truMedic InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000

truMedic's InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 brings the benefits of massage therapy into the comfort of your own home, all wrapped in a luxurious and modern design.

The older I get the more I learn a simple truth – there’s really never a time that a massage wouldn’t increase your overall health. It’s a truth that applies to every walk of life, whether it’s due to a medical issue, like recurring back pain; the stresses of work or daily life; or physical exertion through exercise. And for me personally, I’ve found it to be even more evident as I’ve transformed into an endurance athlete over the past few years, where I’ve learned that the recovery is just as vital as the workout itself.

The problem with the benefits of massage therapy is that it gets costly very quickly and requires a significant investment in time. Everyone would love to take a daily trip to the masseuse, but for almost everybody, it’s too cost prohibitive and time intensive. It’s why, despite knowing the benefits, I would forgo massages after every workout and instead opt for the occasional massage, typically once every week or two. I knew how good they are for me – it was evident that on training days that were followed by a massage I felt noticeably fresher than other training days – but I just wasn’t willing to make the investment.

But it’s this awareness of the benefits of massage therapy that led me to seek out a better solution – something that fell within my budget and time constraints. And that’s when I found truMedic.

truMedic is a company that offers a variety of in-home massage solutions, ranging from specialized massagers for specific parts of the body all the way up to complete massage chair solutions. As an athlete that tries consistently to work my whole body I chose a massage chair, specifically the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000, based on the recommendation of a fellow athlete who already owned the same model. And I’ll be honest – I was completely skeptical of the entire concept. In my mind, there was no way that a robotic chair could replicate genuine massage therapy at home. Don’t get me wrong, I love technology, but I just didn’t believe a machine could adequately provide a full body shiatsu massage. I envisioned it more like an in-home exercise machine, where you’d buy it, be really excited for it, it wouldn’t live up to your expectations, and a week later it would be sitting a corner collecting dust only to wind up on Craigslist a year later.

I did my best to put aside my reservations, and a week later my InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 arrived. My first thought was “Wow, this looks amazing.” It’s fit and finish is superb, the overall design is modern and luxurious, and the color is rich and elegant. I wasn’t expecting a massage chair to look so luxurious and refined, but truMedic just did an incredible job with the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000’s design – it’s one of those rare times you feel like you’re living in the future.

truMedic InstaShiatsu Massage Chair MC-2000

truMedic InstaShiatsu Massage Chair MC-2000

But as impressed as I was with its design, the true test of a massage chair is how well it massages. And the answer is phenomenally well. I had two main concerns with purchasing the truMedic: it’s going to feel unnatural, and it’s going to miss parts of my body that a normal massage would cover. Both of these concerns were completely unfounded.

As far as how the massage feels and how well it covers your entire body, the massage programs are simply amazing. It’s different than having a masseuse massage you, but at the same time the combination of three-axis rollers and expanding air chambers almost immediately immerse your body in a state of relaxation. And that’s the incredible part of the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000: when selecting one of the programmed full body massages, every part of you, from your head to your toes, becomes a part of the massage choreography, a perfectly orchestrated massage that includes your neck, shoulders, hips, forearms, legs, back, butt, thighs, calves feet, and everything in between. It feels like you have a team of massage therapists tending to you all at once, enveloping you in a state of massage bliss.

I never in a million years thought I’d say this, but I actually prefer the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 to a traditional massage, simply because it’s so much more comprehensive at working your entire body in a short amount of time.

In terms of options, the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 gives you a wide variety of massage options, all at your fingertips via the integrated digital color remote. You can select from a variety of pre-programmed auto options, like recovery, pain relief or stretch; or you can opt for one of five additional special massage programs, each varied in their technique. Alternatively you can choose from a variety of manual massage options to select a specific mode (knead, tap, knock, knead and tap, shiatsu), position, width, and speed, among other things.

Other massage options include the ability to choose from either air or rollers exclusively (along with customizing their position and intensity) as well as turning the heating function on or off. For a more immersive experience, you can even connect your Bluetooth enabled device and listen to your favorite audio through the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000’s integrated sound system.

truMedic InstaShiatsu Massage Chair MC-2000

truMedic InstaShiatsu Massage Chair MC-2000

Lastly, what may be one of the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000’s greatest features is what truMedic calls a zero gravity option, which reclines you into a position that eliminates pressure on your lower back and makes your feel nearly weightless. When combined with one of the programmed massage settings, the zero gravity options creates an entirely new level of immersion and relaxation, and I personally use it with nearly every massage.

Ultimately, despite my hesitations as to whether a massage chair could come close to replicating a weekly trip to the masseuse, the truMedic InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 has blown away my expectations. I use it after every training session, and I can tell you firsthand it makes a substantial difference in my recovery. For anyone experiencing any type of aches and pains or for athletes looking to boost recovery times, I highly recommend the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 as the premier in-home massage option.  You can learn more about the InstaShiatsu+ MC-2000 at the official truMedic website, along with their full collection of in-home massage offerings.

Burrow Furniture

Burrow's assortment of modular, assembled at home seating redefines the concept of affordable quality furniture

Can the furniture industry really be disrupted by American made mail order couches, chairs and ottomans?  At Burrow, the answer is yes. Featuring an assortment of modular, assembled at home furniture, Burrow redefines the concept of affordable quality furniture, shipping their wares straight to your doorstep and making assembly a 5 minute, no tools required process.

The concept of assemble-yourself furniture isn’t new.  We’ve all been there, armed with mini hex keys and screw drivers while working our way through pages of instructions.  And that’s where Burrow flips the script, utilizing a patented locking mechanism that revolutionizes the assembly process.  Here’s how it works:  each of the Burrow seating options, whether the sofa, loveseat, armchair or chaise, are built using modular pieces, all of which work together in perfect harmony.  There are two main components to every piece – the inner seating section and the outer arm section – with the only difference being how many inner seating sections you select.

So, as a practical example, if you purchase an armchair, you’re ordering one inner seating section and one set of arms. If you order a loveseat, you’ll receive two inner seating sections and one set of arms.  If you order a sofa, you’ll receive three inner seating sections and one set of arms, etc.  You get the idea.  But what makes this setup so intelligent is that if you decide  you want to switch up something, you can do so, tool free, anytime, offering incredible styling flexibility.  You can also extend pieces, so if you have a unique space that requires extra long seating, just add more sections to create a super-sized couch.

Burrow Charcoal King Sofa

Burrow Charcoal King Sofa

One you’ve picked your pieces, modules are connected via two latches, no tools or superhuman strength required, in a matter of seconds.  Add in the legs, which attach via large, tool-free and easy to turn screw knobs, and you’re done.  It’s hands down the easiest furniture assembly I’ve ever experienced, and once assembled, the full pieces are rock solid.  Not only that, they come apart just as easily, so when moving time comes, no more struggling to move enormous pieces of furniture. Simply take your Burrow apart and move it one piece at a time – one person required – and because the seating modules are foldable, they’ll fit in the trunk or backseat of your car.

For additional customization, you can select either high or low arms, and you can also add in a chaise section to any piece, meaning you can have an armchair chaise, loveseat with chaise, sofa with chaise, and so on.  There’s currently five tasteful fabric options to choose from along with three wood leg varieties, and the cushions are reversible, with one side solid and one side tufted, letting you change up your look whenever the mood strikes.

Burrow Beige Armchair

Burrow Beige Armchair

Lastly, and this was a biggie for me, Burrow is committed to sustainability.  All wood used by Burrow is grown on U.S. soil in responsibly managed forests, with all of their wood suppliers being FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.  Cushions note minimal VOC content less than 0.5 PPM and are completely void of ozone depleters, PBDEs, TDCPP, TCEP flame retardants, lead, other heavy metals, formaldehyde and phthalates; and their fabrics don’t contain formaldehyde, heavy metals, phenols, phthalates, or flame-retardant chemicals.  Having kids, limiting exposure to harmful chemicals is always at the top of my list with anything I buy, and Burrow nailed it with their commitment to making their furniture as eco-friendly as possible.

I’ll be honest –  I was skeptical of mail order, assemble yourself furniture.  But there’s no question Burrow has delivered what they promise.  Burrow’s modern aesthetic and clean lines mix beautifully with a painless order process, offering you an unbelievably simple way to find comfortable, stylish seating without ever leaving the comfort of your home.

You can check out the full lineup of Burrow decor at Burrow.com.

 

The Tantra Chair

The Tantra Chair inspires intimacy to the highest degree

As a married woman of nearly 20 years, I’m often asked “what’s the secret to a successful marriage?”  And for those that know me, my answer is simple: “a creative sex life.”  It’s something that’s a little taboo to talk about, but I’m here to tell you that whether you’re married, soon to be married, or ever get married, keeping things interesting in the bedroom is one of the keys to a happy life and relationship.

The Tantra Chair is the world’s first and finest furniture design created to enhance the time honored and sacred texts of The Kama Sutra.

The Tantra Chair is the world’s first and finest furniture design created to enhance the time honored and sacred texts of The Kama Sutra.

Obviously there’s no shortage of ways to spice things up with your partner, but one of my favorite ways is with a piece of furniture known as the Tantra Chair (although technically it’s less of a chair and more of an updated take on the chaise lounge).  And while you can use it merely for the purpose of relaxing, as its name implies, the Tantra chair is designed to encourage a wide variety of anything-but-vanilla romantic positions.

A happy marriage or relationship doesn’t necessarily depend on an amazing sex life however, studies have proven that couples that dedicate time and energy to nurture the intimate aspects of their lives, will likely reach heightened levels of happiness and a stronger bond within their relationship.

A happy marriage or relationship doesn’t necessarily depend on an amazing sex life however, studies have proven that couples that dedicate time and energy to nurture the intimate aspects of their lives, will likely reach heightened levels of happiness and a stronger bond within their relationship.

At the heart of the Tantra Chair’s design is a unique dual arc system – one that mimics the contours of the female form.  In practice your only limit is your imagination, as its sweeping design allows you to position yourself in an almost countless number of ways, allowing you to lay across either the lower or upper arch, the curve in between, or a combination of the two.  The Tantra Chair’s width is enough to be supportive and comfortable, but not too wide as to limit your flexibility or positioning with your partner.

The Tantra Chair creates a beautiful ambiance for loving, adventurous couples that see the importance of this kind of dedication and presence.

The Tantra Chair creates a beautiful ambiance for loving, adventurous couples that see the importance of this kind of dedication and presence.

And unlike many other sexual wellness products that require a heightened level of discretion around the home, the Tantra Chair is a standalone piece of furniture you can place anywhere, without fear of your guests questioning it’s purpose.  Due to the Tantra Chair’s popularity, it is of course possible they know it’s intended use, but for the majority of guests, it’s really a conversation piece that intrigues nearly everyone who sees it.

Construction wise, the Tantra Chair notes a solid wood frame with a lifetime warranty, and is perfectly solid and stable.  There’s a choice of 10 different synthetic leather options – a material that’s remarkably well suited for a lack of clothing, as it’s soft, supple, and not sticky – and you can opt for decorative rivets as an added design element.  It cleans incredibly well, and it’s both stain resistant and anti-microbial.  I’ve had mine for several years, and it still looks like new.

As I said at the start of this article – creativeness is the key to any good relationship.  If you’re looking for a way to spice things up, give the Tantra Chair a try, it’s added an entirely new and creative element to my relationship, and I have no doubt it will do the same for yours.  You can learn more about the Tantra chair or build your own at Zen By Design.

Mercedes-Benz Style Unveils Furniture Collection in Milan

The Mercedes-Benz design philosophy is oriented towards long-term effect rather than short-lived trends

Mercedes-Benz is bringing their unmistakable styling and high standard of quality to the living room with their latest furniture collection. In collaboration with the Formitalia Luxury Group, one of the leading Italian manufacturers of designer furniture, Mercedes-Benz Style has created a furniture collection consisting of one sofa, a chaise lounge, a dining room table, various chairs, a sideboard, a shelf unit with integrated home theatre system, a chest of drawers and a bed. The collection will be presented at the “Salone Internazionale del Mobile”, April 17 – 22, 2012 in Milan.

“The various pieces of furniture reflect the progressive, dynamic design idiom of our current show cars and concept vehicles, offering an exclusive, emotional experience outside our vehicles as well” says Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz. The interplay between dynamic proportions, naturally stretched forms and curved lines conveys an extraordinary harmony and modern ease. The furniture gives the impression of floating in space.

Before Mercedes-Benz opened the Advanced Design Studio in February 1998, in the Villa Salazar near the shore of Lake Como, Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace produced bow-ties and neckties there. With its contemporary ceiling paintings, long corridors and different terracotta and wooden floors, the villa, built around 1750, is exceptionally inspiring for the 20 designers who work there. This also holds true for the region itself: the famous triangle between the cities of Como, Milan and Turin is a center of fashion and the furniture industry. Traditional crafts are highly valued there – an ideal environment for the Advanced Design Studio and the perfect place to create Mercedes-Benz Styles first furniture line.

The Mercedes-Benz Style furniture collection

Sofa Class (three-seater) MBS 001

Elegant and graceful lines, comfortable upholstery as well as lovingly created seam details and great workmanship: the “Class” leather sofa spreads a timeless and incomparable charm. An offset area in the backrest with rolling lines and artistic stitching accentuates the sofa’s particular dynamism and elegance. The sofa is presented in two colour variants: in black aniline leather with metal legs in matt graphite black; the second in pearl grey leather at the front and night blue leather on the rear and underside, as well as light, brilliant aluminium legs. Dimensions: 240 x 100 x H 70 cm

Dining table MBS 002

The four legs extend from the central aluminium beam like elegantly sculptured spokes. The optical lightness of this construction culminates in a grey-shaded transparent glass plate. The table is available in two frame variants: one in matte graphite black and another in a light satin finish. Dimensions: 248 x 90 x H 73 cm

Chair MBS 003

The futuristic-looking chairs set new standards in terms of shape and material. Through the exciting interplay of convex and concave lines, a dynamic shape is created which gives the chairs a particular air of lightness. A seat shell made of laminated wood ensures for perfect, long-lasting seating comfort. Two chairs will be presented: one with a seating area covered in night blue leather which offers an optical contrast to the grey wooden shell, and another upholstered with black material on the seating area and pearl grey leather-covered wooden shell. Dimensions: 58 x 57 x H 75 cm

Bed MBS 004

In the same way as with the chaise lounge, the bed’s sleek, elegant silhouette is also characterised by the three-dimensional form of the wooden frame. The pedestal in aluminium and the cover, either in material or leather, lend an optical contrast to the wood. The bed will be presented with a light grey wooden shell, light grey leather and contrasting stitching, which complement the grey-blue anodised aluminium frame. Dimensions: 190 x 222 x H 81 cm

Sideboard MBS 005

A well-proportioned, futuristic-looking sideboard on an aluminium frame. The front has a glass door with a surrounding bevel reminiscent of the air intake on a sports car. The sideboard will be presented in two variants: one with a dark grey painted surface and light satin-finish aluminium legs, the second with Mercedes-Benz original paint in indium silver metallic and metal legs in matt graphite black. Dimensions: 230 x 57 x H 72 cm

Chaise Longue MBS 006

The three dimensional formed wooden frame makes for an elegant and sleek silhouette, whilst at the same time, ensures the utmost level of lounge relaxation. The Aluminium pedestal and the cover, available in either material or leather, provide an optical contrast to the wood. The chaise lounge combines opulence and lightness. There are two colour and material variants on show: the first has anthracite-coloured fabric with a natural pattern, natural-coloured wooden shell and metal legs in matte graphite black; the second variant offers a beige leather cover, black wooden shell and light satin-finish aluminium legs. Dimensions: 171 x 80 x H 68 cm

Chest of Drawers MBS 007

The seemingly very light chest of drawers purposefully takes on the design idiom and design elements of the bed MBS 004 and supplements the product range for the bedroom. The chest of drawers will be presented in two variants: one with grey painted body and light grey leather-covered front, and the other with dark blue painted body and light grey open-pore wood front. Dimensions: 230 x 57 x H 72 cm

Home theatre system MBS 008

The system, with its pronounced, mirrored screen, is elegantly integrated into a shelf unit. The painted rear panel supports three wing-shaped wooden shelves. In Milan, the shelf units in Mercedes-Benz original paint indium silver metallic will be combined with a dark grey painted rear panel. Length: 461 cm

The Tantra Chair

The Tantra Chair is the ultimate couple's indulgence, with a design tailored to add an entirely new dimension to your relationship

Valentine’s Day is once again upon us, and with it, the necessity to find the quintessentially romantic gift for that special someone in your life.  But as anyone that’s celebrated numerous Valentine’s Days with the same partner will tell you, gifts tend to get a bit redundant as time goes on.  Sure there’s the traditional flowers, candy, jewelry, so on and so forth, but each suffers from a fatal underlying characteristic:  they’re boring.  You buy them not because you actually want to buy them – not because you’re excited about buying them – but rather because you’re expected to buy them.  You buy them because you’re inundated with marketing telling you these are the things that women want.

Except that they don’t.

Women don’t want meaningless gifts bestowed upon them purely for the sake of receiving them.  Women want more.  They want passion, excitement, intrigue.  They want to be surprised.  And most importantly, they want to see that you actually put thought into whatever it is you’re giving.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what brings us to this article.  Two months ago I began a quest… a quest to seek out and procure the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift.  In doing so, I had two key goals.  Number one, I wanted to give a gift that I was actually excited to give.  Ideally, I wanted something that not only would my wife enjoy, but also something that would enhance our relationship (it is, after all, Valentine’s Day we’re talking about).  Secondly, I wanted a gift that my wife would never expect.  I’ve already noted my distaste for flower, candy and the like, so I wanted to find something completely different than what she would be expecting.  Two weeks into my quest, I was introduced to the Tantra Chair, and my quest for the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift came to an end.

As you’ve no doubt already surmised from its name, the Tantra Chair is a chair built for, you guessed it, lovemaking.  However, despite its purpose, the Tantra Chair isn’t an exotic sex toy you need to hide in a closet when not in use.  Rather, it’s a beautifully designed piece of furniture similar in style to a chaise lounge, with the added benefit that its seductive contours invite and encourage couples to try new positions and experience new sensations.  Through carefully planned curves and angles, the Tantra Chair makes conventional positions feel completely different and exciting, whereas lovemaking positions that typically require a signficant level of strength and flexibility are now significantly easier, more comfortable and more fluid.

Women want passion, excitement, intrigue.

Needless to say, it’s a design so appealing that I couldn’t wait until Valentine’s Day to give the Tantra Chair to my wife, so I caved in and gave it to her a month early.  But seeing as how today is Valentine’s Day, I thought it only fitting to share my experience with the Tantra Chair, which as I’ve come to learn, is the perfect way to add a new and incredibly fun dimension to your relationship not just one day, but 365 days a year.  If you’re looking for not only the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift but also the ultimate couple’s gift, read on to find out what makes the Tantra Chair so great.

Zen by Design Tantra Chair

Zen by Design Tantra Chair

Tantra Chair Construction

As is necessary with any piece of furniture you actually intend on using, in describing what makes the Tantra Chair great, it’s vital to look firstly at its construction.  Handmade in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Tantra Chair is an incredibly well-constructed chair with quality rivaling that of any other luxury furniture maker.  It’s exceptionally solid – exactly what you want if you’re considering furniture that will actually see use – and it’s designed and built in a way that will maintain its seductively good-looking appearance for a lifetime.

Outside, the Tantra Chair utilizes a synthesized leather material – one that’s not only exceptionally durable, but also one that’s environmentally friendly.  From a texture standpoint, the synthesized leather is seemingly indistinguishable from real leather. It’s incredibly soft and supple, and it makes the feeling of the Tantra Chair supremely inviting.  Best of all, it’s stain resistant and anti-microbial, which makes cleanup exceptionally easy (should you need it).

Underneath the leather exterior, the Tantra Chair utilizes the world’s finest quality high density foam.  It’s one of the secrets of the Tantra Chair that at first glance you probably wouldn’t notice, but upon use, you’ll immediately realize is one of its most vital attributes.  For its intended use, the Tantra Chair is perfectly firm.  Movements, even small ones, aren’t absorbed into the cushion – they’re transferred directly to your partner.  This equates to higher levels of pleasure and a significantly more enjoyable experience.  This firmness also plays an integral role in aligning you and your partner in unique angles and providing support throughout movements.  Positions that you’ve already tried and that you’re already familiar with feel entirely different on the Tantra Chair, and the firmness is one of the key reasons why.    There is a slight level of cushioning – just enough to ensure you’re comfortable while using it – but the Tantra Chair as a whole notes an relatively high (and in my opinion perfect) level of firmness.

Tantra Chair Design

In looking at the Tantra Chair, there’s an undeniable level of sensuality exuded by its design.  Modeled after the female form, the Tantra Chair’s flowing lines are suggestive – hinting at its capabilities… at what you’re capable of doing with it – but not overly so.  It’s like a chaise lounge, only sexier.  But even with its sexiness, it’s a design that you could use in a variety of settings, both contemporary or conventional.

At the heart of the Tantra Chair’s design is a unique dual arc shape, with one higher and one lower arc.  I won’t go into the specific positions capable with each, but as a general rule, the upper arc is the ideal height for a variety of standing and upright positions, whereas the lower arc is perfect for either kneeling or sitting positions.  Joining the two arcs is the central contour, where much of the Tantra Chair’s use takes place, and it’s this central contour in tandem with the two arcs that gives the Tantra Chair its flowing serpentine shape.  Tailored for an incredible variety of positions, the central contour was designed with a very specific goal – to allow users to change their pelvic angles with remarkable ease.  And it’s this ability that makes the Tantra Chair so unique.  Whereas with conventional furniture you’re limited in terms of the control you have over your body positioning, the Tantra Chair’s contours encourage a wide range of pelvic angles, allowing you to position yourself in an incredibly varied number of angles while providing and support and comfort while doing so.  It’s this comfort that sets the Tantra Chair apart from everything else.  It’s not that you can’t explore new positions without the Tantra Chair, it’s that the Tantra Chair makes it so much easier and so much more comfortable to do so.

Lastly, if you’re wondering how well the Tantra Chair’s design will blend into your decor, there’s a total of five color options, ranging from dark and sophisticate to bright and sexy.  The options available are espresso (a rich brown color), ebony (a darker brown), merlot (like the wine), sunflower (a brighter yellow) and linen (an off-white).  You can also opt for nail heads along the bottom portion of the Tantra Chair for a more classic look, available in either brass or pewter.

Tantra Chair In Use

The Tantra Chair was created to allow couples to experience new positions and expand their lovemaking prowess, and that’s precisely what the Tantra Chair does.  First and foremost, it allows you to try positions that otherwise would be more difficult, and it does with a significantly heightened level of comfort and fluidity.  It encourages you to be adventurous, and it makes it easy to do so.  Secondly, the Tantra Chair introduces a variety of new sensations from positions you’re already familiar with.  Simply by offering increased support and the ability to alter your pelvic angles with exceptional precision, the Tantra Chair brings new life to virtually every position you engage in.  In no simpler terms, if you’re looking for the single best way to expand lovemaking with your partner and experience a world of new pleasure, the Tantra Chair is it.  After spending the last month with it, my only regret is that I didn’t get one sooner.

Tantra Chair Conclusion

For those looking to add another dimension to their relationship, the Tantra Chair is an undeniably unique and fantastic way to do so.  It encourages long practiced lovemaking techniques that have been passed down over generations, drawing you and your partner together in a way unlike anything else I’ve experienced.  Not only is it functional, it notes a quality and styling rivaling that of any other luxury furniture maker, making it an ideal fit in virtually any home.  Priced at $1,299, the Tantra Chair may very well be the ultimate couple’s indulgence.

To learn more about the Tantra Chair or to order one for yourself, you can visit  ZenByDesign.com, the makers of the Tantra Chair.  There’s also a separate website dedicated to the Tantra Chair that goes into exceptional detail about its features, including both its various design and construction attributes.   This website, however, does show both photo and video demonstrations of the Tantra Chair that contain nudity (making it NSFW), so to avoid anyone accidentally clicking the link and getting fired, I’m going to skip the link and give you the address, which is www.TantraChair.com.

You can also check out more photos of the Tantra Chair’s sensuous curves in the photo gallery below.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection

The Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights manages to blend perfectly contemporary styling with a warm, traditional feel

Style in the home is a funny thing.  What one person can like, another person can hate.  But unlike style when it comes to fashion, where your style choice must only meet your approval, style choices in the home are usually a cooperative effort, needing approval from both you and and your significant other.  It’s a truth I’m intimately familiar with, as my wife and I are in the midst of not only a home renovation, but also a style renovation.

When it comes to home style, I tend to favor more of a modern, contemporary feel.  Not too contemporary – I don’t mean floating beds and unfinished concrete walls – but more of a contemporary yet still inviting feel.  My wife on the other hand, prefers more classic, traditional elements in the home, and has a special affinity for aged, distressed pieces – not necessarily antiques, but pieces that show a certain degree of character.  As you can imagine, as much as we both love and respect each others’ personal style, our differences present an immense challenge when it comes to furnishing our home.

To be honest, I truly didn’t think we’d be able to find common ground when it came to our home’s style.  Let me rephrase that:  initially I thought we’d be able to find common ground when it came to our home’s style, but once we set out to furnish the first room in our house – our bedroom – I quickly realized how wrong I was.  There was a clear divide when it came to home style, meaning the pieces we looked at were either distinctly contemporary or distinctly traditional.  Everything I picked was too contemporary; everything she picked was too traditional.

Logically, this meant that sooner or later I could forego my dreams of contemporary styling in favor of tradition, because as all men know, women are the deciding factor when it comes to the home.  My wife, however (being the perfect wife she is), felt differently, following her conviction that somewhere there existed the mythical blend of traditional and contemporary we could both fall in love with.  And then, just when I thought all hope was lost – just when I was ready to abandon my contemporary dreams in favor of her more traditional style – we found it.  The Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection.  The perfect union of contemporary and classic.  A blending of woods, metals and materials in more classic shapes, but with an air of modernity, meeting my desire for a contemporary feel while maintaining the character and classic nature of more traditional pieces.  Stanley’s Avalon Heights Collection is exactly what we had been searching for.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection Overview

Defining the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection is difficult, to say the least, because it encompasses so many different style elements.  It’s current, but not overly so.  It’s relatively casual, but there’s a certain luxuriousness to it as well.  Overall, it’s the perfect blending of contemporary with traditional.

Before I go any further, I should note that the  Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection isn’t merely a bedroom collection, as the title of this story implies.  Rather, it’s a collection for the entire home, including the bedroom, living and dining areas and the home office.  As of now, I’ve only purchased pieces for the bedroom (which I’ll discuss a little later), but the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection offers the aforementioned blending of contemporary and traditional for the entire home, not just the bedroom.

In looking at Stanley’s Avalon Heights Collection, the first thing that drew both my wife and I to it was the unique shapes of the pieces.  Whereas traditional contemporary style tends to be simple, with relatively basic shapes, the Avalon Heights collection makes extensive use of curved and serpentine shapes and projecting friezes, eliminating sharp edges and harsh lines.  It’s an effect that makes the Avalon Heights Collection significantly warmer and more inviting than traditional contemporary pieces, but not enough that the style loses its modern feeling.  Paired with the unique overall shapes, the Avalon Heights Collection also makes extensive use of Lyre shapes (made famous in Duncan Phyfe chair backs), blending classic shapes into modern designs.

The second element of the Stanley Avalon Heights Collection, and what has become my favorite attribute, is the perfect mixture of materials used throughout the various pieces.  Gorgeous woods like cherry, mapa burl and anigre fiddle are paired beautifully with glass and metal, and it’s this combination that plays an integral part in creating Avalon Heights’ contemporary yet still classic look.  Further adding to its unique styling, a blanc noir leather and chrome fabric are used on select pieces, adding in additional textures that are luxurious, clean and modern.  The result is a collection that despite the uniqueness of each piece, blends together perfectly across the complete range.  And that’s really the beauty of Avalon Heights.  Pieces can be used interchangeably throughout the house, meaning a table can be used as a night stand, as an accessory table in a living area, or by itself.  Chairs can be used in dining areas, or they can serve as extra seating in the bedroom.  The entire collection works together beautifully – pieces maintain their individual character, but it flows together beautifully as well.

Lastly, the final defining element of Stanley Furniture’s Avalon Heights Collection lies in the details of the pieces.  Helping add a warmer, more traditional feel to the collection, Stanley added various aging to the pieces, including rock, spatter, fly speck, cowtailing and water marks, giving the pieces a more lived in, slightly more casual feeling.  Piano scratch distressing on surface tops adds in additional character, as does soft skiving on select surfaces, creating indentations on the wood to give it a ripple effect.  In addition to the distressing, smaller architectural and finish details play an integral role in helping achieving Avalon Heights’ gorgeous rich appearance.  Carved posts reminiscent of Provencal furniture, collared and fully-turned sabre legs, hidden cedar storage drawers, felt-lined serving drawers – all are features found on the individual furnishings in the collection.  Stanley has done an incredible job bringing a richness and beauty to each piece, adding in an incredible amount of detail to the entire Avalon Heights Collection as a whole.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection Overview

In furnishing our new home, my wife and I started with the bedroom, for the very simple reason it’s the last room you see at night and the first room you see in the morning.  After a long day, there’s nothing better than having a place you can retreat to that’s calming and relaxing, but at the same time, you want it be stylish the next morning.  Waking up to great style instantly puts you in a better mood for the day, and that’s exactly what the Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection offers.  It’s warm; it’s elegant; it’s inviting; but it’s also distinctly stylish, reflecting a certain sense of modernity.

In looking at the Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection, it’s almost two bedroom collections in one.  There are two main bed designs – one slightly more contemporary, one slightly more traditional – and there are similarly two dresser and chest designs.  At one end of the design spectrum, the dressers and chests note a larger, slightly more elegant design, whereas at the other end of the spectrum, dressers and chests are somewhat smaller and slightly less formal.  The beauty of the collection, however, is that all the pieces work together beautifully, and because of the varying scales, there’s tremendous flexibility when it comes to furnishing both large and small spaces.

My wife and I loved the larger, slightly more formal designs, and I’ve detailed each of our chosen pieces below, but you can also see photos of the other Avalon Heights bedroom pieces available in the gallery at the end of the article.  In truth, they’re all stunning, and no matter which style you choose, you can’t go wrong with anything.  The collection is simply incredible, and after living with it for the past two months, I have to say, I absolutely adore everything we purchased.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Fair Park Upholstered Storage Bed

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Fair Park Upholstered Storage BedThe centerpiece of the bedroom, the Avalon Heights Fair Park Upholstered Storage Bed is brilliantly designed, perfectly combining elements of traditional, contemporary and functional design.  Noting a gorgeous cherry design with wide panel rails, the taller upholstered headboard is the focal point of the bed, featuring stunning Blanc Noir ivory top-grain leather.  It’s overall shape is relatively simple, giving it a more contemporary feel, but it maintains an overall elegance befitting of a New York City penthouse.  Topping it off, two large cedar storage drawers with touch latch drawer guides at the foot of the bed maximize functionality, offering the perfect storage space for bedding, pillows, etc.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Neo Deco Lamp Table

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Neo Deco Lamp TableProbably the most versatile piece in the Avalon Heights Bedroom Collection, the Neo Deco lamp table makes a gorgeous bedside table, but it’s just as much at home in a living area or reading nook.  On top, a mapa burl center medallion is one of its strongest design elements, and the lyre-inspired base adds a stunning serpentine shape to the piece.  For storage, there’s also a single drawer that blends seamlessly into the Neo Deco lamp table’s design.  In person, the Neo Deco lamp table is simply beautiful, offering an incredible finish and details while still maintaining a warm and inviting character.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Swingtime Dresser

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Swingtime DresserThe key to happiness in the bedroom is ample amounts of storage to ensure everything has its proper place, and the Avalon Heights Swingtime dresser offers plenty:  nine storage drawers, to be precise.  Best of all, it does so in a beautiful serpentine design – perfectly exemplifying Avalon Heights’ blending of contemporary and traditional.  Featuring a gentle curved front with fluted bar pulls, the Swingtime dresser is the perfect mix of modern and classic, and as is the case with the entire Avalon Heights Collection, it adds an approachable elegance to the space.  It’s beautiful; it’s functional; it’s inviting; and it’s a gorgeous compliment to the rest of the Avlalon Heights Bedroom Collection.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Swingtime Night Stand

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Swingtime Night StandThe last piece in the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection that my wife and I selected was the Swingtime night stand, the perfect compliment to the Swingtime dresser.  Like the Swingtime dresser, the night stand features a subtle serpentine shape, and is complimented by beautifully carved frame posts.  For storage, there’s a total of three drawers at your disposal, along with an integrated electrical outlet in the rear to handle lamps, phone charging, etc.  Completing its style, a stunning Chelsea finish in cherry and scalloped knobs in tarnished nickel offer a warm, elegant look that perfectly compliments the Fair Park upholstered bed.

Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection Conclusion

I know I’m starting to sound redundant, but the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection is the first collection I found that truly manages to bring together contemporary and traditional in a welcoming, warm way.  It offers a perfect blend of details, materials and styling, with the end result being a collection that’s extremely approachable.  The Avalon Heights Collection isn’t furniture meant to be put on display – it’s a gorgeous collection that’s meant to be lived with… that’s meant to be used.  And that’s really the true beauty of Avalon Heights.  For all its style, its elegance and its sophistication, it’s truly furniture you can feel comfortable in.  And let’s face it:  when it comes to the home, and home style in particular, there’s truly nothing more important than being comfortable.  In this respect, Stanley’s Avalon Heights Collection has no equal.

To learn more about the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection including a closer look at the various finishes, materials, etc., head over to the official Stanley Furniture website.  You can also see select pieces from the Stanley Furniture Avalon Heights Collection including the aforementioned bedroom pieces that I purchased in the gallery below.