I have to admit, I haven’t always been a lover of ottomans.  But, I have come to realize that they can be great pieces and work in just about every room.  I have been converted!

Typically when I heard the word “ottoman,” I used to think of small footstools that sat in front of chairs.  When my husband and I started discussing new furniture for our family room, his one request was that he could put his feet up on an ottoman while sitting on our sofa.  Reluctantly, I decided to let my coffee table that I loved for many years go to another home.  But since we got our ottoman, I haven’t once thought about getting another coffee table instead.  Our ottoman is a large rectangle–big enough for us both to put our feet up, hold a tray for drinks and provide room for our 17 lb. fuzz ball kitty all at the same time.  (Yes, the cat likes to be the center of attention.)

The nice thing about ottomans is that they can add an extra bit of pattern, texture or color into the room.  They can provide extra storage for things like games, blankets, pillows, or children’s toys.

They soften the lines of your space and feel inviting.  A large ottoman in front of a sofa can serve as a foot rest, additional seating or a serving piece.

With the profusion of ottomans has also come an influx of decorative trays on the market.  Some ottomans even come with the tray built into the center.  Others have shelves that pull out of the sides to hold drinks.

Ottomans come in a wide range of fabrics and leathers. Norwood offers just about every size ottoman you could imagine.  We even brought a 61″ wide oval leather ottoman onto the floor recently that’s similar to this one.

I like using small ottomans like the one to the right as accent pieces to be moved around as needed.  They make a great seat for kids or for resting tired feet.  Also, they can be used as a vanity seat in your bathroom.

I’d love to show you the options available in ottomans and all of the choices.  Surely there’s room for at least one ottoman in everyone’s home.  Where would you use one?  Stop on by and we can figure it out together!

Shasta

Certified Interior Designer, Norwood Furniture

Primrose Hill overlooks central London and is surrounded by a bustling urban village. This famous landmark, offering a view from the top of one of the world’s largest cities, is the inspiration for the Primrose Hill collection by Hooker Furniture. Inspired by 19th Century European antiques and the fashionable Primrose Hill village, the 60-piece furniture collection has a sophisticated urban twist with a vintage vibe. Country meets city as subtle garden-inspired finishes are paired with cosmopolitan flair in soft and sweeping silhouettes.

Please enjoy this video showcasing the collection!


Click here to view the collection on our website!

Thanks for stopping by!,
Todd B
Store Manager

My customer came into the store and told me that she had a beautiful painting and wanted a sofa that would compliment the art.  I suggested that I go to the home not only to measure the room for future furnishings but I also wanted to see the artwork.  I immediatly knew which sofa I would recommend,  the “Mona Lisa” because of the soft “wavy” curves playing up on the waves in the ocean.

I then chose fabrics that work around the beach setting by using the reds and blues.  I wanted to make the sofa comfortable, look relaxed and yet be a partner of the artwork. I believe the light blue pillow in the front with the seashell pulls this together quite nicely.

Please call me–you never know what a little inspiration can do for your room!

Hazelyn

Design Consultant

We just got in these three  new pieces of dramatic organically inspired wall art.  I just love their size and the natural feeling they can bring to a room!

The Swirl pieces show great use of repetition with their multiple irregular circles  to create movement for a dynamic focal point. The placement of the textural detail on the Woven Shield is asymmetrical, causing your eye to be drawn towards it in an unexpected way which adds to the visual interest.

close up of abaca fiber Shield

close up of hand bent pole rattan

The Shield is made of hand twisted abaca fiber rope woven in a shield design.  Abaca is a plant native to the Philippines. The shield measures 44.5″ by 5″ deep.

The Swirl is hand bent pole rattan in a  dark coffee tone finish. It measures 48″ by3.75″ deep.

Be sure to click on the images to see all the fine details and texture of these pieces!

You can use three as shown at right in our showroom with 14 foot cielings to create a great dramatic focal point with grand scale.

Or use two on a smaller wall as shown at left to add tons of textural interest to a more intimate space.

Below are three of the Swirl overlapped over a sofa.

They add great drama and impact to the soft tones of the sofa.

These pieces are so fun and unique!  They are  a great way to add impact while maintaining a natural casual feel in your room. Stop on by and take a look at them in person.

Robin

Rugs offer a room so much!  Texture!  Design!  Color!

If your living or great room has a hard surface floor such as tile, wood or granite, do your room a favor and consider a fabulous area rug with great texture, design and color!

If BIG TEXTURE is what you need, we carry and extensive collection of colors and sizes with various piles.

Design: What is your overall look?  Modern, transitional or traditional?  Choose something to blend with your overall theme, or try something eclectic if it’s appropriate.  As a designer, I’ll assist you to make that recommendation!

Color: Does your room need color?  Do you need something to ground and tie everything else together?

Make sure your rug and your floor are a match with these tips:

1. When using one large rug in a living or family room, make sure there’s an even border of flooring around all four sides, or at least that borders of flooring opposite each other are even. Don’t get a rug so large that it touches the baseboard around the room.
2. If your room is formal with a natural center, use a rug with a center medallion design to accentuate the natural layout of the room.
3. Use two rugs in one room to define different areas or functions within it. They don’t have to match. In fact, it’s more interesting to see coordinating area rugs that display some of the same colors but vary the scale of the pattern and alter the design.
4. As a general rule, put the front legs of furniture pieces on the rug and the back legs off. More important, however, is to make sure the rug is placed in balanced fashion in the room; the furniture can fall either on or off of it.
5. The perfect size of a dining-room rug is one 4 feet larger than the width and length of the table. As long as the rug is large enough to move the chairs away from the table without them falling off of the edge, the rug is the right size. Any surrounding furniture, such as a china cabinet or serving pieces, should be on the floor, not on the rug.
6. Area rugs muffle sound and add a restful quality to any room. For the kitchen, hallways and entry, an Oriental rug is the best bet-no other soft floor surface is as durable against the wear and tear of daily life.
7. If your room has a definite focal point such as a fireplace, it’s usually best to go with a rug with an all-over pattern so it doesn’t distract from the focal point.

The other day as I was walking through the store, I heard someone comment, “It’s just a lamp”! At first I just smiled as I recognized the frustration in their voice, then I realized, it’s not just a lamp!

Then the realization hit, that people get frustrated because we don’t really think about the lamps until the very end of the decorating process.. we really don’t understand or know how to choose lamps..we have not been educated!! So.. I want to just touch on a few points that may help in the future!

Because lamps are the main, or most used source of light in most rooms, they also become the finishing touch to a room..so take into consideration your tastes! What do you like to look at, what makes you feel good, what kind of statement do you want to make in the room and…what is your current home decor! Lamps are now made for every taste and every decor you can think of..( and some I would only think of in my wildest dreams!!) So.. choose one that fits your decor and your life style!!

You want to consider why your are getting the lamp. Lamps have many functions, we use them for reading, writing, art, accents, color, texture or just something pretty to look at! Remember, just because they work for one task doesn’t mean it will function for another! A lamp used for reading may be a little over powering in an area that just needs a little glow for ambiance!

Where are you going to locate the lamp? We put them on buffets, we put them in bathrooms, on kitchen counters ( for those of us that are getting older eyes, this comes in handy!), on nightstands, lamp tables, sofa tables…everywhere!! The location will help denote the reason, function and size of the lamp! Purpose function and size also depend on when you will be using the lamp; will it be used for ambiance, function as a task light or be an artistic statement in a room, light up a special piece of art or be used as a night light in a baby’s room?

So.. It’s not just a lamp!! Hopefully I have helped shed a little “light”
on the subject of lamps so you will be armed with some ideas as you come to Norwood to choose that final touch of style, function and purpose for your home! We have been receiving new shipments of beautiful and artistic lamps to make this process more exciting! My name is Peggie and I will be happy to help you create that final touch of ambiance for your home!!

One of the easiest ways to update a room and bring new energy in is through lighting. You should consider your lighting needs for the space. Do you need reading light, a floor lamp to illuminate a corner, uplight to accent beautiful textured walls? Lamps are essential to a well-lit room and create the overall ambiance of the room.

If you need to add texture or color to your room, an interesting lampshade could be your answer. Light fixtures can be a piece of art. Be mindful of the scale, make sure the size of your lamp is appropriate for its location. With proper lighting you have a truly complete room to set a mood and provide great illumination.

If you would like some help picking out the perfect lighting for your room I would love to help. Visit Norwood on your next shopping trip and ask for Lizzie Pease.

Lizzie

Mirrors are a fabulous addition to any home.  With all of the new frames and sizes that are available, they are a decorator’s dream.  But, what reflects in the mirrors and where they are placed are very important.  They can be used to enhance your home, reflect beautiful objects, or to make a space seem larger that it is. 

One of the most common places to hang a mirror is above your fireplace.  This is suitable, but utilizing just a mirror will reflect only your ceiling.  Place something beautiful in front of the mirror such as flowers or a stunning vase to give you a reflection of something pleasing.

Go around your home and look in each mirror.  What is it reflecting?  Is what you see (besides yourself!) beautiful?  If not, try other areas in the room until you find the most desirable reflection. 

Mirrors are a great way to make smaller rooms appear larger or to make a rectangular room appear square which is more pleasing.  Place the mirror on your longest wall in your room.  This will create the illusion of a wider space and will provide symmetry. 

On a final note, a mirror facing your bed is not a good idea.  In Feng Shui, it is said to deplete your personal energy when you need it most, at night when your body is doing its repair work.  To remedy the situation, position the mirror in your bedroom to reflect something beautiful like a nice piece of art or a beautiful chandelier.  Yes, chandeliers in the bedroom are a wonderful, romantic touch.

If you have any further questions about interior design for your home, I would be happy to help you.  Stop by and visit me at Norwood Furniture in Gilbert, Arizona.  It is a magnificent showroom that provides everything you need to make your home yours!

Sincerely,

Kevin Moore, Certified Designer

Combine beauty and brains in this fascinating solution for both expected and unexpected guests. We all love surprises! These lovely consoles effortlessly expand to accommodate a fantastic dining surface.

Whether the console is used as a sofa table, an entry statement piece or an expanded table for a party, they are sure to add beauty and practicality to your home. Drop-leaves and hinged versions shown. Please stop by Norwood today for details. Happy entertaining!

Cheers!

Debi  Johnson

Norwood just added an exciting new upholstery line called C.R. Laine to the showroom (www.crlaine.com) and I LOVE it!!!!  Their styles range from traditional to transitional.  Overall, I’d call them, “updated traditional.”

The most exciting part of this manufacturer is their wonderful fabrics.  They have some of the freshest colors and patterns that are completely in line with today’s trends–fantastic linens and cotton with vibrant blues, greens, and reds.  C.R. Laine has also provided a wide range of correlates, so most fabrics have 4-5 coordinating fabrics available.

In addition to their fabrics, they have some fabulous styles.  One of my favorite sofas is the Gaston curved sofa.  Its high back would give it a lot of presence in any home.  The modified swoop arms trimmed in nailhead create a fantastic silhouette.  The spool feet add a lot of character as well.

There’s even an amazing octagonal ottoman with the same spool feet and nailhead trim. With C.R. Laine, you have the option of picking the size, color, and placement of your nailheads at no upcharge.  For a project I’m working on right now, we’re doing a large nailhead in antique brass with 2-1 spacing (meaning two spaces in between each nailhead).  There’s the flexibility of using more than one fabric on each style, adding contrast welt (piping), and even making leather/fabric combinations.

I encourage you to stop on by and see what this new upholstery line has to offer for your home.  Even adding one of their chairs in a fantastic fabric would make a big impact in your room.  Hope to see you soon!
Shasta

Certified Interior Designer