Interior Design: Falling for Autumn Red

September 22, 2017

Karen Mills' blog — Styling by Karen Mills

As fall descends upon us I’m drawn to it’s beautiful rich colors, especially autumn red. Vacationing in Breckenridge, Colorado last week was a reminder of how much I love autumn with its brilliant changing leaves beginning to create an explosion of color on the mountains, hills, and valleys.

So this week I’m compelled to write about autumn in all its splendor, and how to apply it to our spaces. Read on for great ideas for injecting red into your home whether its in a temporary fashion like fresh flowers, fruit/vegetables, or decor or in a more permanent way with wall coverings or furniture.

Here in this entryway, the red platter, leaves, and stunning artwork showcase simple ways to introduce autumn red into your home.

In this living room, we placed red toss pillows and a custom blown vase to add a fall feel to the room. The dark wood furniture and taupe drapes also add to the autumn ambiance.

Other simple ideas for introducing fall re could include red delicious apples in a bowl or clear container, a warm throw, an area rug with red or decor items layered into your room.

For more fabulous ideas on how to introduce autumn red into your decorating, read my latest article from Houzz here titled 6 Ways to Inject Rich Autumn Red in Your Living Room.

Plus become a fan of our weekly interior design blog here

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

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: Soothing Laundry Room Color Palettes

September 13, 2017September 13, 2017

If you’re like most homeowners the laundry room may be the last place to get a makeover but its still important because a pleasing paint color on the walls can be soothing for what’s often a daunting task. And what better time of year to repaint inside than fall!

Click below to read the popular article titled 7 Laundry Room Color Palettes to Make Washday More Relaxing that I wrote that was recently featured in Houzz’s newsletter

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89436594/list/7-laundry-room-color-palettes-to-make-washday-more-relaxing

plus sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: Designer Spotlight

August 23, 2017August 23, 2017

DesignerInc just did a Designer Spotlight interview with me today and wanted to share it with you!

Absolutely love interior design and working as an interior designer but if you knew my heart you would know my top priority is helping people make things better – increase their joy through forgiveness, help navigate life changing choices, or by simply creating an extraordinary living experience.

DESIGNER INC SPOTLIGHT August 23, 2017

One of our favorite things about working with interior designers at DesignerInc is taking a moment to pause and revel in their work. There are so many talented designers on the site that it’s hard not lose hours perusing their portfolios once you learn of them.

Our latest discovery was Karen Mills and her firm Interiors by Design. You may have heard of her, as her work has been featured in over 100 media outlets including USA Today, Elle Decor, and The Washington Post. When she’s not designing, she’s the host of nationally acclaimed Living Large, the first design and lifestyle radio program in the US. And if that wasn’t enough, her award-winning blog was named to one of the Top 100 Interior Design Blogs. It was there that we learned a few tricks of her trade.

Her blog offers many useful design tips such as how to deemphasis mismatched upholstery, reimagine a walk-in closet into a glam dressing room, design a basement that lives and breathes like the rest of house, or strike the right balance of drama in the dining room. With her wealth of knowledge, it’s easy to understand how she’s become a go-to design expert in the media and a spokesperson for Kohler, Sherwin William, and Ferguson.

We love her skill of blending and layering textures. In this mountain home living room, she balances a soft cool palette to enhance the warmth, color, and tone of the natural elements of rock, wood, metal and leather.

Or how she strikes the right amount of symmetry in this plush master bedroom that gives structure to various textures and materials in the room.

Karen says she “spent her childhood surrounded by art, literature, music, and textiles” and that this along with her travel experiences have founded the way she designs today. We can’t help but wonder which memory or muse from her past she drew upon when asked to design a piano for Steinway & Sons! We had a chance to chat with Karen this month to learn more about her:

What is your favorite part of being a designer?

The best part about being a designer are relationships forged with clients, as we translate their personal style into a timeless signature look that helps reduce stress, nurture their soul, and help them live better. The result is an extraordinary living experience, which often brings families closer together and creates a lifelong connection between us and them.

Who or what would you cite as your most important influence?

Experiencing different cultures through international travel and being cognizant of changes around me in everything from fashion or technology to lifestyle are my biggest influences.

If you could travel back, what advice would you give yourself as you start this career?

I would keep asking until I found a mentor in the design field before launching our company, along with getting advice offered to start ups from the business development center.

What is your current favorite resource?

My favorite resource would be a mix of local tradespeople who help bring our visions to life and to-the-trade designer-only showrooms, both online and local.

We loved getting to know Karen and her work better. Look out for more Designer Spotlights coming soon!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: How to Coordinate Mismatched Upholstery

August 11, 2017December 21, 2017

Do you have a room with mismatched furnishings that you’re not sure how to decorate? Then read on for my 3 interior designer tips for creating a cohesive look in your room that includes a recent TV INTERVIEW on KCTV5 I did last week along with a Houzz article I wrote on a similar topic.

Interior design by Karen Mills/Photography by 29Pixel Studios

1. Repetition – To coordinate two pieces of mismatched upholstery, unify both pieces by repeating a color from one piece to onto another with a pillow or throw. Here the blue green color of the ottoman was repeated in the pattern on the pillows, while the artwork brings everything together including the gray velvet sofa in the foreground.

2. Introduce a new design element – A piece of artwork overhead or nearby accessories with both colors can also serve as a way to bring two different colors of upholstery together effectively. Here the blue center of the pillow is repeated in the blue candle nearby while the white seashell picks up the white upholstery.

When creating vignettes of accessories in your space whether its for a tabletop or shelves, try to place objects of various heights, sizes, texture, and shapes together to create a cohesive whole. Normally I place the taller narrower items at back with shorter wider items at the front.

3. Layer a rug underneath – Placing a rug underneath your upholstery not only creates a grouping of furniture but can also help bring the two disparate colors together by introducing both of them in your rug. In this photo above the magenta red pillow picks up the color in the chair on the banquette along with the rug, while the cream white from the rug is also repeated in the banquette pillow and upholstery legs.

For more great ideas and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design and decorating blog here

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

Watch my KCTV5 interview on Better Kansas City on the same topic last week

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: Tips n Tricks to Creating a Closet…

August 4, 2017

Do you ever cringe at the disorganized mess you call a closet? Read on for great tips and ideas for creating a beautiful closet that you can enjoy every day.

Add storage whether that’s adding built ins or simple as simple as free standing shelves with bins/baskets and/or a storage unit with drawers to your space.
Photo courtesy of Doctor Closet
Organize your clothing and accessories for easy access. Personally as an interior designer when I speak to groups about how to organize I recommend you begin by pulling everything out of your closet, trying it on, and only putting back what you love. When placing items back in your closet, separate your spring/summer clothing from your fall/winter clothing if you’re in a climate that dictates different wardrobes. Then take it a couple of steps further and separate by type of clothing and then by color.
Photo courtesy of Easy Closets
Style Your Closet – Click below to read the article I recently wrote on styling for Houzz – We Can Dream: Turn a Walk In Closet into a Glam Dressing Room below.

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/54686783/list/we-can-dream-turn-a-walk-in-closet-into- a-glam-dressing-room

Plus sign up for our weekly interior design blog here so you don’t miss out on ways to improve your home and life

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

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Making Your Basement Live…

July 28, 2017July 28, 2017

If you’re lucky enough to have a basement and are thinking about remodeling or finishing it, keep these three tips in mind when designing your basement to make it live large like upstairs.

1. Bring in the daylight. When creating an interior design plan for your basement, think about ways you can bring natural sunshine further into your space. One of my favorite tricks? Use french doors or glass windows in interior rooms that allow the sun to penetrate further.

Other ways to bring in the light could include adding a glass door and and sidelights to a walkout basement or a large daylight window. For a daylight basement try creating a walk up.

2. Give it importance. Treat your basement space like you would a main level room. Use drywall on the ceilings and create focal points with architecture, color and/or interior design to give the rooms a “wow” feel. I personally prefer lighter wall colors in a basement that’s dark so it doesn’t feel a cave unless its a home theater area or wine cellar.

3. Beef up your artificial lighting. By adding extensive artificial light with wall washers, accent lighting and/or directional strip lights in addition to your standard lighting, you’ll find that your basement feels more like an upstairs living space.

For more basement remodeling ideas and more, 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!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 5 Tips for Refreshing Your Kitchen For…

July 21, 2017

Kitchens can be a huge investment so countless homeowners across the United States are choosing to just refresh their kitchen to save costs instead of remodeling. Read on for my 5 tips as an interior designer for refreshing your kitchen. Then watch my live interview on

1.Paint kitchen walls along with kitchen cabinets. In this photo we painted the walls an almost white color to lighten up the dark space that didn’t get much light and kept the original footprint of the floor plan to save costs since she needed new cabinets. When painting kitchen cabinets, remember to replace exposed hinges with hidden ones beforehand and update your pulls/knobs.

2.Replace back splash along with counter top – After working on over 1200 interior design projects we’ve noticed that homeowners doing a budget kitchen remodel usually plan to replace only their counter tops and that’s a problem because the old back splash often makes the kitchen still look dated and less desirable. In this kitchen we opted for a linear glass, marble, and stainless tile that would make the kitchen pop.

Photo courtesy of Design Within Reach

3. Introduce new bar stools New stools that contrast well against your island or peninsula can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen without spending a large sum of money.

4. Replace dated chandeliers or pendant lights – By updating your light fixtures you can make a great impression walking into your kitchen because they are usually front and center over an island or table.

5. Layer in accent color with accessories, rug, or art – When I’m styling a space for an interior design project, especially a kitchen, I love to introduce a fun accent color that can be layered in on everything from napkins or a rug to platters and art. In this photo the client showcased their beautiful collection of red and turquoise dishes on the live edge shelves to create a “wow” factor.

For more information check out my recent TV interview about How to Refresh Your Kitchen plus

for more great ideas and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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

ALso here’s an article we recently wrote – Ideas for Refreshing Your Kitchen for Less

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/80705354/list/ideas-for-refreshing-your-kitchen-without-remodeling

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 7 Steps to Designing a Dramatic Dining…

July 14, 2017

Who doesn’t love the thought of a beautiful dining room where you can have dinner parties, a romantic dinner, or just intimate family gatherings. Read on for how to design your own beautiful dining room.

1. Select Your Personal Design Style – If you have no idea what style you are start by finding inspiration photos online or in print. Then notate your favorite elements from each room to get a sense of your style. In this room a transitional glam style sectional is combined with a more traditional style chair and artwork.

2. Pick a Color Scheme – Most of us don’t spend much time in a dining room so have fun in here and pick colors you love. Bolder colors can go on decor, rugs, chairs, or even walls but if you like to change up your style often, you might consider neutral walls and floors that give more flexibility when you want to change your color scheme. Here the yellow green chair fabrics repeat one of the colors in the art while the buffet and tabletop add a dark contrast to the bold colors.

3. Add Dining Table and Seating – The dining room table and chairs along with the items directly behind them are the focal point of your room. Begin by determining how many people you need to seat and ensuring you have room for the table you want. Plus remember that your chairs don’t need to match your table, just enhance them.

If you opt for a dramatically styled table, then consider simpler style chairs and backdrop. Or if you go with a simpler style table, you might bring in drama with a wall covering or beautiful buffet with art above.

4. Consider Including Additional Furniture – The majority of dining rooms benefit from functional storage furniture like a buffet and curio cabinets shown in this photo, but don’t forget about sofa tables, tea carts, and other furnishings that can enhance your room and provide handy surfaces for lamps, platters, trays, or display.

5. Introduce a Dramatic Element – A bold element can range from a gorgeous piece of art like a sculpture or painting to wallpaper or beautiful buffet/curio to a stunning light fixture.

6. Layer in Texture – Adding texture softens all the hard surfaces of the table, chairs, buffets, and hard flooring. Texture can be introduced with an area rug, drapes/window coverings, fresh flowers, live plants/trees, or textural decor. In this photo fresh flowers on the table and upholstered furniture add texture.

7. Add lighting – Don’t forget about lighting because it creates much need ambiance and light when necessary. Table lamps on a buffet or sofa table look beautiful behind a table along with a stunning chandelier and/or sconces on the wall behind.

For more great 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 Facebook or Instagram here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: Your Vote Counts!

July 6, 2017July 10, 2017

K.C.s Best Interior Designer Award

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Even though you may have seen our design work featured recently in USA TODAY and ABC National News we weren’t sure if you knew our firm Interiors by Design made it into the semi finals for Johnson County’s Lifestyle magazine’s BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER award since most of you only know me as Karen Mills.

Please take a minute (literally) to cast your vote here for our company Interiors by Design! (You can skip categories – we are #50)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rcjoco

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those who nominated us and for your support by voting now!

P.S. We will have several projects featured in a new design book by an international publisher next spring so stay tuned for more details including how to get an advanced copy!

For more great design photos become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on Facebook here.

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 7 Easy Ways to Style Your Foyer

June 30, 2017

Front entries are the first impression you make on guests so why not create an inviting space. As an interior designer I tell my clients to think of their entry as an advertisement for their home and what’s to come. The entry should hold some of their favorite things and introduce the color scheme for their home’s interior design, revealing a little about their personal style. Read on for 7 simple ways to create a beautiful foyer.

Introduce a Sofa Table or Case piece – Start with a piece of furniture that fits easily in your entry and ideally can also hold decor. Examples of case pieces could include a chest like this photo, a curio, sofa table, desk, etc. A chair adds pattern and color to create a more interesting look.
Freshen Up with Live Flowers or a Plant – In the photo above the texture of the flowers and branches balance out the cold surfaces of the mirror, chest, and vases, bringing the outdoors in.
Layer in Artwork or a Mirror – Introducing artwork can add texture and reveal a bit of your personality, while a mirror is not only functional but also makes a style statement and can bounce light around from a lamp placed in front.
Ground Your Entry with a Rug – Layering a rug underneath adds warmth, color, and style to your foyer. In this photo the rug also picks up the colors of the chair and flowers.
Photo courtesy of Schumacher
Light it up With a Lamp – Lamps not only provide function and ambiance, but they can introduce more style to a space like the demure pink lamp in this photo of a sofa table grouping that’s actually part of a living room. The gold color throughout creates a cohesive element, while the pattern of the sofa table, stools, and branches add style and interest.
Replace Your Overhead Lighting – This photo provides a great example of how to dress up an entry with a stunning light fixture. Of course an actual entry chandelier might be smaller but this fixture adds style without competing with the rest of the furnishings.
Photo courtesy of Motif Designs
Tell a Color Story – You don’t have to be as bold and bright as this entry photo, but every space does have a color scheme even it’s neutral. The red color of the sofa table and vase do add more sizzle to the blue lamp and wallpaper, but their simple lines and lack of pattern help calm the space to keep it from being overwhelming. Fresh leaves give life while the mirror helps bounce light and visually enlarge the space.

To learn about color options for your foyer, read my Houzz article titled 7 Color Palettes for a Pleasing Entryway –

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/…/list/7-color-palettes-for-a-pleasing-entryway

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

and sign up for our weekly interior design blog here