Tip of the Week #17: Thanksgiving Tablescapes

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To all of you can I just say THANK YOU! Yes, it is the season to give thanks, and without you my loyal customers, readers, and friends, I would be so much less.  I know you are the reason I am successful, and I am so very grateful! I do know you have a choice in your interior design specialist, and I hope I always exceed your expectations. It has always been my pleasure creating wonderful spaces with YOU!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU!

AND speaking of Thanksgiving, I have enclosed a few photos of some great tablescapes to inspire you before your guests arrive.  If you are anything like me, you are already thinking about the Christmas decor! But lets hold off just a little longer. There are still some wonderful Fall inspirations to allow you to let mother nature show off her best! If you can get your hands on some cut bittersweet vines or cranberry stems you will be able to see some beautiful bursts of color right now. Add a few candles, gorgeous glassware, and ta-da take a peek…

And again, thanks for being so loyal to me….Happy Turkey Day!

Sincerely,

Janine

Eddie Ross thanksgiving tablescapeEddie Ross

thanksgiving tablescapeImage from HGTV

thanksgiving tablescapeImage from HGTV

thanksgiving tablescapeImage from Country Living

Elle Decor’s First Showhouse

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One of our favorite go-to magazines for interior decor inspiration, Elle Decor, recently unveiled their very first interior design show house. The 5,000 square foot mansion was decorated by some of the most celebrated interior and landscape designers in the San Francisco area who were hand picked by Elle Decor’s senior staff. In addition to having beautiful designs, the showhouse is extremely technology savvy featuring sustainable insulation and heating, solar panels and a smart lighting system featuring LED lights.

Since the showhouse is the magazine’s first they wanted each design to flow, but retain its own personality. To keep the designers on the same page the magazine created a fictional, affluent client composed of a family of five who like to travel the world and entertain family and friends at home. Each room proves to fit the client, the decor is luxurious, chic, and practical. Take a look at some pictures from the Elle Decor showhouse and let us know your thoughts!

elle decor showhouseelle decor showhouseelle decor showhouseelle decor showhouseelle decor showhouseImages from casasugar

Gossip Girl interior design

Gossip Girl’s Gorgeous Interior Design

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Do you, your daughter or someone you know stay glued in front of the TV when Gossip Girl is on? For four seasons Gossip Girl has detailed the always interesting and entertaining lives of a few privileged high school students on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Each week viewers are taken on a ride through their drama filled lives, and beautifully designed rooms. Just as the hit show has an abundance of designer clothes, it has just as much gorgeous interior design. The set of the show showcases various different settings from each character’s home, all designed by Christina Tonkin.

The interior designs are just as unique as each characters personality. The designs of the sets include: rock and roll, preppy, modern, boho chic and contemporary to name a few. As they are incredibly stylish, the interior designs also accommodate different lifestyles. The interior design of your home should be equally functional for your lifestyle and beautiful. Have you noticed the interior design on the set of Gossip Girl? If so, leave a comment stating your favorite!

Gossip Girl interior designGossip Girl interior designGossip Girl interior designGossip Girl interior designImages by Malchus Janocko for Gossip Girl

Hearst designer visions 2010 show house

Interior Design Show House Made from Movies

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What do you get when you combine three magazines, three designers, three movie themes and one interior design show house? A beautifully designed show house made from movies. Hearst is currently sponsoring the Designer Visions: Cinema Style show house. The show house is unique because unlike others it features three luxury apartments. Each of the apartments were designed by the always inspiring Veranda, House Beautiful and Town & Country magazines.

To create the design in each of the magazine’s apartment they were paired with three of the top interior designers. The designers were able to have fun as they created the movie inspired rooms. The movies they used for inspiration include:  Six Degrees of Separation, Wall Street and Something’s Gotta Give.  Have you ever watched a movie and wished you could have the exact interior design in your home? Leave us a comment letting us know which movie inspired you and what you think of the show house designs, we’d love to hear your opinion!

Town & Country, Steven Gambrel, Six Degrees of SeparationHearst designer visions 2010 show houseHearst designer visions 2010 show house

House Beautiful, James and Phoebe Howard, Something’s Gotta GiveHearst designer visions 2010 show houseHearst designer visions 2010 show house

Veranda, Richard Hallberg, Wall StreetHearst designer visions 2010 show houseHearst designer visions 2010 show houseImages by Laura Fenton for shelterpop

Home of Rob Lowe

At Home with Rob Lowe

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We are always excited to see the interior design of a celebrity’s home because the sky really is the limit for them. This month Architectural Digest featured the home of Rob Lowe who recently finished taping for ABC’s Brothers & Sisters. The home that Lowe shares with his wife Sheryl and two sons is nestled in California but resembles the style found in the Virginia area. To set the feeling of their 20-room home Lowe and his wife hired a feng shui master to arrange their furniture and accessories in a way that creates “energy patterns to optimize wealth, wellness and charisma.”

Lowe’s wife played a major role in the interior design of their home. As an avid collector many of her own pieces were used throughout as decor. Sheryl wanted the rooms filled with beautiful things while maintaining a clean design. For their master bedroom her vision included dark woods with a light, airy feeling. What do you think of the Lowes’ east coast interior design on the west coast?

Home of Rob LoweHome of Rob LoweHome of Rob LoweImages by Mary E. Nichols for Architectural Digest

Read more of the article on Architectural Digest.
room with brown interior design

Brown on Brown Inspiration

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If you are looking to warm up the interior design in your home this fall don’t rule out brown. Although brown is probably not a color you would expect to see dominate a room, it can. Brown rooms with brown furnishings can be welcoming, warm, elegant and comfortable. If you are on the fence about brown rooms with brown furnishing, check out some interior designs we found on Apartment Therapy for some brown on brown inspiration.

room with brown interior designroom with brown interior designroom with brown interior designroom with brown interior designroom with brown interior design

C.R. Laine show room

Tip of the Week #15: Wall Art

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Another great way to display a collection of art is to anchor it on either side of a beautiful bombe chest.  This photo is from a new collection from C.R. Laine furniture and was on display at the spring furniture market. I loved how the artwork really helped make the room setting shine.

Accessories and art are the final touches that make all the difference in a room scene. At The Decorative Touch we do all the final touches for you so you can relax! Why not just leave the key under the mat and come home to a beautiful, finished living space you will love to show all your neighbors. Get ready, the holidays are just around the corner.

Janine

C.R. Laine show room

Fourth of July Celebrations

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America’s birthday is in a few days and it’s time to get any last minute celebration plans underway. Do you usually celebrate by relaxing with family, attending a parade or fireworks show, taking a trip or barbecuing? Well if you are staying in and hosting, try creating some patriotic dishes. Food Network’s Flag Cake and Fourth of July Cocktail are sure to please party-goers.flag cake

If you don’t have any plans, celebrate with these community events close to Lenexa:

CRLaine Furniture Spring Preview

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To my young-at-heart followers: take a peek at what CRLaine Furniture has in store for you this Spring as part of their new introductions. How fun is this new look?  Try taking a spin off that old wing back chair and oversize it. Then, jump-up the fabric scale and here comes one for the trendy folks out there!  I love how they paired it with a more conservative yet “young”  gorgeous sofa that will be very timeless.  This room welcomes you to 2010. Time for you to make your home your haven!
Janine

Janine’s Tip of the Week #2: Furniture Selection

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decorativetouch4I often get asked: Where do I begin in my furniture selection for this room?

Well, again each case is different, but most of the time the largest piece dictates the space.  I often start with either the area rug or the sofa. Which piece is going to have more pattern?  If the area rug is the busiest and has a large-scale pattern, I start with that first. Then the sofa will be smaller or medium pattern. For instance, a tweed or texture looks great with larger patterned pillows. Additionally, I might choose leather or plaid/paisley patterned chairs  to complement the rug colors.  As a general rule of thumb, I like to work from that one large pattern; it makes it easier to find the perfect “go with” items.
Janine Terstriep