Tag Archives: contemporary

How to Decorate With Seventies Style Mod Furniture

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A lot of the most contemporary modern furniture on the market today is based on retro 70s designs. This is because the modular nature and portability of this type of furniture is very well suited to today’s smaller homes, lofts and condominiums.

If you want your room to look like it is decorated with modern furniture then avoid floral patterns (unless they look like the old Mary Quant cosmetic logo) and stick to patterns that are more abstract. Cotton fabrics are also out of style and your place will look more modern if your couch, armchair or ottomans are made of leather, polyvinyl or a polyester blend.

Another tip is to choose a bright, almost neon primary color as the color scheme for the color of your fabrics and rugs. Colors that are very hot when it comes to choosing modern furniture are orange, brown, light green, pink, yellow and white. Black is still classic but it is not currently as sophisticated as brown or white. You should also choose exotic faux or real animal coverings when you shop for furniture. Brown and white calfskin would be a good trendy choice for 2007.

Wood is not that hip right now unless you choose modern furniture that has a bit of a Danish design flair. This type of furniture is usually made of teak or a similar durable yet lightweight wood. In the design of a table, coffee table or chairs look for designs where the chair legs are sloped slightly outwards. Molded arms and backs that are smooth and curvy are also desirable elements in modern furniture. Even heavier items such as stand up dressers and bureaus should have a light look to them. Also very hip right now are wooden items where the handles are carved right into the drawer surface.

When choosing a bed frame, couch or chair the idea is to choose items that are lower set. High set furniture is considered to be more nineties. You should also look for chairs that have beveled, molded shapes that seem to have a bit of concession to the shape of the human bottom and back.

Yet another good choice of modern furniture is molded plastic furniture. These are usually cubes or distortions of geometric shapes that are brightly colored and yet designed to accommodate the human body. You can also buy stacking coffee tables, stools and other items that have this seventies space age look to them to furnish your home or apartment.

Your choice of lighting can also go a long way towards making your seventies retro inspired décor more authentic.

How to Decorate for a Kenya Tea Party

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Take your friends on an afternoon safari with a Kenya tea party that includes leopard and zebra print decor, spicy dips and curry from Kenya, traditional British scones with jam, German chocolate cake as well as playing croquet for a good cause.

Kenya culture has a bit of an unusual history. To throw an authentic Kenya Tea Party you will find yourself incorporating three different important culinary influences: spicy Kenyan dips and curries, German desserts and traditional British tea bites. This is because Germany was the first country to colonize Kenya in 1885 followed by England about 30 years later.

The theme of this party is Safari in Africa. This is your time to get out your best safari themed accessories and linens such as Zebra print, leopard print and bamboo print tablecloths and linen. Rattan and woven furniture also evokes the culture Kenya. The china can be a traditional British white or you can go for a brown earthenware look that is more German in flair.

A Kenyan tea party is perfect to throw for ten to twelve friends who just need an excuse to get together and perhaps indulge in a bit of croquet. To enhance the colonial feel you could ask your guests to dress in all in white. However much more fun would be to ask them to dress in leopard or zebra prints. Make sure the paper you send out the invitation on is also in a leopard or zebra print.

Another way to evoke the atmosphere of Kenya would be to play some indigenous African music, or at least music with a bit of a tribal sound. Many of the electronic dance bands from Germany incorporate tribal rhythms in their contemporary mixes.

As a party favor each guest could receive a little gift bag of Kenyan coffee or tea or a small donation to an African charity in their name. You could also encourage individuals to donate to an African charity by setting up a decorative donation box at the door. You could also set up bets as to who will win a croquet tournament and use the proceedings to help the Red Cross or another good cause.

Remember that the key to throwing a fantastic Kenya party is to make it a mix of German, English and Kenya culture.