Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

If you’re one of the lucky ones who get to work from home, you know how important it is to have a space that feels good but also helps you to become more productive. Last week we talked about how to get the most out of designing a small desk and office space for folks who are a bit challenged in the square footage arena.  This week we are taking another look at home offices but this time we’re looking at traditional ones, an entire room or space in your home that is dedicated office space where you are able to be productive and get your work done. Without further ado, let’s roll up our sleeves, get busy and see how we can motivate you to make your space work beautifully for you!

Conference table from Ital Design Furniture

Everybody Gather ‘Round!
Need to have a group meeting in your home office space? Here’s a fun and functional self-contained conference table from Bernini Modern Classics.  I love how sleek the lines are and how the chairs actually become part of the conference table when they are not in use!

Custom Bubble Chandelier from Artisan Crafted Lighting

Pretty Lights!
Everyone knows that lighting is key in a home office space.  Create artistic ambience with the diffused light from this fun and functional bubble chandelier.  Not only a beautiful centerpiece for your room, a gorgeous overhead light can make your office go instantly from dull to delightful plus soft lighting reduces glare on your computer monitor.

Blu Dot Bookshelf from Hive

Everything in its place
Nearly every home office has a collection of books and of course, like you,  they need a good home.  Bookshelves don’t have to be boring, which is why I love this box unit that gives so much space to display and organize the essentials and yet keep things looking quite spiffy! Bookshelves are also the perfect place to display awards, certificates and your beloved books.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Avalon desk from Horchow

Form + Function = FANTASTIC
You know how I love furniture that can serve multiple purposes, like this desk that doubles as a display or bookcase on the front. Such a practical use of space and I love the dark wood grain and spacious work area.  If you are going to be spending some time there, might as well make sure your desk is one you’ll love!

From Steelcase, the Leap WorkLounge chair

Your Back Will Thank You
Proper seating is the best way to save your back from the long hours of sitting at your desk. There is an abundance of ergonomic designed chairs to choose from in the marketplace that make your back feel good and your office area look good.

Bamboo Chair Mat from Brookstone

Your Carpet Will Thank You
If your office is carpeted and you choose a rolling desk chair, you might want to consider putting down a floor mat.  Gone are the days of the ugly vinyl mats- enter our friend bamboo! You can get these fabulous floor mats in a variety of colors from different vendors- there are some that are thicker and more rigid or you can buy the ones that roll up for easy shipping. Say hello to your new bamboo floor with a practical chair mat!

These are the basic building blocks you need to have a successful home office space. A comfortable place to sit, a large and adequate workspace, room to store reference items, lighting to see and possibly a space to hold meetings.  There are many more things to consider from the color of the paint on the walls to the accessories and art you use to make the space feel welcoming, hide clutter and file paperwork. I’m thinking maybe I’ll have to do another blog post to address the fun now that we have the function down! Are you ready to redo your home office? You know who to call for the latest trends, help with space planning and an eye for design…that’s right the team from Design Connection! From bookshelves to brilliant lighting, once you make your home office space productive and and a pleasant space to spend time in, perhaps you’ll notice that you’re getting a lot more work done.  Now that’s what I call a wonderful return on investment! If you are interested in a FREE In Studio Consultation, click here and request an appointment. We love hanging out with you online so if you have time, stop by and talk design with us on our Kansas City interior design pages on Facebook or Twitter. We would love to hear what you have to say about the wonderful world of interior design!

Click on the photos to visit the websites of these fine folks: Ital Design Furniture, Artisan Crafted Lighting, Horchow, Hive, Frontgate, Steelcase, Brookstone

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

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.

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

We love the things in life that are easy to do, so we wanted to share some great ideas for holiday centerpieces to dress your Thanksgiving table without the stress!

Think simple.  Whether your approach is casual or sophisticated, sometimes less is more. When you’re out getting your staples for dinner, why not pick up some small to medium sized pumpkins or gourds for your table? The fall colors look fabulous and you can group them together or spread them out along the length of the table and alternate them with some small votive candles on a beautiful table runner. Not into the less is more look? If you want to get creative, consider hollowing out a couple small pumpkins to hold candles or a combination of beautiful fall flowers and leaves. Minimal effort for maximum impact!

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I love the color purple and I have seen it in the stores as a hot color for fall. But, this rich and fabulous color has disappeared from the fabrics that we are using in our homes. I have a client that loves all the shades of red and purple, so recently I have spent many hours researching fabrics. I felt challenged to find the right shades for her. In the end, I came up with fabrics the client loved, but I realized we are still behind the time in using the color in our designs.

We will be seeing more of this color in our interior designs, in the next two years. Home fabrics are usually right behind great fashion trends.

Since we have just researched these fabrics, Design Connection Inc would be happy to assist you, if these are the colors you love, and can’t live without.

Check out these sites for some good ideas.

http://www.robertallendesign.com/

http://www.fschumacher.com/

Did you see the article about cork flooring in the Sunday House and Home section of the Kansas City Star? My opinion on cork is that it is a wonderful green alternative material. But… it must be used in the right room with the right conditions. Cork is perfect for a fun playroom because it is soft and durable. However, if you have a traditional kitchen, the casual look of cork would probably not work. It works best with transitional or modern designs. I suggest consulting an interior designer before you make major home improvement decisions. You might be focusing on the qualities of the material, while we can see how it will impact the look of your home. www.designconnectioninc.com

Design Tip: Cork is a flexible material and can be cut into a variety of sizes. We can create interesting borders or patterns just like we would with tile or wood.

DesignTips KC: Adding a medallion in your foyer creates a special detail that creates a great first impression of your home.

Deep, dark, rich colors like chocolate and espresso are the new way to go with your hardwood floors. Things to consider with flooring – in addition to color - are plank width, wood texture and layout patterns. Your floors are an important consideration in the design of your home. They visually tie your rooms together, don’t take them for granted.

We work with www.svbwoodfloors.com for their quality attention to detail.

If you are interested in an interior design consultation contact us! www.designconnectioninc.com

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