Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

I sat and contemplated the other day how fast the summer seems to have just flown by. August is just around the corner and before you know it, we’ll be wearing our winter clothes to ward off the chill with the hot and humid days of a Kansas City summer fading into a distant memory! While I’m not particularly thrilled about how fast the summer has flown by, it does have me thinking already about the fall and current design projects on our plate that we’ll be wrapping up in time for the holidays. Of course that thought led me to thinking that given the heat we had this summer, perhaps we’ll get lots of cold and snow again this winter which means ultimately I will be spending a great deal of indoors.  Being indoors in the winter can get old pretty fast so before you start staring at those walls and feeling like they are closing in on you, I came up with some fun ideas that you can implement now that will hopefully have you feeling cozy and not crazy this winter!

Clever Switchplate Vinyl Designs from Ziemowit Maj

Flip The Switch!
Clever and quirky, these vinyls popped up recently on one of my web searches and I just loved the idea of doing interesting things to dress up what is probably the least interesting thing on your walls, your switches! While the designs above are obviously European, the possibilities are endless and you can count on these or your own custom designs becoming a conversation starter!

3-D tiles to dress up your walls from re:modern

Forget Stucco!
Unusual and practical- these dimensional wall tiles can give a room some serious “Wow!”  Made from recycled paper you can install them easily and use them as either a decor element or permanently affix them to the walls to add visual interest or cover up flaws. They are paintable and come in a variety of textures. I just happen to love the unique look of the dimensional textures that are available and the fact that you can rotate them to create any variety of patterns.

A wall mirror from ZGallerie

Mirror, Mirror
You know I’ve always been a big fan of mirrors and so when I come across really unique ones like this one, it just makes my mind race as I try to think of where I can find another wall to add a bit of light and reflection. Mirrors always add visual interest and this one in particular seems to make me think of a dancing and almost liquid portal into the imagination!

Custom wall mural from Totally Custom Wallpaper

Immortalize The Family Vacation
I just love the idea of custom wall murals which I talked about in my blog last week. What a great way to take a favorite photo from that summer vacation and create a wall that can almost transport you back to your favorite place or a favorite time in your life!

Totally Unique Wall Sconce from Artisan Crafted Lighting

Light It Up!
I have a great love for lighting as it can make all the difference in the mood a room projects. There are some really amazing offerings now in wall sconces like the fun and funky one pictured above that turns your lighting essentials into brilliant bits of art!

SPI's renovated bathroom project with custom wall tile

Tile with a Twist
I love the idea of accent walls and this one is executed flawlessly in a bathroom renovation project from SPI that incorporates gorgeous custom tile as a focal point. You can incorporate something similar in your bath or even in other areas like your kitchen or entry! (just make sure you love it before you do it since it’s a bit more difficult to change than a mural or hanging a photo)

Now that you have some fun ideas to kick around before fall and winter arrive, what are you going to do to get your house ready for those cooped up winter months? I hope that you’ll give some thought to your walls and how you can make them more visually interesting than just a place to hang a photo or two. There is so much potential from color to texture and even depth that you can utilize to create accents and highlights throughout your home. I love seeing details like these going into homes, personalizing your space goes so far to giving you peace of mind and helping you to relax an unwind after a long workday or a stressful week. As always if you need help with your walls, the Design Connection Team is here to help you come up with great ideas, hunt down accents and help you transform your spaces into great places!  Come say hi or contact us today for a complimentary in-studio consultation on your next interior design project in Kansas City.  We would love to hear from you!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Behance, re:modern, ZGallerie, Totally Custom Wallpaper, Artisan Crafted Lighting, SPI/Ann Sachs tile

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

Call it the comeback kid, this is not your grandmother’s wallpaper! (photo) As a designer, I still cannot think of a better way to complete a small space than using one of the amazing textured or hip patterned papers that are on the market today. I am often told by realtors to take down all of the wallpaper in resale homes. In some cases I can agree with them, but generally speaking I think wallpaper gets a bum rap. With the vast array of choices out there, there’s no reason why you can’t find a great wallpaper that you’ll love so much you won’t even consider taking it down!

Despite the well meaning advice of my realtor friends, I have not stopped using wallpapers – especially in powder rooms and dining rooms or feature walls. I’m a little “old school” in that I keep a large collection of sample books in my studio that I’ll crack open whenever I need a little inspiration. From natural woven textures to papers that shimmer because they contain tiny glass beads throughout, how could you NOT love wallpaper? It’s inconceivable! Trust me, there’s something out there to suit everyone. All I’m saying is give peace – I mean WALLPAPER a chance! If you love wallpaper too, I hope you’ll reach out and let me know. You can comment here or send me an Email. We need to stick together…

[Images from the fabulous York Wallcoverings collections

Wallpaper is a great way to spice up a space. We use it mostly in bathrooms and dining rooms to add a pop of interest. Wallpapers come in many designs; we especially like the ones with metallic accents. The papers are of a high quality, and very easy to clean and change when its time for a new look.

I am just in the process of completing a whole house remodeling project in Mission Hills, Kansas. It was built in the 1950s, and it is a large ranch style home. With the client, we chose to do the home in neutral taupe, with great wallpapers chosen for the bathrooms and the dining room. The wallpapers add interest to what would be an otherwise neutral style. They add excitement and variety to what would be an otherwise an all painted home. We don’t today use lots of paper, but when it is well chosen and put in the right room, it is timeless.  Wallpapers have been around and used in homes through the centuries.  When I moved to the Midwest, in the ’90s, I found that the decorators in Kansas City were using florals and small prints everywhere. In California, where I was a professional interior designer, we used papers only in significant areas. Things take a while to come to the Midwest, but now we are seeing what was popular on the Coasts years before. Don’t be afraid to look at wallpapers that have style, flair, and texture. They will add lots of interest to your home. If you have a hard time selecting papers, call an interior designer to get some help.