Archive for July, 2011
Choosing The Most Appropriate Dining Table and Dining Chairs For Your Space
Posted by admin in Dining Room Furniture on July 28, 2011
Dining tables are fast becoming one of the most important pieces of furniture we will buy. Whether you put them in a dedicated dining room, or in your kitchen they are still the piece of furniture we use the most for entertaining and celebrating special occasions. Dining tables and dining chairs come in huge range of styles and sizes so this is generally a decision that requires some forethought and planning.
Make sure you measure your dining room/space carefully. Measuring up properly is one of the most important things you can do, and you will need exact measurements, not a vague idea of the space. There is nothing worse than spending hours finding the perfect dining furniture only to discover it’s too large.
Think about how the dining table will fit in the space. Whilst its tempting to get the biggest dining table you possibly can you will need to consider leaving enough space for your guests or family to push their chairs back, and get in and out. You should really allow a metre on each side if you can, any less and people wont be able to get in and out without disrupting the table, which is not most peoples idea of a relaxing meal.
Next to consider is the number of people you would like to have seated at the table on a day to day basis, and at special occasions. There is a huge selection of extending dining tables around these days, so if you will definitely want to entertain more people than you would seat day to day. Each diner will need at least 60 cm of width to accommodate their dining chair and place setting.
Choose a height for the dining room table. A standard table is 30 inches high. Generally, 29 inches are provided by the table legs while the thickness of the table provides the additional inch. If you use a thicker table top then simply shorten the legs to compensate.
Don’t forget to make sure your dining chairs are the right height for your table too. Dining tables can be anything from 70 cm to 74 cm high, and although chairs are supposed to be standard sizes they do vary in height.
Choosing the shape of your dining table is the next step. If it is going to be a highly social area, and the scene of many dinner parties, a round or oval dining table encourages conversation amongst all of your guests, and also has a little bit more room in the middle for serving dishes. It is rare for a round or oval table to be an extending table, so the size you buy should be big enough for your needs. Round dining tables also work well if your table is in the middle of an open plan living space as they can fit into corners and wont dominate the room, although they do take up a little more space.
If you only have a small amount of space a square table is probably your best option. Most will seat 2-4 and quite a number of square tables can be extended to seat more. Square tables are cosy for smaller groups but often have less room for serving dishes etc. Read the rest of this entry »
How To Design An Ultra-Modern Kitchen
Posted by admin in Kitchen Designs, Modern Kitchen on July 26, 2011
The style of kitchen a person prefers is determined by two things: their personal taste and how the room will be used. For a professional man, woman or couple, it is likely that a modern, well equipped kitchen will be the preferred option. Here are some handy tips to designing just that sort of kitchen.
First of all, finding a good designer with access to kitchen design software is essential. After all, that’s the modern way to do things – no room for pen and paper here – and it is a modern kitchen you’re after. The 3D CAD software will allow you to design and redesign over and over until you are completely happy with how the kitchen looks. Often called kitchen planner software, you can use it to create the layout, choose surface materials, textures and colours, floor coverings and colours, select and place fixtures, fittings and appliances such as taps, lighting and refrigerators, even add in the finishing touches like paintings on the wall, bowls of fruit on the worktops or wine bottles in the wine rack!
In the long run 3D CAD kitchen software will save you both time and money by protecting you from mistakes when it comes to the installation of your new kitchen.
Colours & Materials
For an ultra-modern kitchen you’ll want to look at modern materials and bold colours. Consider marble for worktops in colours like black, white and red. There is specialist marble that contains glittery elements to really stand out under the lights of your kitchen. An alternative to marble and perhaps more suited to a smaller budget is stainless steel worktops and splashbacks. They provide a modern look that is very easy to clean and maintain.
For flooring there are many options. Tiles of various materials in a colour that matches the worktops is a great choice. You could choose from slate, rubber or vinyl in various effects and linoleum (though this isn’t an ideal choice!). If you prefer, you could use wooden flooring, though you would be better off choosing a dark wood as this has a more contemporary look than light wood which would better suit a rustic style kitchen.
For cupboard doors, drawers and appliance fronts your choices are almost unlimited. Ideally you would want to choose a colour that contrasts strongly with the your choice for the worktops and floor. If, for example, you have chosen black work tops, then clean white cupboards and drawers will really stand out, especially if they are in a shiny, easily wipeable material. Stainless steel handles will complete the modern look. Read the rest of this entry »