Gravel Paito

Perfect Patios and Porches

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OK. It’s spring. So why wouldn’t you want to spend lots and lots of time outside? The Decorative Touch designs outdoor spaces that clients just melt over. And trust me, I can do the same for you. Need a little inspiration for design? Let me help you. Below are some outrageously beautiful patios and porches that need no words. The beauty speaks all on its own.

Farmhouse Porch

Farmhouse Porch

Rustic Enclosed Porch

Rustic Enclosed Porch

Boathouse Deck

Boathouse Deck

Gravel Paito

Gravel Paito

Are you looking to recreate your outdoor space? Contact the Decorative Touch , and let us work our design magic.

Flower Mural

Springtime Brings Spring Flowers

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Floral decor can definitely liven up your home and eradicate the winter blues. There are plenty of ways to infuse this look for a spring appearance. I’ve listed these creative home decorating ideas will turn your home into a bloomin’ domicile.

Fully Bloomed Wall Paneling
An entire wall papered with flora is a bit overwhelming; however, wallpapering just the compartments of a panel with a flowery design brightens the room with some pizzazz.

Flowered Lampshade
A lampshade with outlined flowers is bold, yet elegant, and when the drum-shaped lamp is suspended over your table, it will be a focal point.

Flower-Oultine Lampshade

Flower-Oultine Lampshade

Flower Folding Screen
A folding screen with a flowered print such as a jasmine vine, makes a statement and a daring one at that. This will contribute some attitude to your furnishings.

Jasmine-Vine Folding Screen

Jasmine-Vine Folding Screen

Floral Lined Cabinets
Using floral wallpaper for the backdrop of open cabinets adds a touch of sophistication to your shelves.

Petals on a Pillow
A plain-colored pillow teamed with some ultrasuede flowers of the same color is simple, but very appealing.

Sun-Print Pillow

Sun-Print Pillow

For more fun ideas on decorating with flowers, contact The Decorative Touch at  913-219-7333. Or just drop by: 14111 W 95th St., Lenexa, KS 66215

The Decorative Touch is Featured on Houzz

The Decorative Touch is Featured on Houzz.com

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Master Bath Design by The Decorative Touch Featured in Houzz

Master Bath Design by The Decorative Touch Featured in Houzz

Have you heard? The design work of The Decorative Touch is featured on Houzz.com. The online write up is such exciting news for me, especially since this site has such a mass following, particularly among those who love interior design. Houzz boasts that it’s the largest collection of interior design and decorating ideas on the Internet, including kitchens and bathrooms. And now, the portfolio of The Decorative Touch is part of that beautiful, robust compilation of design pictures.

I’ve included above the picture mentioned on Houzz.com. The feature discusses designer bathrooms, including one by the Decorative Touch, that have small touches that make the master bath very special. Go to the article, scroll to the No. 9 mention and take a look for yourself. Like the readers and editors of this site, get inspired by what we can do to create your dream master bathroom.

Houzz.com: Soft surroundings. Swaddle yourself in textiles for utter softness inside your master bathroom. Who says the living room is the only place for draperies, rugs, pillows, throws and upholstered pieces? Adding unexpected levels of comfort creates surprise.

Also, rummage through some other rooms I’ve done for clients found in my portfolio, and contact me to start your interior design project today.

Photo via The Decorative Touch

Jaw-Dropping Staircases

Jaw-Dropping Staircases

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I am constantly running across photos of truly jaw-dropping staircases, some in the homes I design and others in different media such as blogs, magazines and books. As an interior designer, I love working with architects who spend  an ample amount of time to create stairs that look so beautiful and allow for stairs to become part of the design process. A popular design blog named Design-Milk.com listed 20 stunning stairwells. Some are uniquely shaped. Others have vibrant colors. Each set of stairs is very unique, yet all are equally stunning.

One of my faves is the ‘wood’ stairwell. Take a closer look. The pieces are not really wood. Italian company 14 Ora Italiana has a collection of wood grain porcelain tiles inspired by the work of famed pop artist Andy Warhol. The Uonuon line comes in fourteen colors.

Uonuon

Uonuon

Also, these days you may see more of the space-planning trend with staircases. Architecture firm Atelier SAD created this modern staircase that also serves as a bookshelf.

Bookshelf & Stairs in One

Bookshelf & Stairs in One

These are only two of the staircases that caught my eye. Make sure to look at all 20 on Design-Milk.com. Plus as always, feel free to leave a comment below, and let me know which is your favorite. Enjoy.

Photos via Design-Milk.com

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Things Are Looking Up: Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

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A striking chandelier or a stunning light fixture adds the ideal punctuation mark in a well-designed room. I like to think of them as style on high — no pun intended. One of my favorite online inspiration sources is ElleDecor.com. This time when I decided to focus on spectacular chandeliers, these lovely pieces were rich in color and  beaming with style. Take a gander below at the diverse décor. As illustrated no room is complete without the right lighting, adding the special something that each room needs. Below are my faves. But it doesn’t have to stop there. Share with me on Facebook some of your favorite illuminating treats.

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Designing with Beautiful Chandeliers

Are you ready to light up your world? I can help you complete the task with much grace, taste and style. Just reach out to The Decorative Touch,  and we’ll give you a new, bright start on your home.

Photo via ElleDecor.com

Rope Bathroom Decor

How to Use Rope for Design

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I want you to look past the practical uses for a rope, and start to embrace the concept of using it in your design. As you know if you read my blog on a regular basis, I’m always looking for new, elegant ways to infuse the avant garde into luxurious homes. Ropes help me do just that. I understand rope would normally be considered a utilitarian necessity and not an attractive decorative element. But I’ll show you with the examples I’ve collected below that rope can really add a fresh feel and shine in many rooms.

A wonderful illustration of rope design used in the home is the bathroom. A rope-based towel holder is not over done but adds obvious style.

Rope Bathroom Decor

Rope Bathroom Decor

A living room often needs lots of light to brighten the space, and what better way to do so than a rope lamp?

Rope Lamp

Rope Lamp

A plain pair of wooden stools gets a brilliant makeover by adding simple coils of rope.

Rope Seats and Stools

Rope Seats and Stools

Are you ready to transform your space with a little rope? I can help you successfully and tastefully achieve this dynamic look. Just contact The Decorative Touch to get started today.

Photos via marthastewart.com

The Convertible: The Kitchen Office

The Kitchen Office: A Creative Use of Space

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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.

 

Leather Tapestry

Wall Décor

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Do you have blank walls? Or does the current look of your walls remind you of something straight out of a ’70s movie? Then I say it’s time for a drastic change, and The Decorative Touch can help get you — and your walls — on the right track.  If you are a do-it-yourself person, you will love the idea below.  Or, with my help, you can turn your walls into instant eye candy, as the new wallpapers of today are not what your grandmothers had.

Dress your walls up or dress them down with vinyl medallion wall decals. This material creates a classy canvas.

Medallion Decals

Medallion Decals

Tapestries adorn walls because they are intricate works of art. Admittedly, at first thought they might represent old-world decor. But when they are a  hand-painted leather tapestry like this one shown, they bring modern style  to the room.

Leather Tapestry

Leather Tapestry

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

Photos via styleathome.com

 

 

Simple Living Room

Simple Home Style

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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

House of Turquoise: Living Room

House of Turquoise

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When reading a few online blogs recently, I came across a design philosophy I wholeheartedly agree with: design to celebrate life.  To help homeowners celebrate life, I have to know how my clients truly function in their homes — their reality — and still design a space the incorporates how they’d like to live — the fantasy. The combination makes for amazing results. Many times, I’m asked to include an outgoing color pallete into a home. I love challenges like these, figuring out the line between tasteful and tacky when infusing lots of color. Turquoise is a very lively color. But can it be used in a practical, real-life environment? As a design expert I say it can, and I’ve got the pictures to prove it. This cheery Cape Cod-inspired home I’ve featured below is a beautiful blend of turquoise style and function. (To be precise, the color is called Stratoon Blue.)  Glance at the photos, and be inspired to splash some exuberant color throughout your home.

House of Turquoise: Living Room

House of Turquoise: Living Room

House of Turquoise: Kitchen

House of Turquoise: Kitchen

House of Turquoise: Home Office

House of Turquoise: Home Office

Are you thinking of redesigning your home with an outgoing touch of color? 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 houseofturquoise.com