Browse Month: October 2020

The Ophelia Bed: A First Great Element In Your Minimalist Bedroom

Have you decided to decorate your bedroom in a minimalist style? Mid-Century Modern has been one of the most popular minimalist trends for more than fifty years, and its furniture pieces have prevailed as a very special brand, compatible with the prevailing aesthetic features of today. “Less is more” is still the motto when you decide to accompany your Ophelia bed or any other platform bed frame to create an interior layout that adapts to your needs and your rhythm of life. Don’t confuse simplicity with coldness, since the fact of including few elements doesn’t necessarily imply a lack of personality or creativity.

A wood bed frame can shine at its best if accompanied by the ideal mattress, pleasant textures, a rug that’s visually and functionally compatible. You can put artistic graphic touches, decorative acrylics that reflect the concept, the theme of the decor, and the color palette, in addition to any other element that can contribute to improving the environment. If you run out of ideas, remember that a modern bed frame can look better if you accompany it with, for example, some small plants on a dresser or a shelf. It doesn’t have to be too abundant, but plant elements add life, dynamism, texture, color, and even promote better sleep as they purify the atmosphere and make it more pleasant.

If you are ready to install your mid century bed frame and turn your bedroom into an elegant, simple, and welcoming environment, start to find the perfect balance between aesthetics and function to build a temple of dignified rest and in line with your lifestyle.

Design notes from the Barcelona Chair: Beni Ouarian Rugs

It was 1929 and some pictures of the private residence of the acclaimed architect Le Corbusier were leaked to the press. Some of them showed us some rustic tapestry or rug that paired very well with all the furniture in the house.

That picture meant the rise of Beni Ouarain rugs in the taste of American and European markets. The Beni Ouarain rugs are very known now as the perfect complement to the clean-cut and minimalism of Mid Century Modern Style.

The Beni Ouarian rugs are made by the Ber Ber tribes.  The women of the tribe weaving tapestries from wool or recycled textiles at home, with a very careful and detailed process. They are usually white or cream with some geometric simple patterns.

One original of this piece costs a lot of money, but nowadays the demand for this product is so high that there are many “Moroccan” dealers in Moroccan and the rest of the world. 


If you want to experience the luxury and a great masterpiece of Design, please visit Barcelona Design, the best alternative in Mid Century Modern furniture, with pieces like the Barcelona Chair, or the Hans Wegner Shell Chair master piece.

Elements of design with the Barcelona Chair: The Chevron Pattern

Take two inclined stripes and place them once against the other looking up in an eternal zig-zag, and you will get the Chevron Pattern, one of the most popular in the whole world of Interior Design.


The Chevron Pattern is very modern, dynamic, and neat. Due to its apparent simplicity, it suits almost any space: Home spaces, Office spaces, Fun spaces. It is sometimes confused with Herringbone, a very similar pattern when one of the stripes ends at the beginning of the other. 

Chevron has many versions, you can make it small changes and create one customized pattern. It’s very light, so it can be used both on floors and walls (But not at the same time). It just needs one little emphasis on one end, or in some elements of the series, and you will have a very particular pattern with a pleasant view that keeps everyone interested.

As it happens with every element of decor, keep in mind that too much of anything can be boring, even for the great Chevron Pattern.


If you want to get the most of the  Chevron Pattern, to create one space where your Barcelona Chair shines, don’t hesitate and go to Barcelona Design, the best alternative in Mid Century Modern furniture, with masterpieces like the Barcelona Chair, or the Hans Wegner Shell Chair

Elements of Design with the Barcelona Chair: The Checker Pattern.

The Checker pattern is one of the most traditional and popular in the world of Interior Design. It consists of a regular sequence of squares, white and black, all of a regular size. The Checker pattern is mostly used on floors, and we all tend to associate it with large rooms and European classic dance halls, like many movies we’ve seen. 


Effectively, the Checker pattern is great for large spaces.  It gives us a solid view where our eyes can look for support, and the squares act like guidelines through the floor.  But additionally, Checker is neutral with color and allows you to play with it. 


As it occurs with every pattern, its excessive use can lead to fatigue. The checker is not good for walls. And it must be used with small figures, never with large size figures.


A Barcelona Chair, black or white, goes excellent with Checker. The black leather of this masterwork suits perfectly with the solid black or white of a checkered tile on the floor. Even a combination with one of each other is an original and beautiful setting. 


Go to Barcelona Chair and experience the classic masterworks of the Barcelona Design collection at affordable prices.  With great renditions of the Barcelona Chair, Barcelona Sofa, Shell Chair, and many more.

Design notes from the Barcelona Chair. The relativity of color.

As we discussed in earlier articles, color in Interior Design plays a major role, and we have several approaches to study the relation of color with space and light when you design a room. 


The Color wheel, and the Color Harmony approach allow us to understand the basic rules of color combinations. But there are other (very useful) methods, that go deeper into the knowledge and relationship of colors. 
One interesting approach is the Color Context.  


Color Context

As we observed with the Color Wheel, there are objective relationships between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. But relationships between colors depend too on how we perceive colors in our brain. That is a really fascinating area, and to determine the best mix of colors in a room maybe is a good idea to keep in mind how do we feel about color beyond how they relate in reality.


For example, let’s take the case of a red square with a frame of different colors. The red square is always the same, but with a black frame, it will look brighter than, for example, an orange frame. The same contrast occurs between a white frame, and, let’s say, a blue one. In the blue one, the same red looks brighter and more live than in the white frame. 


These interesting effects take place in the real world, too, and there is a lot you can do, as an Interior Designer to get the most of it. What effect are you capable of doing if you suggest an orange cushion for your black leather Barcelona Chair? would be the same effect if the Barcelona Chair was white leather and the cushion still orange? 
If you have an orange cushion in a black leather Barcelona Chair it’s very a probably to observe a strong effect than do it in a white leather chair. This way, we already understand that some color combinations of furniture-decor are better than others. 
Generally, in classic spaces, furniture tends to be uni-color and neutral. For example, a black leather Barcelona sofa and soft grey walls. In spaces like this, the details of decor are the ones that will lift the place, with color, and patterns. The effects in color will come through the interaction of contrast decor elements with neutral furniture and walls. Observing the effects colors have on each other is the starting point for understanding the relativity of color. The relationship of values, saturation, and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of color.       Go to Barcelona Design and experience the rest  of the classic  masterworks of the Barcelona Design collection at affordable prices.  and with a full commitment  to the original Design of its creator. 


These interesting effects take place in the real world, too, and there is a lot you can do, as an Interior Designer to get the most of it. What effect are you capable of doing if you suggest an orange cushion for your black leather Barcelona Chair? would be the same effect if the Barcelona Chair was white leather and the cushion still orange? 
If you have an orange cushion in a black leather Barcelona Chair it’s very a probably to observe a strong effect than do it in a white leather chair. This way, we already understand that some color combinations of furniture-decor are better than others. 
Generally, in classic spaces, furniture tends to be uni-color and neutral. For example, a black leather Barcelona sofa and soft grey walls. In spaces like this, the details of decor are the ones that will lift the place, with color, and patterns. The effects in color will come through the interaction of contrast decor elements with neutral furniture and walls. Observing the effects colors have on each other is the starting point for understanding the relativity of color. The relationship of values, saturation, and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of color.       

Go to Barcelona Design and experience the rest of the classic masterworks of Mid Century Modern at affordable prices.  and with a full commitment to the original ideas of its creator.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Types Of Leather That Your Modern Sofa Should Have! (II/II)

Note: we recommend you to check the previous article to get to know the aniline leather and its features.

In the previous article, we talked about the characteristics of aniline and we showed you an example of the LC3 sofa, this sofa is a perfect representation of what an aniline leather sofa can look like. As you can see, the leather gives it that natural touch that at the same time makes it an elegant piece. The combination of leather and steel materials makes the LC3 sofa a great example of modernism.

Now, what other type of leather is on the market?

In addition to aniline leather, there is full-grain leather. This type of leather is even more superior than the previous one, full-grain refers to the “strongest and most durable part of the skin of an animal”. To give you a better image of this reference, this part is located under the hair and is completely natural (it has not been sanded, polished or dull).

That being said, if you want even a more natural and durable leather than aniline, you should opt for full-grain leather. A great example of this could be the Barcelona sofa

Types Of Leather That Your Modern Sofa Should Have! (I/II)

Selecting a good leather is one of the key steps you must follow in order to acquire a durable and resistant sofa. There are many types of leather that you can choose according to your style and needs and today we will dive into this topic, showing you some of the best quality leathers and an example of it represented in beautiful modern sofas

I would like to start with our personal favorite; the aniline leather.

The aniline leather is basically a type of leather that is dyed exclusively with soluble dyes without covering the surface with topcoat paint or insoluble pigments. This results in very natural leather with the hide’s natural surface, such as visible pores, and original scars that the skin had.

The colors dyed without doing a completely different process to unify the surface color has been done intentionally, in fact, any color variation in the leather from such natural imperfections will remain in the final product and will be a sign of genuine aniline leather.

A good example of this type of aniline leather on a sofa is the LC3 sofa.

Click on the link to check the next chapter of this article.

Elements of Design with the Barcelona Chair: Animal Print Patterns

They are now trending, after a long hiatus since its heyday in the 1970s. Animal Prints are widely used now, basically taken from the hands of wallpaper. 


By animal print patterns we must think of classic patterns, like leopard stains; tiger stripes; zebra stripes, or directly funny/ natural images of frogs, birds, and so on. 


Animal Print patterns are a very bold choice, they must be used with care, due they are usually very strong elements. Tiger Stripes, for example, look better when they are delimited in some cushions, or in a rug; but they are terrible in walls. 


One popular trend now is to use it in the curtain of the bathroom. Walls in general, kitchen, bedrooms are usually forbidden places for tiger stripes. 


Another animal print sin, consists of pairing it with flowers or plant elements, just like a jungle.

So in brief: Animal prints are beautiful and magnetic, but too powerful. Cushions, little spots with wallpaper must be considered, but not more beyond that point.


If you are looking for advice, inspo and the best offers in furniture, don’t hesitate and come to Barcelona Design, the best alternative in Mid Century Modern style masterpieces, like the Barcelona Chair or the Hans Wegner Shell Chair

Elements of Design with the Barcelona Chair: Paisley Pattern

It was the summer of 1987, and “Beverly Hills Cop II” was the movie that everyone wanted to see. Crowds of teenagers and their parents get to the malls and independent cinemas to watch Eddie Murphy fight the bad guys. “Beverly Hills Cop II” wasn’t the only movie in the display, and “The Untouchables” and  “Robocop” were at the time, too. Lots of options for everybody, but if you were at the time in one of that theaters you’ll notice that dressing has almost only one option: Whatever you wear, do it with Pasley patterns all the way.  In your dress, your tie, your bag, or your scarf. Paisley Pattern was extremely popular at the time, maybe too much.
But time has passed and Paisley has managed to survive it. A very beautiful and creative pattern was known as Bacteria, too. Originated in India, this pattern is very rich and complex, so it can be overused. Keep it with soft tones, and restricted to small furniture and upholstery. Pair it with solid color furniture and other elements of design and you will enjoy a beautiful and vigorous pattern.
Now you know how to use patterns with your Barcelona Chair. Don’t lose the opportunity and go to Barcelona Design, the best place for Mid Century Modern furniture. 

Design notes from the Barcelona Chair. How to handle color?

Color has deep implications in all aspects of the human sphere. Color takes us to pick the sweetest apple from the tree while we discard the rotten one. It is natural to think about how deep color may influence our moods and humor through our internal spaces.


Colors call our attention in so many ways. From one intuitive point of view, we tend to feel more inclined to one or another color, and maybe we’d like to see our living room with our favorite color, but it can be that simple. If our favorite color is cherry, to have it all around a living room is going to be boring in the end. It has to be a balanced, beautiful way to give our space the palette of color we deserve. And how’s that?. Let’s see some general approaches to the management of color: Color Wheel and Color Harmony. 


The Color Wheel


Developed since historical times, great figures like Sir Isaac Newton, or the German writer Goethe had their own version of it. The circle of colors is based on the primary colors, the ones that can not be obtained by the combination of other ones: Yellow, red, and blue. Mixing the three primary colors you can get three new ones and add it to the color wheel: Green (Yellow + blue); purple (Red + Blue); Orange (Red + Yellow). In the same way, you can add the tertiary colors: Red – Orange; Blue-Orange; Red – Purple; Blue-Purple, and so on.  


The Color Harmony


Our mind is prepared to enjoy order and balance. It applies to everything made by the human being: Music, Paints, and all fine arts. Our human brain, instinctively rejects anything that doesn’t understand and can’t be organized, this is why harmony theory applies so well in colors, too.  There are several approaches to reach out to that long-awaited harmony. 

Analogous colors


It is logical thinking in very alike colors to go well together, and that’s true to a certain extent. To do it properly, choose three colors from any Color Wheel with tertiary or more colors. Keep in mind that in a combination like this, there is going to be one that predominates over the other two.  Analogous colors create comfort and unity.


Complementary colors


If you take any color wheel, you will see that every color in the circle has a direct opposite. If you use both colors, you create contrast, and contrast gives you stability. A very useful approach. 


Nature scheme


Nevertheless, every rule has its exception, and this is what happens when we watch Nature with attention. Some colors are paired without considering the order from any color wheel, and still, look good for us. Something completely possible in the endless world of marvels of mother nature. 


Now you know how to use color with your Barcelona Chair. Don’t lose the opportunity and go to Barcelona Design, the best place for Mid Century Modern furniture.