Bespoke furniture manufacturers help to make your home look more spacious
Published February 20, 2012Creating a cosy, inviting space in a small room can be quite a challenge. In order to create a room that is pleasant to spend time in, you need to think carefully about the furniture, the wall colours, the soft furnishings and the decorative accessories that you will be using in the space. The right kind of decor change can make any space, however cramped it may seem, feel and look much more spacious. Many bespoke furniture manufacturers now specialise in designing modular furniture for smaller spaces that is multi-functional, stylish and suitable for a modestly sized room.
One of the biggest problems in a small room is clutter and even a seemingly small amount of clutter can make a room feel cramped. By installing cleverly designed storage units that can hide away bits and pieces kept in the room, you can instantly make the space feel larger than it really is. This is where a bespoke furniture designer is especially useful; they can add pull out drawers to other furniture, such as beds, sofas and coffee tables, so whatever you choose to use the space for, you can ensure that it will look and feel roomy.
Whilst in a large bedroom, for instance, a king size bed in the centre of the room can look very chic, this approach tends not to work very well in a smaller room. Creating a ‘walkway’ of some sort in the room is essential when trying to create the illusion of more space. Use furniture that can be placed along the walls and into the corners, as this will open up the floor space and make the room feel larger. Bespoke furniture manufacturers can help with this by providing furniture pieces such as armless chairs, corner cabinets and wall to wall shelving that fits perfectly into the space you have available.
In terms of colours, light shades are an absolute must in smaller rooms of the house. Although darker colours are great for creating a cosy, welcoming atmosphere, they will always make a room seem smaller than it really is and so are best avoided when working with a modestly sized space. If you love colour and want to avoid the starkness of white walls, then pastel shades in blue, yellow and green are all great options. If possible, the furniture and the colour of the walls should be similar in colour. Contrasting shades of colour tend to visually ‘break up’ the space and make it feel more cramped.
Lighting is another essential point to consider when decorating a smaller room. Any space will look larger when it is well lit, whether that’s by artificial lighting or natural light. Avoid using heavy drapes on the windows; instead, use layers of sheer, light fabrics, which will provide privacy without blocking out natural light sources.
In terms of how much furniture to put in the room, this will depend, of course, on what you are using the room for. However, as a general rule, a few larger pieces of furniture will work better than several small pieces, as these can make a room look and feel more cluttered than it really is.
Modern Updates Made To The Classic Leather Biker Jackets
Published February 10, 2012People who follow the fashion styles of celebrities have most likely seen many young men and women wearing updated styles of the classic leather biker jackets. The men’s jacket is available made of genuine cowhide leather in the classic black colour. The updated version uses a sleeker design instead of the bulky stiff leather style used in the 1950′s and 60′s. The softer grain allows the garment to be more flexible, which makes it more comfortable to wear. The men’s jacket will often have additional stitching along the back yoke and shoulders to enhance the masculine appearance.
The collar on the updated versions is also designed differently than the massive collar of the earlier styles. Men will find the collar available as a thin style or as a neck band. The sleeker design of the men’s biker jacket also removes the heavy appearance of the zippered sleeves and replaces them with fitted sleeves with ribbed knit cuffs. The front of the sleeker styled jacket will include pockets, which can either have zipper or snap flap closures. The front of the jacket still uses the classic zipper closure, but places it as a straight closure instead of at an angle.
There are also updated leather biker jackets available in styles for women. One of the trendier designs uses a double zippered front to create a form fitted style with visual appeal. Some designer styles model the jacket after the short crop style jackets for women, which can include asymmetrical zipper closures. These garments are often made using sheepskin or genuine lamb as the leather material. The classic biker jacket for women can come with the traditional waist belt and buckle for adjusting the fit. Classic styles are often updated by adding a soft fleece or fur lining, which is often removable.
People looking for the classic style of the old biker jacket will still find it available. Most of these have been updated by using the softer grain leather, but there are a few still made with the tougher stiff grain material. The softer grain is preferred because of its durability. The stiffer material was prone to cracking with use, which often occurred on the sleeves where the elbow would bend. The more supple leather does not have this problem, although it does still require a degree of care to maintain its softness. Even with the updated versions, it is clear this jacket remains a popular style among many people.
Refresh your home with stylish home lighting
Published February 8, 2012In these current cash-strapped times, the prospect of redecorating the home can feel a little ambitious, particularly if budgets are tight. Yet as spring approaches, most of us have the urge to update our living spaces with new designs and schemes that reflect the lightening evenings, new season and latest fashions.
The good news is that it’s possible to make significant changes to the way your home looks, by playing around with creative home lighting. As any designer will tell you, lighting is one of the most fundamental ‘make or break’ elements for interior design and by installing new lighting – or changing the arrangement of your current lights – you can instantly update, re-energise and refresh a tired decorating scheme.
The other good piece of news is that the home lighting market is bigger than ever and there are superb prices on many of the products. Whereas once great design was only available at a premium, now high street stores and DIY chains are offering fantastic diffusion lines where cutting-edge design meets competitive and affordable pricing. You’ll find too that the majority of new lighting increasingly incorporates energy efficient light bulb technology, which can save you serious money on your electricity bill and also slash your carbon footprint in the process. You’ll also find that the new low energy light units last up to ten times as long as traditional incandescent lights, so you’ll be doing your bit to minimise landfill too.
To refresh your home with the right lighting, take a good hard look at what’s currently in place. Which rooms make you feel energised and lively at night? Which rooms relax you? Which rooms do you gravitate to naturally? Are the rooms fit for purpose – for example, in the dining room, is there lighting that allows you to enjoy food together, without glare in anyone’s eyes around the dining table? In the living room is there task- based lighting that allows one person to read and another to watch television?
You’ll quickly get a sense of where you can make improvements. Firstly, try moving around existing lamps to refresh the atmosphere. Note the effects on the mood and layout of the rooms. Then look at the new ranges of home lighting available and find inspiration. For example, low hanging pendant lights have become popular in recent years to have over a dining table. They provide restaurant-style lighting that is soft and welcoming and which creates atmosphere. In the kitchen, rather than having harsh strip lighting overhead, look at under-cabinet lights, halogen spotters and runner lights. In a living room, mix up wall lights with a dimmer and floor lampshades for reading spaces. In the bedroom, opt for gloriously designed lampshades that fit on side tables and provide plenty of illumination for the room, without the need for a harsh overhead light.
Once you get started, you’ll find inspiration everywhere, particularly when you see the latest ranges available. Look for mirrored lights, engraved lights, coloured shades, unusual materials and different sizes – all easy ways to refresh your home’s appearance without breaking the bank!