Most of us recognise that the internet can be a terribly difficult place to view and purchase items, without the means to see, touch or feel the furniture and yet it has the greatest variety available to the concious consumer. Whilst technology is not advanced enough to allow the consumer to be able to touch the furniture they see online, we can use technology that already exists hence the online video. We want to improve the customers shopping experience and this is a project that has been in the forefront of our minds for some time.

Our videos are visible on the following modern furniture; Mirage Armchair, Mirage Bar Stool, Elma Bar Stool, Coco A Frame Chair, Florenta Bar Stool, Le Corbusier Sofa, Gabello Gas Lift Bar Stool and many more.

Modern and Stylish Coco A Frame Bar Stool, made in Italy

We at Danetti are proud to be supplying Clarins with bar stool seating for their Roadshow.

They chose our Coco A Frame Bar Stool as it is a perfect, modern and stylish piece of seating that compliments their brand. The strong steel frame is finished in a highly polished chrome, and Clarins opted for a classic black seat to compliment their set up, although we have a variety of different colours available for this stool.

Whilst the stool looks great, the seat of the Coco A Frame Bar Stool provides a comfortable curved wrap-around surface that supports the lower back. Making it a perfect solution for Clarins clientèle on the Roadshow.

You will also find the following products in this popular range : Coco Bar Stool, Coco A Frame Chair, Coco Flat Chair and Coco Classic Chair.

The Dining Room:

Whether you have a traditional dining room that is a separate room of its own dedicated to entertaining or you plan to put your round dining table in a kitchen or open plan kitchen/ breakfast room it is crucial that you measure the room and place a dining table in there that is in proportion to the rest of the room.

The problem lies not so much in buying a table that is relatively small for the space- It is your own personal taste and circumstances that will decide this. Rather the problem instead lies with buying a round dining table that is too large for the room. If this happens people will struggle to move around the room and table comfortably and will feel enclosed.

The widely accepted rule is that there should be a 900mm minimum gap between the edge of your table and the wall, not only to stop people feeling like sardines but also so that when the dining chairs are pulled out by diners, the chairs do not brush up against the walls.

The Dining Table Itself: Large Vs Small

The general consensus is that at a round dining table 762mm should be allowed per person, this is because the shape of the table means that a person’s allotted space will narrow nearer the centre of the table.
The size of the table you require will vary according to how many people you plan to seat at it. If you want six people to be able to sit at the table then go for a table that has a 1524mm diameter. Really this is the smallest you can opt for as far as six diners are concerned, any smaller and people will start to feel cramped and there maybe some elbow overlap when it comes to eating!
A round table that is 1016mm in diameter is about the right size for a party of four. Some designers concede that at a squeeze you can fit six at a table of this size but only if there is no alternative.

The Effect:

Allowing different amounts of space per person can even allow you to create different dining experiences. For example, the Regina round dining table is big enough to seat six to eight people but if it is used to seat four and placed in a room where there is ample space for its 1300mm diameter a luxurious, spacious and slightly regal feel will be created.

Alternatively if you want an intimate, casual and friendly atmosphere for a group of six then allowing a large amount of space for each diner won’t work. You’ll need to get something like the Cross Round Extending Dining Table which is 1200mm in diameter and can be extended to fit eight people around it.

Now obviously these are not strict guidelines, they bare room for a little flexibility, for instance to squeeze in that extra person who didn’t RSVP, so you had no idea they were coming, but they are guidelines all the same, to help you achieve the most from your dining experience.

Choosing the Right table: - The table should be 750mm in height, allowing room from the slightest to the most robust guest. So chairs should be around 450mm high at the seat.

Choose Numbers: - Each diner requires 600 mm to eat comfortably, whilst leaving 100mm between each person to avoid any stray elbows landing in soups.

For four persons dining, a square/circular dining table is ideal for creating the right level of dining intimacy and gives enough room for all. For six plus , you should look at rectangular tables, the standard length of these dining tables is 1200 mm, many come with folding leaves so are easily extending to fit all guests comfortably. We suggest the Innocence Dining Table for four diners and the Lenda Classic Dining Table for six diners or more.

Choose the Area: - You will need to keep at least 600mm free space around your dining room table to allow easy access in and out. So for a square dining table measuring 1200mm x 1200mm, a space of 3600 mm sq is required.

Commercial Dining

Every restaurateur knows the importance of a restaurant layout and you only get one chance to get it right. There are many important factors to consider but top of the list is - layout. It is crucial to get the right spacing, leaving enough room for your waitress to manoeuvre comfortably for both them and diners, around the dining tables and to and from the kitchen.

The space needed around the tables is slightly more than standard dining, this is to allow for the flow of traffic between the tables and give each tables its own level of privacy. The distance around each table should be 900mm for comfortable dining.

Which Table to serve what? : - Dependant on which cuisine style your restaurant is serving, will be a deciding factor on the different level of space required by individual diners, a diner in a coffee shop requires less room than someone in a restaurant having a three course meal.

2. Whilst sitting on the dining chair make sure you distribute your weight evenly on both hips.

3. When seated bend your knees at a right angle making sure they are higher than hip level.

4. Make sure you have 2 to 3 inches of space between the back of your knee and the edge of your dining chair seat.

5. Ensure that you keep your feet flat on the floor, use a footrest if this is not possible or if on a bar stool, put the middle part of your soles on the footrest.

6. Try not to remain in the same position for more than half an hour.

7. When sitting in a chair up against a table insure that your arms are at an 90 degree angle and your shoulders are relaxed.

8. When sitting on a bar stool or dining chair that swivels, do not move the chair without moving your body with it.

9. Opt for a dining chair with good lower back (lumbar) support for the normal curve in your back. Additional support can be created using a lumbar roll, even a small pillow, or rolled up towel will have a similar effect.

10. When leaving the stool or chair, move to the front of the chair so you can bend your knees to leave the seat.

Draw A Floor Plan

Before you start arranging the furniture, a floor plan normally helps to plan where you are going to put large pieces of furniture. Remember to include key features in the room such as windows, doors and fire places. Always read the measurements box on our products pages to ensure that it can fit into the space selected. This is useful with a multi functional room, you can easily see what can go where.

Use Focal Points As A Guide

Think next as to how the space is going to be used and who will use it. Identify the focal point in the room whether it be a fireplace, view, television, etc and orient the furniture facing this accordingly. If you plan to watch television in the room, the ideal distance between the set and the seating is three times the size of the screen.

Try To Create Space

When you are arranging your furniture always ensure the path between doorways are clear. Don’t place any large pieces of furniture in that path if you can avoid it, and allow 30-48 inches of width for major traffic routes, and a minimum of 24 inches of width for minor ones. In bedrooms, allow at least 24 inches between the side of the bed and a wall, and at least 36 inches between the bed and a swinging door. In a dining room, make sure there’s at least 48 inches between each edge of the table and the nearest wall or piece of furniture.

Regal Chair

Oko Coffee Table

Use Contrast To Achieve A Casual Look

Combine straight and curved lines to create a casual look. If the furniture is modern and linear, contrast with a round table. If the furniture is curved, contrast with an angular piece. For example you could choose our Oko Coffee Table and our Regal Chair to create this look.

Nova Table

Kalka Chair

Use Symmetry To Create A Formal Look

If you want to create a more formal atmosphere symmetrical pieces work best. Try to use products that are of a similar design and style . For example to create a formal look with our Nova Table and Kalka Chair.

- avoid sleeping with your head towards the door, or your feet directly in front of the opening.

- avoid sleeping under a window, as it is believed that any bad chi that may enter via the window will go straight into you, and have a negative effect. A way of combating this would be to hang a curtain to stop the bad chi from entering.

-it is recommended that pictures of water are not hung in the bedroom, as it is believed that it will attract bad luck and promote insomnia.

- make sure there are no sharp points, pointing towards the bed, these can be room corners, sharp edges to furniture etc. You can neutralise these by covering them or placing a plant in front of them.

- blue is a relaxing and peaceful colour that will promote a restful ambience.

- avoid creating a work space in your bedroom, as this can alter the energy of the room making it more active and less peaceful. If you need to put a desk in the space make sure you cannot see it from the bed.

I wonder how many homes have unnecessary elements? With our hectic lives, I’m sure many of us have objects in the home that we just don’t need. But can you imagine the satisfaction and fulfilment if the only things on our kitchen work top where the bare essentials such as a kettle and toaster? How calm and relaxed would you feel knowing that everything was in it’s rightful place and the area looked clean, clear and spacious?

Well we can help. From the kitchen to the bedroom, in this guide we tell you all you need to know to help you create a minimalistic home. So you can feel less stressed and take pride in your home.

Start with Furniture

Always start planning your room with the key furniture items. Remember that less is more, so always try to see the functionality of the item. If it has no purpose and is never used then ask yourself is it truly essential. I would advise people to go for a few choice pieces of plain and simple furniture with subdued colours, decorative items beyond the essential can always be added later on. See the images below for achievable ideas to incorporate in your kitchen, dining room and living room.

Clear the Space

This means floors, surfaces and walls - make sure that all clutter is out of sight. Nothing should be stored on the floor or stacked. Try to buy furniture that has maximum storage. Surfaces should be removed of all items apart from one or two decorative accessories. Remember that when choosing wall art, it is important to only have one or two simple pieces as lots of pieces can make the space feel smaller. Always try and leave some walls bare.

Keep the Decor Plain

White is the classic minimalistic colour but other subdued earth colours can work too, such as blues, greens and browns. Avoid big and bold patterns such as flowers and checks as these can create visual clutter!

Add Simple Decorations for Interest

Style Glass Tealights

Block Vase

Trinity Tea Light Holders

Liven up any plain colours with simple decorations. A vase of flowers or a selection of candles can add interest without adding clutter.

And Finally….. Keep it up!

It is important you find a place for all clutter and remember where that place is. Every so often have a look at the space and see what items are unnecessary. Remember a minimalistic home is a less stressful one!

Complementary Colours

Complementary colours are colours found on opposite side of the colour wheel. The Primary colours complementary colour is a combination of the other two Primary’s mixed together, for example:

Complementary Colours

Red complements Green - which is created through mixing blue and yellow

Blue complements Orange - which is created through mixing red and yellow

Yellow complements Purple - which is created through mixing blue and red

Complementary colours are important to recognise because if they are placed in a room next door to each other they will make the other seem brighter, creating the most contrast.

This can be exploited in your rooms, if you feel confident enough, or it can be a useful tip to know in order to avoid problems

Monochrome

Monochrome meaning one colour. However, you can include different tones of the same colour to stop the scheme seeming to monotonous. For example; should you choose the colour black, any of the different tones desaturating all the way up to white can be used, so this would include the whole grey tonal range (as long as it was exempt of all other colour).

Another way to add interest to a room when using a monochromatic theme is to introduce a variety of textures in that colour.

Analogous Colours

Analogous Colours are a collection of colours found adjacent to each other in the colour wheel, one of which is normally a primary colour (red, yellow or blue).

Analogous Colours

When using an analogous range of colours, one is normally dominant while the others can be varied in intensity to create a myriad of different variations.

Tip : If you are having problems putting colours together, look to nature. Everything in nature has perfect harmony and balance, you will never go to wrong if you use that as a basis for choosing your colours.

Split Complementary

Split Complementary is a variation of the complementary colours, except this uses one of the complementary colours and the two colours adjacent to the opposite complementary.

Split Complementary Colours

For example : yellow and purple blue and purple red (as above)

This provides similar colour contrast to the standard complementary colours but without the tension.

This could be a more viable option in comparison with the complementary colours as you can still achieve a high contrast, but with a smaller chance of creating major issues. Its always worth remembering that these colours should not be used in equal measure and to their full saturation. To get the best effect one should be most dominant and they should range in saturation/brightness.

Triadic Colours

Triadic Colours are three that are equal distance around the 12 segment colour wheel.

Triadic Colours

For example : yellow orange and blue green and red purple (as seen above)

With this scheme one colour is normally used as a dominant, whilst the other two are accent colours. These trios of colour are considered to be more harmonious and balanced than the complementary colours and are a popular choice amongst artists.

Again once the main colour is chosen it should feature the most in the room with the other two colours used sparsely, like on cushions, a vase, a rug etc.

Tip : By using accessories to display the accent colours it also means should you want to update later on, you can easily replace them to give the room a whole new feel, providing not only a cheap option but a quick one to.

To be able to make an informed decision about the right colours to put together you need to have a basic understanding of colour principle. A good place to start is the colour wheel.

The most basic colour wheel contains three segments, each containing one Primary colour; red, blue or yellow.

Primary Colour Wheel

Divide the wheel down to six segments. The three Primary colours are positioned an equal distance apart and in the segments in-between a colour is made from both the combination of both surrounding colours. These are the Secondary colours; purple, green and orange.

Secondary Colour Wheel

Divide the wheel down even further to 12 segments. As before all six colours (Primary and Secondary) are positioned equal distance apart, and in the segments between, a new set of colours are made from a combination of the two surrounding it. These are the Tertiary colours.

Tertiary Colour Wheel

Click Here to see some Unusual Colour Wheels in Life and Art