Blog - Page 14

The Great Lounging Debate: Sofa vs. Sectional Tuesday, July 31, 2018
 Making a house a home require space for just about everything. Cooking, playing, creating, and sitting around watching Netflix. That last one may be the most important piece of the cozy home puzzle! So how should you lounge? On a traditional sofa or a sectional? First, let’s look at the options.

Sectional Options:

• Chaise Sectionals: A chaise sectional usually has three cushions: with the third being elongated into a chaise.
• L-Shaped Sectionals: These sectionals usually have five cushions: two on one side of the L, two on the other side and then one connecting the L shape. Basically, adding a second sofa to your space.
• U-Shaped Sectionals: U-shaped sectionals typically have a center with two sections extending from either side. They provide the same sitting space as two sofas and a love seat.
• Pit Sectionals: These are less common, as they take a large room to work! These sectionals are more like giant beds with a sofa function. 

Sofa Options:

• Three-Seater: This is the type of sofa you imagine when you hear the word, “sofa.” It seats three people and is great for grabbing a catnap.
• Two-seater: These are typically referred to as loveseats but can fall into the sofa category. These are best when used in conjunction with other furniture and for when space is limited.
• Sleeper: These turn your living room into another bedroom. These are great for houseguests, studio apartments or movie night!

Space Matters

While a sectional may offer more seating options than a sofa, it also takes up more space. A sofa will blend effortlessly into your living room, while a sectional tends to dominate the space. There are ways to make both options work in the right area, but most spaces will lean towards either a sofa or a sectional.

It really depends on the needs of your family and the space of your room. If you need lots of seating and have a large enough space a sectional is a great option. However, if you have a small family or limited space, then a sofa will work quite nicely.

Before going with a sectional be sure to measure, measure, measure! They usually disassemble sectionals for delivery, however, the pieces can still be bulky and may not fit through a doorframe or a narrow staircase.

 

Personal Preference

This also should play a huge role in the great lounging debate. Which do you like best? Some people prefer the cozy look of a plush sectional, while others want a simple sofa to cuddle up with a good book. Another often overlooked option is getting two sofas instead of the sofa and loveseat combo. This can add the seating of a sectional for rooms that might not easily accommodate one. There’s no wrong choice! Just know your options.

The Perfect Pieces to Perk Up a Farmhouse Home Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Farmhouse homes never go out of style. Living simply and brightly is a theme that never strays from the hearts of hardworking homeowners. If finding the farmhouse in your home is where your senses are taking you, check out these perfect pieces of furniture to add to any room.

Mixed Wood
Rustic but not rough! Look for simple, unpainted wood to decorate your farmhouse. Maybe an oversized wooden coffee table, or simple wooden stools for your kitchen island. Use wooden plank shelves or even consider wooden counter tops!

Tips: A wooden entertainment center is perfect for a rustic look. Avoid anything too glossy, look for aged perfection. Also, consider a simple wooden table for your dining room. Again, keep an eye out for a simple design. Don’t be afraid to mix and match wooden finished and textures. Farmhouses tend to blend different elements.

Light colors for furniture
If you want to stay true to a relaxing and claiming farmhouse theme, stay away from bright paint and furniture colors. Instead, rely on throw pillows and curtains for you pops of color.

Tips: Choose light and simple chairs for sitting and a comfy couch for lounging that won’t overwhelm the room. Remember to embrace your farmhouse theme by keeping it simple. You can add pops of color here and there, remembering that the typical farmhouse style is light and airy.


Leather Recliners
Nothing says rustic farmhouse like a pair of leather recliners. Look for a comfortable leather with a slightly worn look, or a leather that will wear well over time. Nothing with a glossy finish.

Tips: Keep your lifestyle in mind when choosing your leather recliner. If you have cats, their claws can do a number on leather. Some leathers can also require special care, so be sure you fully understand the maintenance needs before making the purchase. Nothing says rustic farmhouse like a pair of leather recliners. Look for a comfortable leather with a slightly worn look, or a leather that will wear well over time. Nothing with a glossy finish.


Oversized Ottoman
A larger ottoman is the perfect complement to a farmhouse. It serves as seating, storage, and a place to put your feet up.

Tip: If you have a large space, consider two or more ottomans that can be huddled together as a group for movie night or spread around the room for relaxation.


Old World Touches
Embracing a farmhouse theme will give you the chance to display items that may have otherwise ended up in the “donation” box. Display your grandmother’s pore over coffee maker, show off your grandfather’s wooden gardening tools; these objects go perfectly with the theme and can be used as artful conversation pieces.

Tip: Not everything has to be framed or hung on the wall. Use your aunt’s old pickling jar as a vase or your father’s whiskey decanter as a bookend.

Farmhouse life is all about keeping it simple. However, simple does not have to mean sparse and plain. Don’t be afraid to mix varied textures, materials, and looks.  Hints of metal and pops of color add to the comfy feel of a farmhouse styled home. Just look to what makes you happy and comfortable, then let your furniture choices flow.

Mattress Buying Guide Friday, July 6, 2018

In most homes, sleep is a precious commodity. A mattress matters to your overall health and well-being. Consumer Reports recommends a new mattress every 7 to 10 years. If you are concerned about the age and quality of your mattress, it may be time to shop around. But where do you begin? Here’s a handy mattress buying guide that will help you get started.

Types of Mattresses

There are two basic categories of mattresses:

Innerspring: These are the traditional mattresses with springs. They can be all tied together or individually wrapped.

Specialty foam: These will usually be made of different types of foam. Two categories of specialty foam are latex and memory foam.

Beyond these two major categories, there are other types that are a bit rarer. Some manufacturers make air mattresses that use air chambers instead of springs for support. Plus, the darling of the 80’s, waterbeds, are still around. These two subgroups are a specialty market and are not nearly as common as an innerspring or specialty foam mattresses.

There are also beds with adjustable frames like the Serta Motion Plus.

Innerspring Mattresses

The most common mattress is innerspring. They have metal coils inside the mattress with foam and fiber on the top. The lower-priced mattresses tend to use the older style coil in which they’re all tied together.

The more quality mattresses have stronger springs and will be individually wrapped. If the springs are individually wrapped, they contour better to your body and have less transfer of motion. So, if one person bounces around or changes positions, the partner will not notice it as much.

Many innerspring mattresses also offer the added luxury of a pillow top. The Englander King Size Laurel Pillow Top offers plush, quilted layers with the support of an innerspring.

Specialty Foam

Foam mattresses are becoming much more popular, and they tend to get higher customer satisfaction ratings than innerspring mattresses. There are two major types of specialty foam, latex and memory foam. A foam bed will usually have at least one of them, if not both.

Memory foam is probably the most recognized type of foam in bedding. It is a slower-response foam that takes time to return to its normal position. This has the benefit less pressure to the body. Memory foam is often mixed with a type of gel to add additional support and cooling. Some foam mattresses are a bit stuffy.

Latex foam is the other type of common specialty foam. It tends to be more supportive and more durable than memory foam and feels a bit cooler to the touch. However, it is not as effective as memory foam at relieving pressure.

Most of the time, these types of foam will be put on a base of what’s called “poly foam,” which is just a high-density, resilient support foam. Many times, memory foam and latex are mixed.

Foam Plus Springs

Many of the top-rated mattresses offer a mix of both springs and foam. This Beautyrest mattress features an advanced pocketed coil technology combined with multiple layers of advanced memory gel foam. It offers support, cooling action and pressure relief.

You should expect to spend anywhere from $350-$600 on a basic king size mattress. One in the $900-$1500 range is more common for a quality night of sleep. One with all of the bells and whistles of memory foam, individually wrapped coils, and gel could run over $2000.

Bedframe vs Headboard Friday, July 6, 2018

It’s tempting for a do-it-yourselfer to attach a headboard to the wall over a metal frame bed. However, this may not be the best or most cost-effective option for your bedroom. A bed and bedroom are an oasis in your home. For many, it’s the only room of the house they can truly call their own. Finding the right bedroom furniture to create the right place to relax is essential to love your space.

Here are a few reasons why it’s important to buy the entire bed frame and not just a headboard.

• Price

  Headboards alone can be upwards of $300 dollars; the entire package, headboard and frame can actually be easier on your pocketbook. Look at the Marshall Queen size bed. It starts at a price that’s less than a quality queen size headboard. For one price you get a nice frame that matches your headboard and the other pieces in your room. You won’t have to spend extra time and fuss trying to hide that metal bedframe under bedding.

• Style

  You may be tempted to buy a headboard for the unique style you think it will add to your room. But beds can add style all on their own. Many come with gorgeous headboards that attach to the bed and not to your wall. The Kaitlyn Queen bed makes a statement with its oversized headboard. This can easily be the design center of your space. You can play off of a bed like this to create an entirely unique master bedroom. Plus, you have the added style that the bed frame itself brings to your space.

• Ease

  Besides being easier on your wallet, buying the entire bed is actually easier to live with. Most headboards are going to attach to the wall above your metal frame bed. That means unsightly screw holes and some elbow grease to put together the look you are hoping for. And once you attach it to the wall, it cannot be easily moved. With the purchase of an entire bed frame, the headboard attaches to the frame itself. It can be placed in front of a window, at an angle or in the middle of the room. It can also be easily moved at any time.

• Statement

  It’s easier to make a statement with an entire bed. Look at the Chateau King bed. Its posts, along with the headboard, can be the centerpiece of any bedroom. It makes a clear statement on style and comfort. It allows for understated bedding and accompanying furniture. A bed like this can be an anchor of design in a plain bedroom.

Just buying the headboard limits your bedroom’s potential. It limits the placement and style of your bed. It also means extra costs for bed skirts, and more ostentatious bedding in general, to camouflage the metal frame. A bed frame with headboard and footboard is often the better option for price and flexibility.

Fresh Ways to Decorate Your Camp Saturday, June 30, 2018

It can be tempting to just grab a few pieces of discarded furniture, haul them over to the camp, and call it a day. But, your camp is really your home away from home. Why not make it more inviting and relaxing? Just follow these quick and easy steps to make your next trip to the camp a comfy one.

1. Used is OK…BUT

Used furniture for your camp is perfectly fine BUT spend a little money on a few new pieces. If you use an old sofa, add a few new side tables. Or if your old lounger finds its way to the camp, buy new lamps. Mix a bit of the “well-loved” with “will be loved” furniture. You want to feel as comfortable in your camp as you would be in your home.

2. Mountings

It’s easy to put mounted game up on the wall at your camp. It’s a great way to show off your trophies but be sure that’s not all you have adorning your walls. Add family pictures, shelving, travel photos and more! Consider grouping any hunting or fishing trophies together for a more updated look. Maybe limit the game and trophies to one room of the camp.

3. Small Space?

If space is limited, ditch the overly masculine and bulky furniture. Find slimmer pieces and opt for seating that has a dual purpose. Consider footstools that double as storage or a sofa that pulls out into a bed. Perhaps a futon would be a better idea than a full sofa.

4. Rugs

Nothing will tie a place together and make it a bit cozier like a few well-placed rugs. Add a rug to the living and sleeping space. If you have the room, place a few rugs in one room, it will help designate the living space, dining space and sleeping space of a smaller camp.

5. Use the Outdoors

Open things up a bit! If there’s a way to create an indoor/outdoor space, do it! Maybe your screened in porch can serve as the dining area? Make it the dining room by adding all the touches of an indoor dining room. Great lighting, shelves, greenery and more will help transform a simple porch into an inviting room of the camp!

6. Stone and Wood

Not everyone can afford a log cabin, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add rustic pieces here and there. Consider wooden rocking chairs, stone topped tables, or a rustic kitchen island to help a few of nature’s elements in your camp.

Treat a camp like what it is—a second home. Don’t just throw a few pieces in a room and put your feet up. Spend a little extra time adding touches that will make your time there memorable

Get Ruby Red Hot This July Thursday, June 14, 2018

For those of us lucky enough to be born in July, ruby red touches in the home seem extra special. Ruby is the birthstone of July and it’s the perfect color to make a statement in your house. Red is timeless and blends with a variety of styles and colors. Ruby red can complement farmhouse, French country, rustic, and modern tastes.

Here are a few ideas on how to incorporate ruby red into your home.

Go Bold with an Accent ChairAn accent chair that highlights ruby is a stunning addition to any living room or office. Your eye is instantly drawn to the color and style of the chair. It makes a statement all its own.

Red Bedding
How about plush red bedding for your bedroom? Red bedding can turn a plain jane bedroom into a stunning place to relax. You can turn down the red with more subdued gray accessories or turn the ruby up to 10 with bright marigold pillows!

Ruby Ottoman
How about a statement piece that also lets you relax? An ottoman that drips in ruby red can be the center of any room. (not ready to make that big of a splash with red…keep reading).

Throws and Pillows
Not fully committed to ruby? Try it out with red throw blankets and pillows. They are a great way to add color to a more traditional living space. Red goes great with yellow, cool blues, and worn leather browns. How about a ruby red throw on a nice gray ottoman?

Daring in the Dining Room
Want to make a statement in the dining room? Look for red dining chairs! Pair that with a dark wood dining room table and your guests will be “red with envy.”

Area Rugs
If you want to be really bold, an area rug that draws in ruby red is a perfect fit. Rugs can come in a variety of patterns and don’t necessarily have to be one solid block of color. A rug that offers hints of ruby red can play well with any style home. You can also add the rug to the living room, dining room, bedroom or even kitchen.

Vases and Frames
A ruby red place to showcase fresh cut flowers will certainly turn heads. You can also add some bright red frames and make an art wall with some of your family pictures. Scatter red through out your space with little touches here and there.

Ruby red is a stunning way to show a bit of personality in your space. It goes with almost every color on the spectrum and rarely clashes with décor. Whether you incorporate a little or a lot, red will pop out of the background.

Timeless Trappings: Classic Furniture Never Goes Out of Style Monday, April 30, 2018

Ever walk into a home and instantly know that sofa is from 1992, back when plaid and hunter green was all the fad? Yep, it’s best to update a home’s look every now and then and have a few staple elements that never go out of style.

 

Here are a few ideas for signature pieces that will stand the test of time.

Wingback Chair
These are classic and comfy chairs that will flow with any décor. They can grace farmhouse, modern, and vintage styles and never clash with the current decade. If properly maintained, these chairs become heirloom pieces that can be passed down through the decades.

Shaker Style Dresser 
Shaker furniture always seems to find it’s way back to the homes and hearts of rooms across the country. The simple design and limited ornamentation mean these deceptively plain pieces will never go out of fashion. Remember, they aren’t just for the bedroom. A shaker style dresser can compliment a living room, game room or bathroom.

Chaise LoungeWhether it’s a stand-alone chaise lounge or one that’s part of a sectional sofa, these beauties pair function, and fashion. They are versatile and can easily go into a living room, office or bedroom. Sometimes the fabric may need to be updated, but the style of the chaise is timeless.

Bentwood Dining ChairsBentwood chairs are strong, lightweight, and have been used in homes since the 1850s. They complement any dining area from classic to contemporary. A bentwood chair also makes a nice accent chair or corner seating option.

Chesterfield Couch
This classic design has been in vogue since the 1700s. It’s comfortable, stylish, and comes in a variety of fabrics. This sofa style would be at home anywhere from a rustic cabin to an ornate living room or modern office. These are usually passed down through families and recovered to update the look of the upholstery.

Tulip Table
You may not recognize the name, but the style has been around for decades. A tulip table eliminates the legs of a table and balances the top on one single base. These tables are perfect for breakfast nooks, where chair space might be limited.

Tufted Headboard
These wonderful headboards never seem to age. They often come separate from the bed frame and can be used over and over again with various décor themes. They blend effortlessly from farmhouse to modern and can be passed down over the years.

When choosing your furniture, try to incorporate at least one classically designed piece that can be a mainstay for years to come. Keep your trendy touches to more easily changed aspects, like side tables, lamps, and rugs.