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The Home of the Future

October 2, 2020October 2, 2020

An Interior Designer’s Tips for Building a Home That Can Adapt to Changing Needs

Homeowners are looking for a home of the future that’s not only functional and healthy, but also flexible and inviting whether its a home office (or two) for work/school, a gym, coffee shop, entertainment area (home theater), or a place to vacation at home. Read on for my interior designer tips on how to make your home easily adapt to your future needs.

When you’re designing a new home consider first how to create a clean healthy environment. Some options to consider include:

– a floor plan with a mudroom/laundry area and shower just inside the garage door where family members can get cleaned up before entering the rest of the house

– a high quality air purifying system that removes toxins including viruses and bacteria

– bathrooms with all tiled walls and ceilings that can be hosed down when needed.

– a floor plan that allows great cross ventilation of fresh outdoor air and for sunlight to penetrate further into the home.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips To Help You Choose the…

July 2, 2020June 17, 2021

Suggestions for Selecting Paint Colors for Your Interior

Paint color, one of the biggest issue faced by homeowners starting an interior design or interior decorating project is often an overwhelming task so today I’ve broken it down into three manageable steps for you to implement. 3 Reasons Why White Kitchens Stand the Test of Time

View color swatches on a white background – When you’re ready to select paint colors for your interior, start by placing the color swatches on a solid white background to get a true reflection of the color before painting a large sample of the paint on your wall in the room where you want to paint. While making selections, ensure you’re wearing neutral clothing and don’t have bold colors nearby on walls or furniture that could reflect on your paint sample.

2. Make your color selection during daylight light hours. And if its a cloudy day, look at the paint sample again on a sunny day to get the full range of changes that color will make as you transition from sunlight to cloudy to dark. 3 Color Scheme Options for Your Living Room

When selecting trim and ceiling paint colors, look to the lightest end of your paint strip for options along with whites.

3. Paint large swatches of your paint selection on a backed poster board – All too often I walk in as an interior designer and see clients who’ve painted a light neutral over another color on the wall and the original color is bleeding through or distorting the new color. Once you have the board painted, place it against a neutral white background so you can view it during both daylight and after dark.

But what if you don’t even know where to start with paint colors. Then pull inspiration from your closet, artwork, or a rug, for example. Then let the fun begin!

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Reasons Why White Kitchens Stand the…

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020

Reflects light and makes us look better – As an interior designer who specializes in kitchen remodels I believe we secretly crave light airy kitchens because they not only feel clean and fresh but also bounce the natural light from outside around our room, enhancing the way we look and feel when we are in there. 3 Big Kitchen Trends for 2020

In addition they make us look younger by reflecting light back onto our face in contrast to darker kitchens that can make you look more haggard..

2. More Timeless – White kitchens have always stood the test of time as the most popular kitchen cabinet color so if you don’t get too crazy with your design or finishes your white kitchen remodel will likely feel more in style than a darker ktichen over time, especially when it comes time for resale.

3. More Versatile – White kitchens can be paired with almost any colors and changed up when you tire of the color scheme. And if you’re like the majority of homeowners, you love the ethereal feel of white kitchens, especially one with warm inviting layers of texture like this existing kitchen was refreshed with a can of paint, new back splash, and dining table fixtures. Here the wood tabletop was repainted in a rustic gray finish and existing leather chairs slip slip covered in a washable fabric to finish the look. 5 Big Mistakes We Make In The Kitchen

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Biggest Mistakes We Make in Basement…

June 20, 2020June 20, 2020

Interior design tips for finishing a basement to live like upstairs

Often we when I walk into finished basements as an interior designer, the first thing I see are the ledges along the wall, a telltale sign that I’m in a basement. Or I see the outlines of the duct work along the ceiling covered in drywall including there it narrows and widens. And each time I ask why. If you want to make your basement inviting and attractive think of it as a ground level space where there’s plenty of light and beautiful architecture. Read on for my 3 ways to increase the visual appeal of your remodeled basement. Interior Design: 5 Hottest Product Trends for Kitchen Design/Remodels

1. Not taking advantage of natural daylight – In this recent basement design we situated the bar area in a spot surrounded by natural light to make the space feel like the main level of the home. To further enhance the light airy feel we designed the bar with white counter tops and lighter paint colors to bounce more light around the room.

2. Not hiding the telltale signs of a basement living space. –When finishing your basement ensure that you hide all ledges, duct work, and niches or anything else that screams basement. Here in this space we added wood flooring, artificial light, and and accent lighting to give this basement a first floor feel.

3. Lack of adequate artificial light – As an interior designer I can’t emphasize enough the importance of artificial lighting. Here we started with general can lights, added task lighting over the island, and then topped it off with accent lighting inside the shelves and under the cabinets to create a wow factor.

In summary light is key to creating a basement interior design that draws you into the space along with finishing in a way that’s appealing and not trying to gain every square inch of space at the cost of an attractive room.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Suggestions for Creating a Restful Bedroom…

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020

A good night’s sleep can be difficult enough without adding a room design that’s not relaxing and calm. Read on for three ways to design a bedroom interior that creates an atmosphere of restful sleep.

master bedroom retreat — Interior design by Karen Mills

1. A Soothing Color Palette

When looking for a color scheme that’s soothing opt for muted colors or neutrals when possible. Here in this nationally published master bedroom we designed, the soothing colors draw you in for a good night’s sleep.

3 Biggest Mistakes We Make in the Bedroom

Master bedroom retreat example — Interior design by Karen Mills

2. Natural Washable Bedding in Soothing Patterns. Here in this master bedroom we designed, we had washable bedding from Europe brought in that not only looks great but can also stand up to the wear and tear of children or pets. The soothing muted colors and seating enhance the retreat like feel of this space. 3 Tips for Reducing Stress and Nurturing the Soul

master retreat — Interior design by Karen Mills

3. Comfortable Seating In this gorgeous master bedroom our interior design firm designed, we added seating not only at the end of the bed and by the window but also in a nearby sitting area that’s set up just for relaxing. A muted color scheme on the leafy wallpaper, watery area rug, and seating for fabrics enhance the relaxing feel of the space.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 5 Questions to Ask a Contractor Before…

June 5, 2020June 5, 2020

Things to Consider When Procuring a Remodeler Besides Cost

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.

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/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Huge Mistakes We Make in the…

March 12, 2020March 12, 2020

An Interior Designer’s Tips for Making Your Dining Room More Appealing

Lack of emphasis Creating a focal point with your table in the dining room gives you the opportunity to create a dramatic look, perfect for a dinner table or family gathering. Here in this Mission Hills dining room our interior design firm began with an existing table and buffet along with selecting a fabulous hand knotted wool rug. Then we took the design to another whole level but introducing more contemporary elements from the stunning Swarovoski crystal chandelier that compels you to take a closer look to the bold abstract art beyond, contemporary sculpture, and rich leather squares on the wall.

2. Cold uninviting space – One of the most common issues I see as an interior designer are dining rooms filled with all hard shiny surfaces such as crystal, glass, or ceramic along with hard flooring like wood or tile and no art on the walls. To solve this dilemna try warming up your dining space with lots of texture. Here in this Overland Park room the client requested we use their heirlooms – a table and armoire, along with leather chairs. To warm up this cold stark space, we introduced a piece of gnarled wood, two beautiful blue vases that look handmade, a custom cloth runner, and a thick hand knotted wool area rug underneath.

3. Looks Unfinished When we walk into an interior design client’s home one of the first things we often see is an undone dining room or area. To enhance this space and make it more updated, I recommend adding color or texture like this dining area next to the existing kitchen. In this dining area we refinished a door in a soft neutral gray, replace the dark dated light fixture with two light airy ones, repainted the dark walls white, covered existing leather chairs with custom slipcovers, and add an interesting centerpiece plus a cheerful piece of blue art that reflected our client’s love of the ocean.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 5 Tips for Selecting a Sofa That…

November 21, 2019November 21, 2019

As an interior designer I realize how little most homeowners know about selecting a sofa that will fit 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 and if its a smaller cozier space you need to make sure the sofa doesn’t overpower your space.

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 because it too deep.

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. Solid or Tone on Tone Sofa 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. Of course rules are meant to be broken but only if you are a professional interior designer or have a keen eye to know what works and what doesn’t

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Biggest Mistakes We Make in Basement…

April 25, 2019April 25, 2019

For more great ideas and photos on basement interior design or remodels, 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!

An Interior Designer’s Tips for Building a Home That Can Adapt to Changing Needs

Suggestions for Selecting Paint Colors for Your Interior

Interior design tips for finishing a basement to live like upstairs

Things to Consider When Procuring a Remodeler Besides Cost

An Interior Designer’s Tips for Making Your Dining Room More Appealing

Designer Tricks for Picking a Sofa to Perfectly Fit Your Room and Body Type