Just a quick little shout out to our blog of the week http://beeskneesofbeauty.blogspot.co.uk. We picked this blog for its stylish design and handy tips and great fashion and beauty advice. We look forward to seeing what they write about in the future.

When speaking with clients it becomes clear that not everyone is sure if a chaise longue will match the décor or fit well into a British home. I can see why this may happen. Does a classically styled chaise longue fit into a modern home with a plasma television? When you think of a chaise longue you think French furniture with some chap in a raspberry barrette sipping on a large glass of red wine (we are all nodding our heads agreeing with this).

When speaking with clients I try to get a good understanding of what their home may look like. I was speaking with a client not so long ago who described the interior design of a little cottage down in Bristol. Small living room, Persian rug, log burners, I have never seen their home but we can all imagine what their little cottage may look like.  If we asked a Frenchman to describe a British home they would probably picture that house.  The clients were worried that something so French may not work se well with something so British.  My answer was of course it can. Lets be honest we all love a glass of French wine with some fine British beef, that’s why we should love French furniture in our British homes.

What I’m trying to get across is that French furniture and chaise longues can be enjoyed in any home.

The chaise lounge sofa is an upholstered piece of furniture that looks somewhat like an elongated chair. Dating back several centuries, the chaise lounge has maintained a popular presence in home décor. With an elegant and somewhat whimsicle appearance, the chaise lounge is often used to add romance, whimsy and drama to a room. Simple, classic and elegant, the chaise lounge is available in many different styles to suit your style.

Being such a flexible piece of furniture, the chaise lounge can easily be placed in an office, living room, patio, parlor and even a boudoir. There are various ways to arrange this piece, allowing it to easily fit into any décor.

Here are just a few style options available:

• Recamier – Made popular by high society hostesses, the recamier features two backrests, one on each end.
• Meridienne – This type features a sloping backrest, which slopes from one end to the other. Hailing from the 19th century, the Meridienne was commonly used for napping.
• Duchesse Brisee or Broken Duchess – This is a chaise lounge which is divided into separate parts. Commonly dividing into a chair and footstool or two chairs with a small footstool.

Choosing a Chaise Lounge

Purchasing a chaise lounge can be a bit difficult, due to it's awkward size and shape. The cardinal rule of interior decorating is this: Do not cram a bunch of furniture into a small space. Measure the room and ensure all furniture will fit comfortably.

Secondly, it's important that the piece flows well with rest of the room. Envision the look and feel you wish to desire, and go from there. Carefully decide on the design and go from there. Choose possible colors, patterns, fabrics and size (How about a patchwork chaise?).

Lastly, give some thought about the arms. Chaise lounges are available with both padded and non-padded arms. Do you want a bulky or smooth appearance? Do you have enough room for padded arms? And of course, what will be more comfortable?

Some Things to Remember

To ensure your chaise lounge will mesh with your home and give off the right vibe, keep the following tips in mind.

• Remember that a chaise lounge is seating for one – it cannot and should not be used in place of a sofa. If the chaise lounge will be an area which needs plenty of seating, you may want to place it elsewhere.
• Be Flexible. A classic chaise lounge may feel like it jumped right out of a 1940s film, but your home is modern. Get a feel for your room and give your purchase some thought. Chaise lounges have come a long way since the 19th century, and there are pieces for everyone. Whether you want manly, elegant or minimalist.
• Accessories. The chaise is a complex piece of furniture, so it may not require additional help from throw pillows or trendy blankets. Depending on the design you choose, you're chaise lounge may not need anything else – especially if it's in a hot pattern.

Derived from the romance period, this iconic piece of furniture has long been a popular choice for home décor. Whether you're looking for an elegant touch, a minimalist apperance or a funky accessory, a chaise lounge is sure to fit the bill.

Whilst visiting London last month, I had the most inspiring furniture buying trip ever thanks to the guys at Clothier Jones.

From their new Kitsch furniture range, my favourite pieces were the Dainty Chaise Longue, the Fold Table and the amazing Moonshine Footstool which is quite frankly too cute!

In fact, I loved the Pippy Oak Reader Side Bench so much that we decided to feature it in our new 2013 summer catalogue (coming soon). Please let us know what you think of the Clothier Jones pieces mentioned here and we may stock more.

Another great find this week was a wonderful little collection of silver chaise longues, which seems to be re-opening the scene for classic chaise lounge designs. I love the fact that each of these chaise longues offers a completely different feel, yet they are inkeeping with their heritage.

After fighting with a bad chest infection all weekend, I'm now back at work but feeling a little drained, it must be said. We're hoping to get a lot more posts live during the next few weeks, so stay tuned folks!