Picking the Perfect Dining Room Table in Three Steps

The decor in your living space is essential for guests to see your personality shine. Some spaces are easier to decorate than others; and when it comes to the dining room, it is important to pick pieces that not only reflect your style, but are also durable and high-quality to last throughout the years. The dining room table is the place that family and friends come together during the holiday season. Keep these criteria in mind while decorating your dream dining room:

Size

It is important to choose a table and chairs that fits the scale of the room. Sitting at a table that is too big or too small will make you and your guests feel uncomfortable. You should allow at least three feet between the table and the wall so that guests can walk freely around the room. Allow the table to be no more than 4 feet across; this allows food to be passed around with ease and less strain on conversation. Base your table size on the number of people who will normally be dining with you, and add two. If you host dinner parties frequently, you may want to try the Legacy Extension Table, which can expand and retract as needed.

Shape

The shape of the table is also important to consider. Rectangular tables are the most common because many can be elongated to seat more than four people. If you’re looking for a table to fit a family of five or more, the Ozark Trestle Table may be the thing you’re looking for.

Square tables fit best in smaller square-shaped rooms. Apartment living, small townhome kitchens or 3 season porches are quite suitable for a square tables; if you’re looking for a quaint addition to your small room, the Hudson Gathering Table could be the perfect fit.

Round tables work best in small rooms because they create a feeling of intimacy and coziness. Be cautious of choosing a round table that’s too large, as it will alienate your guests! Round tables are great in game rooms and man caves for those Friday night poker tournaments. If you’re looking for ideas to complete your room, take a look at the Andover Dining Set.

Style

The final thing to consider is, of course, personal style. If your table is near the kitchen or family rooms, you’ll want a more casual design as the table may be used for homework, crafts, food prep, etc. However, if you only plan to use the table for dining or special occasions, and if no small children are in the house, feel free to choose something more delicate and detailed that reflects your personal style. If you choose to go with a table that has a more upscale look, you may want to try the Charlestown Glass Table.

Whatever you style or design plans, Just Cabinets has the answers to your style needs. Our complimentary design staff loves helping our shoppers tackle all of their style and design dilemmas. Stop in and browse, ask questions, or just get inspired. We have much to offer, we are not, after all, JUST cabinets!

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Upholstered Headboards

Every season brings with it a new set of home design trends. While the word “trending” sounds like something soon to disappear, there are plenty of ‘trends’ that actually bring back timeless styles. Case in point: upholstered headboards.

Here at Just Cabinets Furniture & More, we’re featuring our finely curated collection of handmade upholstered headboards in styles that will compliment any bedroom design scheme. 

SIMPLE

A simple switch to an upholstered headboard can provide a lovely style shift in your room without being a significant redecorating ordeal. These pieces come in a wide range of styles and colors, and are also easy to customize and replace. 

LUXURIOUS

Don’t assume “simple” does away with classy style. Upholstered headboards add a plush, decadent element to any bedroom. Whether you choose a sleek design or one with buttons or other textures, the overall effect of the headboard will make a strong statement in the room.

COMFORTABLE

When it comes down to it, the point of your bedroom is to be a comfortable, relaxing sanctuary from the rest of the world - and an upholstered headboard can go a long way in helping create this feeling. The softness provides a natural spot for propping up in bed with a book or enjoying television with a cup of coffee. Another bonus - the soft infrastructure of the headboard is a natural sound absorber, contributing a nice element to the room.  Upholstered headboards also grab heat and provide warmth in cooler months.

Considering swapping your old headboard for an upholstered one? Already have? Leave us a comment and tell us what you think!

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Top Trendy Kitchen Layouts

Like so many big and costly home remodeling projects, choosing a kitchen layout can be hard and a little confusing.

So, let’s make your home decorating life a little easier. We, the experts here at Just Cabinets, have compiled the trendiest kitchen designs that also earn an A+ grade when it comes to functionality.

U-Shaped Kitchen

The U-Shaped Kitchen is a perennial favorite, and the size will naturally depend on how big or small your kitchen is. This kitchen layout is designed for efficiency when working in the kitchen; it’s a perfect example of the ‘working triangle,’ where you can easily move from one kitchen station to another.

G-Shaped Kitchen

This kitchen layout is frequently considered an expansion of the aforementioned U-Shaped Kitchen. This layout bears many similarities, but includes a partial fourth wall that provides additional storage space with extra cabinets and counter space. This is perfect for homes that need additional kitchen space, but still wants the efficiency of a U-Shaped Kitchen.

L-Shaped Kitchen

The L-shaped kitchen is definitely one of the most common kitchen designs, customizable for big or small spaces alike. All you need to get this look are two adjacent walls. Since the design occupies two adjacent walls, you’ll be left with a very efficient workspace. This classic layout is the kind that does not require much, and works perfectly with nearly all kitchen themes and decor.

Single Wall Kitchen

This layout is most often found in smaller homes. With this kind of layout, you build your kitchen along one wall. Although the single wall kitchen is relatively small compared to other kitchen layouts, it’s still extremely convenient, giving the homeowner ample room to prepare, cook and clean up.  This kitchen layout is also preferred by homeowners who appreciate a breezy, wide-open space.

Galley Kitchen

Our last layout, also known as the corridor kitchen, includes a pair of parallel work areas. Now, even though this layout probably has the least amount of prep space, if properly planned, it can be a very efficient working area, with every appliance easily within reach. It’s a great, stylish option for folks who dig small spaces. 

You now have the information you need to help you decide which kitchen layout will suit your lifestyle best. If you still need help with the design process, however, keep in mind that we have a design team ready to assist you every step of the way!

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Kitchen Trends 2014

Summertime is a natural season to start thinking about making changes to your home. When it comes to the kitchen, trending designs and materials are as explosively stylish as we’ve ever seen!

We could try and describe some of these hot trends - but it’s usually more fun to show you. So, here are some pictures (thanks to the wonderful world of Pinterest) that neatly sum up what designers are saying about kitchens in 2014.

1. Black Kitchen

Even though light colors and natural wood and stone are hot right now, designers are praising the dramatic and elegant look of black for the kitchen - especially when paired with the equally trendy brass and copper fixtures and hardware.'

2. Blue Kitchen

It seems like a bit of a commitment, but a blue-hued color scheme for the kitchen is making waves in the design world. Here's a rather dramatic example, but we're digging it - especially the glass-paneled cabinets and bar-seating. This design soaks in summer and could just make colder winter months a little more bearable. 

3. Exposed

More and more designers are praising the beauty of open-shelving...and if it turns out like this, we're all in. This particular example also takes advantage of another trendy material - stone. Added bonus - those of us who tend to be a little, well, cluttered, will have some motivation to keep the shelves organized. 

4. Light colors 

The breezy, cottage look is always charming, but this year, it's also trending. Here's an example with a homemade, cozy flair. Sometimes, some paint and a trip to the antique store can work wonders in a remodel!

5. Marble Kitchen

Marble is always a popular material. Nevertheless, it's being highlighted again and again in design blogs. Here, we see a few popular kitchen design tips rolled into one: marble countertops matched with a marble backsplash. It's a subtle move that works well in tying the space together. 

6. Kitchen Sconces

Under-cabinet lights are going the way of the dinosaurs. Replacing them? Sconces, like the ones shown above. Just another example of how much kitchens are opening up this season!

7. Mixed Materials

This one's a sort-of grand slam in trendy kitchen design. Here, we see three extremely popular materials - reclaimed wood, granite and natural stone - used in perfect harmony.

8. Wall Designs

Finally, this year, designers are encouraging redecorators to get creative with kitchen wall space - especially backslashes. Here's a lovely example with a brick pattern. 

Are you considering a kitchen remodel? Are you considering any of these styles in particular? Leave us a comment and let us know what you're thinking about doing!

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Bathroom Storage Solutions

When you think about remodeling your home, do you consider upgrading the bathroom? If you do, you’re in good company; according to the Huffington Post, bathroom remodels account for over three quarters of all bidded home construction jobs in the US today. 

And it makes sense. Houses age, families grow and bathrooms can quickly become cluttered and disorganized when storage space is exhausted.

A neatly designed and storage-friendly bathroom doesn’t just make your daily life easier - it adds to the value of your home. 

Whether you’re in the market for a complete bathroom facelift, or just looking for a few clever ways to boost your organizational efficiency, here are some Pinterest users’ nicely designed bathroom spaces!

A decidedly upscale remodeling idea, there are no shortage of nicely blended drawers of all shapes and sizes. If you can’t fit all of your things in this bathroom...it might be time to get rid of some stuff!

Above-the-door storage is a perennially popular and simple strategy - but with this one, you might want to have a step-ladder handy!

We don’t typically bump into the lazy-susan corner storage design in bathrooms, but this style definitely makes use of space quite efficiently, while remaining quite stylish!

What’s one way to stay on top of organization? Make your storage areas completely visible! This clean and simple curio cabinet style caught our eye. No word if it comes with the cat.

Here’s a clean and simple tubside shelving idea which uses typically vacant wall space. We’re also digging the white, cottage-style design. 

Closets aren’t always used to their full potential. This one uses simple strategies like rollers and door-side shelving to boost the efficiency of a rather small space. 

We like this example mainly because everything is so nicely laid out, but easily rolls back until the lovely, simple fixtures. Who says you can’t have it all?

A nice, DIY way to upgrade your medicine cabinet to hold more than just what you can fit on the shelves. When it comes to arranging the bathroom, every little bit counts!

Another lovely way to configure a small, powder-room-style lavatory. A combination of cabinets and open shelves is a great, timeless way to accommodate everything in the bathroom. 

  

And, lastly, for those who keep more than just soaps and towels in the bathroom, here’s a great, blended-space example of building up for extra storage. We’re feeling like the ladder is going to be an essential detail if you undertake this project.

See anything on our list that catches your eye? Leave us a comment and let us know how you’d like to reconfigure your bathroom!

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