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!

Let’s face it, there is only one of you on this earth, which makes you completely and utterly unique. So, why settle for mainstream when you can incorporate one-of-a-kind style choices into your home decor that reflect your personality? I come across so many interesting individuals in my work which is what makes it so fun to do. Getting to know people, finding ways to make their homes sync with their personalities and tastes is one of the things I enjoy most about interior design. There is nothing better than to have a client say how much the love the work you did or exclaim over accessories you found that seem to have been made especially for them!  This week we’ll take things a little bit further and show you some ideas for the creating amazing spaces with uncommon elements that highlight your individuality.

Deck the walls with custom wallpaper or murals

If Walls Could Talk…
They would tell you it’s their turn to shine in your interior decor. Did you know you can design your own custom wall murals from scratch? You can go with a template where you simply pick a pattern and colors or completely design from the ground up if you are artistically gifted, better yet use a favorite photo for a larger than life wall that will make you smile!

Choose and customize a sofa, loveseat or chair from start to finish, hello personality!

A Neat Seat
Forget just choosing the fabric for your sofa and go for the whole design experience by choosing your wood finish, style, upholstery AND pillows. The result will be a combination that is completely YOU.  Living Green has an easy to use customizing tool on their website where you can create your own furniture on the fly like I did with the sofas pictured above!

Creative patterns and colors come to life on custom lampshades and light fixtures!

Switch On Your Creativity
I love being able to design my own lighting and with companies like Lamps Plus, it’s easier than ever when you can pick your own light fixture, floor or table lamp and dress it up with a myriad of colors and tons of patterns. Serious fun to be had here (can’t you tell from the light fixtures and lamps I created above?!)

Custom wallpaper and accessories could be perfect for your home's interior

Wallpaper is NOT Dead
In fact, it’s alive and well and for your particularly creative souls, you can create your very own custom printed wallpaper online anymore. I am so impressed with the tools that are available to experiment with different looks and see results instantly. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had so much fun in one afternoon…

Soft wool rugs are perfect for your home decor in a pretty pattern you pick out

Cut a Rug!
Bet you had no idea you could have your very own custom wool rug hand-loomed to your specifications by Peruvian artists did you? You start out with a blank slate and add the design which is then created especially for you to showcase in your home. There won’t be another soul out there with the same rug that you have- AND as an added bonus you can even customize pillows to match. Now that’s divine design!

Serious style points for creating your personalized custom bedding

Beautiful Bedding
Inspire sweet dreams with bedding that screams with personality. I love the custom options from InMod where you can choose everything from the fabric (cotton, silk etc.) to the pattern to the color of the thread used for the embroidery. Plus, the prices are so reasonable for this level of customization!

Isn’t it amazing the level of customization you can get for everything you could possibly want from the floors to ceiling these days? I just love all the options that are available out there to really make a space go from ho-hum to simply brilliant. Self expression in interior design is key to making your home a place you can truly enjoy spending time in.  By customizing pieces, you give them meaning and turn them into something truly special that goes beyond owning a one-of-a-kind item.  Beyond the things I showcased here there are many more ways you can put your personal stamp on your decor with custom finishes, furniture, window treatments, artwork, accessories and more.  If you need help, you know who to call!  We have the resources you need to make your dreams a reality and can customize just about anything you can dream up. We love creating inspired spaces and can help make sure you end up with something that is as unique and as special as you are!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks:  TotallyCustomWallpaper.com, Living Green, Lamps Plus, Alluminare, Jonathan Adler, InMod

Summer is here and whether you work at home on a regular basis or find yourself taking care of tasks at home during time off or on the weekends, it’s important to have a space that functions and flows, especially if you ever want to get anything done. After last week’s post on cramming a lot of function into a small kitchen space, I received a few questions about home office spaces from some teacher friends who are “off” for the summer but end up working quite a bit from home which inspired me for this week’s post. Ready to get some work done?  Don’t let the lack of space cramp your style, we’re here to inspire the office you truly desire!

Grassy Charging Station from ThinkGeek

Give your Gadgets a Rest!
Tidy up those messy cables and recharge your portable devices in style on a fun and functional bed of grass. Not only does it hide cables, it cushions your electronics and might make them feel like they are on a summery vacation (plus it looks cooler than a standard charging station!)

Lax wall desk from Mash Studios

Put it on the Wall!
In a small space furniture can take up so much room so why not put it on the walls? It gets everything up neatly off the floor, creating the illusion of more room AND utilizes the space you might not use for anything other than art and accessories!

Conceal book shelf from Umbra

Got Books? Defy Gravity!
I love the idea of these fantastic and conversation starting bookshelves that convert an existing book into a shelf to make your books look like they are floating on the wall! Not only can you organize your books, they actually can become your wall art!

Wall cleat from Oboiler

Wrap it up
Living in the electronic age means we have lots of cables and things to plug in. Don’t let your cords and cables trip you up. What to do when you’re not using them? Here is a simple and wonderful solution that makes both practical and stylish sense!

Talak LED desk lamp from Artemide

Small footprint, Big light!
Adequate lighting doesn’t always come with the space so if you want to make sure your desk area is illuminated, look no further than a slim LED light that takes up very little space but gives off plenty of light! There are lots of designs in a multitude of colors and even clamp versions in case you’d rather hang your light from a bookshelf and keep the desk area nice and neat!

Charles Pollock chairs from Hive

So much more than just a chair
I am a huge fan of really good seating and task chairs in your home office is no exception, in fact it should be one of your better investments simply because if you plan to spend a lot of time working at your desk, you’ll feel better if you are comfortable (and you’ll get more work done if your neck and back don’t hurt from the strain of sitting in a bad seat!) Ergonomic task seating can be found just about anywhere and you can inject your style  by choosing unique colors, finishes or upholstery to make your seat compliment your space beautifully!

Inspired yet? I have lots of space challenged clients and one of the things I’m a big believer in is space planning. Especially in smaller areas, it’s so important to lay out the room and determine where everything will go and make sure it will all fit before you ever pick up a paintbrush or start making improvements. At Design Connection that’s one of the things we do best, helping take the challenges out of a space and creating areas that our clients can use and love for years to come.  We do complimentary in-studio consultations for interior design in Kansas City, so if you are interested in some home decor one-on-one time with the Design Connection Team members, contact us today. You can either fill out the form, give us a call or come by the office to make an appointment.  We would love to help your optimize your space whether it’s an office, kitchen or other room in your house, design is our passion.  You talk, we listen, you’ll LOVE!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: ThinkGeek, Mash Studios, Umbra, Oboiler, Artemide, Hive

School is out, summer has kicked in and on those days where it’s either raining or too hot I’ll bet many of you are wondering what to do with the kiddos. If you ask me, the answer is simple, let them design! I love incorporating items with a personal touch into my design and there are some very cool, interactive accessories out there that not only look great, but keep the little ones occupied. Design with function, what’s not to love?  Here are a few fun ideas for projects you can undertake with the kids to use throughout your home. The best part is that you’ll get to make memories and a statement with your design style all at the same time.

Chalkboard paint from Rust-Oleum

Art on every wall!
Remember when it was taboo to write on the walls? Indulge your future graffiti artist with chalkboard walls in either classic green or black! The thing I love about this paint is that the walls are not just a frame for your design, they become a living and changing part of it and the kids will have a blast customizing it with their handiwork.

Deep frames from Pottery Barn Kids

You’ve been Framed!
Remember shadowboxes? A perfect rainy-day project for you and the kids to capture a piece of their childhood that you can proudly display on the walls.  All you need is a glue gun, found items like bits of toys and games to make a colorful and whimsical statement in any room of the house. These would be so cute as a grouping!

Train photo frame wall decals from Uncommon Goods

Choo-Choose to frame some photos!
Fun and harmless for the walls- if you have a train aficionado, these wall decals are for you. Spend a few hours choosing the photos you want to display and then get them on the walls with these bright and simple train graphics!

Ty shower curtain from Grain Design

Scrub-a-Dub
There are so many things to love about this shower curtain it’s hard to know where to start. They are made of plastic so they won’t off-gas, plus they come with your choice of color in permanent markers so that you can customize and create your own bathroom masterpiece.  Get the kids involved and let them do their own shower curtain for their bath- with plenty of room to draw, this could be a fantastic family project!

Interactive Rug from JustKidsRugs.com

Fun on the floor
These require little effort other than finding the space in a room (perfect for a playroom!) and the great thing is that you can set the kids up with some toy cars, people and animals and let them have a ball playing in this “town”  There are several rug options out there anymore, from train tracks to cities, and even baseball diamonds or soccer fields.  More fun that you could ever imagine!

Picture hangers from The Land of Nod

No Room on the Fridge?
No sweat- these fun and practical picture hangers will do the trick by giving you another way to decorate your walls with your kid’s artwork. Just make sure you have plenty of paper and crayons on hand!

Bendant light from re-modern

A bright idea
A bit of quick fun here with flat packaged lighting (left) that you bend to form your own idea of a chandelier. Have the kids do the bending and let them make this artistic light fixture their own!

So now that you have a few ideas, go grab the kids and have a little bit of design fun when you’re not in the sun. As always if you need any help with your decor or a bit of interior design inspiration and ideas, feel free to stop by or give me a call. Design Connection offers free in-studio interior design consultations and we love to help our clients find ways to involve the whole family in the design process.  Do you have more ideas that you’d like to share? Feel free to comment on my blog or check us out in our interior design page on Facebook or send us a tweet on Twitter!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Rust-Oleum, Potery Barn Kids, Uncommon Goods, Grain Design, JustKidsRugs.com, The Land of Nod, re-modern

You say “Tomato” I say “To-mah-to”
It’s not uncommon to have clients who come to us with completely different ideas in regards to the type of design and style they prefer. That was exactly the situation we had recently when we had a fantastic young couple come to Design Connection looking for an interior designer who understood and could finesse the task of merging their two very different tastes, traditional and contemporary.

We love a good challenge and were definitely up to the task of making this couple’s first home together into a place where they both could feel comfortable and enjoy their surroundings.

Before/After pictures of the Hearth Room and the Space Plan. We made sure that the furniture would fit and allow plenty of room to move about.

We painted the walls in variations of the same color of green which really brought out the personality of each room. With the white woodwork and trim, the addition of bold color really made their spaces match the vitality and youth that that we felt personified this couple.

In addition the contemporary light fixtures – especially in the entryway- added a bit of style and whimsy the minute you walked into the house!

The right color and furniture can make all the difference. Now our happy homeowners can dine in stylish bliss with their new furniture and accessories from Design Connection!

We had a clean slate to work with for their lower level  and wow what a difference from the before and after pics!

The husband dislikes clutter and too many accessories, so we opted for neat, crisp and clean design to create a phenomenal space for them to entertain on their lower level.

From painting,  electrical work, and space planning to the furniture and accessories,  we took care of it all and kept everything on schedule for our clients. They were thrilled with the end result! We really had fun with this project and the challenge of combining their styles to enable them (and their individual style preferences) to live in harmony!  I want to give a special thanks to my husband, Ed, for his assistance in helping with the final touches and hanging things on the walls for me.   If you want to give us a challenge to design your space, please feel free to contact us at 913-851-8776 or fill out our Contact Form online and we’ll contact you.  Don’t forget to say hi to us on Facebook and Twitter, we love to hear what you think of our work, the things we talk about on our blog or just design in general because that’s what we love!