ClearLake Furniture Blog

October 25, 2009

Natural materials that blend great with wood

Filed under: Decorating Advice, Latest from the workshop — Tags: glass, granite, hand-crafted, hardwood, marble, slate, table top, tables, Vermont — admin @ 7:55 pm

There’s nothing as beautiful as a table top in finely honed hardwood. I’ve probably hand-crafted hundreds of them in my career, and I never get tired of the result.

Now that doesn’t mean I turn my back on other natural materials that make fantastic table tops. Granite, slate, glass, and marble each provide a cool contrast to the natural warmth of wood. Here in Vermont, there is no shortage of slate, granite, or marble, but we can get stone from all around the world, which means you have a broad array of colors and textures — all naturally beautiful and durable.

If you like the appearance of glass, to blend in with the surroundings and showcase the wood, you still have choices. Although we’re committed to using tempered glass for your safety, there are variations in the glass itself.

And these surfaces aren’t limited to table tops. Consider incorporating glass or stone for the tops of dressers, occasional tables, breakfronts, buffets, and desks.

Here is dining table we recently designed and crafted. The style is the ClearLake Dining Table and the top is made in cherry with a mahogany inlay and slate inset.

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September 30, 2009

The cure for room boredom

Filed under: Decorating Advice — Tags: furniture, quick redecorating, redecorate, room boredom, room decor — admin @ 6:52 pm

You can get very bored with a room — same thing, day in, day out — but not your furniture, if you buy classic styles that are well made. So, if you’re feeling a little antsy and need a change, try moving what you have. Are you one of those “up against the wall” decorators? Well, grant your room decor a parole. Here are a few quick ideas for quick redecorating:

Try placing an upholstered chair at an angle in a corner and create a reading nook.
Move out your sofa and put a sofa table behind it to add dimension.
Break one room into two smaller areas, like a game table and conversation pit.
Move your sectional, maybe even breaking it into two smaller sofas.
Introduce a piece of furniture from another room!
If you want a bigger change, add one piece, whether it’s a pair of lamps, a different coffee table, a mirror, or an accent table.

In my house, we seem to have an unwritten rule that as soon as I can navigate the room in the dark without banging my shin, it’s time to move things around.

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September 23, 2009

Home office makeover

Filed under: Decorating Advice — admin @ 10:09 am

The term “home office” used to mean the headquarters for a corporate conglomerate. In the 21st century, “home office” reflects the purest meaning of the two, separate words: an office in the home. Apple Computer, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and even Hershey’s Chocolate started as home-based businesses. Whether you’re running a business from your home or just need additional office space there, you need to consider a few things when setting up your home office:

Organization. File cabinets, desk drawers, and shelves are essential to the home office, but don’t let them become repositories of unorganized files, notes, and materials. Create a system that will work for you.
Flow. Look at the way you work. What keeps you moving from place to place during an average work day? What do you need within reach of your desk or primary workspace? Do you need certain equipment (e.g., printer, file cabinet) close by? With wireless technology, you don’t have to be hard-wired in one place. Walk through the paces of your workflow and then lay out your office to accommodate your paths.
Space. How much square footage is available for your home office? What do you need for electrical outlets or phone jacks? Do you work primarily from your computer? Is it a desktop or laptop? Should you use a traditional desk or would an office armoire allow better use of your space?
Aesthetics. Are you going to have clients and vendors come to your home office? What image do you want the ambience to convey? How will you use the natural light in your room decor? Do you need soft light and natural colors or are you stimulated by more vivid hues? What atmosphere promotes productivity for you? Your home office aesthetics are as important to a productive environment as the placement of your computer or the size of the room!

Your home office may be in your residence, but it IS a workplace, which means a corner in the kitchen or the dining room table is not suitable. Create the environment that will help you achieve the best results.

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