Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

High Point Furniture Market is the only internationally esteemed Furnishing Industry Trade Show.   High Point Market is the Fashion Week of Furniture Design and it is every bit as fabulous. Retailer representative attend High Point Market to order furniture lines in person from manufacturers to stock in their stores for the upcoming months.  However, the more exiting more relevant purpose of High Point Market is for high end designers and decorators to convene.  They gather in anticipation of seeing the latest designs and to stay up to date on the latest trends in furniture. They find inspiration for their current design projects, compare the quality and design among different manufacturers, and to search for unique and beautiful furnishings for their clients.

Here are some of our favorite fabulous picks from the designs debuted at this years Spring 2012 High Point Fashion Market.

Norwalk Furniture “The new Norwalk Furniture silhouettes are highly stylish, while offering tremendous flexibility in creating a personal look with new combinations of color, pattern and texture.”  -Norwalk Furniture, You Tube Channel

Norwalk Furniture Spring 2012 Introductions

We couldn’t agree more!

Hickory White We love the new Antique and Classic Collections by Lillian August for Hickory White.

“Artfully crafted, with a timeless sense of design, Lillian’s Classics Collection combines modern techonology of reproduction with archival references. Luxurious details like marquetry inlays, marble tops, and eglomise panels set the stage for furniture that will become family heirlooms.”  (2012 Spring Catalogue)

C.R. Laine

The C.R. Laine collection is an “extensive premier collection of frames and fabric/trims touting a very high degree of customized features.” (C.R. Laine Website)

We love that C.R. Laine provides tons of customizing options in over 900 beautiful environmentally friendly organic  fabric choices. http://www.crlaine.com/ShowResults.asp?pg=1&viewall=true

Stanley Furniture

We love the Classic European Cottage Stanley Furniture Collection.  It embodies some of Design Connection’s design aesthetics and principles that we have built over 35 years of interior design experience. A Classic look with European influence will always be in style.

Design Connection, Inc. is an authorized furniture dealer for all of the beautiful collections above.  We buy furniture directly from these and other manufacturers and have built strong long-term business relationships with them to receive manufacturer direct pricing.  The savings from bypassing retail stores or showrooms is passed on to our clients.  To refurnish with some of the design collections you’ve seen here please visit our website at www.designconnectioninc.com or call us at 913.851.8776 to schedule an appointment. We would love to hear from you!

You may love your house today as much as you did the day you moved in, but if it’s been 20 years, it may just be time to update. It’s no doubt, that older classic houses have a certain charm to them, but the interior design could be even more charming with a few changes. This is exactly how our clients felt with their current house. Design Connection Inc. identified some key design changes that would update with an impact and created a home that our clients can enjoy for 20 more years.

The hearth room is usually the heart of the home, where the family can spend time together in a relaxed way. The home already had great wall to wall built-ins, so we decided to keep their existing cabinetry and re-stain them in a darker more contemporary color.

By using neutral wallpaper, we were able to create a nice flow from the hearth room to the kitchen. The client loves this design aspect in their home. They felt like their old design had a different feel for each room, and now they have one cohesive feel throughout the whole house.

An interior designer really helps guide you through the value of updating your home. The kitchen cabinets were a great quality, so we decided to update them as opposed to gutting and putting in a whole new kitchen. This is one way to save costs and be able to spend a little more money in other areas.

Their new kitchen features the newly stained cabinets, a great back-splash, an absolutely beautiful new granite countertop, and a couple new light fixtures. It is said that remodeling your kitchen instantly increases the value of your home. And who is going to argue with that after seeing this lovely new kitchen?

Details are what make our projects look so good. The kitchen and hearth room are connected by an open floor plan. We had to be smart with our transition from kitchen to dining room to hearth room. We used beautiful wallpaper that pulled from the colors of both rooms.

One quick, easy update you can do to your home is the powder room. In our client’s powder room, we replaced the dated wallpaper with a fun, nature-inspired one with their favorite color, red. And after a fresh stain to the existing cabinet as well as a new facet and counter, the powder room is taken from the 80’s to 2012.

Stairs are always a strong and important part of a home’s design statement. Changing out the worn-out carpet was a must, followed with some paint on the railings. We decided to leave the existing spindles but added wood caps for a more modern stair design.  After new caps, carpet and a little paint on the railings, it is a sight to see when you walk into their home.

The library should be a room where you can relax in. With passing time the dated wallpaper became a constant reminder that it was time for an update. We went from a strong blue to a warm and cozy beige. At Design Connection Inc, we can take your project from space plan, to full interior design, furniture, materials and even the perfect placement of accessories.

If you’d like to bring your home into the 21^st century, we are here to help! Design Connection has been creating beautiful homes for years and we offer a full range of services and expertise for your home. Your complete satisfaction is our number one priority. Call us today for an appointment with our professional design team. Our business hours are: 9 a.m – 5 p.m. central standard time Monday – Friday Call Arlene Ladegaard at  (913) 851-8776 or email her at Arlene@DesignConnectionInc.com

This weekend families will be gathering around tables to celebrate Easter or Passover. This is the perfect opportunity to add a bit of style to your table and home. Simple can be fun. A simple tin can with a ribbon and some wild flowers sets an easy and relaxed tone to the holiday. If you want something a bit more formal consider a large vase overflowing with beautiful flowers. This helps set a celebratory tone to your tablescape. For more ideas Click Here to read: “Elegant Passover Table Settings”

Placing holiday inspired decorations around the house reminds everyone that taking a bit of time off to gather with family and friends is an important part of life. Take the time to create a bit of magic for your little ones, or enjoy the traditions that are being passed on by the older generation.

Formal or family oriented – you choose. Here is an example of a Design Connection Inc. home. We updated both the family room and formal dining room. Both rooms are elegant but create a very different atmosphere. One aspect of good design is to have a consistent design statement throughout the house. Click Here to see the whole project.

If your house is ready for an update, and you are ready for a home that reflects your lifestyle and taste, give us a call 913-851-8776 to schedule a complimentary in-studio consultation. Click Here to visit our website DesignConnectionInc.com

Let’s be real, the family lives in the hearthroom! And your space should be comfortable and flexible so that everyone can enjoy spending time in the room. When updating a space, you will get the most out of the room by adding special touches that reflect your family’s lifestyle!

Subtle and refined this beautiful hearthroom was transformed by a cozy sectional and accented with suede pillows and fun, black and white patterned pillows. Soft and wonderful underfoot is this great looking silk rug, you almost have to walk on it to believe it. This client had beautiful crystal family heirlooms that we featured on the glass coffee table, candles used in the evening make this space appear magical. The crystal lamps with linen shades are very much up to date. We loved the steel table, though twenty years old, we found it was timeless and worked in our new update.

Design Tip: Accessories can transform a room, but you don’t have to get them all at once. Your collection should tell a story about your travels and interests. Don’t overdo it; consider the quality of the item and its placement. Change out your objects as the seasons change, and if you need a change in the space declutter!

Furniture is an investment, and my clients trust me to guide them through the options, so that they can enjoy their furniture for many years to come. Check out our portfolio to see examples of our projects. Please feel free to ask us questions or schedule our complimentary  in studio consultation at 913 851-8776. You can also connect with us through  Facebook

Ok, I admit, I have painted a couple of walls beige, but I brought in fabulous furniture, fabric and texture to create the drama in the room. When starting a project, you have to make a choice. Are your walls going to do the talking, or is the furniture and items in the room going to make the statement?

If you want a great couch, with fun pops of color on the pillows I recommend going with a neutral color on the walls. You can bring in textures with your rug, drapery and accessories to keep the room interesting. Neutral walls also showcase art better, allowing the picture to draw your attention, rather than competing with a strong color.

If you feel more comfortable with a neutral furniture scheme, then I would defiantly bring in some color on the walls. You can create beautiful monochromatic furniture layouts, by paying attention to details and creating interest through pattern and texture. Then you can use the walls to either make a bold color statement, or more subtly enhance your room with just enough color to keep the room fascinating.

Everybody has a different definition of beautiful and that is the fun part of interior design, that we can cater a project exactly to the lifestyle and needs our clients. That is our design philosophy here at Design Connection Inc. and our clients agree.

What our clients have to say!

“Arlene and her team did a phenomenal job with our new home. They listened to what we wanted and delivered in a huge way! When we bought the home, it was traditional and ordinary and did not reflect our tastes, but Arlene was able to completely revamp it with a contemporary, fresh look that we love!

- Chris B.

New Year, New Resolutions and chances are one of those involves doing something with your home. Whether it’s a refresh, complete remodel, or relocating to a new residence, you shouldn’t tackle your interior until you understand the difference between decorating and design.В  Our business is interiors and we have spent years crafting a strategy that is based on what we call the Three Essential C’s of Interior Design- or as we call it, C3Design.

Connecting. Creating. Customizing. C3Design is all about how we connect spaces and integrate furnishings and materials into your overall design to create custom living spaces that are tailored specifically to your tastes.

CONNECTING

We love to connect with our clients. It’s a part of our company name and a part of the promise we make when we take on any project. Our C3Design process begins with a clean, computer generated drawing of your space. Starting at the very essence of a space eliminates costly design or measurement mistakes or miscalculations and helps you to visualize the possibilities for what your home can become!В  We discuss your goals for the space with you and reconcile that with what is possible within the structure. Together, we work with you to decide on the details and any architectural or structural changes before we move on to what we call The Final Touch which involves furnishing and accessorizing the space to make it amazing.

CREATING

Your peace of mind is something that is incredibly important. When you engage with us, you are trusting us with your home which is something we value immeasurably. At Design Connection we don’t just work on your project, we handle it for you from start to finish. Managing quality builders, craftsmen, and our trusted partners is what we do for you to take the guesswork and surprises out of the process. While your dream space is being created, we communicate with you and our partners consistently so that you are always aware of what’s happening and when at your home.

CUSTOMIZING

Decorating interiors is an art form and when your space is ready for The Final Touch, it signals the completion of the vision we created with you when we began your customized C3Design plan and project. Our goal is to give you design that translates seamlessly from idea to reality and final touch elements that extend and reflect the overall design. For that reason, we offer only the most unique and customized furniture pieces and accessories and work with only the most skilled quality craftsmen to achieve a space you’ll be proud to live in. Scouring markets around the country to find one-of-a-kind pieces for your home and enlisting the best in the business for everything from faux painting to cabinet design ensures that your space is as unique as you are!

THE THREE C’S = Happy Clients

As you prepare to tackle your space for the new year, keep in mind that detailed planning and discussion is key to achieving an end result you will love.В  At Design Connection, we love interiors and we love making your ideas and dreams come to life. Our creative and detailed approach to interior design is what sets us apart and we’d love to sit down and talk to you about how we can help you accomplish your goals with your home this year.В  We offer complimentary in-studio consultations by appointment and invite you to contact us anytime by phone 913-851-8776, filling out this form online CLICK HERE>>>, or coming by the office at 10520 Barkley Suite 140, Overland Park, KS 66212.

New Year, New Resolutions and chances are one of those involves doing something with your home. Whether it’s a refresh, complete remodel, or relocating to a new residence, you shouldn’t tackle your interior until you understand the difference between decorating and design.В  Our business is interiors and we have spent years crafting a strategy that is based on what we call the Three Essential C’s of Interior Design- or as we call it, C3Design.

Connecting. Creating. Customizing. C3Design is all about how we connect spaces and integrate furnishings and materials into your overall design to create custom living spaces that are tailored specifically to your tastes.

CONNECTING

We love to connect with our clients. It’s a part of our company name and a part of the promise we make when we take on any project. Our C3Design process begins with a clean, computer generated drawing of your space. Starting at the very essence of a space eliminates costly design or measurement mistakes or miscalculations and helps you to visualize the possibilities for what your home can become!В  We discuss your goals for the space with you and reconcile that with what is possible within the structure. Together, we work with you to decide on the details and any architectural or structural changes before we move on to what we call The Final Touch which involves furnishing and accessorizing the space to make it amazing.

CREATING

Your peace of mind is something that is incredibly important. When you engage with us, you are trusting us with your home which is something we value immeasurably. At Design Connection we don’t just work on your project, we handle it for you from start to finish. Managing quality builders, craftsmen, and our trusted partners is what we do for you to take the guesswork and surprises out of the process. While your dream space is being created, we communicate with you and our partners consistently so that you are always aware of what’s happening and when at your home.

CUSTOMIZING

Decorating interiors is an art form and when your space is ready for The Final Touch, it signals the completion of the vision we created with you when we began your customized C3Design plan and project. Our goal is to give you design that translates seamlessly from idea to reality and final touch elements that extend and reflect the overall design. For that reason, we offer only the most unique and customized furniture pieces and accessories and work with only the most skilled quality craftsmen to achieve a space you’ll be proud to live in. Scouring markets around the country to find one-of-a-kind pieces for your home and enlisting the best in the business for everything from faux painting to cabinet design ensures that your space is as unique as you are!

THE THREE C’S = Happy Clients

As you prepare to tackle your space for the new year, keep in mind that detailed planning and discussion is key to achieving an end result you will love.В  At Design Connection, we love interiors and we love making your ideas and dreams come to life. Our creative and detailed approach to interior design is what sets us apart and we’d love to sit down and talk to you about how we can help you accomplish your goals with your home this year.В  We offer complimentary in-studio consultations by appointment and invite you to contact us anytime by phone 913-851-8776, filling out this form online CLICK HERE>>>, or coming by the office at 10520 Barkley Suite 140, Overland Park, KS 66212.

It’s amazing how fast the holiday season has flown by this year. As I braved the crowds and worked on my holiday shopping, I was thrilled to notice the variety of color and designs that were available this year in accessories. It seems that the mainstream is breaking away from the traditional and adding in a bit of welcome and exuberant colors and textures in everything from stockings to ornaments. Perhaps that’s why I have been embracing the color purple for the holidays!В  Either way, it was quite the treat to see and as always it got me to thinking about having friends and family over to share memories in my home over the holidays and how I will try to make the setting extra special. In the spirit of the season, I want to share some fun and funky ideas for perking up your spaces as we make it through that last bit of the holidays and make our way toward the new year!

Traditional Splendor
Nothing makes the holiday crowd say ooh and aah like a luxurious tablescape. Here you see all the gorgeous traditional standards- crystal drinkware, grandmother’s china combined with gorgeous red tapers and the lush pine & berry centerpieces will make holiday dining an experience to remember!

By Candlelight
Nothing says holiday dinner like the soft glow of candlelight amidst some pretty greenery. Invest in a gorgeous candle rail that you can use for years to come and begin a new holiday tradition at your table!

All Good Things
Can you tell I have a thing for beautiful tablescapes? I just adore the variety of textures and colors in this combination centerpiece with flowers, greens and fruit. Delish!

Good enough to eat!
If you have a particularly large table, an equally large centerpiece can be delightful.В  I love the combination of pine boughs, berries and beautiful fruit to create a sumptuous and bountiful centerpiece

Colorful Suspense
Last week I talked about hanging some cool ornaments from the chandelier to dress up your table- I just adore the height on these where they are suspended and floating low and center over the table.

Petals Aglow
I love to find things that add visual interest especially when I am dressing the house for the holidays. These unique illuminated flower lights would be so cool as a grouping inside of large glass cylinders at the center of the table to cast a soft and pretty glow.

Festive and Fun!
I love looking at what event planners and florists do for big holiday parties to see what interesting things they come up with.В  This fabulous centerpiece caught my eye and would be fun and easy to do at home. It’s amazing what a bit of ribbon, some christmas ornaments and creativity can do!

Easy and Elegant
Taking things you already have and making them extraordinary is a lot of fun. Here they took some magnolia leaves, a bit of gold paint and christmas tree balls and set them on a long platter to create a simple and elegant centerpiece. Consider cutting a sprig of pine and placing in tall flutes with a few red berries in the bottom and lining those up on the table or perhaps filling martini glasses with colorful large Christmas lightbulbs or mini ball ornaments!

Setting the mood and creating an atmosphere for the holidays helps to make for very special memories. Whether it’s carols by the fire or the smells of a fabulous traditional Christmas dinner, the little things you do to make an event extra special are often noted and remembered fondly for years to come. It’s a time for sharing and for you I have a special (and I think, to die for) sweet potato recipe I always break out for the holidays. You can find it by clicking here.В  If you try it, you’ll have to let me know what you think- tell me on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/DesignConnection. I hope that you and yours are having a wonderful holiday this year and I look forward to sharing more ideas and working with many of you in the upcoming year. For now, enjoy and have fun getting ready for those guests!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Stone Gable, Neiman Marcus, Southern Living, Floral Home Decor, HousetoHome.co.uk, ModCloth, Being Social, Better Homes & Gardens,

Do the holidays have your interior looking a bit ho-ho-ho hum? I know it’s not easy trying to work in red and green into your color palette which is what the majority of retailers seem to push around this time of year so why not ditch the traditional holiday colors in favor of something that is more complimentary to your current colors? Better yet, give your interior a bit of holiday zing and think outside the box with bright vibrant jewel tones like purple, or opulent and glamorous gold!В  We just wrapped decorating the home of our holiday contest winner and can’t wait to share with you the results, but first we thought we’d treat you to some ideas for making your holiday extraordinary with some unique accessories that could take your room from blah to beautiful in minutes!

Feathered Finery
Who needs a real tree when you can have one made of glorious feathers? Better yet, going for non traditional colors like Purple or Black can make a statement AND fit in with your contemporary design tastes!

Perfectly Polished
I love accessories that are not only eye catching but something that you can use throughout the seasons. This beautiful polished stone wreath is one of those things.В  It goes great with any earth-toned palette and can be dressed up for the holidays and dressed down for the rest of the year. Think of it as jewelry for your wall!

Don’t Forget Fluffy and Fido!
One of my fun things to do for the holidays is to decorate with unique ornaments in unexpected places. These adorable pet themed ornaments would be so cute hanging from the chandelier in the dining room at varying heights!

Oh Deer!
I love bold focal points in a room and if you have the space, adding a large accessory like these bronze deer can be just the thing to give your holiday interior that “Wow!” factor. How cute would these be with a color coordinated bow to match your look?

Creatively Coordinated
I love the trend of matching textiles for the holidays and what better way than to do unique stockings with a matching tree-skirt? If you want to take it another step, throw in a coordinating throw pillow or draperies to create a beautiful and pulled together look!

Designing your space for the holidays is sometimes as stressful as revamping an entire room. Finding space for the tree and pulling together a holiday look that is complimentary to your existing decor can be challenging. If you have space I often recommend storing some of your furniture to make room for your holiday decor which helps keep things from getting too cluttered. Also, don’t be afraid to reconfigure your furniture. Not only does it help you establish the focal point of your room, it will give you a freshness to the space that you get to revisit after the holidays when you bring your other furniture pieces back into the room. I hope you were able to get some ideas and inspiration for your holiday interior design from this week’s post.В  Stay tuned for pictures from our holiday decor contest winner’s home.В  I can’t wait to share them with you! If you have a gorgeously decorated home for the holidays, I hope you’ll share pictures with me on my facebook page. ‘Tis the season to be jolly!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Bouclair Home, Historical Christmas Barn, Frontgate, Neiman Marcus, Horchow

Sometimes the smallest of rooms in our homes are overlooked in the grand scheme of remodeling and redesign. For instance, think of the Powder Room. Typically a high traffic area in any home, yet for all it’s practical use this little space is often one of the least attractive. What most people don’t realize is that starting with the smallest rooms can help you get a feel for the remodeling process without disrupting your whole life. What makes it even better is the big impact a little redesign can have on a small space! Don’t believe me? Check out this Powder Room remodel for a small space that had stunning results!

Powder Room Before Remodel

Orange you glad you remodeled?
Orange tissued walls, fixtures in need of updating and a vanity with the original wood finish were practically screaming for a makeover.

Spectacular Ever After
A little faux, some new surfaces and fixtures give this Powder Room some serious “Wow!” factor.
Keep reading to see how you can get the look!

Glass Vessel Sink from Oceana
The sink becomes a standout part ofВ  the bathroom design with a gorgeous above-counter vessel in textured, tempered glass. The transparency allows water to reflect light patterns on the beautiful new granite countertop when the faucet is turned on.

More Gorgeous Glass
For the back wall in this bathroom, we chose to update and accent with small mosaic glass tile. The colors here are from Oceanside Glasstile’s Tessera tile in the Ocean Coast color palette. Hints of metallics and subtle pops of colors to compliment the earth tones of the bath help make the wall around the sink practically shimmer. So pretty!

Say it ain’t Faux!
Amazing what a little paint can do. Since new cabinetry wasn’t in the budget and the walls in their previous orange life had been tissued (which requires a great deal of work and expense to undo) we decided to get creative with a really good faux paint job. The cabinets and walls look brand new and highly customized.

Admit it, now that you’ve seen what a difference a bit of redesign can make you’re thinking about the things you can do to make your small rooms sparkle in time for the holidays! If you have the right resources, you can stretch your budget to get the most out of the dollar and one way of doing that is by using a qualified interior designer like Design Connection. We have access to vendors for everything from fixtures to faux finishing who will help get the project done right, on time and on budget.

If you like what you saw here, you should also check out the kitchen remodel we did in the same client’s house. Seriously jaw dropping results that didn’t break the bank! They couldn’t be happier and we’re pleased as punch.

Of course if you need help transforming your spaces, we’re here to assist. Kitchens and bathrooms, rec rooms and offices- we do them all from start to finish. Call or contact us today for a free in-studio consultation and let Design Connection help you plan your next project from start to finish. If you had a fantastic idea for a small space, feel free to share it with us by commenting here on our blog, or visiting us on Facebook or Twitter!В  We hope to see you online.