Multi-functional tables: the perfect touch

Smaller, more well designed homes with space constraints are on the rise. Gone are the days of McMansions and 10,000 square foot homes. Couples with children who have flown the nest are looking for a more simplified and less cluttered lifestyle. We are coming into an age where our homes and the furniture that goes in these homes need to be convenient, compatible, and multi-functional.

Speaking of furniture, sometimes clients beat you to the punch and find the coolest furniture to use in their new and smaller home. Such was the the case when working on a new construction and furnishing project for a couple in the 78704 neighborhood of Austin, Texas. Before deciding to work with a designer, my clients had discovered the perfect dining room table for their new smaller home. We’ll get to that table in a second, but lets talk more about furniture.

Alongside the family room sectional, the second most important piece of furniture in a home are tables. It’s the piece where we kick up our feet, gather for family dinners, or finish our homework. But what if our tables did more than just coaster our evening glass of Pino? What if our tables performed the duty of storage, game time entertainment, or additional seating?

Now I bet you’re wondering what piece of furniture my clients found for their dining table. This is by far the coolest dining table I’ve ever seen. It is not ONLY a dining table but converts into a pool table. Hidden by its sleek design and contemporary lines, you would never know until you take its top off (see below).

The Fusion Dining Pool Table… ooooh, aaaah

Who says your books have to be vertical?

Can’t remember the components for water?

…here’s a big cheat sheet:

Go ahead and pretend you’re Mozart, I won’t tell:

For the NES fan boy/girls in all of us:

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And some more multi-functional tables for the road:

Graphic patterns make any room pop

Graphic patters, big or small are here to stay. As far back as ancient Greece, graphic patterning can be found in art, textiles, and on walls. Were the Greeks natural born interior designers or did they just understand the impact a graphic pattern could add to the room?

Think about it – have you ever heard of the ‘Greek Key‘ pattern? Derived in Greece, this decorative border is still found in every day design. Personally, I love it accented on a pillow as a trim or crown molding in a traditional living room. In my line of work, I use patterns every day, but graphic patterns can really make a room pop!

Using graphic patterns in a space can be seen as an art. When applying these graphics to a space, I take into account the size of the pattern, the color of the pattern, and it’s placement in a room. Fortunately, graphic pattern can been seen and used in endless interior design applications from wallpapers to rugs to pillows and everything in between.

Graphic patterns in themselves can be anything from a chevrons, to trellis, to simplified floral design. A mix between large graphic patterns and small graphic patterns creates a space that is visually appealing. More often than not, you like ‘that’ ad in the latest furniture catalog sitting on your coffee table because it is visually layered, and the key to layering your space is in the use of graphic patterns.

One way to begin adding graphic patterns to any space is to focus on a color. Select your main color and begin building the room.

Examples of graphic patterns

Secret to quickly adding graphic patterns

Mixing and matching pillows on your sofa is a inexpensive way to add a bold punch to your room. It may seem like an intimidating process but after you see these examples be brave and have fun!