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Posts Tagged ‘modern furniture’

lux for a little

Posted in how to, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on March 4.2010 | 1 Comment »

Special thanks to todd, store designer in los angeles, who contributed the following inspiration for some timely hollywood glamour.

Create the look and feel of high-end luxury on a budget by selecting simple shapes with rich textures or reflective finishes.

Think soft fabrics mixed with the sparkle of polished chrome and high-gloss lacquer–and a few design details that echo the glam of old Hollywood.

Start with the avec sofa, its soft pewter poly velvet fabric and vintage cross stitching is a perfect beginning.

Add the peekaboo coffee table, for the illusion of a larger space, and throw in the city slicker side table for its white lacquer–not to mention just the right amount of 60’s regency.

Hang a few perspective mirrors for sparkle, add drama with a luxe floor lamp and a few blok candle holders can add romantic glow. Throw the whole collection on top of the lounge natural shag rug for that deep warm luxurious feel.

Now, take a guess on the cost of this ritzy room worthy of the silver screen. Would you believe it’s under $2,500?

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settling in, on a budget

Posted in how to, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 25.2010 | 1 Comment »

Recently, CB2 team member Megan and her boyfriend Paul bought a condo in a developing urban area and moved in together.

Slowly they’ve been defining their style–which includes watching expenses.

What did they learn?
How are they doing it?

1. They were fortunate and quick to take advantage of the first time buyer tax credit to purchase a new place. Not only did it give them some extra for their budget, it’s also a clean slate instead of choosing between his or her place.

2. With the new construction almost complete, they were able to work with their builder to make small changes that help make it their own–without adding out-of-pocket costs.

For example, kitchen and bath cabinet hardware went from “swirly” traditional handles to sleek modern stainless steel. Also, the granite countertop was extended to the floor to create an architecturally strong element in the kitchen which leads into the living/dining area.

3. Next, they accepted hand-me-downs from their families. Some of them work great and others are a testament to their ability to negotiate–both with each other and with whoever’s doing the offering.

4. Megan’s living proof of the theory: buy what you love and it will work together.

A perfect example is their new piazza sofa with a second-hand Persian-style rug.

5. Paint is inexpensive–plan on doing a lot of it. It gives the biggest bang for the buck and color helps tie elements together.

They painted every room using a neutral palette, the exception is a rich navy blue in the office/guest room that took three coats. For a close match, see Pantone 2965C.

Lastly, it’s one of the best ways to retro-fit a piece of furniture to your style.

6. Slowly but surely, additions and upgrades get done according to the budget.

Lamps are on their wish list–but in the meantime, a new trig desk provides workspace while still allowing room for guests in the second bedroom.

And even though Paul’s very visual, imagining the mix is not his specialty so Megan gives him lots of time to get comfortable with major purchases.

What’s next? They’re both anxious to enjoy warmer weather with Monroe so outdoor furniture is quickly becoming a priority!

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multi-use (-room, -task, -function) modern furniture

Posted in how to, tagged , , , , on January 26.2010 | 2 Comments »

By design, modern furniture is often clean, sleek and architectural. And while it can mix with anything–usually–it can do double duty. All it takes is knowing your needs and your space, and using a little imagination. For example?

Peekaboo console as a mini-bar…or a work station.

Go-cart 3-shelf cart in the office…or the kitchen.

Array…media or bath storage. Cadet cabinet for the bath…or the kitchen.

Halogen credenza for dining…or media storage.

Storage shelf with doors in a bathroom…or an office.

When you look at furniture without a name or description, can you see its hidden potential?

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furniture assembly hints

Posted in how to, tagged , , on January 21.2010 | 2 Comments »

You’ve made the decision to buy a piece of furniture–which is a big commitment–even bigger if it requires assembly. Whether you choose to follow the enclosed instructions is a matter of choice but either way, these few simple hints can get you through it–hopefully happier and faster!

1. Start with a clean, clear work surface. There’s nothing more trying or time consuming than stepping over empty boxes, losing parts or damaging something you already own.

2. Work in a well lit area. Let’s face it, sometimes you have to crawl inside the case to tighten a cam lock. Avoid scratching surfaces by not having to search for them in the dark with a Philips head.

3. Start with the proper tools. Don’t waste time searching junk drawers for a wrench or trying to figure out if a dime or a penny will substitute as a screwdriver.

4. Make sure you have all the parts needed before you start. There is nothing more frustrating than getting it all done…except for the center support or the last drawer glide. We know, we’ve heard from you. If something is missing, call 1-800-606-6252 asap.

5. It’s ok–and sometimes required–to ask for help. Even though you were able to get both boxes of the dining table in your car doesn’t mean it wouldn’t help to have help putting it together. Attaching the legs is the easiest furniture assembly there is–but turning a table onto its feet by yourself is near impossible.

6. Allow plenty of time and patience. Like remodeling, it will often take longer than you think–but if you do finish fast, do a little victory dance. Even we, who assemble furniture on a daily basis, will sometimes have to unscrew and do-over a step because we put a panel in backwards, or put it in too soon, etc. etc.

7. Follow the instructions. We all want to do things our own way but–trust us, we’ve been through this–there’s a reason why step 2 comes before step 4.

8. Know what you’re in for before you buy. Ask our sales associates, or check out what “assembly required” really means by downloading PDF versions of the instructions on cb2.com.

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10 essential years

Posted in meet us, tagged , , , , on January 12.2010 | 3 Comments »

As we begin a new decade, we’d like to take a moment for reflection to celebrate CB2’s 10th anniversary. While some things stayed firmly the same, we’re amazed by just how much we’ve changed in that brief time.

As much as we live and die for the latest trends, our core values remained in tact: quality, value, design, community–not to mention our sense of humor and our ability to take a risk.

You surprised us all by making some of our biggest gambles our best sellers–such as parlour, an orange upholstered side chair, and whimsical elf candleholders.

Although we’d like to forget, more than a few products keep us humble and nervous reminding us that we all make mistakes.

Pink fluffy maracas, marabou bottle bags, and disco gift wrap–what were we thinking???

We believe there’s incredible value in classic, timeless, modern designs–some of which were introduced in 2003, are still valid today, and will be tomorrow. Including trig office furniture, marta barware and peekaboo occasional tables.

In 2004, www.cb2.com was launched and our first catalog was mailed in 2006. This week, we’ll launch a redesign of cb2.com and in Miami, orange doors will open to our first store built from the ground up.

Whether you’ve been a fan from the beginning and bought a shower cap in support of our start-up, or just made your first purchase of white square dinner plates last week, together we built a thriving business.

We humbly Thank You and look forward to serving you for decades to come.

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3…2…1…happy new year!

Posted in how to, tagged , , , , , on December 15.2009 | Leave a Comment »

Let’s get this party started!

Toasting the fresh start of a New Year is right up our alley so we’re ready to set-up the bar so everyone can raise a glass. The question is, which bar do you want to keep coming back to?

peekaboo consoleacacia mini bar closed cropped

If you’re tight on space, a peekaboo console doesn’t create visual clutter and it can be multi-purpose. In an entryway, behind a sofa, as a desk or as a bar with all the necessities.

If mid-century is more your style, an acacia mini bar could fit right in–and store spirits behind closed doors during off hours.

If your existing furniture can mix with high-gloss, a halogen credenza would work now…and later as a media console for the big game.

The only thing left to ask is “what’ll you have?”.

Hint: Try Raymond’s favorite “champagne” cocktail–procecco with a cube of sugar and one dash of bitters.

halogen credenza

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