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

A New Room for the Holidays

This cocktail table can be added to most rooms to add interest or focus.

We get a lot of clients who come to me thinking that their furniture has to match. Nothing could be further from the truth. When every aspect of your room matches, it becomes very boring. Our approach has always been to combine quality pieces that make a statement individually, but work with all the other items in your room.

If you are planning on updating or redesigning your home for the holidays, now is the time to order your new furniture, drapes and custom pieces. We can ensure your holiday delivery date if you order by September 30.

The table shown is a John-Richard cocktail table. You can see more furniture by visiting www.johnrichard.com. You can order this furniture line from our office.  www.designconnectioninc.com 

Kid’s Rooms From Blah to Boom!

Children’s bedrooms are great fun to design. Kids want a space to express their personality. In our featured project the daughter had a beautiful collection of Barbie dolls that we showcased. And accented her walls with paisley shapes with strong bright colors. 

My advice is to pick a theme or color that will tie the whole look together. Then start with the furniture, replacing the big pieces first. Click here to get started with Young America for ideas and direction. Make sure to measure your room, you want the furniture to fit well, and not overwhelm the space.

DesignTipsKC: A room with lots of shelves and cubbies can help a child organize their belongings. A couple of shelves can be dedicated to displaying their crafts and trophies.

 We always have a lot of fun designing children’s spaces. If you want help with your space contact us! http://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

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.

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

visit www.designconnectioninc.com

Decorating for the Holidays

It hardly seems time for the Christmas holidays. We have been busy delivering furniture and putting in drapery for the holidays. The colors in the house are so festive. I love the trees that reflect the years of a family collecting ornaments. I myself have a neutral palette in my home. The red poinsettias in my home look beautiful and the color adds such a warm feeling. I love to change the florals and plants for the coming season. After the holidays I will switch to white orchids and white gladiolas. The orchids will be real, but the other flowers will be great looking silks. 

I want to wish everyone a great holiday season, and enjoy the time with family and friends. 

 Arlene

 www.designconnectioninc.com

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