organic materials like stone or shell
  • Think about the type of tabletop you would like it to have: wood and glass, mosaic, etched glass or marble are some of the more common choices

A metal accent table is a great addition to any living space, particularly the living room. Because metal accent tables are available in so many creative shapes, textures, colors and styles, you will be able to find the right one that will perfectly express your unique personality and that touch that make your home distinctively yours.

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What to Expect Design Wise in the New Year

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Even though we know that most of them won’t last very long and that we’ll be ushering in more trends this time next year, we still get a thrill from knowing what will be exciting and new for 2011. But since some trends do stick around for awhile, it’s nice to know what to we can look forward to in terms of new design trends and interior decorating ideas.

Pink and Bold

Pink is making a comeback, especially a bright shade called “honeysuckle.” Bold colors that are part of the “pink” like purple and deep reds will also be make an appearance. For those of you who prefer cool colors, you won’t be left out; intense shades of blue are on the list of 2011 color trends.

Global Influences

Global and ethnic influences appear in furniture designs, borrowing heavily from handcrafted artifacts and motifs from exotic places from around the world. Furniture pieces and accessories for the home such as area rugs, sculptures, carved wood boxes and accent pillows will incorporate tribal or ethic design elements. Living room, bedroom and dining room furniture displaying global influences will also include organic decorative elements like wicker, rattan, shell or stone. Fabrics won’t be able to escape the ethnic influence either – expect to see tribal patterns and folk motifs; bold, colorful shapes; and contrasts with bright colors paired with earth tones and classic neutrals

Modular

Furniture like sectionals, bookcases and entertainment centers with a component-based structure will be even more popular in 2011. The appeal, of course, is the freedom to change the look and feel of your home to reflect your evolving lifestyle: modular designed furniture also allows you to go as large or small as you need to when moving from one type of living space to another.

Texture and then More Texture

In 2011, add texture to a room’s décor wherever you can. Layer a sofa or a bed with accent cushions and accent pillows in different fabrics. The same strategy can be applied to window treatments and area rugs. Add lamps with fabric shades to a family room with leather furniture. A shag carpet in a den or bedroom or even the dining room wouldn’t be out of place.

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Cozying up to the Fire

Friday, December 24th, 2010

From a design point of view, a fireplace is any room’s automatic focal point; a place where the eye is naturally drawn. Especially if the seating in a living room, family room or den is arranged in a conversational grouping to get the most out of the fireplace, it can instantly make the space inviting and functional. Of course, back when central heating wasn’t an option, the fireplace played an important role in keeping the home warm, as well as supplying heat for cooking meals and boiling water. But today, even though many homes have some type of central heating, the fireplace still has a timeless, emotional appeal. Here are few ideas for cozying up to the fire during the holidays.

Whether living in an apartment or not, people choose an electric fireplace because it combines convenience and ambience. It can make a room instantly inviting, particularly one that has a rich medium to dark wood finish. The mantel of a freestanding electric fireplace is perfect for Christmas; the ideal place to put greeting cards, festive candles and other seasonal decorations. When paired with a picture or a mirror, the mantel acts as a visual borderline between the fireplace and the wall art.

Nothing beats reading a good book (good being defined as anything you find interesting), seated by the fireplace in a comfortable chair. In our busy world, incorporating areas of our homes where the sole purpose of the space or the area is on quality downtime, nothing wins hands-down (in my opinion) than a club chair and a 3-way floor lamp curled next to an electric fireplace.

Aside from providing heat and ambiance, electric fireplaces are portable, another reason that makes them so appealing. And because they are portable, they are typically easy to setup, use and maintain. They add warmth and style, while giving your living space a sense of “purpose.” If you would you like to have an electric fireplace in your apartment or home but are afraid that you don’t have the room for it, you can still reap all of the benefits of a freestanding fireplace with a corner electric fireplace.

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From the Design Files of Heather B – Help! Small Living Room

Monday, December 20th, 2010

Design Question

Hi Heather, We have a small living room which contains a floor level gas fireplace with a TV nook on top of it. I recently painted a red feature wall and do not like it! I also hate the nook above the fireplace with our TV and all the junk that goes with it on top. I would be willing to move the TV and could do without the small white arm chair in order to accommodate the new TV location.

I like airy, light, white and grey spaces. I am open to doing wall paper and would like to accent the whites and grays with a color of some kind. I would also like to change the light fixture which is in the center of the room and is a simple white dome. In the future I would like to re-tile the fireplace and add some type of mantle as well. I have no idea how to bring style into this space and desperately need some help! Thanks you so much!

Design Answer

Thanks for sending the pictures. They really help me to visualize what’s going on in the room. It’s actually a great space the way the room is now: it has a focal point (TV/niche/fireplace wall), furniture is arranged in a balanced, thoughtful way and the color is warm and does make the living room welcoming and inviting. It’s just my personal preference of course, but I would have put the accent color only on the TV/niche/fireplace wall and painted the niche the neutral color (reverse of what it is now and no red on the window wall).

I can see why you would like to find a new location for the TV; I did wonder how comfortable it is to watch!

I do have some suggestions as to how you can bring some more style into this space:

a)     When choosing a paint color for the room it should match or complement something in the room. You could match the color to the couch, which is a very soothing neutral. It’s a little difficult for me to see exactly what shade of white it is; perhaps an antique white or egg shell, but not pure white. You could also choose a grey hue that will go with the darker shade of gray of the accent pillow on the sofa.

b)     For an accent color, you could take some inspiration from the fireplace which is a mix of warm and neutral colors: dark grey, brown with gray in it, light brown with black in it (not yellow), green.

c)     I would get a TV stand that matches your coffee table and put it where the plants and white arm chair are now.

d)     If you choose the fireplace wall as your accent color wall, I would paint the niche your main wall color (or vice versa). Then you can use the niche for some sort of display, a large print, a wall sculpture, etc.

e)     Definitely add a mantle; it will provide a visual divider between the niche and the fireplace.

f)       I love the clean lines of the furniture – I suggest you choose an overhead light in the same style – perhaps a semi-flush mounted fixture like Minka Lighting Ansmith 3 Light Semi Flush

Thanks for writing in. I hope this has been helpful. Let me know how it turns out.

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Time Out: Timeless Accent Furniture Pieces

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Choosing the right accent furniture pieces for a living room adds beauty, functionality and style to your home. While you don’t want them to stick out (in a “bad” way), accent furniture provides those finishing touches to the décor that helps create an inviting atmosphere.  Accessorizing a living room with a timeless piece of accent furniture, lamp or decorative item reflects your personal tastes, gives the room a personality that is unique to you.

An accent chair is an eclectic mix of function and aesthetics. By including one in your living room, particularly when placed by a fireplace or paired with an accent table, the accent chair becomes a focal point in the room. The style of the accent chair you choose for the living room should complement the rest of your living room furniture, while possessing distinct characteristics like the timeless hourglass shape of the Avenue Six Curves Hourglass Chair.

Accent tables are intended for a specific or decorative use. They are great places for a lamp, a vase of flowers or a decorative item such as a clock or china ornament. An accent table can be positioned in different parts or the living room like behind the sofa, next to a chair or, like the Butler Specialty Heritage Square Glass Top Clock Cocktail Table, in front of the sofa.

Another great piece of accent furniture for you to consider adding to your living room is the grandfather clock/curio cabinet. The ultimate living room accent furniture piece when it comes to that perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics, the Ridgeway Timeless Accents Clarksburg Curio Grandfather Clock provides sensible storage that is decidedly decorative.

Accent furniture pieces like an accent chair with a unique shape or a curio grandfather clock cabinet can give your living room a timeless style that reflects your tastes and personality.

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Christmas Dilemma – Ways to decorate small spaces for the Holidays

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

I can’t quite describe how she did it, but one of my friends created a Christmas tree out of a small stepladder trellis designed for vegetable gardens. In addition to her concerns for the environment and the bad plastic emissions from artificial Christmas trees, this was her first time celebrating the holidays in a condo rather than a house. In her search for an “environmentally” friendly way to decorate her living room, my friend also discovered a great space saver. If you live in an apartment, especially a studio apartment, or a condo, decorating your smaller-sized living space can pose a challenge or two.

Festive Lights

Stringed lights aren’t expensive and don’t take up any room. Stringing them around doorframes can make a hallway or the wall of a room a colorful focal point. Or you can string them around the mantel of an electric fireplace, windows, ceiling or mirror to create a festive atmosphere. By spreading lights throughout a room or a hallway, you can skip the tree which eats up floor space while making your apartment appear larger.

Remove and Replace Knickknacks

To make room for Christmas in a smaller living space like an apartment or condo, pack away a select a number of your knickknacks and china pieces. Replace them with Christmas themed decorative items like candy and/or nut dishes, angels, pillar candles and snowman statues. Particularly if you have a china cabinet, you can clear away one or two shelves so that you have a place to display Christmas plates and other favorite knickknacks.

 

Christmas Accents

By adding Christmas accents like pot holders, dish towels, coffee mugs, candles, table runners, mats, guest towels, coasters, etc. to rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, living room and dining room, you’re making your apartment or condo festive without taking up much space or having to shift furniture. Don’t forget the walls. A simple but merry way to create a Christmas card display is with a length of colored string and decorative clothespins.

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Global Style Family Room Celebrates Diversity

Friday, November 26th, 2010

Global style is eclectic, exciting and inviting, all characteristics that you would want when decorating a family room. Because it celebrates travel to exotic places and the diversity of the world around us, it will add some visual spice to the room where you’ll be hanging out with family or entertaining friends. The great thing about any kind of eclectic style including global is that is can be as sophisticated or relaxed as you would like.

Thematic Design Focus

 Because inspiration for global/exotic style can be found in the materials, designs and customs of tropical places like China, India, the South Pacific and even the Caribbean, that are culturally unique to one another, pick a theme or design focus based on one country, region or landmark. To evoke a general, expansive tropical flair that is not thematically oriented, choose living room furniture, accessories and/or accent pieces that utilize exotic patterns or incorporate organic elements such as seagrass, wicker, bamboo and rattan that hearken back to their exotic origins.

Be Bold

Since it can be bright, colorful and “noisy,” when decorating a global style family room, decide where you would prefer to concentrate the color in the room. Should you wish to have a lot of brightly colored fabrics and/or rugs in the room, stick with a more neutral or earth-toned palette for the walls. The color in a global styled room should be layered throughout the space, but you don’t want to go overboard – the key to a successful global style family room is balance.

Be Organic

When selecting furniture for your global style family room, while it is important to emphasize diversity, you will want to find a happy medium between western and non-western furnishings, so that you and your family will be comfortable while watching a movie or gaming. Two or more furniture pieces should be made of or include accents of organic materials like seagrass, wicker, bamboo and rattan. Stone and shell accents are perfectly acceptable as well.

Be Creative

Accessorizing a global style family room will really allow you to express yourself. Global styles allows you to create the exact mood that you want for your family room – it can be formal in the traditional sense with splashes of color or visual teases like a wood drum end table and rattan chair backs/armrests; chic with a causal vibe; or laid-back contemporary. When accessorizing a global style family room, layering is important: blending textures, colors and finishes is what gives a global style family room its international flair and appeal.

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Reworking Dead Space

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

The most obvious culprit of dead space in our homes is the corners of rooms. But dead space is actually any vacant or underutilized area in our homes. Of course dealing with dead space becomes more of an issue when living in an apartment or a condominium. However, the size of the living space really shouldn’t matter; by eliminating dead space in a room, you are not only adding functionality, you are also increasing your quality of life.

In the Bedroom

Look under the bed. If you don’t already have a platform bed that has drawers, consider adding some type of underbed storage system. This will give you the perfect place to keep extra bedding or seasonal clothing.

Look under the windows. Because the bed is commonly placed in the center of the room, the space below the sill is often overlooked. This would be a great place to put a console table, providing a place for a small lamp or a vase.

Look beside the bed. By replacing one of the two nightstands with a desk, you are not only using dead floor space, you’re increasing the room’s functionality.

In the Bathroom

Look straight ahead. Of all the rooms in your home, the walls in a bathroom are probably the most underutilized. Transform dead wall space into an organized area with a full length wall cabinet. Use a space-saver to convert the area above the toilet from bare to organizational bliss.

In the Living Room

Look around. Wherever there is space by a chair, end of the sofa or between a piece of furniture and the wall, consider putting a floor lamp.

Look up. When considering what type of window treatments, choose something that includes a valance or curtains that go from ceiling to floor. This eliminates the dead space directly above the windows. If there is wall space below the window, place a storage bench there; it will create a comfy place to sit and read while increasing the living room’s seating capacity.

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From the Design Files of Heather B – Open Concept Condo

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

Design Question

Hello, I have a brand new condo, with the open dining room / kitchen / living room concept. Can you please tell me what I could put on the long counter top just to decorate it? Right now, I have nothing on it, because I do not want it to look cluttered as you can see it very clearly when you walk into the dinning area or what they call the great room. I have kept my kitchen counters also pretty clear, since it is all open.

Is it ok to maybe get two or three nice counter stools to put under the counter that is part of the living room? It is bare and cold there. It would be more for decorative purposes, but I could use them to sit at the counter if I wanted to. Thank you!

Design Answer

Adding nice counter stools to the area will certainly create a focal point. Even if as you say, they end up being more for show, it never hurts to have additional seating especially in smaller-sized living spaces like apartments or condominiums for special occasions or holidays.

As for the counter top itself, take your time choosing an accent piece that is meaningful to you. For example, if you are particularly fond of ceramics scour your local markets for hand-crafted bowl that you really like. If you like flowers or fresh fruit, select a simple wood fruit bowl or stone, glass or porcelain vase.

Congratulations on your new condo! Thanks for writing in. Come back next Monday when I’ll be answering another design question.

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From the Design Files of Heather B – Wall Sconces

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Design Question

I would like to put wall sconces on each side of my sofa instead of table lamps. What are the appropriate dimensions to hang wall scones each side of a sofa; specifically the height from the floor, as well as the distance from the arm of the sofa? I decided to use swing arm sconces because my end tables are different heights which makes it hard to work with table lamps (height inconsistencies).

Design Answer

As a general rule of thumb, standard design wall sconces should be hung 60 inches from the floor. Because wall sconces are essentially used as ambient lighting and provide a decorative accent, you don’t want them too far down the wall. But they shouldn’t be so high that once in place you can’t change the light bulbs without having to use a stepladder.

However, swing arm sconces have more of a functional aspect to them – they can be used for reading or as task lighting. But the lower down on the wall the less useful they will be. I suggest that you place them at the same height no lower than 40″ and no higher than 50″. Before you make it permanent, check to see that the height you’ve chosen works okay with the end tables that are different heights.

Thanks for writing in. I hope this has been helpful. Let me know how it turns out.

Don’t forget to keep writing in. Visit Furniture and Design Ideas next Monday when I’ll tackle another design question.

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