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/

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 

 

Free I-Phone App for Paint Colors!

Have you thought about adding some new fall colors to your home now that you are going to start spending more time indoors?  I found an intriguing I-Phone application that actually helps you select paint colors.  See attached link to Benjamin Moore for a high tech way to get paint color recommendations for your home.  As “cool” as this sounds if you feel more comfortable discussing paint with an experienced interior designer who has actually seen many paint color options applied to various settings and lighting conditions, please give me a call and “ask Arlene” about paint for your home.

www.DesignConnectionInc.com

How To Address Seating Around A Fireplace

An interesting furniture layout is to face two chairs directly in front of each other. You can put a small coffee table or an ottoman in the center. The perfect distance from the firebox is a personal preference, if you like it warm and cozy slide the chairs closer but if that is too hot, slide them away. You can add an accent throw to add color, which can be changed out throughout the year.

Don’t block the view of the fireplace with the chairs, rather,-flank the fireplace so that it becomes a visual focal point in the room and use the chairs as elements to frame the view.

We have done some really interesting things with fireplaces; check out the projects in the portfolio section for ideas. www.designconnectioninc.com

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!

Neutral Colors and Classic Pieces

Lately, people have been talking of nothing else but the economy. We have also been talking about it at our own office, both professionally and personally.  I have never been about budget decorating, but about the value in doing design that is classic in styling.  It is about a beautiful environment and creating a home that will withstand the years of use by both pets and children, yet still look great.  Trends come and go, and if we buy what’s in style today, and not think about how it will look a few years from now, we often will ask ourselves “What were we thinking?”. When we invest in design pieces that are classic in styling, we will generally love them today and tomorrow.

I dated a man in the eighties who had a home with a lime green shag carpeting.  It was definitely installed in the early seventies and looked dated.  I knew I wasn’t moving into this home with the lime green carpeting.  If the carpeting had been a great neutral color, which could range from any beige, brown, whites or grays, I wouldn’t have remembered the carpet to this day and would have been happy to live with what was there until it could have been changed.  It was a deal breaker for me.

What I am recommending today is to stay neutral and play up the trends in wall color and accessories.  Feel good this year, and buy a few pieces of beautiful classic furniture or simple drapery with beautiful lush fabrics.

I am ready to turn the page from last year to this year.  We want to wish all who read this blog a healthy and happy New Year and a year that is calmer and has hope for peace.

Arlene

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My Presentation at the Central Exchange

I gave a seminar at the Central Exchange for 50 women last week. The topic was “Help, I Want to Decorate My Home, But how can I do that in today’s Economy?” I gave many of the design tips I give in my blog. I had many of the women contact me to say thanks. I gave them concrete ideas and gave them much to think about. I know that we all want to make changes in our homes, but we are not sure that we can do them to the extent we would have a year ago. We can have a design plan and budget, and know which direction we want to go, and make the changes slowly. For instance, we do not have to change all the appliances at one time. We can change them slowly as they no longer work or serve us in the way we would like them to work. When we lived in Europe, the philosophy there is that you loved what you purchased and you lived with it for a long time. They purchased good quality and they were both happy and proud of what they bought. We paid cash for every purchase and therefore planned a long time ahead for every major purchase.

With my clients I would prefer to wait and have the budget and styles designed & specified and then make the purchases over a period of time. It is easy to go out and buy cheap furniture because we want it now, but it does not last and many times we realize that if we had waited and planned and saved we could have purchased what we really wanted. I remember my father saying to me “We don’t remember what the cost difference was; we remember that we didn’t get what we really wanted”.

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Have a great Thanksgiving,

Arlene

Natural Stone Countertops

Natural stone countertops are an investment and also beautiful to look at. Do you know that a minor kitchen remodel gives you an 83% percent return while a major kitchen remodel may give you only 78% percent return? I suggest to many of my clients to change their countertops to granite because they are a selling tool in today’s market when selling a home.

There are three types of natural stone. They is granite, marble and onyx. Granite is a natural stone, and is strong durable and easy to clean. It is heat, chemical and water resistant. Marble is from shells and is considered soft and can scratch and stain. Onyx, another beautiful stone can be used as an accent to create an edge design.

I feel it is important to select and see your slabs in person. It is best to look for cracks, pits or possible areas where the stone has been filled. You can suggest that the fabricator cut around these areas if you have enough stone to work with.

Wholesalers try to sell stones that have been dyed. If this occurs, sunlight will fade the stone in a matter of months. A reliable stone dealer will make sure that their stones are without color enhancements. There are no deals in natural stones. I believe that it is best to purchase your stone tops through a company that is reputable and not selling cost as the bottom line. Stone is a large investment and to pay a little more for quality is the best in the long run.

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Arlene Ladegaard IIDA

Allied Member ASID

Certified Interior Designer

Design Connection, Inc.

www.designconnectioninc.com

Office  913 851 8776