Blog of B/A Sofas

Small apartment decorating is always a challenge. Inspiring solutions can be found in many areas: from storage to color composition and from decorating to using modern and versatile furniture with multiple use. Searching for small apartment solutions can take up a lot of time, but be prepared to stumble upon so many ideas that it will be hard to choose the right one for your home.

Start with making a list of the things you need, like storage facilities and take into account that, by using colors, light and mirrors, you can create the illusion of a bigger space. A small apartment can be just as relaxing and comfortable as an apartment with a large floor plan if you use functional furniture and unconventional space delimitations.

A personalized small apartment solution can come from the decision of using custom made furniture that will help your small apartment reach its full potential. Custom furniture can be an effective solution for maximising small spaces in apartments; creating a “wow-factor” with a statement piece; custom designer homes with specific décor requirements.

Try to use every available space and think out of the box. Use sliding doors and mirrors to hide storage space. In the bedroom, use the underside part of your bed for keeping linens or even consider a bunk bed and use the lower part as office space. There are many ideas that can help you decorate a small apartment and a good interior designer can customize the space in a way that you and your family can connect to, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.

The coffee table is an oft overlooked piece of furniture, but the right coffee table can make or break a living room. But what makes a coffee table a coffee table? And what modern styles are out there?

Possibly the most defining feature of a coffee table is its long, low shape. It normally has shorter legs than a side table or a bistro table, and it is usually oval or rectangle as opposed to circular or square in shape. This is so that it can be placed in front of a sofa and compliment its long form and be at just the right height for easy access to anything on its surface.

However, not all coffee tables are created equal. These basic features don’t come close to describing a truly modern coffee table. Some are tall, some are short; some are wide, some are thin; some are made of wood, some are made of glass; and all of them can compliment their surroundings if placed appropriately.

You can have a coffee table that matches a handful of side tables, or you can create an eclectic look using a variety of shapes and styles. The coffee table you choose can be made of glass, wood, chrome, plastic or any material of your choosing, as long as it is sturdy and stable.

A coffee table is an integral part of a living room, because it centers all the other furniture. Your sofa set will pop if you incorporate the right coffee table – but it could fizzle if you choose the wrong one. Coffee tables are also used as a gathering place, so you’ll likely want yours to be warm and inviting.

Consider size, placement, texture and material when picking out your coffee table – you’ll thank yourself later.

Interior is a certain composition, created of defined elements and dependent on mood. Interior is something which makes our home a pleasant place to live in and to create! Interior is the soul of inside shell of our home! In certain circumstance we can draw a parallel between interior and musical composition as interior should have the main idea and conception. The whole living area – furniture shape, color palette, various accessories and fabrics subordinates to interior composition. The interior idea is based upon the style chosen which makes the living area comfortable to live in for a human. Often it happens that different styles mix giving birth to the new one. And the more deeply the styles are mixed the more stylish and fashionably the living area is. Distinct geometrical forms, luxury materials (silk, stone, natural wood) and restrained décor are peculiar to classical interior. Stucco work, sculptures and pillars are common to this style. The modern style has appeared by the end of nineteenth century and it has introduced various décor elements into the design preferring flexible fluid shapes and stylized plant patterns. The most popular style in present design of interiors is the minimalism differing by its laconism in shapes, absence of ornaments, décor and detailed finishing of facades and door panels. Such kinds of materials as glass, aluminum profiles and wood, steel are used for minimalism styled furniture. The furniture in constructivism style differs in compact sizes, clear framework and lucidity of shapes and also in functionality and mobility. The country style is also enough popular especially by its original rural style where natural materials such as wood and stone are used finishing. The techno style became apparent in the beginning of 1980’s of gone century. It almost is not at use in designs of living areas but it is very claimed in entertaining places. Metal and glass are the materials which are always used in techno style finishing. The main goal of designer is forming the idea of the area and its realization into life. For this reason designer has to become not only a skillful specialist in its profession but also a psychoanalyst that is to single out that real idea from great number of ideas in order to make the area that part of home which will be liked by its hosts and will fit their tastes. He is to create something more amazing and individual from usual furniture, fabrics, floor coverings and illumination.

The next style the core of which is very interesting to discover for our dear readers as you’ve guessed already is the country style. The next several minutes you will be absorbed in this article!

The country style is very urgent for those people who like the rural way of life. This style is relatively new. It has appeared about 40 years ago. The essential features of the style are the handmade attributes such as embroidery, homespun coverlets and tablecloth, antique trunks, special utensils etc. The country style is famous for its power to create comfort and cozy atmosphere, to make people feel good and naturally. It is less probable that somebody can have its doubts about the functionality and cosiness of this style.  The country style is the most heartfelt and warm style out of the others. Moreover the country style has many constructive advantages. The country style can be interconnected with the ethnic belonging according to the region features where you live. The main sphere of country style application is the interior of county houses and cottages. However it does not mean that the style can not be used in the city apartment house. The country style in home interior is a good decision in according to the economy of funds. Simple and unsophisticated but at the same time very pretty curtains in natural colors without any drapery and magnificence, knitted tablecloth, covers for chairs, embroidery pictures, patchwork quilts, lampshades, colored pillows, curtains in macramé style – are the authentic symbols of the country style which can be hand made. Exactly these items can individualize the interior and make it more memorable. The main elements of the success you reach while creating the country style in the room are composed in the maintenance of the following recommendations:

• There is a variety of ways in wall design. For example, you can use simple wallpaper with small unpretentious flower drawing or vinyl wallpaper for dyeing. Another variant you can use is the wallpaper which stylize papyrus or which remind bamboo. It is preferable to use decorative panels and cornices below and above the walls correspondingly.

• The floor can be processed with tile, wood or stone as a covering. The floor covering can be very different – from mat which is associatively refers to the East carpets with high pile. The important point you should remember not to use things which remind you the modernity, for example try not to use such kind of material as plastic and glass. Because they are the symbols of modern minimalistic style.

• The furniture should be wickerwork and wooden and as rough as possible. The furniture can be sustained in classical forms and such attributes of rural way of life as benches, cabinets for kitchen utensils, open cupboards, baskets, chests and the things with the echo of old times can be used in interior.

• The multiplicity of colors is the essential feature of the country style. It is the most preferable way to use one unpretentious color gamma in order to avoid the flashy diversity of colors. The preferable colors are beige, azure blue or green with accents of bright accessories. The décor of the country style interior includes the things associated with nature and life for example fresh flowers in vases and flowerpots, immortelles and watercolors. By the way it should be informed that it is more preferable to avoid using of very complex texture in the interior. It is recommended to décor your room with natural textile adorned with flowers or other pattern.

• The most significant attribute of the country style interior is the real fireplace or the country stove. But if you have not opportunity to build in a fireplace in the interior in case if you live in a flat so there is another variant – try to create the imitation of fireplace.

However it is will be more logically to design a dining room or a bedroom in the country style. Why not to design other areas of home in this design? Because living room needs to be equipped with TV, TV stand, wall unit and in the kitchen for example we always need domestic appliances which are the contradiction of the country style.

Decorating the interior, besides the basic traditional colors and their spectrum, as style-forming ones, it is possible to use thin and many-sided “wine” tints, one of which is the tint of Burgundian wine belonging to ancient sort Beaujolais – young French wine which is produced in the historical area of France Beaujolais of the “game” sort of grapes.

Refined blue note added to the “glass” with red-violet base distinguishes this dainty color from the wine tint Burgundy. Blue transforms Beaujolais color to calmer and more honorable category however does not deprive of hidden emotionality and stirring deepness.

Nevertheless comparing to the mystic violate, Beaujolais seems to be more earthly and cozy and in combination with gold-yellow and red tints – to be warm and magic.

Undoubtedly, living room, bedroom, kitchen, hall requires different combinations and proportions while using this active and expressive tint. Somewhere it will serve as a good background and somewhere it will be suitable only as the elements, small accents or just “light wine aroma”.

Such unconventional color gamut can be interesting only to those who prefer modern eclectic design and brave exclusive decisions. Thankful gathering background for Beaujolais tint can also be an interior in Mediterranean style Marrakech.

What – Furniture Market 2011; where: Las Vegas; when – from Saturday January 22, 2011 at
07:00AM till Friday January 28, 2011 at 04:00PM.

The best manufactures and the best furniture decided to unite to present you the most influential trends in furniture this year. Everything that is modern, convenient, extraordinary is offered here, in one of the most beautiful US cities – Las Vegas. This week Las Vegas is the center of charm, inspiration, and the greatest opportunities. This week you will not look at sleek models, walking around the podium, but there is great chance to see the hottest trends in furniture design: various styles, and finishes.

Las Vegas market presents products of different categories including, furniture, lighting, rugs, floor coverings featuring an incredible style, and sleek appearance.

Thousands people will attend this World Market Center this week to see with their own eyes this fabulous event in the fabulous city.

Attendees will have an access to thousands products of hundreds manufactures, will enjoy incomparable brand new trends in furniture design.

It happens that exactly looking at the living room it is possible to determine the character and preferences of owners of the house. In this room all the details are gathered which the owners want to show their guests. Some designers even call it the Vanity Fair.

Before the living room was considered to be the multifunctional room which combined the cabinet and dining room and place for having guests. The modern tendencies require the narrow specialization of the placement. Therefore soft and comfortable armchairs appear instead of universal sofa-beds and big table are replaced with small coffee tables. Many people refuse from the different cupboards in the living room making place free for other details of interior. Oftener the owners demonstrate the collections or just expensive elements of furniture showing their prosperity and sense of taste.

The modern designers of interior assign primary importance to the comfort. Comfortable furniture, home theater and many small details of interior provide the comfort of the guests and help filling the picture.

Furniture sets for living room are very popular. Some of them have lightness and laconism, others help creating festive and merry mood, others have strict and business classic style which is appropriate for absolutely all living rooms owing to combinations of many styles and orientations.

Carpets also come into fashion but only on the floor. Using of small pillows in decorating of living room allow adding warm and comfortable atmosphere. Flowers help adding freshness to the room, and small statuettes – charm and exotic.

Comfort and appropriate design – these are two main requests which are put forth the bedroom set. But what does it mean – “appropriate”? Everyone wants to have the bedroom decorated with furniture which is made of the best materials and created by the skilful masters, which has the wonderful look.

Bedroom set lays the base of comfort and coziness in the bedroom on which your mood in the morning and feeling during the working day depends. Therefore it is necessary to approach to the choice of bedrooms set as serious as to the choice of any other furniture for your apartment. Of course, furniture in the bedroom should blend with entire style and set the common conception.

The bedroom set besides the bed also includes the cupboard for linen or chest, cheval glass and stands. These are basic elements; besides them the set can also consist of armchairs, chairs, poufs and also various accessories. Except the cheval glass there can be chest ad mirror independently. While choosing it is better to determine with the set of elements which will be suitable for your room.

Be attentive with placing furniture in the room. For creating coziness the place of furniture is not less important then the furniture itself. It is worth planning the placement of elements of bedroom set taking into account the size and form of the room. It is better to refuse from several elements of bedroom set for not to allow the narrowness in placement.

Alcove is a hollow in the wall or specially created niche for bed. Sometimes it can be separated from other space with the screen or curtain. If you have a big bedroom then such interior decision will help to make the bed zone more comfortable and cozier and in the case if you own the apartment-studio the correctly formed alcove will be able to manage with the role of full-fledge bedroom.

Alcove can also settle the question of ergonomic decoration of small placement because it can often place just a corner or some other not most useful part of the room.

Besides that it is pleasant and comfortable to be inside such “house” both in the children room or youth interior and in traditional adult bedroom. At the same time alcove gives us so necessary feeling of seclusion, private space and security.

The history of alcove as a sleeping zone originates from the culture of forming of living space of dynasty Min in China in the period from 14 till 17 century. Since that time this bedroom tradition got very different and unexpected interpretation and became the part of many houses all over the world.

Alcove in country, classic baroque, modern, Marrakech, loft, hi-tech and minimalism styles is the ocean of ideas for creation and forming of individual comfort.

You should remember very well that there is no special chair for working at the computer in “conditions close to home”. Office chairs and armchairs are most suitable for this role. The main requirement for “sitting place” is its comfort and harmlessness for health. Any aesthetic features can be sacrificed for this. The modern computer chair is quite complicated checked mechanism. It is desirable that the back has the anatomic shape which takes into account the structure of human body. The chair should be lifting-turning, regulate by height and angles of slope of sitting and back and also the distance of back from the forward edge of sitting. This allows the computer chairs being the universal element of furniture suitable both for children and adult of any height. Half-soft, antistatic and airtight cover is desirable. The presence of armrests is very desirable – leaning on them you can avoid strain of your back, relax arms and shoulders. For producing computer chairs strengthened plastic and metal are widely used. The material of upholstery is not very important – it can be textile or leather. Of course it is good when computer table and chair compose the set looking nice together. The producers of office furniture offer the wide range of different models of chairs – from the simplest ones to massive “president” armchairs which cost about one thousand dollar. The consumers try not to economize on their comfort – for home they usually purchase more expensive and cozy armchairs than for working in the office.