Beyond Furniture Blog

Published By: Eliza Williams

"Advice on what type of chair to select"

With so many dining chair styles available it’s easy to become overwhelmed when trying to select the perfect one for your house, we’ve provided a useful guide to help you try and narrow the field!

Polyurethane or Timber Chairs
Pros:
- You can match the colours to your dining table perfectly, or you can contrast the table for a contemporary style
- There is a large range of styles available, modern designs look great in polyurethane
- The easiest chairs to maintain, they can simply be wiped down, this makes them very popular amongst families with young children, or for use in a casual dining or breakfast rooms.
- They are less formal then upholstered versions, they are popular for relaxed open plan spaces.

Cons:
- Without any padding, they can be harder and less comfortable to sit on for long periods of time,  look for models with a high back for support, and keep some seat cushions handy for longer dinner parties.

> Look At: Oltre; Sailing; Foro; Zoe; Divina

Fabric Upholstered Chairs
Pros:
- Very Comfortable
- Lots of colour options, the addition of a fabric into a room filled with hard surfaces will work to soften the look, and provide warmth
- Fabric Upholstered Chairs will absorb a lot of noise, great if you have a dining room that you find ‘echoey’ or noisy.
- You could have them re-upholstered in a few years time to update the look

Cons:
- The fabric can become dirty and marked quite easily, especially if there are younger children using the chairs.  To overcome this look for models with removable covers, like the Ali chair, so you can take the covers to dry cleaners as needed.

> Look At: Ali

A Happy Compromise- Polyurethane or Timber with an Upholstered Seat
Pros:
- The seat back is the part that gets handled by grubby hands, by having it in timber or poly, you can simply wipe it down. You then have a padded/upholstered seat for extra padded softness where it counts most!

Cons:
- Normally padded seat covers won’t be removable for dry cleaning, so if they do get marked you will need to spot clean them.

> Look At:   Oltre-B; Ava



Leather Upholstered Chairs
Pros:
- Comfortable, they will normally have a layer of padding underneath the leather
- Low Maintenance, leather is easy to care for; it can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth, or you can use leather cleaners
- Leather chairs are stylish, they can be very modern looking, whilst still being comfortable, leather chairs seem to strike this balance really well.
- Leather will warm up a room like fabric, and provide a break in all the hard surfaces
- Leather chairs work well with all types of tables, glass, timber, poly or marble

Cons:
- High Quality leather may cost a little more, however they will last a long time and they are a good investment

> Look At: Roma, Lexi, Kell, Mia; Rea; Dama

Armchairs
Pros:
- Normally super comfortable.
- They look generous and inviting
- Armchairs are great to look at, they often have sleigh legs, or a feature on the arms and the styles often have a timeless design quality.
- They can add a sense of ‘formalness’ to the dining table, it is common to have armchairs at either end of the dining table, like traditional ‘carver’s chairs’.
- You can pull them away from the table and use them as feature armchairs in a bedroom or study, then bring them back when you need extra seats for guests

Cons:

- They are heavier then regular chairs, so harder to pull in and out; they are also slightly harder to get in and out of, as the arm means you need to push the chair right back.

- They will generally be wider or bulkier then armless chairs, and you may not have enough room around the table, having one at each end is a great option when this is the case.

> Look At: Vera;Ana


Stylists Chair Picks:

Ali: If you're looking for a dining chair that is comfortable, stylish and timeless, the Roma is definitely my pick. Understated with simple, clean lines, the Roma fits into any interior style from modern and contemporary to classic and traditional. With slim legs and sleek Italian leather upholstery, the Roma is not only comfortable for those dinners that go to all hours of the morning, but they are easy to wipe clean in the morning. The leather colour range features classic black or white, a warm dark brown and for a bit of fun, a pop of red. I particularly like to create contrast by pairing black chairs around a glossy white table or vise versa for a unique twist.

Eliza: My pick is the Divina chair; it’s light, modern and funky.  It’s not upholstered but it’s made from soft polyurethane so it’s soft enough to sit on for long dinners. I like the angles and the handle cut out, it makes it easy to move around when needed, I move my chairs between the dining room and the study in my little apartment! I also like the contrasting black and white on the front and back, it’s a great way to work the contrast look into my dining setting, and it would work equally well with a white, black or grey table, or even a glass table.  I like to recommend the Divina for modern apartments, and casual dining areas, its particularly ideal for young families as its easy enough to wipe down if the kids drop something.

Published By: Eliza Williams

"Sleek & Sophisticated"


 

Often when we look at funky modern rooms we think it is best left for the hotels or at least, those without ‘stuff’, but some clever basics and a little thought can mean anyone can achieve the clean lines of a modern look.

> Storage, Storage, Storage! It’s not that people who go for this look have less stuff, they have clever storage! Look closely at the image, the backdrop is a large wardrobe, the bed features under-bed storage & the bedsides contain deep drawers, it’s easy to be uncluttered if you have somewhere to store your stuff!

> Monotone not monotonous: how do you make black and white jump? A restrained use of pattern, texture and colour; note the cushions, one graphic, one textured and one metallic, bringing a central focal point to the bed that is dynamic and interesting.

> Sharp Lines: The reason this room pulls off the look so well is the straight lines, the horizontal elements (the bed, lamp, pillow & quilt) are contrasted by the vertical elements (wardrobe doors & coat rack), this is enhanced by the simplicity of the black, white and grey & is the reason why the unexpected elements pack such a punch.

> POP: the bright patterned towel jumps out at you because its different, it features a burst of bright colours and jagged lines, a direct contrast to the rest of the room (the towel is the stylists own, available through Missoni).

> Personality: who lives here? The bedside features just a couple of items but enough to make you curious about the personality behind the room.  If you are going for this pared back look, be selective with the items you display, if only a couple are on display they will say as much about you as having shelves of knick knacks.  The unusual orange rhino suggests someone with a surprising playful character.

> Make it liveable: This look is strongest if it is kept clutter free; the basic elements in the room are designed to allow this to happen. Does your partner prefer to throw their towel on the floor rather then hang it up? Rather than berate them for it every time, make life easy, give them somewhere to throw it, the

Kari coat rack

turns wet towels into artwork!

GET THE LOOK:

Recreate this look using the

Armadi wardrobe

with grey glass doors. This provides fantastic storage and can be used to add atmosphere to the room with the dramatic dark glass (also available in other sizes & colours). The

Cassetti storage bed

perfect for those who want to achieve the sleek & sophisticated look, or those who simply need more storage! The

Kari coat rack

always useful for throwing clothes or towels in the bedroom, a bonus is its sculptural look & it takes up very little space. The

360 lamp

ideal for reading in bed, it can be adjusted every which way while the strong lines work well for the modern room, it is also a popular desk lamp.

Published By: Eliza Williams

The Modern Luxe look is easy to achieve, and brings a little much needed luxury back into the bedroom.  Walking into a beautiful bedroom at the end of the day can have such a positive effect on your mood and your ability to wind down and relax.  It may take an extra minute or two in the morning to arrange the pillows, but when you come home to a beautiful, calm space in the evening you will feel relaxed, enjoy a better sleep and feel more in control, regardless of what’s happing in the outside world.

> Layers, Texture & Palette: The warmth and interest is created through the layering of materials, patterns and textures.  To ensure the look is united rather than haphazard, a palette of warm tones is kept simple, based around golden browns with grey tone accents.
> Materials: To keep this look from being flat, a variety of materials were mixed, the rawness of the leather and timber grain side table is contrasted by the glass of the wardrobe and the chrome elements. The warm beige tone of the wardrobe ensures it complements the setting.
> Storage: The wardrobe in this room features sliding glass doors, this is ideal for rooms with less space.  Placing the bed in front of the wardrobe is an idea that can be used at home, it creates a feature wall style backdrop to the bed, and a form of ‘walk in robe’ space, just look for beds that are designed to be free standing, upholstered beds or beds with a significant head board will normally work best. The Romolo works particularly well due to the subtle leather detailing on the rear of the bed that adds an unexpected and interesting layer to this room.
> Cushions: Having lots of cushions on the bed is key to creating a relaxing haven; they are inviting, cosy and create that sense of luxury.  Having a variety of sizes, patterns or textures & materials will create a dynamic look; this look features various sizes that are highlighted in leather & woven textures.
> Full Length Mirror: an essential element in every bedroom, if you do not have one inside a wardrobe door or in a dressing room, look at free standing options such as the Trevi, Contempo or the Maya which is perfect if space is limited.
> Extra Shelves: The Cruz leather side tables look perfect at the foot of the bed, they complement the leather detailing on the Romolo, and provided extra storage for displaying personal effects or providing a place to put all those cushions at night.  Having an ottoman such as the stark, a bench or storage at the end of the bed is perfect for large bedrooms; it helps fill the space in the centre of the room giving the bedroom a fuller look.

GET THE LOOK:
Recreate this bedroom look using the Citi sliding door wardrobe (also available in alternative sizes & colours), the Romolo bed; with cushioned headboard & leather detailing. The Romolo upholstered bed is perfect for those who like to read in bed or want a softer, more inviting look. The Trevi mirror stand is a full length mirror that features a tri-pod style stand.  The Cruz leather side tables are the perfect size when placed together at the end of the bed, they provided some open storage to display personal items.  The Pelle folding stool provided a beautiful bedside with the timber grain adding texture & the crossed style legs adding shape and interest.  The lamp features a warm shade and a chrome base that perfectly complements the wardrobe, available in store only. Cushions & felt basket available in store, accessories are the stylists own.

"Secret to Success"

The secret to the success of a well-designed bedroom is making sure you have plenty of storage to hide the things that just don’t need to be on display. Make use of your vertical space and fill a wall with a tall 2.4m wardrobe. This can house your spare linen, blankets and towels as well as your hanging and folded clothes. The flexibility to customise your wardrobe to include features like a pants or tie rack, drawers and single or double hanging, means you can have the wardrobe you’ve always wanted.

Another secret to the successful design of your bedroom is to see the potential in your bedroom furniture. The Cassetti Dresser, for example, is not only a great place to apply makeup, but it can also store your folded clothes or linen and be used as a desk when you need to jump online with your laptop. Bedsides like the tall Cassetti, allow you to think outside the box and utilise it to store socks, underwear or accessories. By limiting the amount of items on display in your bedroom, and knowing that everything has its place, you will immediately feel calm, relaxed and content.

> View Wardrobe options

> View Bedroom Storage options