Category: furniture

pib industrial look stool

pib industrial look stool with Penguin books and brass candle holder

The lovely folks at PIB have just sent us this fabulous Shoemaker stool to test drive.

pib industrial look stool with brass candle holder

We really like the vintage industrial look of the piece. It has a functional and quite sculptural matt black steel base, combined with a padded, aged tan real leather seat. Helpfully, it comes ready assembled and is built to last – feeling strong and sturdy.

pib industrial look stool beside a farmhouse kitchen table

It’s very flexible in terms of potential uses. First and foremost, it makes a great stool for sitting on. It’s padded with high density foam, so it’s very comfortable. We’re thinking kitchen/breakfast bar, rustic dining table, work desk or bench.

And, whilst the seat is indeed comfortable enough to sit on, it’s also rigid enough to allow further uses along the lines of a small side table beside a chair or at the end of a sofa. The perfect resting place for a book, cuppa, lamp or candle.

pib industrial look stool with Penguin books and brass candle holder

We love its style & versatility. It works well as part of a matching set or stand alone industrial look stool – and is priced at £90 which we think is very reasonable too. It certainly gets our nod of approval.

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5 things for your home that are worth splurging on

5 things for your home that are worth splurging on | H is for Home

When it comes to spending money on your home, there are things that are worth investing in and others where there’s no need. So, if you’re currently decorating your home, here are five things for your home that are worth splurging on.

Boy, girl and spaniel sitting on a grey sofa

The sofa

Like many other big pieces of furniture, your sofa is going to get a lot of usage over the years by members of your household and visiting guests. There may be times where someone has to sleep on the sofa, you may eat off your lap on it and kids and pets may jump up and down off it. Hence, you want one that’s going to stand the test of time so that you don’t need to replace it every couple of years. A good quality sofa will definitely last five years or more if looked after properly.

Pair of bare feet sticking out from under white sheets on a bed

Your main bed

Again, like the sofa, a good bed can last five to eight years. Comfort is important when it comes to picking a bed because it’ll be the difference between you getting a perfect night’s sleep or just an average one. When it comes to the frame, you can probably go a little cheaper but for the mattress itself, splash out. A good company to choose is Tempur Mattresses. Their products were originally developed by NASA and adapt to the shape of your body. So, spend a little more money on your bed to ensure restful sleep.

Greek key design statement rug under a coffee table in a living room

A statement rug

Rugs can add warmth and texture to hard flooring. If stone, tile or wooden flooring is something you have in your lounge, dining room or bedroom, a statement rug can inject softness and a splash of colour. Plush rugs are particularly tactile on the feet and can make you feel like you’re walking on a cloud. Popular choices include vintage Afghan rugs and Moroccan Berber-style ones.

Glass topped coffee table on gold coloured metal legs

Coffee table

The living space is important as a place for entertaining your guests, and having a practical yet beautiful coffee table is a must. Choose a coffee table that matches your taste, style and décor. If your home is modern or minimalist, a coffee table made from metal, marble or glass is recommended. Conversely, if you prefer a country or rustic interior, select a solid wood table.

White open shelving in a home office

Shelving & storage

Unless you have a fairly big house or have a garage, places to display or stash your stuff may be limited. As a result, any extra storage options are useful to have around the home. Rather than having to keep things concealed in plastic or cardboard boxes, get a carpenter to erect made-to-measure open shelving. Similarly, you could purchase flat-pack bookshelves, consoles and shelving units. These are much more attractive options, and you won’t need to have your beautiful belongings hidden away where they’ll not be enjoyed or appreciated.

Transforming your home can be an exciting project, but not everything needs to cost a lot of money. Be extravagant with one or two feature pieces and then be economical with the rest.

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Why you should get a round dining table

Why you should get a round dining table

Dining tables take their place in most homes across the world. People enjoy eating together and these tables are where families gather, sit around, chat and make memories. Dining tables are also great for dinner parties, doing homework and sitting down for a coffee. Because of how important this piece of furniture is, choosing the right one can be quite a big decision.

One of the best types of dining table that you can get for your home is a round dining table. In this post, we’re going to explain why you should get a round dining table.

dining table & chairs in front of a green wall

Better flow

The first reason why you should think about getting a round dining table is that there’s more space in your dining room when you do. These tables have no corners so there’s more room for you and your guests to walk around. This also means that you should be able to fit more chairs around the table due to the fact that there are no right angles. People will be able to get in and out of their seats easily and avoid bumping into each other or having to shuffle out past others.

Two people sitting at a round dining table topped with a pot of cacti

Guests can speak

One of the big problems that people have to deal with at a dinner party is when they are at one end of a table while the person that they want to talk to is at the other. This can often mean that people feel left out but luckily, this only really tends to happen with rectangular tables. Think about investing in a round table if you want to allow your guests to speak to each other easily. Fishpools have written an article on choosing a dining table which goes into detail about round tables and what you should consider when selecting one. Use the guidance provided to ensure you select the right table for your room. Your dinner party conversation will be a lot more free-flowing and you won’t have to worry about who’s going to sit at the head of the table… because there is none!

Round dining table with drop leaf

The design

Getting a round dining table is not just about convenience and saving space, it’s also a choice because of how good these tables can look. Round dining tables are bang on trend and your guests will be really impressed with how you have added this great piece to your living room. Depending on the décor of the room, you could get an antique wooden table; a space-saving, drop-leaf one or even a modern, glass-topped example.

Modern round dining table & chairs

It’s more modern

Traditional dining tables are rectangular in shape, so if you’re looking for something a little more modern then you should try out a round dining table. They can really give a modern feel to your dining room if you choose the right one. Consider getting a round dining table if you want to modernise your dining room and show it off to all of your friends when they come over for a dinner party.

Round dining table with camera and office supplies on top

Great for small spaces

The final reason that we think that you should invest in a round dining room table is that they’re great for small spaces. Often, people with smaller homes struggle to find attractive furniture that they can fit in without making it look cramped. With a round dining table, you can achieve exactly this, and no one will even notice that your room is small when they come to visit. You’re sure to find a round dining table that will fit your available space.

Dining table & chairs in front of a wall of clipboards

Final thoughts

There are so many different types of dining table that you can choose for your home. Round dining tables are space efficient and beautiful tables that you can choose for your home. When your guests come around for your next dinner party, they’ll be able to get in and out of their seats freely without having to worry about shuffling in and out of seats every time someone needs to get up. In addition, round dining tables work great in small spaces and can really make a difference to your small home. Take our advice on board and try out a round dining table in your home.

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Why you should invest in Art Deco furniture

Art Deco sitting roomcredit

Art Deco furniture has been around since the 1920s and has become a very popular part of interior design. Many people are choosing to design their homes using an Art Deco theme because of the beauty and quality of some of these pieces. You’ll find a lot of original Art Deco pieces available both online and in vintage shops. Other shops will have their own modern versions of this timeless style. If you want to know why Art Deco furniture is so popular, keep reading to find out more.

Art deco armchaircredit

What is Art Deco?

The Art Deco style originated in Paris, France, launching at an international art exhibition in 1925. Art Deco became increasingly popular throughout the 1930s where it was used in many different art forms from fine art to furniture design and architecture. The style of Art Deco is easy to identify because of its striking appearance. The shapes used during that era were often zigzags, stripes and other geometric shapes. Sharp lines contrasting against bold backgrounds and colours such as black, white, gold and chrome were prominent.

The popularity of Art Deco design has increased by the use of this style in films. The best examples of this are Metropolis and the 2003 remake of The Great Gatsby, based on the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald. This film is set in the roaring 20s and features some amazing Art Deco designs and furniture. Many people have been influenced by this film and have recreated the look for their own home or for Gatsby-themed parties. Here are reasons to invest in Art Deco furniture.

Art Deco bathroomcredit

Very stylish

The great thing about Art Deco furniture is that it looks amazing in interiors. If you’re a fan of bold colours and shapes, you’ll love having this theme take centre stage in your home. Art Deco is enduringly popular so you can be sure that your original furniture from the period will hold or even increase in value.

Art Deco kitchencredit

Great quality

If you encounter original Art Deco pieces in the flesh, you’ll become aware of the quality. Items such as Art Deco chairs or sideboards will have been made by hand with a lot of attention to detail. You’ll find great quality Art Deco pieces online constructed from walnut or other quality materials like Macassar ebony. Despite the quality being good, because of the age, you need to check that the item you’re buying has been looked after properly and is in good condition. If you’re going to invest in an Art Deco piece that requires repair, you can look into specialist craftspeople or, if you have the skills, restore it yourself.

Art Deco bar and billiard roomcredit

Timeless pieces

When you invest in an Art Deco piece of furniture, you’re investing in a piece of history. If in the future you decide that you want to remodel and change your Art Deco interior, you’ll likely profit on your investment as it will be even more in demand in years to come. Another great thing about investing in Art Deco furniture is that you’re reducing your carbon footprint. By investing in furniture that’s been pre-loved, you’re reducing the amount of waste that you’re producing. Buying vintage furniture can be beneficial in more ways than one.

Art Deco stairwaycredit

Our final verdict

Overall, we think that investing in Art Deco furniture is a great way to make your home look unique and amazing. Get inspired by The Great Gatsby and the Roaring Twenties and transform your home into an Art Deco palace.

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