Lighten Up

Posted on May 27, 2011 by jbutler in Trendy Tips

Spring is in full swing so pull up the blinds, push the drapes aside and open your windows! It’s amazing what a little natural lighting can do.

In this Drexel Heritage room, our goal was to make this small corner a (seemingly) big one by playing off the natural light streaming in from the house’s very modern-style windows. We decided to use our Glissade Buffet as the centerpiece to create this effect.

The piece, from our new Dalliance collection, immediately gave new life to the room by reflecting sunlight on its mirrored doors and giving it a more spacious feel. The effect was enhanced by the buffet’s custom finish in a lighter, neutral-toned Oyster, layered against the room’s neutral walls.

We also used a lamp with complementary gray and white shades, artwork featuring a plain canvas background and a few metallic (and very shiny) accent pieces – all ways to play off of the natural light coming into the room.

How do you use natural lighting in your home to create the illusion of more space?

From Shoes to Showroom

Posted on May 19, 2011 by jbutler in Fashion and Design

If you like these Christian Louboutin shoes, then you’ll love this new upholstered side table from Drexel Heritage. It’s a perfect example of just how fashionable furniture can be! Although one might be shiny patent leather and the other a rich suede, the similar red and gold color combinations don’t lie – fashion is all around us, in fabric, shoes and now, furniture.

This catwalk-worthy side table was one of several upholstered pieces to debut at High Point Market last month, alongside upholstered tables, desks, sofa tables and cocktail tables. And the best part? There are so many different ways to make your upholstered piece uniquely “you” by mixing and matching your favorite colors and patterns with our many custom fabrics.

The red-hot colors of this side table complement the neutral colors of the showroom. Similar to these glamorous high heel shoes, the upholstered table brings a certain sophistication to the room. How would you add a little spice to your home with our new custom upholstered pieces?

Design Dictionary: Georgian, Hepplewhite and International Style

Posted on May 13, 2011 by jbutler in Design Dictionary

Throughout history, great leaders have left their marks on our world in a number of ways. Some created powerful empires, others left heirs and legacies and some influenced an era of furniture design. England’s three Georges, cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite and practitioners Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Roche, inspire this Design Dictionary entry. These epic figures and their roles in the past are the motivation behind the Georgian, Hepplewhite and International styles of furniture.

Georgian

This style of furniture emerged in 16th century England during the reigns of George I, II and III. Originally, this style of furniture had more characteristics of Queen Anne designs. As the Georgian fashion evolved, the design included highly decorated and ornamented pieces with masculine characteristics.  Commonly used details included rustic animals such as eagles’ and lions’ heads and claws, as well as satyrs’ masks. We think our Dylan Ottoman from our Drexel Heritage Upholstery collection is a lovely more contemporary take on the regal Georgian style. Along with the intricate wood detailing, the ottoman’s dark wood finish is reminiscent of the mahogany woods used during the  “Golden Age of Furniture.”

Hepplewhite

Renowned cabinetmaker George Hepplewhite also had a talent for designing furniture. His styles included simple, slender lines and straighter shapes with features inspired by Adam and neoclassical designs.  This artisan was also known for adorning chair backs with Prince of Wales’s feathers motifs. With the shield shape back and Bordeaux finished wood, our Lisette Chair from our Accents Provence collection is a great example of this elegant style.

International

This contemporary European style of furniture, circa 1920-1930, features clean lines and is all function and no frills.  Practitioners like Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Roche were part of this modern design’s most significant origin, Germany’s Bauhaus. This style of furniture is a progression from traditional designs, as evident by the incorporation of current materials and methods of production. Our Urban Contemporary Nesting Table from our Mixers Collection is the perfect simple, utilitarian piece. But with features like the glass top and chrome detailing, this table is anything but ordinary.

Jack is Back!

Posted on May 5, 2011 by jbutler in Furniture Market, Trendy Tips

When it comes to furniture design, a royal wedding can mean only one thing: Jack is back….Union Jack, that is! In our first blog – Another British Invasion – we shared how we’ve been using the royal emblem in our new upholstery designs. Now, in the wake of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s recent wedding, there’s no doubt that the Union Jack is also making its way into showrooms across the country. Our proof? High Point Market.

In her recent trip to spring Market, Patricia Sheridan of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also noticed that the British trend has taken the country by storm. In her article, WhoWHATWhereWhy: British Home Furniture Invasion, she spotted the blue, red and white emblem on anything from clothes to bedding.  Some designers, she wrote, took a bold approach, and some designers favored a more subtle approach. One of those was Drexel Heritage…

We opted for a more understated yet sophisticated look with our British-inspired ottoman/coffee table.  The visual interest of this piece, our Connoisseur Ottoman  featuring custom upholstery, was divided into four sections, each with an image of a British royal symbol, one of which being the Union Jack.

There is no doubt that in the coming weeks and months we will continue to see a celebration of British traditions. Be sure to share ways that you celebrated and/or decorated for the royal wedding in your home!