Many new homes are moving away from the traditional dining room or the room has been reclaimed for other spaces like a home office or a play room that are more attuned to how a family functions from day to day. The latter is by far a better space solution if you don’t use the dining room and it remains empty for a large part of the time.
But what can we do when we have a family gathering or dinner party?
When the weather is good, sitting outside is great for entertaining.
Shifting a table (kitchen table or a few end tables together) in front of the couch and bringing in the arm chairs adds a sense of luxury to your dinner party.
This remarkable table hides in plain sight…..well sort of. Fold it up and it is out of the way until you need it again next time without infringing any floor space or bulky storage.
When it comes to entertaining friends and family ….Where there is a will there is a way. Sometimes we just need to take a second look and be a bit more creative with our spaces.
The concept of Tiny House Living is becoming more and more popular. The increasing number of foreclosures and unemployment in recent years has really pushed homeowners to rethink the concept of home and its size. Most tiny homes are under 500 square feet and many have stretched this notion to 150-300 square feet house on wheels. The ideals are simple living…focusing on outdoor spaces, de-cluttering and down-sizing. Smaller housing is not just for the retirees, but for those who wish to own their home who normally couldn’t afford a house or those who feel mobility fits their life style.
Tiny houses do not imply to live without comfort, just using your space more wisely. That is a concept that we can all employ.
Using the vertical storage in the kitchen adds a bit more visual interest as well creating more storage. Whether choosing to incorporate shelves and/or rails to display your kitchenware or you could suspend over an island if you have the space. The wall solution is not just limited to pots and utensils, there are baskets you could add for spices, plants and even task boards.
Using the dead space under the stairs is a great area for added storage, closet, home office or a powder room that can fit a number of storage needs and stair configurations.
Creating a wall niche is not just reserved for the medicine cabinet. Framing out the space to add niches for art, books, shower shelving, or even to hide AV equipment.
We’ve seen the storage in an ottomans and drawers in coffee tables, but the Chiva coffee table combines both ideas with elegance. Nesting tables are not a new concept, but them are coming back into trend. Storing tables beneath tables is a traditional and simple space saving innovation to keep.
Hidden bed
Poppi Theatre by Resource Furniture
Atoll 000 by Resource Furniture
Nothing short of amazing! I love the ideas that Resource Furniture has to offer. A twist on a murphy bed shown here is only a small sample of what they create. These beds are a vast improvement from the traditional hide-a-beds for guests in the living room. So comfy, they could be your own bed.
Dual Function and Transforming Furniture
Goliath Glass by Resource Furniture
Modern console table transforms into a dining table suitable for 8 people. Incredible!
This storage solution is not for everyone, but for the loft or attic floor especially in a mobile tiny home, this is a great idea to incorporate storage without incrouching floor space with large furniture.
core77.com
If you can’t go over, go under! (the floor). Using the ceiling space between floor joists is a great spot to keep your books and trinkets.
Built-in storage into the knee wall maybe a great solution for hard to find furniture pieces and it keeps the floor space open.
There is always a storage solution, no matter the size of the space. Whether choosing built-in, dual function, transforming, wall space, floor space are but a few examples to use space more wisely and many more ideas out are there.
We all want to create that holiday style that doesn’t come from a box and is as individual as we are. Styling for a traditional, contemporary, minimal…you name it…There is something for everyone.
Many of us think of Christmas decor at the dining table as a formal and traditional affair. The time to bring out the good china and crystal glasses. Decorate with the deep red, deep greens and gold. A nostalgic glass up to good times past and present.
I feel that this is a transitional dining experience. It is half way between traditional and modern thanks to the juxtaposition of the rich red and the fresh chartreuse green. The crystal and silver accents give a winter wonderland feel at the centre of the table.
The contemporary existing decor is lightly spiced with a few amber toned ornaments on the sideboard/ credenza. The table is kept simple and uncluttered with a few candles and warm textiles. The main focal point is above the table, the hanging wreath is adorned with strategically placed ornaments.
The Scandinavian influenced decor, sings in with simple and clean design. The blue-greys, silver and white colour scheme work well with the raw wood tones and the texture of the sheepskin. This festive decor embraces the crafter and artisan in all of us.
Spaces 4 Living 