Isn’t it exciting to see the kitchen start to meld into the rest of the living spaces?!  And why not!  The kitchen is the place where everyone ends up, whether its just the family or a bigger gathering.   And with so many high tech appliances being introduced, the kitchen’s now become a new place to show off the latest technology to friends and family making it even more popular.

To make that transformation complete, we just need to make some changes so the functional part of  the kitchen becomes less apparent such as removing upper cabinets or hiding less attractive appliances behind cabinetry or inside separate furniture pieces. 

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As you’ve probably noticed all white kitchens are appearing everywhere in magazines with a crisp clean new attitude that’s still feels quite welcoming.  White marble countertops are especially popular right now, but can stain and get a worn look that’s not always appealing so weigh in the benefits and downsides of marble before you rush out and have marble installed in your kitchen.

Have you noticed in the last few years how interior and fashion design have begun to overlap?  Fashion designers are developing furnishings and interior designers are creating fashion, quickly blurring the line between the two industries.  So now translating a favorite dress or necklace into a room design is much easier!

And speaking of overlapping, look at how designers are mixing together different design styles and textures in fabrics and finishes for everything from the floor and wallcoverings to furniture and decor.  

Laura Kirar design

Hollywood Pied-A-Terre design by Donna Livingston

 Some of the most popular ways to mix design styles is to take a classic ornate piece you love and mix it with something more contemporary with straight lines  so your furniture complements, instead of competing.  

 And as designers we understand that straight lined pieces often transition easier into new design schemes later.  Plus you’ll notice in many modern spaces now that  they are often warmed up with color or a few traditional pieces to create a more inviting look.

For more information on design styles, what’s hot and how to mix it up, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am Central on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk to nationally known designers Laura Kirar and Donna Livingston along with a local antiques buyer.  And to see more examples of Kirar’s or Livington’s work,  just click on the pictures above that are linked to their website.

If you’re looking for kitchen and bath ideas, then tune in this Saturday at 10:30am Central on Living Large as I talk with HGTV’s Lauren Lake about the latest kitchen trends.

And don’t forget to sign up for our new Living Large Facebook fan page where you can listen to some of the interviews and get more information by clicking on this link:  http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=217431843107&share_id=394951595386&comments=1#/pages/Living-Large/217431843107

Does your interior feel “blah” even though its filled with furniture?  That could be because your room lacks the final touches to make it come alive and feel inviting such as  strategically placed lamps, rugs, window treatments or accessories.   

Two of the biggest things I often find lacking when walking into a new client’s home are ample accent lighting, especially lamps and wonderful accessories.   And to compound the problem, most of us buy small accessories which tend  to make our space  look cluttered.   Instead we should look for a balance of accessory sizes with more emphasis on large than small. 

Another key to successfully accessorizing includes selecting colors, styles, and textures that will enhance your design and grouping accessories together to create vignettes or  points of interest throughout your space.  

Pillow design by Jonathan Adler

Vase design by Jonathan Adler

Interior Design by Timothy Corrigan

David Jimenez design posted on House Beautiful's website

For more tips on accessorizing, click on the “Designer’s Eye Column” link on the front page of my website at http://www.karenmills.net and select the article on accessorizing, plus this Sunday at 10am Central, don’t miss Living Large as I talk to top designers Jonathan Adler from Bravo network, Timothy Corrigan and David Jimenez about how they successfully accessorize a space.  (To see more pictures of their work, just google them and pull up their websites)

And for the latest trends in bedroom design and decorating, tune into Living Large this Saturday at 10:30am Central as I talk with ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Tracy Hutson.

Ever feel lost with how to personalize your space?  You’re not alone.  And the good news is that its not necessarily because you lack design sense but possibly because you’ve become too familiar with your surroundings and lost objectivity.   

One of my favorite ways to personalize a space begins with discovering what design styles, colors and overall mood a client wants to evoke in the space and then combine those discoveries to create an unique look!

For example one of my clients loves traveling to tropical destinations and just relaxing, but she’s also attracted to the colors of fall and leaf motifs so we created a look that incorporates both with materials that are durable enough for her pets.   We began by introducing custom dark woven chairs with brightly colored cushions in an outdoor fabric that evoked the feeling of the tropics along with other elements and added a touch of  fall by incorporating a comtemporary wool area rug with a leaf motif and a fall color scheme overall.

Tropical sunroom by Karen Mills

 

Other ways to personalize your room could include introducing a favorite collection of items or family heirlooms.  For more ideas on how to personalize, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am Central on News Radio 980 KMBZ as David Bromstad from HGTV and Oma Ford from Better Homes & Gardens magazine among others reveal more great suggestions for personalizing your space.

Vine Theme Design by David Bromstad

Clam design by David Bromstad

Citrus bedroom by David Bromstad

And to learn the latest in remodeling trends tune in this Saturday to Taniya Nayak from HGTV on Living Large at 10:30am Central on Classical 1660 KXTR.

May God bless you with a Merry Christmas and time with family or friends!

Ready to create a “wow” factor with your holiday decorating?  Let me share some hot trends and tips for success.  When I start a holiday decorating project for a commercial client, I begin by selecting a great color combination and theme that fits with the existing design style and architecture.  So why not do the same in your home?  

Wall pocket wreath by Karen Mills

Holiday decorating - Karen Mills

Some great color combinations could be raspberry or purple with brown and green, red with a lighter green and copper or a blue and green combo.   And if you like something more contemporary that’s a kickback to the 80s try combining blues with silver.  

Woodsy natural decorations still rule as the most popular theme and when I’m decorating, I often take a stroll through the woods to find just the right items whether its pinecones or tree boughs.   However, if you don’t have access to fallen items in the woods,  you can still invest in quality lifelike greenery and place it around your front door, chandeliers, mantels or bannisters to start.  But if you’re looking for a theme that’s a little more unique, bring out a favorite collection of items and use them as your starting point.   

Barclay Butera's nutcracker collection

You can also create drama in your home by hanging an upside down tree from your ceiling or by adding an arched tree over an entrance.

To learn more about holiday decorating trends and tips for this year, don’t miss Living Large on News Radio 980 KMBZ this Sunday at 10am Central as I talk about Holiday Decorating with nationally known interior designer Barclay Butera, floral designer Craig Sole and other experts in holiday decorating along with actress Lauren Braton who’s currently starring in It’s a Wonderful Life radio play.  Or check out Living Large on Saturday at 10:30am on Classical 1660 KXTR on Holiday Decorating too.

Barclay Butera's bowl of Christmas ornaments