A week after posting our first animal sofa we have stumbled across another one of these strange sofas. This time it is a rather large grizzly bear that has been turned into a sofa. I'm not too sure if this is becoming a worldwide trend for sofa's, but, we will keep you updated if and when we find any more. [Via]

Here is a fantastic piece of design from Bulgarian designer Svilen Gamolov. The "Step Coffee Table" features two foot prints mounted on top of each other along with another foot print providing the top surface of the coffee table. This table would look great in any living room or even a café bar in a city centre. Although this design is only a concept at present, it deserves to be made available to purchase for its originality and innovative design. [Via]

This sofa/cat is probably one of the most bizarre designs we have seen for a long time. The kitty-couch is a giant sofa in the shape of a cat which is big enough to seat even the biggest of families with ample seating space. A very interesting design if not a little strange. [Via]

Today we were thinking about how technologically advanced could furniture become. We have already featured a home sauna which included a TV, DVD player and CD Player (the only thing that was missing was a built in Blackberry Torch), and now we have come across some amazing furniture designs that include: a 'Jetsons' (Cartoon series) style dining pod, a Japanese style set of fold-able rooms and a stack-able garden furniture set. These innovative designs are truly stunning and definitely point to a minimalist style of furniture in the future.



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A good quality dining table can last for generations and be used on a daily basis for a manic breakfast time before the school run and family feasts in the evenings. Picking the right one does require a little bit of careful research and planning. Read on for our top tips on what to consider when purchasing your next dining table.


Size

The size of the dining table is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a new dining table. Larger dining rooms require a large table but a small dining room would be dwarfed by a large table. It is important to measure up your dining room and plan how much room you have to play with and to ensure at the planning stage you include all the other furniture in the room including, dining chairs, sideboards, cupboards etc. Remember that you will need room to allow your guests to get in and out of the chairs. If space is at a premium but you like to cater for large parties an extending dining table may be the way forward as this allows you to have a small table for everyday use and then a large table for special occasions.

Materials

Wooden dining tables are the material of choice amongst households in the UK. Solid oak and pine lead the way due to the strong build quality that gives these materials durability but also the variation in styles available from traditional pine to contemporary modern oak.

Seating

Meal times with the family are a great way to catch up and share family news, which is why it is important to have comfortable seating for all of your family/guests. Solid wooden seats look very traditional but could become uncomfortable if your Sunday roast lasts for over an hour. Padded seats or leather seats can bring a contemporary look into your home whilst also giving your guests superior comfort. Cushions could also be added to wooden seats to improve comfort and also introduce some colour into your dining room. Buying a dining set which includes tables and chairs can result in some big savings so look out for these offers as you could save yourself hundreds of pounds.

Shape

Dining tables come in three main shapes; rectangular, square and round/oblong. Rectangular tables allow for more variation in the seating plan as more seats can be added to accommodate more guests. Square tables are perfect for intimate dinners for up to four people and can create a relaxed dining experience as the shape can encourage conversation as well as saving space which is also applies to round dining tables.

For more info and styles, visit our wide range of dining tables.