Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

Go bold with texture! One of the greatest things about using wall textures is the capability to stimulate a mood or dramatic feature in a room without having to alter the furnishings, flooring, or architectural details. Textured wall panels are a fun new way of bringing a new look into a room. They are sold in sheets that be attached to the wall, and then painted over.

Click on the picture to see more styles

Several wall panel varieties come in different colors, or many home owners prefer to leave them in the standard white. Depending on the aesthetic you are trying to accomplish, bold textured wall panels are a unique selection to bring emphasis to your space! Another bonus aspect is that they are incredibly durable, making them great for kids rooms. To see all styles and possibilities visit B&N Industries http://www.bnind.com/FINAL_ICONIC_PANELS/Iconic_Panels_Opener.html

With new technology come new products. Wall panels are a result of technology making the possibilities endless. For example these glamours wall coverings by Silven are works of art. This Tiffany wall finish was created with crystallized Swarvoski elements, gems which appear on the surface like rainbow coloured dew drops. To see more of what Silven has to offer, visit their website http://www.silven.it

If you love the idea of creating texture in your home. Contact Us! 913-851-8776 We can bring in just the right amount of texture that complements your home, furnishings and lifestyle. To learn more about our services visit our website. http://designconnectioninc.com/

When the temperature takes a dip, people tend to turn up their thermostats and focus on keeping the warm air inside. Did you know that as much as 50% of your homes heating can escape through your windows? That is not a comforting thought! I have the perfect solution for you that also looks great!

Insulating Window treatments! We carry Hunter Douglas in our office because of their superior quality. They have a fabulous product called Duette Honey Comb shades. They are shaped in a particular way with an inner lining that creates air pockets to increase energy efficiency. To learn more about this great product visit their website www.hunterdouglas.com

I know when you think about technology you don’t immediately think about window treatments, but you would be surprised! Motorization of window treatments is a great way to add convenience and safety  to your life. Power Rise, Power Tilt and Power Glide are only a few options.

Window treatments can add so much style to a room and the options are endless! We can help guide you through the best option for your particular room. Visit our online portfolio to get some ideas!

Here is an example of a combination window treatment. We used the cellular shades because of their versatility for privacy and insulation. Then added colorful side panel drape to complete the look of the room.

If you love this idea, but don’t know where to start, connect with us  Click Here to e-mail Arlene

Many of our clients think that wallpaper is outdated. Not when it looks like this! Powder rooms are a great space to insert great style. Here we used a gorgeous snakeskin suede wallpaper to set an elegant tone. A great shaped mirror is the dramatic focal point along with the modern fixtures. A crystal chandelier above cast a wonderful glow in this jewel box powder room.

If you have a bland and boring powder room, it might be hard for you to visualize the possibilites. Here is a great example of a powder room transformation. Design Connection Inc. gave it some pizzazz! To create this ‘jewel box’, we faux painted the original cabinet, added a granite countertop with a glass vessel sink and updated faucet. The mosaic tile covering the entire wall makes a dramatic statement – Wow

If you love this idea, but don’t know where to start, connect with us and we will help you create a space that you will absolutely love. Click Here to e-mail Arlene

Reminder – It’s Time to Think About the Holidays Now is the perfect time to begin the process to ensure that your spaces will be finished before your family arrives for the holidays. We welcome everyone into our studio for a consultation. This is a great way to see our space and meet our team and learn all about the design process that can transform your home! 913-851-8776

I recently read an article about using stripes in interior design, and thought I would share with you how I have incorporated stripes into some of my projects. I believe that stripes offer two great design solutions. One they can seamlessly blend color combinations and two, they visuallyВ add height to a room.

Stripes are easy to work into almost any room. When I am introducing a more serious color palate, I like to use stripes to complement the look. In this bedroom, I found a great striped fabric that incorporated all the colors of the room. Scale is very important to consider, a thin stripe can handle the multi-colors more appropriately than a wide stripe. You want to use wider stripes on larger pieces of furniture, drapes and on walls.

Stripes also offer a magical solution for helping a room feel taller. By placing vertically striped window treatments in a room, they draw your eye up and make the windows seem taller. In this elegant bathroom I used the window treatment to bring in a pattern and focal point. Because there is no door between the bathroom and bedroom, I repeated the stripes on the pillows to create a cohesive flow between the two rooms.

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about creating a unique space in your home. To view these projects please visit my online portfolio. As a professional interior designer, I enjoy introducing uniqueВ design options. www.designconnectioninc.com

Connecting withВ us is easy, feel free to ask us questions 913-851-8776, comment on our Facebook read our Blog or touch base withВ Twitter!

April Showers bring May Flowers, and we have some great design tips on how to bring the amazing, colorful, outdoor feel into your interior spaces. In the past, small, floral patterns were used in traditional spaces, but today, we have available to us Big, Bold Blooms. This new approach to floral makes them versatile in transitional spaces.

Fabric is an easy way to bring in some fun color into your space. You can cover your chair in a bold floral print, or you can play it a bit safer, with fun pillows. We love the great texture and depth the layers of petals create.

Art captures a beautiful moment in time. And you can use art to create drama or to enhance your space. A large black and white photograph of a gorgeous flower is timeless and stunning.

On a smaller scale, flowers have a beautiful sculptural shape. This makes them an easy choice for an interesting accessory that can be interchanged when the season’s change.

We think your spaces should reflect your personality! Many people would love a fun house, but they are afraid of how to balance out the patterns. We are not afraid of bold statements and can assist you in creating a beautiful new room. We do it all, from design concept, to material selection, furniture purchase and final details.

I would like to make a fresh start in my bedroom. I have always had traditional furniture and bedding, but, this time I want to create a fun, colorful bedroom. What are your suggestions?

-Karen Stark

Who said a bedroom had to be stuffy and beige? You should feel great when you enter your bedroom. If color inspires you, go in that direction. I just returned from High Point Market, the largest furniture trade show in the world. I was thrilled to see bold pops of bright colors in fabrics and furniture.

I recommend starting with a neutral wall color; it blends well with many color pallets and allows the fabrics and accessories to make a bold statement.

When it comes to furniture, the bed is usually the focal point. There are many lines of ready-made custom bedding, which allows for a custom look without the custom price tag. As an example our client requested a refreshing and fun bedroom. So I selected a lime green and aqua color scheme, balanced with a transitional charcoal color. By subtly repeating the fabrics around the room, you can create a balanced feel without being matchy matchy.

If the bed is the statement piece, approach the other furniture in the room as the supporting cast. Clean, elegant and interesting bedside tables along with great shaped lamps add ambiance to the room, rather than compete with it.

Think outside the box. Instead of using a traditional bench, two fun ottoman cubes do the trick. Instead of a reading chair, consider a chaise with a great fabric pattern!

A room is never really finished without accessories. Remember less is best in today’s streamline style. Enjoy your new room!

I would be happy to answer any questions you may have about creating a unique space in your home. To view this project please visit my online portfolio. As a professional interior designer, I enjoy introducing design options I find outside of the Kansas City area. www.designconnectioninc.com

It felt a bit like déjà vu, as I walked the halls of High Point this year. I kept seeing furniture with a “pickled finish”. It is interesting how trends can be reinvented every few years. The old pickled look has been given a new name, and is now known as a Blond Finish.

Pickled wood furniture was popular in the 1950s and many of the pieces are now collectibles. It is no wonder that furniture lines are bringing in this interesting finish that gives furniture a light color option with a rich depth to it. You can play this finish up and create an elegant focal point, or play it down for great decorative charm.

I especially like linen headboards and they are the rage right now. I can pair the blond finish with a great fabric for an old world feel that also feels very modern and relevant. Stanley Furniture introduced a new farm bed with great finish options. The old world distressing gives it a timeless look and the finish options give it character. I love the heavy rubbed through white finish, that offers close to the wood matte finish with a cream colored accent glaze.

Hickory White offers discerning furniture with some great new finish options. I love that moment in a project, where you decide which piece will become the statement in the room and which design elements will complement it. The more finish options I have to work with the more creative I can get. You can call it Blond or Pickled, I can make it look fabulous in your home! Click Here to view our portfolio to get inspired about how we can help you transform your rooms!

“I just wish this room was BIGGER.” Have you ever said that to yourself? Maybe it was after you ran into the edge of the dresser for the thousandth time as you made your way toward the closet, or as you sat at your desk feeling like the walls were closing in on you. Sound like you? Read on my friend!

One of the challenges I’m faced with often is how to get the maximum livability out of a minimal space. For my clients this often involves a great deal of space planning and perhaps pairing them up with some great looking furniture that can serve multiple purposes. When space is at a premium, who wouldn’t love having furniture that becomes WHAT you need it WHEN you need it? So without further ado- I felt compelled to share with you some pretty cool, practical and unique pieces of furniture that you could incorporate into your decor that enable you to have space that works for you instead of the other way around.

Hello- you gorgeous table, you. I mean loveseat, I mean desk…
This triple threat piece of furniture is to die for if you are especially space challenged. You can use it as a desk, it extends to form a dining table OR you can use it as a loveseat. Plus it’s environmentally friendlyВ  made of reclaimed woods with a low VOC finish from EcoSystems. I think I’m in love…

It’s an ottoman…it’s a bed…wait, it’s an ottoman!
Pressed for space but expecting guests? If you like them, let them sleep on the ottoman! Introducing the perfect compromise and it’s outfitted in gorgeous leather. From Gump’s San Francisco (I just love them- if you can’t check out their store in San Francisco, treat yourself to their website.)

It’s a door no more.В  Anyone up for a game of ping pong?
Having a little fun with doors and design.В  When you have a small space, sometimes you have to get a little more creative when it’s time to play. So why not turn your door into a ping pong table? This design by Tobias Fraenzel is what I consider to be fabulously fun design!

Can YOU turn a couch into a Bunk Bed in a matter of seconds?
The folks at Resource Furniture can make it so that you can do exactly that. If you don’t believe me you should check out this video. Who said only cars can transform on video? Proof that couches can do it too!

Don’t forget about Fluffy or Fido!
Fur sure, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. I couldn’t do a blog post on transforming furniture without paying homage to the king of space saving furniture- the Murphy Bed.В  Except this one from Solutions is for your favorite little four legged companion!

Stylish Seating or a Hip Place for Eating?
From inmod- the Futaba table. Another fun and funky table that you can actually sit in not just on!

Wasn’t that fun? Even if transforming furniture isn’t perfect for you, making sure your furniture fits your space is something everyone should be interested in. Afterall, no one likes bumping into furniture just to make their way around a room. So if you need help with that, give us a call at (913) 851-8776 or fill out the contact form on the Design Connection website.В  We just happen provide some rather excellent space planning services! Of course, ifВ  you’re looking for contemporary interior decorating and design services in Kansas City we offer a Complimentary In-Studio Design Consultation for your convenience.

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Gump’s San Francisco, EcoSystems, Tobias Fraenzel, Resource Furniture, Solutions and inmod.

Spring is just around the corner in the midwest and looking out my window at Design Connection, I can see the beginnings of spring flowers preparing to burst forth into the sunshine after a cold and snowy winter! I have flowers on my mind and thought I would treat you to some visual candy with some really gorgeous rooms that incorporate flowers into the overall aesthetic to bring a bit of the outdoors in!

We all know my favorite color is yellow so it’s only fitting that my favorite bloom is the Daffodil. So pretty and fresh. A beautiful bouquet is an instant pick-me-up for your room and your spirits!

Whether it’s on the walls or in simple accessories like a throw pillow or simple arrangement, flowers brighten any room.

Sweet and pretty dreams await when you incorporate floral patterns into your bedding.

Dramatic more your style? Fiber optic wallpaper is here and what do you know, the pattern is floral!
From traditional to modern, there are florals out there to suit anyone.

Have a seat! Gone are the days of your grandmother’s busy (and sometimes ugly) floral patterns on the furniture!

A colorful and modern twist on the floral pattern from the floors to the windows!

Fun and whimsical, cherry blossom branches that will light up a room with a dash of floral color! So whether it’s the lights, the floors, the walls or the doors- you can and should bring a bit of the outdoors in with some wonderful florals. What inspires you? I hope you’ll share with me your thoughts on florals in interior design on my Facebook or Twitter or even here on my blog!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Old House Gardens, Architectural Digest, Wildcat Territory, Designers Guild, Lovehome.co.uk, Camilla Diederich and Graham & Green

No I’m not talking about the exercise you get from moving the paint roller back and forth or climbing up and down a ladder as you reach near the ceiling! I’m talking about that hot topic these days of non-toxic paint. Commonly known as zero or low VOC paint, the VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds- which is basically the stuff that compels you to open a window after breathing a few too many fumes.

The chemicals in traditional paint have been linked to health conditions such as cancer and asthma by way of emitting toxic chemicals even years after a wall has been painted. With interest in air quality and subjecting our bodies to as few chemicals as possible, environmentally friendly and non-toxic paints have gone mainstream and with good reason. Afterall what could possibly be more important than your health? Personally, I’m a big fan of Benjamin Moore paints and so it’s no surprise to me that they have taken up the green banner and designated a section of their website specifically to explain about environmentally friendly paints, the standards and what it means for you, the consumer.

If you are considering painting, now is the time to learn more about low VOC paints and the impact using them can have not only on your style, but your health.