Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

If you’re like many homeowners, somewhere in your house there is a closet stuffed with everything and anything you can imagine, all in disarray! We’ve all been there: Just got home from work or picking up the kids from soccer practice, and as soon as you walk in the door, everything is thrown in the entry closet. Then when you go back in the closet to find one particular thing, it seems like a hopeless task since everyone’s lunchboxes, coats, gloves, purses, boots, and even the cat gets stuck in there every once in awhile.

Family Closet BEFORE

This Design Connection Inc project features a family with just that problem. As you can see from the before pictures, this cluttered closet needed a major face-lift. This mother of two wanted something sophisticated that would hold everyone’s “stuff”. The solution we went to her with was a new, more functional boot box.

Design Connection Inc Space Plan

We totally removed her old boot box and closet and replaced it with new boot box that houses 4 separate spaces, one for each of the 2 kids as well as one for mom and one for dad! After removing the existing boot box we needed to update the flooring. We were practical with our choices in selection a tile since mud and dirt is tracked when entering through the garage.

As a professional interior designer, I help you analyze your lifestyle so that you can get the most our of your home. We make function look beautiful – that’s our job. If you are ready to see how to better use your space, give us a call: 913-851-8776

Other options are to use a closet system to better organize your items. Kansas City Closet Company is a great resource! Click Here to visit their website.

If you don’t have the space to build in a boot box, consider a piece of furniture. We can help you select the perfect piece that looks fabulous and really works with your home.

Design Connection, Inc. can take a client’s project from concept, space planning and selections to complete design and remodel. Your end result will be both beautiful and functional. Take a moment to view our online portfolio to see our work. If you would like a complimentary in-studio consultation, you can meet our team and learn more about the process.

We hear it all the time here at Design Connection Inc. – Should I sell my home or stay and remodel?

We help you navigate this question by exploring the quality of your lifestyle. Some homes really are great and just need a little bit of remodeling to make it your dream home. We help our clients to see the potential of their space, then present a budget. With this type of information they can make a better choice. And sometimes, we can help a client’s understand that the house they are in, really isn’t giving them what they want for their family. No matter what you decide, having a professional interior designer help you navigate this big decision is a wise investment.

Baby boomers are asking this question more and more. With kids going off to college and moving out, you might find yourself with more home, than you need. If your ‘golden years’ are in sight, you might consider downgrading your mortgage and upgrading your lifestyle with a new construction home. Our team here at Design Connection recently helped one couple achieve this goal, and with a lot of class, if we do say so ourselves!

Our clients came to us because their children were all off to college and they were ready to find their next home. Originally they wanted an apartment on the Plaza, but couldn’t find anything that truly met their criteria. They decided instead, to go with a “main level living”, new construction home. They found a community they liked and a house that was the perfect size. They knew this was going to be a long term home and wanted to add their own personal touches to make it special. Since it was a new construction home they needed to make a lot of design decisions fast. The selection process can get overwhelming very quickly, and our clients didn’t want to make a mistake. So they called us to help them with the interior design.

The kitchen is always a very important part of any home. This kitchen had all the function, we added the finishing touches to our client’s tastes to make it just their own. With the granite countertops and multi-tiled back-splash, our clients can dine in style.

There are so many window treatment options to choose from, it can become over-whelming. Here, we decided to go with shutters to allow our client’s full control of the light that enters the room. Shutters provide a sleek built in look that really finishes off the space.

It is always nice having a fireplace in your home. Although there was already one in the plan, Design Connection took it a step beyond and made it look even more fabulous with mosaic tile and a dark stained finish on the surround. With the wood fireplace surround being a bit darker than the wood floors it really creates a beautiful and striking contrast from the floor and walls.

Extra storage always has a plus, especially if you’ve had years to collect little knick-knacks and sentimental items. We spruced this built-in storage cabinet with some mosaic tile as well as back lighting. By picking up on the elements from the kitchen, we began to create a unified look throughout the home. This is a subtle, but important detail in making a house a home.

Another very important part of any home is the master bath! Spas are becoming more and more popular, so why not create your very own spa at home. We took this OK master bath and turned it into an elegant space our clients are sure to enjoy getting ready in and purely pampering themselves!

Also in the master bath is this amazing shower! Design Connections is always checking in during the construction process to ensure work is being done to our high expectations. And it sure does pay off. Who wouldn’t want to start their day in this fabulous shower?

Everyone enjoys an occasional drink after a long day’s work, right? Now our clients won’t have to wait until happy hour. This functional, and not to mention beautiful, bar will be open 24/7 for our clients to enjoy or entertain guests.

Staircases are a guilty pleasure of mine! Just by selecting iron spindles, you can completely transform a normal staircase to something more stylish and tasteful. Not to mention that these are the stairs that lead you down to the lower level bar.

It’s not always only about great style. We have a large selection of materials that are extremely functional as well. This bonus room has very durable carpet that allows the space to become whatever our client needs it to be, from a work-out room to an extra bedroom. The contrast of the deep brown carpet and the warm walls is a beautiful blend.

One thing I love about being able to help with the design of a whole house is consistency! As you can see, we incorporated the same colors throughout the entire house and even showcased the same tile in the kitchen to the bathroom to even the lower level bar area. I pride our team with its attention to details that can take a construction-grade house to a custom built home.

Last but not least here is what our client had to say about Design Connection Inc.

“Arlene is great.  We met Arlene years ago when we moved to Overland Park, Kansas.  She helped us decorate our house (selected paint colors, selected furniture and accessories, and remodeled our kitchen and bathrooms).  Arlene was prompt and professional and did exactly what we asked of her.  What we liked about Arlene is that she listened to what we wanted.  We loved working with her.  We recently moved into a new house, and we are again using Arlene.  Arlene worked with our builder in all respects, i.e., selected colors, stains, fixtures, carpet, and hardware and designed the bathrooms, kitchen, fireplace, and bars.  She has created furniture designs throughout the house, which we are in the process of implementing.  We highly recommend Arlene and her team.”

-        Jill W 2012

Design Connection, Inc. can take a client’s project from concept, space planning and selections to complete design and remodel. Your end result will be both beautiful and functional. Take a moment to view our online portfolio to see our work. If you would like a complimentary in-studio consultation, you can meet our team and learn more about the process.

Becoming more green, by changing out your light bulbs, used to be a personal choice. But now with the Energy Independence and Security Act going into effect, we might be saying goodbye to the traditional incandescent bulb forever. If you want to learn more about the lighting legislation click here.

The good news is – you have many options at your disposal for replacements. The trickier news is – you need to know a bit more about light bulbs to make the right choice for your home. The bad news is – with longer lifespans, upfront costs are higher.

Two popular alternatives to incandescent bulbs are the CFL (Compact Fluorescent Bulbs) and the LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

CFLs are 75% more efficient than a traditional light bulb and can last 8-10 years.

LEDs can be up to 85% more efficient and easily last decades. LEDs are the most popular choice right now, especially since they come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

As a designer, I always start out with the feel I want to achieve in the room. Sometimes you want bright white lighting, other times you want cozy and warm. Home Depot has great, user friendly, tools online to help you navigate all your choices. You can go room by room and see three different mood options. What is also great about this tool, is that they address every type of light fixture, from down lights to sconces, and tell you which bulb is best for that fixture.

Click on the picture to use the Home Depot Lighting Tool

Good lighting is one of the upgrades we suggest to our older clients, who are interested in aging in place.  As people get older and their eye sight deteriorates, having more task lighting options makes life more comfortable. With a few smart updates we can add good lighting that fits into the style of your home.

Lamps are functional because, they emit the light we need for tasks, but they can also be an interior design accessory. Here is a great example of a Design Connection Inc project. This hearth room is really the heart of the home, because it is where the family gathers. We helped to create a cozy ambiance by mixing up the lighting – from floor lamps to table lamps combined with a fan and can lighting.

A Design Connection Inc Project

Since light bulbs have such long lifespans, I am now delivering light fixtures with the proper light bulbs already installed. As a professional designer, it is my job to think of all the details, so that you can enjoy your home. When I get a testimonial like the one below, I know that it’s the details that count.

Thanks to Arlene and her team for creating a beautiful master bedroom and bath. My husband and I feel like pampered guests in a five start hotel suite, but with our own personal touches! Arlene incorporated some existing elements to create a harmonious result in our home. The process was stress free and all the contractors were top notch professionals. –  Karen C 2012

Design Connection, Inc. can take a client’s project from concept, space planning and selections to complete design and remodel. Your end result will be both beautiful and functional. Take a moment to view our online portfolio to see our work. If you would like a complimentary in-studio consultation, you can meet our team and learn more about the process.

Kitchen appliances are amazing these days. As a designer I love all the new options that are being introduced. Technology keeps improving the quality and efficiency of these appliances. Here are some great options available to homeowners as they remodel or update their kitchens.

Refrigeration columns are my favorite because you can customize your refrigerator for your family style. No longer does the freezer need to be attached to the refrigerator, which gives me more design flexibility. Clients want larger refrigerators with the ability to rearrange the inside to their exact needs. But I will tell you, it becomes challenging to integrate a 42” or a 48” in a pleasing way, mainly because of the sheer size. With a refrigerator column I can get creative in how I layout out the kitchen.

Sub Zero Refrigerator Columns Click Picture to Learn More

One of the new kitchen design trends is beverage refrigerators built into the kitchen. These are especially handy for kids who can come in a grab a juice box at their own height. There is no way around it: everybody gathers in the kitchen. An integrated beverage center makes casual entertaining a breeze.

Sub Zero Beverage Center Click Picture to See Details

Refrigerator Drawers are a great way to squeeze a little bit more refrigeration into your kitchen. They are easy to work into any design. One idea is to store all your vegetables in a refrigerator drawer next to your chopping area. This makes cooking prep a breeze.

Sub Zero Refrigerator Drawers Click on Picture to Learn More

As I update kitchens, counter depth refrigerators are always my preference. They allow for better visual flow because the refrigerator doesn’t stick out. Just because you give up a few inches in depth, does not mean that your refrigerator will be cramped. The interiors are extremely flexible and accommodating for all your storage needs.

The kitchen is the hub of the home and with integrated refrigerator computers you can instantly access your family calendar as well as the grocery list.

Samsung Refrigerator Click Picture to Learn More

Refrigerator efficiency is probably the biggest value when you upgrade your refrigerator. Many people have combination refrigerator and freezer, which means that the same air circulates through the freezer and refrigerator. New models have separate fans which means your fruits and vegetables will stay fresher longer.

Kitchens are known for being the hardest working rooms in the home. Design Connection, Inc. can help your kitchen also become one of the most beautiful rooms in the home. We can take a client’s project from concept, space planning and selections to complete kitchen design and remodel. Your end result will be both beautiful and functional.

Design Connection Inc Kitchens Click on Picture to view our online portfolio

Every year we are faced with the challenge of finding the perfect Holiday gift. Here at Design Connection Inc, we came up with a quick list of five interior design holiday gifts. Here are some guidelines when selecting your gifts. Keep the style of the home in mind. Keep in neutral enough to be able to fit into any room. Your gift should not be practical, it should be the gift of a little bit of luxury.

Candles are always a great gift. They add warmth and cheer to any space. They often come in pretty boxes or containers and make the perfect little accessory. I like to buy candles from local manufacturers because it makes the gift a bit more special. Remember- select a neutral scent since stronger smells are a personal preference. Trapp is a local store all about fragrance, we have been using and giving their candles for years. 

Baskets are very handy to have around the home. They are great for quickly rounding up items such as kids toys or blankets or clutter. I like Pottery Barns Havana baskets, because they come in all sizes, are sturdy and they can blend well into most room styles.

Trays make great focal points on coffee tables, desks or bedroom dressers. They have a great way of being able to group items in one place. Trays can be both decorative and functional. An extra tray at a dinner party is always appreciated. I love how there is a website for everything these days, we found these trays at – you guessed it, leathertray.com.

Blankets or throws are comfy and cozy this time of year. Here is an opportunity to give a bit of luxury with a cashmere throw. With this gift I would make it a bit more fun, but selecting a great bold pattern that is meant to stand out in a room. We found this blanket on cococozy check it out for more ideas on how to drape the throw in many creative ways.

Flowers are always a treat that instantly liven up a room. Whenever we finish a project and take professional pictures, we usually add a bouquet of fresh flowers. This adds a great feeling to the room. Go ahead and pick out a nice vase to add on to the gift. For unique and special arrangements go visit the Dan Meiners Studio downtown.

If you would like to take your gift giving to the next level and give the gift of design – We can help. Contact our office to learn more about about us and our process, and we will explain to you how we can make your gift of interior design happen. We hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season I hope that your lives are all blessed and that many great things will come your way next year.

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

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

It is hot, hot, hot outside but here at Design Connection, Inc. we are already thinking about the holidays. That’s right, in the design world we are beginning to focus on projects that need to be completed in time for the holidays.

Good design takes time and you want to feel great about your news space, not that you made a rushed decision. Now is the perfect time to begin the process to ensure that your spaces will be beautiful and finished before your whole family arrives.В

Ask yourself these questions!В В Will you be hosting large parties? Will your kitchen be able to keep up? Will the in laws be staying at your home this year? Does the guest room need a makeover? Is you dining room table fabulous, but the space in general lacks any personality?В В

These are all great concerns that we can help you tackle! 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 Our portfolio is another wonderful resource for you to gain some inspiration for the potential of your new space.

What Makes A Comfy Chair? If I had to answer this question with one sentence I would say that – One Size Does Not Fit All!

There are many beautiful furniture options out there – and many people have a love at first sight reaction, when they see a glossy example of the perfect room. It is my job as a professional interior designer to help guide you in making sure that perfect piece of furniture is also perfect for your body size. A petite woman will want a different seat height than a man of 6 feet.

When I begin to select the best chair for my clients, I think about the back height of the piece. Some people like to rest their head against the back of the chair, but it bothers others! If my clients have long legs, I will look for a higher seat height and depth. For shorter visitors the solution is simply a fabulous extra cushion behind one’s back. Some like a firm seat while others like a gentle comfy sink. These are all questions that I ask and answer during the design process, before we commit to purchasing the perfect chair.

Furniture is an investment, and my clients trust me to guide them through the options, so that they can enjoy their comfy furniture for many years to come. Check out our portfolio to see examples our projects and the many great chairs I have provided along the way. www.designconnectioninc.com

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.