Bento Box Bits of everything

Dania and Foster’s

My brother took me to a couple furniture places today. We started with Dania, which he described as 'a couple steps above Ikea' - I'm perfectly content with that labeling. Dania featured traditional and contemporary furniture stylings. It was my first time thinking about what kind of couches I want in the great room. Because the great room is attached to the kitchen, I'm still unsure about whether or not to have one large sectional, or two smaller pieces. I've been noticing in many pictures that if I choose to have a couple pieces, I could have two different looks. I don't think I want to go with a 'set' - too common and boring. Dania's prices were in the right range but nothing really caught my eye when it came to seating design. While I was there I saw the same dining table that my parents almost bought - a Skovby dining table that can expand from 47 to 47 inches. A Danish maker well known for their dining tables. Underneath the table is a rotating platform with handles which you turn, expanding the main leaves, and then you pull up the spring-assisted sectional leaves from the inner area. If I were to get this, I would probably get it in Mahogany or Rosewood to match my dark colored cabinets. I've ruled out a glass table for the kitchen nook because of the constant maitenence. I've lived in too many places where windex was a daily part of life.

The next store Foster's is another step above Dania. The designs here were very modern and contemporary. Plenty of art and sculpture strewn about complimenting the furniture pieces. Everything looked great here. Some of the stuff looked very "bachelor pad"ish - large low-profile sectional leather sofa, I swear it I saw it in the movie Scarface. The prices were a good 50-100% above average Dania pricing, but the materials definitely seemed higher quality. Some Natuzzi pieces caught my eye, but there was one by CDG that especially tickled my fancy. It was their Las Vegas sectional in a two-tone configuration. The upper portion felt like microsuede and the bottom was a different color fabric. It had no arms, but had curves and lines. The two tone would match my cabinets and granite slab very well. I'll keep Foster's in mind - they also have some very nice coffee tables. My brother told me his friend bought a glass coffee table for two grand from there! Outrageous! I hope that table polishes his crocodile-skin shoes too.