Interior Design: What to Consider Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

July 6, 2018

Karen Mills' blog — Interior design by Karen MIlls/Photography by 29 Pixel Studios, LLC

If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen or even designing a new kitchen, here are my suggestions as an interior designer to consider before signing any contracts or starting construction to avoid costly mistakes.

First I recommend that you look for design inspiration in interior design magazines or online to get ideas of what you like so you can effectively communicate your design vision to the team you assemble.

Make a list of items you absolutely must have in your kitchen and another list of things you would like to have. If you’re not sure, make an ongoing list as you use your kitchen on a daily basis for a couple of weeks.

Next hire an interior designer to show you how to layout a kitchen that’s both functional for your family and beautifully designed. An interior designer will have great resources for contractors, architects, and trades people to help you accomplish your goal, will act as a trusted advisor, and will help create flow in the space along with coordinating finishes, assisting with lighting, and giving advice on storage to ensure your kitchen design looks great!

If you can’t afford an interior designer for the whole project, I would recommend hiring a designer for at least a couple of hours to help you create a master plan that makes sense.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Designing a Relaxing Living…

June 27, 2018

Nothing’s better than coming home to an inviting relaxing home. That’s why my focus as an interior designer has always been as much about function as beauty. Read on for three tips for creating a comfortable interior design.

1. Comfortable seating. Select upholstery cushions that are comfortable for long periods of sitting. Plus ensure your feet are able to touch the floor and the seat depth is right for you.

2. Layer in texture Texture can be added with area rugs and/or soft window treatments along with accessories like pillows or throws. And remember each layer of texture creates a cozier feel.

3. Create a Cozy Seating Area for Conversation

When interior designers put together a floor plan for a living area, they focus on designing intimate seating areas like this one pictured.

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Interior Design: Kitchen Remodel – From Ugly Duckling to…

June 22, 2018June 22, 2018

Remodeling a historic high rise kitchen

When updating a historic high rise apartment like this one on the renowned plaza area in Kansas City, there’s much more to consider than the interior design of your home.

First you must find out the building’s requirements for construction from time of day limits to how the construction is completed. Next you need to know building structure limitations (especially for a 1931 historic building like this one) and if your finish materials or products will fit whether it’s up the elevator or via another method.

When I first entered this kitchen in Kansas City I knew as an interior designer it was going to be one of our more challenging interior design projects which was exciting because I new the change would be dramatic and could see the new open space in my mind almost instantly.

To start the process I got a barely legible copy of the 1930’s blueprints and immediately went to work creating an interior design that was an open floor plan. For the kitchen I had the wall between the maid’s room and kitchen torn out along with the wall between the dining room and kitchen.

In addition we right sized the windows from the maid’s room and kitchen to flow together and added layers of lighting. The result?!

A beautiful airy light filled kitchen that now opens to the hearth room (formerly a dining room.

Much of this high rise apartment had original wood floors so we weaved in new wood flooring in the kitchen to make the space live larger and feel more cohesive.

For the stove area we squeezed in a beautiful custom wood hood and beautifully lit glass cabinets flanking the hood to create a wow factor when entering the hearth/kitchen area. In addition we designed inset cabinetry drawers and doors (flush with cabinet frame) to create a luxurious look along with mixing it up with pulls and knobs.

At the end of the kitchen (formerly maid’s room) we designed pantry area that hides a permanent slanted wall and to provide much needed storage which includes cabinet doors that open up to reveal both a coffee station and appliance garage.

The thick mitered island counter by Cambria was juxtaposed against the light airy mini chandeliers for a perfect composition.

The bar area includes a wine cooler, bar sink, and lit glass cabinets to hold glassware along with a hidden washer/dryer area.

Overall as an interior designer I was thrilled with the outcome of this remodeled kitchen especially now as I’m reminded of where we started.

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Interior Design: 3 Remodeling Tips for Making Your Bathroom…

June 16, 2018

If you’re tired of your cramped small bathroom, here are 3 tips to help your bathroom live larger when you remodel or build!

1. Increase your floor space – Start by swapping out an existing vanity cabinet for a floating vanity/sink or pedestal style sink. In this guest bath we designed a vanity with legs to make it appear lighter and visually smaller in size while also decreasing the normal depth of the vanity.

Also consider installing your toilet tank in the wall if budget allows or wall mount your vanity like the space here where we remodeled a former closet into a tiny powder bath.

2. Monochromatic color scheme – One of my favorite tricks to make a small bathroom look bigger begins with using one color on all the walls, furniture, floors, and decor like a light neutral to give it a fresh clean look and bounce existing light around the room. In this master bathroom shower we removed walls while covering the floors and walls in the same large scale tile to create a space where its more difficult to tell where the walls start and end.

2. Reflective surfaces – To visually enlarge your small bathroom, use mirrors or glass to reflect light and give your space a light airy feel. By adding tall mirrors to this master bath we visually doubled the size of the room. Shiny vanity pulls and vanity lights reflected in the mirror also add to the airy feel that expands the space.

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Interior Design: 3 Ways to Spruce Up Your Outdoor…

June 6, 2018

Taking Your Outdoor Room From Blah to Beautiful

I love this time of year – warm weather, food on the grill, and great parties outdoors! But when its time for outdoor parties sometimes our outdoor spaces need a little boost to get them ready for guests so here are 3 tips for taking your outdoor room from blah to beautiful!

1. Add a pop of color with pillows

On this porch we helped clients design we started by layering in fun pillows with a beach theme in a beautiful blue color to remind them of the ocean, one of their favorite vacation destinations while also providing some contrast against the chairs. To see more about this fabulous porch design, watch my TV segment below.

2. Layer in textural decor

Texture in a space is critical – it softens the hard surfaces and creates interest. In this photo the large blue green vase on the hearth adds a pop of color while the branches inside add texture along with the orange flower and napkins.

3. Make it Personal

When you’re decorating or designing a space its important to add your own personal touches that show off your personality. In this porch the client had a painting done on wood and picked up an iron table base to give this outdoor room a one of kind look.

The same holds true for this outdoor patio space where a vintage trunk on wheels has been re purposed as a coffee table. Other personal touches on this patio include a vintage candelabra and wrought iron table that was handmade. To see more about this patio design, click on the TV segment below

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Porch TV segment (click here)

Patio TV segment (click here)

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Savvy Ways to Makeover Your Living…

June 1, 2018June 1, 2018

One Day Makeover Tips

If you haven’t updated your interior for 5 years or more, it may be time for a refresh. If your budget doesn’t allow you to start completely over, why not opt for a one day makeover instead?

In this photo above our interior design firm reupholstered an existing sofa and chairs to freshen up the space along with refinishing the kitchen table top and updating the room’s finishes including the floor, light fixtures and walls.

If you’re ready to refresh your space, here are my top three tips!

Interior design by Karen Mills

1. Create an inviting floor plan that emphasizes your focal point whether its a fireplace or bed, for example. If you don’t have a focal point, design one yourself by grouping items together such as a sofa table or chest with a piece of artwork overhead plus a table lamp and/or tabletop decor.

In this room the client started with a favorite piece of art over the mantel and we replaced the fireplace tile along with upholstering the existing chairs and ottoman to create a fabulous new look!

3. Shop your entire house for furniture/furnishings you can use in your room. Keep those items you discover in mind as you start to put together your room, bringing ones you think might work to a staging area nearby.

In this living area, the client wanted to keep an existing coffee table that had been passed down through her family in the interior design of this living room so we had to ensure we had similar warm hues – the outdoor fireplace beyond, to create a cohesive feel with the antique table.

Interior design by Karen Mills

3. Add a pop of color with accents throughout your room with pillows, art, drapes, decor or an area rug. Remember, you can repaint or re purpose items to use in your refreshed room too. In this great room the client wanted to keep the mermaid art over the mantel so we tied in the furnishings to the art by layering in orange and blue pillows along with luxurious blue drapes beyond.

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Interior Design: How to Use White as Art to…

May 25, 2018

White is amazing – the perfect hue for creating contrast, emphasizing design, or grabbing your attention. In this art piece I discovered at Crystal Bridges museum white creates the perfect backdrop for this metal sculpture, allowing each detail of the design to stand out which makes it great for an entry or when you want to make a statement.

In contrast, this artwork with hands slapping white powder seems to float out of the artwork and creates interest making this piece a good option for drawing people into another room to take a closer look.

But white can also be used rhythmically as seen here where repetition of these doors created an interesting pattern and an artistic statement on their own.

This wall demonstrates another way to use white effectively in a monochromatic color scheme which can make a powerful statement.

But let’s not forget about exterior design because architecture is what draws you in for a closer look. Here at the Crystal Bridges museum I discovered this wonderful dome of circles that felt right at home in the woods but I could see just as easily on a lawn outside a home.

Memorial Day is almost here! A time to honor those in the military who died protecting our country and a time to relax with family or friends whether its a barbecue outside or jsut doing nothing. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and for more great ideas/ photos sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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Interior Design: 3 Tips for Selecting Quality Outdoor Furniture

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How to narrow down the choices for high quality outdoor seating

Photo courtesy of B&B Italia furniture

1. Color

I think we as consumers are naturally drawn to our favorite colors and often purchase based on that fact alone but when you’re investing in a quality piece(s) of outdoor furniture you might want to consider longevity of a frame or cushion color that’s beyond a neutral.

Of course if a particular color is part of who you are, then it may not matter. For me as an interior designer, my favorite color is usually what we are designing that day or week. That’s why neutral seating frames and/or cushions are often best because you can switch out accessory colors every time you want a new look without starting over.

Courtesy of Castelle furniture

2. Furniture Style

Style, a key factor in selecting furniture, plays a huge role outside because the furnishings must not only coordinate with the exterior of the home and the view beyond but also relate the the adjacent rooms inside.

This outdoor furniture designed by Barclay Butera, who’s known for his signature blue and white color scheme, comes together beautifully with a fretwork design on the chair sides and gold finials to give a new twist to a timeless classic.

Photo courtesy of Gloster furniture

3. Comfort

Of course comfort is the most important factor when it comes to seating, especially if its where you will sit for prolonged periods savoring your outdoor space. When selecting furniture ensure the seat is not only tall enough for your legs but also the right depth for you.

In this photo the chair dips down in the back to allow a more relaxed seating position which can be ideal for taking in the views while a more upright seat might better accommodate you for dining.

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Interior Decorating: What Happens When Blue Meets Orange!

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When calming blue meets vibrant orange, it’s complementary color, you will have a dramatic look in your room, especially with a light neutral backdrop. Read on for ways to combine this fun combination to create drama and interest in your space.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

In this living room, blue dominates the space, while orange is shown in the chair/pillow fabric, art, and a flower in smaller doses to keep it from overpowering the space. A light beige sofa, rug, and walls also help neutral the contrast between orange and blue.

Photo courtesy of Allan Knight furniture

Orange chairs frame the bold blue sofa beyond to draw you into the room while a light neutral wall and flooring along with a lucite coffee table help calm the space down.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

Here the orange chair with blue accents and matching pillow immediately grab your attention to create an exciting contrast against the calming back drop of light neutral walls and flooring. An orange vase and pattern in the ottoman add more drama to the room’s design.

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Interior Design: Pretty in Pink (or Fuchsia)

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Was suddenly struck by the popularity of pink this year at my birthday party in January when most of the guests showed up with gifts in a pink color ranging from a bold bright fuchsia to a pale pink that just happened to coordinate beautifully with the live fuchsia flowers I had placed on the top of my cake. Of course as an interior designer I know pale pinks have been a hot color trend for a few years but I’m loving this more dramatic shade everywhere from fashion to interior design!

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

In this living space the fuchsia takes center stage on the draperies where it mimics the color of the tree blossoms beyond. The color repeats again on the floral chair fabric and in decor.

Photo courtesy of Design within Reach

Love the purple spin on the fabulous fucsia throw in this living space. Here a book and artwork over the mantel repeat this fabulous hue of pink.

Photo courtesy of Spectrum Limited

But if you’re like me and you love all the colors, why not do something fun like Spectrum in this dining space by mixing up all the colors to create a cheerful artistic space.

New York City

Or just have a fabulous head covering like this horse I passed by on a trip to New York City.

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Interior Design: How to Use Black and White in Your Living Spaces

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Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

Who doesn’t love the classic combination of black and white? Timeless and classy, black and white bring a punch to a room like nothing else. And the best part is that you can add touches of your favorite color to completely change the look like this living space that has a warm neutral color added to calm it down.

Photo courtesy of Lillian August for Hickory White

In this space the designer punched up the drama with black walls that visually disappear behind the white upholstery. Pops of red add to the bold look.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

The best feature in this room are the black painted over sized windows that showcase the height of the room, while drawing you into the space. White and red upholstery add to the drama while the white drapes and walls help soothe the living space.

Photo courtesy of All Modern furniture

Because the majority of the finishes and furnishings in this room are white, this space takes on an ethereal feel that’s calms the senses while the touches of greenery help bring the room back to earth.

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Interior Design: 3 Tips for Creating Rustic Glam Style at Home

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As a full time interior designer I’ve noticed a huge trend over the past couple of years towards creating simple spaces that are a mix of rustic and glamour. Here are my 3 tips for creating your own style of rustic glam style.

Interior decorating by Karen Mills

Introduce weathered furniture/furnishings

In this great room we layered in an end table with a rustic finish, a simple striped white and blue pillow in a rustic feel and lamp with a rustic base to juxtapose against the more glamorous light fixtures and shiny back splash in the kitchen.

Interior decorating by Karen Mills

Here’s another view of the great room which clearly shows the client’s bent towards rustic style that’s offset by the more sophisticated gray wall color, light fixture, and crystal decanters.

From dark to light

2. Add touches of white

By juxtaposing the white chairs in the eating area against the rustic table finish and shimmery light fixtures, a wonderful symphony is created that undulates between masculine and feminine in this relaxing space.

The family room beyond continues the rustic glam theme with its beach elements on the coffee table contrasting nicely against the tufted sofa and gold mirror beyond.

Interior design by Mills/Photography by 29Pixels, LLC

3. Layer in a glamorous element

In this kitchen a re purposed chandelier provides the perfect glam touch to this beautiful kitchen with updated finishes. The rustic table juxtaposes nicely against the marble in the kitchen to create just the right amount of tension.

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Our Design Projects Just Published in an International Interior Design and Architecture Book

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Thrilled to announce that our interior design projects were published this month in an international design book titled Architecture Today Interior Design by Booq Publishing in Barcelona, Spain along with other top interior designers and architects around the world whose work is absolutely fabulous!

Above is a photo of the book I snapped with my cell phone as I held it for the first time late yesterday afternoon.

Interior design by Karen Mills/Photography by 29 Pixels Studios, LLC

Here’s a sneak peek of one of our favorite projects fondly called the “The Flat” after the clients’ London flat that will be featured along with other wonderful designs.

Interior design by Karen Mills/Photography by 29 Pixel Studios, LLC

Copies of the book are now available at retailers worldwide so we can’t wait for you to pick up a copy and enjoy this book for years to come!

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Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Make Your Living Room Bloom for Spring

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If you’re like me you’re ready for warmer weather and cheerful colors. Here are 3 ways to make your room bloom!

Photo courtesy of Kravet furniture

1. Add bold pops of spring color

In this room bold patterned pillows, a cheerful blue vase and red throw mimic the colors of the brightly colored area rug underneath to give a spring like feel to this beautiful room by Kravet furniture.

Photo courtesy of Lillian White for Hickory furniture

2. Introduce fresh flowers and/or plants

This dining room gets a touch of spring with fresh flowers on the table that replicate the colors in the artwork on the furniture to add life to this space.

Photo courtesy of Lillian White for Hickory furniture

Photo courtesy of Design within Reach

3. Swap out dark furnishings for lighter ones when possible

If you have a lighter area rug like the one pictured here that you can swap out for a darker one, the entire room can be transformed from winter to spring. Fresh leaf clippings, a red pillow, and purple throw add to the fresh spring atmosphere of this living room.

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Interior Design: 7 Steps to Successfully Designing a Room

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Like any project that involves money, you need a budget or at least a range before you start. Do some research and bring in the experts – an interior designer, contractor/builder, and architect to give an estimated investment. Then follow these 7 steps to create the room of your dreams!

Interior Decorating by Karen Mills

Decide on a design style or mix of styles that will flow with your architecture and existing furnishings you will be re purposing. As an interior designer in Kansas City, I always suggest clients select several photos of room designs they like and make sure any spouse or significant other involved agrees.

2. Determine your color scheme ensuring it coordinates with adjoining rooms and any existing furnishings to be used in the interior design. If you have no idea, take a look in your closet to see what colors you’re drawn too or pull colors out of an inspiration piece such as art, a rug, or fabric.

3. Create a floor plan so you know what fits in your space and the sizes you need. To do that go online and use space planning software or get an expert to help.

4. Set a timetable. At this point you might want to bring in an expert – interior designer and/or contractor/builder- to review your design plan/timetable because investing a few dollars for a master plan and viable timetable can help avoid thousands of dollars in costly mistakes from bad decisions or huge delays.

Interior design by Karen Mills. Photo by 29 Pixels, LLC

5. Design and order custom furniture and any built in cabinetry after consulting with your interior designer or tradespeople if you’re managing the project yourself. At this point all custom designs need to be finalized and ordered. In addition permits need to be pulled for construction.

6. Select and order all plumbing, flooring, tile, and general lighting needed.

Interior design by Karen Mills

7. Design furnishings

Furnishings may include rugs, window treatments, pillows, bedding or other items. Also ensure you select art, finishes, and other decor needed.

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Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Decorate Your Outdoor Area for Spring

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If you’re ready to get outside and enjoy the weather here are 3 tips for setting up your outdoor porch, pergola, or open seating area to enjoy for months to come.

Photo courtesy of Lexington Furniture

1. Create a Comfortable Seating Area

High quality seating and a “L” or “U” shaped configuration like this outdoor room by Lexington Furniture help create a comfortable and inviting outdoor space. Here the yellow chair color repeats again on the sofa pillows while the patterned pillows on both upholstered pieces add to the cohesive look.

Photo courtesy of Lexington Furniture

2. Introduce Fun Accessories

Some of my favorite accessories are bold pillows, live flowers or plants, and trays for the outdoors like shown in this photo.

Photo courtesy of Braxton Culler

3. Layer in an Area Rug to Create a Cozy Grouping

Placing an area rug underneath a seating area helps define the space and make it feel more like the indoors like this outdoor room. Interesting accessories in turquoise add to the finished look along with the pillows and tray on the table.

For more great ideas sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on Facebook here

and if you have a porch to decorate, check out my latest article on Houzz titled Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting below

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/95204125/list/get-your-porch-ready-for-spring-sitting

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: When Blue Meets White in the Bedroom

May 18, 2018

How to create a calm respite from daily life in your sleeping quarters

Interior design by Karen Mills/Photography by 29Pixel Studios, LLC

Blues or blue greens in muted hues with more calming patterns can create a sense of safety and peace for you especially in the bedroom where you need to unwind at the end of the day. And because blues/greens are cooler colors they also recede giving the room a more spacious light feel.

In this master bedroom, the beautiful leaf wallpaper by Thibaut sets the scene with a restful outdoor theme while the Clark & Clark fabric on the bench and Kravet fabrics on the chairs add to the restful atmosphere of this traditional space.

On the shelves a beautiful mix of blues and greens in the sitting area nearby enhance the calming effect of the room along with paint by Benjamin Moore

Here in this master sitting area a custom designed neutral rug grounds the light airy feel of this area that has a chaise cushion covered in a beautiful velvet Kravet fabric with a Cowtan & Tout silky pillow perched on top. The adjoining chair brings a nice contrast to the blue green walls with a shimmery fabric from Clark & Clark and the pillow pattern picks up the leaf motif from the bedroom accent wall to create a cohesive feel between the spaces.

In this rustic lodge home we introduced a beautiful shimmery wallpaper behind the bed picking up variations of the color again on the Italian bedding and nearby chair pillow to create a calming feel.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating