KAY'S PICKS: SUMMER FAVOURITES

Summer officially starts today and it definitely came in with a bang! Today we're suppose to go up to 34 degree with no wind in sight but I won't complain because I'd take the hot sun over winter any day.  Although summer is super hot - sometimes unbearably so - who doesn't enjoying long days at the beach or pool, sipping drinks on a downtown patio, backyard BBQ's, long weekends and summer shopping! 

If you want to spruce up and add some new pieces to your home this summer check out my Modern Sensibility summer favourites:

 WHAT PIECES ARE ON YOUR WISH LIST THIS SUMMER?! 

Also, Don't Forget To Read Our "About Us"  
For Your Introduction To The Face Behind Our Blog/Facebook!

HOW TO CHOOSE PET FRIENDLY FURNITURE

Choosing furniture is a difficult task, with many things to take into consideration. Our space is too small, the hallway is to narrow, the delivery man won’t be able too, sofa bed vs. sectional, what about both? Price, deals and discounts, the list goes on.  

The growing complaint however is my (insert pet here) will scratch, bite, shed, or make a mess on said sofa. So do you get rid of fluffy? Of course not! You find a furniture store that will offer you beautiful quality sofas, great on space and takes in to consideration that you’re a pet lover as well. 

Many people feel as if leather is their only option because they feel that it will be easier to clean, the fur won't get stuck in the material and it will hold up longer overall.  Don't be afraid to try a upholstery fabric. As long as you invest in a small vacuum (if shedding is a problem), ensure that it is dark in colour to hide stains and it has a tight weave to protect from your cat claws then you'll be fine!  Try a fabric such as our 'Waterloo' modular sofa in dark grey.

The two materials that pet owners swear by is leather and microfiber. We believe in providing our customers with solutions to their problems, so we went hunting to provide you with the answers to be more prepared when you’re out shopping for your new sofa.   The thing that I loved about what I found out is that not only is Modern Sensibility cost friendly, modern, and convenient for small spaces.  We offer pet friendly material! 

MICROFIBER PROS AND CONS

PROS

- Easy to clean

-  Microfiber is not a tightly weaved fabric so pet hair is easily removable with a lint roller.

- Multiple pet owners have noticed that their pets are not attracted to this material. They're not interested in scratching or chewing it.   This is a major plus for cat owners

- Durable and long lasting material that will look like new for years to come.

- Dense material makes it hard to tear

- Looks great and is not very expensive

CONS

- If you have a pet that sheds and don't have a lot of time you may not want to be constantly using a lint roller to get rid of pet hair

- People don't know or don't realize their is a different between microfiber and micro-suede in quality. Micro-suede in fact does attract hair and is harder to clean

LEATHER PROS AND CONS

PROS

 -Easily clean dirt/stains and pet hair by wiping down the sofa with a cloth

-Bonded Leather/ Analine Leather are good options for pets.  Analine is durable and hard to puncture, and hair slides right off. 

- Aged leather looks amazing and vintage --  if you are interested in that look consider opting for higher quality leather

CONS

-pet drool and oil from hair can diminish the look and feel of the dye in the leather.

- Different levels of leather hold up better than others.  Low grade is more acceptable for homes with pets over the more expensive leather.

-Pets WILL scratch the material

-Even if your cat is not a habitual furniture scratcher, simply playing by the sofa will cause wear and tear to the material

-If sofa is ruined it is very costly to get it reupholstered or replaced.

TIPS FOR PET OWNERS:

 - A good option is buying a sofa with zippers so you can wash the fabric easily.

 - Good behavioral teaching will help prevent scratching of furniture.  It will be beneficial and less costly.

 - I shouldn’t have to say this BUT definitely no WHITES! Step away from that white sofa.

 - Denim material is a good option, does not show tears or scratches and pet hair                      does not cling to the material

 - Scotch Guarding your material is also a good option for protecting your furniture                  making it easier to clean if spills if accidents happen.

- Consider buying a sofa for its design and pick up a couple of slip covers. 

WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR PET FRIENDLY FURNITURE?

WHAT'S NEW AT MODERN SENSIBILITY

Hey Modern Sensibility Fans :) 

A lot changes have been happening at Modern Sensibility between new products and contests. I have been waiting to share the news with you about all our new products and now I can because everything is in stock and available in store or online at www.modernsensibility.com

I'd love to know what you think about all the new pieces you can email us at news@modernsensibility.com or leave us a message on our facebook page

Accent Chairs - The 'Chara' and The 'Hanz' 
I love our new accent chairs!  I've had my eyes on the 'Chara' for a while so to see knowing that we carry it has been a bonus for me. These prints aren't too loud and will mix and match well with most home decor.  It's always good to have an accent chair in your home; a sofa and two accent chairs creates a super easy modern look.

The 'Valencia'
The Valencia spells 'luxury' to me; I was very excited to get this piece into our showroom. I love the look of a tufted sofa, they remind me of a sofa that you'd find in a very modern home. Keeping inline with Modern Sensibility traditions it also comes with a reclining back that falls into a bed and the chaise part is removable and can be used somewhere else in the house.

The 'Derington'

The thing about having a small space is that you worry that whatever sofa you're going to choose will be too big for the room, especially when it is a sectional which are known to bigger in size. The 'Derington' solves this problem at 77 inches of length!

Dining Tables

Our new dining tables are definitely a fan favourite. They embody everything 'Smarter Furniture' should.  They look amazing, transform from coffee tables or foyer tables to full size dining tables. How cool is this? They are perfect for condo owners who would rather maximize on the space in their homes but still have the option to have guests over to eat. They are also very well priced at  $599 or under!

Bedroom Set Sale

We've also introduced beds to our collection with or without storage to suit your living situation. They are available in queen size only. To welcome in the new bedroom set pieces we've introduced a sale with the purchase of any bed and a two 'Ehler' night stands receiving the match 'Ehler' dress for FREE! A savings of $139.  Prices start at $537! 

How Would You Use This Contest Winner -- Ashley K.

Who doesn't love to win free stuff? At Modern Sensibility we love taking pictures of our contest winners. It makes us happy to announce the winner and then see them come in to accept their prize.  Ashley was no different!  She won the Navi- Storage Bed in our How Would You Use This Contest.  She dominated the competition with a whooping 215 votes!!!

This is what she had to say about her win: 

I recently had a baby and purchasing a new bed was just no in the budget at the moment.  I was happy to see that Modern Sensibility was having a contest that I could win a bed that included storage as well! I entered not expecting to win the bed but gave it my best and told my facebook friends to visit the Modern Sensibility page. Thank You Modern Sensibility for such an amazing contest!!

6 WAYS TO ACCENT YOUR HOME WITH CHAIRS

Accent chairs should never be thought of as just another piece of furniture.  Or  "that chair" that you add to your sofa.  Choosing the right one can make or break the flow or theme of the living room. Accent chairs come in all different shapes, sizes and fabrics. They add spice to a room and can change a traditional living room to a contemporary one by adding variety, color, or style.  They range from standard chairs, chaises,lounge chaise and everything in-between.  Having an accent chair added to your home is the perfect way to bring your living room together with style and function.  Your accent chair is now the perfect place to sit and put on your shoes, provides additional seating for guests or a place for rest and relaxation after a long day at work.  Here are some ways to set up your accent chair in your home:

Consider Size:

The most important thing to consider is the size of the accent chair and the space that you have to work with.  You don't want to buy a chair that is low to the ground if you are tall because you won’t be comfortable in it. Your legs will drag or hang and you’ll feel awkward.  On the other hand if you’re shorter you won’t want to buy a chair that’s too deep or too high off the ground because you won’t be able to touch the floor.  At the same time this is all personal preference; I personally would love a deep chair because I could tuck my feet under and get really comfortable. 

Create A Sitting Area:

Accent chairs are not just limited to the living room.  Create a sitting area by placing an accent chair with a small table, lamp and maybe a notebook for jotting notes.  I am a big fan of the sitting area.  I think it provides a cozy little spot in your home to read, listen to music or just relax away from the living room or bedroom.  An accent chair paired with an ottoman adds to the comfort of the sitting area, you can also add another chair if you plan on having others join you. Remember to place it in a less frequented area of the home for peace and quiet.  

Arms or No Arms:

Sometimes we simply do not have space to have an accent chair with arms.  Don't worry though because they’re many armless options that still look as fabulous as ones with arms.  Remember accent chairs come in all different styles and shapes. Always remember to check the space that you have to work with and don’t just buy a chair because of the way it looks.  Over cluttering is never a good thing and will take away from your space no matter how beautiful the chair is. If you don’t have a lot of space to work with let the accent chair speak for itself, pick one that stands out.

Multipurpose:

Who said that your accent chair can only be used in one room?   You are probably going to spend quite a bit of money on the one of your choice so why not get the most out of it.  Choose an accent chair that fits with the theme of your whole house, or one that remains neutral so it can blend and adjust to any room it's in.  From the bedroom to a formal dining room, you never know who will be over and when you’ll need that extra seating for them.

Function: 

What room will the arm chair be used most in?  If it is in a popular location of the house like a living room, family room, or basement consider choosing an accent chair that not only looks good but is also comfortable since it will be something that is used primarily for seating.  If it is being used in a less frequented area of the house such as a bedroom or front hallway you can opt for style over comfort. Or better yet why do you have to choose? A piece like the 'Sovereign' offers both style and function.

Group Them Together:

An accent chair can function on its own but if your space permits why not group two together. It is a great option if you love entertaining and having people over.  It can replace a love seat, and single chair.  For a modern look pair a large sofa with two complementary accent chairs. 

How Do You Arrange Your Accent Chairs In Your Home?

View Our Entire Accent Chair Collection Starting At $179!

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS: MULTI-FUNCTIONAL FURNITURE

"Save on Space, Not on Style" - Kadian

The biggest complaint I hear from condo owners is about the size or lack thereof in their condos. Whether it’s a problem getting their sofa in through the door, not being able to find a sofa that they like but also won't overpower the living room, or just simply not having enough space to have all the necessary items fit without overpowering the room. With less space comes less room for guests and most important for storage when using traditional furniture pieces. 

Multi-functional 'smarter' furniture helps solve all these problems! As apartments and condos become smaller in space, or you're transitioning from a larger home to a smaller one your furniture needs to follow suit and fit with the needs of its owner.

When purchasing furniture consider one that has multiple functions.  If you need more storage opt for an item that also includes a hidden storage unit. You never realize how much storage space you truly need until it's not there for you to use. Furniture with built-in storage units help minimize on clutter and makes being organized easier.  An organized clutter free home will automatically make your home feel lighter and more spacious.

 

Do you love to entertain? Are dinner parties on your enjoyment list? Many  women worry that condo living will make dinner parties next to impossible to do. A foyer table or coffee table that doubles as a dining table is something you should consider. Not only will it take up minimal space in your home when not in use but you'll still be able to organize a dinner party without worrying where everyone will fit and when you're finished it'll fold right back up in seconds.  

Or maybe entertaining is simply not your thing and having a dining table in your home just takes up unnecessary space. You know you'd rather use your dual living and dining room area as a large living room table instead of having a dining room table that sits there unused collecting dust.  With a multi-functional foyer table like the one below you can maximize on living room space but still have a back up dining room table when you do have guest over.

 

What about sleep arrangements, do you have space for an overnight guest? A sofabed is a must have for any home. Whether your guest are expected or unexpected with a pull out sofabed guest sleep comfortably and you'll never have to worry about sleeping arrangements again. A sofabed conveniently pulls out or folds down when needed and when not in use functions and looks like a regular sofa. I've heard people say well I'm just looking for a sofa, I don't want a sofabed because of the stigma of how a sofabed looks verses a traditional sofa. Your sofa doesn't have to scream sofabed if you don't want it to, keep it your little secret and go with a style that you like.

You can provide all your household needs with multi-functional furniture. Forget those items that only have one function and opt for an item that looks amazing, is a conversational piece and makes living in a smaller space worry free.

Your furniture should work for you, not the other way around.
Show your furniture whose boss, and demand your needs!

WE ♥ PINTEREST

Pinterest has become a worldwide phenomenon. Everyone is using it to get ideas and inspirations, to share their ideas or to organize products, home decor ideas, food, kids, architecture, etc.  Whatever you're interested in you can bet that you'll find a community of pinners who are equally as interested as you are willing to share their ideas. 

I love looking at pictures of home decor, landscaping and scenery and colour schemes but keeping them on your computer can leave everything disorganized or forgotten.  On Pinterest I'm able to organize my boards and view them and share them with others as well as viewing pictures I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

I've noticed that a lot of people were going to our website and pinning our sofas to their boards so I also created two boards with Modern Sensibility furniture and videos so that everyone who is interested can find us easily and just repin.

Check out Modern Sensibility on Pinterest!

Are you Pinterest obsessed? How are you using it?

PICK OF THE MONTH: THE 'CAMPBELL'

Modern Sensibility recently introduced a new 'Smarter Furniture' line of dining room tables, beds and foyer tables. They are set to arrive this April and I am very excited for them to come in. We held a contest in the month of march asking our facebook fans to tell us how they would utilize this piece in their homes. The comments where unanimous we were giving them the freedom to enjoy a certain lifestyle like lavish dinner parties, or added storage without the bulk; even though they had limited space in their homes they didn't have to feel as if they did. This was our plan! We take our furniture very serious and make sure that we offer our customers unique and functional modern pieces to fit their lifestyles.  

The tables transform from coffee tables into dining, dining room tables into grand dining tables, foyer tables into dining room tables and bed with large storage units, even an ottoman that becomes a single cot. 

My 'Pick of the Month' Choice is the Campbell. The Campbell is an eye catcher! I love its sleek design, its clean lines the dark woods. It all just screams modern, sophisticated and sexy. Let’s not forget the functionality features: it starts out as a foyer table, coverts to a coffee table and then pulls out to a grand dining table that seats 10 people. 

Wouldn't you love to host a dinner party with this table?

 

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE 'CAMPBELL'?