What's Your Bar Stool Style?

What was once a simple wooden stool has evolved into a versatile seating option that adds character, texture, and color to your bar or kitchen design. Choosing one that fits your style and space can be more of a challenge than you would expect, after all, it’s just a stool, right? When you first start out to find the perfect bar stool you may realize that there really are so many things to consider: material, height, back or backless, upholstered or not, swivel or stationary … the list goes on. Choosing one that perfectly fits your design and space can be difficult, so below are some tips for determining your bar stool style.

Find Your Height

The very last thing you want is to have a stool that causes you to cram your legs up under the table. It’s just uncomfortable. The most common sizes available are counter height, bar height, table height, and extra tall. Choosing the right height will determine whether or not you and your guests will have enough legroom to sit comfortably. The goal is to have anywhere from 9 to 13 inches between the top of the stool’s seat and the bottom of the counter top.

Choose Your Style

Take a look around your bar or kitchen and determine if you want your new bar stools to blend in or stand out with the décor – color, style, or materials – already used in the space. Also, think about function. If the bar stools will be placed next to a kitchen island or in a narrow hallway, backless is a good choice. This gives you the option to tuck them out of the way. If you bar stools are the focal point of your eating space or kitchen, choose easy to clean surfaces such as wood, metal, leather, or even microfiber. The Kingstown Dunkirk Swivel bar stool is a laid-back, stylish bar stool with a cane back and arm panels to provide comfort.

In addition to considering where you use them, you should think about how you will use them. This will help inform your decision. If they will mostly be used in the kitchen, select stain-resistant upholstery or wood. The Oyster Bay Merrick Swivel Bar Stool by Lexington Furniture features a high back and swivel seat that gives you mobility and comfort. It is perfect for a high table, counter, or bar.

Below are some styles to consider:

• Sophisticated coastal – refined yet casual living that references the coast
• European Grandeur – Understated elegance and sophistication featuring modern interpretation
• California Mediterranean – a fresh look at the laid-back lifestyle
• Hollywood Regency – chic and glamorous updated classic

It’s perfectly fine to mix and match styles. Metal stools will add interest to a bar or kitchen that is predominantly wood. And a wooden bar stool can add a hint of nature to a modern, high gloss kitchen or bar. 

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The Evolution of Tommy Bahama Home Furniture

Tommy Bahama Home furniture is known for its sophisticated interpretation of inspired island living. And for many, its design sensibility is the epitome of Florida style. The brand makes experiencing the casual comfort of island living as easy as entering your own home. It evokes a sense of intrigue and romance by fusing eclectic design elements, exotic natural materials, and rich finishes.

Tommy Bahama is quite likely the only brand whose name instantly evokes a place and lifestyle. They may also be the only brand whose mission is simply to inspire the world to relax. The furniture line is well represented at Baer’s Furniture, who with 16 locations is unequivocally the Florida Headquarters for Tommy Bahama Home as well as being the world’s largest dealer of this furniture.

Tommy Bahama’s Florida Focus

There are many ways that Tommy Bahama Home furnishings pair well with the Sunshine state. It is a brand with design sensibilities as varied as the state itself. Within Florida, you have the distinct design styles of South Beach, the Gulf Coast, and North Coast – each with their own individual vibe that shares an overarching theme: a lifestyle that is a little more casual, a little more relaxed, and a little more laid back. And Tommy Bahama Home has different collections that accommodate all these things.

Tropical Highlights

Demographics have played a large role in the evolution of Florida’s design style. The days of pink flamingos and aqua hues are long gone. Florida’s modern design, as expressed in Tommy Bahama’s style, evokes a classic tropical beauty that is completely fresh and modern.

Of course, this type of evolution doesn’t happen overnight. It used to be that you would cover an entire sofa in coral, while now that color is used more mindfully as a nod to its origins in Florida design, but without overwhelming. You’ll find it in piping, throw pillows, or area rugs. Mindfully applied, the bright, Florida colors work well with the British Colonial and Pan-Asian influences found in Tommy Bahama’s designs.

The Ocean Club and Island Fusion lines feature simple but sleek Asian influences that are both timeless and ultra-modern. The hardwood finishes evoke Polynesian tropical forests, but the clean lines and shapes feel fresh and new. Many people opt to furnish their entire home in Tommy Bahama. Their versatile designs make this possible.

Constantly-Evolving Design

The designs change and evolve as often as Florida itself. Tropical design may seem to go in and out of style, but it never goes away completely. Instead, it is reimagined to remain timeless and relevant. Good design is good design and transcends the trends.

To find the widest selection of Tommy Bahama Home designs, from the many furniture collections to tropical inspired accessories, visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you. 

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Create a Coastal Style Living Room with Broyhill Furniture

Contemporary coastal is a fun and fresh design style that brings a casually relaxed vibe into your home. Reflecting the bright, beautiful, and energizing aura of beach life, coastal style is all about creating a cheery atmosphere indoors. But that doesn’t mean that you should overload your living room with starfish, glass floats, shells, and other pieces of nautica in your décor. It’s best to choose a color palette and build from there. There are many interpretations and reimaginings of coastal décor, but here are five color palettes that can give your home some coastal flair.

Coral

When imagining a coastal home, light pastel blues and greens might first come to mind. But have you ever considered coral? Bright and cheerful, this is a fun and unusual color to find in a coastal living room. It creates a playful, tropical look that is hard to resist. If you are not sure, try using it on small accents such as vases, pillows, and wall art.

If you want to go bold, try bright coral on a sofa or chair. The Emily Casual Style Sofa in coral by Broyhill makes a relaxing and stylish addition to your coastal style living room. It is the perfect place to relax, watch television, or read a book. The gently rolled arms and skirt covered base fit perfectly in the coastal décor.

Navy Blue

It’s called navy blue for a reason. Bold navy blue is one of the most popular colors to use in coastal décor. Navy blue’s dark shades give a more masculine feel to a coastal-inspired room. But don’t be afraid of this color: a dark blue sofa or chair are great options for your living room. Pair it with other shades of blue, a cool white, or even coral to add a little energy to the space.

Pastel Blue

The traditional pastel shades found in coastal décor, such as soft powder blue, create a comfortable and welcoming feel in your living room. Pastel blue goes well with creamy whites and distressed wood. It is also a great primary wall color that will make your space seem bright and open.

Sandy Beige

Neutrals tend to be overlooked in coastal décor, but they can create a simple, relaxed atmosphere. Mix sandy white and beige with washed out blues and woody browns. As with any neutral space, it is important to play up texture for interest. You can do this with accessories such as shells, driftwood, and woven rugs.

Furniture pieces in the Emily Collection from Broyhill Furniture come in many custom upholstery options such as coral, navy, and beige that are perfect for coastal living room décor. Visit the Baer’s Furniture showroom near you to find out about all the options.

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Lexington Upholstery Designed to Suit Your Style

There are a myriad reasons why you might choose custom upholstery. Maybe you have a particular look or fabric in mind for your sofa or loveseat. It can sometimes be difficult to find exactly what you have envisioned in your mind’s eye. Buying furniture is a long term investment in the look of your home, so you should take your time and find one that matches your vision.

When you choose a piece from the Lexington Upholstery Collection, you are getting a bespoke piece of furniture made exactly to your specifications. Lexington offers a stunning array of styles, fabric, and trim options to choose from, including leather. With so many options, you are sure to find the perfect piece to express your personal style. From dramatic contemporary to elegant traditional, nothing creates the tone in a space the way comfortable and luxurious upholstered seating does.

For instance, the Diane Settee offers a unique shape and curved back as well as padded arms for superior comfort. The turned front legs and gently tapered back legs add sophistication and make this the perfect place to relax. The soothing beige upholstery creates a serene mood in any space. If neutrals aren’t your thing, don’t worry, with 872 color and pattern options, you can choose a fabric that exactly matches your style.

Your home is the background against which you live your life, and the Lexington Upholstery Collection sets the stage for your life to happen. There’s nothing like sinking down into your favorite chair or comfortable sofa at the end of a long day. Visiting with friends and holiday get-togethers take on new meaning against the backdrop of furniture custom made just for you.

The unique designs available in the Lexington Upholstery collection make it easy for you to find a sectional, love seat, ottoman, upholstered chair, executive chair or complete furniture set for your home. The collection draws from casual, modern, and traditional design, and is sure to have a piece of furniture and fabric choice that will go with your décor.

If you are furnishing an entire room at once you can choose a sofa such as the Montgomery Rolled Arm Sofa and choose the fabric you prefer. You can then choose additional pieces and have them upholstered in fabric that you are sure will go so that your entire set looks like it goes together.

Whether you like formal or casual, traditional or contemporary, Lexington Upholstery offers you almost limitless possibilities in seating options, frame styles, luxurious fabrics and custom decorative trims. The collection showcases your personal style in every room in your home – living room, family room, den or office.

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What’s Your Style: Casual and Comfortable with Broyhill Furniture

Do you long for casual décor that is comfortable, homey, warm, and inviting? Who doesn’t want to feel comfortable in their own house? Homes that exude casual comfort are perfect for those who fully embrace the Florida lifestyle of sunshine, beaches, and casual entertaining.

The furniture is the most important element for setting the comfort factor in your home. Choosing plush, upholstered furniture sets the comfortable, casual, cozy mood for your home. Casual rooms have simple details, restful horizontal lines, soft upholstery, textured elements in accessories and fabrics, and low-luster surfaces. The details are simple and the elements are softly curved or rectangular. The Emily Collection by Broyhill offers a classic, casual look that blends in with any existing décor. It gives you a homey feel while maintaining a traditional feel in the space.

Elements of Casual, Comfortable Style with Broyhill Furniture

•          Soft, comfortable upholstered furniture pieces
•          Textured fabrics rather than shiny, with interesting weaves and natural fibers such as cotton or linen, or a new synthetic weave with a natural look and more durability
•          Accents on upholstered pieces such as pleats, ruffles, buttons, or cording in contrasting colors
•          Long, large, horizontal furniture and chunky tables to create a restful look
•          Wicker, rattan, or iron accessories as well as antiques easily fit casual style decorating

Choose a soft, inviting color scheme: fabrics, textiles, and colors in soft hues. And don’t be afraid to add a touch of whimsy. Use some old wooden candlesticks, stack pieces of old luggage, or old chest for a coffee table.

Creating a comfortable living space is about adding layers and conversational seating to build a room that is both visually stimulating and functional. It should tease the eye in a manner that feels fun and edgy while also giving in to your need to curl up casually in a chair and read or watch a movie. 

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Sneaky Storage: Furniture Pieces Designed to Reduce Clutter

Everyone accumulates stuff. But you know it’s bad when your stuff starts to pile up in your living areas. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some place to stow all that stuff? Professional organizers will tell you to begin by purging, and while that is not necessarily a bad idea, you may still end up with more than you realize and need a place to store your things that don’t take over you whole room. Here are a few ideas to help you keep your stuff out sight, out of mind.

Storage Ottoman

A storage ottoman can give you hidden storage as well as additional seating. A hollow storage ottoman or bench gives you an instant hiding place for all your living room clutter. You can store toys, games, blogs, pillows, blankets, the list goes on and on. The one above serves as a coffee table when needed, provides comfortable seating in a pinch, and opens up to allow storage that keeps your living room clutter out of site. You can’t get much more versatile than that.

Inside of Doors

The inside of cabinet or closet doors are often underutilized storage space. They can give you additional storage space in a bathroom, bedroom or kitchen. Hang a shoe hanger on the inside of your closet door to help keep small items handy. Socks, scarves, and even shoes will fit perfectly in the little pockets. You can also use the same type of hanger in the bathroom to keep cotton balls, swabs, hair ties, and makeup more organized. Sturdy wire shelving can be installed to the inside a kitchen cabinet door to store heavier items such as the lids for pots and pans.

Ledge Picture Shelves

Used to display photos or pictures, ledge shelves can also be used for storage. Try mounting one beneath your upper cabinets to store salt, pepper, and any other spices you use regularly while cooking. Or put one above your bathroom sink for toiletries such as hair accessories, toothbrushes, and more.

Rolling Drawers

A shallow drawer that you can slide under the bed or couch will give you some extra storage space in your bedroom or living room. You can use one to store extra sheets, blankets, and clothing in the bedroom and books, magazines, toys or games in the living room.

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Sandcastle Inspired Whimsy from Hooker Furniture

Coastal style can be as individual as its location. Coastal style works best when it subtly sets a mood rather than overwhelming you with beachiness. Yes, beachside element are appropriate, but you don’t have to pick up every shell, piece of driftwood, or sand dollar and drag it into your home. Instead, you want to create an easy, carefree vibe that evokes boating, beaches, and sand castles. You want the look to be whimsical not overdone.

In the Sandcastle Collection from Hooker Furniture that’s exactly what you’ll find. This is a collection filled with casual, coastal charm – a collection that has its feet in the sand of the Florida shore. The American design elements and classic traditional forms – floral motif hardware and spindle legs – give the collection a soft, vintage appeal.

Light may be one of the most important, yet often overlooked elements of coastal style. But think about it. When was the last time you walked into a beach house and the space felt cramped and dim? It’s more likely that the space felt light, bright, and breezy. That’s only one reason why white is the main color in coastal interiors: it amplifies and spreads light. That’s also one of the reasons why coastal style is perfect for Florida homes: Florida is known for having plenty of sunlight.

In a coastal interior, the line between indoors and outdoors can be hard to find. Windows, glass doors, and skylight let the sunshine in. The bright, white bedroom furniture above and sunny yellow walls highlight the sunny feel to the room and is a great way to create the illusion of sunlight if your room doesn’t have many windows.

For a modern take on coastal casual style, add a few accents that will spread the light even further. Hang a mirror opposite a window or try a glass-topped table in the breakfast nook to increase the room’s sunny appeal. Just a few accents, though, you don’t want the room to lose its cozy, comfy ambience.

One way to ensure the space stays casual and comfortable is to use simple fabrics – ones that are unassuming and make you want to put your feet up. Pure white is always a good choice for this décor, but soft pastels or stripes also work. This is also where you can use some subtle nautical touches with throw pillows, a side chair, or prints on the wall.

Done right, white rooms are stunning in their simplicity. But if you like a touch of color, layer creams, beiges, and taupes to reflect sandy beaches. However, you don’t have to eliminate color completely. Try painting an accent wall navy blue and bring in a bright, coral area rug. The traditional distressed dining room furniture lets you play with color on the walls and area rug. If your room has plenty of windows, you’ll still achieve a light, airy feel in the space. However, keep it consistent, too many differing color schemes in different rooms will give your home too many personalities.

Using the Sandcastle collection from Hooker Furniture as the foundation of your coastal décor will give you a head start. Its pieces are undeniably charming and create a perfectly relaxed feel in any room, from dining room to bedroom to breakfast nook. They provide the perfect blend of coastal and cottage styles with an effortless elegance and casual grace. 

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