Party News and Ideas

It’s often reported that the average person spends about one third of his or her life sleeping.   But add in other activities and we actually spend much more than that in the bedroom.  Style and comfort, then, should be a top priority.  Fortunately, thanks to modern materials and designs (not to mention what we sometimes don’t like to admit: good marketing), any style imaginable can be delivered.

Consider the opposite of current modern furniture styling – the beautiful American Colonial style.   Descended from the days when a four poster was a bed, not a set of large photos of rock bands on the walls, it is still a great choice. Headboards are elegantly carved from woods such as oak or maple and look spectacular. A cloth canopy with draperies is often added.

Ironically, this style appears as the epitome of the upscale, well-to-do bedroom, yet the designs actually go back to the ordinary merchant of post-Revolutionary days.  But whether it’s a chest containing a down comforter or a chest of drawers that matches the rest, this style says ‘solid American values’.

Asian designs became popular around the turn of the 20th century and continued on to the present. For good reason: they incorporate ancient elegance with modern esthetic ideas of efficiency and minimalism.   They also make possible a range of colors that few other choices can encompass. The Asian color palette has gorgeous hues such as beautiful reds, vibrant greens, and the colors of the sun and sky.  Modern design even incorporates aspects of Asian design, as in the noguchi table.

A classic piece is the black lacquered armoire, with mother of pearl accent.  But even a simple jade or ceramic bowl on the dresser used to hold jewelry and coins can add a touch of Asia to the bedroom. The result is both cool and hot, both sexy and stylish. This yin and yang effect of Asian bedding and furniture brings into an intimate area all the exotic and stylish attributes that culture is famous for.   What could be more comfortable than a set of pillows in Mandarin red stuffed with goose down? Try spreading a stylish and functional area rugs with an Asian flair across the hardwood floor. That’s the Asian way.

In the 1950s Scandinavian, Swedish in particular, became all the rage. The popularity of the design hasn’t waned in the intervening years. It’s not hard to see why. Swedish design features clean lines and gorgeous yet simple elegance.

It harkens back to an older style such as that of the Shakers, suggesting simplicity and peaceful living. In this tumultuous era of living, this style is appreciated and valued.  Additionally, it reflects the simple lines and somewhat “futuristic” design of modern high tech. With this setup, you can integrate easily with other styles in the house, while maintaining a place of refuge from the world. What more could you ask for, to have the best of both design worlds?

No matter the style you choose, it is easier and easier to find gorgeous furniture and accents to set off your design.  Spending over a third of your life in the bedroom makes spending a little money to make it match you a great investment.

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Technorati Tags: area rug, modern furniture, noguchi table

If you’re looking for a way to up the charm and sophistication quotient of a room, consider the addition of an area rug.  Area rugs are not always expensive, and the investment is worth the money. Area rugs are the perfect compliment to a great coffee table.

In order to fully appreciate the impact of a beautiful area rug, you should choose a style that will accentuate your existing modern furniture.  Whether your modern furniture is classic, country, or contemporary, the type of area rug you choose should be of the same style family.  Simple area rugs are best paired with an ornate coffee table, so as to provide balance to the visual effect.  If, though, you have a “plain jane” coffee table, it might be worth it to go with a more elaborate design.   The principle is the same when it comes to other pieces of modern furniture and your window treatments.  Don’t be afraid to select bold colors and designs to draw attention to your modern furniture.

It is important to select an area rug made of a fiber that is appropriate for your room.    A home with young children is the perfect place for stain-resistant fiber. Common area rug materials are wool and silk blends, nylon, and even cotton (think bath mats).  It is no surprise that wool and silk are the most expensive options.  High-quality rugs are worth the investment; they will last for years to come. People with houses or apartments with open floor plans can use area rugs and other modern furniture to define spaces.   A thoughtful arrangement of the right area rug, coffee table, and modern couch will define itself to visitors.

It is vital to acquire a good pad that will sit beneath your area rug. Especially in the case of wood flooring, it is important to purchase a good pad.  At the very least, consider a non-slip pad to protect the safety of people in the home.   A new area rug will bring that “something special” to your room.  An affordable addition that adds a ton of charm and a lot of sophistication, the area rug is the perfect accent to all of your modern furniture.  If you follow a few easy guidelines:  matching the style of your eileen gray table to the style of your rug, making sure you select the right fiber type for your needs, and selecting an appropriate pad to go beneath the area rug, you are sure to be glad you made the choice to add an area rug to your home.

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Technorati Tags: area rugs, modern furniture

A glass coffee table is a piece of modern furniture that can serve many purposes. The noguchi table could be used just to place magazines and remotes on, but why limit yourself? Imagine a modern coffee table as the centerpiece of your room or a place to gather and work. Imagine all the uses such a piece of modern furniture can offer!

You have many different ways to use the coffee table as center piece in your living room. Consider putting a gorgeous flower arrangement atop the table. By taking a second layer of glass and placing a photo between the layers, you create a lovely conversation piece that is highly personalized. A candle on a small mirror is an easy centerpiece option. Silk flower petals around the candle create an elegant look to any room. By using a little imagination, you can create a lovely centerpiece for your glass coffee table.

A homework center is another option for a noguchi table especially if you are an art major. Perhaps you have an art project that necessitates tracing. Placing a lamp beneath the table to shine upward can help with this project. This is a quick and easy solution that could have cost you a lot of money buying the fancy art supplies for doing the same thing. The smooth surface of the glass coffee table provides an excellent place to work on any project whether homework for the art major or the four-year artist.

Ever found that the dining room table was too large for an intimate dinner for two? Witness this simple solution. Use your glass coffee table as a sophisticated table for two. Take the kids to your mother’s, place some beautiful flowers in the center of the table, and place comfy pillows around the table; voila, a romantic dinner! This should be an easy time of getting to know each other again.

See, there’s no need to just let that glass coffee table pile up with magazines and remotes. Try suggesting one of these ideas to a friend with a glass coffee table, or try one for yourself. Perhaps you’ll really enjoy this new use for your glass coffee table, and maybe you’ll think up a few of your own! Whatever you do, you will enjoy the many options available to those who own glass coffee tables.

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Technorati Tags: glass coffee table, modern furniture

There is a silent argument that fills every household in the nation. It’s a question that arises for every fussy cleaner and obsessive hygiene fan. You won’t hear it in conversation often, because you agree or your disagree. The question: glass, yes or no?  Today, America is all about the latest and the best of everything.   We want things to look good, but we also want them to be useful.   Everything needs to have effect as well as pizzazz. So, when homeowners and interior decorators contemplate design, glass inevitably enters their thoughts.  What about that glass display case in the bedroom?   And the noguchi table in the living room?   Is any piece of furniture worth keeping for the sake of beauty?

There is no denying the sleek look of glass. The utter transparency and reflective beauty that it holds, setting off rainbows in bright morning sunshine, and bouncing off candlelight in the evenings.   Behold the beauty of glass. Its no wonder people enjoy having glass objects in their home. With the diversity of modern furniture what it is today, there is the fair share of glass models amongst the mahogany and oak book shelves. Glass may be just what your looking for to brighten up your home and dazzle guests, if looks are what you’re after in furniture.

And yet, there can be many bad effects attached to owning glass furniture. Like any object, there are as many pros as there are cons. Glass can be, plainly put, a bit of a hassle. It picks up and displays every fingerprint, every smudge, and every watermark it comes in contact with. The care that goes into living with glass furniture can be extremely tiring. No one wants to march through the house every day, wiping down every shiny glass surface and nelson bench with paper towels like a soldier on duty. It simply becomes exhausting for some people.

Not to mention, the safety issues of having glass in the house. New parents know that glass can be challenging in the presence of young children.  Children leave handprints on the glass, and you are left to worry if there will be an accident leaving behind hurt children and shattered glass. It is one thing to knock over a wooden bench. A shattered glass coffee table is another thing entirely. It’s an accident that makes every parent shudder and hope never happens.

However, if the prospect of cleaning and caring for glass is not daunting, glass is a viable option for you. As many benefits as there are to having glass furniture, there are some drawbacks as well. It may not be for those who don’t have the time or money to keep it clean, or for parents who want to childproof their house. However, for others, it can be a stunning addition to any communal room.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Technorati Tags: modern furniture, nelson bench