Design Connection, Inc. Interior Design

As technology continues to progress and information is always at our finger tips, the way we work is being redefined. Corporate standards are changing to include workplace flexibility, which means that home office is become a more prevalent room in the home.

Work today is being done in new ways and in new places. If you find yourself working from home on the kitchen table or on a desk shared by kids craft projects, it might be time to carve some of your own space. Design Connection Inc. can help you re-purpose a room, or finish out your basement to include a fully functioning home office.

The facts are in. According to the conclusions of psychologists who examined 20 years of research on flexible work arrangements, telecommuting is a win-win for employees and employers. “We found that telecommuters reported more job satisfaction, less motivation to leave the company, less stress, improved work-family balance, and higher performance ratings by supervisors,.” said Ravi S. Gajendran, lead author of an analysis of 46 studies of telecommuting involving 12,833 employees, reported in the Journal of Applied Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Here at Design Connection, we realize how important this trend is and even more important, is creating that space in your home where you will be working several hours a day. It needs to be clean, uncluttered, ergonomic, and safe. We have the resources to help you make the right decisions for your home office as part of The Office Evolution.

Design Tip: Function first! Make a list of your office needs, the design should evolve around these needs. If the new home office doesn’t accommodate everything you need to work efficiently then you will never be as productive as you can be. If storage is important, then it is key to plan for shelves and drawers and file cabinets. If a big work surface is needed then a large desk will be key. There are may pieces of furniture that can expand and contract as needed.

If you love this idea, but don’t know where to start call us today for an appointment with our professional design team. Our business hours are: 9 a.m – 5 p.m. central standard time Monday – Friday Call Arlene Ladegaard at  (913) 851-8776 or email her at Arlene@DesignConnectionInc.com

(Office examples are courtesy of office-dd.net, sixrevisions.com and femtalks.com)

You may love your house today as much as you did the day you moved in, but if it’s been 20 years, it may just be time to update. It’s no doubt, that older classic houses have a certain charm to them, but the interior design could be even more charming with a few changes. This is exactly how our clients felt with their current house. Design Connection Inc. identified some key design changes that would update with an impact and created a home that our clients can enjoy for 20 more years.

The hearth room is usually the heart of the home, where the family can spend time together in a relaxed way. The home already had great wall to wall built-ins, so we decided to keep their existing cabinetry and re-stain them in a darker more contemporary color.

By using neutral wallpaper, we were able to create a nice flow from the hearth room to the kitchen. The client loves this design aspect in their home. They felt like their old design had a different feel for each room, and now they have one cohesive feel throughout the whole house.

An interior designer really helps guide you through the value of updating your home. The kitchen cabinets were a great quality, so we decided to update them as opposed to gutting and putting in a whole new kitchen. This is one way to save costs and be able to spend a little more money in other areas.

Their new kitchen features the newly stained cabinets, a great back-splash, an absolutely beautiful new granite countertop, and a couple new light fixtures. It is said that remodeling your kitchen instantly increases the value of your home. And who is going to argue with that after seeing this lovely new kitchen?

Details are what make our projects look so good. The kitchen and hearth room are connected by an open floor plan. We had to be smart with our transition from kitchen to dining room to hearth room. We used beautiful wallpaper that pulled from the colors of both rooms.

One quick, easy update you can do to your home is the powder room. In our client’s powder room, we replaced the dated wallpaper with a fun, nature-inspired one with their favorite color, red. And after a fresh stain to the existing cabinet as well as a new facet and counter, the powder room is taken from the 80’s to 2012.

Stairs are always a strong and important part of a home’s design statement. Changing out the worn-out carpet was a must, followed with some paint on the railings. We decided to leave the existing spindles but added wood caps for a more modern stair design.  After new caps, carpet and a little paint on the railings, it is a sight to see when you walk into their home.

The library should be a room where you can relax in. With passing time the dated wallpaper became a constant reminder that it was time for an update. We went from a strong blue to a warm and cozy beige. At Design Connection Inc, we can take your project from space plan, to full interior design, furniture, materials and even the perfect placement of accessories.

If you’d like to bring your home into the 21^st century, we are here to help! Design Connection has been creating beautiful homes for years and we offer a full range of services and expertise for your home. Your complete satisfaction is our number one priority. Call us today for an appointment with our professional design team. Our business hours are: 9 a.m – 5 p.m. central standard time Monday – Friday Call Arlene Ladegaard at  (913) 851-8776 or email her at Arlene@DesignConnectionInc.com

This weekend families will be gathering around tables to celebrate Easter or Passover. This is the perfect opportunity to add a bit of style to your table and home. Simple can be fun. A simple tin can with a ribbon and some wild flowers sets an easy and relaxed tone to the holiday. If you want something a bit more formal consider a large vase overflowing with beautiful flowers. This helps set a celebratory tone to your tablescape. For more ideas Click Here to read: “Elegant Passover Table Settings”

Placing holiday inspired decorations around the house reminds everyone that taking a bit of time off to gather with family and friends is an important part of life. Take the time to create a bit of magic for your little ones, or enjoy the traditions that are being passed on by the older generation.

Formal or family oriented – you choose. Here is an example of a Design Connection Inc. home. We updated both the family room and formal dining room. Both rooms are elegant but create a very different atmosphere. One aspect of good design is to have a consistent design statement throughout the house. Click Here to see the whole project.

If your house is ready for an update, and you are ready for a home that reflects your lifestyle and taste, give us a call 913-851-8776 to schedule a complimentary in-studio consultation. Click Here to visit our website DesignConnectionInc.com

Some people think that an interior designer is a magician. We can transform a bare, blank space into something wonderful. Materials make a room more interesting, everything from the carpet, to stone, to fabrics. The shape, size and combination of materials are how an interior designer works their magic.

Part of being able to create fabulous rooms is to stay up to date with trends. Tile is one design element that can date a home. Here are examples of dated tile, do you have any of these in your home?

Examples of dated tile

When I walk into a space, I pick up on cues about a client’s lifestyle and preferences. The potential of the room becomes an image in my mind, and I can’t wait to begin to pull all the different materials together to begin to create the feel and look we are going after.

I love to use tile as a design element. And tile is a great way to create interesting focal points without breaking the bank. We usually pick our base tile that will set the tone for the space, then spice it up with a fabulous accent piece, feature strip, or boarder.

A foyer update before and after

Here is an example of Design Connection Inc project. We took a plain vanilla bathroom and transformed it into a gorgeous and modern Tuscan bathroom. We focused on using different size tile to divide up the space. We also switched the direction of the tiles which creates and interesting balance. We used slate in this bathroom.

A Vanilla bathroom transformed into a Tuscan retreat

Other cool trends in tile are textures. There are many more shapes available to us these days which allow us to create a lot of drama on a wall. My suggestion is to use this as a focal point and not for the whole space because too much texture can be overwhelming. A great local source we use is RBC Tile and Stone (http://rbctile.com)

I love to use mosaic. Here in a powder room, we created a lot of drama by accenting a wall with mosaic tile. It really gives this powder room to feel of a jewelry box. A fun new product is a mixed mosaic, where glass and stone are combined in one. The mix of colors allows for a greater range of blend between other materials in the room. These tiles also make great transition features. Another great local source for us is  Sunderlands. (http://www.sunderlands.com)

At Design Connection we have a beautiful design studio which includes meeting spaces, design library, fabrics, upholstery, area rugs, tile and carpet samples, all hand selected to ensure our clients the most up to date materials in the Kansas City area. This allows our clients to complete their projects without the confusion of traveling from place to place.

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.

It has definitely been a very mild winter here in Kansas City.  And with that come a fast approaching spring! Whether you’re ready or not, it time to start thinking about putting all your winter décor away and begin spring cleaning. As you clean and re-organize for a new season, you may also want to change out a few things, invest in new spring-inspired furniture, or even paint a few walls and as always Design Connection Inc is here to help.

Entryway Transformation via Real Simple

One easy weekend project is painting. Sometimes a drastic change can be so exhilarating and it definitely gives the room a whole new look. In this foyer, the family decided to go with a vibrant tangerine color. Adding a new floor runner, some white furniture and couple lamps, the space went from blah to fun, inviting and very functional. For more ideas visit Real Simple online, then call us to see how we can make this an easy and wonderful reality in your home here in Kansas City.

Office Declutter via Real Simple

The home office is a reality in most homes. Whether you just pay your bills or bring home work overflow, an organized space is a more efficient space. Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to get organized? Well if you’re like many out there, you haven’t quite checked this off your list yet.  A simple file cabinet and magazine bins will only help you out a bit. But the right piece of furniture and cool space-saving shelves will make a difference. Don’t forget the matching rug and chair help to pull the whole room together.

Kids Room via Real Simple

Kids! We’ve all got them and it is important to realize that the whole house does not have to be the kids space. Pick a dedicated spot for the kiddos and recapture the rest of your home for yourself. Next, know that the playroom doesn’t always have to be the “junk” room as this “Before” picture so perfectly portrays. With a full wall of cubbies clearly marked for toys, markers, paints and books, you can create a space that is clean and safe for your kids to hang out in. Design Connection Inc can help you make some smart and strategic decisions to create a transitional space, that will grow along with your kids.

Fun & Fashionable patios via Better Homes & Gardens

The end of winter means that we can finally start playing outside again! I bet you even picked up an issue of Better Homes and Gardens, the same source as the pictures we featured above. This is your chance to convince your spouse to get that outdoor set you’ve been eyeing since November. Fun accessories and a fire-pit will make your backyard THE hang out space of the neighborhood. Design Connection Inc, carries several lines of amazing outdoor furniture sets. And we can select the fun colorful pillows and interesting accessories such as candles, wind chimes and fountains as well.

Spring trends via Martha Stewart

Sometimes the small things are the ones that make the most impact. Try switching out your dark-colored pillows to bright pops of color for your sofa. Add some flair with some flowers. Or even one side chair in a lively color will help take the room to the next level. Martha Stewart put together the above trends, but Design Connection Inc can make them a reality for you. So get up and let winter know we are done being cold! It’s time to get out in the sun and get a little color. And your home deserves a little color too, don’t you think? And if you need some help Design Connection Inc is just a call away 913-851-8776.

Have you ever had to arrange the furniture in a bare room and not know where to start? Well, you are not alone with the many new or current homeowners who are faced with this exact predicament and feel absolutely overwhelmed with the possibilities and insecurities of furniture arrangement. Today, Design Connection Inc,  put together some helpful tips just for you.

If you’re like most families, the living room is used mainly for lounging and Tv-Watching. This is a great space for a sectional sofa. Sectionals offer great flexibility and comfortable seating. Many come in a variety of units, from armless chairs to love seats, ottomans, and chaises that you can mix and match to fir your own personal space. At Design Connection Inc, we often time recommend the sectional because it reflects family living. The big comfy sectional is great for snuggling with your loved ones, or comfortably relaxing with a good book. We carry the furniture line C.R. Laine for their comfort, quality and fabulous style.

An effective room arrangement starts with a focal point. If your living has a fireplace, this step may already be done for you. With a fireplace you can direct your main seating toward it to give it all the attention, or two sofas facing each other, as seen in the picture below, gives a nice conversation area.

If you have a very large space and are having trouble pulling everything together, a large area rug will help unify the room. An area rug can also help with selecting accent colors for your space. In the picture below, notice how they pulled the blue from the rug for the pillows and vases that really pop out from the dark brown sofa and stark white shelf.

Don’t have a living room big enough for the usual sofa or love seat? Our you prefer a more formal layout? Our solution to you is using four comfy chairs! This is an orderly, compact, yet welcoming seating group. You won’t be able to snuggle with your sweetie, but it is a great layout for easy conversation.

Last tip of the day we’d like to leave you with is to create order with symmetry.  You can do this by pairing matching sofas, side tables, lamps, side chairs, whatever you may have.  The symmetry you create imposes a sense of order on the space.  If you feel like this will be too boring or stiff for your taste, introduce some variety like a bean shaped table, or artwork to add blasts of color.

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.

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.

We all have TV’s, and as an interior designer, I am always coming up with solutions on integrating televisions in a space. Some of my clients want to showcase them all over the home and others prefere them to be hidden until in use. Luckily there are great ways of dealing with both prefrences and today I wanted to share some solutions with you!

Have relaxed space with modern flare? The easiest way to keep a TV that you want visible at all times is a wall mounted unit. Not only does it provide you with space below but by mounting your flat screen to a panel rather than a wall gives you the ability to move the unit without having to patch your walls. This unit blends the warmth of antiques with a cool contemporary appeal. This great wall unit comes from a line which Hooker Furniture provides. Click here for more info on this unit.

Love to have your TV in the room to but want the space to be sophisticated and your flat screen hidden? Then a lift console is solution to your problem! A 3-piece console combines contemporary styling for flat panel TVs with a rich traditional dark cherry finish. Features: remote controlled lift, ample storage for audio-visual equipment and accessories, interchangeable door panels of wood, or speaker grille. You can find all the options for this unit at Sunrise Home Furnishings Click here for details.

If you are looking to add drama to your space, using a dark large unit not only adds contrast to the room but make a statement that will be worth your money. Features include one canister light with touch switch, one adjustable wood framed glass shelf, two adjustable shelves, one solid wood panel door, one adjustable shelf behind the door and adjustable levelers at the base. You can even choose an optional cloth door for added design flexibility. If you love this you can find out more at Stanley Furniture.

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 http://www.designconnectioninc.com/portfolio