How to Live Big in a Small Space

August 27, 2018 by Stoney Creek Furniture

There is a definite trend today towards living in smaller spaces – not just of necessity, but of choice. Many find that less is more and that a small space is actually liberating! But we don’t want to sacrifice style and comfort in our smaller spaces.

Small Scale Sofa

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Here are our best tips on how to make the most of your smaller room.

Organization. The foundation of any home, particularly a smaller home, is organization – translated – plenty of storage for everything you need with style to spare. Consider a smaller-sized chest (in every style from country chic to urban industrial) that looks great and makes clutter a thing of the past.

Kitchen Island

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Sleep chests. If you need a spare bed but don’t have space for a dedicated guest room, a sleep chest is an absolute must! By day, a sleep chest serves as a beautiful piece of furniture (you can use the top for display); by evening it quickly and easily converts into a bed. Less expensive than most Murphy beds, sleep chests work perfectly in condos or any smaller-scaled space.

Sleep Chest

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Smaller-scaled furnishings. We’re not talking about small pieces that look dwarfed, but rather tailored furnishings that are designed to look and feel appropriate in a smaller room, with no compromise on form, function or beauty. There’s a tremendous selection of sofas, accent chairs, dining room tables and chairs and much more available – in styles that blend with your existing pieces.

Small Space Furniture

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Think creatively. Don’t let your preconceived notions about ‘I don’t have room’ limit the beauty and effectiveness of your space. How about easy breakfast dining with a bar table and stools tucked against a wall in your kitchen? Or a centre island that’s small on size but huge on convenience? Or what about elegant side chairs that are scaled down with a gorgeous tufted leather sofa that is slightly smaller?

Clean lines. Elaborately detailed furniture makes a smaller space look contrived and fussy. Stick with a transitional/contemporary look that’s timeless and streamlined. Likewise, choose classic styles rather than trendy items. While a little whimsy is fun, a smaller space is best suited to a more elegant vibe.

Neutral shades. Whether furnishings, wall colours, fabrics or accessories, neutral shades enlarge a space, not to mention making it more sophisticated. While a pop of colour is welcome, aim for your palette to be mostly neutral, whether plain or patterned. Steer away from ‘pretty’ colours in a smaller area to avoid the ‘dollhouse’ effect.

Remember, a smaller space doesn’t have limitations, it has potential! With the right furnishings and classic décor, a small space offers endless opportunities to express your style.

How to Get Your Home Back-to-School Ready

August 16, 2018 by Stoney Creek Furniture

It won’t be long before it’s time to go back to school and work! While you’re soaking up the last weeks of summer, it’s the perfect opportunity to make some changes to your home to create a study-friendly environment. With the right furnishings, it’s easier than you think to carve out a dedicated space for homework or a home office.

Here are a few ideas to ignite your imagination:

Transcend Collection

Long Live the Traditional Office. If you spend a lot of time working from home or are looking for a dedicated homework space for your kids, there are myriad options available for creating a space that’s inspiring and timelessly beautiful. Choose a desk in multiple configurations with matching bookcase or credenza, open shelving, cupboards, drawers and so much more. You’ll be surprised at how much functionality you can fit in a relatively small space.

Tuscan Retreat Collection

Double Duty, Space Friendly. Small footprint table and chairs are perfect for breakfast AND perfect for an ad hoc home office. There are so many options available – including bar tables that sit against a wall or even a small-scale kitchen island. Whether it’s making getting fed and out the door faster OR providing an extra study space, these pieces are so versatile. Plus, don’t forget kids’ beds with drawer storage! A long time family favourite, these beds are an ideal way to tuck away kids’ belongings and keep their bedrooms better organized.

Primitive Collection

Accessories Kids Will Love. Magnolia Home has created school-style furnishings and accessories with their trademark farmhouse sensibility. Your kids will love them, PLUS they add charm and whimsy to your home. Our picks: an old style chalkboard and retro schoolhouse desk.

Serta Mattress-in-a-Box

Our Favourite! Mattress-in-a-box. One of the toughest things about moving (for example, to and from college dorms!) is transporting the mattress. Serta has the problem solved with its mattress in a box line. So portable, it even fits in the trunk of a car. What’s best of all is that because it’s from Serta, you won’t sacrifice quality or comfort.

Condo-Sized Furniture. Whether it’s a complement to your home office, in a college student’s room or simply for your downsized home, there are sofas, accent chairs, coffee and end tables and much more specifically scaled to suit a smaller space.

Back to school is just around the corner. Start planning how to make your home more study-friendly now and score an A+ for organization!

Outdoor Furniture: How to Choose Quality Pieces that will stand the Test of Time

July 27, 2018 by Stoney Creek Furniture

If you’re outfitting or revamping your patio this season, why not make it an outdoor living space that becomes a stunning extension of your home? Start with a vision and then visit one of our locations to discuss how to make your outdoor retreat a reality. Yes, that’s right. We now sell outdoor furniture – all on sale during our Summer Sale!

New Outdoor Collection

New Outdoor Collection

Let’s start with what to look for in well made outdoor furniture. If you’re like most people, you’ve made the mistake of buying outdoor furniture that looked great in a store, but after just one or two seasons, had to be replaced. Here are some tips from our team on how to make the best decision the first time:

Choose the right materials. While wood, wrought iron and even resin have their strengths; wicker and aluminum are our favourite material choices for outdoor furniture. They’re durable, lightweight, easy care and weather resistant. No other materials often this level of quality at a value-driven price.

Construction. Look for quality construction that will endure the rigours of family use and harsh weather. Aluminum frames are solid and rust-proof. Likewise, the finest wicker uses handcrafted weaving, done one strand at a time using high density polyurethane.

Appearance. Wicker pieces look spectacular, fitting in organically with nature. It’s a classic transitional feel that suits most spaces, with a nod to farmhouse casual. With timeless wicker, the bridge from inside to outside is beautifully seamless, making your whole home appear more expansive and inviting.

New Outdoor Collection

New Outdoor Collection

Fabric. Look for a durable fabric that will withstand the heat, sun and rain of a Canadian summer. Quality fabrics resist fading and water and can be cleaned easily. Spend as much as you can afford on cushions – in many ways they determine how your entire suite looks and feels.

Maintenance. You want to spend your time outdoors relaxing, not caring for your furniture! Wicker fits the bill – just a wipe with a gentle soap and it’s clean and ready to use.

New Outdoor Collection

New Outdoor Collection

Our Collection is handcrafted with exceptional style and uncompromising quality. You’ll find a great variety of options and configurations to suit your space and your plans.

Stop by and see this gorgeous collection in our stores. And remember, comfortable, long-lasting furniture is really the key to creating an outdoor space where you can hang out, entertain and enjoy the beauty of nature!

Trica Furniture: Made in Canada with a Passion for Protecting the Earth

June 15, 2018 by Stoney Creek Furniture

As we continue our series on our commitment to the environment, one of our new lines stands out as particularly devoted to green initiatives: Trica Furniture. What we think you’ll feel especially good about is that Trica is manufactured right here in Canada by skilled craftsmen.

Trica closely mirrors our stand on the environment, making them an ideal partner. Like us, Trica educates their employees to make more sustainable choices at work and at home and encourages all their suppliers and vendors to be environmentally responsible for the continued health of our planet. This is important to us!

Trica Soul Collection

Trica Soul Collection

Trica: A Style Overview.

Trica furnishings are designed and built just outside of Montreal, tailored for North American urban living. Influenced by European modernism, Trica is clean, sleek and chic. Highest-quality materials are used, combined with technologically-advanced manufacturing processes and stringent quality-control testing. Trica’s quality is backed by an industry-leading 10-year limited warranty.

Trica Sculpture Table

Trica Sculpture Table

Trica’s Eco-Friendly Practices:

The environment is a top priority for Trica, while never compromising quality and durability. Their key strategies include:

Recycled and recyclable steel, aluminium and plastic. Depending on availability and on the supplier, the steel, aluminium and plastic used by Trica are made from 10% to 80% recycled materials. They recycle 100% of internally generated steel, aluminium, foam and plastic scraps as well as all cardboard, paper and glass.

Lead and VOC free paint. Synthetic materials or those treated with synthetic substances can off gas chemicals which are toxic. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the most common family of chemicals that are off gassed and have been linked to birth defects, endocrine disruption and cancer. Trica’s steel products are protected by a high-temperature baked lead-free powder coating and have zero VOCs. Further, Trica’s upholstered seat boards and table tops are produced using low formaldehyde particle boards; water-based lacquers and stains are used on wood components.

Easily disassembled and recycled. Trica products are built for easy repair, disassembly and recycling. Trica furnishings can be easily taken apart, sorted into their constituent parts and recycled at the end of their useful lives.

Durable and fixable.Durability is one of the most important aspects of green furniture. Trica furnishings are built tough and easy-to-repair, lessening the chance that they will end up in the landfill – saving you money in the long run. Not to mention, durable goods that last a long time can be passed on from person to person, sometimes even becoming family heirlooms!

Trica Empire Extendable Table

Trica Empire Extendable Table

When you’re choosing new furniture, please keep the environment. Our  non-commission sales team can help you evaluate your eco-friendly options.