Thankfully Simple and Elegant Centerpieces (and a fabulous sweet potato recipe)

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!

Or how about a little fun with your food? You like a little whimsy so why not make the centerpiece something fun AND edible?

Gobble Gobble me up!

With some skewers, fruit, cheese and veggies you can make a fantastic and edible centerpiece that is sure to make both kids and grown-ups smile.

You could also do an arrangement of candles and leaves or flowers on a beautiful platter or that gorgeous cake stand you haven’t used in ages.  We love the holidays and along with the feast for the eyes on your table, we also think having a feast for the senses can do wonders for the overall mood of the holidays in your home.  The smell of freshly baking bread of that delicious turkey are the things that welcome your guests the moment they step up to the front door.  In celebration of the senses, particularly taste and smell, we want to share with you this fabulous recipe for Sweet Potatoes that is sure to knock your socks off.  It’s worth the effort and is something you’ll find on our Thanksgiving table every year in abundance.  It’s our way of saying Thanks for reading our blog and interacting with us in person and online this year!  We would love to hear what you’re doing for your table this Thanksgiving, come say hello to the Design Connection Team on Twitter or Facebook!

Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Almonds

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2/3 cup packed golden brown sugar
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Pinch of ground ginger
• 2-3 cups miniature marshmallows (omit if you wish to make the dish less sweet)
• 3/4 to 1 cup almonds – sliced
• NOTE: I love this dish and often double the glaze for the potatoes- it makes it good enough for dessert and a fabulous sweet compliment to savory stuffing and turkey.

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish, place the potatoes. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and ginger and boil until the sugar dissolves. Pour mixture over the potatoes and lightly toss to coat. (if the potatoes are cool, don’t be alarmed if the glaze mixture starts to solidify again- just toss as best as you can then put it in the oven, it will become liquid again with the heat where you will be able to baste the potatoes with the mixture to make sure they are coated) Cover the dish tightly with foil.

Bake potatoes 50 minutes. Remove foil and stir potatoes or baste to make sure they are coated with syrup. Bake until the potatoes are tender (use a fork, if you can easily slice through one, they should be done) about 20-30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 500°F. Top potatoes with marshmallows and almonds. Return to oven; bake until marshmallows begin to melt and nuts begin to brown, about 3 minutes.  NOTE:  Sometimes I will speed this up and set the oven to broil to give the marshmallows and almonds a nice browning.  ENJOY!

Thinking Green Design – Flooring Series vol 1. Cork Floors

Renewable resources are a hot topic in design these days which is why we are dedicating a series of articles to exploring options in green design.  Our first installation is on flooring.  One of the most dramatic ways to affect a room’s design is with flooring. In recent years flooring options have changed from the standards of wood, carpet and tile to include a variety of materials including cork. Now, most people think of cork as something they see on their bulletin board or perhaps with their favorite bottle of wine but the truth is that it’s a wonderful and versatile choice in flooring as well.

The Benefits:

Beauty: Cork floors come in a variety of colors shapes and patterns from dramatic to subtle to compliment any style

Health: The natural properties of cork make it resistant to insects, fire and mold resistant AND for all of you allergy sufferers out there, it’s naturally anti-allergenic. Cork is a great choice for flooring that is friendly for pets and babies!
Comfort: It’s soft. Because it’s structure is cellular and spongy, cork is very comfortable to walk and stand on. Think of it as a floor with shock absorbers. We were talking about floors on Twitter and someone shared that they put cork floors in their kitchen and loved it because it was so soft and comfortable to walk on!  Another benefit is that cork helps to reduce noise and if you drop something on it, it’s less likely to shatter or break as it would on traditional hardwoods or tile flooring.
Environmentally Friendly: Unlike hardwood flooring, the cork tree is not cut down then replanted when the cork is harvested. There are strict regulations regarding cork harvesting and the health of the trees. The trees must be 25 years old and in good health and the bark that is harvested is gathered by hand and in cycles of once every 9 years.  It is a flooring choice you can definitely feel good about with regard to how it will impact the environment. Expanko has a great video you can watch that shows how cork is harvested, CLICK HERE to view.

We love cork floors and invite you to participate and share with us your experience with cork floors and pictures too! If you’re looking to explore the world of flooring and are interested in cork, let us know.  We’d love to help you make that Design Connection and have a floor that is not only beautiful but one you can enjoy and appreciate for years to come!

Bathtubs, Bubbles and Bliss

Stylish soaks that are sure to inspire your bathroom decor.

Last week’s blog about the high number of clients requesting to replace their traditional bathtubs with showers brought on plenty of discussion and input from people who love a good old-fashioned soak in the tub.  So we decided to dedicate this week’s blog to continuing our thoughts on ideas for bathroom remodels and to focus on bathtubs.

For some, there’s nothing better than a steaming hot bath, a good book and a glass of wine at the end of the day to ease away their stress from a hectic workday. The bathtub has a history of being rather mundane but fear not, you can still have your bubbles and bliss with some of the very inspiring and, dare we say, good looking bathtub models being offered today!

OPTIONS OPTIONS OPTIONS

Often bathtubs are an afterthought and most people don’t realize that you have more options than choosing a plain white recessed, corner or freestanding tub. Modern technology has made it possible for you to not only have choices but very innovative options depending on your personal preferences and needs. There is a wide array of colors and materials to choose from.  One of the latest trends we’ve seen at Design Connection is the desire for a deep soaking tub.  The kind where you can sink in up to your chin and just unwind either in a reclined or upright position.

Asian influenced japanese whirlpool bath from Diamond Spas

Taking a page from traditional japanese soaking tubs, there are now several options with a modern twist incorporating beautiful elements such as copper or stainless steel with comforts such as whirlpool jets or stunning ceiling mounted water fixtures. If you are considering incorporating more of an eastern flair, you should definnitely consider an upright soaking tub especially if space is an issue.  They take up less horizontal space than a traditional bathtub but still give you the beauty and comfort of a good deep soak.

Sleek stainless steel soaker from Diamond Spas

Of course if you prefer to recline there are plenty of options there and exciting new offerings from some of the well known manufacturers we often use in our designs.

If you love the look of a freestanding tub but want something other than the traditional claw foot, ivory bath we have definitely got some eye popping tubs for you that are so stunning you’ll definitely want to make one the centerpiece of your bathroom retreat.

The handcrafted bases and color choices make these freestanding baths by Jetta absolutely stunning

Jetta is a company that is probably most recognized for their innovations in whirlpool and jetted tubs. With their WaterDance Bath

series you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that they have ventured into the realm of artistic and freestanding soaking tubs with plenty of style.

Imagine soaking your stress away in what can only be considered a piece of art. We think you’ll agree that these tubs are just simply stunning with the handcrafted metal bases and designs to suit contemporary to traditional tastes. Freestanding tubs will never be the same!

While soaking is great for many, there are still those of you who love the idea of jets and bubbles to give you that personal spa experience. If that’s your thing, you’ll definitely want to check out the sōk® Overflowing bath from Kohler. They have a great video that shows how the tub works and it’s definitely worth watching. CLICK HERE to watch!

The sōk® bath has a combination of unique options that are becoming popular with bath aficionados. Chromatherapy and Air Bath technology. The Chromatherapy features are based on the idea that light and color can affect bio-rhythms and life balance. Including this with the soothing bath waters, you can get a true spa experience at home with a Chromatherapy tub and even if the color doesn’t affect your mood, the ambiance and the waters will definitely leave you feeling relaxed. They have a great blog about Chromatherapy and how it can affect your mood at the Kohler site that we’d recommend you read if you want more information about the concept.

Immerse youself in water, Chromatherapy and Champagne-like Bubbles in a Sok bath from Kohler

Last but not least, we want to talk about bubbles and Air Baths. The idea is to move away from blasting jets and toward a more tranquil experience with thousands of tiny champagne-like bubbles caressing you as you bathe. There are several companies who offer Air Baths including well known brands Jetta, Kohler and Jacuzzi and options definitely abound. With the various features on some where you can control zones and even have your bathtub clean itself it is almost too good to be true.  We have heard some funny stories from clients whom we have installed Air Baths for who have said sometimes when they self clean it sounds like the bathtub is burping! While it makes us chuckle, what makes us smile is the thought  of the bathtub cleaning itself. Now if it would only do dishes and run the vacuum that would be perfect but we’ll take what we can get.

Jacuzzi's Pure Air® Bellavista Bath

There are countless options out there if you are considering a bathroom remodel, but we think there is a perfect fit for everyone whether you are a fan of showers or baths.  We love both and would invite you to contact us if you want to get even more inspiration and help with planning your home bath retreat to suit you. One thing is for sure, with a bathroom remodel or new bathroom design from Design Connection you’ll probably be so relaxed you’ll never want to leave your bathroom!

New Concepts for Bathrooms – Eliminate Your Tub!

We are getting prospective clients calling that are ready to make changes in their master bathroom. They want to eliminate large bathtubs and have great walk-in showers, they have been seeing in the model homes. Most of the time we are able to accomplish what they are requesting. I always remind my clients most things are possible, but there is a price to pay for such a modern large update. 

 We are enlarging showers and upgrading to body spray systems or integrated custom showers. Kohler has some really great new and updated products that can turn your outdated master bathroom into something magical and spa like. For inspiration on bathrooms visit our portfolio.

Tip: We have been told by realtors that you should still have one bathtub on the same floor.

We are at your service, how can we help you? www.designconnectioninc.com

Purple- a great fashion color, now a great interior design color.

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/

Our Award-Winning Project

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.  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.  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.  The walls and ceilings are painted the same neutral khaki and the base boards are an even darker khaki.  When walking into this room the view is fabulous, with no furniture obstructing the line of vision.  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 of  Stanley Furniture  C.R. Laine and Z Gallerie

To see the full project visit our website portfolio

Let’s Get Your Front Door Dressed

I had a client come to me because she wanted to change her front door. There are few things to consider when doing this. A typical Johnson County home has a grand entrance with sidelights. My first suggestion is to create an interesting pattern with the glass. This will look wonderful when the sun trickles through it.

An older home should have a more traditional door with the panels. Trim is what really creates the visual and stylistic interest. The shape and color of the hardware will make it more authentic.

For modern homes- a clean look with a pop of color can really make a statement. There are many sleek house numbers available that will solidify the look. If adding a light fixture, keep is clean and simple.

 Design Tip: You can dress up your front door or entry porch with a seasonal wreath, textured floor mat or colorful potted plant.

We are at your service, how can we help you? www.designconnectioninc.com

Tile: Not just for floors anymore.

Tile is not only for floors anymore

Tile is not only for your bathroom and floors anymore. You can use tile to create some pizzazz in your bedroom by creating a mosaic tile headboard. This is a fabulous way to create an interesting and unique focal point. By keeping the headboard frame understated and sleek, we let the color and texture of the tile do all the talking. And what a special statement it is making! We hope that as you begin any design project you consider using traditional materials in a creative way.

 Tip: When working with an interior designer, communicate your ideas and wants clearly, but give the designer room to take your project to the next level. www.designconnectioninc.com

For great tile selection and ideas visit  Daltile 

 

How to Create a Grand Foyer at any Scale

Every house has a main entrance, which is the first impression of your home. The way you furnish and accessories this small space can do wonders for the welcome that it gives you after a long day at work, or your visiting guests.

A gardener at heart, McKee designed her entry hall to embrace the garden beyond. Foyer shown, as seen in Southern Accents Magazine

Functionally, there should be some kind of a small side table, or large console. Here you can arrange objects to create a look or set the mood. An interesting lamp, maybe a fabulous glass dish for keys or a seasonal plant are just a few ideas. Balance and proportion are very important in the design of small or large entrances.

Tip: A small carpet can be a great focal point, but it has to be properly sized for the space. You don’t have to sacrifice durability for style; we work with great carpet companies. http://www.fabrica.com and http://www.chandrarugs.com

Other things to consider in a foyer include: Lighting fixtures, art work and paint colors. The best way to make sure that everything works together is to consult with an interior designer. Visit our website to view our work. www.designconnectioninc.com

Clean and Chic, Cork Flooring is a Green Choice

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.