If you're looking for a bold, colorful statement piece for your modern living space, you've come to the right place. I'm always on the lookout for unique, unusual new takes on modern furniture. Regular readers of the blog will know that some of my absolute favorite modern furniture picks are ones that riff on antique designs. PolArt, a specialty furniture designer from Mexico, offers modern furniture and accent pieces that are all this and more, with breathtaking takes on classical furnishings made with brightly colored polyresin, perfect for a statement piece that will really wow.

By and large, outdoor furniture isn't terribly interesting. Sure, it can be attractive. But I'd venture to say it's not often that you find an outdoor patio set that's really unusual or unique. If you do a lot of outdoor entertaining and want an outdoor furniture set that will really wow, you need to think a little bit outside the box of traditional wrought iron, teak, and natural or resin wicker furniture. To get a look that's really bold and one of a kind, look for something like the amazingly, almost outrageously modern outdoor furniture from PolArt.

Colorful Cast Resin Construction

I'm in the unique position of having a compact, urban lifestyle but taste that tends more toward the antique. Now, in Europe and in some older parts of east coast cities, mixing the two is far from unheard of. In fact, historical apartment buildings in Paris are defined as much by their interior decor as their architecture. But if you live in a more modern building, it can be hard to pull off a lush, expansive antique decor. Urban chic design is my favorite compromise between the two, taking a little of the classy, sophisticated historical influence of antiques and adding a unique modern twist.

What Do We Get From Antiques?

[caption id="attachment_5283" align="aligncenter" width="467"]synthetic wicker and powder coated aluminum are all the rage, there's a reason that most furniture that's left outside year round - like park benches and picnic tables - are made of wood instead. Authentic teak wood in particular is more naturally weather resistant than almost any synthetic material, and makes for outdoor furniture that can last as long as your h...

When you have a beautiful view, you want to be able to enjoy it. That's basic stuff. But actually pulling it off presents an interesting conundrum. Enjoying your view probably entails having a comfortable place to sit and look at it, but setting out a bunch of furniture on a deck or patio, or even in front of a large picture window, can actually block some of that view from other angles.  One of my favorite workarounds for this problem is using wire frame or clear acrylic furniture. IT won't clear the way completely, but being able to see through your furniture can help minimize its visual impact. If you're looking for a compromise between functionality and aesthetics, these see-through materials might be the answer.

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I recently went apartment hunting with a good friend of mine who's in the market for an artist's loft. Regular readers might have noticed that I'm really embracing the trend towards a more industrial style home, especially renovated warehouse spaces, so this trip was a real treat. What was even better is that I got to see a whole slew of furniture made from reclaimed industrial parts, from huge wood tabletops mounted on cast iron legs salvaged from machine shops to adjustable stools saved from turn of the century factories. This renewed industrial style is becoming hugely popular, b...

Solid wood bathroom vanities are becoming much rarer these days. There are a number of reasons for this, but ultimately most of them boil down to cost. Solid wood vanities are more expensive than ones made of compressed particle board or MDF, which are becoming exponentially more popular in furniture of all types. For bathroom vanities, it's also a question of striking the right balance between showcasing the wood and protecting it from moisture damage. Many vanities that do put a wood finish front and center of the design use patterned exotic wood veneers to creat...

Summer is the season for outdoor entertaining; barbecues and pool parties and just lounging around spending time with friends and family and soaking up a little sun. But it can be difficult to decorate a one-season space, especially if you have a relatively small deck or patio. One of the best ways to maximize seating in a small outdoor space is to opt for nesting outdoor furniture. These are full outdoor dining sets that fit into a very small footprint. In most cases, that means a table and chairs that can seat four or more that you can stow away so it takes up no more space than the table itself.

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You don't typically think of kid's furniture as being particularly stylish or beautiful. After all, most of it isn't meant to be - it's meant to be pint sized, colorful, and durable, but not particularly permanent. It appeals to children while they're small, but is often meant to be grown out of. But just because furniture is designed for small kids doesn't mean it can't appeal to grown ups as well. In fact, if you know where to look, you can even find kid's furniture that will look good (and even be useful) even after your kids have outgrown it, or at the very least coordinate well with your decor. [caption id="attachment_8090" align="aligncenter" width="372"]outdoor furniture is right for your outdoor space? We've got a quick introduction to both to help you decide.

A big, grand front entryway is all about making a good first impression on visitors. But often this space is only used by guests - many homeowners come in through a back or side door or through the garage rather than the front entrance. But just because the door you actually use is out of sight doesn't mean you should neglect it. Quite the opposite: this heavily trafficked area of the home should be designed for maximum efficiency to keep the space neat and clear.