Thursday, August 18, 2016
Pillow Toss: Add Flair to Your Living Room with Subtle Colors and Textures
Accent pillows come in many different shapes and sizes and are the perfect accessory for almost any sofa, couch, bed, chair or bench. These days they are even used in porches and patios to make these spaces seem more like indoor rooms. Pillows can liven up a space with color or neutralize a space that may already have too much color in it.
When choosing the perfect pillow, consider its purpose. Does it need to be a particular shape, size, or color? Will have a function or be merely decorative? The neutral tones of the Bali Hai Quickship Shoreline Sofa shown above balances out a room dominated by the dark wood floor and the fern carved arms add needed texture. The subtly colored and patterned pillows keep the room from being too neutral.
The right pillows can accentuate your color scheme, but be wary of using too much color. If you already have some key colors in your room, you can use pillows to create contrast and interest, but be careful. Too many colors can make your room look like a carnival—and not the good kind. They will vie for the eye’s attention and detract not add to the style.
Also consider your theme and work to complement the any existing color scheme. Choose prints and designs that go with the rug and highlight the colors in the rest of the furniture. In our example room you can see how the pattern on the pillows goes with the pattern on the rug as well as the color on the Bali Hai Diamond Cove Swivel Chair. Both are subtle enough so as not to be overpowering. The additional pillows complement the colors of the room in a smaller pattern.
In addition, the right type and amount of pillows can add warmth and softness to your room. If your furniture is leather, you can mix and match fabrics and textures with your pillows and sofa to create an eclectic, unique style. Pillows are one of the details that can show your personality in the décor. Little touches in the accessories — such as the cool blue tones in the glass bottle shown above — tie the room together.
Are you in the Central Florida area? Our Baer’s Furniture Casselberry location opened in 2013 has the best prices on name brands such as Tommy Bahama, Lexington, Hooker Furniture, and more.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Create a European Farmhouse Dining Room
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.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Old World Style 101 with Hooker Furniture
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
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..
Thursday, July 21, 2016
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Sofa or a Couch
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.
Friday, July 1, 2016
Tips for Taking Your Neutral Livingroom from Snooze to Soothe
Many Shades of Neutral
Use Texture
High-Quality Texture
Use Shapes
Materials and Surfaces
Patterns
Monday, June 20, 2016
Create a Dining Room with Elegance and Style
Choose a Color
Make an Understatedly Bold Statement
Add a Dramatic Touch with Pattern
Finishing Touches
Monday, June 13, 2016
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.