Chairs and more - furniture you can relax in

When you think about chair design, there's actually a whole lot more to the discipline than simply the aesthetics of it. Think of the classic Eames designs - so much went into them that it's impossible to separate the love of design from the love the actual concept of the chair itself - and what you get is the confluence of the ergonomic, teh aesthetic, the physical, and beyond the physical - the construction of an object that almost disappears when it's being used.

Think of all the different types of seating and soon it becomes apparent that this is an area of design that's ubiquitous - from municipal parks to space stations. Although when in space the gravity's not a concern, and makes the design rules change more than a little...

Of course, an original Eames would be a collector item now. But there's still plenty of great design available these days that utilise the same level of design smarts to maximise the comfort of the user - relaxateeze recliners such as this one most definitely please the eye as well as give the kind of chair comfort this side of space.

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Choice of Fabric

Sometimes the emphasis in the choice of sofa is overly about the design, however this is to overlook the choice of fabric, which can be crucial in whether or not a room has the right 'feel' to it or not.

Things have moved apace since the 1970s and flock wallpaper, the contemporary living room is judged as severely as high street fashion. "Keeping up with the jones'" means exactly that in today's world.

Although colour is often rated above the choice of fabric, when deciding upon the fabric, a luxurious leather sofa, can transform the entire vibe of a room. From the normal into the elegant. From the bland into the exotic.

Remember this when considering how your living looks and what that will say to your house guests, the next time your friends pop round.

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Makeover

Sometimes you don't have to go overboard when making over your living room, you just need a bit of thought. I don't mean a fresh coat of paint nor do I mean shifting the existing furniture. But there are lots of other things that you can do besides.

Candles in alcoves set off the contrast between the furniture and the wall spaces in a way that gets you part of the way there. But there are other things....

Stenciling - This is an easy way to decorate a rather bland background, but you have to be sure that the few designs you make are what you want, otherwise you might as well try.....

Grafitto - given a bad name by it's modern counterpart Grafitti, grafitto comes from the Italian word for scratched, and it involves painting a wall twice, then removing some of the upper layer in order to show the contrast between the tones. This is a good bit more difficult but it is far more pleasing upon the eye if done well.

Lastly, think about the curtains, I do prefer to have blinds, in the midwinter they can be completely closed, yet I seem to think they let in more sun in summer. Perhaps it's just in my mind.

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Bespoke Living Room Design

Some designers would have it that you buy their ideas for your living room. They believe that because they had a theme in their heads, and because they are paid to design, you should accept their theme.

But isn't the way you feel in your own living room far more important the holistic dreams of some person with their head in the clouds. That is why sometimes it is better to pick the individual peices of furniture on their own merits and put them together the way you like it, even if it is just to enjoy the deliberate juxtaposition.

And besides if you by the entire designer range, it would probably cost a fortune, when you could trawl your way round the furniture shops built out of town, of course you could just buy your furniture online.

In order to keep your mind free I have decided to omit my usual collection of images.

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Open Plan : Minimalism

There are always people who value their space. Quite often the place to look is Japan. The Japanese have been doing minimalism since their culture started.

From the traditional white walls with well hidden cupboards to the now famous futon, which can be easily put away to create more space throughout the day.

In the west, the size and shape of the modern city centre apartment has not been quite comparable, until recently, to those of Tokyo and Yokohama, where overcrowding made the available floor size reduce dramatically after the 1950s.

Without taking anything from the Japanese style, I don't think the British Market is ready for "out and out" minimalism, so what is needed is something in between. Something with all the embellishments of a modern household, but with the possibility of making the space uncluttered.

Seating can be comfortable without being too large and immovable, and light colours make a room seem more bright and airy.

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Modern Black & White : Light with Dark

This is the new decade so we ought not go back to the old days, but that doesn't mean we can't learn from the past.

Contrast can have a striking effect in your living room. But it doesn't have to be as stark a contrast as Black/White. Why not try a dark brown against several shades of cream.

Lately there has been a 'thing' for metallic effect in furniture design, but it is certainly not for everyone. And to go down a more natural look to your furniture doesn't mean a move away from straight edges. Modern finishing on even the most natural wooden tables gives the effect of a contemporary living space.

Remember, these are just ideas, for your own living space you can always think 'outside the box.'

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Welcome

This is my new blog where follow all the trends coming up in this new decade for furniture design, and concepts in layout for your living spaces.

We look at everything from retakes on classical design, to everything that is modern and forward thinking. We also know that these days modern living spaces are no longer as "one-size-fits-all" as it once was. Nowadays we settle back in converted loft areas, in studio apartments, we have even seen renovated churches turned into residences.

Therefore we need furniture design to complement the spaces we choose to entertain friends and family. From corner-sofas in place of the classical long sofa for the bijou apartment, to dining tables which with a few small adjustments can accommodate any extra dinner guest you might choose to invite.

Remember to bookmark this site as we will be regularly updating this site, to keep YOU informed on all the new ideas in the world of design.

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