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Interior Design: 3 Big Mistakes to Avoid with Your…

September 14, 2020September 14, 2020

Karen Mills' blog — Design by Karen Mills

One of our biggest fears as a homeowner is that we will make a costly mistake when remodeling, especially one that could cost thousands of dollars. Read on for 3 HUGE MISTAKES I see repeated over and over as an interior designer who specializes in bathroom remodels

Poor Layout – One of the biggest keys when space planning your bathroom is to ensure it functions well for you. Not only do you need adequate space to move around and access what’s needed without bumping into things but you also want a beautiful bathroom that invites you in for a bathing experience. Here in this gorgeous custom bathroom, we added glass shower walls to make the space feel larger and lighter, while also creating a focal point beyond with a free standing tub and beautiful chandelier with plenty of space to maneuver around.

2. Too Trendy – Even though I love timeless spaces, I have to admit its fun to add a trendy element that’s new. But I only recommend adding a trendy finish if it either enhances the design and if its easily replaced without much expense like a back splash, wall paint, or light fixture.

In this lovely spa bathroom remodel not only did we open up the closed off spaces in this tiny master bathroom in a historic high rise, but we also went with a classic marble finish to create a more timeless look that could last for years instead of adding trendy accent tile that often dates a bathroom quickly.

3. Wrong Finishes – Wrong finishes can be anything from the wrong color, size, or pattern to how all the finishes (cabinetry, paint, tile, light fixtures, etc) come together to create a cohesive whole. The biggest problem I see as an interior designer are the homeowners who chose to do it themselves, but don’t have an eye for design. The final result? Thousands of dollars of investment in what may be beautiful cabinetry, tile, and lighting that just doesn’t play well together.

Here in this calming bathroom we selected finishes that were classic and simple in style to create a calm inviting space that will appeal for years to come.

For more great ideas and photos on bathroom remodels/design or custom 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
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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 7 Steps to Designing a Room

July 10, 2020July 10, 2020

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!

Master bedroom retreat example — Interior design 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. Here in this bedroom we mixed a more contemporary transitional style with a rustic antique look. How to Mix up Furnishings to Create a Fresh New Look

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. In this living room we selected a white, warm gray, and teal color scheme.

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 interior design expert to help.

4. Set a timetable. At this point you might want to bring in an expert – interior designer and contractor/builder to review your design plan/timetable because investing in a master plan can help avoid thousands of dollars in costly mistakes and a reasonable timetable helps reduce stress. 3 Big Design Mistakes We Make in Living Rooms

5. Design and order custom furniture and any built in cabinetry after consulting with your interior designer. 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.

7. Design furnishings

Furnishings may include rugs, window treatments, pillows, bedding or other items. Also ensure you select art, finishes, and other decor needed. Here custom made pillow enhance the custom sofa and other decor.

In summary you need to determine your design style, color scheme, and floor plan to start. Then create a timetable, design cabinetry and custom furniture, select plumbing and flooring before even thinking about decorating.

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 long running Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on Facebook here or Instagram here!

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!

For more great tips on color and how to use it become of fan of our weekly interior design blog here

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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

For more great ideas and photos on kitchen design and kitchen 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!

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.

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

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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

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.

For more great ideas on remodeling or interior design sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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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.

photo example — Kansas City Interior design by Karen Mills

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?

For more great ideas on remodeling or interior design sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Adding Glamour to a…

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020

Ideas for Softening the Look of Your Cabin

The romantic lure of the rustic style home or cabin is undeniable. Maybe its because of our rich heritage of building log cabins to protect our families from the weather. Or maybe its the way rustic homes connect us with the outdoors with their rough hewn beams, simple style, and organic materials like stacked stone fireplaces.

But even though we still love our rustic home, sometimes we crave furnishings that are more refined and luxurious to offset the rugged architecture for that perfect mix of masculine and feminine. If that’s you, here are my 3 tips as an interior designer to help you create the perfect blend.

Select a muted color scheme that picks up the hues reflected in your finishes. By picking up existing colors in the home’s architecture for the furnishings, the overall design style is strengthened and the furnishings connect better with the hard surfaces . Here in this great room we pulled out the beautiful gray blue and taupe color scheme from the hues found in the nearby stone fireplace. Then select furniture and an area rug in a lighter color and softer materials in the same hues to create a more inviting comfortable feel that also adds interest to the space. 3 Ways to Create a Rustic Glam Style

2. Keep it simple Because of the rugged nature of this style it’s important to balance rough elements shown here with furnishings that have cleaner lines and softer edges to create the perfect balance of rugged and sleek. Here in this living room the softer lines of the sofa and tables help balance the rough hewn fireplace and stone columns in the background.

The same is true with this family room where the textural pillows, shag rug, and light neutral swivel chairs add texture and light to the darker hard surfaces of the fireplace, floors, and leather sofa. 7 Steps for Creating a Room Design

3. Layer in organic materials that coordinate with the room’s rugged finish to soften the room such as natural cottons as seen in the bedding and the casual fabrics on the chairs. The textural rug also adds light and interest to the room.

The beautiful simple pale blue shimmer wallpaper in an organic pattern also provides a nice juxtaposition against the stone columns and paneled wood ceiling.

In review by toning down the dramatic tile, stone, and wood throughout this rustic lodge with lighter muted colors, softer textures and organic elements you’re able to achieve a more inviting look.

If you’re looking for interior design, decorating, or remodeling inspiration, ideas, and photos, sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Selecting Outdoor Furniture

May 21, 2020May 21, 2020

How to Make Smart Choices for Outdoor Seating

to explain point — Interior Design by Karen Mills

Comfort

Comfort is the most important factor when it comes to seating, especially if its where you will sit for prolonged periods relaxing in your outdoor room. When selecting furniture I always tell our interior design clients to ensure your legs can comfortable touch the floor and that the seat isn’t too short or too deep.

Here on this porch the chairs provide thick cushions helping ensure a comfortable place to relax or entertain.

2. Furniture Style

Style, a key factor in selecting furniture, plays a huge role outside because the furnishings must coordinate with both the exterior finishes of your home and the view beyond, while also relating to the the adjacent rooms inside.

In this outdoor space, contemporary style furniture with clean lines blend beautifully with the modern house architecture.

3. Color

I think we as consumers are naturally drawn to our favorite colors and often purchase products based on that fact alone. But as an interior designer who thinks long term I would recommend selecting a solid neutral color frame and even cushion. That’s because you can always switch out pillows and accessories but quality furniture will be with you much longer.

If you’re looking for interior design, decorating, or remodeling 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!

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Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: The Art of Framing

May 14, 2020May 14, 2020

3 Critical Tips You Need to know to Frame Paintings, Memorabilia, or Photos

Unfortunately most people have no idea how to properly frame art to enhance its overall look or even protect its value so today I’m sharing a few tips to get you started on the art of framing

example — Interior design by Karen Mills

Use matting to add impact to most artwork. Ideal for personal photos, smaller items, and memorabilia, the recommended matting size should follow the golden ratio of 1 to 1.6 unless its a smaller painting or item that needs more matting area to help size it a bit larger. Matting in a neutral hue like the white matting shown here is best unless you’re a interior designer or artist who understands how to frame art and the way to combine colors for the best look overall. Here a simple gold frame that ties in with the painting colors and other decor adds to the overall look. A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Original Art

2. Select a frame style that coordinates with the artwork style or period. Traditional artwork, period art, or classic artwork normally pairs well with a more traditional style frame in wood tones or gold while ethereal, light, or abstract art – like shown here plays well with simpler frames. Of course you can always break the rules but please don’t try it unless you’re an expert.

3. Adjust frame molding width to fit size of artwork With this original large artwork we had to fit the painting over the top of the buffet so instead of a larger width frame molding we did a narrow frame to make it work.

If you would like to help selecting or sourcing original artwork from around the world or help designing the best framing/matting/protective options for your artwork, click here for our services.

If you’re looking for interior design, decorating, or remodeling 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!