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The Convertible: The Kitchen Office

The Kitchen Office: A Creative Use of Space

At The Decorative Touch, we want you to make the most of your space without giving up your personal style. So, we’re always attempting to show you ideas that give you a two-in-one solution with the space you have. The latest idea we came across was the ‘kitchen office’. Sounds kind of like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? But it certainly doesn’t have to be. If you’ll open your eyes, and take a good, long look at your upscale home, you’ll see that your kitchen may offer you more workspace solutions than you ever thought. Take a look at some of the pictures I spotted below on the Web. They are the paradigm of this convenient concept for the working adult.

For example, situate a desk extension at the end of a long counter top. Instant work space.

The Convertible: The Kitchen Office

The Convertible: The Kitchen Office

For those on the go, a stand up station might work best.

Stand-up Station: The Kitchen Office

Stand-up Station: The Kitchen Office

Plus you can add storage to augment a new work area.

Bonus Built-in: The Kitchen Office

Bonus Built-in: The Kitchen Office

Are you looking to optimize your living space? We can help you get started in the right direction.  Just contact the Decorative Touch, and we’ll help with the next step.

 

Simple Living Room

Simple Home Style

So you’re not a complicated person. I get that. And as someone easy going and carefree, you want your home to reflect your subtle personality. The Decorative Touch loves to use the simplicity of an understated palette to make a prominent statement about who you are. Below I’ve gathered ideal pictures that illustrate how to make a dashing impression from a minimalist point of view. The design of your room never has to be overdone or overstated. With a few simple touches, you’ll be amazed how a little really does go a long way.

For example, in this photo we see a mixture of prints, however the colors and patterns are very subdued. No aesthetic drowns out the other.

Mix of Prints

Mix of Prints

Here, Texas long-leaf pine floors and wood moldings create a stunning canvas. Not too much. Just enough.

Simple Living Room

Simple Living Room

An all-white environment is both simple and regal, as you’ll see the in the photo below.

All White Bedroom

All White Bedroom

Are you thinking of redesigning your home? I can help you design the home of your dreams. Just contact me at 913-888-1388 or decorativetouchltd@yahoo.com. Also feel welcome to stop by in person at 14111 W. 95 Street , Lenexa KS. We can help you come up with ideas that will match your home’s look, feel and style.

Photos via Country Living

The Round Mirror: The Bathroom

The Round Mirror

We found lots of round mirrors, all placed in many different rooms in the house when we searched the Web recently. In the home, the round mirror is almost like eye candy, drawing you closer simply because of its aesthetic.  I’m a fan of round mirrors for interior designer because of the clean, simple look of the shape. Round mirrors are a great add to an elegant space. The round mirror is very versatile in every home, whether you place the mirror over a fireplace, in a bathroom, over a bed, a window seat, in a hallway or the living room.  The possibilities are unending. And the simple, eye-catching, spherical shape is classic. I’ve placed below a few excellent examples of how the round mirror is being used lovely-looking homes.

The Round Mirror: The Bathroom

The Round Mirror: The Bathroom

 

The Round Mirror: The Bedroom

The Round Mirror: The Bedroom

The Round Mirror: The Rustic Dining Area

The Round Mirror: The Rustic Dining Area

The Round Mirror: The Work Desk

The Round Mirror: The Work Desk

Are you looking to create a personal feel in your home? Visit me at 14111 W 95th St Lenexa, Ks 66215 or call me at 913-219-7333. Talk soon.

Chic Basements

Basements can be cozy, chic and captivating as well. Gone are the days where a basement is an at-home, over-sized storage unit.  As we rummaged through designer pictures on the Web, we found some photos that are the paradigm of  enjoyable basement living. Look through these examples, showing how to take an underused space of your home — the basement — and unveil its potential. These spaces utilize stunning color palettes, cozy furnishings and functional layouts to create the basement of the homeowner’s dream.

This basement radiates warmth from the vibrant red hue on its walls that uses a chili-pepper red glass backsplash. The wide-plank hardwood is a nice complimenting, modern touch.

 

A neutral palette is the main decor for this multi-functional basement.  Here, this basement not only encourages relaxation with the comfortable furniture and media center, but the area also touts a workout zone.

Need a place for your teenagers and their friends to hang and be safe? Then this basement is ideal for you and them.

Reach out to The Decorative Touch, and we can help you transform your basement into a glamorous haven you will enjoy.

Rustic, Traditional, and a Touch of Modern Décor

You’ve heard the old mantra, “Opposites attract.” Believe it or not, this saying couldn’t be more true than in interior design. In fact, I love the mix  of rustic and traditional, with just a bit of modern style infused. I saw a lovely home in the magazine Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles that was the ideal paradigm of this concept. These photos illustrate  a great mix of styles, merging today with yesterday and modern with timeless.
Are you thinking of redesigning your home? We can help you design the home of your dreams. Just contact us at 913-888-1388 or decorativetouchltd@yahoo.com. Also feel welcome to stop by in person at 14111 W. 95 Street , Lenexa KS. We can help you come up with ideas that will match your home’s look, feel and style.
Kitchen: Going Green

Going Green: Adding Green in Your Home

Do you want a fresh mix of color and great pattern? Then think about adding the color green as a theme in your home decor. Any upscale, timeless home will embrace the color. You can use the color green in many rooms throughout the house. I’ve collected several gorgeous pictures from interior design blogs that illustrate my point. Hopefully when you finish reading this post, you’ll be consider having me help you go green — literally.  Let’s start by looking at the sunny breakfast room, infused with green by using the green chairs.

Breakfast Area: Going Green

Breakfast Area: Going Green

And I’ve always loved to use the kitchen island as a way to add a pop of color as you’ll see in my recent blog The Extraordinary Kitchen Island. The green island and green color on the ceiling (another technique I love to incorporate) works well.

 

Kitchen: Going Green

Kitchen: Going Green

Finally, this living room is stunning, using the combination  green and blue.

Living Room: Going Green

Living Room: Going Green

Are you ready to transform your space by infusing the lively color of green? I can help you successfully and tastefully achieve the dynamic look. Just contact The Decorative Touch to get started today.

Photos: House of Turquoise

Kansas City Home and Garden: Fit for Family

The Decorative Touch Featured in Kansas City Homes and Gardens Magazine

We are beyond elated to be published in the Jan./Feb. issue of Kansas City Home and Garden. The article is entitled Fit for Family where the editors examine our task of designing the interior of a home adding 5,000 square feet to the already 5,500 square-foot space. The homeowners — who I have had the pleasure of working with a few years before— hired the Decorative Touch to work in tandem with the builder to not only increase living space but also focus on perpetual style that appeals to the family-centered nature of the owners. As the interior designer, I clearly understood the vision for the home, which I reiterated in the article.

“Everything in the house was conceived to enhance family life,”  Janine Terstriep says. “When the homeowners were ready to do a significant renovation to the existing house, they knew exactly what they wanted.”

It takes a great team to achieve this type of result on a home, from architect and builder to designer and homeowner. I was delighted to be part of the talent that made this all come together. To read the entire article, grab the Jan./Feb. issue of KCH&G, or just click on the screen grab below.

Kansas City Home and Garden: Fit for Family

Kansas City Home and Garden: Fit for Family

Photo: Kansas City Home and Garden

Are you looking to establish a new style with your home’s  interior design? We can help you get started.  Just contact the Decorative Touch, and we’ll help with the next step.

Don’t Forget The Decorative Touch Customer Appreciation Sale is This Thursday!

We just wanted to remind everybody about our open house and customer appreciation sale, which is coming up this Thursday, Oct. 27! The event will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at The Decorative Touch Studio in Lenexa, KS, which is located within the Exclusive Interiors Studio and Boutique.

With our open house and sale just around the corner, we thought this would be the perfect time to offer a sneak peek of The Decorative Touch Studio:

And in case you didn’t get our e-vite, here’s a look at the invitation with the details:

With in-store specials, wine and treats, and even a free special gift for the first 50 people to arrive, this is a design event not to miss! We’re so excited not only about celebrating the upcoming season, but also about getting a chance to thank our friends and customers for their support, so we can’t wait to see you here on Thursday for our open house and sale!

Decorative Touch Designer Meets Candice Olson

I was fortunate enough to be invited to an exclusive event where one of my favorite and well-known interior designers, Candice Olson, spoke live about her career, design inspirations and trends. I was tickled pink to be one of about 100 people lucky enough to hear this awesome, genuine and talented woman share her stories. She is not only talented, sophisticated and inspiring, but she is also warm, inviting and a pleasure to be around.

I was more impressed by her humility as a designer who has certainly “made it” to the top. She was willing to share and still listen to suggestions, as she is developing a wonderful line of furnishings with Norwalk Furniture, a line we carry and believe is the best value in today’s market as well.

Take a peek at norwalkfurniture.com to see what Candice has in store for you for 2012!

—Janine Terstriep, The Decorative Touch

Decorative Touch Customer Appreciation Sale Oct. 27

Get ready to mark your calendar because there’s an exciting event coming up next week that you won’t want to miss. We’re having a customer appreciation sale at The Decorative Touch Studio Oct. 27 and would love for you to join us! Please come to celebrate the upcoming season and let us thank you for your support!

This sale will include a number of in-store specials to help jumpstart your holiday shopping, and the first 50 people to arrive will receive a FREE special gift!

The event will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at The Decorative Touch Studio, which is located at 14111 W. 95th St. in Lenexa, KS—within the Exclusive Interiors Studio and Boutique, just west of 95th and Pflumm and beside Pella Windows.

Be sure to arrive early and bring a friend. We can’t wait to see you here!