It is time to think "outside the box" when it comes to flooring - and Ting Home has just the thing. 

Introducing.... embossed leather flooring...  I know, my jaw hit the old worn out floor too.  With a quick look, you would think it is regular ol' wood flooring, but upon closer inspection, the glorious strips of patterned leather are revealed.  You have to check it out.

Information source: High Fashion Home Blog

Relax . Entertain . Dine Outdoors 

Introducing Our New Outdoor Table Linen Collection

Whether it is a Sunday Brunch or a casual BBQ dinner with friends, enjoy your summer entertaining with outdoor-safe fabric!

Shop: Outdoor Collection I or Outdoor Collection II

For a refreshing alcoholic drink try:

Lemon Drops on the Rocks

Ingredients:

·       3 cups vodka

·       2 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice (from 10 to 12 lemons)

·       1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons superfine sugar

·       Ice, for serving

·       Thin lemon slices, halved, for garnish

Directions:

1.   Combine vodka, lemon juice, and sugar, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Transfer to an ice-filled pitcher, add lemon slices, and serve. (Makes 6 cups; serves 12)

For those that prefer a mocktail, try:

Hibiscus Mint Iced Tea

Ingredients:

·       4 hibiscus tea bags

·       1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

·       4 cups boiling water

·       2 cups apple juice

·       2 cups cold water

·       Ice cubes, for serving

·       Mint sprigs (optional)

Directions:

1.    In a large heatproof pitcher, combine 4 hibiscus tea bags, 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, and 4 cups boiling water; steep 10 minutes. Discard tea bags and mint. Add 2 cups each apple juice and cold water; refrigerate until cold. Serve over ice with sprigs of mint, if desired. (Serves 8)

Send us your summer-time favorite recipes!  We would love to hear what keeps you cool on hot summer nights.  Happy Entertaining!

New Arrival! Linea Collection

Dinner Napkins . Cocktail Napkins . Chandelier Cord Chain Cover . Lamp Cord Cover

For Beautiful Dinner and Cocktail Napkins

Mixes And Matches With Our Other Collections, And...

It's Washable!

Shop Linea Collection

Bamboo For Everyday Living - Now 25% OFF

• Cutting Boards
• Platters & Serving Bowls
• Dinnerware

>Shop Bamboo

Sale ends 4/30/09

Shop Now For Best Selection

Spring Closeout Sale - Up to 40% off select fabrics     >Shop Sale Fabrics

Space Planning & Furniture Selection

In our previous newsletter we discussed the basic guidelines.  Did you take the time to reflect on the style and feel you have or want to create? 

Space planning and furniture selection addresses the “Function” guideline.  But as you will notice, the other two guidelines, “Mood” and “Harmony” sneak in as we discuss Function. 

If you are starting with an empty dining room or have decided what you have isn’t working any longer, then the first step is to take a good look at the room or space.

Begin by measuring the room, paying attention to where windows and doors/doorways are located.  Pay attention to anything else in the room that might be in the way or you need to be aware of—i.e., radiators, heat registers, fireplaces (older homes sometimes have these in dining rooms), and electrical outlets and switches.  Also, be aware of any traffic patterns to and from other rooms. 

Since we are focusing on dining areas, there isn’t a lot to think about in the way of furniture.  The focal point of the dining area is the dining table.  People sit around a dining table facing inward making it the center of activity.  The table is the place where beautiful table linens, dinnerware and food adorn its surface.  You may be adding a buffet/hutch, china cabinet, etc., if you have the room for them, but these are not the focus of the dining room.  

To decide on the appropriate dining table, look at the shape of the room and any doors that open into the room.  Remember that even open doorways take visual space.  Also space is required for traffic flow.  The same with windows; you need to be able to get to the windows in order to open them.  If you have drawn a sketch of your room, draw a square box in front of the doorways and windows on your paper indicating space needed for traffic.  You can also put painters tape on the floor to indicate these areas and get a better picture of the shape and area you have to work with.  There will probably be a light fixture in the ceiling that is going to dictate where the table should go; usually in the center of the dining room or dining area.  Let’s hope it is in the correct place. 

Once you have a good feel for the shape of the area for the dining table, you now will know what size and shape the table should be.  If the space is a square, a round or square table would be best.  If it is a rectangle space then, a rectangular table may work.  Round dining tables have become increasingly popular the last several years.  They usually fit better in the space and also allow for better conversation.  Keep in mind you may want to have a buffet or china cabinet; make sure you have planned this in your layout before you decide on the table. 

One of your goals is to make sure you have enough space around the table for a smooth flow of traffic.  You should have at least 24” (36” is better) clear space behind each chair.  When deciding on the table you also should think about the number of people you would normally need seating for.  For example, 60” round tables will comfortably sit 6 people, allowing for approximately 30” for each person.  If you need more seating space and your dining area doesn’t allow for a bigger table, you might need to get one that has a leaf to extend the table for those occasions.  The one thing you need to be careful about is to make sure the table isn’t too large for the room.  If it is, then there will be a problem with fulfilling the guidelines and the look you want to achieve, not to mention the ease of moving around.  Wood tables are heavier looking than glass tables.  Tables with bulky legs and center support might appear heavier than straight, simple legs and support.  Be careful with the chairs you select if you don’t purchase the dining table and chairs as a set.  You want to make sure they go with the size and shape of the table—not too big or dwarf looking.

Now let’s discuss the other pieces of furniture you may want in a dining room.   Everyone has a buffet or china cabinet, right?  These are standard in a dining room.  While that may be true, you may not have room for one.   It is more important to make sure the room is not “crowded” and “heavy” looking.   Remember traffic flow and aesthetics?  Think about other items you may have room for instead.  Maybe you have room for a decorative shelf or console table that can function as a serving piece.  Or maybe you have a corner area that has space for a corner cabinet.  

One of the elements of harmony in addition to having the correct size of furniture in the room is to make sure the room is balanced.  When we say balanced, we are referring to how the room feels once you get your important pieces in the room.  Does it feel heavier on one side, is there an empty space that needs something to balance the room, etc.  Placing your larger items first, makes it easier to determine if you need anything else.  Usually the corners are areas that we still need to address.   Sometimes a corner might be a good place for a serving cart, a beverage cabinet, a plant or sculpture.  Also look at your walls that don’t have windows or doors.  If you have a blank wall or space above a buffet, consider a piece of art or mirror.  These pieces also need to be the correct size for the space-not too small or too large.  Mirrors help make a room look larger, but make sure they reflect something of interest. 

The last item we need to discuss in this area is the chandelier or light fixture over the table.  Since our eyes flow from floor to ceiling besides around the room, we need to make sure we select the appropriate light fixture.  A standard rule of thumb is that the chandelier should not be smaller than 1/3 or larger than 1/2 the size of the table’s width.  While this is a good starting point, you also need to consider the chandelier itself.  Is it bulky or very streamlined?  If it is bulky, go with a smaller size.  You don’t want it to appear too heavy for the table.  We will get into more detail with lighting in another newsletter, but we will mention this... the chandelier should not be higher than 36” from the top of the dining table.  It would be a good idea to have some decorative objects on the table-candlesticks, a flower arrangement, or a bowl-something that ties all the elements together. 

Remember, function is a very important but easy guideline to follow for the dining room.  The important things to ask yourself are -- does the furniture fit the room appropriately, is there good traffic flow and is the room balanced?  

Start planning your furniture layout, identifying what pieces you need to add or move to another room.  Remember to look at the corners and wall areas.  Have fun and be creative.

Like what you have read and want to know more about decorating and entertaining?  Bookmark this blog so you don't miss any updates, suggestions and ideas.  We would also love to hear from you - send us your suggestions, comments and questions.

Introducing: Denim & Cercie Table Linens

You love the look of jeans?  Then you will love our new collection, Classic Denim.  Combine with Cercie for your dinner and cocktail napkins and you have a great casual look with added flair.   
 

>Start Shopping

The Art of Entertaining in Style-The Basics

Many of us enjoy entertaining.  It gives us a chance to be with our family and friends to visit, eat, play and just enjoy each other, whether it be intimate dinners, family get-togethers for holidays and special occasions or entertaining friends   While we do love to be with our family and friends, we also love to show off.   We want our events to be special and for us that includes the perfect dining room or dining area in addition to perfect food.  The design and color scheme provide the perfect setting to display and enjoy cherished china, silver and crystal.  But how do we go about doing this, where do we start? 

How many times have you looked at a photo in a magazine and said, “Wow, I wish I could have a room just like this”?  You don’t necessarily want it to be exactly like the photo, but you want your room to have that same feel.  Well you can, and we will explain how, whether it is elegant and formal or charming and casual.  Our goal is to give you a few basic design principles and ideas that will help you make your rooms functional, beautiful and comfortable, all at the same time. We will keep it simple, giving you enough information to create the look and feel you desire for your home and lifestyle. 

The focus of our discussion is going to be the main areas for entertaining in our homes—the dining room and eating area or nook in the kitchen/family room.   Each area provides for a different form of entertaining, be it casual or formal.  

In this newsletter we are going to review the basic guidelines designers use that make a room work. . .to have the look and feel of the room in the photo we saw.

Basic Guidelines

When designing a room, there are three guidelines that designers consider: function, mood and harmony.  

Let’s start with function.  Since we are discussing dining areas, this is simple-the main function of a dining room or area is eating and secondary activities are playing games, doing puzzles, family activities, etc.

Next is mood.  Decide on the mood you want to create.  Mood refers to the general look or feel you want to express.  This is where style comes in.  Do you want a contemporary, sleek, and sophisticated feel—or do you want a traditional, casual, warm, and rustic feel?  To help you decide on the mood, look at the rest of your rooms.  If you are starting with a clean slate, look at the style of your home.  Since we are talking about dining areas, these are usually in close proximity to other rooms such as the living room.  There should be cohesiveness between the rooms.  For example, if you have a traditional and elegant living room, your formal dining room should have the same look and feel.  Your dining room would look out of place if you created a contemporary, sleek style.  

The third guideline is harmony.  This means all elements—furniture, colors, fabrics, and accessories should be in harmony or “work together” with each other, enhancing the mood you desire.  Everything should be appropriate to each other and not look out of place.  This includes the quality of each element and may need to include the existing architecture of the room, if it is distinctive.   

You are probably thinking this is a lot to think about.  It really isn’t when we break it down into steps, which we will do in future newsletters.  Watch for the next newsletter about “Space Planning”.  This newsletter will address the basic guideline of “Function” when we are designing a dining room.   

For now, you will want to start looking around your home and get an idea of the style and feel you have already created.  Pay attention to the rooms that are in close proximity to your dining area.  Are they warm and inviting or do they have that element of sophistication with clean, sleek lines?   

Whether you are in the process of redoing your home or just beginning to decorate, look through magazines to get an idea of what feeling you want to express in your home.

Like what you have read and want to know more about decorating and entertaining?  Bookmark this blog so you don't miss any updates, suggestions and ideas.  We would also love to hear from you - send us your suggestions, comments and questions.