Interior Design Blog for Decorating Your Home by Globally Renowned Leawood Designer

Interior Design: 5 Questions to Ask a Contractor Before…

June 5, 2020June 5, 2020

Things to Consider When Procuring a Remodeler Besides Cost

Karen Mills' blog — Interior design by Karen MIlls

What qualifications/experience do you have with my type of project and can you provide references? For example ask if the contractor belongs to NARI, National Association of Remodelers or HBA, Home Building Association.

2. Can your insurance company mail a current copy of your insurance policy(s) before we sign the contract? Contractorsshould have liability insurance to cover any damage to your property and workman’s comp for anyone working on your home to protect you if they get hurt on the job.

3. How do you charge? Normally remodelers give a bid/estimate of total amount for project minus any unseen issues or simply charge for time (hourly) and materials (products). If you want to buy materials yourself and just pay the contractor for your time, make sure they offer that option and that you can put a limit on the hours billed so project doesn’t get out of hand.

photo example — Kansas City Interior design by Karen Mills

4. Can you complete work within my requirements and may I have a timeline/schedule of construction beforehand?

5. Will you provide a signed contract with scope of work to be done and warranty?

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Interior Design: 3 Tips for Adding Glamour to a…

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020

Ideas for Softening the Look of Your Cabin

The romantic lure of the rustic style home or cabin is undeniable. Maybe its because of our rich heritage of building log cabins to protect our families from the weather. Or maybe its the way rustic homes connect us with the outdoors with their rough hewn beams, simple style, and organic materials like stacked stone fireplaces.

But even though we still love our rustic home, sometimes we crave furnishings that are more refined and luxurious to offset the rugged architecture for that perfect mix of masculine and feminine. If that’s you, here are my 3 tips as an interior designer to help you create the perfect blend.

Select a muted color scheme that picks up the hues reflected in your finishes. By picking up existing colors in the home’s architecture for the furnishings, the overall design style is strengthened and the furnishings connect better with the hard surfaces . Here in this great room we pulled out the beautiful gray blue and taupe color scheme from the hues found in the nearby stone fireplace. Then select furniture and an area rug in a lighter color and softer materials in the same hues to create a more inviting comfortable feel that also adds interest to the space. 3 Ways to Create a Rustic Glam Style

2. Keep it simple Because of the rugged nature of this style it’s important to balance rough elements shown here with furnishings that have cleaner lines and softer edges to create the perfect balance of rugged and sleek. Here in this living room the softer lines of the sofa and tables help balance the rough hewn fireplace and stone columns in the background.

The same is true with this family room where the textural pillows, shag rug, and light neutral swivel chairs add texture and light to the darker hard surfaces of the fireplace, floors, and leather sofa. 7 Steps for Creating a Room Design

3. Layer in organic materials that coordinate with the room’s rugged finish to soften the room such as natural cottons as seen in the bedding and the casual fabrics on the chairs. The textural rug also adds light and interest to the room.

The beautiful simple pale blue shimmer wallpaper in an organic pattern also provides a nice juxtaposition against the stone columns and paneled wood ceiling.

In review by toning down the dramatic tile, stone, and wood throughout this rustic lodge with lighter muted colors, softer textures and organic elements you’re able to achieve a more inviting look.

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Interior Design: 3 Tips for Selecting Outdoor Furniture

May 21, 2020May 21, 2020

How to Make Smart Choices for Outdoor Seating

to explain point — Interior Design by Karen Mills

Comfort

Comfort is the most important factor when it comes to seating, especially if its where you will sit for prolonged periods relaxing in your outdoor room. When selecting furniture I always tell our interior design clients to ensure your legs can comfortable touch the floor and that the seat isn’t too short or too deep.

Here on this porch the chairs provide thick cushions helping ensure a comfortable place to relax or entertain.

2. Furniture Style

Style, a key factor in selecting furniture, plays a huge role outside because the furnishings must coordinate with both the exterior finishes of your home and the view beyond, while also relating to the the adjacent rooms inside.

In this outdoor space, contemporary style furniture with clean lines blend beautifully with the modern house architecture.

3. Color

I think we as consumers are naturally drawn to our favorite colors and often purchase products based on that fact alone. But as an interior designer who thinks long term I would recommend selecting a solid neutral color frame and even cushion. That’s because you can always switch out pillows and accessories but quality furniture will be with you much longer.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: The Art of Framing

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020

3 Critical Tips You Need to know to Frame Paintings, Memorabilia, or Photos

Unfortunately most people have no idea how to properly frame art to enhance its overall look or even protect its value so today I’m sharing a few tips to get you started on the art of framing

example — Interior design by Karen Mills

Use matting to add impact to most artwork. Ideal for personal photos, smaller items, and memorabilia, the recommended matting size should follow the golden ratio of 1 to 1.6 unless its a smaller painting or item that needs more matting area to help size it a bit larger. Matting in a neutral hue like the white matting shown here is best unless you’re a interior designer or artist who understands how to frame art and the way to combine colors for the best look overall. Here a simple gold frame that ties in with the painting colors and other decor adds to the overall look. A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Original Art

2. Select a frame style that coordinates with the artwork style or period. Traditional artwork, period art, or classic artwork normally pairs well with a more traditional style frame in wood tones or gold while ethereal, light, or abstract art – like shown here plays well with simpler frames. Of course you can always break the rules but please don’t try it unless you’re an expert.

3. Adjust frame molding width to fit size of artwork With this original large artwork we had to fit the painting over the top of the buffet so instead of a larger width frame molding we did a narrow frame to make it work.

If you would like to help selecting or sourcing original artwork from around the world or help designing the best framing/matting/protective options for your artwork, click here for our services.

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Interior Design: 5 Easy Steps to Space Planning Your…

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020

5 Secrets for Creating a Cozy Inviting Living Space Using Existing Furnishings

blog post example — Shawnee Interior design by Karen Mills

Make it Functional – The first question I ask interior design clients who want us to space plan their living room is how they will use the room and what they need. For example if they entertain regularly how much seating do they need or if they take a nap how long does the sofa need to be. In this great room a coffee table and sofa table provide surfaces to place things while a nearby end table holds a much needed lamp.

2. Determine Your Focal Point – In this outdoor living room the focal point is obvious because we put it front and center but if you don’t have a fireplace a great outdoor view or a furniture vignette created to be a focal point can work also such as a table, artwork, and lamp arrangement. Click here for 3 Ways to Make Your Living Space Bloom for Spring

rug sizing example — Overland Park interior design by Karen Mills

3. Place your sofa or largest upholstery (seating) facing your focal point. Here in this great room the sofa faces the fireplace, the focal point of the room while the other chairs sit nearby adding the to cozy appeal. Click here for 3 Tips for Refreshing Your Living Room for Less

4. Make furniture arrangement inviting and cozy but not too crowded. In this living room the sofa is facing a focal point, the view out the window. A round ottoman helps create a more spacious feel in this cozy room. Click here for How to Mix Up Furnishings in Your Home to Create a Fresh New Look

5. Layer in tables and a rug. Tables are critical in your room for lamps and to place drinks or other items. In this hearth living space we designed a comfortable rug was layered underneath bringing all the furniture into a cozy grouping.

If you would like to re decorate you living spaces right now check out our interior design and decorating options that we have whether its for remodel/new home builds, a design dilemma, or just decorating.

If you’re looking for interior design, decorating, or remodeling inspiration, ideas, and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

Plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on
INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK here!

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Interior Decorating: 3 Tips for Sprucing Up Your Outdoor…

April 30, 2020April 30, 2020

If you’re ready to get outside and enjoy the weather here are my 3 tips for setting up your outdoor space to relax, entertain, or just take a nap.

1. Create a Comfortable Seating Area

High quality seating in a “L” or “U” shaped configuration like this outdoor room by B&B Italia helps create an inviting space that’s also comfortable. Here the cozy grouping invites conversation and draws visitors in for a closer look while not competing with the view beyond.

Karen Mills' blog texture example — Interior decorating by Karen Mills

2. Introduce Fun Accessories

Some of my favorite accessories as an interior designer are bold pillows, live flowers or plants, and trays for the outdoors like shown in this porch photo. 3 Tips for Reducing Stress and Nurturing the Soul While Staying at Home

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 rug by Dash & Albert. Interesting accessories in blue – throw and bowl along with a pillow add to the finished look.

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 article on Houzz titled Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting.

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 5 Decorating Tips for Enlarging Your Living…

April 23, 2020April 23, 2020

Read on for how to make your room feel bigger without remodeling

Unify Your Wall Color – When our interior design clients ask how to the visually expand their living spaces I always recommend starting with painting the walls all one color – usually lighter . In this hearth room we painted the dark dated walls Sherwin William’s Shoji White to lighten up the room and make it appear larger.

2. Bring in More Daylight – Begin by removing dark furnishings and window coverings to bounce more light around. Introducing mirrors also brings more natural daylight into your space. Here we recovered a dark sofa and chairs to to a light neutral palette plus replaced light fixtures to bring in more light, making the space expand. 3 Tips for Refreshing Living Room for Less

3. Place furniture on an angle – By placing all your furniture on an angle away from the walls like this living room, you visually expand the size of your room. Round items like a rug or a piece of furniture like this ottoman we designed make your space feel larger. 3 Tips for Coordinating Mismatched Furniture in Your Living Room

4. Introduce Round Furnishings By bringing in a round ottoman like this space we visually expanded the room but you can create the same effect with a round rug or circular furniture.

5. Lighten up Your Floors – When I’m talking about interior decorating I don’t mean that you should re stain wood floors light, but go with lighter area rugs or carpet to bounce more light throughout to make it larger. Here our client opted for a plush rug that would feel good with bare feet while enlarging this smaller room.

In summary by removing dark furnishings, painting your walls lighter, and layering back in lighter furnishings you can visually expand your living room. 3 Ways to Make Your Living Space Bloom for Spring

If you’re looking for more custom interior design, decorating, or remodeling inspiration, ideas, and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: How to Mix Up Existing Furnishings in…

April 16, 2020April 16, 2020

Tips for Giving Your Living Room a One Day Makeover While You’re Nesting at Home

I’ve noticed as I’ve been working at home the past several weeks helping interior design clients with their remodeling and new home build projects that I’ve become more acutely aware of my surroundings much like those of you also working from home or just at home. That’s why today I want to share my top 3 tips for refreshing your space!

1. Create a floor plan that emphasizes your focal point like we did in this great room by placing furniture in a U shape towards the fireplace. If you don’t have a focal point, then design one yourself by grouping items together such as a sofa table/chest with a piece of artwork overhead and a buffet lamp with tabletop decor on your table or chest.

Before you start I recommend emptying your living room of all furnishings so you can have a fresh perspective on your room’s possibilities without the distraction of furnishings and decor. For more tips check out our blog post 3 Big Design Mistakes We Make in the Living Room

In this great room we introduced a new custom designed sofa and rug before layering in existing wing back chairs we had upholstered in two different designer fabrics along with an existing coffee table, sofa table, and end table.

2. 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.

Here in this room our interior design client didn’t have anything appropriate for this coffee table or sofa table so we purchased decor for them to enhance the overall look of their space.

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 room too. In this great room our interior design client had asked us to use an existing family heirloom piece they had so we placed on the wall with a painting we found in another room. Then we topped the chest off with a newly purchased lamp and vase to complete the look. Click here for 3 Tips for Creating a Relaxing Living Area

If you would like to refresh your living space right now but know that’s beyond your capabilities, check out our virtual design options that we have for interior design clients whether its for remodel/new home builds, a design dilemma, or just decorating.

Looking for more great budget friendly decorating ideas that you can implement this summer? Sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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

or instagram here!

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Remodel Workbook: Master Bath Renovation

April 9, 2020April 9, 2020

Critical Steps and Timely Tips for Planning Your Bathroom Remodel

1 Get Inspired – As an interior designer I always recommend that you find at least three photos of bathrooms that you love because they will reveal your style preferences.

Since our clients were inspired by the beach, a favorite vacation destination of theirs, we designed their master bathroom remodel around a color scheme of watery blues, white, sandy beige, and warm rustic grays.

Click here to read our blog post 3 Ideas for Luxury Bath Design with Free Standing Tubs

2. Evaluate Your Needs -Now that you’re motivated to get started on your bathroom remodel, its time to step back and decide on what’s most important to you functionally. If you’re not sure think about-

A. What can you do to make your space more functional for you??

B. Why are you remodeling in the first place?

C. Do you need to move plumbing? If not, that can mean big savings.

D. Will you be aging in place (retiring) in this bathroom?

E. What are your priorities – tub, shower, or both?

In this bathroom, we needed to enlarge the usable space in the closet area and since there wasn’t room for pocket doors we layered in barn doors which also added a fun unexpected design element.

Click here to read our blog post How to Remodel a Tiny Bathroom into a Visually Larger Space

3. Determine a Budget – Now its time to decide how much you can invest into your bathroom remodel. I always suggest to our interior design clients to consider the neighborhood, how long they will stay in the house, and resale.

If you have no idea of costs, you can go online to get a rough idea but remember that many online companies post estimates that are way too low and that’s why I recommend that you reach out to a professional to get a better idea.

In this master bath remodel located in a million dollar high rise apartment we needed to create a wow look on a reasonable budget so I covered the floors and walls with a marble look tile from Italy to give it a wow when you walked in the bathroom.

4. Reach Out to Professionals – Now that you’ve gotten an idea of your style, figured out your needs, and determined a budget, its time to reach out to a professional interior designer who specializes in bathroom remodels so they can create a design concept, often using sketches, finishes, and floor plans to help you visualize the final project while also helping you determine if your budget will work or not.

Now that you’ve have an interior design plan, its time to reach out to a contractor and/or architect to give you a remodel budget estimate based on your design and schedule a time to start your project.

5. Finalize Design and Select Finishes– Now that you’ve found inspiration, determined your needs, set a budget, and contacted a professional interior designer, its time to finalize everything that’s part of your project including paint colors, flooring, plumbing, tile, back splash, mirrors, light fixtures and more.

Click here to read our blog post about the 3 Biggest Mistakes We Make in the Bathroom

If you’re looking for more custom interior design, decorating, or remodeling inspiration, ideas, and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

Plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on
INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Make Your Living Space…

April 2, 2020April 2, 2020

How to add life to your living room design

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

1. Add bold pops of spring color in your favorite hue(s).

One of the easiest ways to add spring color begins with introducing bright pillows in happy colors. Other simple ideas could include removing dark heavy drapes, adding white cotton slipcovers to your upholstery, or replacing a heavy darker rug with a visually lighter one like sisal or a light neutral cotton one.

In this room we did for an interior design client the graphic blue and white pillows contrast nicely against the chairs while also picking up the cobalt blue color in the ottoman. A light cotton rug sits underneath.

2. Introduce fresh flowers, plants and/or nature inspired decor

Nothing says spring like a bouquet of fresh flowers, a beautiful orchid or live plants. Here in this outdoor living room the orange flowers pick up the color in the napkins, creating a cheerful spring look while branches in a blue vase beyond bring the outdoors in.

Karen Mills' design blog — Interior design by Karen Mills

3. Swap out dark furnishings for lighter ones

Light neutral slipcovers, light area rugs, and eliminating dark heavy drapes can do wonders for your living room in spring. Painting the walls a lighter color can also make a huge difference along with adding table/floor lamps and introducing more white hues into your room.

In this family room we reupholstered dark upholstery – sofa and chairs, in fresh lighter hues along with swapping out the rug for a lighter one, and introducing light decor including white coral, a rope glass lantern, lighter pillows/throw, and a plant on the chest beyond.

In summary by replacing visually heavy or dark furnishings with lighter ones and introducing items from outdoors you can create a space that’s fresh and spring ready.

If you’re looking for more custom interior design, decorating, or remodeling inspiration, ideas, and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

Plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on
INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK here!