Get personal in your home this New Year

It’s a brand new year! Many people make resolutions to lose weight, spend more time with their loved ones and take control over their financial situations.  While many of those ideas still made the cut for me, I also chose to add a goal that I have been putting off for several months now. That resolution is to invest more energy personalizing my home.

Since I moved into my new home five months ago, I have neglected to add personal touches.  Having a new home requires a lot of thought when deciding what pieces to add.  My main focus was to have pieces that served a dual purpose.  For example, a beautiful leather ottoman can serve not only as a cozy place to relax your tired legs after a long day at work, but also as extra seating and even as a cocktail table surface.

This Callie ottoman by Bradington-Young is on castors, making it easy to move it from place to place and room to room as needed.

According to our good designer friend, William Morris, you should “have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”  While I agree with this statement, I also find myself wondering “Why can’t our furniture pieces be beautiful and functional?” This has become my mission for 2013.

I decided the first space I wanted to tackle was the entryway by my front door.  I needed a piece that would provide storage for keys and other knickknacks, while still making a stylish statement.  Since this piece of furniture is the first thing you will see when entering my home, I wanted it to blend with my existing furnishings, while still making a statement on its own.

Problem solved.

This thin new console from the Sanctuary collection combines beauty and function all in one! Three delicate legs in a warm “Amber Sands” finish curve to support two pull-out drawers ideal for storing things like keys, outgoing mail or portable electronics.  The flat top provides display space to showcase your most personal accessories.  The timeless tradition of this piece, along with a bit of urban sophistication, allows it to blend with many different styles.  As my tastes and style changes over the years, this piece will certainly be able to be used.

Looking for something edgier? Have a boring spot in your home in need of a powerful punch of color? Look no further than this red crocodile console from the Mélange Accent Collection.

Serpentine-like legs snake their way up to a curved front table top that is intricately detailed with a burnished gold nail head.  The cherry red faux crocodile leather pattern creates fluid movement across the entire piece.  While there are no built-in drawers, this piece will easily accommodate small baskets or glass jars to hold various household trinkets.  Using this bold piece to liven up your home will be a conversation starter for sure!

Looking for something as equally fashion-forward but with a more subdued appearance? Try the Plaid Chest from the Mélange collection.

This little guy packs a lot of storage into its miniature proportions! The most noticeable feature of this piece is the overall lavender and heather gray plaid pattern across the front of four storage drawers.

Inspired by the necktie in the photo from the Hooker Furniture showroom, this piece is following a design trend that has been very popular over the last several years: incorporating menswear patterns into home design elements.

The transitional straight legs have an antique black rub-through that compliments the lavender and heather gray plaid pattern.  The overall look is trendy, but subdued and practical.

If your home is in need of a splash of color or some additional storage space, consider updating a boring wall with a living room console, chest or credenza that boasts storage and style! With the right furniture pieces, your home can be beautiful and functional!