It seems the only way to change the pallid fate of our sectionals and sitting chairs is to make the next living room pieces you choose pack enough visual punch as to be impossible to overlook. The good news is it’s easy to do – no matter what your taste and style. Furniture design runs the gamut, and these days, anything goes. From clean and contemporary to totally traditional, there really is a style, and a store, for every shopper.

Contemporary urban inspired furniture has been a highly popular choice among homeowners for roughly the last decade. The social shift that introduced words like “metrosexual” and made Sex and the City a pop-culture phenomenon also brought lounge style furniture into the homes of many a thirty-something professional. The look still works, thanks to its understated sophistication and comfortable simplicity.

Clean lines, monochromatic colour tones and chrome accents define urban furniture. The look can be warm and sultry or calm, cool and collected depending on the fabric and shades you choose. “Chocolate toned pieces are still very strong,” says Julie Punter, Show Home Interior Design Consultant for Homes by Avi. “It has a lot to with our climate. Most Calgarians gravitate to warm colours in their homes because much of the year the weather outside is pretty cool.” The secret to giving dark furniture a visual lift is to pair it with bright accessories. “Accents like coloured glass and textured pillows keep a modern living room from looking bland,” Punter explains. “Teal blue, ruby red – mix in hints of colour so the room isn’t completely muted.”

Furniture at Home Evolution fits contemporary tastes to a tee. A three piece sectional at the back of the store is one of the newest offerings. Covered in rich brown leather, this sofa (manufactured by Kuka) uses the top portion of a split hide to achieve a sleek effect. (Split hides are created by skillfully dividing a cow hide into two, sometimes three, individual layers. The first layer is the highest quality – it’s supple and malleable. Second and third layers are used for suede.) Look closely at this sectional and you’ll discover a clever design feature: both the seat and back cushions are part of the actual frame. Effectively, each section is one complete piece, which means the cushions can’t slip out of place and aren’t as susceptible to everyday wear and tear. The artistry continues around back: rather than applying single, large pieces of leather, the manufacturer has gone the extra mile and incorporated twenty vertical panels held in place by thick over-stitching. The effect is subtle but nonetheless beautiful; this is one sectional that begs to be placed in the centre of a room, rather than pushed into a corner.

ART DECO
If you’re not one to shy away from bold shapes and vibrant colour, art deco furniture may be just your thing. “Art deco is very dramatic, theatrical to the extreme,” says Punter. “It’s popular with niche buyers and perfect if you’re looking for a conversation piece. It demands attention. You can’t help but notice it.”

The place to look for art deco is Abode on 11th Avenue SW, where walking through the front door is akin to stepping into a children’s storybook. Wild geometric designs and a rainbow of pulsating shades fill the room. One look and it’s obvious you’re not in Kansas anymore. “We cater to a very specific, high-end market,” says Donna Bond, Manager. “Our pieces are all custom order and we work with some of the best manufacturers in the business. Custom lengths, widths, heights, fabric details – anything is possible.”

A handful of stunning possibilities grace the showroom floor. Among the first to catch the eye is a unique pair of periwinkle-hued sofas flanked by a matching armchair in the centre of the room. Manufactured by Urbana, the Segovia sofa is a true showstopper. Described as a “…study in form, reminiscent of a Spanish bull with muscular arms and horned crown”, the piece would make a powerful statement in any living room. And with its oversized stance and deep low seating, this unusual sofa is as comfortable as it is beautiful.

Just behind this grouping is a whimsical armchair made famous on television and on-line. Inspired by classic Greek architecture, the Alexandria chair (another Urbana design) is the signature “Big Idea” chair for the mega million dollar internet company, Yahoo!, and also made an appearance on the last season of Donald Trump’s reality TV show, The Apprentice. The version you’ll see in store radiates fun, with playful pink tones, scroll-form arms and curvy lines. A sofa and loveseat is available in the Alexandria line as well, which, according to designers, is an advisable purchase if you decide to go art deco.  “It’s difficult to pair a single art deco piece with other styles of furniture, because the look is so different than anything else,” Punter explains. “If you’re buying anything art deco, it’s safest to stick with it throughout the entire room.”

One word of caution: custom-built furniture (like the pieces you’ll find at Abode) is definitely of fantastic quality, but it can also come at a pretty fantastic price (translation: it ain’t cheap.) Furniture is one of those things where the old adage “you get what you pay for” usually holds true.

TRADITIONAL
While mode and modern furniture has held the spotlight for a number of years, traditional style pieces are making a popular comeback – welcome news to those whose decorative style leans a little more to the conservative side. “We’re definitely seeing a return to upholstery and weightier furniture,” says Punter. “Go into a store like Bondars now, and you’ll see much less leather and a lot more patterned fabric. It’s really coming full circle.”

La-Z-Boy, a benchmark retailer for traditional furnishings, has undergone a major overhaul in the last few years, introducing classically inspired furniture with modern flair. A quick walk through the southeast store reveals a mind-boggling number of pieces. There are dozens of chair, sofa and loveseat designs to choose from, and no fewer than 1,400 fabric samples. It may seem overwhelming, but keep in mind with traditional furniture that mixing and matching is key. “Play with pattern and texture,” suggests Punter. “Not everything has to match perfectly.”

One way to help a traditional room look fresh is to pair a sofa and loveseat set with contrasting but complimentary chairs, and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries offers some great options. The company’s new designer line, Inspired Living, offers a number of traditionally influenced chairs that have been updated with new flair. The Carlyle is already a modern day classic: its curved maple-veneer arms and boxed-border cushions give a nod to '30s stylings, while micro-fiber fabrics lend contemporary practicality.

A variety of demo living sets on the La-Z-Boy showroom floor may help spark ideas for your own home. To the right of the entryway are sets by Todd Oldham, a New York designer with a furniture collection exclusive to La-Z-Boy. His pieces radiate '60s and '70s chic, with funky fabrics and a boxy feel. Look for his Joan set in mossy green – its colour, streamlined curves, throw pillow accents and detailed piping really make it pop.
Move toward the back of the store and you’ll find several more examples of traditional living room sets – sofas with matching loveseats and armchairs with imperial names like Annabel, Sophie, Courtney and Windsor; all classic choices.

At the end of the day, choosing furniture for your living room is an exercise in self expression: the style, fabrics and colours you select say as much about your personality as they do about the way you live. From a practical perspective, however, there are some tips every homeowner should follow. “Definitely consider how you will use the space before making your furniture choices,” advises Lori McWilliam, of McWilliam Designs. “Will it be a space for entertaining or will the whole family be using it daily? The furniture needs to address these differences in use. Also consider any existing pieces you want to keep – maybe not everything you have right now has to go. There are always ways of working around it.”   NL