News
News
How to Use Velvet in the Home
Whilst there are many fashionable fabrics out there, none is as luxurious as velvet. Traditionally owned by the wealthy and affluent, its trademark characteristics range from its opulent sheen through to its sumptuously soft feel. Regal and refined, its historic status as a material of the upper classes means it’s a sure-fire way to lend a touch of elegance. After falling out of fashion for a while, there’s no doubt that the trend for velvet is back. As well as experiencing a dramatic revival on the catwalks, interior designers have fully embraced this lavish trend too. Used for upholstering furniture from seating to headboards, along with other décor pieces such as curtains and wallpaper, this beautifully indulgent fabric lends depth, character and class to any room. We show you how... Start Small If you’re feeling a little hesitant, our advice is the same as if you were introducing a bright colour into a neutral interior – start small. In the lounge, try scattering a few velvet throw cushions on the sofa, or why not create a feature wall with pretty velvet embossed wallpaper. When it comes to furniture, try a singular occasional chair in the corner to start with. Plush velvet fabric upholsters its modern seat, making it ideal for the lounge, study or any relaxed living space. In the kitchen, try the Ascot Bar Stool Black for a luxurious look. Lusso Chair Amore Chair Mustang Chair Choose The Right Type Some may be wary of velvet, thinking back to the dated and heavy looking theatre curtains of the past. It also has somewhat of a reputation for being a little high maintenance; however this is not the case, as it all depends on the type you choose. There are now many varieties out there, from sumptuous pure velvet through to more budget friendly velveteen or velour. Each has its own benefits and distinctive look, and as the various types are made up of different materials, each will wear slightly differently. Back in 2015, a new line of crushed velvet items on our website signalled a revival in the popularity of velvets more broadly. A glamourous option thanks to its signature shimmer, the material’s recognisable lustre was manufactured by exposing the fabric to water, squeezing it together, applying pressure at different angles, then allowing it to dry with a unique crumpled appearance. Our much-loved Ascot Bar Stool Velvet was one such product, its encompassing seat and backrest adding to its palpable sense of luxury. Beautifully versatile, it made a real statement when situated in a kitchen, at a breakfast bar. Because of the nature of fashion, and changing trends in interior design, crushed velvets have been somewhat superseded today by smooth velvets and our range has been updated to reflect as much. You can see some examples of these below: Kensington Chair Moreton Chair Etienne Chair Make A Statement If you love the luxe look, then don’t be shy – make a statement! With their affluent aesthetic, fabric dining chairs upholstered in regal velvet are ideal for creating a formal dining area that will really wow your guests. Channelling the grandeur of the past, our Etienne Dining Chair has a lavishly textured upholstery which is complemented by quilted button detailing on the comfortable backrest. Chic chrome studs ensure that the Etienne dazzles from all angles. With a real upmarket elegance, it’s the perfect design for dressing up a plain or neutral interior. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an item that combines luxury living with a modern touch, you may be interested in our exciting range of brightly coloured velvet chairs and stools. The Glam Dining Chair has a sophisticated build and an attractively sleek finish, complete with neat piped edging that accentuates its minimalist design. Best of all, the Glam is available in blue, green and grey variants that offer striking pops of colour in any setting. Glam Chair Aston Chair Bubble Chair Pair With Complementary Materials Whilst velvet will no doubt speak for itself, it pays to enrich the lush aesthetic by pairing it with similarly sophisticated materials. With a timeless warmth and classic character, wood makes the ideal choice. When it comes to chairs, choose those with solid wooden legs in a divine walnut or dark black finish, as seen on the sumptuous Kensington. Its velvety grey seat with stylish buttoning strikes a trendy monochrome look against the dark finish of the legs. Need a little inspiration? Check out our Viva La Velvet pinterest board for more décor ideas and velvet products.
5 Different Ways to use your Dining Set
The dining set is a staple piece of furniture in the home, but how can you really make the most of it? The pairing of a dining table and chairs is often seen as the place where you and your family sit down to eat at the end of the day, but there are so many more uses for this multipurpose combination. Here we will look at 5 different ways you can use your Dining Set and make the most of this functional set up in everyday life. 1) Brilliant Breakfasts We’ll kick off our list where you kick off your day – at the breakfast table. Often called the most important meal of the day, gathering around the dining table for breakfast can set you and your family off on the right foot for the day ahead. A breakfast table, sometimes referred to as a nook, can serve a multitude of purposes in the morning hours. From sitting with a coffee and the morning newspaper to feeding the kids while they finish their homework before school, or even tucking into a fry up on the weekend, the breakfast table will be there waiting for you to start your day. While traditional tea and coffee pots are a great pairing with the traditional full English, pitchers of fresh juice and bowls of fruit really add to a buffet-style breakfast spread, and a large vase of fresh flowers can be the perfect accompaniment to a continental theme. Whether you’re an early riser who enjoys embracing the start of the day with a cup of coffee, or someone who appreciates the luxury of a lie in and a leisurely morning, the breakfast dining set is where it all begins. 2) Working From Home Remote working has become more common over the last few years, and practical dining sets which can double as occasional workspaces have never been more popular. We often hear from prospective customers for whom research from home, work calls and university coursework are important considerations when sourcing new dining chairs and tables. A standard dining table generally isn’t dissimilar to a standard work desk in terms of height, which can be invaluable when you need a dining room to function as a makeshift home office. Letting a roomy tabletop become chaotic with paperwork before clearing everything away to serve an evening meal is a work-from-home staple. You might also choose to set up a laptop in front of you and take a notebook in hand for online meetings, maintaining a sense of professionalism without sacrificing all of the benefits of home comfort. Just remember to take occasional breaks. 3) Coffee Catch Ups For social butterflies who often have friends and family around for drinks, table sets provide the opportunity to impress. A circular table may prevent excessive distance between conversation partners, keeping everyone involved. Designing a chic decorative centrepiece can be simple but rewarding. Coffee and bright floral arrangements go together famously, though a small ornamental display could help to give a more personal touch. A tea tray or cake stand loaded with treats is also a welcome but none-too-subtle way of making guests feel at home. Its even possible to mimic the casual quality of a modern coffee table with a small selection of magazines, providing fuel for icebreakers and discussion. 4) Delightful Date Nights The intimacy of a suave modern dining set also makes them perfect for dates. Spacing is likely to be key as being too close together or too far apart can make your date experience uncomfortable, though a more compact dining set is still likely to be preferable for creating atmosphere. It’s usually advisable to choose a minimalist tablecloth that won’t be a distraction, though a subtle pattern may show that you have an eye for style. In terms of romantic lighting, dinner by candlelight is a classic and the mood created is likely to be different depending on whether you’ve opted for one tasteful candlestick centrepiece or a selection of charming tealights. With ambience established, cutlery laid out and a bottle of wine for the table, all that’s left to do is make yourself as presentable as the room. 5) Decadent Dinner Parties The colour of an object is not the only factor affecting the amount of light that it reflects. Texture is just as important in determining the level of reflection. Above all else, a dining set is great for hosting. The ideal in any dining room is of course a substantial table, around which several guests can be placed at once and upon which numerous dishes can be served. A traditional three-course meal is likely to call for neat and sophisticated place settings, sometimes with a handsome carafe or a water jug to provide easy refreshment. One alternative is a more free-for-all buffet style party that may involve platters of canapes or stylish serving bowls. With bellies full, it’s worth thinking about the transition from a sit-down meal into fun after dinner activities. Table and chair sets give the opportunity to sit back after dessert, whether it’s to relax with idle chatter or engage in a high stakes game of cards. Given a wide enough tabletop, you may even decide to break out the board games. Conclusion These are just a few of the many interesting ways in which dining sets can be used. Why not take a look at our Dining Set Buying Guide or explore our selection of chair and table arrangements today, so that you too can find a way of implementing one or more in your room.
Creating Theatre in the Home
Want to give your home a touch of the dramatic? So much of interior design is about creating different “stages” on which you go about your life. Think of your home as a theatre; it’s not only what people see in a given space, but how it will make them feel. What scene do you want to play out? A cosy, homely backdrop to everyday life, or a glamourous, enchanting set to captivate an audience? And how do you want to be made to feel? Relaxed and soothed, or excited and invigorated? It pays to bear these factors in mind as you start the design process. Ultimately, it’s the internal architecture of a house that creates the main stage. Picture a sweeping spiral staircase in the entrance hall, or statement floor to ceiling windows in the lounge. Such striking design features will instantly enhance a space and create a sense of grandeur. But if you have no control over the architecture of your home… don’t worry! The beauty is in the detail; it’s as much about the scenery and the props as it is the auditorium. Audience Before you start, think about the purpose of the room and its audience. How will it be used and who will it be used by? For example, you may wish the bedroom to be a private sphere, your aim to create a relaxing, peaceful space perfect for a good nights sleep. Vice versa, it’s likely a reception room or dining area will take on a more extrovert personality – an engaging stage to dazzle, impress and entertain guests. Read more about public vs private interiors in Creating The Ideal Mood For Your Home. Mustang Dining Chairs Scenery & Props Colour, form and texture can be used to create as much or as little drama as you desire. Bold textures, bright colours and over-scale shapes will create a daring look that is sure to make a statement. Rooms that you don’t spend as much time in, such as a hallway or the downstairs toilet, are ideal for experimenting with the dramatic as any radical décor pieces won’t overwhelm if you’re just passing through. Alternatively, in spaces where you spend more time, such as the lounge or kitchen, you may prefer to create a more neutral backdrop. Think of your home as the stage, its occupants the actors. Whilst some will embrace extrovert décor, others may not want an overpowering décor style that distracts them from everyday life. Gigi Dining Chairs Fabric is great for personalising a room, helping to shape its overall look and feel. For example, plush fabrics will create a luxury look, as seen in our Kensington Dining Chair Grey Velvet. On the other hand, rustic homely fabrics as seen on our Cornell Oak Bar Stool Tweed Fabric will create more of a pastoral, farmhouse vibe. Or for a look that is a little more unique, you may wish to mix the fancy with the neutral – it all comes down to the scene you wish to create. Stars of the Show No piece of theatre is complete without its A list cast. Each room in your home should have a centrepiece or focal point to ensure it receives rave reviews; an item of furniture or décor piece that draws in the eye and grabs your attention. It could be striking seating from our collection of Accent Chairs, or a décor piece like an oversized vase or sparkling chandelier. One method is to buy your star piece first, then style your room around it. For example, red bar stools such as the Crescent (pictured below) will look bright, bold and beautiful lined up along the worktop or breakfast bar. Once these are in place, design the rest of your kitchen to match, pulling in red accents in kitchen appliances and crockery from the toaster to the teapot. A great addition to any room is the Florence Bedside Table Black, whilst initially designed for the bedroom, its sleek design and 360-degree rotating top make it perfect for any room, whether as a nightstand, a side table in the living room, or an accent piece in an office or reading nook. With ample storage and a compact footprint, it not only offers a stylish surface for lamps, books, or décor but also enhances convenience with easy access to your home essentials. What’s more, don’t think just because you have a small room you have to choose a small focal piece. Experiment with scale; be bold and opt for a larger statement chair like the Ascot. Not only will larger items make a room notably more dramatic, but they can make smaller spaces appear larger too. Crescent Florence Ascot Lights, Camera, Action! Lighting is key to any theatre production, and is equally important in the home. How you light a space can completely transform the look and overall mood of the room. For example low ambient lighting, from candles to floor lamps, is great for a romantic dinner date or an opulent dinner party, whereas you may prefer to let in plenty of natural sunlight for Sunday brunch at the breakfast bar. Shimmer Bar Stool So there you have it! All you need to create a sense of theatre in your home. Need a little more inspiration? Our Pinterest boards are full of décor ideas and interior trends to help get you on your way.
Creating the Ideal Mood for Your Home
Once upon a time, interior design was all about creating a home with the real wow factor. People wanted to impress their guests with show-stopping style, aiming to turn heads and make a statement. But times are changing, and a gradual shift in values as a society has slowly filtered through to the world of interior design. In today’s day and age, many now wish to create a comfortable, safe and cosy space to relax in over a “show home” to display. Ultimately it all comes down to mood, which is more often than not determined by the purpose of a room. Therefore before you start decorating, it pays to consider what a room will be used for. We’ve identified four key components that can be used to alter the mood of a room - colour, space, texture and light - and consequently how it can make you feel. Get it right, and you can create an attractive and welcoming home that can even have a beneficial effect on your health. 1. Public vs. Private Will it be a public space to entertain guests, host parties and welcome people into your home? Or a private sphere to spend time unwinding after work or relaxing with the family? Focused around the room’s main purpose, each will create an entirely different mood. Take the lounge, for example. When designed for private usage, it’s commonly a casual space with a homely feel used for chilling in front of the TV, reading the paper, or playing with the kids. For a cosy and comfortable ambience, it pays to select the right materials and textures. Choose fabric over leather upholstery, favouring plush fibres, chunky knits and soft woven fabrics. Wooden furniture with a natural grain should be utilised over metal alternatives, creating a more organic and warm vibe. Our Ascot Dining Chair is a great example, creating a snug and cosy mood when positioned round the fireplace. City Knightsbridge Ascot Alternatively, public usage of the lounge calls for a slightly more formal, impressive or smart look. Your aim should be to create more space and less mess, in order to provide a more welcoming and pleasant environment for your guests. Think calming, ordered and stylish over messy, chaotic and busy. If you have a coffee table, keep it clear of magazines, remotes and other everyday clutter. Instead, choose one focal décor piece such as a bowl of interesting fruit, an elegant plant or tasteful photo-frames. View the table as a blank canvas, which can be dressed differently dependent on the occasion. 2. Day vs. Night The dining room is a great example of a room in which you can create completely different moods, depending on the time of day. A lot of it comes down to how you light the space, which should be determined by the purpose of the meal and diners present. For a casual and homely daytime vibe, open the curtains and let natural light flood the room, or when grey outside rely on the main overhead bulbs. If it’s a quick breakfast, family brunch or low-key lunch, keep things simple. Forgo the frills by opting for standard kitchenware and tablemats. Aim for a pleasant and relaxed space, but don’t worry too much if things don’t match. Nevertheless, it’s a different story when the sun goes down. If you’re hosting a formal dinner party or even just a romantic meal for two, you’ll no doubt want to create a smart and sophisticated look for a more intimate and alluring atmosphere. Ambient lighting is key, so turn off the overhead bulbs in favour of the warm glow of corner lamps along with candles on the table. Bring out the fancy tableware and opt for plush luxury textiles; think sleek wine glasses, elegant candlesticks and a fancy tablecloth or runner. For the classy look, make sure the kids’ Lego bricks and plastic beakers are tidied safely out of sight. The base room beneath it all is the same – it’s how you dress it that sets the mood and ultimately affects how you feel. Check out our Table Décor pinterest board for ideas and inspiration. 3. Calming vs. Energised Colour is another factor that plays a big part in creating the overall mood in a room, influencing how you feel when you spend time in it. Whether you realise it or not, different colours produce different feelings, so be sure to choose wisely. When it comes to the kitchen, a calming atmosphere may be preferable if you’re after a contemplative space to help you relax as you cook dinner. Choose serene colours in soft shades like pastel blues, sea greens, cool creams and pale greys that encourage a tranquil state of mind, leaving you feeling calm and at ease in preparation for a restful nights sleep. With a refined and unassuming beauty, our cream bar stools are ideal. Mimi Chrome Stool Cream Conversely, you may prefer a more dynamic and vibrant look for your kitchen. This could be to match an extrovert personality, or simply to gear you up for work each morning. If you intend to hold a lot of parties, you’ll want to create a fun and energising space with a friendly tone, and hence setting the right mood with colour is key. For a really upbeat environment, think bright pop colours from zesty oranges, reds and yellows through to funky pinks, purples and blues. Go crazy with bold stripes or retro polka-dots, and think about introducing jazzy patterns and prints. Available in a host of vivid colours, our Mustang Chair and Gloss Coco Bar Stools can bring any kitchen to life with their cheery radiance. Gloss Coco Bar Stool The home is a reflection of the self, and as we’re all different, one style of décor won’t fit all. It’s important you create a space that reflects you and your family, tailored around its purpose and what you value most. Let us know how you get on!
Does Fashion Influence the Stool and Chair Industry
It's fair to say that the influence of the fashion world on the furniture industry is undeniable. This is exemplified in the fact that the latest styles of clothing and fashionable colours now appear to diffuse straight from the runway and into our homes through furniture such as bar stools and chairs. Many attribute this immediate ripple effect to the growth of the internet and our new accessibility to social media, which offers the opportunity to both instantaneously witness and supply the upcoming trends. In previous years, it was widely accepted that the runway trends and colours would generally take about six years to slowly filter their way into our home decor. More recently this is believed to have reduced to around a two year delay, as designers would tend to plan and produce the items in anticipation of later release within high street or department stores. However, the current advancement of online stores has meant that the time between product design, manufacture and point of sale has been dramatically reduced. Therefore, the current fashion trends now have the opportunity to have an overwhelmingly immediate influence on available furniture items. This is demonstrated when looking at the colour chart above, which summarises the on-trend colours for Spring/Summer 2014. It clearly distinguishes a number of bold colours, most notably a bright orange and purple. Looking at current interior style, as well as the popularity of our new furniture items featured in each of these shades, it appears that the two worlds have indeed collided with substantial impact. Additionally, like clothing fashions, furniture also appears to have a cyclical nature in which previous styles are recycled and updated in a unique way. This can be witnessed in products like our Cosmo Dining Chair, which embodies a funky retro shape, but provides a contemporary edge as it is offered in some on-trend and vibrant shades of green, orange and crisp white. Cosmo Green Cosmo White Cosmo Orange With this in mind, here at Atlantic Shopping we pride ourselves in our ability to supply the very latest trends of bar stools, dining chairs and other furniture. From colour to design, we're in touch with both the newest products embedded in recent fashion as well as more classic designs that epitomise timeless style.
Best of British Furniture
Since the triumph of the London 2012 Olympic Games along with the Royal Wedding and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the theme of ‘Best of British’ has maintained its popularity in a wide range of contexts. Interior design is one example of this, and it's difficult to avoid the vast array of stylish rooms that have employed this look in recent times. From cushions through to dining chairs, an increased amount of designers and high street shops have been incorporating British inspired designs and items into their lines. One of the most beneficial components of this theme is that it can be embraced within a room as much or as little as you like. If you wish to obtain a room that makes a bold statement, the red, white and blue colour scheme famously associated with Britain can be fully employed on walls and throughout all elements of the decor. However, within minimalist or neutral interiors the patriotic concept can easily be achieved through the simple addition of a co-ordinating splash of colour, or a funky accent piece featuring a Union Jack or quintessentially British image. With this in mind, we've decided to embrace this trend and put together our own mood board on how you can incorporate this style into your home. We've utilised a number of our own products, such as the Gloss Coco Bar Stool White, as well as a variety of soft furnishings. What's more, we've created a fabulous Best of British Pinterest board. This features a balanced blend of scene shots, related products, and unique interior ideas that can be used to help inspire anyone looking to add a hint of Blighty to their home. Now we’ve shown you some of our ideas we’d love to know... how would you decorate your British inspired room? Shop All Bar Stools
New Kitchen Chairs Section
This month, the Atlantic Shopping website undergoes another makeover, with the introduction of a brand new category. As a business, we understand that sometimes, all our customers are looking for is a simple set of versatile chairs. Our kitchen chairs are ideal for use during relaxed lunches and casual suppers alike and so, in light of this, we've created our new Kitchen Chairs section, with the intention of showcasing our blossoming range of ergonomic kitchen furniture. To get started, take a look at our favourite designs below: Popular Kitchen Chairs Chiltern Oak Dining Chair Knightsbridge Oak Dining Chair Azure Oak Dining Chair Traditional dining chairs are often thought of as being rather formal, while kitchen chairs tend to conjure more of a casual image. Of course, opulent options abound, too, as exemplified by the likes of our popular Carlo Oak Chair. Simply put, it all comes down to personal taste, and the good news is that our extensive selection boasts designs of almost every type, and for any budget. Carlo Oak Chair Black Leather It's also worth noting how our kitchen chairs are enormously practical. We understand that the kitchen tends to get more than a little bit messy, and so we're keen to use materials that can handle the odd spillage. Our pocket-friendly faux leather kitchen chairs are ideal in this respect, with the synthetic grain responding beautifully well to all manner of blemishes. ABS Plastic kitchen chairs are similarly effective in repelling stains, smudges and liquids, and are characterised by glossy visuals and a wipe-clean finish. Ultimately, we feel this new change to the site reflects our genuine desire to engage with our customers. We're often contacted by people who are looking to match different types of furniture together for a clean and consistent look, which is why we've responded to this by designing a number of our kitchen chairs to match some of our most popular kitchen stools. Our Diablo Dining Chairs stands out as a fine example of this and have been manufactured with the popular Diablo Bar Stool in mind. Together, the two lines produce a dynamic duo, matching not just each other, but your fittings and appliances, too. (You can view our complete range of matching bar stools and dining chairs.) Diablo Oak Chair Diablo Oak Stool Azure Oak Chair Whatever you're looking for, you're sure to find it amongst our numerous designs of kitchen chairs. Take a look at our new page now, and be sure to let us know your thoughts.
Cheap Dining Chairs
Understanding that prospective customers aren’t always looking to break the bank, we at Atlantic Shopping are committed to providing a range of cheap dining chairs, perfect for all locations and at great prices. We believe that furniture should be fabulous, irrespective of cost, which is why we’ve commissioned cost effective alternatives to pricey household staples. Tempo Dining Chair Light Grey Our fantastic selection includes the Aston Dining Chair, which despite its affordability has a dignified yet contemporary build, incorporating a luxurious velvet upholstery and encompassing design. Dense padding provides a comfortable experience and chrome leg sections hold up the seat pad at standard dining height, in a uniquely stylish display. We also have the luxurious Milano Dining Chair to offer, sporting a tall backrest and impressive shape upholstered in soft faux leather. Stitched detailing segments a comfortable seat, which curves in an ergonomic fashion that adds comfort as well as superb visual impact. Of course, chrome dining chairs aren’t the only option. Proving that brushed steel dining chairs can be acquired on a budget, the Faith Dining Chair is another example of minimalist elegance. Aston Dining Chair Candy Chair Faith Stackable Chair While the items above come highly recommended, we’ve made sure to spoil customers for choice by providing reasonably priced chairs in a variety of alternative frame finishes and designs. Just like the Mustang pictured below, you can get the latest in ‘on-trend’ dining furniture, without compromising on quality and price. Mustang Chair Antique Brown The Joshua Dining Chair is an especially chic product that features a sleek and modern design. Both the seat and legs are fully upholstered in faux leather. If not the Joshua, then you may be interested in the Arlo Stackable Chair, which beautifully showcases a one-piece resin design, both easily stackable and suitable for outdoor use. Another alternative option could be the Harrow Walnut Dining Chair, a great way to introduce rustic charm at an affordable price. Joshua Dining Chair Arlo Stackable Chair Harrow Walnut Chair Keen to prove that a modern look can be achieved on a modest budget, Atlantic Shopping has manufactured fashionable items to suit all penchants and pay packets.