10: The Silver Embossed Compact Dressing Table; a beautiful silver embossed dressing table that is ideal for those short on space. Its compact design includes everything you need from a dressing table including a gallery section with mirror and drawer storage for all your bits and bobs. A beautifully delicate design that is ideal for those seeking something just that little bit different from their dressing table.

9: Venetian Etched Shaped Dressing Table; a beautifully delicate piece that has been designed for the girlie girl. Gorgeous etching on the corners and drawer fronts are beautifully rounded off with glass pumpkin style knobs that make this dressing table the height of elegance. Stunning cabriolet style legs complete the look and make this piece the perfect choice for those wanting to inject some femininity into their bedroom.

8: Oxford Oak Pedestal Dressing Table; hand crafted from solid oak this dressing table is made to perfection. Sturdy in nature and functional in design this dressing table is designed for those wanting a piece that will last a lifetime. The three ample sized drawers make this the ideal dressing table for those lacking in space and the added bonus being the choice of 3 handles means you can compliment a multitude of decors.

7: French Noir Small Dressing Table; handcrafted from solid mahogany wood this dramatic piece is designed to be the centre piece to any bedroom. The quaint but functional design offers everything required from a dressing table, a number of drawers offer ample storage for all your bits and pieces and the stunning shaped cheval mirror is perfectly adjustable. This piece is the ideal choice for those wanting to inject a bit of drama into their bedroom.

6: French Gold Leaf Carved Dressing Table; this stunning addition to the gold leaf range is perfect for those wanting a more regal feel to their bedroom, this piece instantly injects glamour and wealth into a décor and is stunningly carved with delicate attention to detail. The gallery section offers ample space and the secret pillow drawers are beautifully integrated into the design of the table. The gold leafing used on this dressing table gives a really authentic antique aged effect finish and is the ideal choice for those wanting to create a luxurious feeling of wealth into their bedroom.

5: Venetian Etched Dressing Table; an absolutely stunning dressing table that has been beautifully hand etched on the corners and drawers fronts to create a truly gorgeous dressing table that’s fit for a princess. Those wanting to inject some femininity into their décor this dressing table is the perfect solution and is only further complimented by the matching stool and elegant dressing table 3 way mirror. The classic design of the etched Venetian design has proven to still be incredibly popular amongst the Venetian furniture range; this is due to its ageless design and its ability to work with a number of decors.

4: Chateau Carved Dressing Table; although the same design as the gold leaf, this dressing table has earned its right to be up in the top ten selection due to its sheer popularity. The Chateau range is one of the best selling French collections due to its versatility to coincide with a multitude colours and styles. The Chateau Carved Dressing Table is the height of subtle elegance, displaying stunning carved detail and functionality that make this dressing table the perfect piece for those wanting to create a luxurious living space whilst using your imagination to combine any style and colour furnishings to work alongside it.

3: Rustic Oak Pedestal Dressing Table; the rustic oak collection is an incredibly popular range due to its raw and natural appeal. Within the rustic oak range you really feel like you own a slice of nature and this is down to a combination of its solid and durable nature teamed with its rustic imperfections. Handcrafted from solid oak throughout and completed with a sealed natural oil finish the rustic range beautifully captures all the natural raw elements of the oak tree and enhances it further by using rounded off edges and emphasising the natural grain of the wood. The pedestal style dressing table is perfect for those needing a little extra storage space as the 3 drawers provide ample space and this piece is only complimented further by the addition of the vanity mirror and stool creating a perfect station for all those beauty needs.

2: Venetian Plain Mirrored 2 Drawer Dressing Table; one of the most popular Venetian designs to date, this console was one of the first of its kind to take Venetian furniture into the modern market and has influenced a number of matching pieces since. The contemporary design means that pretty much anyone can now indulge in a mirrored décor and why wouldn’t you? it lends itself to any style home and décor and has the unique ability to lighten any room using light reflection off its many panelled edges. The mirrored 2 drawer console is simplistic in design using bevelled edges whilst offering ample storage space in its two well sized drawers, as with most dressing tables this piece can only be further complimented with the ‘in keeping’ 3 way dressing table mirror and plain stool that follow on this cool and contemporary design to create a dressing table set that would even entice any man to sit at it.

1: Barcelona Mirrored Dressing Table; this piece does not require much introduction, its iconic and contemporary design speak for itself. The Barcelona style began in the form of a lounge chair created by the great Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe some 80 years ago. Since then this design has flourished whilst still maintaining its iconic status recognised by generations. The Barcelona dressing table is quite a new addition to the Barcelona family but has proved incredibly popular for those seeking style and sophistication from their décor. The complimenting Barcelona dressing table stool featuring the button detail of the original lounge chair really makes you feel like you are owning a piece of history. The Barcelona dressing table features 2 substantial drawers and the mirrored panels are rounded off using bevelled edges, the polished stainless steel frame is sturdy and secure giving the dressing table a substantial presence.  This piece is designed for those who know and appreciate style and want to be a part of the Barcelona phenomenon that has influenced the world of interior past and present.

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Decorating, re-decorating and renovating can be a daunting task for most. I come across people on a regular basis that just can’t make up their minds on colour, style and what goes with what. Interior design is not something to be scared of and it is important to reflect your own interests and style into a decor so it really speaks to you.

The easiest and most inexpensive way to do this is through a ‘mood board’. Many may think of this as just an excuse to waste time cutting, gluing and sticking pointless pictures and images to a board with very little effect. This couldn’t be further from the truth; a mood board is the perfect way to view colours, styles and texture in a set space to really determine if they work together. In looking at a decor in this compact way makes sure that even if you were to throw all your chosen furniture, furnishings, colours and fabric all in one big pile they would still have the ability to work well together.

The idea behind the mood board is to do a few, experiment with your favourite colours and don’t be afraid to mix colours that you wouldn’t usually, at the end of the day if you don’t like it you can just crack on with another and alter the aspect that didn’t sit right with you. For the more experienced designer; instead of using actual images of let’s say a chair or a bed they will use a more metaphoric style of what they want to achieve, for example if they are looking to create a funky, chic and sassy decor they will opt for images of skyscraper designer high heels for example or contemporary architecture and maybe a cut out of luscious red lips to portray this image along with splashes of colour and texture that they want to create. It doesn’t need to be this complicated however when decorating a room in one’s home, sticking to images of the kind of furniture you are looking to introduce into the room gives you a better understanding on the workings of the decor, If you can find pictures of the actual furniture that you want to use or purchase for the room then all the better for a clearer picture.

Once you have played around with colour, texture and style and applied the one’s that you are happy with onto a mood board you should find that the finished collage is one that sits well with you and is pleasing to the eye. This then gives you the basis you need to start tackling the practical side of the job and hopefully means you can enter into it with a little more confidence knowing that your colour and style work well together and just needs a little application.    

Oak furniture and a homely feeling… but why does it?

Why do you like oak furniture? Maybe we subconsciously associate it with the countryside? Maybe it reminds us of going home to our parent’s house? I don’t know.  I am no interior designer but when I think about it. A home usually reflects the area it is in and what it is made from. Modern apartments in the big smoke usually are made from glass and metal. So it makes sense that contemporary living is reflected inside the home itself. Slim minimalist furniture made from glass and composite materials. All leaves a feel that the architecture didn’t end at the front door. The furniture in modern living becomes an architectural extension of the building… the inner reflects the outer.

Maybe it always has, or maybe it’s the other way around. It’s something I have only just thought of. I think it’s referred to as ‘in keeping’? When I think about oak furniture it reminds me of home and relaxing and unwinding. Oak furniture then is a reflection of the homeliness of the countryside and of nature itself. Solid oak furniture used in a kitchen for example really adds warmth to the heart of the home. It reminds us of the strength and longevity of family life, of roots and possibly of good old fashioned home cooking.

No wonder then that oak furniture is a main stay in the furniture market some designers are getting more contemporary with how they fashion oak for modern urban living but for me it just leaves me with a sense of twisting nature, I am never really at easy with pieces that are too radically opposed to its composition, for example there is something a little unnerving about an apple carved from oak. To me it just doesn’t make sense.  It is only slightly better than using plastic fruit and flowers in furniture designs. Why? Who wants to buy plastic flowers? It’s like making bricks made out of glass. To me it’s incongruent and I don’t get it.

Oak furniture for me should be chunky sturdy and not too clever. When oak furniture is like this it reminds me of the countryside and nature.

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With the Royal wedding just around the corner and the 2012 Olympics fast approaching its time to feel ‘proud to be British’! Time to put the doom and gloom of the financial depression behind us and look towards a brighter future. 

With the union jack flag making its appearance on clothing and furnishings there is no better time to show your patriotism to ye old England. There is no need to go overboard with this fashionable décor, covering your whole home in the union jack flag is a big no no. The key is to keep it subtle with just one or two selective pieces that make a statement whilst complimenting the existing décor.

The union jack 3 drawer bedside is a really funky piece of furniture and kept to just one of two of these, looks awesome either side of the bed. For those wanting a more regal feel from their union jack piece, they do not come anymore majestic than the Union Jack Boudoir Carver with gold leaf frame and a funky twist in the black and silver silk upholstery. To combine style with function, the union jack storage coffee table is a funky alternative to a coffee table and has a really rustic worn feel to add character.

So time to get on board and show your support for an ever resilient united kingdom.  

The big wedding is just days away so we thought it would be a good idea to take a closer look at all the royal wedding furniture we are carrying and see if we can spot some royal trends in 2011. You can’t have a royal wedding without a throne. Nothing would make you feel more special than to sit on a magnificent throne on the biggest day of your life…

Take a look at these gold leaf chairs. Note the regal carvings which hint at a more eastern influence perhaps Indian or Persian. Imagine a wedding with such magnificent chairs for the evening function?

(download)

Click here to download:

royal-wedding-furniture-dgqmlqthibpIvexeswqa.zip (410 KB)

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If the current climate is of grave concern to you and you strive to play your part in bringing about a change in the way we obtain our natural recourses then oak is an excellent eco choice. It’s natural, renewable and recyclable whilst requiring no chemical preservatives and if sourced from well managed woodlands has very little impact on our environment.

The beauty with oak furniture is the fact that it will last a lifetime and only gets better with age. Nic’s and cuts only enhance the rustic charm of oak furniture and it’s a wonderful thing to pass down cherished pieces to generation after generation.

In a day and age where we are all taking more of an interest in the sustainability of our planet it is definitely worth applying this to our home and not letting it stop with just recycling our waste but also apply this philosophy to our furniture. There is so much oak furniture on offer these days, you can be sure to find a style to suit your requirements and relish in the thought that you are playing your part in contributing to the improvement of today’s environment.

A round dining table can on occasion take up more space than that of a square or rectangular style however they are incredible sociable and just as King Arthur intended; puts everyone on an even keel with no head or chief of the table. Everyone has the ability to see each other therefore encouraging conversation and interactions.

Although the selection of round oak tables are not as plentiful as square or rectangular styles the few on offer are both solid and substantial providing functionality and style in one. The Toulouse oak round dining table is a beautiful rustic looking table with solid squared off legs, however if space is an issue then they don’t come anymore practical than that of the French Regal Oak round extending dining table with stunning tapered legs for a more elegant style.

So if you’re after a more sociable experience from your dining table look at introducing a round dining table into your living space and encourage healthy debates and conversation around the dinner table, just as the knights intended.

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In a world where traditional methods are now binging replaced by gadgets and gizmos that are designed to make our lives easier and more efficient it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a traditional and harmonies living environment that is not only functional and practical but also falls in line with the feng shui living that we all strive to achieve in our homes.

With this in mind the last thing you need to constitute towards harmonious living is a black high gloss TV stand that takes up the only available wall in the living room or floating shelves covering your walls exposing CD’s and DVD’s,  numerous accessories for Playstations and X boxes strewn across the floor with no real home. In order to combat this takeover of modern day living there are some pieces of oak furniture that assist in keeping the crude exposure of technology behind closed doors.

An oxford oak widescreen plasma unit is the perfect piece to offer ample surface space for ever-growing plasma screens and also provides ample and appropriate storage for Sky boxes, games consoles and all the additional extras that come with them. Still traditional in design with solid oak panels and a naturally oiled finish, this TV unit can slot into almost any decor and is the perfect cover up.

A granary timber CD chest is not only a great place to store away all those CD’s and DVD’s but is also a really attractive piece of furniture that is beautifully rustic in design and features authentic brass style handles and a real textures finish.

Another truly genius storage piece is the Hampton pedestal unit which not only discreetly stores ample CD’s and DVD’s but also doubles as a classic plant stand and has the ability to subtly slip into pretty much any decor.

So as you can see there is hope in the fight against modern day technology and the effect it has on our interior decor. If you are one of many that don’t want to have to change their style of living to accommodate this ever-growing market then fight back with one of the many classic oak pieces of furniture on offer to complement a traditional and harmonious decor.

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Do you sometimes feel that your home is lacking warmth and familiarity? Has it become more of a base to store and assist in your everyday lives? A home should be your haven, the place that when you come back to you feel relaxed, safe, and happy.

Nowadays with lives seemingly becoming more complex and busy it is easy to allow your home to no longer being a place that you can express your personality and create a feeling of calm and serenity but instead is a place where home office’s and studies begin to spill out into the living area, kitchen tables are now more reminiscent of laundry rooms and bathrooms are no longer the luxury serene spa setting that you had dreamt of but more like a scene from a Mothercare changing room.

If this sounds familiar to you then it’s time to take action and restore an element of what a home should really represent back into your lives. Oak furniture is the ideal way to introduce warmth and familiarity back into your home. Its durability means it will last a lifetime but also its pliable nature means it always has the ability to look fresh and revitalised. An Oak Office Desk is the perfect piece of furniture to solve all those home office dilemmas whilst not looking unsightly and out of place but instead lending itself beautifully to a well organised and calm environment. Oak Bookcase should not be dismissed as they not only serve the purpose of storing books but are great to display on and if featuring drawers they can hide a multitude of sins. Oak cupboards and blanket boxes are also great storage pieces giving you additional space to store away linen and laundry with easy access. Extending Oak Dining Tables are great for space issues and allow you to cater for more guests when needed. A solid oak dining table with a natural oiled finish means that any scratches, stains or marks can easily be managed meaning a reliable dining table that not only looks good but is extremely functional and will last a lifetime.  

Your home is one of the most important places in your life, its where memories are made and numerous important events happen, so make sure that when you and your children look back on homes past you remember a safe haven that promoted a feeling of real warmth, a place that you remember with a smile.

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It’s approaching that time of year again; the marigolds come out, cleaning products are bought in their masses and hover bags are renewed. The annual spring clean is a tradition that many of us follow and gives us a boost into the summer months ahead, it’s a chance to clean out the cobwebs and bring in the fresh air. Although the ‘Spring Clean’ is a physical pastime, this tradition also has a great effective on your mental wellbeing and makes us feel like we are starting out the year fresh, new and encouraged.

This time of year is also a great time to re-decorate so as to enhance that feeling of a new beginning, a change in colour, decor and style is a great way to achieve this, so out with the old and in with the new!

There are some great new modern and contemporary oak furniture ranges out there to assist in achieving this new fresh appeal. The Oxford Oak range in particular is hand crafted from solid north American oak that is light and fresh in colour as well as being solid and durable in nature. This range features all the key pieces needed to furnish a bedroom, dining or living room and has the added appeal of 3 different types of handles to choose from. A round oak for the more traditionalist, the rustic square for the country cottage look and the polished metal for the cool and contemporary feel.

The beauty with oak furniture is how easy to clean it is, it doesn’t show up and highlight the dust in your home like glass or mirrored furniture and can be effortlessly maintained and freshened up with an occasional oiling to bring it back to life.

The Oxford Oak range has many storage pieces ideal for clearing all that clutter out of sight, the 2 door cupboard is perfect for containing all those shoes that seem to gather at the front door, the Oxford Oak 3 Drawer Sideboard is a great for piece for in the hall way or in the living room to store crockery and cutlery or even all the kids toys games and the 2 Drawer Bookcase is designed to hold a magnitude of books so you can maintain an organised household that is fresh and welcoming.

So when you embark on your Spring Clean this year it might be worthwhile thinking of a few key pieces of oak furniture that may well be just the answer to your clutter free future, low maintenance and designed to last a lifetime.