Wall units are a home decor trend that offer up major points both in terms of style and utility. Here are the top five reasons why we think they’re a worthy addition to any home.

1. Display your favorite items with ease
Whether you’re a slave to chachkies or have a few beloved items you want on display, a wall unit offers up the perfect opportunity to incorporate them into a room’s decor and really show them off.

2. Become a quick change artist
It’s easy to get caught up in keeping things the same, but even slight changes to your environment can make things feel refreshed and new. A wall unit really encourages this as it easy to re-arrange items by taking them on and off the shelves. Many homeowners catch themselves changing things up every time they dust the shelves.

3. Make use of vertical space
The vertical square footage of a home is often under-utilized. By lifting things up off the lower quadrant of a room, you not only free up living space, but also draw the eye upward, making the space appear taller and therefore bigger. This is especially useful in smaller homes where square footage needs to be used more wisely.

4. Display your T.V.
Blending the T.V. it in with your space can be a great way to integrate design and function, and wall units are really effective at doing this. Many models like the Cassia Wall Unit leave enough space for a T.V. to be installed, and when the shelves beside it are adorned with items, the television tends to blend in more with its surroundings.

5. Create storage
By opting for a piece with deep shelves like the Aleal Sliding Wall Unit which also has open and closed shelving (so do the Semblance Bookshelf and Online Wall Unit) you create ample storage, while taking up minimal space. Often times customers who once complained about having not enough storage now have extra thanks to cleverly designed wall units.

One of the best things about life in Florida is that we’re able to enjoy the outdoors year-round. The unique way we use our homes reflects that; we move fluidly from dinner to drinks on the patio, or from swimming to an indoor lunch. Our outdoor furnishings should reflect this flexibility, letting you repurpose them as your changing plans require. Pieces that are attractive enough for indoor use, yet durable enough for outdoors, can move between spaces as needed with the same ease you do.

Tables
When choosing an outdoor dining or side table, look for a design that complements your indoor furnishings. Doing so will create a harmonious effect with real indoor-outdoor flow, and give you the option to bring it indoors for occasions when another table is required. Our favorites include the angular, ultramodern Faz, made of molded polyethylene resin; the simple and elegant Ella by Phillipe and Normand Couture; and the colorful T-Table by Kartell.

Seating
Add stylish, low-maintenance seating to the mix and you’ll rest easy knowing you can always accommodate extra guests, indoors or out. Durable seating is available in an array of inspiring forms, from poufs to sofas, that look good wherever you place them. The River Stones Pouf combines a steel frame with a soft foam cover in your choice of 14 colors, and with its compact size it’s easy to move. The Flat Four-Seater looks like a contemporary and elegant indoor sofa, but its vinyl upholstery and light aluminum frame make it safe for the patio or poolside. Kartell’s Magic Hole Armchair and Sofa are made from light, shock-resistant molded polyethylene, available in three bold, high-contrast colorways.

Lighting
Weather-resistant and cord-free lamps let you illuminate your outdoor living area beautifully, and can be moved to wherever they’re needed. Vases Floor Lamps weigh close to 100 pounds each, so they’re stable in gusty weather and look fantastic with white or colored LEDs. Much smaller but just as pretty, the Kartell Battery Lamp charges via USB cable and offers up to six hours of portable illumination. Another innovative outdoor light is the Uma Sound Lantern, which provides a warm glow and 360-degree high fidelity audio through a Bluetooth-enabled speaker in the base.

Accessories
Enhance your outdoor living area with accessories. Hang a large mirror like the Casanova on an outdoor wall overlooking your patio or garden for a luxe indoor/outdoor look. A set of Faz Planters, from the same collection as the Faz Table (above) will add a striking touch to any large garden or contemporary living room. Even some artworks, like the robust Visitor Sculpture, are suitable for outdoor and indoor use. Speak to a Sklar interior designer for style inspiration and advice on creating an outdoor living space that lives up to the rest of your home.

Joe Colombo (1930­—1971) was one of Italy’s most innovative product designers of the 20^th century. Born in Milan in 1930 into a family that had both an artistic (his mother) and industrious (his father) bent to it, young Cesare (his birth name) was encouraged to spend hours constructing elaborate erector sets. He studied painting at Milan’s Accademia di Belle Arti experimenting with futuristic abstracts.

Not long after graduating he became interested in product design, and continued on with the same bold, curvaceous lines that had characterized his paintings. He soon became one of the pioneers in the flexibility and multifunctional industrial design field and began to focus on a new material, ‘plastic’. His Stackable Chair 4860, which he designed for Kartell, was the first seat for adults made out of injection-molded ABS plastic. Also a classic now produced by B-Line is the Boby plastic roll container— also called “Joe Colombo’s Trolley”

In 1963, he started to invent what he called “a new habitat”, using new production processes and new products like fiberglass, ABS, PVC and polyethylene. His three-year experimentation became the ‘Total Furnishings Unit’ with kitchen, bed, bath and storage all in a single unit — this debuted in 1972 at MOMA’s Italy: The New Domestic Landscape. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to enjoy the acclaim — he died unexpectedly of a heart attack on his 41^st birthday, July 30^th 1971.

Even though his life was short, Joe was admired by his colleagues. He designed an extraordinary body of work that continues to be relevant today and his hard work earned him many prestigious awards — the Golden Compass and a Design International award to mention a couple.

In Milan in April we partnered with a company that is rereleasing one of his iconic designs, called Cart, from the 1960s. We’re sure our customers will find it as exciting as we do — come see for yourself in the Sklar showroom this fall!

As part of our series on America’s top performance fabrics, today’s post looks at UltrasuedeⓇ, a classic manmade textile that offers a softer and more colorful alternative to leather. Ultrasuede is available in 97 colors, which penetrate the fabric completely, meaning it looks exactly the same on both sides. The price is similar to that of high-quality leather, while its durability has been shown in tests to be as good, if not better (more on that in a moment).

Ultrasuede consists of three layers of vanishingly thin ultra-microfibers — surface, structure and scrim — bundled with a polymer binder to create a soft, suede-like texture that’s durable and resistant to spills and stains. Its microfibers are so thin that a strand linking the Earth to the Moon would weigh less than one pound. It boasts excellent drapability, and is extremely versatile. Since its invention in the 1960s, Ultrasuede has been used in the manufacture of everything from luxury fashions to tablet covers. Tiffany and Co. use Ultrasuede to line their jewellery boxes, while boat builders and car manufacturers specify Ultrasuede in their interiors.

Of course, it is Ultrasuede’s performance as an upholstery fabric that matters most to us. Ultrasuede partners with some of the best manufacturers in the U.S., including American Leather, to produce furniture that can handle almost anything home life throws at it. Ultrasuede is tested for color fastness, air permeability (which prevents odors and mildew from becoming trapped), tensile strength, and abrasion endurance. In fact, it passes over 200,000 ‘rubs’ on the Wyzenbeek standard test, where ordinary fabrics typically score between 15,000 and 30,000. Its exceptionally high performance in these categories is well worth considering when choosing upholstery fabric for a sunny and humid climate like Florida’s.

Ultrasuede is not woven like a conventional fabric, which helps it resist scratching and stains, and its microscopic structure is too small to trap loose strands of fur, which makes it an excellent option for pet owners. Liquids bead up and run off Ultrasuede upholstery without absorbing, and most messes can be cleaned off with just laundry detergent and water. Allow your Ultrasuede to air dry, then use a soft brush to restore the famous suede-like nap.

Ultrasuede’s texture is what really sets it apart among technical fabrics, so when choosing your upholstery be sure to experience its hand for yourself. At the Sklar Furnishings showroom we have an array of beautiful samples and furniture made up in Ultrasuede, ready for you to see and touch.

See an example of Ultrasuede in action on the Logan Sectional Sofa, available at Sklar Furnishings!

No doubt, when it comes to furniture, your sofa is likely to be one of those pieces you spend the most money, time, and effort picking out and it’s well worth it, as it tends to be one of the most used pieces of furniture in the house.

To help make the decision a little bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite sofas and sectionals, and have pointed out which features make them so lovable.

1. There are two key features on the Clint Sectional that make us huge fans of this piece.
– It’s wide proportions: We repeat this advice a lot of the blog, but big, full-scale furniture is super comfortable and always the better option. Filling a small space with micro-size furniture makes it less comfortable and more cluttered looking. Opt for a piece like the Clint, which is small enough for those lacking square footage, but still generously proportioned enough to offer comfort and style.
– Big arm rests: Not only does it look great, it has utility. When entertaining, someone can easily perch themselves comfortably on the armrest of the Clint. You can also use the generous armrest like tabletops perfect for a book, a light snack or the remote.

2. Get the comfort of an old-school recliner in a modern package with the Zeus Motion Sectional.
– Recline in style: Zeus’ reclining capabilities are a great party trick. Looking at this sectional you wouldn’t be able to tell it’s a recliner because of its sleek design.

3. Turn your living room into a guestroom with American Leather’s Hailey Comfort Sleeper Sofa.
– Comfort: Hailey is not the sofa you’d imagine when you think sleeper sofa, it doesn’t have springs or bars meaning your guests can have a comfortable and restful sleep.
– Options: It’s always easier to get the sofa you’ve been dreaming of when it comes in a variety of sizes and fabrics. The Hailey not only has a variety of color and fabric options, you can also customize the size and style of mattress as well.

4. Feature our most popular model of contemporary sofa – the American Leather Ashton Comfort Sleeper™.
– Comfort and Style: The Ashton features loose features loose cushions and half arches on the arms for an artistic and sculptural frame.
– Practical mechanism: The patented Comfort Sleeper™ mechanism opens and closes seamlessly for easy use.

5. and 6. Add advanced mechanism to your comfort with the American Leather Bryce Comfort Sleeper™ or the American Leather Carrington Comfort Sleeper™.
– Mechanism: Featuring an advanced design with no bars, springs, or sagging.
– Sleeping space: The Bryce offers 80″ of sleeping space while taking up less floor space with its patented design.

Sklar Furnishings is pleased to welcome the bold, one-of-a-kind works of Gerry Chodak to our collection of contemporary art.

Gerry Chodak devoted 40+ years to his first career of practicing medicine as a urological surgeon. Many surgeons view their work as both a skill and an art, which was particularly true for Gerry. In 2006 during a lecture he delivered to doctors in Oklahoma, Gerry visited an art gallery displaying the work of Dale Chilhully and was literally overwhelmed with excitement while watching a video of him making works of art in Murano. He immediately began taking lessons from established artists and his commitment to blowing glass was established.

After ending his surgical career he has devoted his time to improving his glass blowing skills and exploring the opportunities to create original works of art. Gerry is very excited by the interaction of color and shape and thoroughly enjoys the unexpected results when objects are blown out after being placed on the glass. He strongly believes there is an artist in everyone, if we are willing to take the risk to find it.

As the exclusive Florida retailer for Gerry Chodak glass art, we enjoy a special relationship with the artist, and are able to order custom pieces in colors that coordinate with your decor. Speak to one of our designers about commissioning your own unique work of art!

We are so excited to be showcasing a wonderful new company who manufactures indoor and outdoor avant-garde furniture. Vondom is manufactured in Spain and to quote one of their founders, “[their] design culture is the key to [their] success”.

Vondom strives to create atmospheres that allow dialogue between environment and form. The company’s furniture is guaranteed to transform the simplest of spaces into something unique and wonderful.

The Vondom design team comes from all over the world and includes people such as Karim Rashid, Fabio Novembre, Ramon Esteve and Ross Lovegrove. Vondom looks for designers who are able to transform furniture into exclusive pieces and who have a passion for shapes. When you see the company’s furniture you will understand this statement.

Respect for the environment is, to quote Vondom, “in [their] DNA”. The company continues to research and innovate in all forms of technology in its quest to create more sustainable materials. Attendance at workshops, conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs helps to facilitate this mission.

The Flat 4 Seater is a wonderful example of the company’s design prowess as a 100% outdoor piece. Additional indoor and outdoor pieces include the Faz Table, and the Faz Armchair. To complement your poolside, enjoy pieces like the Surf Sun Chaise and the Vela Sun Chaise Table. For the outdoor bar, try the Moma Bar Table and Stool.

Our workplaces are central to our lives, and our lifestyles. Too often, we put off improvements to our workplaces, telling ourselves our desks and chairs are “just” office furniture. But the truth is, the office matters. Some weeks, we spend more time there than we do at home, and it’s vitally important to take care of ourselves while doing so. Forty hours or more in a bad office chair can hurt your back and make your working life a misery. So treat yourself to the ergonomic office furniture you deserve and watch your health and productivity improve!

MuvmanⓇ Chair
The Muvman is another seat that helps incorporate movement into your daily life. It is a sit-to-stand office chair, which can be adjusted from 20” to 33” in increments of less than one inch to achieve the perfect height for sitting or perching. The Muvman is permanently tilted forward 4° to help you maintain the perfect distance from your work surface without hunching.

Contact us to learn more about our range of ergonomic office furniture. When you’re comfortable and healthy, those long hours at work will seem much shorter!

The perfect bed is an investment in your health and happiness. With the possible exception of your office chair, it’s the single piece of furniture on which you spend the most time, at (in theory, at least) a solid eight hours per day. Comfort and support lead to a deeper, more refreshing sleep that leaves you energized and clear-headed. So if you don’t already love the bed you’re in, you owe yourself an upgrade!

Secret
Secret, from Canadian manufacturer Trica, is one of our bestselling beds, and with good reason — this is one versatile piece! Its styling balances masculine and feminine elements, pairing gentle curves in the headboard with strong lines in the footboard and side rails. The headboard cover is available in a wide variety of fabrics and leathers, allowing you to personalize the Secret any way you choose, and the solid wood bed frame is also available in many different colors, attractively offset by metal accents at the corners.

Plank
Plank, designed by Joel Dupras for Canadian brand Huppé, is constructed from North American birch, which can be showcased in the dramatic wide headboard. Although it looks raw, the silky finish is smooth enough not to damage delicate bedding. If wood simply isn’t your style, Plank is also available in a range of lacquers, fabrics and leathers.

Elan

Elan is a powerful piece of contemporary bedroom furniture. Its headboard is adorned with asymmetrical, geometric tiles influenced by De Stijl, against a dark wood bed frame. Elan is available in ten fabric or leather finishes.

Menlo Park
Designed by Rick Lee for American Leather, the striking Menlo Park bed is already a classic. The perfectly proportioned headboard swoops into the base, which almost appears to float on thin and unobtrusive legs. Menlo Park is available in several sizes and can be specified in leather, fabric or Ultrasuede.

Wave
Wave is an attractive mid century modern bed, available on its own or as part of a set from Vermont’s Copeland Furniture. The headboard features a fascinating three-dimensional wave pattern carved into the wood. Copeland’s strong environmental credentials, plus Wave’s GREENGUARD certified low-emission finish, mean you’ll sleep even easier.

Complete your dream bed by pairing it with a mattress that’s just right. Sklar Furnishings carries and recommends mattresses by top brands Magniflex, Comfortaire and Ecomemory.

This entry in our ongoing series on performance fabrics takes us outdoors with Sunbrella. Patio furniture has to contend with more wear than even the most mistreated indoor furnishings, especially in our climate, so upholstery that can withstand water, sunlight and grime is a must.

The original outdoor performance fabric, Sunbrella remains the leading brand in the field. Its fade resistance is due to a process that adds UV-resistant pigment to its fibers prior to extrusion, so the color is deeply embedded in the finished fabric. It’s also food, wine, and mildew resistant, and boasts a 5-year limited guarantee. Most spills can be cleaned off with ordinary tap water, while tougher stains can be bleached away without harming the color.

Sunbrella hit the market in 1961, offering outdoor awnings in just six colors. What set the new fabric apart were its acrylic construction and unprecedented colorfastness, both of which represented a major departure from conventional cotton. The company began producing marine fabrics in the mid-1970s before moving into outdoor cushions and sun umbrellas in the early 1980s. Sunbrella now offers fabric in hundreds of colors and patterns, including separate lines of upholstery and drapery fabrics for indoor-only specification, and the Renaissance line, made of 50% recycled fibers.

Its cotton-like hand means Sunbrella already feels similar to indoor fabrics, from plain weaves to jacquards, and invites you to extend your living space outward. Outdoor drapery, area rugs, throws and pillows are all available in Sunbrella fabrics, making it possible to furnish your patio for summer as if it were another room in your house.

Sunbrella’s longevity and ability to withstand almost anything thrown at it sets it apart from other outdoor fabrics. Like all performance fabrics, opting for Sunbrella is an investment in upholstery that will last much longer and continue looking fresh for years. Visit our showroom to view samples and furnishings made up in Sunbrella, and discover how durable fabrics can also be luxurious.

See the rest of this series here.