Decorate or Remodel in Kansas City, Trends

I have been reading about the consumer trends in 2008 and find that our clients tastes and their individual lifestyle are most important when deciding to decorate or remodel their homes.  There is less formality and wanting a more casual focus in decorating.  They want to put their own stamp in their home design.

I always ask my clients to research their design style by looking at magazines and other publications so I can help them figure out what design direction they want to go.  I would say that most of my clients want their home to look different than their neighbors.  Many years ago there was an emphasis to have your home look as good as your neighbor, and I was taken to the neighbors or fiends house to copy the style or to come up with a design similar to what they had.  My clients now want their home to reflect not just one style but a few different styles so the home has character and reflects their own tastes.

I think it was easier to decorate or remodel in Kansas City, Kansas or Missouri area a number of years ago.  This area was considered traditional and the stores carried a more traditional style to reflect the area.  In the marketplace today, the younger generations do not want the traditional contemporary of 10 years ago.  They want a more mixed eclectic look with a metro countemporary flair.

I have such a great time with my clients reflecting on how their tastes have changed and where they want to make the changes to reflect how they live today.  I do remember in younger years how all the rooms had matching furniture and looked like they belonged in a display room at a furniture store.  It is so great that our furniture tastes have changed as well as our styles.

It is a beautiful day outside and the pool is calling to me.  It is Sunday and I will take the rest of the today and enjoy the beautiful calm weather and great family dinner before the hectic week ahead.

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Arlene

Use Summer to Plan for Fall

It is hard to believe the longest day of the year has come and gone. It is also hard to believe that in 2 months our workrooms for drapery are telling us that they need are fabric and trim to set a place in the schedule for the holidays. Our clients are asking us what changes can we make without totally redesigning our spaces. I have found that wall color is the least expensive way to change a room. A dramatic change is to remove the dated wallpaper and change the window treatments. I also can help my clients keep some of the old accessories and purchase some new ones. I also find that silk flower arrangements only have a life of three to five years and they start to look sad. I take mine and have them cleaned up and a few new pieces put in and they look great again.

As we are busy outside in our yards it is hard to think down the road a few months to the first days of fall. If we are planning any updates in the fall it is best to start planning and budgeting the changes in the later part of summer. I might suggest talking to painters or trade people far in advance of the work starting. If you are just planning some minor changes and accessories that can be planned in the first part of the fall. As I am sitting on the deck enjoying the warm evenings it is hard to imagine the cool evenings of fall.

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