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

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.

Have you ever painted a room with a color that looked great on the paint chip you picked up from the store only to find you hated it once it was on your walls? Have no fear, the Kansas City interior design team at Design Connection is here to give you some easy ideas to make choosing color a little less intimidating and a lot more fun!

It doesn’t take much to scare people away from color and running right into the arms of comforting neutrals. Just stand in front of a display at a home improvement store…if the incremental shades of color start to blur into one another as your pulse begins to race, RELAX. There’s no need to run screaming into the parking lot with a can of standard eggshell paint to ease your troubled walls, instead start grabbing some color chips and head home to contemplate!

A BRIGHT IDEA…
The lighting in most home improvement stores is usually fluorescent and lends a cool hue to the chips- effectively altering your perception of the color. Better to take the sample paint chips home and stick them to the wall of the room you want to paint and see how it looks in natural light. No time for that? Then walk outside and look at the colors, chances are you’ll notice a difference in the warmth of the hues and any subtle color undertones simply because you are now viewing the color in a more natural light.  The lighting in your home and type of bulbs you use can also affect how a color looks. Also if you wear tinted contacts or glasses, that can  affect how you perceive the color (in which case you might want a second opinion from someone you trust or an experienced interior designer).

If you are still undecided, we’ve noticed a trend in most major home improvement stores where they are selling sample size containers of many paint colors. These are perfect for you to test the color on your walls BEFORE you commit precious time and energy to painting the entire room. As an added bonus this will enable you to truly see how the color looks in daylight, nighttime and everything in between.

A QUICK HOW-TO…
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, one of the most important tools (besides a good dropcloth) for painting a room is a really good trim brush. Often the most difficult task when painting a room is getting the trim right. You can tape it off with green or blue low tack painter’s masking tape (time consuming but effective if you wait for the paint to dry and carefully score a line along the edge before you peel it off) or you can be brave and paint it freehand or utilize a paint guard that you slide along the wall as you paint.  The most invaluable tool I’ve found for painting trim is a really good angled trim brush. That is the one thing I spare no expense on when I tackle painting a room myself. Personally, I’m a fan of the short trim brushes with the rubber handle that can fit easily in the palm of your hand.  It makes the job of painting so much easier for me.

WHAT COLOR SHOULD I PICK?
Ahhh that’s the million dollar question and one we’ll visit in a future post.  In the interim, you can check out some great tools from industry leaders Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. At the Sherwin Williams site, they have a fun Color Visualizer tool that lets you upload pictures of your room and experiment with color that’s pretty nifty.  Benjamin Moore takes it further with a free iphone app called Ben that you can use to find a color palette based on a snapshot or use their Paint Calculator that lets you determine how much you need to paint your space.  Lots of resources out there to make painting less tedious and a lot more fun. Let Design Connection help you with your color choices if you need a hand, we do color consultations and help you bring it all together with the latest styles, colors and accessories!

It is winter and more often than not, you look out your window and see…gray.  It’s not just the weather, it’s your mood too and while you may think to blame it on the weather, take a good look at your surroundings. Your mood is likely being affected by your environment in addition to the weather and the happenings in your life. I talked about “out with the old and in with the new” in a previous post,  but I think this is definitely a topic that can and should be revisited a little more. Especially during tough economic times, we often forget how simple things can have a profound effect on our lives and how we live each day.

It’s All About Balance.
When the going gets tough, the tough start cleaning. I’m talking about cleaning in both a literal and a metaphysical sense. Clutter takes energy to maintain. Whether you have lots of clutter in your home, office or personal life the idea is the less clutter, the more room you have for prosperity and good things to come to you. For instance, think of how you feel when you have a room in your house where everything is exactly how you want it.  Doesn’t that make you feel good?

You Light Up My Life.
Finding balance in your surroundings doesn’t have to be difficult. You can start with something as simple as cleaning and re-arranging furniture or get dramatic with a fresh coat of paint.  Did you know that color and light can affect your mood and outlook on life? Think of how you feel when you’re outdoors in the sun after you’ve been stuck indoors for a week. Now imagine being able to carry that feeling with you everyday.  Look at adding some gorgeous lighting to brighten up a drab room or introduce a new color palette with accessories to ease you out of the winter doldrums and into the freshness of spring. How about some flowers in a colorful vase?  If you have a green thumb, a vibrant plant can make a huge difference in cheering up a room.

The point is, eliminating things from your surroundings that you don’t need, will help you create a harmonious and efficient space. Get rid of items that are broken or outdated. If you don’t love it, donate it. Make space for good things to come.  So, go ahead and redo that room in the house! Feeling at peace and relaxed in your surroundings will help you welcome new possibilities and that ever elusive concept of balance in life and home.

So there you are, you have done everything right, you researched and hired a designer and they are working to transform your space and you hit a roadblock. The “My Way or the Highway” approach seems to work for some designers but let’s face it, it’s your home and you have to live with it which makes it important to find a qualified designer who will collaborate not quarrel.

In Kansas City, I recently assisted a client who had traditional furnishings we were working around. Upon meeting with him, I found out he really wanted something very contemporary. I was off base, we worked together from a new starting point and voila he was happy! He even sent me a follow up e-mail thanking me for taking the time to listen.

It made me start thinking about the fact that not all designers will listen and just how important that is. Granted, I may not think that sentimental family piece should be incorporated back into your room but if you love it so much, I’ll find a way to work it in as best I can. The goal is to make your space perfect for you. At Design Connection, we do listen and cater to the needs of our clients because we think that’s important. Afterall our motto says it all, You Talk, We’ll Listen, You’ll LOVE!

We’d love to hear what you think- if you’ve had an experience (good or bad) that you’d like to share feel free to speak up! We’re listening…

I’d like to introduce you to an old friend of mine. Reader, meet Neutral. Neutral, meet Reader. Yes, you read that right, I consider Neutrals to be my friend. Now, before you go picturing a boring room done up completely in beige, I beg you to reconsider. Neutrals (like Wallpaper) seem to get a bum rap and with the variety of colors, materials and textures out there it’s easy to overlook what is typically considered a safe and oftentimes boring choice. I beg to differ because Neutrals are always in style precisely because they are neutral!  They go with ANYTHING.  So when I have a client who is hesitant to choose or commit on color, I introduce them to Neutrals.

Textures like wool and silk look wonderful in neutrals and compliment a variety of woods and metals. You can have a classic and sophisticated array of neutral furniture that you can dress up with colorful walls, rugs and

accessories like pillows art, and plants. A bright orange couch might go out of style fast, but a neutral one? Never! Just paint a wall, change the rug, get some colorful new accessories and you’ll have a new look.  Now that you’ve gotten to know neutral a little better, I’ll bet you’ll be fast friends too!

A fantastic neutral room that I love that was done by J. Robert Scott, click the image to view more pics on their wonderful website

It all started when Mom and Dad gave you the old couch when you got out of college.  Sure, it didn’t really go with anything but it was a place to sit and of course you were grateful to have any furniture at all. Fast forward to the present and you realize that you’re still hanging onto that old couch, that old kitchen table, recliner or other piece of sentimental furniture because you just don’t have the heart to let it go.

With the last week of the year, and one that was especially challenging for most of us, I think it’s a great time to take a look at your surroundings and reassess things in order to gear up for the new year.  It’s a clean slate and many of us are looking for 2010 to be an uplifting and “better” year than 2009 with jobs, economy and quality of life. If you head to your local bookstore, you’d be amazed and the many offerings of books to help you attract abundance or learn the art of positive thinking in order to improve your lot in life.  Your surroundings play a major role in your personal sense of well being and if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably agree that when you love your surroundings or your home, you simply feel better and can take on the world! If you’ve heard of  Feng Shui, it is all about creating harmonious spaces geared specifically toward helping you achieve a better life and success in your work and relationships. I truly believe that having a space that makes you feel fantastic can have an incredible impact on the other areas of your life.

So in an effort to close out 2009 on a positive note, I am going to say it’s time to say goodbye to the old and hello to the new.  If you can’t afford to get rid of that ugly old couch and splurge on a new one, look into updating the look with a great slipcover and some throw pillows.  You’d be amazed at how it can transform a room AND your attitude. You can refinish that table or donate pieces to your local goodwill.  When you let go of the old, you open yourself up to attracting the new, which is probably just what you need! Here’s wishing all of our clients, friends, fans and family a wonderful, harmonious and prosperous New Year.  We are welcoming prosperity, balance, love and joy in 2010 and we hope you will too!

We are so pleased to be able to share with you the photos and video from behind the scenes as we decorated our contest winner’s home. As many of you know, we ran a contest around Thanksgiving for our Facebook fans as a way to say Thank You for interacting with us online. Our winner was Becky Wiseman Todd and we had such a wonderful time meeting her and her family and decorating their home for the holidays! She had an amazing collection of decorations for us to choose from and we especially loved the handmade ornaments and the stories behind several of the pieces she was given by her mother. It was truly a blessing for the Design Connection Team to have been welcomed so warmly into her home and we could just feel the love in that family.  It was so touching and reminded us of how very much we appreciate our friends, family and all of you during this wonderful time of year! Thank you for reading and interacting with us on our blog, our facebook and on twitter.  Happy Holidays to all!

Our contest winner, Becky and her family. Click the Photo view more photos in our facebook photo album!

The “to-do” lists seem to make us a little frazzled around the holidays, so much to do and seemingly so little time.  Depending on your list, you may be done or nearly done with the decorating, baking, shopping and planning but have you had time to think about preparing for your out-of- town guests? As we put a dent into our holiday “to-do” lists, we started thinking about what we can do to make our guest rooms warm and cozy for our holiday guests within the next week or so and decided to share some of our ideas with you.

Quick Design Help for your Guest Room

Warm and Cozy is the goal and we can have you well on your way to surrounding your guests with comfortable bliss  in 3 easy steps.

1. Some TLC and Tidying up:  Go through the room and do a thorough cleaning, vacuum and dust. Guest rooms seem to be a catch-all for odds and ends since they are often out of sight, out of mind.  Clean out the clutter for an instant good impression.  If you have time, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for sprucing up a guest room and making it feel brand new.

2. Ambiance & Aromatherapy.  Easy and inexpensive to do, find a pretty vase or a festive mug and fill with fresh flowers for the room.  Comfort has as much to do with sight as it does with smell. Add to the appeal of the room by burning candles for a soft glow and a welcoming scent or try a decorative diffuser for aromatherapy without the flame.  Don’t forget the lighting of the room can add to the atmosphere. It is important to have good lamps in the room so your guests have a place to retreat and read or relax away from the family when needed. For that extra-special something that will make your guests smile with delight, leave them a small box of chocolates or some holiday candies with a note welcoming them to your home for the holidays.

Some great locally made candles in Kansas City can be found at these links:
AJ’s Country Cottage
5B & Co. Candlemakers
Creative Candles
Indigo Wild

3. Good Bedding Equals Bliss. Especially around the holidays, we all appreciate a good night’s sleep. Ensure your guests have good, soft sheets and warm blankets for their bed. A down mattress pad is an inexpensive way to give your guests a great rest and if you can, incorporate a mix of two down and two regular pillows to choose from.

Design Connection Bedroom at The Ravello

Cindy, our office manager loves to entertain and her guests are welcomed with a glass of wine and a wonderful guest room retreat using the many of tips we’ve shared with you. She says her secrets for keeping her guests happy are fresh flowers and wonderful bedding. We’re thinking we want to go visit her too!  We hope you are able to use some of our quick holiday design tips to get your guest room ready for company. From the team at Design Connection, we wish you the best and hope you enjoy the festivities of the season with your family and friends!