Use Oak to Bring Warmth to A Contemporary Bedroom

When most people think of oak, they think of heavy, ornate furniture that is unmistakably traditional in style, but the new generation of furniture designers have found innovative ways to use the distinctive character of oak to create contemporary furniture that makes use of its warmth and colouring.

Contemporary style is defined by sleek, flowing lines and the careful combination of textures, but in recent years, this has often resulted in rooms that are cold and in which it can be difficult to relax. Modern designers have turned to the uniquely warm and charming characteristics of oak to help to solve this problem, resulting in furniture that combines the up-to-the-minute cool of contemporary design with the appealing textures and colours of oak.

Surprisingly, oak can be a light, welcoming
presence in a contemporary room

Of course, too much oak can overpower the design of a room, so you'll want to pick your pieces carefully. Choose an oak bed and bedside cabinet, to create a focal point, but you'll need to vary the textures surrounding it. Use fabric to dress a four poster bed, or bring in an upholstered chaise longue to provide contrast.

If you want some more advice on how to use oak and other traditional timbers to create a contemporary bedroom, check out channel4.com's in depth article.

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How To Give Your Home Office A Traditional Look

There's nothing like an old-fashioned study to make you feel at the same time relaxed, comfortable and businesslike. In today's age of flimsy flat-packed home offices, wouldn't you like to bring a little of the sense of solidity and timelessness of times gone by into your study?

To get the look start with the walls - wood panelling is the most desirable option, but can be prohibitively expensive. A cheaper option is wainscoting, but if you're on a budget, even this can be a bit much. A cheap option is to use a dado rail to split the wall in half, and then either paint or paper the lower section a darker colour, accentuating the open space above.

A traditional study is a great place to think

The most important item of furniture in any study is the desk, and in a traditional room, it is even more important to find the right desk. Think heavy, chunky furniture in solid dark-stained wood. If, however, your room is a little on the dark side, you may want to opt for lacquered oak or ash to bring a bit of light to proceedings. Keep the look goinf by using matching wooden shelving and filing cabinets.

If you find yourself writing letters by hand, there is no more comfortable and luxurious writing surface than leather, and a desk with a green leather writing surface is the definition of this look. However, leather inlay can be tricky to keep in good order, especially if you have children who might draw on it. Choose a solid wooden desk, in dark oak or stained beech, and invest in a separate leather writing surface. This allows you to leave space for a computer, which could permanently mark leather.

A rug is vital for the look, especially if it's a Turkish woven rug, which helps to give the room a professorial feel and provides a focal point around which to arrange the furniture.

Nothing evokes that timeless study
feel like a banker's lamp

The ultimate finishing touch for a traditional study is a green glass banker's lamp, which casts a warm glow over the room, and especially complements leather and dark wood tones. Search online for antique lamps, or if you're on a budget, look for a cheaper reproduction, and get the look at a fraction of the price.

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How To Choose The Right Sideboard

Sideboards are highly versatile pieces of furniture that can really help you to win the war on cluuter, but with so many styles and looks available, it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start. That's where this handy guide comes in - we'll take you through the different types of sideboard, and help you to find the one that is just right for you.

This contemporary wooden sideboard
combines modern style with traditional warmth

Before you can pick the right sideboard, you need to think about the style you want to achieve in your dining room, and how a well chosen sideboard can help you to succeed. If you want to take advantage of a traditional sideboard's air of refinement and sophistication, then you can either look for an antique, or find a reproduction, and use it to bring a traditional charm to the room.

Traditional rooms are fairly straightforward, as selecting the right sideboard is usually a matter of going for the piece that most appeals, but if you are looking for a sideboard for a modern room, it can prove to be more tricky. Finding the right sideboard for a contemporary setting is hard, because most modern interior design relies on unusual combinations of texture and style, and an item as large as a sideboard can easily dominate a room.

The best way to proceed is to consider the materials and styles that are already at work in your room, and then try to find a sideboard that will harmonise with them. For instance, if you've gone for the classic white minimalist look, with a glass dining table, sleek leather dining chairs, and wooden flooring, why not choose a wooden sideboard to accent the floor, instead of a more modern storage unit that might make the room cold. The subtle air of charm that surrounds a wooden sideboard can be a really useful way to introduce some warmth into a contemporary space.

So make sure when you're browsing sideboards that you consider not just the style of the design, but the effect that each piece would have on your room.

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How to use doors to enhance your furniture

When you're decorating a room to make the most of new furniture, it's easy to stop when you've seen to the most obvious jobs - the walls, floor and curtains - but why not take a look at our guide to some of the creative ways that you can make the most out of your doors, using them to enhance the look of your room and make your new furniture really look its best.

Whatever the style of your room, there are ways to make your doors do more than keep out draughts. First you just need to decide on the kind of look that you want to achieve.

By matching the colour of doors and walls,
you can achieve a striking effect

If you want to maximise your space, consider removing internal doors for an airy contemporary feel. Of course, if you don't have central heating, this can be an impractical option, so why not try painting doors to match walls, using emulsion paint to help the door blend in. If you're really feeling adventurous, you could even wallpaper a door to match the wall, with a funky transparent doorknob to complete the effect. This makes furniture really stand out, and allows you to emphasise the lines of modern sofas, coffee tables and shelving units.

These ultra-modern wooden doors are perfect
for bringing out the best in wooden furniture

If you have furnished your room with wooden furniture, you can achieve a harmonious, flowing and organic look by having a bespoke door made in the same wood as your furniture. Oak furniture has beautiful colouring, and by investing in an oak or oak veneer door, you can draw attention to the distinctive colouring and sttractive grain. If you can't afford a bespoke door, why not head to the auction house and see if you can snap up a cheap antique door, though make sure you measure up before you buy. If the door's a little big, don't worry, any carpenter will be able to cut it down for a reasonable fee.

You can also use antique door furniture, such as doorknobs and bolts, to give your room a traditional feel and to accentuate any fittings on your furniture. Auctions are great places to snap up doorknobs for cheap. If you need guidance on how to fit an antique doorknob, check out this video which provides detailed instructions.

So take a fresh look at your doors, and see if you can use them to really bring out the best in your furniture.

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How To Turn Your Home Office French

Home offices and studies can be neglected when it comes to style, leaving them drab and uninviting, and preventing you from using them to their full potential. The answer is to treat a home office or study exactly the same as you'd treat a living room, and to give it as much attention to design. This handy guide is intended to help you to use the classic elegance of French-influenced design and craftsmanship to create a welcoming and inspiring home office.

The best way to get the look of a chic Parisian apartment in your study or office is to start with a classic French colour for the walls and woodwork, and then pick a few carefully chosen pieces of furniture that will meet all your more practical needs while still allowing you to focus on a luxurious feeling of space and elegance.

This room has all the simplicity and
classic elegance of French design

The classic French look calls for a chalky white paint for both the walls and woodwork, although if this feels a little cold to you, you could try going for a celadon blue for the walls, matched to a deeper blue for window frames and skirting boards.

When it comes to picking furniture, think classic wooden pieces with elegant curves and expansive surfaces. White painted wooden furniture is especially effective, and can be complemented by dark-stained lacquered wood pieces. Try pairing a painted desk with a dark lacquered chair for a refreshing, eclectic look.

This miniature home office favours
Parisian simplicity over any hints of opulence

Accessorising a French-style office is a breeze - invest in some simple narrow black picture frames and frame either French film posters or black and white photographs. Choose a black and white patterned fabric for cushions, and, if you can afford to, replace your curtains with wooden shutters, and you'll really feel like an intellectual on the left bank of the Seine.

Ideal Home Magazine have a brilliant feature on French-style home offices, while styleroom.co.uk have a report on a simple, affordable approach to turning your whole house French, so if you love the idea, but are a bit short on inspiration, why not head over and check out their stunning images?

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Things To look Out For When Choosing A Chest Of Drawers

There is such a huge variety of chests of drawers available today that it can be
hard to decide what style is best for you. A well-chosen chest can really make an impact, helping to dictate the feel of a room as well as providing some useful storage. By selecting the right style of chest, you can really make a difference in any room.

The shape of the chest of drawers hasn't changed too drastically over the years. The chest began life in medieval Europe, in the homes of the nobility. Known at the time as a coffer, the chest was, at this time, little more than a wooden box with a hinged lid, often mounted on feet. Next, a drawer was added beneath the main compartment, then two, and finally the hinged top was phased out so that objects could be stored on top. If you'd like some more information on the story of wooden furniture, check out finewoodworking.com's brief history of the chest of drawers.

This chest is a twentieth century
reproduction of a sixteenth century piece

In the last few hundred years, there have been many distinct furnishing styles,
and most have featured interpretations of the classic chest of drawers. If you're going for an opulent traditional look with flowing textiles and dark, rich wood, then look for an antique-styled chest that has been stained and lacquered to give it the old-fashioned grandeur it needs. To maximise the sumptuous elegance of this style, look for chests with long, tapered legs and ornate drawer handles. You can also pair the chest with a matching dressing table, mirror and stool for that truly opulent feel.

Solid wooden chests combine
practicality and appealing looks

If you're after a more modern look, then try seeking out chunky, contemporary-styled chests. These often feature recessed handles instead of metal, and prioritise sleek, unbroken lines and expansive surfaces. This kind of chest looks best when given a matt wax finish.

This chest dates from the 1700s,
yet would fit in with a contemprary
minimalist look

Of course, there are many styles between the classic and the modern, and there is a nearly infinite variety of looks available, from chests that have been distressed to bring warmth to a shabby-chic modern home to quirky painted chests for kids' rooms. This is why it's important to have a good look around before you decide which chest to buy.

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How To Create A Contemporary Bathroom

There's nothing like the serene, relaxed feeling of slipping into a deep bath in a beautifully designed bathroom. We've prepared this handy guide to help you to create a contemporary style bathroom that is alive with elegance and style.

It's a good idea to take the time to consider different arrangements in your new bathroom, so why not use a piece of chalk to mark out potential positions for your bathroom suite, and let your whole family contribute suggestions? By taking the time to consider your options, you can be more certain that you will pick the right one, and avoid having to redecorate in a few years' time.

This bathroom uses wooden panelling
to give its sleek lines a touch of warmth

Contemporary bathrooms have an emphasis on space and sleekness, so it's worth while spending some time working out exactly what you do and don't need. Many modern bathrooms do away with traditional cabinets, and if you decide to go this way, but later find that you need more storage, you can choose a wooden bedside cabinet or small chest of drawers for the room without compromising on style.

The key to a contemporary bathroom is the bath itself - modern manufacturing techniques allow far more interesting shapes to be created than the traditional bath design, and if you want to get inspired, simply check out the range of bathroom suites that are available online.

The innovative shape of this bath is
contrasted with the natural wood shelves

In order to make your room relaxing, and prevent it from looking too cold, it's worth contrasting the sleek white textures of your bath and sink units with natural wood, which both brings a touch of traditional character to the room and also allows you to be creative in your storage choices. Why not use a wooden blanket box to provide storage for towels and guest toiletries?

Channel4.com have a great page filled with ideas for a contemporary bathroom, so if you're still on the lookout for inspiration, why not check it out?

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How to Use Ceilings to Enhance Your Furniture

Despite being the single largest surface in almost any room, we seldom think of our ceilings, and often miss out on exciting ways to bring a new style to our homes. This handy guide offers hints and tips on making the most of your ceiling, with decorating tips and examples for you to draw on.

If your ceiling has sloping sections, these can be painted to match the walls, breaking up the line between wall and ceiling and giving your room a unique look. Alternatively, sloping sections can be painted in a contrasting tone for a bold expression of your style. For example, in a room with a royal blue wall and white ceiling a sloping section can be painted red, or if this is too much, slate grey. This is perfect for creating an environment to show off contemporary furniture, as the emphasis on lines and shapes will fit the clean aesthetic of modern furniture. Try installing recessed halogen spotlights to really nail that up-to-the-minute look.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling,
painted by Michaelangelo

If you're going for a traditional look, then why not consider a ceiling rose? Plaster roses (sometimes called ceiling medallions) can be bought from DIY superstores, although it's recommended that you have a professional do the installation. Once installed, you have a choice of paint options. The traditional choice is white, the same as the rest of the ceiling, but you can get a refined, relaxed-yet sophisticated look by painting it in a patina of bronze, copper or even gold. Ceiling roses really set off a traditional room, and you can create a great effect by accessorising traditional wooden sideboards, console tables and bookshelves with matching bronze, copper or gold ornaments.

The exposed beams in this room really
contribute to its relaxed style

If you are lucky enough to have exposed wooden beams in your ceiling, it's worth taking the time to make sure they look their best. You can go for the old-fashioned, Tudor-style option of painting them black or deep umbre, and pairing this with a white or cream ceiling. If you want a more modern look, strip your beams back and give them a coat of Danish oil for a light and airy feel. This look is perfect for setting off chunky oak furniture, and can really bring out the grain in pieces with large surfaces, such as coffee tables.

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How to Repair Your Oak Furniture

Wooden furniture brings a real sense of individual character to any room, but it is vulnerable to damage, whether from spilled drinks, accidental knocks or even from the environment itself. That's where this handy guide comes in. These tips will allow you to keep your wooden furniture looking at its best, so if your dining table is looking a bit worn, don't worry, help is at hand.

If you have a lot of oak surfaces in your
home, learning to care for the wood is a must

Before you attempt any repairs, it's a good idea to make sure you know how the wood is finished. If it is untreated, then it will be less resistant to damage, but repairs can be easier as you don't need to worry about how the finish will react to treatment. If it has been finished in lacquer, it's best to allow a professional to repair it as achieving the evenness of finish by yourself can be a challenge. If the wood is waxed, then make sure you have a pot of wax with which to touch up any areas that are in need of repair.

Minor dents

You may be surprised to know that minor dents can be easily repaired using a few drops of water, a cloth, and an iron. Simply allow a few droplets of water to soak completely into the dent, and, when the wood becomes moist, place a clean cloth over the top, then - taking care to be gentle - use a warm iron to heat the area. The heat will cause the oak to expand, and as the water dries it allows the wood to set, keeping the new shape and completely ironing out the dent. Do not attempt this on lacquered furniture, as the heat can cause the lacquer to bubble and melt, and you may find that the cloth becomes stuck.

Scratches

Scratches are especially common on the tops of furniture, like dining tables, sideboards and coffee tables. There is a myth that rubbing a shelled walnut on a scratch will help, but this is not true. If the scratch is not deep, and your furniture is either untreated, waxed or stained, you can try lightly sanding the scratch, if it is not too deep, but you will need to re-stain or re-wax the sanded area. If the crack is deeper, you can buy crack-filling crayons from your local DIY centre. Simply heat the end of the crayon to slightly melt it, apply to the scratch, then buff very gently with a soft cloth. This is ideal when dealing with waxed or stained surfaces as you can get a crayon that matches the colour of the finish rather than the colour of the wood.

Burns

Most burns are tough to remove, and will need to be tackled by a professional, but small burns on untreated oak can be removed with this odd sounding tip. Simply apply a little toothpaste to the burn, leave it overnight then clean it off, polish the area, and you may find that the burn has gone completely. This works as the toothpaste absorbs the oxidised, blackened wood particles.

Fading

beeswax can be used on finished wooden surfaces to enhance the shine. If you want to get your hands on some, check out the Furniture Clinic's range of wood treatment products.

Moisture damage

If your furniture becomes moisture damaged, whether it's a ring stain from a carelessly placed glass or coffee cup or a major spillage, then you need to act fast. It may sound strange, but after mopping up excess moisture with a paper towel, you should apply some mayonnaise directly to the stain, rubbing it in well. Leave the stain for a couple of hours, then wipe the area clean with a damp, lint free cloth.

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Welcome to our new blog!

We are pleased to have finally got our blog up and running to go alongside our new PineSolutions website.

Keep an eye here for all the lastest furniture and interior design trends as well as all the lastest news from PineSolutions HQ.

If you haven't seen our new website - check it out www.pinesolutions.co.uk . There's a few things still to change but let us know what you think. We have a great selection of affordable solid oak, pine and painted furniture so you can give your home a new look for spring.

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