Interior Design Ideas & Advice from Darlings of Chelsea

Finishing Touches – Scatter Cushions

2012-05-14T12:27:02Z

Buying brand new leather sofas or fabric sofas for your home is a daunting but exciting task. There are plenty of different styles and designs to choose from, any of which could look sublime when you purchase them, take delivery and move them into position in the room of your choice.

But even when you have your desired sofa the process doesn’t end there. In many ways the best effect is only achieved when you add those few essential finishing touches. A sofa on its own can look very bare, so here are some tips on making sure you dress it for the best appearance.

Scatter cushions

Of course the most frequently added items to any type of sofa are cushions. Scatter cushions are ideal to use with all types of leather sofas and fabric sofas. They also work well with sofa beds as you can add them to the pillows to make the bed more comfortable once you have pulled it out to use.

It is important to choose something that complements your existing sofa if you can. Contrasting styles work very well indeed. For example if you have a patterned sofa, think about getting plain cushions to go with it. Anything else would be a bit overwhelming. Conversely if your sofa is plain, opt for some patterned cushions to contrast nicely.

You can also vary the styles and finishes of the cushions you get. For example there is no need to have them all the same. If you have a plain sofa, get some flowery cushions in different designs to match in. It provides that extra little bit of attraction.

Throws

You’re not limited to using scatter cushions on your new sofa either. Sofa beds, leather sofas and fabric sofas can all make good use of throws. Some throws are designed to completely recover an existing sofa in a casually fitted way. This might be worth thinking about for parties and other celebrations, if you want a quick change of appearance.

In most situations though, you can buy a throw that can be casually folded and hung over the back of the sofa. In this way you can use it to complement the sofa and the cushions you have purchased, while also keeping it handy to use if you wish. You may find yourself grabbing it to use to keep yourself warm with on those cold winter nights. What better way to snuggle up on a sofa than this?

As you can see it is worth putting some thought into how leather sofas can be completed by a judiciously chosen throw and some scatter cushions. The same applies to fabric sofas. Whatever you might have and whatever type of material it is made from, you can always find one or two things to add to it to provide those finishing touches you desire. When you apply them you will be able to see how much different and more appealing the room looks as a result.

The above cushion and throw image are from Terrys Fabrics.
To view these products visit: www.terrysfabrics.co.uk

Lamps – Make Your Room Shine

2012-04-26T15:40:49Z

You cannot underestimate the power of lighting in your home. When you’ve spent a lot of time designing and decorating a particular room, it makes sense that you want to finish it in just the right way.

The best way to do this is by getting some superb lighting to accentuate those areas that are worth highlighting. You also want practical lighting that will make it easy to read, work or simply to enjoy your surroundings on those long winter evenings.

As you can see there is a lot to think about when it comes to good lighting. Here are some points worth noting in this respect.

Lamps

Lamps can be an essential finishing touch to many rooms. Your lounge may have one or two side tables that would benefit from a stylish lamp. You may want something chunky and solid like the large chrome urn style lamp for example. Alternatively you may have a more modern theme in mind that would be perfectly finished with a chrome angled lamp. This is particularly good in a home office, and also for your favourite reading armchair. You can angle the light to shine just where you need it most.

Floor Lamps

Sometimes you want something that fits perfectly between the larger ceiling light and any table lamps you might have. In this case you should look at the wide range of floor lamps that are available for purchase today.

If you like the idea of angled lighting that can go wherever you want it to, you can get an angled floor lamp that is ideal for this purpose. Modern lighting is available in many styles and designs, and you can choose something that looks as if it has been taken out of a film studio if you wish. Try the chrome spotlight and its integral stand if you want something that is purely 21st century.

Table Lamps

Regardless of whether you have just decorated your room or you are looking for a lamp that will fit in with your current decor, you are bound to find a suitable table lamp for your needs.

Table lamps are a welcome addition to every room in the home. If you have a suitable side table or perhaps a larger unit on which a lamp will comfortably sit, you have the ideal place in which to ensure your table lamp will be at home.

As we have already seen, there are both modern and traditional lamps you can buy that will fit in with the decor you already have. The more you learn about your needs and what you want, the easier it will be to choose the best lamp for each room. Remember also that you can get floor and table lamps that match each other, providing the perfect opportunity to complete the whole look of the room at a convenient and affordable price.

In short, it is good to shed some light on your home with the help of some well chosen lamps.

Lounge Around – Recliner Chairs

2012-04-23T13:40:10Z

Front room, living room or lounge – we’ve got all kinds of names for the room we use to relax in on a regular basis, whether it is on our own or with the rest of the family.

But for many people the word ‘lounge’ comes closest to what we use this room for. And if you want to relax and snuggle back into a chair that the word ‘luxury’ was really made for, you should take a look at the range of recliner chairs that are available to buy now. You’ll probably come up with plenty more reasons to get one than to pass on it!

Recliner Chairs

So what is it about reclining chairs that make them must have items for the lounge or living room? Perhaps it is the fact that they are made to be comfortable. Imagine snuggling back into one of them and watching your favourite programme on television. Perhaps you would grab your latest novel and take some time out to read and relax in the evenings. Maybe it would be the best place to get comfortable when you are nursing a cold.

The best part of a recliner chair is that it reclines to give you a more relaxed position to sit in. It can be used as a traditional armchair if you wish, but once you have tried the reclining action once you’ll probably find it irresistible to use over and over again.

Another big advantage of these reclining chairs is that some of them are available in leather as well as fabric. Take the Orbit leather recliner chair for example. This is pure luxury and it is sure to fit in with any type of decor. Alternatively you could order the Orbit recliner chair in the fabric of your choice. Would you like a funky and fresh pattern or something darker and more refined? The choice is yours, but whatever finish you choose you can still enjoy the same great design and comfort that comes as standard.

There is no doubt that reclining chairs are becoming more popular as more people discover their many benefits. Some of these chairs have a swivel motion too, such as the Carlos fabric recliner chair for example. Sink back into the cushions and swivel round to talk to your partner or perhaps to turn back to the television. With dozens of fabrics to choose from there is no doubt that this chair is a real delight and the perfect addition to any room.

Even though the designs and looks of these recliner chairs vary a lot between the different models, they all have one thing in common. You can be assured of superb quality and luscious attention to detail every time. You certainly deserve a touch of luxury and what better way to satisfy that need than to invest in your choice of leather recliner chair or fabric recliner chair? When you are sinking back into the cushions you’ll be glad you made this choice.

Spring – Furniture Sale

2012-04-16T11:54:08Z

Spring is a fabulous time of the year to revamp your home and freshen it up for the warmer months ahead. With this in mind it is worth exploring the many opportunities that exist to buy a brand new sofa at a lower price in one of the spring sales.

We’ve got some superb offers on many of our popular sofas, and regardless of what you would like to have you are bound to find something just right for your needs. We have leather sofas, fabric sofas and even corner sofas on offer, so whatever you are looking for to place in your home, you will soon find something perfect from our collection.

Leather Sofas

There is no doubt that leather sofas are very popular in many households, and they look quite stunning too. Take the Sloane sofa for example, which is a very popular item in our range. The Serafina is also popular and is designed to appeal to many tastes and desires.

Leather sofas have the advantage of being able to look thoroughly modern and also very traditional, depending on the type and colour of the leather you choose. This is the trick to bear in mind when you are looking at the various reduced items in our leather sofas sale. Which one will suit your home best and make it look fresh and inviting this spring?

Remember too that corner sofas are available in leather as well. It doesn’t matter whether you want something modern or traditional, you are sure to find a corner sofa that will fit the bill.

Fabric Sofas

Of course many people still love the comfort and quality that fabric sofas can offer. Whether you opt for the Morellia, the Islington or something else altogether, there is no denying the superb attention to detail that has gone into every piece.

Fabric gives you the advantage of choosing from patterned or plain designs. But even if you opt for something plain it doesn’t have to mean understated. You could opt for a brightly coloured sofa that stands out as a focal point in your room. What better way could there be to freshen things up for the spring and summer months ahead?

And you also have the option of getting fabric corner sofas if this would be the best choice for your living room or lounge area. Corner sofas are becoming more popular all the time, and the comforting design means you’re sure to find something that will be perfect for your needs.

Whatever you are looking for, if you are considering replacing your sofa now, there has never been a better time to look for something well made and high quality. Look in our Sofa Sale to find just the right item at a much lower price than you would normally have to pay. Whatever you want to get for your home, you will find the solution here. Look forward to spring with a new look in your home!

Armchairs – Some Of Our Favourites

2012-04-10T12:20:08Z

There is nothing quite like having a favourite armchair you can sink into at the end of the day. Regardless of what you want from your armchairs, whether you want a fabric or a leather armchair, you always know when you have chosen just the right chair for your needs.

Armchairs

What does your favourite armchair say about you? When all is said and done, comfort is just one of the things you have to think about. Some of our favourite armchair designs are those that really make a statement and demand to be noticed. Take the Titania chair for example, made in a gorgeously luxurious designer fabric with contrasting button colours. It’s also beautifully finished in every detail, giving you plenty of reasons to find a space for it in your home.

Of course designer armchairs are loved by many people for many different reasons. It’s not just the fine detailing and careful construction that makes these chairs a must have. If you want an armchair you can come home to for comfort and style, these chairs will certainly fit the bill.

Larkin Loveseat Armchair ^

Leather Armchairs

When you think about leather armchairs, what do you think of first? Do you think of wonderfully aged leather that welcomes you as soon as you sit down? Do you think about something like the Reader Chair, beautifully put together so you can enjoy that all encompassing experience of settling back with your favourite book?

The great thing about the Reader Chair is that you have a sumptuous range of leathers to choose from when it comes to picking the one that will suit your home. Light and dark options are available, together with different grades of leather, so if you want to spend that little bit more you can do.

We all expect something different from our armchairs, but if you want the very best to sink back into when you have that latest bestseller to read, this is definitely one of our favourites we’d like to recommend.

Marrisa Fabric Chair ^

Fabric Armchairs

Sometimes there is no substitute for fabric armchairs. Leather has its appeal but fabric can be just as stunning, especially when the highest quality fabrics are used to get the very best effect.

We’ve got some top favourites in our range too, such as the Raphael swivel chair with a matching footstool, and the La Fiesta fabric chair that offers a lush series of cushions to fall back into at the end of the day.

Put simply, we all demand something different from our armchairs. But our collection aims to provide all of these things and more, no matter what you are looking for. There is every reason why you should enjoy the feel of the best quality armchair when it comes to investing in a new one. We think it should be a smart investment – one you’ll be proud of and you’ll enjoy for many years to come. As you can see, we’ve got something for everyone in both leather and fabric: all you have to do is choose.

Getting that Restaurant Look

2012-03-26T09:16:21Z

If you’re interested in trying to find an alternative look for your dining room area, why not take a look around at the upmarket restaurants and bars that are very much in fashion for inspiration. With most of them looking for that cutting edge of fashion along with traditional good looking furniture, you will be surprised just how many great ideas you can pick up from looking around at the restaurant furniture that your favorite local has to offer.

Dining Chairs

Everyone is on the lookout for something that little bit more interesting and in search of something more unusual. Bar furniture is one area that is often overlooked when seeking inspiration, and yet if you take a look when next in your favourite bar, you will be surprised at just how much these establishments can influence design ideas.

With dining chairs available in a mixed variety of shapes and sizes, how about really setting tongues wagging with the cow hide chair. More of a casual chair for the dining area than a dining chair the cow hide chair features a choice of naturally distressed leathers along with a waxed based coat for additional strength and protection from stains and marks. This unique chair is available to order on a very short lead time, meaning whilst you’re planning the rest of your dining room makeover your chairs can be made just for you. Whilst funky chairs are ideal for relaxing in, if you are in the market for a more traditional look with a modern feel then why not look more closely at the Belle Noir range. The Extending oval dining table offers a twist on classic dining tables with a natural oak finish to the tops and work surfaces whilst the legs have an aged and distressed finish to them.

Dining Room Furniture

Whether you are looking for a dining table for a traditional cottage environment or a more modern contemporary location this oval dining table makes a wonderful statement in any setting.

If a round table does not suit your requirements, the rectangular extending table within the Belle Noir range offers a similar distressed feel whilst still retaining the design and feel of the antique French provincial design of the round table. This extending rectangular table offers a wonderful opportunity to grow from 1.6 metres to 2.0 metres when guests are expected.

Looking around at the variety of options for dressing your dining room will give you a much clearer view as to how you wish to decorate your dining room. The restaurant look is one ideally suited to any dining room area, whether you look for a clean image or something a little more shabby chic.With dining and entertaining now being more fashionable than ever, it is an ideal opportunity to consider your options with some interesting unusual furniture available along with ideas that offer a real focal point for any dining room area and certainly something different for your guests whilst you’re entertaining them with your culinary skills.

Creating a Home Cinema? Cinema Sofa Ideas

2012-03-19T10:31:31Z

Converting a room in your house into a home cinema is a great project to undertake, and with not only the choice of hardware equipment on offer but also soft furnishings we thought it would be interesting to take a look at what’s available from a cinema sofa point of view. We’ll leave the experts to tell you all about the home cinema hardware options.

Any kind of home cinema seating you choose must be considered in terms of the space you are looking to put it into. If the space you are proposing for your home cinema area is limited then think carefully about what size of home cinema sofa will fit and what will offer maximum comfort for you and any guests you choose to invite to home screenings.

Remember, you want to consider maximum comfort for those lazy days of kicking back and enjoying the latest blockbuster with friends, or possibly a romantic night in with your loved one close by.

Fabio Cinema Sofa

For ultimate luxury, take a look at the modern contemporary designed Fabio Cinema sofa range. With the option of built in storage, drinks holders and iPod speakers, the Fabio cinema sofa is available in a range of sizes and options to suit all room sizes and pockets.

Starting with a simple elegant two-seater sofa this luxury cinema sofa can be specified all the way through to a corner sofa with reclining backrests and fridge option, offering the ultimate in cinema sofa luxury.

A wide range of leathers are available to choose from to suit any setting, and with minimal maintenance your cinema sofa will remain in great condition for many years to come. Being leather, it is ideal for any unfortunate spills, simply wiped clean with a damp cloth immediately and allowed to dry without the worry of damage.

With any cinema home sofa, comfort is the key and you can be assured this is expertly taken care of with the Fabio cinema sofa range with the option of manual or electric recliner options allowing the back and arm rests to be adjusted for your own personal comfort.

Whatever type of home cinema seating you choose, take a good look around and find what suits your budget and room restrictions. A simple set up for a home cinema may look particularly effective, yet not offer that all important ingredient – comfort. Comfort will ultimately be the most important factor, along with any luxury items you can specify into your home cinema seating, such as speakers.

Morellia Corner Sofa

Being able to specify such extras may seem extravagant at this time, however when the lights go down and the movie starts, you won’t be wanting to start a waiter service for your guests or loved ones! Think carefully about your budget, and along with any hardware equipment and other decorations you consider for your home cinema area, buy the best available.

The Fabio cinema range in any combination, certainly offers great value for money, along with offering many combinations to suit any sized room together with the options, such as a fridge or drinks holders you may wish to consider.

Sofa Beds – The Sloane Sofa Bed With Demonstration Video

2012-03-13T14:39:10Z

A sofa bed is a great addition to any home offering the perfect option for those times when guests or loved ones decide to stay over. Sofa beds provide extra seating space for almost any living room area in the home and with the wide range of styles available finding the ideal design for your home is simple enough.

Whether you are looking for a traditional 2 or 3 seater style sofa bed or even a corner sofa bed, you can be certain when the time comes to turn from sofa to bed, the easier it is to fold out the more likely you are to use it.

Sofa beds today offer a perfect option where space is limited. If a spare bedroom has no requirement for a bed, or is utililsed as an office, a playroom or a hobby room, a sofa bed is the perfect addition for those infrequent overnight guests.

If you are in the market for a sofa bed, why not take a closer look at the Sloane Sofa bed? The Sloane Sofa bed is a deep sofa offering perfect comfort for anyone. A hand made hardwood frame along with substantial square arms helps to cement the quality of the Sloane Sofa and with the choice of sizes available, it’s flexibility helps to cater for all sizes of homes accordingly. With high density reflex foam surrounded by a small fibre wrap you can be assured full comfort from cushions that offer full support without the risk of going out of shape easily, a folding mechanism offers simple operation for the Sloane sofa bed in order that it can easily be transformed from a sofa into a bed when the time comes to settle down for the evening.

How To Set Up The Sloane Sofa Bed Video – Demonstration video above

Simply remove the cushions from the sofa to reveal the bed frame. Look out for the handle on the bed frame, and pull the bed frame all the way out. Once this is done, place the protective fabric back over and the sofa bed is ready to use. Replace the sofa cushions and pillows for additional comfort. To return the bed back to a sofa, the mechanism offers a simple uncomplicated option which can return the sofa bed to its original state in a matter of seconds.

With a two fold metal action frame and wooden slats, comfort is unrivalled. A four inch fully spring mattress makes the sofa bed ideal for frequent use, and with the range of fabrics and leathers to choose from, you can be certain you are buying one of the most luxurious sofa beds on the market today, whether you buy as a 2, 2.5 or 3 seater size.

There are many options of sofa bed style and design in the market place you can choose from today, but if you are looking for an option which offers classic good looks along with the ability to provide a comfortable nights sleep for guests in a wide variety of sizes, together with soft leathers and and fabrics then take a closer look at the Sloane Sofa bed.

Modern Rugs

2012-03-13T10:19:35Z

Fit for Royalty – Stamp Rug

Ever thought about adding a rug to your home, to your office or your retail business environment. Buying a rug is a great way to brighten your room and adding a focal point easily and with little investment. They are a simple way to provide comfort in any room with hard flooring and can protect areas of a room where heavy wear occurs on carpeted areas.

Whether you are looking at a small rug for a living room area, or large rugs for commercial environments, a sturdy practical rug can break up the surroundings offering colour and vibrance to any setting. Other great advantages to owning a rug is they can offer sound reduction and dampening on hard floor areas. Large rugs in carefully co-ordinated areas can offer certain safety aspects, for instance in areas that are prone to damp slippy conditions in more inclement weather.

However as with most rugs that are left on the floor they tend to sit there with curled up edges collecting the dirt, never knowingly noticed. Designer rugs can be bought, but quite often their origins are unknown and save for their colours there is little to know where they come from or their true worth.

Well, here’s a modern rug with a difference. The 16p Pink Stamp Rug, offers the ideal option to place in any environment. These are very special rugs, having been granted a special licence by the Royal Mail for the manufacture of them.

The collection captures the iconic design of the Royal Mail stamp, and can be used in a traditional manner as a floor rug or rather impressively hung on a wall for something a little more alternative.

Hand made

From 100% New Zealand wool in Nepal, these exclusive stamp rugs would be the ideal option for interior designers looking to offer something a little different to clients, especially given such an iconic year in the UK as 2012 will prove to be.

This unique collection of Stamp Rugs would look ideally placed in any establishment such as hotels or a bar where a theme of high class fittings and furniture is required, whether they are utilised as a floor rug or a wall hanging. Buyers have the option of choosing a variety of sizes ranging from 1.2m x 1.0m up to 3.00m x 2.50m. This wide choice of sizes will suit most requirements dependent on circumstances.

The rugs are made exclusively in the colours and monetary value shown, such is the strict licensing conditions the Royal Mail place upon the iconic nature of the stamp design. However this adds to the collectability of the rug offering the unique collection a certain allure for anyone looking for such collectable items. Given this year offers the UK a special meaning with the number of special events, these could prove to be favourable for collectors.

If you are in the market for high quality collectable items that make a design statement then take a closer look at the stamp rug. These are sure to be high on the list of collectables for the year ahead.

Is a corner sofa bed the ideal solution for you?

2012-03-13T10:18:53Z

If you often have unexpected guests or you need to put a friend or family member up for the night, there is nothing more convenient to have than a sofa bed. But while many people opt for a traditional sofa which folds out, you also have the option of getting a corner sofa bed. This is more appealing to some and it might just be perfect for the dimensions and space you have available in your living room.

How does a corner sofa bed work?

The corner arrangement actually works extremely well when you are looking for a good sized sofa bed for those unexpected guests. A corner sofa bed can be purchased with either a single or double fold out bed as part of the design. Consider this point carefully – it is usually best to invest in a corner sofa bed that can be transformed into a double bed rather than a single. This means you can always put two people up if required, rather than just the one.

Are corner sofa beds expensive to buy?

A sofa bed is usually slightly more expensive than a regular sofa. This is because there will be mechanisms hidden inside the sofa that will enable you to make it up into a bed when needed.

When you are looking at the wide range of corner sofa beds on the market today, make sure you opt for a metal action sofa bed if you can. These are designed to last longer than other simpler forms of design.

Another feature of many corner sofa beds is that they will come with inbuilt storage. If you have the choice of one with and one without storage of this kind, make sure you opt for the one with storage. It provides a place to put an extra duvet and pillow for convenience.

Is it best to get a leather corner sofa bed?

Yes, a leather corner sofa bed can be a stunning and attractive addition to any living room. Leather is a timeless material so provided you don’t get a brightly coloured corner arrangement you can expect to use and enjoy yours for a long time to come. You can even change the rest of the decor and the sofa will still blend in beautifully.

It is also easier to clean and maintain the look of your leather sofa than it would be for a fabric one. Spillages can easily be mopped up and the leather – providing it is good quality – is much harder wearing.

Just remember to measure your room accurately before you make that all important choice. This will enable you to get the right sized sofa that will fit in the correct corner. Consider where the remainder of your furniture is as well, to ensure you get the very best choice for your needs.

Whichever corner sofa bed you decide on, it will become a stunning focal point in that room. And of course it will also provide a hidden sleeping area for those times when you need it the most.