Designer Envy

A few days ago a Dwell Magazine fact checker contacted me to, well, fact check something she was told about my little company. She asked if I had designed the Bertie Box for Magis. To which I said, "Who's Magis?"

Well, apparently Magis is a phenomenal Italian design company that employs only top designers to produce the coolest kids stuff on the market. I looked them up on the internet and then went to the Designed For Kids book that by sure luck, I had several designs featured. Sure enough, Magis is all over the place in that book. One of the pieces called Nido was designed by Javier Mariscal who designed the mascot for the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. And then there's Finnish designer Eero Aarnio who designed the iconic hanging Bubble chair in the 1960's. He's created the Trioli (see photo above) chair for www.magismetoo.com. Oh, and Rosario Hurtado and Roberto Feo who, on page 122, show off their Mico. One of those insanely smart, functional playthings that is in every design book known to man.

Why oh why couldn't that one fact be true?!?! Just this once, ya know?!?!

(Psst....Magis.....Call me! :))



(Bubble chair by Eero Aarnio)

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Thanks Precious Quilts All the Way from England

Thanks Precious Quilts! Since you're in England, can you tell my good friend Oonagh Delaney Gottlieb I said hi and that I miss her. She's up near Manchester. I'll tell whomever you want in LA that you said hi.:)

http://preciousquilts.blogspot.com/2009/07/christening.html

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Re-post: My Husband the Guest Blogger

I was reading through some of my old posts and came across this one that I'd honestly forgotten about (good wife, I know)....so I'm reposting it. I've never done that before and it feels a bit like cheating but this post made me smile. Anyhow, I think this guy is a good writer and really has some inside scoop on the Mod Mom Furniture empire. As all 21 of you who read this blog well know, it's tough to infiltrate the inner workings of my company since I'm so closeted about it all.

Here it is.....

http://modmomfurniture.blogspot.com/2008/11/guest-blogger-my-husband-scott-hathcock.html

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Dust Bunnies

Who thinks the mask works better when a.) it's on your face and b.) isn't full of sawdust? You can call me safety girl.

What's wrong with me that I don't want to wear that mask? Next thing you know, I'll be taking up smoking to clear out my dusty lungs.

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Midnight Hour

Last night, my house was quiet. My kids and husband were sound asleep. And I was genuinely happy to be in my garage working away at midnight. The downside of working out of your garage is it's flippin' hot here in LA in the summer. I'm inside getting cooled off right now but will shortly return to my oven, I mean garage, for more carpentry work.

And for those of you thinking, "get an air conditioner," it doesn't work that way when sawdust is involved. I would have to buy a ventilation system and an air conditioner. And that would significantly cut into the cash on reserve for fake toenails and non-mom jeans.

So I'll push through the heat. One plus side is on occasion, without proper hydration, the temperature will bring on some strange hallucinations. Like the one where my husband buys me a book called The Time Traveler's Wife and I put down Breaking Dawn and read it. I mean, come on!!! That's just crazy talk.

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Outlet Advantage (outletadvantage.com) is a Scam

Outlet Advantage (outletadvantage.com) is a scam originating from China. They are not affiliated with FOW in any way, although they are using our content from our website without our permission. We have already filed a DMCA complaint with Google because they have stolen our content without our permission. We have also filed an Internet Crime Complaint (IC3). We have also contacted Federal Trade Commission, BBB, and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office regarding this. We have also contacted their host, http://www.hinet.net.

Outlet Advantage even has a Better Business Bureau logo on their site, but when you click on the logo it will send you to FOW’s Better Business Bureau profile. They are basically pretending to be us. They don’t accept normal forms of payment like Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, etc. They only accept GreenDot MoneyPak, which is basically a way to convert physical cash to electronic cash.

Basically, they post ads in craigslist and other free classifieds for items like outdoor furniture, sheds, play-sets, swing-sets, etc. for ridiculously low prices. They only post their phone number on those ads, 201-254-0410, as the contact information. I promise you will never reach a live person if you call their phone number. When you call the phone number, the voicemail tells you to go to their website, outletadvantage.com. On their website they only accept GreenDot MoneyPak as the form of payment.

For further proof that this is a fake company and a scam, contact the The Better Business Bureau of New Jersey, Inc. (Phone: 609-588-0808).

Here is their Whois lookup: http://www.whois.net/whois/outletadvantage.com

As you can see from the Whois lookup they have even placed our address as their own address:

36-05 Broadway
Fair Lawn

but the state is Beijing.

Please be weary of Outlet Advantage or outletadvantage.com especially if you are about to place an order from them. Call the phone number shown on their website as further proof that this is some kind of a scam originating from China.

Our website: FOW and our store, are not affiliated with these guys in any way. Again, please be careful!

Here are some ways that we can all try to work as a combined community to shut these scam artists down so that no one falls for their misleading tactics:

1. Contact craigslist.org and tell them about Outlet Advantage how they are posting ads with their phone number, 201-254-0410 as the only contact information.
2. If you see their ad in craigslist.org post the same add with the warning about them so others don’t fall for this scam. However, reword the title a little bit so it’s not considered a duplicate ad. Make sure to include their phone number, 201-254-0410.
3. Contact their host in Taiwan and explain what they are doing. Here is the English version of site: http://www.hinet.net/cht_en/index.htm.
4. Contact their phone carrier, Level 3 Communications.

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Outlet Advantage (outletadvantage.com) is a Scam

Outlet Advantage (outletadvantage.com) is a scam originating from China. They are not affiliated with FOW in any way, although they are using our content from our website without our permission. We have already filed a DMCA complaint with Google because they have stolen our content without our permission. We have also filed an Internet Crime Complaint (IC3). We have also contacted Federal Trade Commission, BBB, and Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office regarding this. We have also contacted their host, http://www.hinet.net.

Outlet Advantage even has a Better Business Bureau logo on their site, but when you click on the logo it will send you to FOW’s Better Business Bureau profile. They are basically pretending to be us. They don’t accept normal forms of payment like Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, etc. They only accept GreenDot MoneyPak, which is basically a way to convert physical cash to electronic cash.

Basically, they post ads in craigslist and other free classifieds for items like outdoor furniture, sheds, play-sets, swing-sets, etc. for ridiculously low prices. They only post their phone number on those ads, 201-254-0410, as the contact information. I promise you will never reach a live person if you call their phone number. When you call the phone number, the voicemail tells you to go to their website, outletadvantage.com. On their website they only accept GreenDot MoneyPak as the form of payment.

For further proof that this is a fake company and a scam, contact the The Better Business Bureau of New Jersey, Inc. (Phone: 609-588-0808).

Here is their Whois lookup: http://www.whois.net/whois/outletadvantage.com

As you can see from the Whois lookup they have even placed our address as their own address:

36-05 Broadway
Fair Lawn

but the state is Beijing.

Please be weary of Outlet Advantage or outletadvantage.com especially if you are about to place an order from them. Call the phone number shown on their website as further proof that this is some kind of a scam originating from China.

Our website: FOW and our store, are not affiliated with these guys in any way. Again, please be careful!

Here are some ways that we can all try to work as a combined community to shut these scam artists down so that no one falls for their misleading tactics:

1. Contact craigslist.org and tell them about Outlet Advantage how they are posting ads with their phone number, 201-254-0410 as the only contact information.
2. If you see their ad in craigslist.org post the same add with the warning about them so others don’t fall for this scam. However, reword the title a little bit so it’s not considered a duplicate ad. Make sure to include their phone number, 201-254-0410.
3. Contact their host in Taiwan and explain what they are doing. Here is the English version of site: http://www.hinet.net/cht_en/index.htm.
4. Contact their phone carrier, Level 3 Communications.

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Captains Beds

Captains Beds

Even in tough economic times such as this the, one room that always needs attention is your kids’ room. The combination of value, quality, versatility, simple design elements that blend in any room and the unique finish options of our captains beds creates flow and excitement. The space-saving captains bed is an ideal solution for those with limited space and lack of storage. The captains bed includes two doors at the foot of the bed for extra storage. Each under bed storage unit has four drawers and a center drawer compartment. The captains bed includes one under bed storage case. A second storage case is optional. If the captains bed is to be placed against the wall then the optional second under bed storage case is not needed and the empty space can easily be accessed through the two doors at the foot of the bed. The hardboard and the footboard feature bead-board moldings.

To purchase this product go to FOWfurniture.com

Shown above is a captains bed in natural finish.

To purchase this product go to FOWfurniture.com

Here is the same captains bed in a white finish.

To purchase this product go to FOWfurniture.com

Finally, here is the captains bed in a pecan finish.

The captains bed is the perfect combination of storage and sleep and here are some details of these beds:

• The captains beds have simple, youthful design elements.
• Birch hardwood construction.
• Captains beds has support brackets on ends of rails so that barrel bolts rest on the metal and not wood, thus reducing stress on the wood.
• Metal hardware is used to attach side rails to bed ends of the captains beds.
• Captains beds have a wooden slat roll system with canvas stretchers and two screws per each slat. (Slat roll eliminates the need for a box spring).
• The bed rails of the captains beds are constructed from veneered plywood thus preventing splitting and warping.
• The front and back of each drawer box is English dovetailed and center supported on bottom.
• The front panel of the drawer box is crewed, not glued or stapled to the drawer box.
• Metal drawer guides with automatic drawer stops are side mounted.

Here are some quality features in greater detail:

The captains bed features a metal bracket supports on ends so the barrel bolts rest on metal and not wood thus reliving some of the pressure on the wood.

Shown here are the actual barrel bolts about to be inserted into the bracket supports.

The captains bed has a slat roll with canvas stretchers and 2 screws per slat. By having a slat roll the box spring is not needed. The slat roll acts as the actual box spring.

The drawer fronts and backs of the captans beds are English dovetailed. The English dovetailed joint is the strongest joint that can survive the constant pull of opening and closing the drawer repeatedly for years to come.

The drawers are center supported as well as corner blocked for added reinforcement.

5 part drawer box construction with the front panel screwed, not staples or glued, to the drawer box.

Side-mounted, metal drawer guides with automatic drawer stops.

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Captains Beds

Captains Beds

Even in tough economic times such as this the, one room that always needs attention is your kids’ room. The combination of value, quality, versatility, simple design elements that blend in any room and the unique finish options of our captains beds creates flow and excitement. The space-saving captains bed is an ideal solution for those with limited space and lack of storage. The captains bed includes two doors at the foot of the bed for extra storage. Each under bed storage unit has four drawers and a center drawer compartment. The captains bed includes one under bed storage case. A second storage case is optional. If the captains bed is to be placed against the wall then the optional second under bed storage case is not needed and the empty space can easily be accessed through the two doors at the foot of the bed. The hardboard and the footboard feature bead-board moldings.

To purchase this product go to FOWfurniture.com

Shown above is a captains bed in natural finish.

To purchase this product go to FOWfurniture.com

Here is the same captains bed in a white finish.

To purchase this product go to FOWfurniture.com

Finally, here is the captains bed in a pecan finish.

The captains bed is the perfect combination of storage and sleep and here are some details of these beds:

• The captains beds have simple, youthful design elements.
• Birch hardwood construction.
• Captains beds has support brackets on ends of rails so that barrel bolts rest on the metal and not wood, thus reducing stress on the wood.
• Metal hardware is used to attach side rails to bed ends of the captains beds.
• Captains beds have a wooden slat roll system with canvas stretchers and two screws per each slat. (Slat roll eliminates the need for a box spring).
• The bed rails of the captains beds are constructed from veneered plywood thus preventing splitting and warping.
• The front and back of each drawer box is English dovetailed and center supported on bottom.
• The front panel of the drawer box is crewed, not glued or stapled to the drawer box.
• Metal drawer guides with automatic drawer stops are side mounted.

Here are some quality features in greater detail:

The captains bed features a metal bracket supports on ends so the barrel bolts rest on metal and not wood thus reliving some of the pressure on the wood.

Shown here are the actual barrel bolts about to be inserted into the bracket supports.

The captains bed has a slat roll with canvas stretchers and 2 screws per slat. By having a slat roll the box spring is not needed. The slat roll acts as the actual box spring.

The drawer fronts and backs of the captans beds are English dovetailed. The English dovetailed joint is the strongest joint that can survive the constant pull of opening and closing the drawer repeatedly for years to come.

The drawers are center supported as well as corner blocked for added reinforcement.

5 part drawer box construction with the front panel screwed, not staples or glued, to the drawer box.

Side-mounted, metal drawer guides with automatic drawer stops.

Read More

Modular Room Dividers/Bookshelves/Wall Units

Modular Room Dividers/Bookshelves/Wall Units

Shown above is an exceptional piece of furniture made from wood veneer and shown in a wenge finish. It looks pretty simple but this modular unit is much more than meets the eye. This unique system presents a new meaning of "playing" dominos. As a matter of fact you could even call it LEGO furniture because of its capability. If you prefer, you can flip and flow multiple units to create any furniture you like. Use is as simple TV stands for your latest plasma or LCD television set. Stack up a few of these modular units to create a custom room divider that's perfect for your room of choice. Stack them up to create a unique wall unit system. As you stack these units use the hollow shelves as bookcases. It’s like designing your very own furniture for the specific dimensions of your room.

Here are 2 modular shelving units stacked one of top of the other.

Here are 3.

Here are a few scattered around the perimeter of the room. As you can see, here they are used as bookshelves, cocktail tables, and TV stands in this room setting.

Here are 4 stacked up and used as an entertainment center.

If the finish above is too dark for you, here is the unit shown in pure white finish.

Here are 4 stacked up.

Here are 6 stacked up.

The same 6 used as shelving and bookcases.

Another room setting.

2 units angled and used as a TV stand.

Now, I’m sure you can realize how much you can do with this seemingly simple piece of furniture. Piling and flipping this modular system creates a stunning effect for any space in your home. In a way, it’s a shelving system on steroids, so let your imagination fly.

To purchase these products go to FOWfurniture.com

Read More

Modular Room Dividers/Bookshelves/Wall Units

Modular Room Dividers/Bookshelves/Wall Units

Shown above is an exceptional piece of furniture made from wood veneer and shown in a wenge finish. It looks pretty simple but this modular unit is much more than meets the eye. This unique system presents a new meaning of "playing" dominos. As a matter of fact you could even call it LEGO furniture because of its capability. If you prefer, you can flip and flow multiple units to create any furniture you like. Use is as simple TV stands for your latest plasma or LCD television set. Stack up a few of these modular units to create a custom room divider that's perfect for your room of choice. Stack them up to create a unique wall unit system. As you stack these units use the hollow shelves as bookcases. It’s like designing your very own furniture for the specific dimensions of your room.

Here are 2 modular shelving units stacked one of top of the other.

Here are 3.

Here are a few scattered around the perimeter of the room. As you can see, here they are used as bookshelves, cocktail tables, and TV stands in this room setting.

Here are 4 stacked up and used as an entertainment center.

If the finish above is too dark for you, here is the unit shown in pure white finish.

Here are 4 stacked up.

Here are 6 stacked up.

The same 6 used as shelving and bookcases.

Another room setting.

2 units angled and used as a TV stand.

Now, I’m sure you can realize how much you can do with this seemingly simple piece of furniture. Piling and flipping this modular system creates a stunning effect for any space in your home. In a way, it’s a shelving system on steroids, so let your imagination fly.

To purchase these products go to FOWfurniture.com

Read More

Another Edition of Translate That Article!!!

While the paint is drying on a toy box, I came in out of my boiling garage to cool off. Look what I found while searching the internet!!

Get ready because this time we're going to......AUSTRIA!!!!

I love when I get to use an online translator!!!! I'm such a stealth online detective that I figured out that the article came from Austria. From what I can tell, this online site ran an article/slide show of international gear designed for kids from the 2008 book, Designed for Kids (Phyllis Richardson.) And I was lucky enough to have the Owyn included.

Here's the text...
Was tun, wenn die Kinder ihre Spielsachen in der ganzen Wohnung verteilt herumliegen lassen? Den kleinen Rabaukern nachlaufen und all das Zeug wieder einsammeln? Wenn, dann aber bitte nur in Begleitung von der Owyn Toy Box. Mit der verspielten Kiste auf Rädern, entworfen von Kiersten Hathcock (Mod Mom Furniture), macht sogar das Aufräumen Spaß!

And here's the translation.....
What do if the children her toys allow to lie around in the whole apartment distributed? To the small Rabaukern run after and collect all stuff again? If, then, however, please only in company of the Owyn Toy Box. With the playful box on wheels, sketched by Kiersten Hathcock (Mod Mom Furniture), even the cleaning out is great fun!

The link to the website http://www.news.at/channels/85/main.shtml and article/slideshow http://www.news.at/nw1/gen/slideshows/slide/show;wohnen/buecher/edition_braus/01_designed_for_kids/;template;susi/default/;kid;85

Thanks www.news.at!

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I Heart Stock Lumber...and The London Hotel in West Hollywood

I just got back from Stock Lumber in Burbank (on Victory) and I just have to say, if you live in The Valley and need wood, Stock is your place. I really can't say enough about how great everyone is who works there -- and how helpful they are and have always been. When I first started out and was terrified to head to the lumber yard for fear I'd be laughed out the big metal gates, they treated me with such respect and kindness. I kinda feel like I'm walking into a local pub where everyone knows my name now. Except they don't give me booze, just plywood.

I've had my share of rude, chauvinistic encounters working in my male-dominated industry, and it's really hard to shake off sometimes no matter how much grief I give right back to them. It will go round and round in my head for days. And I'll think of all sorts of better responses I should have given. I'm again, so thankful, that all I feel at Stock is love.

Speaking of love, I tried out The London Hotel in West Hollywood for a night with my friends this past weekend and had the best time. Talk about surreal! One day I was at a posh hotel poolside sipping vodka tonics and the next, I'm at the lumber yard. A few dozen gorgeous skinny model types would walk by us at the hotel and I'd "guess" their occupation. Never once did I guess carpenter. Something tells me they weren't picking up casters and Baltic Birch today.


(Nice cabana, eh?!? And just look at that wood floor!!! Gorgeous!)

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White Glove Furniture Delivery

White Glove Furniture Delivery

There is much more to the term white glove delivery when it comes to furniture. Most brick and mortar NJ furniture stores offer white glove delivery while many “online entities” offer free delivery but there is a catch to that free delivery. It’s usually curb-side delivery and not white glove.

Curb-side delivery is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A common carrier or a freight company will pull up to your curb with an 18 wheeler and drop off the furniture on your curb. It is the customer’s job to take the furniture into their home, assemble it, and discard the packaging. The common carrier will simply slide the furniture down from the truck and the rest is up to the customer.

White glove delivery, on the other hand, is much more than curb-side delivery. The entire delivery process is handled much differently with white glove delivery services. Usually smaller trucks are used instead of the big 18 wheelers since they are much easier to maneuver through residential areas. These smaller trucks are also usually equipped with a lift gate. With lift gates it’s much easier to handle furniture, particularly when unloading into a residential area. After the furniture is unloaded it is taken inside of the customer’s home and placed where the customer chooses. The packaging is removed. Any parts of the furniture that need assembling are assembled. Finally, all the packaging materials are taken away. White glove delivery ensures that the furniture will arrive undamaged because of the way it’s handled from start to finish.

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White Glove Furniture Delivery

White Glove Furniture Delivery

There is much more to the term white glove delivery when it comes to furniture. Most brick and mortar NJ furniture stores offer white glove delivery while many “online entities” offer free delivery but there is a catch to that free delivery. It’s usually curb-side delivery and not white glove.

Curb-side delivery is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. A common carrier or a freight company will pull up to your curb with an 18 wheeler and drop off the furniture on your curb. It is the customer’s job to take the furniture into their home, assemble it, and discard the packaging. The common carrier will simply slide the furniture down from the truck and the rest is up to the customer.

White glove delivery, on the other hand, is much more than curb-side delivery. The entire delivery process is handled much differently with white glove delivery services. Usually smaller trucks are used instead of the big 18 wheelers since they are much easier to maneuver through residential areas. These smaller trucks are also usually equipped with a lift gate. With lift gates it’s much easier to handle furniture, particularly when unloading into a residential area. After the furniture is unloaded it is taken inside of the customer’s home and placed where the customer chooses. The packaging is removed. Any parts of the furniture that need assembling are assembled. Finally, all the packaging materials are taken away. White glove delivery ensures that the furniture will arrive undamaged because of the way it’s handled from start to finish.

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Void of Contemporary Furniture Stores in New Jersey

Void of Contemporary Furniture Stores in New Jersey

Contemporary furniture creates an overall sense of depth and warmth while invoking elegant simplicity but there seems to be a void of contemporary furniture stores in New Jersey, especially in Northern New Jersey. In the last few years amid the slumping economy and the housing market crisis, many contemporary furniture stores in New Jersey have gone out of business and are being replaced by huge chain stores that cater to the more mainstream customer. As a result, it creates a void for contemporary furniture in New Jersey.

Walk into any big chain furniture stores in New Jersey and ask them if the living room as shown on the floor is available in any other fabric, leather or a sleeker contemporary design. They will tell you no because otherwise they can't offer that promised three day delivery or less and they don't cater to the contemporary customer. The availability of different sizes, colors, materials, shapes, and specialized designs are all part of the customization that contemporary furniture brings along.

With all these options for the consumer who wants to dress their home to impress, you'd think that more furniture stores in New Jersey would fill this void? You would think that it would send a clear signal to home furnishings retailers in that it would be an intelligent merchandising strategy to showcase this type of furniture, but no. This void in contemporary New Jersey furniture stores needs to be fixed. They need to reassess their product lineups to ensure they have an extensive selection that will give consumers a choice that exactly suits their preference instead of having the same, mainstream look with a promise of a three day delivery.

If you'd like to see some contemporary furniture stores in New Jersey that can help customers hone in on a design direction and the materials used to achieve that look, FOW Fine Furniture is your ideal choice and it's one of the stores that can fix this void.

To purchase contemporary products go to FOWfurniture.com

Read More

Void of Contemporary Furniture Stores in New Jersey

Void of Contemporary Furniture Stores in New Jersey

Contemporary furniture creates an overall sense of depth and warmth while invoking elegant simplicity but there seems to be a void of contemporary furniture stores in New Jersey, especially in Northern New Jersey. In the last few years amid the slumping economy and the housing market crisis, many contemporary furniture stores in New Jersey have gone out of business and are being replaced by huge chain stores that cater to the more mainstream customer. As a result, it creates a void for contemporary furniture in New Jersey.

Walk into any big chain furniture stores in New Jersey and ask them if the living room as shown on the floor is available in any other fabric, leather or a sleeker contemporary design. They will tell you no because otherwise they can't offer that promised three day delivery or less and they don't cater to the contemporary customer. The availability of different sizes, colors, materials, shapes, and specialized designs are all part of the customization that contemporary furniture brings along.

With all these options for the consumer who wants to dress their home to impress, you'd think that more furniture stores in New Jersey would fill this void? You would think that it would send a clear signal to home furnishings retailers in that it would be an intelligent merchandising strategy to showcase this type of furniture, but no. This void in contemporary New Jersey furniture stores needs to be fixed. They need to reassess their product lineups to ensure they have an extensive selection that will give consumers a choice that exactly suits their preference instead of having the same, mainstream look with a promise of a three day delivery.

If you'd like to see some contemporary furniture stores in New Jersey that can help customers hone in on a design direction and the materials used to achieve that look, FOW Fine Furniture is your ideal choice and it's one of the stores that can fix this void.

To purchase contemporary products go to FOWfurniture.com

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Contemporary Cocktail Tables with Storage

Contemporary Cocktail Tables with Storage

How does one go about addressing the need for unique storage solutions when it comes to contemporary cocktail tables? Can a cocktail table have the distinctive clean lines typical of contemporary furniture while at the same time offering an inventive and useful storage solution?

Shown above is a contemporary cocktail table in wenge finish inspired by early Asian design but is made in Portugal. Its simple clean lines provide an ideal centerpiece for a living room. The cocktail table shown above is constructed from American Beech Wood veneer. It is also available in a chocolate finish.

But there is more to this contemporary cocktail table. This contemporary storage cocktail table features an optional top that opens thus providing valuable added storage and allows you to hide magazines and remote controls that always seem to be out of place.

Above is the same contemporary cocktail table shown in a high gloss white finish.

Here is the same high gloss white finish cocktail table shown with the optional hidden storage.

These stylish contemporary cocktail tables with storage have the appearance and quality that’s synonymous with expensive Italian brands but at much reasonable prices.

To purchase these products go to FOWfurniture.com

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