Decorating Ideas

4 THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND - THE HOMEBODY EDITION

After a long week of hustle, sometimes all you want to do is stay home. We totally get it. On the blog today, 4 things that you can do this weekend while staying home. 

1. BE A COUCH POTATO

Best thing to do while staying home? On a comfy couch of course! Catch up on your drama series or snuggle up with fluffy cushions while reading your new book. 

For tips on caring for your fabric sofa, see a basic guide here. 

2. WORK ON HOUSEKEEPING

Clean your home and declutter! A good way to incorporate a work out and get fresher, cleaner space! Who wouldn't like a clean home? End your cleaning session by lighting your favourite scented candles for a lovely finishing touch.

3. REARRANGE YOUR DECOR

Been looking at Instagram and Pinterest for those #homedecorgoals? Get started with it! Restyle your shelves or console by swapping decor from different rooms. Spruce it up with conversational starters or flowers for a quick freshen up!

See our 6 essentials for console styling here. 

4. STAY IN BED 

Indeed. Just because you can, you should. After all, technology makes it possible to do everything without you having to leave your cosy spot. That includes having you check out our new AW17 collection and more here. 

You're welcomed. Have a good one! 

CARING FOR YOUR FABRIC SOFA

Up on the blog today, a quick guide on caring for your fabric sofa, especially velvet, the fabric that is going to be the trend in 2018. Read on! 

VELVET

Luxuriously soft and exuding quality, velvet is undeniably stylish and increasingly popular in fashion and interiors.

The term ‘velvet’ refers to the weave and not the fabric itself; silk, cotton and synthetics are most commonly used to make velvet. Woven on a specialist loom, the fabric creates a short dense pile which contributes to velvet’s distinctive look and feel. Throughout its life velvet can become crushed and loose its sheen, and regular care is required to maintain its look and feel.

Basic care

Vacuum regularly with a clean small brush attachment to prevent surface dust and small particles from settling. Doing this will also help with reversing any wear and maintaining the lushly textured pile. 

You can also dry brush with a soft-bristled hair brush or a dry microfibre cloth to remove hair or fuzz. This especially works if you need to clean it in a jiffy! 

Spills & Stains care

Due to its delicate nature, dry cleaning is recommended for big spills and stains. Water and liquid can stain velvet easily and needs to be dealt with quickly. Soft blot with a dry cloth and avoid rubbing and putting pressure on the fabric. Once you’ve blotted the surface, use a hairdryer at a safe distance to lightly dry the affected area to avoid marking. Finish by brushing the pile to avoid matting.

For dry stain, vacuum or dry, soft bristle brush to gently brush. 

LINEN / COTTON / POLYESTER

Basic care

Similar to velvet, vacuum regularly with a clean small brush attachment to prevent surface dust and small particles from settling. Use a dry brush or a dry microfibre cloth to remove hair or dust. 

Spills & Stains care

Gently blot wet stain with a white cloth and be really careful that you’re not rubbing the stain. For spot cleaning, use water and a white cloth. A cleaning solution of any sort requires a spot test on a small area of the fabric that’s unseen, to make sure it doesn’t cause discolouration.

If you’d like to clean an entire sofa or another piece of linen furniture, you can sprinkle baking soda on it and then vacuum using a brush attachment. This can help remove stains and debris without the need for water or chemicals. On top of that, it can also remove any lingering odours that might be hiding in your linen furniture.

Meanwhile, if you’re unsure of how to clean your linen upholstery you should contact a professional. Rather than make a DIY job of it, and potentially damage the fabric further, let a professional handle it.

Despite their stylish and cosy look, some homeowners are still sceptical about owning a fabric sofa. We totally understand why. To help with the resilience to dust and stain, spraying a layer of fabric protectant bi-weekly or monthly may be the best option. 

3 Looks with the Earl of Chesterfield Sofa

Refreshing the look of your living room can be really quick and simple! See how you can do so with throw cushions, ambient lamps and a stylish chesterfield sofa.

One sofa, 3 different looks in a jiff.  

Look 1: Classic Black & White

Lamps: Troyes Textured Gold Lamp & Honore Crystal Lamp

Cushions: Candice Olson Gray Linen Velvet Cushion, Embossed White Cushion (2 pieces used for styling), Fur Fur Gray Cushion, Black & White Leather Cushion, Black Leather Cushion & Fur Fur Ivory Cushion.

Look 2: Pop of Jewel Tones

Lamps:  Avizz Prism Lamp & La Verne Quatrefoil Table Lamp

Cushions: Cobalt Gray Medieval Cushion, White Silver Modern Cushion (2 pieces used for styling), Teal Velvet Cushion (2 pieces used for styling),  Fur Fur Ivory Cushion & Deep Purple Velvet Cushion.

Look 3: Elegance with Gold

Lamps: Pantheon White Marble Lamp & Le Chic Lamp

Cushions: Jacquard Velvet Stripes Cushion, Champagne Rose Cushion, Candice Olson White Star Dust Cushion, Petals Wool Cushion in Ivory, Candice Olson City Stripes  Cushion, Candice Olson Beige Olive Cushion & Brown Gold Fur Cushion. 

See featured mirrored side tables here!

2018 INTERIOR TREND : JEWEL TONES

With the recent trend of adding precious metals like gold, copper and rose gold as accents for the interior, it is no surprise that luscious shades of precious stones are soon to be added into the mix this coming year!

On its way to take 2018 by storm, jewel tones furniture and decor is the way to up your interior decorating game! Often seen in moody interiors, the jewel tone palette is finding its way into brighter interiors as a hero piece in the space or for playful colour injection. 

As a statement piece, an elegant chesterfield sofa is the most bang for the buck if you were to ask. The tufted cushion details will never go out of style. Pick a deep Sapphire Blue, Amethyst Purple or even Emerald Green upholstery to go with it. They make a classic combination that will withstand the test of time. Some things just never go out of style. 

If the deeper jewel tones are not up your alley, pastel shades of Poudretteit & Aquamarine are perfect for a fresher take on the upcoming trend. 

For a piece that exhibits charm in the day and amplifies luxury in the evening's ambient glow from lamps, pick a velvet, silk or viscose upholstery. These fabrics catch light, diffuse a lovely shine and give off a look of elegance.

If you are still unsure about going big with the trend, refreshing your space with throw cushions of the jewel colours is definitely a great way to start!

Featured sofas in the post: Duke of Chesterfield, Countess of Chesterfield and Earl of Chesterfield. Pick your perfect jewel shade over at our showroom by customising a sofa upholstery!

6 CONSOLE STYLING ESSENTIALS

Love to create a statement or focal point in the room by styling up a console? Our list of 6 console styling essentials is your starter guide to style a look without breaking into a sweat. Read on!

1. MIRROR

Starting with the back drop of the whole set up, a mirror will not only be great for being the hero piece, it will also reflect its surrounding display, creating more depth. 

See the Circles of Life mirror and more here.

2. TABLE LAMP

Keep in mind that including pieces of different height helps in creating a more interesting and dynamic display. A table lamp is a great addition especially when evening comes as it cast an ambient glow in your space.

Take a closer look at the Koket Black and Gold Metal Table Lamp and more stylish pieces here.

3. REED DIFFUSER

Who wouldn't like a lovely room scent? Pick reed sticks in a jar over candles for a added layer of visual texture while being functional in making your space smell lovely at the same time.  

4. TRINKET BOX

A stylish box to hold your knickknacks in is surely the nifty to put clutter out of sight! It can be used for keys at the entry way, for lighter, matches or even coasters at the dining credenza! 

5. PLANTSCAPE

No interior styling is complete without a bit of refreshing green. From fresh blooms to interior foliage and succulents, they introduce a layer of freshness, elegance and texture to the space. Place them on trays or books to find the perfect height to be in the stylish mix for your console! 

6. STACK OF BOOKS

Stacking books are a clever way to add height to any display piece. They are also good as a base to draw more attention to the item that is placed on it. For example, a gold framed glass trinket box atop a black hardcover is a great way to set a contrast and highlight the design of the box. 

Need a console to start the works? See here! Styling features the Nord Mirrored Table Console.