Thingz Contemporary Interior Design Blog

More and more homes now feature a pool table in one of the rooms. Of course, the quintessential game room would not be complete without one. Playing pool is a favorite pastime for many and having the equipment to do so in one’s own home allows for better home recreation.

Many houses are adorned with at least one ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are immensely practical. They are used not only for cooling purposes, but to serve as decorative pieces as well. In fact, many ceiling fan/lighting fixture combinations can function as a focal point in a room.

When modern décor is mentioned, the ordinary layperson usually envisions lots of chrome perhaps partnered with black or white leather. It looks very streamlined, rather minimalist, perhaps a little futuristic… We know that is not always the case for modern or contemporary interiors. All sorts of materials are possible elements in contemporary décor. A favorite and very tasteful feature in many a contemporary interior is an exotic wood finish.
Wood can be very stylish. It adds the suggestion of nature in a decorative setup. Of course, in picking wood furniture, you have to be mindful of practical things such as durability, style associations, staining, finishing, etc. Nowadays, wood finishes figure prominently in contemporary design. The choices for wood finish are more than ever now. Many like the appeal of a wood finish and the organic touch it brings. In the past, exotic wood was ordinarily used for such things as musical instruments, jewelry and decorative accents, but now entire furniture sets can be made of it. Naturally, it takes an expert furniture builder to be cognizant of such things as natural oils and resins to know how to properly finish an exotic wood.
Two of the primary factors to consider when choosing what type of wood finish to go for are the purpose of the furniture and the environment it will be in. You have to know how and for what the furniture is going to be used. For instance, you may want to use a non-toxic oil finish for something like a butcher’s block, an easy to clean glossy paint finish for a kitchen work surface, or a finish with fungicide for something that may be exposed to the elements. Exotic wood is preferably finished with oil as an oil finish brings out the natural beauty and the grain details of the wood.
Some popular exotic wood finishes are dark mahogany, macassar ebony, natural walnut and zebrawood. Of course, you have to realize that color is also an important element in choosing a wood finish. Dark colors such as those on mahogany and macassar ebony tend to be more transitional, complementing both traditional and contemporary settings. Lighter colors blend in better in a casual setup.
Mahogany is exceptionally popular as it is both practical and attractive, not to mention highly versatile. Dark mahogany furniture makes a smart investment as it is easy to find separate pieces in the same material or finish. Dark mahogany, as is typical in dark wood colors, never goes out of style.

There is something about the use of floor sculptures in design that speaks of modern sensibilities and excellent taste. Floor sculptures in a home definitely make a terrific fashion statement. A floor sculpture does not only add a high level of style, it also functions as a strong focal point, a commanding presence that can easily influence not only your attention, but also the tone and decorating inspiration for the whole room.

If you’re the type who thinks a sense of fun is an important element to add to an interior, then you would love the wonderfully whimsical Marshmallow Love Seat. The collection of 18 round cushions playfully gathers to form a unique sofa that oozes modern appeal. At the same time, it looks marvelously period and vintage as it embodies the design style during the emergence of the Pop Art movement. The innovative, contemporary design was originally collaborated on by George Nelson and Irving Harper, after which, it was introduced by Herman Miller in 1956. The Marshmallow Love Seat is really very characteristic of the era and has since become a modern design landmark. After being missed for more than 30 years, Herman Miller reintroduced the love seat in 1999 to the excited and enthusiastic welcome of design mavens everywhere. Now attributed with a vintage appeal, many decorators find the Marshmallow Love Seat a true find. In fact, you do not even have to be a connoisseur to realize and appreciate the kind of treasure it is. Stylish and fun, it makes a commanding presence and a strong focal point in any room.

At Thingz, we know that planning your living room space is always an exercise of creativity, aesthetics and practicality. There are hard and fast rules to guide you, but at the same time, you have to make yourself aware of the changing trends in home furnishing if you want a home that is stylishly up-to-date.  We feel fortunate that many our our client use our complimentary interior design services to help space plan and select fabric because we absolutely love it!

In the case of The Frank Lloyd Wright Spire, the Arizona State Capitol’s loss is clearly Scottsdale’s gain. Designed in 1954, the Spire was way ahead of its time, which is actually very characteristic of many of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs. Rejected for being too radical in the ’50s, the awe-inspiring structurefinally materialized in 2004 at his old office at the Taliesin West Promenade. More than half a century later, the Spire remains very much avant-garde, a testament to Wright’s imagination and artistry.  And as it’s location is just mile or two from our Scottsdale showroom, the Thingz Scottsdale team gets the opportunity to see it often!

If you have been to Thingz then you already know.  Expect the unexpected!  We recently created a bed and headboard in our Scottsdale showroom out of a wonderful new, customizable fabric panel.  Why you ask?  Because we can of course!  In truth, many people find it better to go for a bed without an attached headboard. An existing headboard is somewhat limiting. A headboard, after all, goes beyond its function of retaining your pillows and bed linens. Many headboards have become the focal point in a bedroom. They are there to offer drama, beauty, and function. Using our customizable wall panel system, you can do so many things with your headboard. You can style up a bare wall. You can pad it with upholstered cushions to have something soft to lean against when you sit up. You can even add a shelf for books and knickknacks or a hidden compartment for keeping important stuff safe. In any of these cases, it would be smart to maximize the presence of a headboard to highlight your sleeping quarters.

It is not wrong to want nice things for your home or office. And of course at Thingz we believe that a beautiful, well decorated home is an essential right!  But in today’s environment, it is certainly considered environmentally conscientious to be aware of how something was made, of what it is made and where the materials originates before you acquire and enjoy it. After all, you wouldn’t want to be part of a system that includes things such as child labor, deforestation, and illegal mining … right?

If there’s any chair that would motivate you to work, whether at home or at the office, the Aeron Chair from Herman Miller would be it. It is the very epitome of a modern chair, a symbol of the dot-com bubble back in the ’90s. That it continues to dominate in the world of contemporary office chairs speaks of its classic appeal.  It oozes coolness in appearance; it is ridiculously ergonomic; and it is 94% recyclable. If you still doubt the epic greatness of this chair, go and visit the Museum of Modern Art where the Aeron Chair has lodged itself in its permanent collection.