"Creative Coffee Table Designs"

        These little islands perched in the middle of our living rooms can be challenging to decorate. They need to walk the line between form and function, having displays that are interesting but not obtrusive.

        One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are designing their coffee table is using to many small or low profile pieces. First you need to determine the look you are going for. Is it going to be casual or formal? You want to make sure your display matches the rest of the decor in your room.

          If the coffee table is in front of your TV you would not want an overly tall display. Those looks are great in a more formal living room that might be a little less used.

          You want to bring texture, mixture of sizes and shapes on your coffee table. Don't be afraid to include beefier objects because accents with some heft will add width and height to your table.

           Trays are great to use as a base for your display because trays pull the pieces together and give the grouping a unified look. Plus when you build a display on a tray, you can easily move it if you want to clear the coffee table for another use.

           Hope this will inspire you and give you a few new tips for your coffee table.

Dining Table

      "Invite A New Dining Table To Dinner"

If you've been stuck at the kids table or been seated a rickety card table stuck into expand the main table, you know how important it is to have a dining room table that can welcome the entire family. After years of stressing over how I was going to fit quests during holiday dinner, I finally decided to get a table that had enough room for all of us.

I you are considering inviting a new dining table to dinner this year, here are a few tips to help you select one that's as wonderful as the friends and family who will gather around it.



Focus on Function

      First decide what you need in a table. What shape is the room? How many people do you want to seat? Will you need space on the table for serving dishes or do you prefer to serve off of the buffet?

       Is your dining room formal or casual? I picked a rustic farm table with english barley twist chairs and slipcovered parson chairs at the ends. I love the rustic elegance that is created when I set a formal tablescape.

           At Hermann Furniture, we are definatly seeing a huge number of people prefering a more casual look for their dining table.

      

Start at the Top

      Next, decide what shape will work best for your space and lifestyle. If you have a long narrow room that adjoins the kitchen, you might like a rectangle table. If this is your main dining table, check into a table that offers several leaves so you can shrink the size down when it's just your family and then be able to expand it when company comes. 

This table by Lexington is great! It has three leaves and will expand up to 150 inches.

Consider a round or square table for a more lively dinner discussion and where everyone can see each other. One great feature that companies are offering to todays round and square shapes is that they don't lose their shape when they expand. In the past, when you added leaves to round or square table, you ended up with a oval or rectangle. Now leaves pop up and fit together like puzzle pieces, making the table larger not longer.

This 60" round has five leaves that will make it a 80" round.

Look at the Legs

      Look for table legs that go with the size of your gatherings you have typically. Many people will choose pedestal tables, so no one gets stuck sitting by a cumbersome table leg. My kitchen table has corner legs. I admit that this leg placement can be a challenge when you're seating large groups, but I adore the look of the table so much, I was willing to work around it.

Delicious Details

       Now comes the fun part: picking the material, style and finish that fit your dining room best. I'm crazy about solid wood tables, especially a carved rustic one. But perhaps a natural, painted or distressed finish would work best for your dining room.

If you want to make a smaller dining room feel larger, you might consider a glass-topped table.

Pick a Seat

    While lots of people like matching dining sets, I am one to mix it up. Putting dissimilar chairs and tables together. For instance, try surrounding your table with benches or stools, either with a high back or no back at all. For a luxurious look, use upholstered wingback chairs or a settee. If your style is casual, try wicker armchairs or armless banana leaf chairs. If you have large dinner parties, invest in some ballroom chairs that will allow you to squeeze in more friends.

So have fun and be creative if you are thinking about inviting a new dining table to dinner.

Halloween Bash

Halloween Bash

Halloween is almost here and I can't wait!!! If I didn't say it before I will say it again, "I love Halloween!" Fall is my favorite time of the year and my favorite time to throw a party - I love the autumn chill and the smell of chimneys burning - it just seems festive. So, if you haven't decided on your decor for your Halloween party here are a few last minute ideas.

 I hung a round mirror from my front door. I secured some twisting, turning dead sticks behind the mirror so they branched out around it.

Next I tucked in some creepy black and twisty twigs with a couple of glittery spiders, this added just a touch of shimmer and sheen. Then I add some adorable orange jack-o-lantern bells, so every time the door opens it make a little clink and clank. A burlap ribbon adorns the mirror with a vintage Halloween postcard dangling in the center.

I finished off the look by draping handfuls of Spanish moss over the fingers of sticks. From the moment guest will know they are in for a spine-tingling good time. And the trick-or-treaters will love looking at themselves in the mirror.

Outside, don't make it too easy for the little goblins to demand their treats: create a mystery by illuminating the pathway to the house with a ghostly glow. These great tin cans with cut out jack-o-lantern faces will do the trick!

There is just something so mysterious about the flickering candle light and it makes a creepy setup for whatever waits on the other side of the door.

At the front entry I took an old concrete urn and added black fuzzy sticks and wonderful vintage ornaments.

My wonderful bear was turned into a witch to greet guests as they come through the door.

Mice, tiny pumpkins, old books with the covers taken off and skeleton hands finish off the chest in the entry.

The tea service in the dining room received a little attention this Halloween with twister gourds and a spooky skeleton.

A little bling was add to the formal dining table.

Decorating is in the details, especially around All Hallows Eve.

My last dinner quest is enjoying a book on the settee.

Double, double toil and trouble,

Fires burn, and caldron's bubble...

Calling all witches, goblins and ghosts

Hope this will help you be a great host....