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Interior Design: 3 Big Mistakes People Make in Living…

January 17, 2019January 17, 2019

Karen Mills' blog — Interior design by Karen Mills

Lack of a Focal Point Often the best spot to emphasize in a living space is the fireplace or great view outside but if you don’t have those options, create a vignette (grouping) of furniture/accessories that will grab your attention. Then group your upholstery around the focal point to emphasize it. Here in this living room a focal point was created on the back wall to entice people into the space for a closer look.

2. Purchasing Over Sized Upholstery Or Too Many Pieces Have you ever decided you wanted to buy a new living room grouping but didn’t bother creating a floor plan or measuring the space first? Suddenly your furniture arrives and the furniture takes up so much real estate you can barely walk through or don’t have room? As an interior designer I can’t tell you how many frantic calls I’ve received from homeowners requesting help with their space planning only to discover the wrong furniture was already purchased and they want me to fix it which we know is impossible. In this living room, the right size furniture was used and strategically placed to not only enhance the focal point (fireplace) but also leave ample room for someone to pass through.

3. Selecting The Wrong Wall Color After working on 1200+ interior design projects I see this mistake happen more than any other. We might want to blame a decorating network like HGTV or DIY for making us believe that picking paint colors is easy but I think its because the general public doesn’t realize how much a color can change when it goes from a tiny paint swatch to an entire room or house. In this room, we selected the paint color during day that not only coordinated with the finishes and furniture but also played well with other rooms in view.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: What’s Hot and What’s Not for 2019

December 20, 2018December 20, 2018

5 Interior Design Trends To Embrace in 2019

1. Warm Vibrant (or Bold) Colors For the past ten years we’ve seen gray neutral colors dominate the interior design scene but now as an interior designer I’m noticing a return to bolder colors with warmth whether they’re in a whole room color scheme like shown here or just as an accent in a light neutral warm hue.

In fashion this fall crimson red, warm yellow, and tobacco brown mixed in new and unusual ways made a strong comeback including bold combinations like red, black, and white which I will cover in more detail in an upcoming blog.

2. Nesting Trend Homeowners are beginning to return to nesting with all the turmoil in the headlines so we will see a resurgence of comfortable and inviting interiors that are textural including finishes like rattan or raw wood, artisan products, and curves on our sofas or sculptural items.

In this entry the space is warmed up with branches and a comfortable fringe throw along with with comfortable pillows.

3. Health and Wellness With environmental factors impacting our health right and left along with an over abundance of processed foods, people are looking for healthy alternatives whether its natural fabrics and controlled sleep environments like our Sleep Better Live Better program or the ability to cook farm fresh meals in the kitchen.

Here in this room shades made of natural fibers, an antler lamp, and wood art piece bring a sense of well being to this space.

Interior design project by Karen Mills featured in Design Icons book

4. Personalization Even though we’ve heard this term before its still a huge trend this coming year as evidenced in this library we designed that’s has been completely personalized for our client from the custom desk made of champagne wood, leather, and glass and accompanying pebbled leather chair to the custom designed rug underneath, snakeskin chair , and mementos from world travels displayed on the shelves beyond.

5. Maximalism For years we’ve seen a minimalist trend with less pattern and movement but that’s changing and we will see more bold patterns and/or colors mixed together in a mix of design styles like this entry that includes an antique french console table, classic black and white tile, hand made wallpaper, and a custom contemporary rug in this contained space.

So what’s not hot for this coming year? First copper or rose gold is starting to lose ground in finishes along with single accent walls and overly ornate details. Cool grays, all stark white, wall signs, and ikat patterns have also fallen off the trend wagon for next year but that doesn’t mean that warm grays or white can’t be combined with other vibrant colors which I will cover in an upcoming blog.

For more 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 Design: 3 Ways to Showcase Room with Interior…

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018

The architecture or bones of the house are the most important elements when building or remodeling because they set the backdrop for any interior design you’re about to create and determine the style of your space. That’s why not only the walls and ceilings are so important but also the doors and windows.

Here are 3 ways you can use doors to create drama in your space.

Make your door the focal point like the shower door pictured here. In this room the grid design of the door draws attention to itself along with the dark dramatic color, making it the star of the room.

Once you’ve selected your shower door, then you can repeat the color or pattern on the door to unify your space.

2. Introduce doors that are wider or taller than average to give a grander feel to your space. In this room the french doors appear to be taller by adding a transom above.

Recently completed an interior design project for a client where we specified 8 foot doors to create a majestic look walking in the front door and we are currently creating a fabulous new interior design project where every interior door will be at least 8 feet, completely transforming the space into a grandiose one of a kind home.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is office.jpg — Interior design by Karen Mills

3. Use doors to divide space without visually closing off the rooms in an open floor plan. The french doors here create a wonderful view into the adjacent home office while providing an option to be closed when needed.

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

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Interior Design: 5 Tips for Picking the Perfect Sofa

November 29, 2018

As an interior designer I realize how little most homeowners know about how to select a sofa that best fits them. Here are my top 5 secrets to selecting a perfect custom sofa for your home!

Determine the style and size of sofa needed for your space. If you have tall ceilings and supersized furnishings, you will need a sofa that’s in proportion to the room’s design.

2. Make sure you select the right cushioning for your sofa style and your personal preference whether it’s foam and down, all down, allergy free, or a combination of materials on the seat and back of your sofa.

3. Ensure the sofa fits your body type and height so your feet aren’t dangling above the floor or you aren’t unable to lean back comfortably in the seat.

4. Select the correct material for your sofa. If you will be using the sofa regularly then you will need a higher double rub count for durability and if you have dogs or cats, try to avoid a fabric that can be snagged easily. Also keep in mind how easily the fabric will clean and if it will go will with your room’s design and other fabrics.

5. Color – As an interior designer, I prefer a solid color or tone on tone sofa because it’s usually one of the biggest items in your room and can seem overpowering if you select a busy pattern or even a color that’s too bold.

For more great ideas on selecting furnishings and design 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 Instagram or Facebook

here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 3 Tips for Coordinating Mismatched Furnishings

October 26, 2018October 25, 2018

Do you have a collection of mismatched furniture that feels unfinished or undone? Read on for my 3 interior designer tips for creating a cohesive look in your room.

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 and the new tile on the fireplace.

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 in this family room 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 placing the taller narrower items at back with shorter wider items at the front works best.

3. Layer a rug underneath – Placing a rug underneath your upholstery helps create a cozy grouping of furniture like this living area but it may also pick up colors from one or several pieces of upholstery. Here the brown chair color is repeated on a pillow accent color and coffee table while the yellow and gray hues in the rug are mimicked again on the sofa and pillows.

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!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Remodeling Basement to Live…

October 18, 2018April 25, 2019

If you’re lucky enough to have a basement and are thinking about remodeling or finishing it, here are three tips for designing your basement to live large like upstairs.

1. Bring in the daylight. When creating an interior design plan for a basement in a new home you’re building raise the ceiling height so you can bring sunshine further into your basement like this living area shown. You can also incorporate french doors or glass windows in interior rooms that allow the sun to penetrate further into the basement.

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 like this wall where the television disappears into a black accent wall.

Here’s another example of adding a focal point in the basement using a niche and different wall color

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 Decorating: Fall Decorating Ideas From Your Backyard

September 28, 2018September 26, 2018

Tips for Creating Fall Arrangements Using Items from Your Backyard and More

A couple of weeks ago I did a live TV segment on Fox4 TV where I shared tips for fall decorating using natural items from outdoors from the perspective of an interior designer. Of course the foliage hadn’t started to turn yet here in the mid west so I had to inject some rustic color foliage from the store to create the look of what can be done.

To recreate this lovely fall decor piece start with a container you have around the house that coordinates with your home. Then cut some evergreen branches and fall color leaves from nearby trees along with other interesting additions you find along the way.

I added a couple of mangoes that I already had on my counter for additional color along with a beautiful white pumpkin that my friend Marilyn Beebe decorated for me a couple of weeks earlier.

Here’s another of Marilyn’s fun creations.

Here’s a closeup of the fun tabletop decoration we did. First I grabbed a clear vase and filled it with barren branches I got from the woods. Then I placed the vase of branches on an existing tray and filled the bottom with pieces of a decaying log and pine cones I discovered while traipsing through the woods and topped it off with leaves and berries.

For more great fall decor ideas and design tips sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: How to Cozy up Your Space with…

September 19, 2018

Area Rug Design Ideas for Your Interior

As our long term interior design clients know I have a penchant for designing custom rugs that have a pattern that relates back to nature so when The Rug Company presented their line of rugs to our interior design firm last week I got excited about what they’re doing and wanted to share some of the most interesting ones.

How amazing would this butterfly rug look in the right space? And the best part? We can source the rug in an array of color options to fit our client’s needs just like we do when we design custom rugs.

Love graphic designs especially like this rug that reinforces the cleaner lines in this room, plus the combination of warm and cool neutral colors makes it more versatile.

Of course if you’re a lover of bold contrasts and a more modern look then this blue and white rug might be just the right fit whether its in blue, red, black or another color.

You might not be able to tell it but this fabulous leaf rug is multi dimensional which gives it a one of kind look that you don’t see everyday. And in this bedroom the tonal color palette is perfect for giving a serene feel to the space.

Finally I wanted to share this wonderful rug that feels like a contemporary paint or paint brushed across a canvas. Don’t you love the way this patterned rug makes a huge statement without overpowering the living room?

What’s your favorite rug design? Let us know!

For more great ideas and photos on how to design with area rugs, 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 Decorating: How to Inject Autumn Orange into Your…

August 31, 2018

Ways to Fall for Orange in Your Home

Injecting fall hues like orange into your home for the season can be as simple as layering in orange toss pillows or artwork over the mantel like this room.

Introducing fall leaves in a glass container or a ceramic vase can also add a pop of orange along with an orange rug and art pictured here.

In this dining room artwork helps create a fall orange vibe along along with velvet covered seats in orange and brown.

But if you want just a pop of orange then you might opt for a couple of toss pillows with orange accents and orange decor on the coffee table like we did here.

Other options might include also include pumpkins or oranges grouped together in a clear glass container or orange decor.

For more great ideas about how to inject orange into your home for autumn, read my latest Houzz article here.

then 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: 8 Steps to Designing a Beautiful Space

August 22, 2018August 22, 2018

Commonsense Tips for Creating a Beautiful Interior

Designing a new or remodeled interior design can be both exciting and daunting. Read on for my 8 tips as an interior designer for creating a functional and beautiful space.

1. Decide on an interior design style or mix of styles that will flow with your architecture and existing furnishings you will be re purposing. Start by selecting several photos of room designs you 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 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 or huge delays.

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 interior design needs 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.

7. Design any custom draperies, bedding, rugs, wall/floor/ceiling finishes or pillows needed along with choosing hard window coverings, light fixtures, and any ready made furnishings. Place orders.

8. Make final purchases including artwork, hardware pulls, lamps, and all other furnishings needed.

For more great interior design tips and ideas, sign up for our weekly 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

and instagram here!

Interior Design: 3 Big Mistakes People Make in Living…

Interior Design: What’s Hot and What’s Not for 2019

Interior Design: 3 Ways to Showcase Room with Interior…

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Interior Design: 5 Tips for Picking the Perfect Sofa

Interior Decorating: 3 Tips for Coordinating Mismatched Furnishings

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Remodeling Basement to Live…

Interior Decorating: Fall Decorating Ideas From Your Backyard

Interior Design: How to Cozy up Your Space with…

Interior Decorating: How to Inject Autumn Orange into Your…

Ways to Fall for Orange in Your Home

Interior Design: 8 Steps to Designing a Beautiful Space

Commonsense Tips for Creating a Beautiful Interior

Designing a new or remodeled interior design can be both exciting and daunting. Read on for my 8 tips as an interior designer for creating a functional and beautiful space.