Tag-Archive for » Personalization «

Apr

Personalization in Design: Hollywood Stars & Their Spaces

Ever get a feel for the owner’s personality the instant you enter their home?

Newly renovated home of Gerard Butler

That’s how I felt the moment I saw this newly renovated loft of movie star Gerard Butler in Architectural Digest. Don’t you feel like you just stepped into the home of the Spartan King or Dracula? And the love how he created cozy spaces with warm colors, overstuffed furniture and great lighting.

Home of actress Jennifer Aniston

Now take a look at the new home of Jennifer Aniston in contrast with its soft sleek fabrics and smooth textures. Its sexy just like her and what a huge contrast from the manly rough edged loft of Gerard Butler.

Home of actor John Travolta and Kelly Preston

And what about Travolta’s home? Just take a look out his window. Now that’s what I call roadtrip ready! How fun! Just hope Kelly has a couple of spaces to call her own too.

For more great ideas on how to personalize your space, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am on News Radio 980 KMBZ as the new HGTV host of Splurge & Save Krista Watterworth Alterman shares her ideas with me on how to personalize a space along with former HGTV Design Star Jennifer Bertrand and other experts including Kevin Hobbs and Keitha Kaminski who just came back from a buying trip from England in search of the perfect antiques to personalize your home.

HGTV Splurge & Save

And for the latest in outdoor spaces and design, tune into Living Large at 10:30am this Saturday on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with DIY host Ahmed Hassan along with other experts about creating an outdoor room.

Category: Interior Design/Interior Decorating Tags: DIY Network, Gerard Butler, hgtv, interior decorating, interior design, Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, karen mills, kmbz, Krista Watterworth Alterman, KXTR, Living Large, Outdoor Living/Landscape Design, Personalization Leave a Comment

May

Personalization: Fad or Trend?

kmills

Looking to create your own personal style but don’t want to follow another fad? Don’t worry, you’re not. With the endless choices now available on the internet, consumers have become more savvy, suddenly realizing that they can have their own style that’s one of a kind.

What a refreshing change from some of the predictable interiors we’ve seen in the past that just mirror the designer’s style instead of reflecting the true personality of the client. Now its your turn to show who you really are!

So what’s a good starting point? That’s easy. Just think of what you love whether its artwork, a collection of items or just one favorite piece and then expand on it. For example if you love artwork, why not create a gallery wall that showcases your artwork or use your artwork as inspiration for your entire design pulling out colors, style or patterns from it to create an unique look.

And if you have a collection why not group them all together for more impact or design a whole theme around the collection using the pieces in unexpected ways?

For example I just love the ideas that world renowned designer Charles Allem (one of my favorites), shared with me that’s he doing to personalize his client’s homes like the private cigar room that feels like a men’s club or the walk in watch safe that showcases his client’s elaborate watch collection.

Designer Charles Allem

I also loved what design celeb Michael Maloney from ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition show does to personalize his beach house by decorating with live orchids and agreed with his comment ”Design for yourself, not what someone else is going to come in or think.”

And for those who have wondered if Michael’s teeth are really that white in person and if he really is that charming in person, the answer is “YES”. When we met, I joked with him that his teeth were so white that I had easily spotted him at least a 1/2 block away just from the glow coming from his teeth.

ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Michael Maloney

If you want to hear the rest of my conversations with Michael Maloney and Charles Allem, then don’t miss this Sunday at 10am Central on Living Large on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com).

And coming up this Saturday at 10:30am Central on Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR (streams live on kxtr.com)we’ll be discussing furniture with ABC”s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition designer Tracy Hutson who’s also written a new design book.

Category: Interior Design/Interior Decorating Tags: ABC, CAD International, Charles Allem, design trend, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Living Large, Michael Maloney, Personalization Leave a Comment

Apr

Designer’s Eye

kmills

Where do you start when it comes to learning about interior design? Its a little overwhelming isn’t it, especially with the limitless resources on the web? I totally agree and that’s why I’ve decided to share interior design and decorating ideas with you from top designers, TV celebs. shelter magazine editors, authors and other design experts from around the world on this blog along with my own designer’s eye viewpoint.

I believe everyone should have access to beautiful design and that’s why I love to communicate the latest design trends and ideas here, on my design shows, in my published articles/columns and during speaking events. ( Note- Designer’s Eye columns are currently being published in The Independent.)

So let’s get started by discussing this upcoming weekend’s topic on Living Large where former celebrity model and design mogul Kathy Ireland will share her viewpoint with me on the latest Design Styles and discuss her new book “Real Solutions for Busy Moms”.

"Real Solutions for Busy Moms" book by Kathy Ireland

We will also play an interview I did with top designer Timothy Corrigan about design styles along with other experts

Photo of designer Timothy Corrigan

so tune in this Sunday at 10am Central on News Radio 980 KMBZ (AM)

KMBZ website

if you’re here with us in Kansas City or go to kmbz.com to stream live if you’re located elsewhere. Kathy Ireland’s interview will air again on our sister station Classical 1660 KXTR (AM) Saturday April 18th at 10:30am Central time

KXTR website

and you can also listen to it by going to kxtr.com and sign up to stream live. For more information about Living Large go to our webpage at entercomkc.com/livinglarge or just google living large show.

Living Large webpage

Last month I shared with area designers at an Eastern Accents sponsored event held at the Intercontinental Hotel on the Plaza what design styles I think are hot right now and to be honest what I talked about most was personalization, the biggest trend right now.

Personalization is about showcasing what you love whether its your own unique style or a combination of design styles like Kathy Ireland’s lighting collection called Urban Boheme (urban and bohemian). So let loose and have fun in your own space and to make it really personal, why not add a monogrammed pillow or even a handpainted one that won’t break your bank.