1 :: December/January 2013 renoanddecor.com

GU

TTER

CR

EDIT

SLUG HERESLUG HERE

PRODUCT SHOWCASES: home furnishings, windows & doors

top10HOME

STAGING TIPS

PREPPY BEDROOM MAKEOVER

window dressing,

mantel decor& more!

window

& more!

FEB/MAR 2013 $4.95

renoanddecor.com0 656698 70467

03

THE LATEST TRENDS IN ARCHITECTURE

SMART IDEAS

forSMALL SPACES

R_Cover_FM13.indd 1 2013-01-04 2:56 PM

22 :: February/March 2013 renoanddecor.com

INTE

RIO

R D

ESIG

N:

KIM

BER

LEY

SELD

ON

DES

IGN

GR

OU

P,

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HY:

SIM

ON

BU

RN

DESIGN THEORY

Before you choose a coffee table consider the style of the adjacent furnishings. A traditional room is well suited to a rectangular- or oval-shaped table made of wood or featuring a glass top surrounded by a brass, bronze, or gilded frame.

An upholstered ottoman, often tufted, is another excellent choice for traditional rooms. It has the advantage of serving two functions, acting as seating as well as a tabletop. For a contemporary look, opt for a pair or quartet of cubes or cylinders made of wood, leather, Plexiglas, or metal.

Regardless of style, these tips will help you make an informed choice:

• Determine your needs. Will you eat at the table? If so, a tea-height table (about 25-inches tall) will be more comfortable than a standard 16-inch design (modern coffee tables can be as low as 11 inches). Will children or grownups prop their feet on the table? Then an upholstered table or wood table is more suitable than a glass table, or one that is delicate.

• The table height should ideally equal the seat height of adjacent sofa or chairs.

• To determine the table’s best size, allow a minimum of 15 to 18 inches between the edge of the sofa and coffee table.

• When in doubt, it’s better to choose a coffee table that is too large rather than too small.

• A glass coffee table allows light to travel through a space and won’t obscure a beautiful carpet beneath.

• A leggy coffee table looks great against a skirted sofa or chairs.

Once you’ve selected the perfect coffee table, make sure to style it in such a way that guests feel welcome to touch and feel the items on display. A stack of books beg for attention, as does a bowl of mixed seashells or antique buttons. Witty tabletop games are another great choice.

Let your coffee table take centre stage

BY KIMBERLEY SELDON

Forced to live in submission beside the larger personalities of sofas and chairs, as well as their attendant pillows and throws, the humble coffee table was born to serve.

A product of post WWI, the coffee table (even its name speaks of servitude) was often part of – but never starring in – a housewife’s dream package, consisting of a suite of furniture chosen from the Sears or Eatons catalogue.

Rarely designed for its own style-potential, this hardworking occasional table has finally become a star in its own right. However, consideration of style, scale, shape, and functionality make choosing this living-room staple a challenging task.

Kimberley Seldon is an internationally known design expert, television personality, author and keynote speaker. Kimberley Seldon Design Group has 20 years’ experience as an award-winning, full-service interior design-build firm. For more information, visit kimberleyseldon.com

Star of the Show?

Supporting Role or

{COFFEE TALK}

p022_R_FM13.indd 22 2013-01-10 2:31 PM