Ready to give your home a little curb appeal? 
Ready to create a great design for your living space, but not sure where to start or what’s in?
I love to begin a design with an inspiration piece that speaks to my client whether it’s artwork, a beautiful fabric or even a piece of clothing! Other inspiration pieces could include a beautiful rug, jewelry or even a place you’ve visited on a trip. Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine how you would like to feel in the space and I think you’ll be surprised at what comes to mind whether its a hotel like this one or someone’s home.
Recreating the look of this hotel lobby could be quite simple. Just take a design element that you love like the circle motifs and repeat them in your own space in different ways whether its wallpaper, an area rug or the shapes of your furniture. The circular light fixture below is a great example of repeating circular shapes.
For more great ideas and inspiration, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST as I talk with HGTV host of Design on a Dime, Brice Cooper along with nationally known designer Thomas Pheasant, plus a designer who’s a K.C. native.
And for tips on design styles, make sure you tune in to hear nationally known former model Kathy Ireland talk about what she likes in design at 10:30am CST on Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR.
Check out this wallcovering from Traditional Home magazine of a room design by K.C. native Marshall Watson for the Hampton Designer Showhouse in New York!
Almost looks like a clearcoat over wallpaper but its actually English oiled walls that have been schlacked and its absolutely stunning.
And of course I always love the extraordinary work of Maya Romanoff
But let’s not forget about fabulous new fabrics too!
For more great tips on the latest finishes and fabrics, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk with nationally known designer and K.C. native Marshall Watson along with the PBS host of A Moment of Luxury Bill Stubbs among others.
And for the latest in outdoor style, don’t miss Living Large this Saturday at 10:30am CST on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with Fine Living Network host Karen Duffy.
Plus don’t forget to become a fan of our Living Large Facebook fan page!
Ready to join the thousands of homeowners who’re remodeling their kitchen?!
You’re not alone! Start by looking for inspiration in design magazines to get ideas of what you like and check out the latest tile at the your local store. Plus, remember before you hire a remodeling company to begin construction, make sure you consult with a professional interior designer first. Not only can they help you fine tune your cabinet, hardware, lighting, color and tile finishes to make sure they coordinate together, but they can also help you avoid costly mistakes and enhance your design with a great lighting scheme.
One of the best suggestions I heard from a kitchen designer I interviewed on Living Large was her advice to place a sticky note in your kitchen every time you thought of something you didn’t want like so when you designed a new kitchen it would include the improvements most important to you.
When planning your kitchen think about whether you will be cooking in this kitchen or just using it for entertaining because chefs often use their kitchen much differently and may need additional sinks or work areas instead of additional seating that might be required for a kitchen that entertains.
For more great information on designing kitchens and what’s hot, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com) as I interview the HGTV.com senior editor Mary Graff along with kitchen designer, author and UCLA instructor Don Silvers among others.
And this Saturday make sure you tune in at 10:30am CST to Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR (streams live on kxtr.com) as I talk about the latest window treatments along with window treatment expert Susan Schurz.
Plus connect with us on our Facebook fan page!
Can you believe the array of new products available for our outdoor spaces?! Incredible isn’t it?
Love this pool design with waterfalls topped by fire over the pool. Reminds of our annual FireWater event held every year at the Plaza that’s so mesmerizing.
What drama and excitement these fountains create but if you like something a little more zen like, check out this relaxing fountain below.
For more great information on outdoor rooms and what’s hot, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I interview DIY King of Dirt host Gino Panaro along with KCH&G magazine editor Andrea Darr and other experts.
And for the latest in furniture styles, don’t miss Living Large this Saturday at 10:30am CST as I talk with natonally known designer and author Matthew White along with Kevin Hobbs and Keitha Kaminski from Webster House.
Plus don’t forget to sign up as a fan of our Facebook page
Check out these great trends in fabrics that we’re seeing plus other fun ideas!
The colors and designs in the fabrics above are absolutely stunning to behold in person because they have such incredible richness and lustre, plus they’re custom designed by one of our own local textile designers. Love it!
Don’t you just love the sea turtle motif and dragonflies? ! They’re part of fun collection by Duralee.
Aren’t the colors in these designer fabrics great? Love the threaded motif on leather by Surburban Home, the luxurious hand of the rusty red Glant fabric, the rich animal motif of the Vervain fabric and the huge leaf motif by Manuel Canovas (back of fabric pictured).
What a fun inexpensive idea for an entry! I love the way the red doors command your attention as you step inside the entry.
For more great trends in design, tune in this Sunday to Living Large at 10am Central (streams live on kmbz.com) on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk with HGTV host Sarah Richardson along with local design reporter Stacy Downs from the award winning K.C. Star House & Home section plus Keitha Kaminski from Webster House Antiques and Andrew Collingsworth from the Innerworks showroom.
Plus don’t miss Living Large this Saturday at 10:30am Central (streams live on kxtr.com) as I talk with Better Homes & Gardens magazine gardening editor Eric Liskey about Beautiful Backyards and how to create them.
For more information, check out our Facebook fanpage “Living Large”!
Not sure of your design style? Then check out some of these styles to see if they speak to you….
I just love this gorgeous modern style villa that sits over the water, especially the way the architect offset the glass building from the metal support structure. And the lap pool is divine. The only thing I would consider adding would be a glass floor in the middle of the main floor that allowed a view down into the ocean.
Most of the elements in this room above make it feel old and rustic including the gothic arch over the sink.
Notice the sunburst mirror and graphic elements in this room that give it a retro feel along with the burst of color.
Of course most of us in the United States are traditional style but I love to share other styles so you can mix in a little of them if you like.
For more great information on design styles, tune in this Sunday at 10am CST on Living Large on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk with celebrity designer Kathy Ireland along with other experts.
And if you’re looking for bathroom design ideas, then don’t miss Living Large this Saturday at 10:30am on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with the DIY host of Bathtastic about bathrooms.
What do you think of when you hear kitchen makeover?
Aren’t these red veneered doors with clear coat varnish just to die for with the steel inserts? And the addition of red veneer over the fireplace adds just enough color to the fireplace wall to draw you in.
Love the horizontal wood grain of the apple wood on the island, the fabulous stainless steel hood and the trough sink!
How sexy is this kitchen?! Don’t you just love the holographic finish of the curved cabinets that change colors depending on where you are in the room? These cabinets even come in different colors so you can coordinate with the rest of your home and the raised glass countertop that just floats above them adds another element of interest to the space without stealing the show.
But if these cabinets aren’t your style or definitely too expensive, you can always opt for a clean white bright conservative kitchen that’s always warm and inviting like the host of Five Ingredient Fix Claire Robinson.
Even if you’re in an older home with outdated cabinets, you can create this type of look by repainting your kitchen cabinets white and removing a few doors or adding glass fronts. Another great look with open cabinetry is to repaint the back of the cabinet a different color. Don’t forget to replace your hardware and light fixtures also and for a more rustic look like this kitchen I would opt for more industrial type lighting or perhaps an old wrought iron chandelier.
For more great ideas for kitchen makeovers and the latest trends, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk with Claire Robinson, host of Five Ingredient Fix on the Food Network along with other kitchen experts.
And if you would like to hear the latest on personalizing your home, tune in this Saturday at 10:30am CST on Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with HGTV host Krista Watterworth.
Ready to create a wonderful outdoor space where you can spend vacation relaxing at home or just enjoying your weekend? Start by selecting an area that you love whether its your backyard patio, front porch or an area tucked away in a private corner.
Once you’ve selected your spot, start thinking about your walls, floors and ceilings. If you don’t have any built walls, consider adding a grouping of evergreens or a trellis for example that’s affordable. Not only will your outdoor space feel more like a room, but you can also use it to create some privacy if needed.
For flooring brick, pavers or natural stone always look great, but if that’s not possible because of budgetary concerns, why not layer an outdoor rug over an existing patio or porch to add textural interest?
And if you have a ceiling, think about painting it a sky blue or hanging a chandelier? I also love to use old wrought iron sconces and metal wall decor to spice up the space to make a space more inviting, but my favorite outdoor items are usually from a trip or a great find that’s not available from a retail store.
For more great ideas on creating outdoor style, tune in this Sunday at 10am CST to Living Large on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk with outdoor living experts plus Fine Living Network host of Surprise Vacations, Karen Duffy.
And for more information about Sustainable Living, don’t miss Living Large at 10:30am on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with Josh Dorfman, the lazy environmentalist from the Sundance Channel.
I’m constantly amazed every time my installer hangs a window treatment I’ve designed for a client because its always such a wow factor to see the space before and after. As a fabric lover, I often become mesmerized, even its just for a moment by the sheer beauty of the fabric and and the fabulous colors or pattern it has added to the room.
Don’t you just love the look of these fabulous drapes designed with silk taffeta fabric from Scalamandre pictured on the front of ”Window Dressings” and how well the colors tie in with the paneling?!
And I just love the way these draperies make the bunk beds the star of the room!
Of course simple drapery panels still rule as the most popular choice to frame windows along with roman shades for home interiors because they’re both timeless and beautiful. For more information on the the latest trends in window treatments, tune into Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ as I talk with window treatment expert Susan Schurz along with nationally known designer Laura Hunt plus local window treatment expert Andrew Collingsworth of Innerworks along with others.
And for tips on creating a beautiful outdoor living space, don’t miss Living Large this Saturday morning at 10:30am CST on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with HGTV star Kelly Edwards about outdoor living.
HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!! K




































