Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: What Does Your Favorite Color Say About…

 

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesty of Century Furniture

Ever wonder what your favorite color says about you or how to use it in your interior?

As an interior designer and color expert, I can tell you that’s not always an easy task because it takes years of experience to learn how colors can impact rooms based on lighting and location.  So here’s some insight on what color says about you and how you might use it.

If you love red like I do you most likely live life to the fullest with spontaneity and excitement.  But what does a red interior say to others?  The color, associated with blood and fire, can raise your blood pressure and grab your attention!  So if you don’t want to go completely red, try incorporating red as an accent color like the photo above to make your space a little more vibrant.

Karen Mills' blog
Interior design by Karen Mills. Photography by 29 Pixels.

Blue, however, exudes stability, tranquility, calm and reliable.  Blue’s also the favorite color for the majority of men. A perfect color for bedrooms, blue helps you unwind, especially blue greens that are soothing, and lovers of this color tend to be responsible stable citizens who do the right thing.

Yellow, like a ray of sunshine adds warmth and optimism, making it perfect for a kitchen or a sunny living area, and big fans of this color are often optimistic people with a happy misdemeanor.

Karen Mills' blog
Interior design by Karen Mills Photography by 29 Pixels

Green, the color of nature exudes calmness and warmth, making it also a good color for bedrooms or spaces where you need a more relaxed feel.  Fans of this color are usually warm, kind, and charitable.

Purple, a favorite color among children, denotes creativity.  Lovers of this color are often more complex artistic, fascinating individuals who sometimes may seem mysterious.

Karen Mills' blog
Interior design by Karen Mills

Orange, the color of hunger and vibrancy fits perfectly into that dining room or kitchen area where you need some life or excitement.  And if you’re an orange lover, you probably show the same vibrant spirit as the color with your enthusiastic zest for life.

Karen Mills' blog

But what if your favorite color is beige?  Beige means you’re more timeless, basic, conservative, and simple.  Taupe leans toward traits of well balanced, classic, and fair, but brown usually denotes down to earth and no nonsense.

Karen Mills' blog
Interior design by Karen Mills Photography by 29 Pixels

Grays tend to be intellectual, wise, calm, practical, and conservative and lovers of white lean toward cleanliness, neatness, and purity.

Black, the absence of color leans toward classic good taste but can also mean that you enjoy power, confidence or just being conservative.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Ways to Create Drama with Doors

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Coastal Shower Doors

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.

  1. Make your door the focal point like the shower door pictured above.  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.

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Haute Living

2. Introduce doors that are wider or taller than the average door to draw attention to it like       sliding doors pictured above.  In this photo, these doors have a beautiful ethereal feel to              them that makes the room feel like its floating while allowing light to filter into adjacent                rooms.

As an interior designer, I recently completed a project where I recommended a row of            taller doors/windows installed for a room addition at the back of the house and now when          you enter the front door the first thing you see are the wall of grand doors/windows and the      incredible view beyond.

3. Use doors to visually divide space without closing off the rooms in an open floor plan.  Often      we use wall screens or room dividers to accomplish this, but these doors pictured below add      a sophistication and one of a kind feel to the the rooms that nothing else can.

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Haute Living

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: Fabulous New Finds in Chairs

 

Karen Mills' blog
Courtesy of Lee Industries

Ready to see what’s new or fun in chairs from the interior design industry?  Here are some of my favorites that are starting to make an appearance or already have.

Karen Mills' blog
Courtesy of Lexington furniture

Love how the embossed leather is juxtaposed against the shiny metallic arms to create a “wow” look.

Karen Mills' blog
Elka chair by Bernhardt furniture

This Elka chair looks so inviting and could fit in a wide range of design styles, making it a popular choice for interior designers.

Alexandra chair by Hickory furniture
Alexandra chair by Hickory furniture

When I saw this Alexandra chair I just made me smile because its so feminine and light.  Plus I love the quatrofoil design in the back that’s commonly described as Moroccan style.

Karen Mills' blog
Dixon arm chair by Century furniture

How beautiful are the lines in this Dixon chair with arms that almost feel like they’re trying to hug you?

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Barrington chair by Dunn

Love how much style is in the Barrington chair by Dunn.  Amazing how a simple wood chair can have such a feminine edge to it by introducing sexy slim legs and a thin profile seat.

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