Decorating Gods vs. the Real World

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.

Redesign or Staging, What is the Difference?

Redesign is getting your home or space up to date. Staging prepares your home for sale.

Redesign can range from rearranging your existing furniture to painting your walls. This maintains or expresses your personality throughout your home. This is can be used to keep your home feeling fresh and new. Our staging services help you eliminate extra pieces of furniture and, in the right amount, to remove personal touches. By doing this we help your house look like a model home. The key is to provide just enough warmth to convince a person that they could live here, without distracting them with too much of your personality that may be very different from yours.

Call us! 913-851-8776 We offer half day and full day on site consulting.

Wallpaper

Wallpaper is a great way to spice up a space. We use it mostly in bathrooms and dining rooms to add a pop of interest. Wallpapers come in many designs; we especially like the ones with metallic accents. The papers are of a high quality, and very easy to clean and change when its time for a new look.

New Window Treatment Trends

Simpler, cleaner lines, in the form of panels, are in.

Window treatments are usually a major focal point in any room. They frame your view, and are an opportunity to coordinate with your interior design. Large, heavy, massive drapes are out. Simpler, cleaner lines, in the form of panels, are in. We have been offering our clients ready made/custom treatments. You pick from a line of fabrics, and then we get your panels ordered to size. This is a very cost effective way to get an updated look in your home. And often times the rods can be custom cut!

Quick Fixes to Help Inspire Any Bedroom

You master bedroom represents your sanctuary, it is the room that helps you rest and relax after a hectic day. Many people neglect their bedroom and it is often the last to be redesigned. Here are some quick fixes to help inspire any bedroom.

Keep it as unisex as possible, focus on brining in masculine and feminine touches with details and accessories. That might mean neutral colors on the walls and bolder pieces of furniture, then a pop of color with throw pillows and a flower arrangement on the nightstand. Pillows and flowers can be changed to match the seasons, which will keep a fresh new feeling all year round.

Tone down the patterns. If you have more than three major patterns, you are on the verge of going overboard. Instead focus on textures and interesting details, this will make your room unique and special. The quality of your materials is always worth it.

Begin with a plan. Start by picking out your color scheme, then move onto fabrics and textiles, try to have a color or theme that brings all the elements together. And remember it is always easier to add items, than take them away. You don’t have to create the perfect bedroom in one day. Good Luck!

Host and Hostess Seating

When creating a unique and special room you should consider using host and hostess chairs.  Using host and hostess chairs helps lend a presence in any room of your home.  These chairs can be used at the end of a dining table, or used as an accent in any room in your home.  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.  The scale of the chairs themselves are very important as proper clearance is needed for arm chairs, especially if  being used at a table.  Host and hostess chairs can give great detail to any room.

Spring Is Here!

It’s hard to believe that spring is here. It seems to have been a long winter.

I have many a client ask me about ceramic or hardwood floors, and what would be my preference. I have had both in my main living areas. I had tile while living in Switzerland and they had water running throughout the flooring system. It was warm and wonderful. I enjoyed the easy care of tile and it did not show dog stains or scratches. I now have wood and I love the beauty of it. I had my floors refinished a few years ago and with 2 dogs and children they could use to be refinished again. It is really personal. I love both styles of flooring.

I think it depends on the style of your home and what kind of traffic you have. I would spend time asking friends and neighbors which they prefer and you will come to your own conclusion. I will say that carpet in kitchens and bathrooms is not in vogue at this time.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Arlene

Arlene Ladegaard IIDA

Allied Member ASID

Certified Interior Designer

Design Connection, Inc.

www.designconnectioninc.com

Office  913 851 8776

Mobile 913 593 6919

 

Updating Your Staircase

Updating your staircase can be a great accent to your home. I recommend using an accent runner or carpet that compliments your existing flooring. This can be a pattern with multiple colors or a simple one color cut loop.

Iron spindles are very much in style and can cost as little as $5.00 a piece. I sometimes recommend wood painted spindles if it compliments the style of the home.

Slab wood stairs are beautiful but costly. You may faux paint and darken the handrails for around $250.00 to $400.00.
Changing your staircase can be a dramatic change and a great accent to your home and it doesn’t have to break the bank.

Arlene

Design Connection, Inc.

www.designconnectioninc.com

Get the correct size of furniture

Furniture placement is often very difficult. I always put a room into a scale drawing to see the relationship of pieces and what sizes look and feel the best. But what is most challenging is to make sure the sofa size is not too large or too small. I find that sometimes the pieces of furniture can measure the same, but look very different in the space.

A coffee table should be no more than 15 inches from the sofa so that it can to used to place drinks or put your feet up. Side tables should be the same height as the sofa arm or slightly lower.

There can be really neat accent pieces or perhaps a great leather ottoman. Side tables are much more interesting if they do not match. Look for fun unique pieces that make a space interesting and make it uniquely yours.

 

 

Design Connection, Inc.

913 851 8776

www.designconnectioninc.com

New President – New Values

We now have a new President and with that the country has new hope and enthusiasm. I believe that if we all work together we will again have the United States of America that was once the envy of the world.

I lived in Europe in the ’90s for 7 years. I was happy to be an American, but realized that we, as a country, and consumers, behaved very differently than the Europeans. They were proud to be French and loved their own culture as well as did the Italians, Swiss and the Germans. The Europeans have sales in all their stores 2 times a year and nothing in between. They may not purchase a lot, but what they buy is good quality and will last a long time. “Less quantity, more quality”. They find value in having less.

I believe we as a country are now headed in that way too. We now value more what we purchase and are buying less. In making purchases for your home, it is when I returned from living in Europe that I had the philosophy that it is often best to have a smaller home that you could afford and have it nicely furnished with quality pieces, good appliances and carpeting that would last. This was not the popular philosophy at that time. I believe that is where we are headed as a country and I am excited to see the change.

Design tip:

To cut down a paint color instead of having the formula cut down by the paint store, you make take a cream colored paint and cut the mixture in half or three quarter yourself. You then take the mixture you have created to the paint store and have it custom matched to this color. It works great.

visit www.designconnectioninc.com

Arlene Ladegaard IIDA

Allied Member ASID

Certified Interior Designer

Design Connection, Inc.

www.designconnectioninc.com

Office  913 851 8776

Mobile 913 593 6919