contemporary furniture
How to create a minimalist home
Kiri chair
Some people think that minimalism in interiors is just about not owning many things – having white walls and very few items of furniture.
The truth is that the key to a really great minimalist look lies in simply choosing the things to put in your home.
Follow our five step guide to creating a beautiful, modern minimalist interior and you’ll never look back!
1.Opt for furniture with clean lines and simple shapes. Fussy, ornate furniture can cause a room to look cluttered. If a piece of furniture is well designed and useful, it will be beautiful in its own right, not because of decoration. Key pieces to invest in are chairs made without joints or screws – something moulded and streamlined.
2. Add interest with key pieces, and make sure they are beautifully presented. Rather than opting for a patterned sofa or curtains, keep detail restricted to objects – perhaps a gorgeous ceramic vase, or a limited edition print – and display them with purpose. Perhaps you could have a simple table with the vase as the centre piece, or the print framed and illuminated with a spotlight.
3. Have a place for everything. Piles of papers are household utensils are not worth putting on show! Hide them away and it will really help you to achieve the minimalist look. It’s important to be realistic about how many possessions you have and make sure you buy enough storage.
4. Opt for colour blocks – not necessarily just white, but bright colours too. The important thing is to have large expanses of one colour, as this adds to the uncluttered effect.
5. Don’t ignore the details. Make sure there are no outstanding DIY projects, chips in the paintwork or areas that need attention – in a minimalist scheme every aspect of the room must be neat, clean and elegant looking, or the overall effect will be lot.
The top ten furniture trends for 2010
Here at Danetti we’re constantly keeping our eye on emerging furniture trends coming from the big European furniture shows and glossy interior design magazines.
We keep these in mind when buying our furniture, always making sure that we can offer you both cutting edge options and simple contemporary classics.
If you need a little inspiration, then these are the top furniture trends which we see coming through strongly during 2010.
Soho modular chair
1. Sectional and modular sofas
Once upon a time modular, configurable seating was the preserve of commercial premises. But this year it’s proving popular as a great flexible option for cost-conscious home-owners too. Modular sofas are great for people who like to move their furniture around a lot because these items can be easily reconfigured to give a new look. The other advantage of modular seating is that often it can be assembled on a curve or a tight angle, to make the most of your available space.
2. Bright sofas
While neutral sofas will always be popular, we’re seeing the growing popularity of zingy, brightly-coloured sofas, teamed with neutral cushions – a reverse of the old look. It’s certainly a modern look and can look really striking with plain white or even clashing colour walls.
3. Leather upholstery
Still as smart and classy a choice as ever, leather furniture is a purchase that just doesn’t disappoint and keeps its appeal even when it gets old. In particular we’re seeing a rise in the popularity of coloured leather on bar stools, dining chairs and sofas.
4. Grey as the key neutral
Most colour schemes need a neutral shade to tie them down, ground them a bit. This year it seems to be grey that’s the perfect antidote to the bright colours. Chose your shade to complement the tone of your colour scheme – from elephant grey to pewter, there’s one that will look great.
4. Suede or microsuede
In these harsh economic times, we all want a bit of luxury and comfort. That’s what you get from suede or the faux alternative, microsuede. It’s soft, comfortable and sophisticated at the same time. As with leather, bright colours will be dominant.
2. Winged chairs
… or armchairs to you and I. This year, this classic style is hotter than ever. We approve – winged chairs are comfortable and cozy and look elegant at the same time.
5. Media centers
Perhaps because television design is changing, the furniture we use to house our TVs and other media is changing too. The trend is for chic, modern furniture to tidy everything away.
Harris arm chair - a return to the traditional
6. Traditional furniture design
Maybe it’s the economy that’s causing this trend – we’re hankering after a little security and buying into traditional, classic design What’s happening is a reinterpretation of the past – traditional with a twist if you like – manufacturers are taking old styles and using modern fabrics and quirky features to bring them up to date.
7. The chaise
We’re seeing a new interpretation of the traditional chaise longue with clean lines and modern fabrics such as leather taking the place of more ornate, fabric-covered versions. They’re great for a home setting – every living room should have one, but they also work well in a commercial space, perhaps in a shop or hotel lounge.
8. Round ended tables
A move away from the hard edges of the traditional table, towards a curvier, more interesting table shape. Materials include glass, wood and laminated plywood.
9. Green fabrics
Maybe to reflect the trend towards eco furnishings, it seems that the colour green has become trendy too. From bold block colours to fun leaf patterns, there’s plenty to choose from.
10. Stools
Perhaps because we’re living more casual lives these days, with informal seating areas in kitchens and kitchen-diners becoming the norm, the popularity of bar stools is on the rise. Opt for quirky, brightly-coloured stools to make this a modern look.
We’re featured on Mrs Magpie the online magazine
We always like to hear about people who appreciate the quality of our products, and it seems that we have caught the eye of the editors of Mrs Magpie. The online magazine recently featured us in the homes section, saying that Danetti offered something for those looking to move on from Ikea.
Take a look at the article:
Danetti featured on online magazine Mrs Magpie
Space-saving contemporary furniture for modern living
Increasingly in the UK, especially in busy urban areas, we’re living in flats and modern houses that just aren’t designed for the three-piece suite and enormous hunks of wooden furniture. The way we live now demands furniture that doesn’t take up too much space and is multi-functional whenever possible.
We’ve got seven secrets which are well worth considering if you’re short on space but want to be tall on style.
Keep your backdrop neutral with use of white or cream or block colours on walls and furniture
1. Keep it plain and neutral.
It’s tempting to use fancy wallpaper and bright colours when decorating, but once you introduce your furniture and the inevitable clutter of every day life, your small rooms will start to look tiny. The best option is to use white or ivory paint and furniture in block colours to create a blank canvas, then hang interesting art and introduce pattern on soft furnishings.
2. Use a rug.
Although you may not have much floor space, a neutral, light rug can actually help to open up a room and create the optical illusion of space, especially if you choose one that fits easily within the centre of the room. You can use it to ‘anchor’ your furniture, which is helpful if you’re pushing it all to the walls to create space.
Armless sofas, like the Delta modular seating collection, can save space
3. Go armless.
It may not seem like something that would make a huge difference, but it our experience choosing armless furniture can help to create an airy, uncluttered look, and give the illusion of more space. At Danetti, we’ve got chairs and sofas without arms, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.
4. Create distinct areas.
If you have a studio flat or a room that you have to use as a living and dining space, it can help if you mark off the different areas with use of furniture as a ‘barrier’. For example, by letting your sofa ‘float’ in the middle of the room, with its back to the dining or bedroom space is a good way to fence off the living room.
Sideboards and console tables, like this Santino 2-door sideboard, can be used behind sofas to make use of all your available space
5. Use furniture cleverly.
‘Floating’ sofas may be good for defining your space, but they leave a wide expanse of boring sofa-back exposed, which is wasted space. Use this by positioning a console table or wide cabinet behind the sofa. It’ll be good for lamps and other home accessories, provide useful storage and can be used as a buffet table if you have guests.
6. Use your walls.
If floor space is sparse, look upwards for inspiration with wall-mounted cupboards and bookshelves. Just make sure they are always neat and tidy of you’ll be creating an eye-sore.
7. Keep clutter at bay.
Sometimes there’s just not room for everything, so you’re going to have to be ruthless and throw away the things you really don’t need. For everything else, make sure you have a place for it to go. Dig out all the piles of paperwork and newspapers you’ve been keeping around the place and have a thorough sort out, then file away what you’re keeping in a cabinet.
Orange bar stools, dining chairs and sofas
As the weather starts to brighten, it’s the perfect time to let a little bright orange into your home or business – use it in a completely bright colour scheme with yellows and limes or royal blue, or in an otherwise neutral colour scheme as a pop of accent colour.
Here are a few of our favourite orange pieces on Danetti right now …
Coco A frame dining chair
We love the retro-styling of the Coco A frame chair. With its gentle curves and smooth textures, the Coco fits into any home or work environment, as well as waiting areas, bars and cafes. It’s available in solid black acrylic or transparent red, orange, green or smoke acrylic. It looks great when placed near a window as the light streams through, making the colour glow.
The Podo plastic dining chair comes in orange
The Podo dining chair is a beautiful piece of modern dining furniture that’s simple and stylish as all contemporary furniture should be. It’s made from Polypropylene and is available in many colours including white, black, red, orange green and blue. Buying a set of these plastic dining chairs will instantly revive a tired looking kitchen, dining room or restaurant and those in the know about design are definitely going to appreciate seeing a set of these when they walk through the door! Podo dining chairs are even hardy enough to be used in an outdoors, and are easily stackable when not in use.
Spartan bar stool in orange
3. Spartan bar stool
This retro bar stool is perfect for any funky club or cafe, or for the home as part of a contemporary kitchen breakfast bar area. The strong chrome legs that extend from the padded seat add a futuristic feel to the stool and make it really stable and comfortable to perch on. This stool is available in various colours of faux leather including juicy orange, as pictured.
The Alto flat duo bench - beautiful contemporary furniture design
4. Alto flat duo bench
This is one really good looking piece of furniture, we think you’ll agree. It’s part of the Alto range, which includes a chair, sofa and panchina available as part of this collection, each coming in a wide range of colours. Your choice of faux leather is upholstered over a metal frame and polyurethane cold injected moulded foam for superb comfort and long-lasting good looks. We can just imagine the Alto gracing a shop, hotel lobby, waiting area or stylish home.
PLEASE NOTE : Many of our items of furniture can be upholstered as you wish, so even if the product specifications do not mention orange, we should be able to help you. Just call us on 08707 605 701 for more information.
Furnish high end rental properties with contemporary furniture
Luxury leather sofa from Danetti - neutral and hard-wearing, making it perfect for rental properties
If you have a luxury property that you want to rent out, furnishing it with contemporary sofas, chairs, tables and accessories can help to ensure a quick let and could even allow you to charge more for your property.
The majority of tenants looking at high-end properties want cool, statement furniture, that’s minimalist enough for them to be able to put their own stamp on the property, but comfortable enough for them to feel at home.
We chatted to Marc von Grundherr, who’s Residential Lettings Director at London lettings agency Benham & Reeves to get his views on the best furniture for luxury lets.
He’s convinced that the furniture you choose can have a huge impact on the speed with which your property will be snapped up by tenants.
“Quality contemporary furnishings are a pre-requisite for letting high-end rental properties. The letting market is extremely competitive with increased supply, particularly in new developments, and more cost-conscious tenants,” he says.
The Drada dining table from Danetti - ideal for luxury rental properties
“As a general rule, unfurnished properties take up to 30% longer to let and in some instances we have seen rent reductions of as much as 40% just to secure a tenant because a property has not been presented in good enough condition to meet the tenants’ expectations.”
Don’t put youself in this position – make sure you have the whole property furnished in a co-ordinating contemporary way – not forgetting the sofa, dining table, dining chairs, beds, and smaller items like lamps and even art work.
Marc says that for a high end property to stand a chance of being let quickly at full market rental then it needs to be furnished to a high standard. “If the property is in a block with others coming on stream at the same time, the furnishings must really stand out from the crowd – this may not get you an increased rental but it will attract a tenant more quickly. Some Landlords make the mistake of going for cheap budget furniture packages but we really would recommend that they do their homework and use a company that specialises in furnishing rental properties. Anything not well furnished will simply not let or will receive substantially reduced offers.”
So there you have it, an expert in the residential lettings field recommending that you don’t try to pull the wool over potential tenants’ eyes by buying cheap furniture – they’ll see straight through it.
At Danetti, much of our furniture is sourced from Europe and quality and design are our priorities when choosing pieces, so prospective tenants are sure to be impressed.
Coco A Frame bar stool - a statement piece of furniture
We pressed Marc to tell us which particular types of furniture are the most popular with tenants in the luxury rental market, and he told us that designer furniture is always popular. He also recommends adding a statement piece of furniture for the wow factor.
As for colour: “Neutral colours are still popular as a backdrop,” he says, while “dramatic and dark decor and furnishings are only really advisable is you’re looking for single male occupants” – the typical bachelor’s pad.
“Modular sofas are still fashionable and leather is always a good option as it’s hard wearing,” says Marc. And although the minimalist look is still popular, you have to be careful not to take that too far, because you want to create an interior that someone can instantly see themselves living in.
Whether you’re interested in buying modular sofas, minimalist furniture, neutral colours, leather chairs, dining tables, or anything else for furnishing a high end rental property, we have the lot here at Danetti. And we can help you to pull together a co-ordinated luxurious look that won’t break your budget either. Just ask … —————————————————————————
Marc von Grundherr, Benham & Reeves
Marc von Grundherr is Residential Lettings Director for London Letting Agency Benham & Reeves, www.brlets.co.uk
Choosing a dining room table: the Danetti guide
A well-chosen dining room table can become a focal point for your home. A place where you and your nearest and dearest can gather each evening, and where you can entertain guests. But you need to choose the right one. Dining tables that are too large can make the room seem cramped, and ones which are too small can make it difficult to fit all the food and glasses on. Answer our ten-point questionnaire and you’ll discover which is the right table for your home
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Etti extendable dining table
1. Should you go for round, square or rectangular? Round dining tables are thought of as very sociable as everybody can talk to each other. Square dining tables are great for fitting into small corners of a room, so they’re a good option for flats, and a great solution if you don’t normally have to seat more than four people. Rectangular dining tables can seat a lot of people, so are ideal if you like to entertain, and the straight edges mean they use space efficiently.
2. How much space do you have? There’s no point cramming a large table into a small space – it will be difficult for people to get into their chairs and the room will appear smaller than it is. You’re better off opting for a table that allows you to have a metre all the way around, so diners can comfortably pull out their chairs to sit down and you can walk around the table easily even when people are seated.
3. Do you want the table to be multi-purpose? Many of us use the rooms in our home for lots of different things these days. You may want your dining table to double up as a desk for your children to study at, or for working from home – int his case, you need to make sure it’s super sturdy and hard-wearing. You may even want your table to double up as a coffee table. We have the solution at Danetti: the coffee table that folds out to become a dining table.
4. What’s your interiors scheme like? Perhaps you have a minimalist scheme and you want to follow this through in your choice of dining table, or perhaps you want the table to be a focal point and stand out from the rest of your scheme with use of colour, or of natural wood. Perhaps you have a bright and cluttered interior and the table needs to be simple, for example in white or glass with clean lines, so the overall effect is not too busy. At Danetti we can help you – talk to us about what you have in your home already and we can make some suggestions.
5. Who will be using the table? Perhaps there are just two of you, so you only need a bistro table, or perhaps you have lots of children, in which case you’ll need a large serviceable table that can be wiped clean. If you like to entertain, a glass dining table can look very impressive and twinkly when laid with glassware and expensive crockery.
6. What chairs do you have? This is an important consideration, as you not only need to match the style of the chairs with the table, but the height must be suitable as well so you’re not having to bend or stretch to reach your plate. We think that leather dining chairs work well with most contemporary dining tables, especially glass ones.
Ocus dining table as used in a kitchen-diner
7. Is the table to be placed in a room on its own, or in a kitchen-diner or living-room-diner? For kitchen-diners you have two options – create a harmonious look with very streamlined, functional looking dining furniture, or create a clear division between the cooking area and the dining area with the use of soft textures and curvy lines on your chairs and dining table. The same goes for the living-dining-room, you could try to match the dining furniture to the sofa, or create a contrasting look.
8. What’s your budget? At Danetti we stock dining tables ranging from just over £100 to in excess of £2,000, so we will be able to find you something that’s good value for money whatever you’re looking to spend. Café-style tables tend to be the cheapest, while large, extendable tables will be at the top end.
Galaxy extending dining table - great for flexibility
9.What’s your dining style? Perhaps you’re someone who likes to catch a quick bite before going out every night of the week, or maybe you prefer to organise lavish parties and invite friends and family over to yours for five course meals with all the trimmings. There’s no point taking up room in your home with a table that you will never use, so make sure that your choice fits your lifestyle. Extendable tables are a good solution for those who only entertain occasionally.
10. Do you plan to use the table outdoors? Some of our tables are so hard-wearing that they can be used both indoors and outdoors. This is a good option for those with smaller homes, where storage of outdoor furniture is a problem during the colder months. There’s no need to have separate furniture for in and out!
We hope this guide to buying a dining table has been useful and that it has given you some food for thought. If you need more help we are just a phone call away! Contact us.
Glass dining tables are great for illusion of space
Lenz round glass dining table
When we talk to homeowners in the UK, one of the issues that comes up time and time again is that of space. People rarely have enough of it, they think their homes look cluttered, yet they don’t want to go without essential pieces of furniture like dining tables.
This is when contemporary furniture comes into its own. Innovative use of materials like glass and perspex can mean that clear furniture can be created. The benefit of this is that light can travel through it, and at first glance your room will look spacious and minimalist.
Glass dining tables are also really versatile items, as the lack of colour means that you can change the whole interior colour scheme of your room, and the table will still look right at home.
Kika extending dining table
Imagine a beautifully laid glass dining table, set with expensive crockery and twinkling glasses – all accented with a central chandelier light. It’s a truly stunning look, and yet when the party’s over, you can clear the table and the room will return to looking spacious.
At Danetti we’ve got a range of great glass dining tables available at the moment.
Pictured here are just a few of our favourites …
Moonshine dining table
Innocence round dining table
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Choosing a dining room chair: the Danetti guide
Choosing dining room chairs can be a tricky business. Here at Danetti, we want to help you find something that is both stylish and functional. You need dining chairs which are comfortable, hard-wearing, attractive, and that co-ordinate with the rest of your furniture and your interior style. If you have a small home then you may also want your dining chairs to be stackable.
To make sure you don’t make a purchasing faux pas, follow our 10 point guide to choosing the best chairs for your dining space:
1. Think about the style. If you have a contemporary home interior then you need chairs that are going to fit in. Plain, minimalist designs, perhaps with chrome and leather, will work well in a contemporary setting. Cutting edge design will make your home seem more expensive.
Hard-wearing dining chairs
2. Think about the material. Just in case the red wine bottle spills, it is best to have dining chairs that are serviceable. Wooden or plastic dining chairs are great because they can simply be wiped clean and will not mark. Leather or faux leather dining chairs are also very hard-wearing, and can be cleaned with special products.
3. How many chairs do you need? If you have a small dining room table then you may just want two or four dining chairs to go around it. In this case, you can afford to make a bit of a statement with bold design and striking colour. However, if you have a very large dining room table then you will need to buy perhaps 10 or 12 dining room chairs, and you may want to keep the look simple and uncluttered by choosing a minimalist style of chair.
4. Who will be using them? If you are a young couple and you want dining chairs for your friends when they come for dinner parties, then the dining chairs can be very design-led and your decision mainly based on how the chairs look. If you expect to have older guests who need a comfortable seat, then you may want to buy chairs with arm rests and high back, which are great for support.
Match dining chairs with your dining table
5. What dining table do you have? Mis-matching tables and chairs can really ruin the look of your dining area. You need to make sure that the seats are a good height for sitting at the table, and that the materials are matching or complimentary. A glass and chrome table, for example, can look very harmonious with a leather and chrome dining chair. Ask Danetti if you want advice and suggestions about which chairs go well with which tables. We’ll be happy to help.
6. Are you planning on open-plan living? If you’re creating a kitchen-dining or a living-room-dining space, then you will need to take into account the furniture you have in the other parts of the room. What colour and style is your kitchen? What material is your sofa made from, what is the flooring like? At Danetti we have such a huge range of dining chairs that you’re sure to find something that will fit in.
7. Plan your budget. Quality dining chairs can be a good investment – the last thing you want is for the chairs to become wobbly or unstable for people to sit on. We normally recommend that you spend at least £50 per chair, and often the more you pay, the more you get, in terms of design and quality. Remember at Danetti there is a 2-year guarantee on all products so you know you are buying furniture that will last, whatever your budget.
8. Do you need more space? Stackable dining chairs are a great option for people living in small homes, because the chairs can be neatly stacked in the dining room, or in another room, until you have guests to stay. For many people only 2, 3 or 4 chairs are needed regularly and the others only now and then.
Danetti's dining chairs come in many colours
9. What colour do you fancy? Danetti’s dining chairs come in a huge variety of colours – many styles are available in red, green, blue, purple, orange, and tens of other colours, plus the popular black, white and brown. You can pick your dining chair colour to co-ordinate with your soft furnishings, or even to provide a ‘pop’ of accent colour in a very plain and minimalist scheme.
10. Do you need the chairs to be multi-purpose? If you buy dining chairs in neutral colours, or colours that tone in with the rest of your home, then you can easily use them in hallways, bedrooms, even studies, when you’re not using them at the table. This can both save you money and mean that you don’t have an excess of furniture clogging up your home.