Design Blog
Year In Review: Our Favorite Interior Design Projects From 2018
What an incredible year 2018 has been for us at Design Connection, Inc.! Here is a look back at some of our favorite Before & After interior design projects from this past year. Enjoy!
Formal Living Room Update
This large, classic-styled home featured beautiful moldings, cabinetry, and craftsmanship, but was in need of an update that captured my clients’ collective style. A warm gray color was chosen for the walls and coffered ceiling, setting the stage for the design additions to come.
My clients wanted a formally dressed living room with comfortable, elegant furniture to accommodate entertaining multiple guests. The furnishings were sized to fit the space perfectly and the fabrics were chosen with daily use and easy-cleaning in mind.
The clients love the new furnishings in their living room:
“We were at loss for how to make it look elegant, beautiful, and yet functional. Arlene got the style of the space.”
Johnson County Home Kitchen Update
The need for new appliances and the desire for a fresh, current look prompted these Johnson County homeowners to call Design Connection for help.
When designing custom cabinetry, we are able to hone in to your needs and create smart storage solutions that are tailored to your ideals. Because this entire kitchen needed to be reconfigured, this was the perfect opportunity to give my clients their dream kitchen, with attention to the smallest of details.
The cream colored inset cabinets brighten this space and conceals the refrigerator, providing a seamless to look in this newly updated kitchen. My clients especially love their new Wolfe and Sub-Zero appliances!
Johnson County Home Breakfast Room Update
Every space in this whole-home redesign received an update:
Johnson County Home Powder Room Update
Going bold in small spaces like your powder room can pack a design punch and deliver a WOW! factor that really reflects your personality. In this powder room, the floral wallpaper was the knockout my clients were looking for.
Storage solutions were also incorporated into the new design with a custom vanity and floor-to-ceiling cabinet in a java finish. Quartz countertops and high-end plumbing and lighting fixtures add an elegant touch, enhancing the allure of this small space.
Johnson County Home Laundry & Mud Room Update
When we renovated this Overland Park, KS home, the laundry room was also on the laundry list of areas that required a design update. In addition to housing the washer and dryer, this laundry room serves as an entryway and mudroom, as well as a stay-and-play area for the family pup. Here is the laundry room BEFORE:

Designed with the large under-cabinet dog kennel in mind, new cabinets were created with customized storage solutions unique to my clients’ needs. Paired with a sink and washing basin, the deep gray quartz Caesarstone countertop adds another elegant, functional element to this new laundry room design. My clients love their new multi-functional laundry room! While doing laundry is still a chore, keeping the mudroom organized and free from clutter is now easier and more enjoyable than ever!
1980’s Bathroom Gets Transitional Transformation
This beautiful Leawood home was built in the 1980’s when golden oak was the popular choice for wood flooring and trim. Trendy for its time, this carpeted master bathroom was outfitted with oak cabinets, trim, and doors. The clients decided they were ready for a whole new look!
Custom designed for the way they live and move throughout their space, each cabinet was well thought out and planned with the clients’ exact needs and ease-of-use in mind. In addition to enlarging the shower, we were able to make better use of their space by removing the unused bathtub and installing a large makeup area.
The 1980’s carpet and golden oak is gone! The painted cabinets and trim in a neutral palette help this master bathroom feel large and bright, elegant, and comfortable. My clients love their new space!
A few years ago, I designed and completed the entire downstairs of this home. See more Before & After pics of this home here.
These are just a few of my favorite interior design projects from this past year. See all of our recent project pictures here!
I hope to inspire you to take the first step toward making the changes that you long to see in your home. Call us to schedule a complimentary in-studio design consultation!