Slow Wood

Dutch Interior designer Christien Starkenburg and her tables.

The stunning Slow Wood visuals are styled by Studio Aandacht.

Here is Slow Wood - the brain child of interior designer Christien Starkenburg. The MUN collection consists of different side tables - a family of models which can work together or separately. Slow Wood aims for timeless pieces of furniture which are made by local craftsmen. They are simple, natural and elegant. The pieces are made with 100% natural finishes and mineral paint.
Photograhs via Slow Wood.

Blonde Wood

From the home of Dutch designer, Christien Starkenburg.

Table is from the MUN collection at Slow Wood.

Here are some images from the lovely home of Dutch designer, Christien Starkenburg. It's great to see the use of blonde wood and it looks so fresh in this interior - very Scandinavian.
The tables in both images are from Starkenburg's cool MUN table collection from Slow Wood.
Photographs via Bloesem.

Osterlen Table and Chair

Osterlen table and chair designed by Inga Sempe for Garsnas.

Here is a gorgeous ash chair and table duo designed by French designer Inga Sempe for Swedish furniture company, Garsnas. It is called 'Osterlen' - named after the town in southeast Sweden where this furniture is made. I love the simplicity and the well composed U-cuts of these pieces. Check out how the design was developed, including the sketches and prototypes, here and read more about it's Stockholm Furniture Fair release this February here.
Photographs via Dezeen.

Dining Chairs and Tables - Numbers you can use

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG Midwest Living Greg Scheidemann

I've done posts about dining chairs several times (usually in regard to mismatching them!), but I realized the other day that we've never really talked about some of the more practical details. It might come in especially handy if you are mixing and matching your table and chairs and buying from various sources. So just in case you're headed out to your flea market this weekend, this post includes a few numbers that might help. They're just general guidelines, but hopefully something some of you can use.

Interior Design by Ashley Putnam Lonny Magazine

Round tables are really great for conversation and, depending on the room, sometimes they just fit the space better. I have one and I love it.

myhomeideas.com Photo Peter Murdock

House Beautiful photo: Frances Janisch

houseandhome Photo Michael Graydon

Southern Accents Photo Erica George Dines

Thank you, too, to those who commented on my post yesterday! I was thinking there was a slim possibility I wasn't the only one :-), but I really appreciated the confirmation.

More numbers you might like:
Accessorizing Your Walls - Crunching Some Numbers

What's behind the sofa?

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

womans day

Don't worry, this isn't a post about when the last time was that everyone cleaned behind their sofa! :-) We're just looking at some behind-the-sofa decorating inspiration.

In many living rooms, the sofa is against a wall and there just isn't space or really any need to have anything behind it.

myhomeideas.com

But sometimes even when your sofa is against the wall, a slim sofa table can still be an option. It provides a space for lamps when there isn't room for end tables or floor lamps, helps with accessorizing the wall and, in a larger room, allows you to move the sofa in for more intimate seating without leaving an empty space behind it.

contemporary living room design by other metros interior designer Seaside Interiors

The above idea can also be used to fill in the space behind a sofa when you're angling it in a corner. A folding screen would be another option.

They've used the same idea below of filling the extra space with a console table when trying to make the seating more intimate but, in this case, I believe there's a walkway between the table and the wall. The clever placement of the art keeps your eye from moving beyond the seating area.

Chicago Home Photo Nathan Kirkman

Remember this CR Laine image from this post? An out-of-the-box option...

An open floor plan brings another set of options. I was taught to avoid placing a sofa in a way that you would be staring at the back of it, if possible. Once I started decorating real-life rooms, I quickly realized that many times, especially in an open floor plan, it's just not possible.

House Beautiful

However, there are ways that you can divert attention from the sofa back...

This is actually the image that inspired me to do this post. A nicely accessorized table behind the sofa in an open space can create a room divider of sorts and a cozy, more intimate feeling to the spaces on either side of it.

homes and gardens

Having two chairs on either side of a console table is a nice option, especially if the adjoining open space is a dining room. Extra dining chairs can be placed on either side and then pulled into the dining area as needed. The addition of a lower shelf on this table allows more space for accessorizing or open storage for items that you don't mind having on display, such as books, and further distracts from the sofa back. As with some of the other images we've seen, this is also a nice spot for lamps, which are not only functional but give another level of interest, color and texture to the room.

House Beautiful photo Julian Wass

I like Amanda Nisbet's take on what to put behind the sofa. Going with an oval table versus the standard rectangular console and using two ottomans on either side instead of chairs.

Traditional Home

In this open space, they've used a console table as a divider of sorts with a walkway on either side. An interesting idea.

Coastal Living

Another interesting idea. An accessorized bench behind the sofa...

Traditional Home

In smaller open-plan spaces that need to be multi-functional, the back of the sofa can be used as a divider wall of sorts to create another space such as:

an office...

BHG.com

or a dining area/work surface. In this case, they've used a bench that can be easily tucked under for the "traffic side" of the table.

myhomeideas.com Robbie Caponetto

Here are a couple of more permanent solutions...

house and home Photo Angus McRitchie

traditional living room design by seattle architect David Neiman Architects

DIY Decorating - Blogger Projects

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Urban Nest did a wonderful job painting a graphic statement wall in her foyer...

After the Before but Before the After decided to expand on the idea and created this dramatic focal wall in her family room!

As we all know, there are a LOT of creative bloggers out there! I never cease to be amazed at the creativity and motivation. Today I'm spotlighting some of the creative ideas/projects that I've saved. Clicking on the links provided will take you to the complete post for each project.

Jamie at Something To Do turned an unused closet under the stairs into an awesome storage room...

BEFORE
AFTER

You know I love the idea of updating chandeliers with drum shades. This DIY shade was made by Living in the 513 using campaign signs and fabric! Creative or what?

BEFORE

AFTER

And many of you may have already seen this on YHL, but I had to share The Keylors drum shade that they made with hoops, plexiglass and burlap!

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AFTER

Did you know that you could dye leather? Tatertots & Jello featured Kaysi from Keeping It Simple's leather chair transformation using dye. Complete tutorial here.

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AFTER

Using this Pottery Barn image as inspiration,

Lakeitha from Home To Three Duncan Boys created this fun bedroom for her son. I like the way she mixed it up a bit from the inspiration photo by, for example, painting blue and white stripes in the closet versus using the striped duvet. Two other favorites in the room are the pallet headboard and the DIY light fixture. Click here for more room photos, and here for a source list.

Erika at Blu Label Bungalow designed this fabulous boy's room. My favorites are the stripes and the wall grouping!

Her design also included this clever book sling. She has an excellent tutorial so that you can make your own HERE.

Chic Coles takes these chairs (a score on Craig's List) from boring black to fabulous turquoise! Love it!

Candace at Crafty Sisters took an old dresser from this

BEFORE

to this. Yes, she built the hutch herself! If you like the cute metal signs, she made those too and shows you how here.

AFTER

Have an awesome day!