Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

So we’ve all  heard the general grumbling about the economy and how it has impacted everything from toothpaste to telephones. Kansas City and the interior design world haven’t been immune to the effects of the economy but thanks to our penchant for listening to and working with the needs of our clients, the team at Design Connection have been keeping busy with projects big and small.  We know there are lots of people out there who would love to do a whole house remodel but are a little hesitant given the economic climate so we decided to tackle one room at a time to show you some ways you can achieve that fresh new look in your home without breaking the bank!

BEFORE: A Kansas City kitchen in need of some updating

The Hardest Working Room In The House
Ahhhh, the kitchen. Not only is it typically a space where we prepare food, but increasingly it has become a central point or gathering place for family and friends to nibble and nosh. With such a hardworking space, no wonder it’s typically the first place people look at when they consider any updating in an existing home!  On this particular kitchen, the client bought an older home that was in need of some serious updating.  We had lots to accomplish so we found ways to help trim costs so that they could achieve the look they wanted but also incorporate the things that were important to them.

DURING: Kansas City kitchen remodel - refinishing the wood floors

Kitchen Update Idea #1: DON’T OVERLOOK THE FLOORS
We started with one of the basics.  The floor is often an easy area to forget about when considering a kitchen revamp. If you don’t have it in your budget to actually replace the flooring, there are several things you can do to update your existing floors especially wood floors like these. From painting a pattern or a rug (to cover flaws) to a full refinish.  Your wood floors can and should give you years of use. We decided that these floors needed a dose of a different hue to help them reach their full potential without costing a fortune. We accomplished this by completely stripping and refinishing the floors in a different hue.

Kitchen Remodel Before and After: Faux Finish on the Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen Update Idea #2: CREATIVE CABINETS
We didn’t have it in the budget to completely replace the cabinets and in many cases it’s simply not necessary. Cabinets are among the most expensive items in most kitchen remodels. Here, we helped the cabinets reach their full potential without costing a fortune by changing the color with a quality faux finish. It’s amazing what you can achieve with that basic design staple, paint. Some other ideas you could incorporate to update your cabinets is to take the doors off and paint the back a different color for a modern and hip “open shelving” feel to your kitchen.

Pretty Potential: New Tile Backsplash adds texture, color and visual interest

Kitchen Update Idea #3: MAKE A SPLASH
A backsplash to be more specific. We removed the original tile backsplash that looked dated and replaced it with a new one comprised of darker tiles that added a natural stone texture along with greater visual interest with the introduction of a hint of color and the slim horizontal lines of the tiles.

New Life for an Old Kitchen Island

Kitchen Update Idea #4: ISLANDS AREN’T JUST FOR THE TROPICS
If you don’t have one already and have the space, adding an island to your kitchen can add tremendous visual appeal plus give you additional space to gather ’round, prep food and store kitchen items. This kitchen already had an island which we reintroduced to modern times by adding a new curved granite countertop, a beautiful new range AND a faux finish to match the beautiful “new” cabinets.

Granite Countertops set off a gorgeous kitchen work area

Kitchen Update Idea #5: COUNTERTOPS ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT
Gorgeous granite isn’t always the most affordable option out there but is sure is pretty. The new granite countertops in this kitchen definitely add visual appeal and with the money we saved by refinishing the cabinets and flooring, it enabled us to splurge in other areas like this. There are several options for affordable countertops that include the great new finishes in traditional laminate countertops as well as manufactured stone countertops that can mimic the great look of granite without costing an arm and a leg.

Introduce new applicances in your kitchen remodeling project

Kitchen Update Idea #6: BRING THE BLING – APPLIANCES & FIXTURES
Last but not least, it’s the details that count.  Newer appliances and fixtures can make any kitchen feel modern and fresh. They certainly made a world of difference in this one. Stainless steel goes with anything and can help give the space that popular “professional” kitchen look that’s all the rage!  Even if you can’t afford all new appliances all at once, the beauty of it is that you can replace them one by one, as needed. You should consider new lighting fixtures or replace that drippy old faucet. Even new, upgraded drawer and cabinet pulls can add that extra special bit of detail that will contribute to the overall feel of the room.

After: The gorgeous results of our kitchen remodeling project

While these are just a few of the things you can do to update your kitchen, we think that you’ll agree that big or small it’s one of the projects you can undertake with the maximum potential for making a huge impact on how your home feels for you and your guests. Even if you take a few hours and update with a fresh coat of paint and some new cabinet hardware, we think that there are plenty of ideas here that you can incorporate bit by bit or as a whole to achieve the kitchen you desire most.  Of course if you’re just not that good with visualizing or taking home improvement projects from concept to completion, you can always count on us at Design Connection to hold your hand and help you through the process from start to finish. Having a designer who listens to what you want and helps you to accomplish your vision and stay in budget is something we pride ourselves on doing for our clients. It’s all about the service and there’s nothing better than having a client tell you how happy they are with the work you’ve done after the project is completed! This particular project was extra special because not only did we receive feedback from the client, but we also heard from people on facebook who were familiar with the original home!  It was such a treat for us that we just have to share.

WHAT THE HOMEOWNER SAID:
“I would like to thank Arlene and team for turning a daunting task into a fabulous reality. When we recently moved into our new home we loved the floor plan but knew it needed some updating. Having gone through the process of home makeovers in our previous homes we had some experience, but found ourselves struggling to prioritize where to begin with this home. Arlene stepped in and helped us determine the most important steps over the “nice to haves” in order to keep within budget. The result was a well implemented and executed plan with amazing results. Arlene and Cindy kept us informed, minimized the disruption to our family and kept the creative juices flowing. Friends and neighbors who saw the before and after cannot believe the transformation. Thank you!”  —Randy M.

COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK:
“I know this house….what an INCREDIBLE transformation! My husband & I are in shock seeing these pictures (knowing what it looked like with the previous owners.)”  — Lori M.

As always, if you need help with your design whether it’s starting from scratch, remodeling or restyling, we hope you’ll think of us.  Take advantage of our complimentary in-studio interior design consultation or if you’re just wanting to say Hi we hope you’ll pipe up here on our blog or on Facebook or Twitter. Until next week- have fun with those kitchens, dear friends!

Space…the final frontier. Ok, maybe not so much the final frontier in this case but it is something many people don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about when they are considering design for their home. You’d be surprised at how many calls I get from people who need help “fixing” their design mishaps but I’ll let you in on a little secret that I employ religiously…space planning.  Yep.  Space planning.  It involves the simple concept of taking a room and analyzing all the elements that incorporate that space like ceiling height, window size and placement, hallways and entries etc.  Then we take that data and plan a room with furnishings and accessories that support good design and accommodates the traffic flow your lifestyle demands. It may not be the sexiest aspect of the work that we do, but it is one of the most essential. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes bit of work that not only helps you visualize the end product but also helps you achieve the look you desire before you ever have to move a single piece of furniture or change a thing!  Now that’s what we call design smarts.  Read on to learn more about space planning and what I’m talking about!

Basements are challenging for furniture and appliances

BEWARE! Hidden Obstacles Await
So you finished the basement but before you go shopping for furniture and appliances, you need to make sure you have a way to get them installed on that lower level. If you have a walkout basement it makes life much easier but for those of you who don’t, make sure you take into consideration the size of your furniture and appliances to ensure that you can get them down the stairs, through any doorways and into your basement area.  Oftentimes tricky angles in halls and doorways will force you to get creative, sometimes you can remove doors, railings or even dismantle parts of the furniture but better to be safe than sorry.  I had a friend who bought a full size fridge for the basement only to find that it simply would NOT fit through the existing door and hallway. They had to return it for a smaller one which cost them money for restocking but also the time & effort to find a new one, and have it brought to the house and installed.  Their superbowl weekend unveiling of their newly finished basement didn’t happen as they had hoped. All of which could have been avoided had they planned in advance!

Room dimensions are key to a great space plan

For Good Measure
I remember one year I bought a live Christmas tree that looked amazing at the farm but when I got it home it turned out to be WAY TOO BIG for the space. Ended up having to move furniture out of the room to accommodate it since taking it back wasn’t an option. My husband wasn’t exactly pleased about having to haul furniture around in the cold weather because I hadn’t bothered to measure the space AND the tree.  This same idea applies to your rooms- you have to measure not only the room but also the features that make up the room like windows, doors, fireplaces and built-ins.  Once you have the dimensions you have to measure the furniture you plan to put in the space, then try to figure out how to place it so that it works well for traffic flow as well as being visually pleasing. Sounds easy, right? You’d be surprised at how many people skip this step and end up with a room they are not happy with. If you are planning on new furnishings you can save a lot of time, money and heartache by making sure everything is going to work in the space BEFORE you buy!

Digital Space Planning from Design Connection

Endless Possibilities!
Being able to take the data from room and furniture measurements and laying out a floorplan digitally is one of the things we do with EVERY DESIGN. Not only does this enable the client to visualize how the pieces will work in their unique spaces, it gives everyone a chance to test placement and design before a single piece of furniture is ever touched. It is one of my favorite things about the advancements in interior design technology and I am so proud of the fact that Design Connection has our very own space planner on staff to assist with making sure we get our rooms right the first time.  If you are considering remodeling, we can even move walls and make major adjustments that you can see before you ever get started, it’s an example of how thorough we are with the design process.

An Actual Space Plan from Design Connection

Here’s the Plan!
We love challenges in interior design and one such challenge is when we are faced with rooms that have unusual dimensions or angled walls.  As seen here in this actual space plan for a client, you can see how the windows, angled wall and hallway leading to this living area needed to be considered when placing the furniture and creating areas for traffic to flow easily.  This particular project was one that I really enjoyed because we started with a completely blank slate and were able to work with the client to include the pieces they wanted without crowding the space.  Whether it’s for a living area, bedroom or kitchen you should have a professional space planner to make sure that everything on your wish list is addressed, tested and incorporated before you commit to any kind of refresh or renovation.

Contemporary Living Room Furniture, Design and Accessories from Design Connection

The Finished Space
The space plan above eventually became the space you see pictured above.  Everything from the height of the window treatments to the placement of each piece of furniture was pre-planned, checked and approved ahead of time which made for a perfect room from the get go. We did space planning and design for this whole condo from start to finish. If you would like to get a look at the great furniture, accessories, fabrics and other design elements we used for this project, click here to view our portfolio.

At Design Connection, we include space planning in all of our interior design projects. While not every designer in Kansas City employs the same ideals and concepts that we do, we feel space planning is a big part of what makes our service so extraordinary.  We like to work with our clients closely to make sure that they are happy and in the process it helps us get to know them better and provide a level of service that you won’t find just anywhere.  Saving clients time, money and potential headaches by planning in advance seems like a small price to pay for the big results they get when they end up with a room they absolutely love.  Got a project? We would love to give you a free in-studio consultation! Simply click here then fill out the form and we’ll be in touch!

Ahhhh kitchens, the room in the home where we seem to spend more time than we realize.  With open floorplans and multi-use spaces becoming common in homes, it’s easier than ever to hang out and socialize in the kitchen, have the kids do homework, or just hang out while cooking.  It’s casual and comfy and no one seems to be able to resist the lure of food and drink right?  The only problem is that if you have a small kitchen, it might have you wondering what you can do to maximize that space so that everyone can enjoy. I have been working with some clients this summer who have summer lake cottages and condos with limited kitchen space. The question always comes up, how can I make my kitchen seem bigger?

Open cabinet kitchen system from SieMatic

Open and Airy
Creating the illusion of more space are the increasingly popular open front cabinets that boast clean lines and help you clean up your act. With your dishware on display you’ll become more aware of what you do/don’t need and what you need to get rid of which means more space for you!

Expandable drawer organizer from Crate and Barrel

Time to Organize!
Keep your knives and other kitchen gadgets organized and easy to access with expandable drawer organizers that keep them off the countertops!

Chroma wall mounted magnetic knife block from Cutlery and More

Utilize the Walls!
There are all kinds of ways to get your utensils, pots and other sundry items off the countertops and one space where they can be organized AND look great is on your walls. There are some terrific magnetic knife bars out there or if the exposed blades make you nervous, you can go for the look of a knife block but with magnetic properties like the one above!

Preparation sink from SieMatic

Areas that Multitask
I love it when design meets function and this fabulous prep sink is a perfect example of a way you can utilize a standard item, in this case a sink, and make it better by rethinking the design and setting up the space to serve as a food prep AND cleanup station. Brilliant ideas like this incorporated into your home decor mean you need even less counter space!

Corner drawer from Blum

Corner Creativity
I just love this corner drawer system from Blum. How practical for a space that is usually less than efficiently designed.  If you are looking at incorporating some new ideas into your lower cabinets, this is a great way to use those often wasted corners of the kitchen!

Slide Out Blind Corner Shelving Unit by Knape & Vogt at Organize.com

Ready to retrofit?
So you don’t have time for new cabinets that take advantage of those corner cabinets you never use as much as you should? Never fear, you can retrofit with slide out units that will help organize just about any cabinet space in your kitchen. There are a variety of options out there for under the sink, slide outs, lazy susans, pull down or in this case, a pull out unit that let’s you say “Hello Storage” to those formerly unusable areas!

Galley kitchen featured on kitchens.com

Think Clean
Bright light colored backsplashes, clean countertops and minimal clutter help to make a space feel much bigger.  This small galley kitchen may be small in size but it’s definitely big on style and notice the lack of cabinet hardware and things on the counters which adds to the impression that this kitchen is bigger than it actually is!

Even if you aren’t ready for a complete kitchen remodel, you can take some of these ideas to tidy up your space and make it feel bigger simply by starting with organizing! Once you’ve tackled that,  you can take a look at larger changes like paint, cabinets, countertops that will help to make your smaller kitchen seem bigger than life. If you’re ready to start planning your kitchen you have got to come in and talk to me. We do space planning so that you will be able to see exactly how your kitchen could be made more efficient but also how it will fit into your existing home’s design and layout. Whether it’s retrofitting or starting from scratch, Design Connection is here to help!  Call or contact us today and take advantage of our FREE in studio design consulation and take a step closer to the kitchen of your dreams!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks:  Siematic, Crate and Barrel, Organize.com, Cutlery and More,