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!

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: What to Consider Before Remodeling Your Kitchen

July 6, 2018

Karen Mills' blog — Interior design by Karen MIlls/Photography by 29 Pixel Studios, LLC

If you’re considering remodeling your kitchen or even designing a new kitchen, here are my suggestions as an interior designer to consider before signing any contracts or starting construction to avoid costly mistakes.

First I recommend that you look for design inspiration in interior design magazines or online to get ideas of what you like so you can effectively communicate your design vision to the team you assemble.

Make a list of items you absolutely must have in your kitchen and another list of things you would like to have. If you’re not sure, make an ongoing list as you use your kitchen on a daily basis for a couple of weeks.

Next hire an interior designer to show you how to layout a kitchen that’s both functional for your family and beautifully designed. An interior designer will have great resources for contractors, architects, and trades people to help you accomplish your goal, will act as a trusted advisor, and will help create flow in the space along with coordinating finishes, assisting with lighting, and giving advice on storage to ensure your kitchen design looks great!

If you can’t afford an interior designer for the whole project, I would recommend hiring a designer for at least a couple of hours to help you create a master plan that makes sense.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Designing a Relaxing Living…

June 27, 2018

Nothing’s better than coming home to an inviting relaxing home. That’s why my focus as an interior designer has always been as much about function as beauty. Read on for three tips for creating a comfortable interior design.

1. Comfortable seating. Select upholstery cushions that are comfortable for long periods of sitting. Plus ensure your feet are able to touch the floor and the seat depth is right for you.

2. Layer in texture Texture can be added with area rugs and/or soft window treatments along with accessories like pillows or throws. And remember each layer of texture creates a cozier feel.

3. Create a Cozy Seating Area for Conversation

When interior designers put together a floor plan for a living area, they focus on designing intimate seating areas like this one pictured.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: How to Use White as Art to…

May 25, 2018

White is amazing – the perfect hue for creating contrast, emphasizing design, or grabbing your attention. In this art piece I discovered at Crystal Bridges museum white creates the perfect backdrop for this metal sculpture, allowing each detail of the design to stand out which makes it great for an entry or when you want to make a statement.

In contrast, this artwork with hands slapping white powder seems to float out of the artwork and creates interest making this piece a good option for drawing people into another room to take a closer look.

But white can also be used rhythmically as seen here where repetition of these doors created an interesting pattern and an artistic statement on their own.

This wall demonstrates another way to use white effectively in a monochromatic color scheme which can make a powerful statement.

But let’s not forget about exterior design because architecture is what draws you in for a closer look. Here at the Crystal Bridges museum I discovered this wonderful dome of circles that felt right at home in the woods but I could see just as easily on a lawn outside a home.

Memorial Day is almost here! A time to honor those in the military who died protecting our country and a time to relax with family or friends whether its a barbecue outside or jsut doing nothing. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and for more great ideas/ photos sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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Interior Design: 3 Tips for Selecting Quality Outdoor Furniture

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How to narrow down the choices for high quality outdoor seating

Photo courtesy of B&B Italia furniture

1. Color

I think we as consumers are naturally drawn to our favorite colors and often purchase based on that fact alone but when you’re investing in a quality piece(s) of outdoor furniture you might want to consider longevity of a frame or cushion color that’s beyond a neutral.

Of course if a particular color is part of who you are, then it may not matter. For me as an interior designer, my favorite color is usually what we are designing that day or week. That’s why neutral seating frames and/or cushions are often best because you can switch out accessory colors every time you want a new look without starting over.

Courtesy of Castelle furniture

2. Furniture Style

Style, a key factor in selecting furniture, plays a huge role outside because the furnishings must not only coordinate with the exterior of the home and the view beyond but also relate the the adjacent rooms inside.

This outdoor furniture designed by Barclay Butera, who’s known for his signature blue and white color scheme, comes together beautifully with a fretwork design on the chair sides and gold finials to give a new twist to a timeless classic.

Photo courtesy of Gloster furniture

3. Comfort

Of course comfort is the most important factor when it comes to seating, especially if its where you will sit for prolonged periods savoring your outdoor space. When selecting furniture ensure the seat is not only tall enough for your legs but also the right depth for you.

In this photo the chair dips down in the back to allow a more relaxed seating position which can be ideal for taking in the views while a more upright seat might better accommodate you for dining.

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Interior Decorating: What Happens When Blue Meets Orange!

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When calming blue meets vibrant orange, it’s complementary color, you will have a dramatic look in your room, especially with a light neutral backdrop. Read on for ways to combine this fun combination to create drama and interest in your space.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

In this living room, blue dominates the space, while orange is shown in the chair/pillow fabric, art, and a flower in smaller doses to keep it from overpowering the space. A light beige sofa, rug, and walls also help neutral the contrast between orange and blue.

Photo courtesy of Allan Knight furniture

Orange chairs frame the bold blue sofa beyond to draw you into the room while a light neutral wall and flooring along with a lucite coffee table help calm the space down.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

Here the orange chair with blue accents and matching pillow immediately grab your attention to create an exciting contrast against the calming back drop of light neutral walls and flooring. An orange vase and pattern in the ottoman add more drama to the room’s design.

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Interior Design: Pretty in Pink (or Fuchsia)

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Was suddenly struck by the popularity of pink this year at my birthday party in January when most of the guests showed up with gifts in a pink color ranging from a bold bright fuchsia to a pale pink that just happened to coordinate beautifully with the live fuchsia flowers I had placed on the top of my cake. Of course as an interior designer I know pale pinks have been a hot color trend for a few years but I’m loving this more dramatic shade everywhere from fashion to interior design!

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

In this living space the fuchsia takes center stage on the draperies where it mimics the color of the tree blossoms beyond. The color repeats again on the floral chair fabric and in decor.

Photo courtesy of Design within Reach

Love the purple spin on the fabulous fucsia throw in this living space. Here a book and artwork over the mantel repeat this fabulous hue of pink.

Photo courtesy of Spectrum Limited

But if you’re like me and you love all the colors, why not do something fun like Spectrum in this dining space by mixing up all the colors to create a cheerful artistic space.

New York City

Or just have a fabulous head covering like this horse I passed by on a trip to New York City.

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Interior Design: How to Use Black and White in Your Living Spaces

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Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

Who doesn’t love the classic combination of black and white? Timeless and classy, black and white bring a punch to a room like nothing else. And the best part is that you can add touches of your favorite color to completely change the look like this living space that has a warm neutral color added to calm it down.

Photo courtesy of Lillian August for Hickory White

In this space the designer punched up the drama with black walls that visually disappear behind the white upholstery. Pops of red add to the bold look.

Photo courtesy of Wesley Hall furniture

The best feature in this room are the black painted over sized windows that showcase the height of the room, while drawing you into the space. White and red upholstery add to the drama while the white drapes and walls help soothe the living space.

Photo courtesy of All Modern furniture

Because the majority of the finishes and furnishings in this room are white, this space takes on an ethereal feel that’s calms the senses while the touches of greenery help bring the room back to earth.

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Interior Design: 3 Tips for Creating Rustic Glam Style at Home

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As a full time interior designer I’ve noticed a huge trend over the past couple of years towards creating simple spaces that are a mix of rustic and glamour. Here are my 3 tips for creating your own style of rustic glam style.

Interior decorating by Karen Mills

Introduce weathered furniture/furnishings

In this great room we layered in an end table with a rustic finish, a simple striped white and blue pillow in a rustic feel and lamp with a rustic base to juxtapose against the more glamorous light fixtures and shiny back splash in the kitchen.

Interior decorating by Karen Mills

Here’s another view of the great room which clearly shows the client’s bent towards rustic style that’s offset by the more sophisticated gray wall color, light fixture, and crystal decanters.

From dark to light

2. Add touches of white

By juxtaposing the white chairs in the eating area against the rustic table finish and shimmery light fixtures, a wonderful symphony is created that undulates between masculine and feminine in this relaxing space.

The family room beyond continues the rustic glam theme with its beach elements on the coffee table contrasting nicely against the tufted sofa and gold mirror beyond.

Interior design by Mills/Photography by 29Pixels, LLC

3. Layer in a glamorous element

In this kitchen a re purposed chandelier provides the perfect glam touch to this beautiful kitchen with updated finishes. The rustic table juxtaposes nicely against the marble in the kitchen to create just the right amount of tension.

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Our Design Projects Just Published in an International Interior Design and Architecture Book

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Thrilled to announce that our interior design projects were published this month in an international design book titled Architecture Today Interior Design by Booq Publishing in Barcelona, Spain along with other top interior designers and architects around the world whose work is absolutely fabulous!

Above is a photo of the book I snapped with my cell phone as I held it for the first time late yesterday afternoon.

Interior design by Karen Mills/Photography by 29 Pixels Studios, LLC

Here’s a sneak peek of one of our favorite projects fondly called the “The Flat” after the clients’ London flat that will be featured along with other wonderful designs.

Interior design by Karen Mills/Photography by 29 Pixel Studios, LLC

Copies of the book are now available at retailers worldwide so we can’t wait for you to pick up a copy and enjoy this book for years to come!

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Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Make Your Living Room Bloom for Spring

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

Photo courtesy of Kravet furniture

1. Add bold pops of spring color

In this room bold patterned pillows, a cheerful blue vase and red throw mimic the colors of the brightly colored area rug underneath to give a spring like feel to this beautiful room by Kravet furniture.

Photo courtesy of Lillian White for Hickory furniture

2. Introduce fresh flowers and/or plants

This dining room gets a touch of spring with fresh flowers on the table that replicate the colors in the artwork on the furniture to add life to this space.

Photo courtesy of Lillian White for Hickory furniture

Photo courtesy of Design within Reach

3. Swap out dark furnishings for lighter ones when possible

If you have a lighter area rug like the one pictured here that you can swap out for a darker one, the entire room can be transformed from winter to spring. Fresh leaf clippings, a red pillow, and purple throw add to the fresh spring atmosphere of this living room.

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Interior Design: 7 Steps to Successfully Designing a Room

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Like any project that involves money, you need a budget or at least a range before you start. Do some research and bring in the experts – an interior designer, contractor/builder, and architect to give an estimated investment. Then follow these 7 steps to create the room of your dreams!

Interior Decorating by Karen Mills

Decide on a design style or mix of styles that will flow with your architecture and existing furnishings you will be re purposing. As an interior designer in Kansas City, I always suggest clients select several photos of room designs they 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 – interior designer and/or contractor/builder- 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 from bad decisions or huge delays.

Interior design by Karen Mills. Photo by 29 Pixels, LLC

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 designs need 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.

Interior design by Karen Mills

7. Design furnishings

Furnishings may include rugs, window treatments, pillows, bedding or other items. Also ensure you select art, finishes, and other decor needed.

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

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Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Decorate Your Outdoor Area for Spring

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If you’re ready to get outside and enjoy the weather here are 3 tips for setting up your outdoor porch, pergola, or open seating area to enjoy for months to come.

Photo courtesy of Lexington Furniture

1. Create a Comfortable Seating Area

High quality seating and a “L” or “U” shaped configuration like this outdoor room by Lexington Furniture help create a comfortable and inviting outdoor space. Here the yellow chair color repeats again on the sofa pillows while the patterned pillows on both upholstered pieces add to the cohesive look.

Photo courtesy of Lexington Furniture

2. Introduce Fun Accessories

Some of my favorite accessories are bold pillows, live flowers or plants, and trays for the outdoors like shown in this photo.

Photo courtesy of Braxton Culler

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 outdoor room. Interesting accessories in turquoise add to the finished look along with the pillows and tray on the table.

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 latest article on Houzz titled Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting below

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/95204125/list/get-your-porch-ready-for-spring-sitting

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Make Your Living Room…

March 22, 2018

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

1. Add bold pops of spring color

2. Introduce fresh flowers and/or plants

This dining room gets a touch of spring with fresh flowers on the table that replicate the colors in the artwork on the furniture to add life to this space.

Photo courtesy of Lillian White for Hickory furniture

3. Swap out dark furnishings for lighter ones when possible

For more great ideas on interior design 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: 3 Kitchen Trends for 2018

February 22, 2018

Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or simply doing a kitchen remodel it’s important to know what kitchen trends in your city. As an interior designer I’m consulting with 2-4 homeowners weekly on kitchen design or remodels and here’s what I see as the biggest kitchen trends for 2018 so far.

1. Transitional Style with Rustic Glam

Transitional style translates to cleaner lines and less pattern overall, creating a calmer feel like this kitchen. Rustic touches might come through in textures like the live edge shelves we did in the kitchen in the following kitchen or other rough textures and glamorous elements that might show up in light fixtures and marble style counters like this kitchen.

2. Quartz Countertops

Granite countertops have been popular for year but as an interior designer I’m noticing a huge trend towards quartz countertops and I believe its because homeowners are craving calmer environments. In this kitchen we not only covered the island and perimeter cabinets in quartz but also ran the quartz up the wall to create a dramatic feel.

3. Storage

Even interior design clients on a tight budget usually opt for at least one storage/waste option to help their new kitchen feel less cluttered whether its a cabinet to hide appliances and have a coffee station like the gray cabinetry at the back of this kitchen we designed or pull out racks for spices.

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Design Dilemma: How to Layer Heirloom Antiques into a…

January 12, 2018

When these Kansas City area clients purchased a brand new home that was already finished, they were excited to start over with new furniture too except for a few family heirloom pieces that had sentimental meaning. So they called on our interior design firm who had worked with them before to solve their design dilemma.

First they needed to incorporate an antique coffee table into the interior design of this spacious living area so we placed the table front and center to create a wonderful conversation piece and cohesive look with the outdoor fireplace beyond.

As we placed key heirloom pieces the homeowners wanted to incorporate, we had to ensure the pieces complemented the interior design overall because the main living area was an open concept.

The armoire in the dining area was another existing piece that needed to be incorporated so we placed it behind a rustic style table with two existing end chairs that reflected an era gone by.

The entry chest, initially one of the biggest dilemmas because of it’s orange speckles, fell into place beautifully once we placed an existing piece of artwork that picked up the same colors as the chest. To finish off the look we added a more contemporary lamp and vase that mimicked colors in the painting to create a wow factor in the foyer.

The master bedroom suite was also finished in warm gray colors so by repeating the orange wood hues of family heirlooms around the room along with designing simple custom bedding, the room complemented the antique pieces instead of competing. A rustic bed and benches also help reinforce the timeworn feel of this space, making it more inviting and serene.

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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: 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.

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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.