Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

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.

It all started when Mom and Dad gave you the old couch when you got out of college.В  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.В  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.В  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 ofВ  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.В  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.В  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.В  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.В  We are welcoming prosperity, balance, love and joy in 2010 and we hope you will too!

Design Connection Inc. was recently honored with two ASID awards (American Society of Interior Design). We are proud that we can deliver high quality results. Below is a description of the project and how we approached the design.

The client hired us, after viewing our work and realizing his style meshed with our style of design. The client a bachelor wanted a turnkey project which the designer could act independently of the client. He lived out of town and wanted a residence in Kansas City where his children lived. We furnished everything from paint colors and wallpaper, to a complete kitchen which included dishes, pots and pans.

This residence was a condo space that had many angles interesting architectural features, but left you feeling cold. So, Warm tones and neutrals were selected to create an inviting space and to help support the custom art work in making a fresh, bold statement.В  The linen drapery panels were hung using a satin nickel drapery rod to create a masculine feel; across the room the client’s desk is topped with granite and flanked with file drawers.В  A wonderfully soft fabric was used to upholster the sectional sofa, where the client enjoys relaxing and entertaining.

The furniture floating in this area reflects the angles and the ten foot ceilings allow the space to feel ample.В  The walls and ceilings are painted the same neutral khaki and the base boards are an even darker khaki.В  When walking into this room the view is fabulous, with no furniture obstructing the line of vision.В  Our client loves to spend time enjoying television, using his computer, and just hanging out!

If you like this look, click on the links to view the websites ofВ  Stanley Furniture C.R. Laine and Z Gallerie

To see the full project visit our website portfolio

There is an ongoing battle in the design world of trends vs. things you love. Many times we are shamed by decorating gods pushing trends and themes. You go back into your home and look at the things you love and wonder if you need to get rid of them. No you don’t! I feel very strongly about mixing in elements that you love with good design.

Many people chase trends, and become vulnerable to what stores and magazines advocate. But that only leaves you with an overexposed purchase, meaning that you are likely to run into your same lamp at a couple of neighbors and friends homes.

Your life, home and family are unique and your design should reflect that in a comfortable way. If you like a certain look, material or texture, go for it! A designer will show you how to mix and utilize it in a balanced way. We believe in the value of design that you love and one that lasts.

When creating a unique and special room you should consider using host and hostess chairs.В В Using host and hostess chairs helpsВ lend aВ presence in any room of your home.В  These chairs can be used at the end of a dining table, or used as an accent inВ any room in your home.В  The advantages of using upholstered host and hostess chairs can be the addition of another important fabric to the room, which then can enhance the overall scale and color.В  The scale of the chairs themselvesВ are very important as proper clearance is needed for arm chairs, especially ifВ  being used at a table.В  Host and hostess chairs can give great detail to any room.

Lately, people have been talking of nothing else but the economy. We have also been talking about it at our own office, both professionally and personally.В  I have never been about budget decorating, but about the value in doing design that is classic in styling.В  It is about a beautiful environment and creating a home that will withstand the years of use by both pets and children, yet still look great.В  Trends come and go, and if we buy what’s in style today, and not think about how it will look a few years from now, we often will ask ourselves “What were we thinking?”. When we invest in design pieces that are classic in styling, we will generally love them today and tomorrow.

I dated a man in the eighties who had a home with a lime green shag carpeting.В  It was definitely installed in the early seventies and looked dated.В  I knew I wasn’t moving into this home with the lime green carpeting.В  If the carpeting had been a great neutral color, which could range from any beige, brown, whites or grays, I wouldn’t have remembered the carpet to this day and would have been happy to live with what was there until it could have been changed.В  It was a deal breaker for me.

What I am recommending today is to stay neutral and play up the trends in wall color and accessories.В  Feel good this year, and buy a few pieces of beautiful classic furniture or simple drapery with beautiful lush fabrics.

I am ready to turn the page from last year to this year.В  We want to wish all who read this blog a healthy and happy New Year and a year that is calmer and has hope for peace.

Arlene

visit www.designconnectioninc.com

I gave a seminar at the Central Exchange for 50 women last week. The topic was “Help, I Want to Decorate My Home, But how can I do that in today’s Economy?” I gave many of the design tips I give in my blog. I had many of the women contact me to say thanks. I gave them concrete ideas and gave them much to think about. I know that we all want to make changes in our homes, but we are not sure that we can do them to the extent we would have a year ago. We can have a design plan and budget, and know which direction we want to go, and make the changes slowly. For instance, we do not have to change all the appliances at one time. We can change them slowly as they no longer work or serve us in the way we would like them to work. When we lived in Europe, the philosophy there is that you loved what you purchased and you lived with it for a long time. They purchased good quality and they were both happy and proud of what they bought. We paid cash for every purchase and therefore planned a long time ahead for every major purchase.

With my clients I would prefer to wait and have the budget and styles designed & specified and then make the purchases over a period of time. It is easy to go out and buy cheap furniture because we want it now, but it does not last and many times we realize that if we had waited and planned and saved we could have purchased what we really wanted. I remember my father saying to me “We don’t remember what the cost difference was; we remember that we didn’t get what we really wanted”.

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Have a great Thanksgiving,

Arlene