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Interior Design: 3 Secrets to Showcasing Your Room with…

January 20, 2017

Karen Mills' blog — Photo courtesy of Circa lighting

To make your ceiling light fixture the star of the show you need to ensure you have everything in place first. The background, color scheme, natural light, and interior design all play an important role.

Pick a light fixture that grabs your attention. Look for light fixtures with interesting shapes, texture, or a look overall that draws you into the room like the Swarovski fixture above or the Circa pendant lights in the kitchen at top. Plus consider selecting a light that not only looks great when lit but also holds its own when not.

2. Select a light that enhances your room instead of detracting from it. You don’t have to purchase a light in the same style as your room’s interior design as long as it complements your room and makes it more interesting. For example, if you have a room with a dramatic col

Other considerations for selecting an ideal fixture include making sure its proportionate to the space like the kitchen pictured above and that the finish color adds to the overall design.

3. Create a neutral backdrop or interior design that doesn’t compete with your light like this entry above where the chandelier has the starring role in the scene, while the rest of the room has a supporting role.

If you already have a dramatic interior design with color and/or pattern, then you’ll need to find a light fixture that doesn’t compete with what you already have in the room.

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

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Ways to Create Drama with Doors

January 13, 2017

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 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.

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.

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 here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: Wild About Wallpaper

January 6, 2017January 20, 2017

Wallpaper continues to grow in popularity and as an interior designer I believe part of the reason is because wallpaper is such an affordable way to make a impression on an accent wall or anywhere.

You can go with an interesting grass cloth texture like pictured above or select an unique paper like Celestial Dragon below that shows off your personality and style.

Plus don’t forget about digital wallpaper! You can buy something already designed or create your own version using a sketch or a photograph, maybe of a favorite destination.

And there’s nothing better than a wallpaper that’s textural because it adds so much interest to a room without overpowering the space like the chevron paper by F. Schumacher that we used above.

For more great trends and ideas, 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: Lucite (clear acrylic) Furniture Finds

December 23, 2016February 13, 2020

Here’s something I bet you didn’t know. When an interior design trend reaches the retail market it’s usually a good sign to interior designers that the trend is on its way out. But that’s not been true with lucite furnishings, an acrylic almost transparent material.

In fact as an interior designer, I just suggested this lucite sink base pictured below for a bathroom.

And I specified a lucite coffee table for another interior design project recently. One of the big reasons I love lucite is because it virtually disappears in a room helping create a lighter feel. But lucite was popular in the 70s too which has made a huge comeback in the U.S.

If you’re a fan of lucite furnishings and want to add one to your collection you need to understand that not all lucite furnishings are high quality.

One way to tell if you’re looking at a quality piece is to ensure the joints or connected areas are transparent. Then you can purchase a piece that will be more likely to hold up and maybe even become valuable later.

For more great photos and design inspiration, 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: Trending in Winter White

December 15, 2016December 15, 2016

The color white has ruled the interior design market for 2016 and I don’t see signs of this dreamy color dying out yet. In fact there’s nothing I personally love to wear or be surrounded by than white because of the way it bounces light around the room and how fresh it makes me feel.

Believe it or not the majority of my new projects as an interior designer are still requests for whites and cool light neutrals with a pop of color even in the midst of winter.

So today I’m sharing some winter whites that inspire me and giving more insight into this fabulous color from the color experts.

According to former Living Large show guest and color expert Kate Smith color affects us physically in the following ways:

Aids mental clarity

Encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles

Evokes purification of thoughts or actions

Enables fresh beginnings

But that’s not all. The nation’s leading color expert and former Living Large guest Lea Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute states in one of her books, “White also signifies innocence. It is a recall of youth and simplicity, and a longing to be young again.” No wonder I love white!

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 here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 3 Steps to Creating a Home for…

December 9, 2016

If you’re like much of the world, you may have run out of time to decorate for the holidays whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or just having time off work. That’s why today I’ve come up with 3 easy steps as an interior designer that you can use to decorate your home for the holidays whether its to host last minute guests or just for you to enjoy.

Style – Start by determining how you want to feel in your space whether it’s more formal and glamorous, casual like a woodsy or cottage feel, nostalgic like a retro/vintage or a style all your own.

Some of the hot looks right now include plaids, shiny glam, or organic/woodsy along with graphic patterns and softer colors.

Then start with your Christmas tree, tabletop, or mantel decorations and build from there. I would look for at least one or two antique/vintage items you may have laying around the house to start or begin your journey by shopping vintage/antique shops to find an item that reflects your personality such as an old pair of skis, sled, or other item that fits your design scheme.

Karen Mills' blog

2. Select a color scheme that not only makes sense for the interior design style you selected but also coordinates with your home whether it’s traditional red and green or a fun variation.

3. Create vignettes or groupings of decor in key areas only for the most impact such as a tree, mantel, and tabletop or door wreath.

For more great holiday decorating ideas and photos sign up for our weekly interior design blog here or check out some great tabletop inspiration from Williams Sonoma’s blog

Plus 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 Decorating: Fabulous New Finds in Chairs

December 2, 2016

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

For more great trends and photos sign up for our 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

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 5 Secrets to Selecting the Perfect Sofa

November 18, 2016

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 constantly 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 Facebook here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: DecoratingTrends for 2017

November 11, 2016November 12, 2016

Does anyone else feel besides me feel as though they’ve been catapulted back to the 70s and 80s with the latest introductions in furniture, fabrics, and clothes?

Next year the 70s and 80s will continue to be on trend with their retro looks, flower power, graphic patterns and much more.

Karen Mills' blog

Organic looks and free form style also dominate the scene for next year in everything from furniture to wallcoverings. Plus color forecasts for next year range from neutrals like the taupe color selected by Sherwin Williams to the bold amethsyt color picked by Benjamin Moore.

Lea Eiseman of Pantone, the most renowned color forecaster, just named the Color of the Year for 2017 so be prepared to see this color showing up everywhere from the home industry to fashion and technology.

One of the newer trends in furniture next year will be more bulbous less tailored upholstery and I’m not sure I’m a fan unless its a more tailored piece like shown above.

Another trend you’ll be seeing more of this year will be dramatic spaces like the one shown above along with interesting lighting options.

For more design photos and tips, sign up for our weekly 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

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: The Making of a Beautiful Bathroom

November 4, 2016

After working as an interior designer on over 1200 projects , I’ve realized that most homeowners have no idea the amount of detail that goes into successfully creating a beautiful bathroom. That’s why today I’m sharing an award winning bathroom project we designed in a collaborative effort with our clients that’s currently being featured by Elle Decor magazine and MSN.

The clients had a wonderful vision of a Hollywood Glam style bathroom and we helped them turn that vision of a timeless classic into reality, while ensuring the bath was also warm, inviting, and up to date.

Since we already had a vision for the Hollywood glam design style, we began by selecting a color scheme from Benjamin Moore.

Then we discussed requirements for functionality including layout/space planning, storage, electrical requirements, and more. And even though we loved the glossy marble finish on the floor, we opted instead for a matte finish to minimize slippage.

Karen Mills' blog

The existing fireplace was not being used, so we decided to replace it with a fabulous custom make up cabinet where our client could relax and get ready.

As we began designing the beautiful custom vanities, we made sure they were functional with drawers deep enough to fit requirements for storage and built in electrical outlets for recharging toothbrushes/razors. We did the same thing for the custom make up cabinet, opting for mirrored fronts instead of glass on the upper cabinet doors to hide toiletries and make up.

finishes

Marvel floor tile by Atlas Concorde

Once the beautiful custom cabinetry design was finalized, we begin selecting the other finishes for the bathroom including a gorgeous stacked stone with embedded crystals for an accent wall behind the tub, a free standing tub, counter tops, back splash, floor/wall tile, plumbing fixtures, pulls, and light fixtures along with a lighting plan.

shower-tile-configuration-2 shower-in-progress

But we didn’t stop there. Once the walls were up, we sketched plans on exactly how to layout all the different colors and sizes of tile we had selected so we would have just the look we wanted.

The result? A beautiful one of a kind award winning bathroom that our clients enjoy every day that helps reduce stress and make life better!

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

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