One of the most popular trends in the hotel industry is the Boutique style hotel. These are both intimate and quirky, as well as often luxurious, hotel environments which differentiate themselves by providing personalized accommodation and services. If you’ve always wanted to bring this style of hotel into your home, then we urge you to consider our Hotel Maison collection.

Hotel Maison will bring the boutique hotel style to life in your home. Whether it’s bedroom furniture or a piece for your living room, the collection captures the allure and luxury of five-star hotel suites through its fresh and innovative line of home furnishings. There are six distinct furniture collections within Hotel Maison, each expressing elegant comfort with reflections on modern sensibilities, old world charm and exotic destinations. These collections include:

• Metro Club
• Regency
• Linen Hills
• Via Royale
• PanAsian
• Luxe Lodge

There are so many great pieces to choose from when you select Hotel Maison. Here’s a look at a few of the pieces we especially love.

PanAsian Bedroom Collection

In the open air resorts of the East Indies and the South Seas, Shangri-la is found. This exotic corridor, including Bali, Thailand, India and China, inspires Hotel Maison’s PanAsian Collection, where French Colonial influences blend Chinese motifs with indigenous artistry. These enchanting selections bring together bamboo, woven rattan and intricate fretwork detailing. Heavy dark woods are paired with bright white cotton and linens to enhance the resort feel. It’s easy to imagine the tropical ocean breezes and the scent of spiced tea while immersed in PanAsian’s eclectic collection. Come home to where the Far East doesn’t feel so far.

Linen Hills Lillie Settee

Inspired by the rolling landscape of the English countryside, the Lillie Settee from Hotel Maison’s custom upholstery collection whispers of the quaint inns throughout the Cotswold, yet updated with modernized sensibilities that make it livable – and lovable – in your home. This bench imitates a Jacobean settle with its high, straight back, but our version includes plush cushions and upholstery and delicately crafted wood legs to balance out the height. While the Lillie is shown in a softly toned striped fabric (Treport/Mystic) – perfect for that beach getaway or next to the fireplace in your urban condo – you can customize the upholstery to fit any living space with many different fabric options.

To hear more about the Hotel Maison pieces, be sure to visit the friendly folks at Walter E. Smithe. And for your next dining room set, Chicago customers can count on us as well! We love furniture and we would love nothing more than to help you decorate your home.

Have you always wanted to customize your home furniture? Then this post is for you! Your friends here at Walter E. Smithe are here to let you know about how we can help you customize your very own furniture and we hope you’ll read on to learn more!

The Canadel Custom Dining Collections are inspired by you, and made for you! It’s all about you!

With our Canadel Custom Dining Collections, you get to carefully handpick every aspect of your home. Whether you need tables, chairs, and stools, or a sever, buffet, and bench, you’ll find that Canadel is in a class of its own.

Here’s how it works – first, visit the customizing website at http://smithe.udesign.ws/Canadel?lang=en. While you’re there, you’ll notice that you get to select which type of furniture you want to customize. They you get to create the piece right before your eyes!

For example, if you’re customizing a table, you get to choose everything from:

• Surface type
• Table shape
• Table model
• Top edge
• Leg options
• Pedestal options
• Top colors
• Body colors
• Finish

Very cool! We hope you’ll try it for yourself!

Thanks to the wide range of sizes and colors, you’re sure to find the perfect style for your home!

In addition to customizing your own furniture set, be sure to also take advantage of our holiday savings through the current furniture sale!

To learn more about anything going on at Walter E. Smithe, be sure to visit one of our showrooms. Whether you’re shopping for living room furniture or a dining room set, Chicago shoppers can always find it here at Walter E. Smithe. Come see us soon!

One of the best parts of owning a home is inviting others over and entertaining. Whether it’s the holidays or a random Sunday evening, it’s always nice to enjoy a meal with good company! When you sit down for the meal, you want to impress your guests and your friends at Walter E. Smithe are here to help. We have a great selection of dining room tables that you are sure to love! When choosing a dining room set, Chicago customers have many options but none compare to what you’ll find at Walter E. Smithe. Today we’d like to review a few of our options. Read on to learn more!

Autobiographies Rectangular Table

Gathering table made with walnut solids and rustic cherry veneers — a perfect place to celebrate life.

Wynterhall

A traditional dining collection with a deep, rich finish. Hardwood solids and cherry veneers. Chairs feature a rich leather with nailhead trim.

Visions

Walking the line of art and function, our Visions dining room lends an air of clean elegance to a very contemporary silhouette. A timeless design that won’t go out of style, it exemplifies superior craftsmanship and durability.

Castellina

This opulent table transcends time by bringing old-world detail to your dining room with its scalloped edges and ornate carvings at the four corners.

Any of these options would make a great addition to your dining room! We hope you’ll visit one of our showroom soon to see these great options for yourself! Be sure to ask about our current furniture sale as well! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sure, a dining room that’s furnished with a table and chairs looks good. But don’t you want a room that looks great? When you’re ready to take your room to the next level, your friends at Walter E. Smithe have a beautiful collection of dining room storage pieces for you to choose from! No matter what look you’re going for, your favorite furniture outlet has the selection and the sales staff to help you achieve it!

First let’s look at the beautiful and timeless Monte Bello Side Board pictured to the right. Designers took a Classic French approach when creating this masterpiece, which features a Burl top and mahogany woods. To house your finest dishes, this piece has two side drawers, two center doors, and a decorative metal gallery rail.

Next up we have the Single Curio piece. A curio, by definition, is a predominantly glass cabinet with a metal or wood framework used to display goods. Our piece is no different! Made of distinctively carved hardwood, the piece is completed by two vertical glass panes. It is the perfect piece to help showcase your wedding china or can serve as a luxurious storage space for any valued goods.

Finally, we’d like to highlight the Vouvray Display Cabinet which is seen on the right. This piece was inspired by the rolling hills and princely chateaus in France, and the result epitomizes stately sophistication. The piece features both cabinets and shelves and the displays are encased by a beautiful diamond design. You can even customize this cabinet by choosing one of a variety of finish options. This will add so much to you room!

If you’re ready to take your room to that next level, now is the time to do so! To see more of our options, stop in to any of our convenient locations and let us help you complete your dining room set! Chicago customers can always count on the trusted and experienced folks at Walter E. Smithe and we look forward to serving you soon!

We are proud to feature a great number of collections here at Walter E. Smithe, but one that we would like to showcase today is the Turning House collection. We are especially excited to share these pieces because we are confident that when you choose them for your home, you will be able to turn heads!

When someone lays eyes on Turning House furniture, they will instantly recognize the uniqueness that extends to each piece. Two of the most defining trademarks of the collection are the fresh designs and the unique and high-quality wood.

The wood from this collection is especially unique because in includes aged beams and flooring from old buildings that are rich in history but beyond repair or restoration. Once reclaimed, this wood is then transformed from beautiful aged timber into environmentally conscious, solid wood creations of the highest quality. Like the ancient craft of woodturning, they preserve the integrity and spirit of the wood’s history to showcase its distinct character. The result is stunning!

Here’s a look at a few of our favorite pieces in the collection.

For a dining room set, Chicago customers can consider the Old Bloomfield Harvest Table. It comes in solid pine with a burnished auburn finish. Its dimensions are 84” x 44” x 30”. To match the table, we also have Old Bloomfield Dining Arm Chairs and Side Chairs available. Both are Solid Maple in an autumn brown finish and measure 24″ wide x 22″ deep x 42″ high.

To complement the table and chairs, we also recommend the Old Bloomfield Secretary. This piece is also made of solid pine and is finished in a burnished auburn, while the hutch interior is finished in blue-grey. The piece features a drop lid work surface and many storage options. It is perfect for storing important documents or for sitting down to send out notes to your friends!

One of the more unique pieces in the collection is the Lille Bunching Cocktail table. Again, this small table is made of solid pine and is finished in burnished auburn. The wood is nested in a metal frame which is oiled bronze on metal. The small table measures 16″ wide x 16″ deep x 16″ high.

To learn more about the Turning House collection or any of our other Chicago contemporary furniture, we hope you will stop into one of our convenient locations! Our friendly sales staff can’t wait to assist you!

When it comes to redecorating a room, it can become frustrating when you can’t find a set of furniture that seems just right for your tastes. Maybe the table is the right shape, but you don’t like its legs; or the chair has the edges you want, but it’s not the right color. Why settle for a set that doesn’t appeal to you on every level? At Walter E. Smith, a leader in furniture retail, Chicago customers don’t have to settle thanks to our Bon Appétit custom dining selections!

In France, ‘Bon Appétit’ means ‘Enjoy your meal’ and that’s just what we think you should be able to do with your specialized dining room set. Chicago shoppers searching for their personalized furnishings should look no further than Walter E. Smithe! Our Bon Appétit custom dining collection is unique because it offers customers the opportunity to tailor their selections to meet their specific tastes, without ever feeling like something just doesn’t fit.

Whether you’re looking to create a casual environment or a more luxurious, high dining setting, the Bon Appétit collection can help. The collection is both inspired by you, and made for you! Click this link to experience Bon Appétit for yourself! We know you’ll appreciate the site’s user friendly format, which allows you to go through the customizing process at your leisure. You’ll be able to select features such as surface type, shape, model, and edging on any of the following pieces: table, chair, stool, buffet, corner, server, or bench.

With Bon Appétit, you can also customize dimensions, colors, finishes, you name it! You can make changes at any time, and save, print, or email your designs. You can even create a wish list to send to your better half!

Don’t settle for a cookie cutter dining room set from one of our competitors! To truly enjoy your meals in your ideal and personalized setting, choose from our Bon Appétit collection! To learn more, stop in or make an appointment with one of our friendly associates. They are happy to assist you throughout your furniture selection process so stop in today! Act fast and you can even take advantage of some big savings at Walter E. Smithe!

With many of us on tight budgets in this economic climate, major redecorating may seem beyond our means. Some professional designers offered tips on how we can spruce up with a few small changes and give our homes a spring makeover.

Framing or reframing favorite photos or artwork in coordinating frames can lend a gallery look to your home and be a focal point in a room. Your Chicago Illinois furniture store staff can offer ideas on making your decorating dollar stretch further as well.

If you want to accent current pieces such as a dining room set Chicago decorators can help you find the perfect table accents or echo the color of wood in your wall décor. Condensing your wall hangings mainly to one wall can provide a nice backdrop for a gorgeous piece of furniture.

If you’re feeling brave and in the do-it-yourself mode try changing out the backsplash in your kitchen. Rather than outdated tile or a bare wall, update the tile with bright colors or a mosaic look or try copper or stainless steel. In a bathroom setting leather is even an interesting choice.

While you’re in the bathroom with the tools out, consider changing the vanity or sink. This change could be a bit more expensive but can really alter the look of the room. A vessel sink which sits on top of a washstand or dresser is sharp. Even a funky new faucet will add interest to a bathroom with the blahs. Chicago Illinois furniture dealers have storage pieces and chairs designed for the bathroom. A nice option if you have the space.

If you like the look of your room, but just want a subtle change you might shop for new light fixtures or a chandelier. Lighting can be a design or focal point all its own. Think about combining styles or just going with something over-the-top with colors or textures that enhance the room. Customized shades or a wrap of material around a chandelier can achieve this effect.

In the bedroom try spicing up the headboard. If you have a wooden one drape something colorful over it like beads. If you don’t even have a headboard consider creating one from decorator panels found at discount stores, or staple some textured fabric over plywood and foam in a whimsical shape. Your imagination is the limit!

When it comes time to furnish a new house, condo or apartment, it’s always a big decision what furniture will be the most aesthetically appealing, practical, balanced and complimentary to the rooms’ size and shape- and it should be.

Choosing a dining room set may be the most difficult since you’re usually not drawn to a specific table and chairs, as you would be to a bedroom set or unique sofa set. To begin the selection process, there are a few odds and ends that need to be figured out. First, how many people are you looking to seat? If you only live with one roommate, a four-person table should suffice with room for guests; but if you’re married with four children, you’re going to want a larger set, with maybe 8 seats, giving room if expanding the family is in the future and for sporadic guests.

Next, you’re going to want to measure the dimensions of the space you’re trying to fill. Knowing the space you have to work with is crucial since you don’t want to overcrowd the area- bringing me to my next point. Leaving space around the dining set is very important. Diners need room to maneuver around the table, and walk behind others who are seated.

The shape of the table needs to compliment the shape and size of the room, giving it presence. For instance, if you have a square-shaped room, a round table would soften the space and compliment it nicely. If you’re looking to give your dining room a more modern look, a square -shaped set should accomplish that. A higher table with more stool-like seats can also give a more contemporary look to a standard dining space. You can find a great selection of Chicago contemporary furniture at Walter E. Smithe.

Lastly, if you choose to dine in your kitchen, you may want to opt for a hardwood kitchen set that can be multi-purpose for things like baking, wrapping Christmas presents, office work, or cutting/ chopping ingredients. If you like  to dine in your living space, choose something that blends nicely with your sofa set and coffee table.

To top off the look, chose the right lighting. Dimmer lights and neutral-colored lamps make for a more sophisticated, relaxing setting while bright lights and colorful lamps create a more fun, upbeat ambiance.

To find your perfect dining room set Chicago, visit Walter E. Smithe, best in Chicago furniture sales.

The dining room. It’s where you want to spend mealtime, except it’s not organized. It’s where you want to entertain guests, except you never knew how to decorate it.

The dining room can and should be the most important room of your house, but so many people ignore its design or are ashamed of out-of-date furniture. Or if you’re like me, you have a spouse that wants to use it as an open-air filing cabinet.

With all that said there are several things to keep in mind when you embark upon purchasing new dining room furniture.

First, form a good idea of how you are going utilize your dining room. Will you and your entire family eat there every night? Will you only use it for entertaining? Or do you have no intentions of using it beyond the rare holiday bash? It’s important to know how many people your table must accomodate, and that leads directly to my next point.

When looking for a dining room set Chicago shoppers should identify the correct shape for their needs. Round, oval, square…well you know the shapes. All have their upsides and downsides. If you have a massive dining room and decide to fill it with a long rectangular table, but only have three people in your family, you may end up yelling across the table to be heard. You need to balance the needs of your space with the needs of your family and friends. Round tables often work nicely with oddly-shaped rooms and rooms with rounded windows and are great for conversation, while square or rectangular tables work best in modern, clean-cut rooms and offer the most seating for the space.

It’s always important to keep your budget in mind as well. For dining room sets, Chicago furniture stores offer a huge variety of materials and designs that bring a wide range of prices. It’s easy to become tantalized by the flashiest dining room sets, and you should have a maximum figure in mind that you’re willing to pay before seeing some of the high-end products. You can always get a dining room set that is both functional and fashionable no matter what your budget. But remember that function should come first. You’ll remember the good times you’ve had in your dining room long after the table and chairs are gone.

Finally, be aware of the materials you want to have. The most common dining room sets are made of wood, but you can find plenty of other materials should your home require it. Wood sets blend well with any design, but rattan, iron, steel and many other have their places, depending upon a particular home’s aesthetic.

Like most furniture purchases, a dining room set  you purchase from Chicago furniture retailers will be a long-term investment. So spend the time to research your needs and all of your options. And stop by to view the best furniture Chicago has to offer at any of our Walter E. Smithe showrooms.

Welcome to SmitheBlog, your place for furniture tips and news, Walter E. Smithe specials and advice, and everything else wonderful about furniture. As your most trusted Chicago furniture dealer, our hope is that you will find our experienced advice interesting and our furniture features as solid as our knotted Mahoghany Doors of Dublin dining room set.

This is our space for us to talk furniture, have fun, and celebrate what we do best – providing the best advice and best furniture Chicago and the surrounding area has to offer. Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss a post and check back often to see what we’re up to around here!