Create a European Farmhouse Dining Room

Europe is a large continent, and European Farmhouse style can be just a varied as the continent itself. European Farmhouse décor is still popular, and there are many ways you can add some European flair to your home. Elegant and classic, this style of décor keeps things simple and highlights your personal touches to your home. You can easily add a little European Farmhouse style to your home by following the basic style guidelines below.

Welcoming Kitchen and Dining Room

The kitchen is the heart of almost any home, and in a farmhouse style home, it is also the soul. The kitchen and dining room are traditional gathering spaces, so the décor in these rooms sets the tone for the entire home. The style is vibrant, yet uncomplicated, still neutral, but also often where you’ll find an eclectic mix of furniture. These principles are at play in the Farmers Market Table and Million Stars Chairs, part of the European Farmhouse Collection from Stanley Furniture. By using pieces that look as if they were collected over time, you create a welcoming, lived in feel in your kitchen and dining room.

Light and Relaxed

While the European Farmhouse palette is neutral, it is not one-dimensional. Different hues of white, cream, and beige create a complex colorway. Keep in mind that frugality is one of the basic elements of European Farmhouse style. Since the early owners of most farmhouses had a limited paint budget, they used a simple, white paint, so stick to white as much as possible. Polished wood floors, subtly patterned, slightly faded-looking area rugs, and textured walls add depth and authenticity to the space.

Open Shelving

Plenty of shelves for open storage and glass doors on cabinets dominate farmhouse kitchens and dining rooms. Open shelves add character and allow you to easily switch out decorations. The Champaign Cabinet and L’Acrobat Open Air Shelf, also a part of the European Farmhouse Collection by Stanley, pairs beautifully to store special occasion serving pieces and fine silver as well as electronic components and media. It comes equipped with a surge protector, marrying modern functionality with farmhouse styling.

Wood Shines

Wooden accents are the main component that makes European farmhouse décor so special and unique. It flavors the whole house without being overbearing. Hardwood floors, ceilings, and wall paneling accentuates and emphasizes the cottage appeal that is a hallmark of this style. And because wooden surfaces age so well, your home will get better as time goes by. If you are not a fan of wood, you can still achieve a farmhouse feel by ensuring that any stone or concrete you use has a rustic, unfinished look. With the exception of traditional French doors and windows, keep glass out of the décor as much as possible, they can mute the rustic vibe of the design.

Vintage Yet Modern

There are quite a few tricks and tips you can do to achieve the European Farmhouse style without doing a major revamp. Beautiful but simple wood cabinets and side tables give you the woodsy appeal without requiring that you redo the floors. Always remember the origin of this look, it’s an effective and simple way to embrace this style and gives you a backdrop against which to add your personal touches that reflect your personality and enhance the style. And European Farmhouse interiors become more charming and graceful with time.

Visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to talk to a design professional about achieving the farmhouse look you desire. Check out Baer's Furniture reviews of our Ft. Myers showroom.

Old World Style 101 with Hooker Furniture

Old world style is renowned for its comfortable, worn, broken-in look that shows off the wear and tear of years of use. This is a style that can imbue your home with rustic refinement in a few simple steps. Crafted details that bring a sense of authenticity and a fresh feel to the relaxed, comfortable look that can be created by use of texture, materials, and color. The Solana Collection from Hooker Furniture puts a fresh spin on old world style.

Mix, Match, and Create

A mix of many European influences, old world design elements include earthy materials such as limestone, tile, and marble; deeply textured walls, flooring, and fabric; and sizeable furniture pieces. You can incorporate old world style throughout your home or concentrate it on one room.

When designing a dining room in old world style, draw on any combination of these area for inspiration:

• French Country
• French Chateau
• Tuscan
• Italian Villa
• Mediterranean
• Spanish

To achieve the worn, rustic, and inviting atmosphere typical of old world style, be sure to choose from the following elements.

Furniture

Free standing furniture is a hallmark of old world style, so avoid built in shelving and opt for a curio cabinet or console. Create a dramatic effect by grouping two or three cabinets together, such as the Solana Bunching Curio Cabinet by Hooker Furniture. The natural finish of these pieces emanate the warmth of sun-bathed wood with a lightly distressed tone that is effortlessly yet elegantly stylish. Living rooms should be outfitted with wooden-framed couches and chairs upholstered in rich colors. All rooms should have a formal yet lived in appearance that invites guests to linger.

Accents

Include plenty of old world accents in your design. Natural finishes that emanate warmth, gold accessories on the shelves, dark wood floors, and pottery pieces left out in the open become a part of the room’s design. Wrought iron, terra cotta, and damask draperies are also excellent choices. While tapestries and woven rugs are typical, white walls and neutral area rugs are also within the esthetic.

Using as many natural materials as you can will cement the design. This includes stone and metal work, natural woods. Including different species and colors of each type of material adds depth, for example you can while mix copper with iron or granite with limestone.

Supporting Players of Old World Design

You can also insert an old world, well-traveled flair into your rooms by using fabrics with animal prints or maps. Leather or fabric covered books, bamboo elements, woven shades, wicker furniture, and decorative storage trunks can all play supporting roles in this décor.

Commit to the Design

Once you’ve decided, commit completely. You can add the design elements one room at a time, or gradually infuse each room. The style has so many textures, colors, and materials available that you will find that your home will still have a personal or eclectic feel while also a cohesive design.

If you need help incorporating old world design with piece from the Solana Collection by Hooker Furniture into your home décor, contact a design professional at Baer’s Furniture. Follow us on Twitter to stay up do date on the latest events..

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Sofa or a Couch

Buying a new sofa or couch is a big undertaking. The size, style, and color you choose can change the entire look of your living room. When choosing your new sofa, keep these tips in mind. Although they may seem insignificant on their own, the impact they have on your satisfaction with your new couch could be huge.

Right Size

It may seem obvious that you should measure your space as well as the sofa you are considering purchasing, but it is the most common mistake made when purchasing a new sofa. “Eyeing it” is probably the least efficient measurement system, so trying to judge by how big the couch looks is the best way to end up with a couch that is too big or too small for your space. In addition, don’t neglect to consider the scale of the rest of the furniture in your room so that your new sofa doesn’t look too small or too big when placed in your living room.

Test Drive Your Sofa before Purchase

As an addendum to measuring for size of space and scale, you should also test out your sofa for how well it fits you. Sit on it to make sure the seat size is deep enough if you are tall or shallow enough if you are short or have bad knees. If you nap on your sofa, lie down on it to test for length, cushion firmness or softness, and arm height. The Reese Traditional Motion Sofa by Bernhardt gives you support and comfort with its sinuous spring construction, plump seat cushions, and attached back cushions.

Buying the Wrong Style Sofa

In addition to physical comfort, you should be happy with how your new couch looks in your living room and how its style works for you. Look carefully at the style to make sure it goes with the rest of the furniture in your home.

Choosing the Wrong Fabric

This can be an expensive mistake. When making your fabric selection, consider how the couch will be used and where it will be placed. If it will inhabit a high-traffic area, a delicate fabric could be destroyed before you have a chance to use it. A durable choice such as leather can fit into any room and provide years of use and enjoyment. It is also a good idea to bring a swatch home to look at it against wall color and other furnishings.

Choosing a Poor Quality Sofa

Most people have some budget constraints, of course, but paying for quality ensures that you won’t be replacing your sofa within a few years. Purchase the best quality sofa you can afford. Poor quality sofas tend to lose their shape and comfort factor quickly. And if the frame is poor quality, it may break and you will have unsteady arms and legs on your sofa. The frame, filling, and seating support will affect your new couch’s level of comfort as well as its ability to retain its stability and shape throughout the years. Be sure to check the frame, seating support, and filling.

To make sure you are getting a quality sofa the lowest price, guaranteed, visit a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you. Like Baer's Furniture on Facebook for more design inspiration and special offers.

Tips for Taking Your Neutral Livingroom from Snooze to Soothe

Have you ever fallen in love with the look of a light, bright neutral living room, but when you tried it, you found you had a room that was a complete snooze, rather than the welcoming, soothing living room you expected? Don’t despair, using only neutral colors can create a warmly soothing and sophisticated space if you do it right. Many people are fearful of using color, so they choose all neutral colors and create a room lacking in flair. A neutral palette is more than just a lack of colors, as seen below in this living room featuring the Conrad Conversation Sofa by Lexington Furniture.

Many Shades of Neutral

Use numerous shades of your neutral color, whether you’ve decided on taupe, gray, cream, or any other neutral color, using many shades of that color will add depth and interest to your room. In the room above, the chairs, ottoman, and sofa contain four different colors and the walls are also a different color – the wood is very dark in comparison to the upholstery on the sofa and chairs.

Use Texture

Work with many textures that contrast well. If the fabrics on the sofa and chairs had the same texture, this room would be boring. Bu the fabric on the chair and ottoman and sofa have obviously different textures that contrast well with the dark walls and cream-colored drapes.

High-Quality Texture

When your color palette is neutral and your textures take center stage, the other aspects of your living room are even more important. Texture is one of those aspects. In the room above, the light plays off of different angles, highlighting the luxurious fabric of the sofa. Carefully choose your standout piece and spend your budget wisely. Purchase the best furniture pieces you can afford – this is something you will use every day, so you will notice.

Use Shapes

Highlight beautiful and interesting shapes. When you take color out of the equations, the shapes in the room catch your attention. The upholstery on the Conrad ottoman and chair by Lexington Furniture bring in a geometric element that catches the eye. The circular pattern on the area rug softens the room and contrasts with the lines of the coffee table.

Materials and Surfaces

Carefully combine interesting surfaces and materials. The room above contains a plush area rug, luxurious upholstery on the sofa, a textured print on the chair and ottoman, flowy drapes, and a hard wood surface on the walls. All these textures work together to add interest to the room.

Patterns

Use patterns mindfully. The geometric upholstery of the chair and ottoman along with the circular pattern on the rug is echoed in the circular pattern of the drapes. The room works on so many levels, which is what makes it interesting and not boring, not in spite of but because of the carefully applied neutral palette. It includes all of the above mentioned elements: different shades of one color, multiple textures, patterns, different materials, and interesting shapes. This certainly demonstrates that a neutral palette is more than a bunch of beige.

If you want to create a neutral palette that soothes rather than snoozes, visit the Baer’s Furniture near you and take advantage of their complementary interior design service. Find out more about Baer’s Furniture on Hoovers.

Create a Dining Room with Elegance and Style

Nothing compares to getting your family and closest friends together for a visit over a delicious meal. A formal dining room brings a note of elegance and romance to any home – it often feels like the most special room in the house. It could be that it is a space dedicated to special occasions filled with family, friends, and food, or that it is a place for intimate family gatherings. Since the dining room contains so many memories of special moments, it deserves a special design.

However, creating a space that is special enough to for a celebration but functional enough for everyday living can be a challenge. Striking a balance between elegance and comfort is essential in order to design a space that your entire family will enjoy for years. Follow these tips below to create a space worthy of your celebrations.

Choose a Color

A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into any room. Your dining room sets the stage for all your special occasions such as holiday celebrations, birthdays, and family get-togethers of all types. It is essential that you keep in mind its different uses when selecting the paint color. For restrained elegance neutral palettes work well, especially if you are going for a contemporary look and feel. White shades will open up a small dining room and is a good option for a room that will play many roles over time.

Make an Understatedly Bold Statement

The dining room table is the most important piece of furniture in this space, and often commands the most attention. You may be tempted to make a statement and choose an ornate design. However, you can make just as much of a statement by choosing a classic, neutral design that will stand the test of time. The clean, minimalist lines of the Laurel Canyon San Lorenzo Dining table from Lexington Furniture will create a focal point in your dining room that will be impervious to passing trends. When your table is classic and neutral, just like your walls, you can easily switch out other accessories to change the look to match the season or occasion.

Add a Dramatic Touch with Pattern

Simplicity is the hallmark of elegance, but is also allows dramatic touches to stand out. Decorating with drapes let you add color, texture, and personality to your dining room, and opting for a sophisticated print will only emphasize this look. Luxurious white-on-white patterned drapes add texture that won’t overpower the space.

Finishing Touches

A few carefully chosen accessories can completely transform a room, and paying attention to the smallest details can transform your dining room from ordinary to outstanding in an instant. Exquisite wall art, light fixtures, or a gorgeous view are all accessories that can bring that ultra-sophisticated finishing touch to your dining room.

It can take time and attention to detail to create a dining room that is special enough for your family’s formal occasions and functional enough for their everyday routine. But with careful planning, a little thought, and some inspiration, you’ll soon have a dining room with the right mixture of elegance and comfort.

If you want to create a dining room that shows off your elegant style, visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to see the latest collections. For more design inspiration, check out the Baer's Furniture profile on Houzz!

Shades of Gray in Bedroom Decor: From Eclectic to All-Out Glamorous

Shades of gray have been utilized in design long enough now to qualify as more than a passing trend. Gray in the bedroom is quickly becoming a classic color combination. It’s usually associated with moody dramatic style of classic minimalism. And while it does work well for those types of looks, gray also has a softer side that is not just soothing, but also strikingly beautiful in a bedroom. Take a look at this cool, gray bedroom highlighting the Playlist Collection by Universal Furniture.

Classic Elegance in the Bedroom

An example of classy elegance, the bedroom above shows off the understated power of a palette limited to gray and white. The warmth of alternating oak grain patterns on the Playlist Melody Queen Bed by Universal Furniture makes the gray on the bedding and windows work. A cooler gray wouldn’t harmonize as well with the warm tones on the bed and balance the white in the room.

Pretty but Not Pink

Gray is a great choice for a masculine bedroom, but it also has a pretty side. There’s just enough gray in the curtains to contrast with the pure white on the walls. The dark gray bedding dilutes any chill created by the cool silver window treatments, making the space feminine without a trace of a bow, ruffles, or pink. When transitional and modern elements mix with contemporary gray, the effect is a glamorous space oozing with elegance.

All That Glitters: Add Gold Accents

Adding touches of gold to an otherwise gray and white bedroom gives you a rich, luxurious look that is opulent but not ostentatious. Keeping things under control is the key to working with metal décor, here a few gold accessories pick up the metal drawer knobs on the Playlist Chest by Universal Furniture to amplify the style in this bedroom. The wall of windows behind the bed bring in light that really adds the “Wow!” factor.

If you’ve written gray off as too cold, too futuristic, or too gloomy, it may be time to give gray another shot. Getting gray right can be tricky: it can be cool or warm and can evoke many different feelings that can have a huge impact on the mood of a room. If you are interested in designing a room with shades of gray, contact a Baer’s design professional and take advantage of the complementary design service from Baer’s Furniture.

Decor Tips for Creating a Tropically Inspired Bedroom

The warmth of the tropical sun evokes a feeling of relaxed ease, which is what makes tropically inspired bedrooms so popular. The look is lush and beautiful and can help you get a peaceful night’s sleep. If this sounds like a look you would like in your bedroom, designs that reference the Caribbean, Africa, and Southeast Asia will all create an inviting and warm tropical bedroom. Here are a few tips to get you started.

A Room with a Tropical View

Remember the gorgeous view at that tropical hotel you visited? Tropical villas and hotels make the best use of their views that they can, and you should also. Your bedroom may not look over palm trees, a white sandy beach, or sparkling blue water, but you can still create a tropical look by ensuring that there is plenty of light. Folding or sliding glass doors that open up at least one wall are perfect for a tropically inspired bedroom.

Bamboo Bedroom Furniture

Using bamboo in your tropically inspired bedroom will add an extra layer of tropical flavor. A bamboo bed, like the Island Estate King West Indies Bed from Tommy Bahama transforms your bedroom into an island retreat. With its blend of island inspired textures and materials, the bed creates dramatic, exotic island flair.

Cool Floors

Wood flooring is popular for tropically inspired bedrooms although tiling and marble are also good choices. Select a floor that has some warmth—not plain white but off whites, pale terra cotta, and grays will work. Tropically inspired bedrooms with tiled floors are cool and easy to clean and maintain. You can also warm up the bedroom with an area rug, if you think it needs it.

Tropical Netting

Hanging netting around your bed can evoke the feeling of a balmy tropical night. Netting is a quintessentially tropical element, but you don’t have to hang netting over the entire bed as you would to avoid mosquitos in the tropics. Just a touch of netting will do the job, you can easily find plain, white netting in a fine gauze to achieve the best result.

Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize

Now that you have laid the foundation, it’s time to play. Have a little fun with your tropically inspired bedroom and make it your personal space. Accessories help you do this. Try green and white wall paper with a large tropical print, or add green and white furniture such as the Island Estate Avalon Wicker Chair by Tommy Bahama that will give you a place to relax, read, or just enjoy the tropical mood you’ve created.

Fans for Air Circulation

In many designs, fans are an anathema, but for tropically inspired bedrooms they are a must. You don’t have to turn them on, but the presence of a fan will give you bedroom additional tropical flair. Ceiling fans are ideal, there are many types that can be incorporated into your design and give you additional lighting. However, even a simple desk fan will do the job.

For more tropically inspired pieces from Tommy Bahama, visit a Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to see the entire collection.

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