Get the Look for Less: Blue Velvet

This year, one of the biggest trends in furniture has been texture. Combining buttery soft fabric with rich jewel tones makes for an opulent statement piece that will easily become the talking point of your living room.

Hold up…that sounds expensive.

Yes, it can be! But when you want to keep your look updated without draining your bank account, we’ve got your back. While we’ve seen some luxurious-looking sofas at luxurious prices (would you believe over $6000?), we at Red Knot have curated some beautiful new pieces that embody the trend of touchably soft fabric.

Among these is the Bliss sofa by Actona, priced at an incredible $799. This sofa combines our signature modern style with the “it” texture of the year, in a stunning sapphire hue. We still can’t figure out what the name describes: what you feel when you sit on the sofa, or your relief when you don’t break the bank buying it!

The best part? There’s a matching chair.

What do you think about the texture trend? Let us know in the comments below!

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Image credits: Clockwise HOUZZ Reginald SofaLUXEDECOR Innovation Cassius Sofa2MODERN Gus Margot SofaHOUZZ Bowery Petite Velvet Sofa

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Mid-Century Modern Living

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the words mid-century modern?

Retro? The fifties? James Bond films? Or even the television show Mad Men?

Mid-century modern is a broad term used to describe architecture, graphic design, and furniture from the middle of the 20th century (roughly from the 40’s-70’s). While Mad Men is an obvious example of the style, you’ve probably seen it around a lot more than you even realized. It’s frequently used in advertisements, television, film, and talk shows.

A style with roots from the post-World War I era where trends shifted into a fresh, new aesthetic to help boost America into a more modern era. Furniture was designed to be simple and clean, allowing it to be built quickly and distributed to consumers. Overall style and frames featured clean lines with sometimes multi-functional benefits and bold geometric designs, strong patterns, and graphics; a nice blend between comfort and chic style.

Here at Red Knot we carry a lot of transitional pieces, many of which have mid-century modern features like – tufted detailing, tapered wooden legs, and clean lines. Although the retro style won’t be for everyone, it does conjure up images of casual living for the minimalist at heart that is truly timeless.

Here are some important features of a mid-century modern room:

-Lots of wood

  • Look at any mid-century modern living room and one thing you’ll notice in all of them is the wood pieces. Whether it be the coffee table, sideboard, or TV stand the use of clean, beautifully crafted wood was predominantly used (a lot of teak, oak, walnut, etc).

-Tapered Legs

  • A lot of mid-century modern pieces have wooden legs that taper slightly out which gives any piece of furniture a more vintage look.

-Graphic/bold patterns

  • Bold, graphic patterns were very popular back in the good ol’ days, mostly with a more geometric design element. If having your sofa or accent chair in a patterned fabric is a bit much, then using art work is an easy way to add this fun element to your mid-century modern room.

-White paint

  • People of this era and style were very proud of the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into their furniture. The best way to showcase that and keep the attention on their furniture was to keep walls light and simple with a coat of fresh white paint.

-Special touch: bar area

  • Having a tiny bar area goes perfectly with the era of this design trend…so why not? While not all of us can have a built in bar for our home, adding a small bar cart to set the mood can add the perfect finishing touch to your living or dining room.

Here are some of the pieces we carry at Red Knot!

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  1. Indiana Sectional | $1399
  2. Triangle Coffee Table | $349
  3. Maguire Chair* | $699
  4. Walton Sofa* | $599
  5. Amersly Bench* | $349
  6.  Palisades Coffee Table* | $249
  7. Natalia Sofa* | $1149
  8. Bloom Sofa | $899

*Collection available in other options. Pricing may vary. Please inquire online or see a team member in store for more information.

The New Kids On The Block Pt. II

It’s been awhile since we featured some of our new arrivals so here’s a quick run down of some new pieces on our showroom floors and how to incorporate them in your home!

The Faux Fur

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Nothing screams “comfy & cozy” more than faux fur home decor. Something as simple as a faux fur pillow can add glam and luxury to any space – whether it be a living room or bedroom. This ottoman is the perfect resting place for when you’re trying on all those shoes or when your friends come over for game night. Also, have you ever tried lying down on a faux fur rug? It’s divine.

Pebbles & Cobblestones

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These showstopping accessories are some of the most fun items we’ve had in our showrooms. While the pillows come in a few bright hues that add the perfect amount of color to any room, what’s great about these pillows and rugs is they add texture – something that not everyone considers when designing their space. It keeps the overall design from looking too flat. Plus, they’re pretty soft and comfortable.

Off The Wall

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Sometimes all you need to tie a whole room together is fill those walls up with functional and/or stylish accessories. We added a stunning ox head (available in gold and white). This can be a great statement piece to give any room a little edge. With our new wall hooks, combine cute style with functionality to keep your bags and purses out of that pile in our closet floors.

Looking for something fabulous for your home? Leave us a comment here on our blog.

The Wing-back Chair

“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” 

-Frank Gehry

The same could be said for furniture and if there is one thing I think we can all agree on, it’s that the wing-back chair is a truly timeless piece of furniture. This stylish and elegant chair has been around since the 1600’s and has been transformed through the years to adapt to our constant evolution and growth, while still maintaining its signature style.

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A wing-back chair is essentially a club chair with “wings” that enclose the chair from the back down to the armrest. This was designed to protect the head/torso area from drafts and trap heat inside. Although initially constructed solely of wood, it wasn’t until around the 18th century that upholstery was incorporated.

What makes this chair so timeless is not only its impeccable style but also the versatility it offers, especially with different adaptations introduced through the years. In a bedroom setting, it’s the perfect accent chair to add a little sophistication. Dress up your living room or entryway with a couple of these to create a cozy seating area. You can even use it as a luxurious office chair for your desk or library. Can’t you just imagine crossing your legs down on one of these with a book in one hand and a steaming cup of hot cocoa in the other?

Red Knot’s resident wing-back chair Fairhaven, or our throne chair as we like to call it, is on display at both locations so be sure to check it out! You’ll fall in love with this timeless piece all over again.

 

Never fear we have a room planner here!

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There it is…the perfect sofa.

It just screams at you and immediately you start envisioning yourself enjoying a nice glass of wine on it, curled up while watching your favorite television show. It doesn’t get much better than this…
But wait, what about the rest of your room?
It’s easy to look at a sofa in a big showroom and think “Wow, that would look great in my home!” without actually knowing if it will. There are a lot of things to consider when picking out furniture: space, color, design, etc. Nothing is more disappointing than going shopping and finding something you love, only to bring it home and realize it doesn’t work in your space.
One of the best tools we have at Red Knot has definitely got to be our room planner app. It’s an app we all have on our iPads which allows us to design floor plans with scaled out furniture pieces. It has been a great tool to help our customers’ visualize what will work in a space and what pieces will not.  All we’ll need are the measurements of your space (and get as many as you possibly can), an open mind, and a few minutes of your time.
1. First we start by measuring out the room, which includes any windows, doors, and other features of a room to help determine what you can put in it. This is something I recommend having even if you are not building a room plan in order to utilize your time and effort in the best way possible. It’ll keep you from getting too vested in pieces that off the bat are not going to work as well and save you time in narrowing down your options.
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2. Scale out the furniture pieces you are thinking about putting in your home and place it in the desired areas. If you are working in a new piece with existing furniture, make sure to also have the measurements of those existing pieces and the available space around them. The furniture pieces used on the app may not necessarily look exactly like the pieces you are thinking about getting, but they will be useful in determining whether or not it will work in the space.

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3. This is optional if you want to go an extra step, we can adjust the colors of the room as well as the furniture to be close to your selections. This will help you to better visualize the space and your decor elements. Again, each piece may not look exact, but it will definitely help give you an idea of what your room will look like.
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I find this room planner app is perfect for those that are moving into a new space, but it also works well for those who do not necessarily have as much space – where every inch counts and exact measurements are needed.
All of the team members here at Red Knot can help you build your own virtual room, so be sure to ask about this completely free service that is available to all of our customers to help guide you with building your perfect home.

Fancy Lights

At Red Knot we lo-ove accessories!

Our trendy buying team makes it a point to find fun accessories at market.  It’s no surprise when one day, our showrooms were filled with the latest, jaw-droppingly-gorgeous-but-not-over-the-top-conversation-starter-and-too-pretty-to-use lighting accessories ever seen at Red Knot.

A post last March introduced the basics of lighting.  Today, we’re taking it up a notch, sharing with you some of our “superlights”.  These are our lighting accessories currently in the limelight.  We’re talking F-A-N-C-Y, fancy– (but you already know).  

Let us introduce to you…

…The Glamorous One

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Ladies, your dream has come true.  A stylish “chandelier” lamp without the weight and cost of the real one!  This pendant lamp screams glamour and chic with three tiers of cascading silver loops.  Hang it over your bed or vanity, and it brings out your inner diva.  You were born to be a superstar!

…The Thomas Edison(s)

RedKnot_ThomasEdisonLightsA nod to the man who developed the first commercially successful lightbulb, these Thomas Edison lights are our most recognized designs.  Perfect for those who want a part of history in their home, or to add a trace of antiquity in a nominal way.   Also great to have around for anyone looking for inspiration or ideas.  Don’t you just love those lightbulb aha! moments?

…The Flowerburst

RedKnot_HangingLight3Literally, a burst of floral polypropylene cutouts.  The multi-layer cutouts create a burst of white floral fringe.  Extraordinarily detailed and unique, we have never seen anything like it.  Putting it together was well quite… perplexing…however the end result is breathtaking.

…The Blind Moon

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Did you know that a circle can be made of straight lines?  The circular shape consists of ribbons, made with plastic similar to window blinds, which are layered and interlocked to create an intricate sphere.  This contemporary linear sphere pendant light brings a unique take on the moon shape we are naturally familiar with.  Hence, the blind moon, get it? ;P

…The Weathered Element

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There’s something about the nature of an element such as hydrargyrum (in layman’s term Hg, or quicksilver a.k.a mercury) that can bring character into a space. Vintage yet stunning, this mercury glass table lamp features a crackled metallic finish.   Trust us on this, what you see is not rust.

…The Crystal Snowballs

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These sphere lamps could also be called “the disco balls”, but boring ones without all the fun colors, so maybe not.  It reminded us primarily of snowballs, which is so much better, because you know, in Hawaii snow and building a snowman is what we wish we had as part of our childhood. Oh Elsa, we just can’t let it go.

….The Artist’ ScrollRedKnot_SatinLamps

This beautiful lamp features elaborate gold print on a drum shade.  If henna tattoos and Victorian damask print had a baby, this artwork will be it.  The candlestick base is painted white with a crystal glass finish for an elegant touch.  We have no problem of letting this one just sit there looking oh-so-pretty.

Lastly, we can’t leave this final one hanging… (yes, pun intended 🙂 )

The Honorable Mention…RedKnot_HangingGlobe

Only the most creative mind can appreciate this thing of beauty. The globe metal sphere hangs like a boss, adding a point of interest in any room it is placed in.  You can place any chandelier, candelabras, or pendant light, of your choice as size allows within the sphere.  This globe sphere has been widely used in different spaces for residential, retail and commercial space.  The most popular placement is the dining room!

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Image Sources – pinterest.com, Google Images, ourlifeeclectic.blogspot.com, overstock.com, foter.com

What do you think of our new lighting accessories?  Did we light up your world? 😉

A Day At The Museum

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been fascinated by art and all it’s splendid forms. There are no rules you have to follow and no limits to what your imagination can create. Hawaii has always been a breeding ground for creativity and art thanks to it’s natural beauty.

It’s interesting how when most of my friends and I were little kids, museums were one of those field trips we hated going on because we thought it was sooo boring. Now as the years go by, myself and my millennial generation are starting to embrace art and culture with open arms.

For over a year now, on my way to work, I’ve driven past The Honolulu Museum of Art. The other week I finally decided it was time for a visit, so I enlisted the help of my fellow Red Knot ladies to take a field trip with me.  After a short walk just a few minutes away from Red Knot’s downtown location, we arrived at our destination.

The outside is just as stunning as the art within. There are a few courtyards throughout the grounds styled after the collections that surround it. Our favorite was definitely the Chinese courtyard with a Koi pond in the middle.

The art itself is organized by the different continents and cultures; we opted to start off in Europe and make our way over to Asia before taking a walk through the Contemporary art collection (very in sync with the Red Knot style). Each collection had its own unique style that made it beautiful – while much of the European art had a soft and ethereal feel to it, a lot of the Asian art had more vibrancy. My personal favorite was the 17th and 18th century European collections – particularly the portraits. The museum also had great furniture pieces scattered around that definitely caught the eye of us Knotzillas!

Museums like this one aren’t just a place to see art. It’s a way to explore history and time travel through the vision of these artists. Make sure to grab a map before starting your journey for easier navigation through each collection, especially if you want to view something in particular. It can be easy to get lost…although some people probably wouldn’t mind that!

We took a quick stop by the museum shop and picked up a few things to commemorate our visit before sitting down for a delicious lunch at the Cafe. Admission is $10 for adults to the museum but it’s free if you want to just stop by the shop or cafe, which I would definitely go to again! If you’re a fan of collecting postcards like I am, they have a great selection designed with some of the pieces featured in the museum.

If you’re interested in art, history, or even just some time to yourself to reflect on life, I would definitely recommend stopping by The Honolulu Museum Of Art.

If you can make it any time before April, I’d also recommend you take a look at their new exhibit Harajuku: Tokyo Street Fashion. Our uber fashionable team leader wouldn’t let us leave without taking a peek and it was definitely worth the extra stop after our lunch.

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Mirror, Mirror On The Wall…

…Who is the most stylish of them all?

Well, I don’t mean to brag, but Red Knot is definitely full of modern style that people of all ages can appreciate. In my opinion, one of the best ways to incorporate style and glam into any home is through the use of mirrors. They not only open up a room and give the illusion of more space, but it also has a glam factor no one can deny. Trust me, there are a lot of ways you can add mirrors into the mix.

There’s the classic floor length mirror which you can lean up against a wall to keep it more casual, or have it flush against a wall to create a clean look. An interesting placement would be to use a floor length mirror in a dining room setting. Not only can it elongate a small dining room, especially when placed at the end of the table, but it can also bring an interesting design element that most people won’t expect.

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Though it goes against the rules of Feng Shui, mirrors are a popular design element in the bedroom. Depending on the type of mirror you have, it can be used to give the illusion of more space and be functional when getting ready in the morning! Fill up that empty space above your headboard with a mirror! It can be as simple or as elegant as you want it. Sunburst mirrors are a great option for this space, as well as above any simple piece of furniture you wish to spruce up. Mirrors also work great behind lamps on your bedside table to bring even more light into the room.

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Don’t want a big mirror? Take a bunch of smaller mirrors and place them together on a wall for a gallery style look. Functionality and art make for a creative and interesting space.

For those who want to go even further, mirrored furniture accessories are an absolute must for me in any living space. Whether it’s a vanity, console table, or even night stand, you can open up any space with these mirrored pieces.

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Here are some of the pieces we have here at Red Knot!

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  1. Red Embellished Mirror | $379
  2. Aluminum Wall Mirror | $239
  3. Mirror Glass Tray | $49-$59
  4. Circle Mirror Wall Art | $499
  5. Colorful Framed Mirror | $199
  6. Atom Floor Mirror | $299
  7. Mirren Mirror | $329
  8. Octagon Mirror | $149
  9. Moroccan Reflection White Mirror | $369
  10. Metal Mirror | $349
  11. Mirrored Wood Box | $59
  12. Rectangle Wall Mirror | $799
  13. Venetian Mirror | $369

Style It Your Way – The Thurman Sofa

One of our newest arrivals at Red Knot is the Thurman Collection from Violino.

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The Thurman takes the term “designer” to a whole new level.  An upscale new frame from Violino’s European collection – contemporary, yet elegant.   Modern, yet transitional.  This Italian frame features a firm seating of 2.5 density foam, sinuous springs and piping to frame it’s curved silhouette. Definitely a one-of-a-kind statement piece to add to your space, the Thurman gives the advantage of being stylish and versatile.

Our Red Knot Team Members dressed up the Thurman sofa, reflecting their creative personalities and design tips.

STARBURST COLLIDE
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“Starburst has been one of my favorite candies since I was younger, especially the orange flavor. This very modern collection is proof that orange is the new black. I’ve styled up all my favorite items at Red Knot in one look.  The Thurman sofa is paired with the York swivel chair and Supernova coffee table topped with three phalaenopsis plants.  I also used three different accent pillows and the most popular rug in our store, the Cosmopolitan rug.  The hurricane lamps in turquoise, lilac and amber are the icing on the cake. And for final touches I used wall art (LA and NY) to really complement the color scheme of this vignette.” – Jake Javier, Red Knot Pearlridge

HAPPY-MESS LIFE BALANCEMicah-HappymessLifeBalance

“Everyone wants to find their work-life balance, and whether you’re studying, adjusting work schedules or typing up documents, the living room is one of the most comfortable places to work from; it’s the definition of balance – everything happens in the living room. By enhancing your living space with stimulating colors like orange or magenta, it can help to keep you focused and elevate your mood.  This contemporary room design allows you to feel comfortable and psychologically keep you sane through all the work you need to finish by midnight! I chose glass tables to reflect a clean studious atmosphere and they also highlight the sofa. Then, by adding a cow-hide ottoman, the room suddenly becomes playful – who would’ve thought to match this sofa with an animal print? To keep a casual feel, drape your throw blanket over an ottoman. Lastly, the accessories pull the room together. The textured rug creates an elegant balance and pillows in a saturated magenta or a hue of orange provide a stimulating effect. The use of greenery, like the potted succulents will provide harmony and comfort.” – Micah Eugenio, Red Knot Honolulu

COZY COTTAGE HOUSEShawn-CozyCottageHouse

“I wanted to bring in different wood elements into the space with a modern sofa piece. I love the outdoors, so earthy tones played a key role in this design.” – Shawn Estevez, Red Knot Aiea

THE PEARLAnson-

“The Thurman sofa reminds me of a clam! In this case it reflects how a neutral sofa when dressed up with accessories, can flourish to create a beautiful pearl! Also, I kept this look neutral by using plants and natural colors.” Anson Barros, Red Knot Honolulu

LET’S FACE ITRogi-LetsFaceIt

“Some people are scared of mixing modern and traditional pieces, especially when it comes to colors. It’s like eating plain cereal, instead of eating cereal with raisins and diced apples.  The beauty of modern and rustic elements will reveal itself once you add colors and textures.” Rogi Ramil, Red Knot Aiea

MODERN MEETS NATURESteph-ModernMeetsNature

“This sofa screams “sophisticated and unique” so I wanted something modern and light, yet still inviting. I used a lot of metallic and glass to bring in a glam factor, but anchored it with lots of green hues and plants. It has a modern and sophisticated edge while maintaining a warm and inviting vibe.” Stephanie Vierra, Red Knot Honolulu

WONKA’S LIVING ROOMAlex-WonkasWorld

“Your design can be inspired by anything. I took direction from an art piece ,”Wonka’s World”, to create “Wonka’s Living Room”. My design tip – find a color palette, art piece or even an outfit that speaks to you and run with it.” Alex Takeda, Red Knot Aiea

NOVEL ROOSTNovelRoost“I was striving to create a look that was modern yet still relaxed and inviting. I began with the Cosmopolitan rug for its geometric designs.  The patterns helped to add structure to the curvature of the sofa.  Next, I chose the Vintage coffee and end table. The rustic wood tones complemented the color of the sofa and the metal base anchored the style to the living room. Additionally, I added in the York swivel chair. It added an entertaining and fun element. Finally I finished this look with complementing blue pillows and lively accessories.” Tobias Vidaurri, Red Knot Honolulu

GILDED ELEGANCEHoney-GirlsBestFriend

“This vignette was inspired from a glamorous palette – since the Thurman sofa is in a light gray, it was very easy to complement it with an ‘all that glitters’ theme.  A fashionista’s lair, this living room features a glass oval coffee table, a chic rocking chair with chrome legs, and silver end tables with gold table top decors.  The hand tufted wool rug adds texture and mimics the curvaceous legs of the coffee table, while the splattered wall art completes the modern glam look.  There are also complementary patterns on the accent pillow.  Pops of yellow help to break the monotony of the palette, and gives it a more lived-in feel.  Fashion magazines, coasters and decanters are ready for when the BFFs come by for a girls night in.  Just like diamonds, the Thurman sofa is most definitely a girl’s best friend.”  Honey Millon, Red Knot

Now you can see how versatile our Thurman collection is.  Which look is your favorite?