How to Design a Space to fit Your Lifestyle

When Michael and I purchased our home, we knew it needed a lot of work and that decorating would take a backseat for a while. As we slowly completed projects like refurbishing the original hardwood floors, completely renovating the kitchen, and preparing the dining space for get-togethers, we are finally taking the home projects to our second level. 

The first space I wanted to start on upstairs was our loft space. When you walk upstairs, our loft is set up to be the perfect “second living room” and conveniently has the laundry right off the room. Right when I saw the space, I knew I wanted to put a huge cozy sectional and TV to utilize the area as a “lazy Sunday” oasis. I have been dreaming of having this space complete for three years now and am SO excited to have partnered with Colder’s Furniture to make it happen. 

Colder’s Furniture is a locally owned and operated business that offers a large variety of furniture, home furnishings, appliances, mattresses, and more. Michael and I bought our bedroom set for our first wedding anniversary and still use it today! Not to mention, after nine years, it still looks and functions great!

This partnership started with a visit to the home. Which, I can say, I was highly embarrassed with the state of random furniture and random trinkets I had in the space. You have to start somewhere, right? Judy, an expert sales member with years of experience and a keen eye, came to my home and was open to my taste, opinions, and asked all of the right questions to figure out what I wanted for the finished product. I gave her my vision, and with her expertise, she knew the brands and pieces that would fit in the space. I really appreciated that the team asked me so many questions to make sure that we were on the right plan right from the beginning. 

After our home visit, I visited the showroom and was able to shop the extensive offerings in the Colder’s showroom. On my first visit to the Grafton showroom, Judy showed me a variety of couch selections that she thought would meet my wants and needs. When Judy and I walked the showroom, she showed me many pieces that could be paired together with the couch and gave options that she said I might not like, but you never know until you see it in person. She was very gracious and told me to be completely honest and that it wouldn’t hurt her feelings, which I found very surprising. Often you go into stores and feel rushed, pressured, and sometimes like you didn’t get what you really came in for. My experience was nothing of the sort. I will be honest when I say I am no interior designer, but Judy and the team were able to give an informed opinion while also valuing my feedback. 

Something that often goes by the wayside when shopping for furniture is how it will actually be used in your space. You know, you go to buy a couch, you sit on it for maybe five minutes, love the way it looks, but by the time you get home in a month or two goes by, you wish you wouldn’t have rushed to make a decision. I can admit I am guilty of this. 

After much consideration, I decided to go with a sectional made by England Furniture Co. Built in the US, England Furniture has been crafting beautiful furniture since 1964. They are known for their high quality products and quick turn around.

The reason I went with the England Furniture, ‘Scottie’ sectional, was based on a variety of factors. I, of course, wanted it to look nice, but I really wanted a couch that would be functional for a lazy Sunday Netflix binge session. Comfort and looks don’t often go together, but I really feel like I hit the jackpot with the sofa from Colder’s furniture. Not to mention, I got to custom design the couch’s layout and upholstery! This transitional design works well in any space, and will be a perfect fit in my second-floor loft!

England Furniture Co. offers over 500 choices for furniture and pillow upholstery choices! I joked with the team that I must’ve lived a very dull past life with very boring furniture as I chose some very eclectic fabric choices. But what can I say, the options were endless! The number of fabrics to choose from was awe-inspiring and didn’t make the decision easy. After looking over the upholstery swatches, we decided to go with a navy color, called “Theron Indigo”. I cannot wait to see how this couch looks in the space! 

If the current climate has taught us anything, it’s that your home is where you spend most of your time, and you should feel comfortable. I cannot wait to share the rest of our design journey with Colder’s Furniture and the final choices with you soon!

This blog post is in partnership with Colder’s Furniture. All opinions are my own.