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The Decorative Touch Featured in 435 South Magazine

The Decorative Touch Featured in 435 South Magazine

We have some big news to announce. We’re excited to share that 435 South magazine has featured the Decorative Touch in its latest issue. The all-encompassing article is something we couldn’t wait to tell our blog readers. One of my favorite parts of the article is Tips from the Tierstrieps, where we give some tips and tricks about interior design. Some of the tips included:

  • Pull photos
  • Grow your furnishings with your home
  • Add the unexpected
  • Embrace Plan B
  • Take a deep breath

You can read the entire article by grabbing a copy today.

The Decorative Touch Featured in 435 South Magazine

The Decorative Touch Featured in 435 South Magazine

At the Decorative Touch, we’d love to help you integrate stunning, glamorous ideas into your home’s design. Please feel free to give us a call if you’d like to get started: 913-888-1388.

Map Lining in Drawer

Designing with Maps

Map Lamp Shade

Map Lamp Shade

Feel lost when it comes to interior design? The Decorative Touch can help you find your way by incorporating maps into your home’s decor.  Colorful and often unique, maps will guide you to fabulous design and a creative look.

For example, say you’re a big traveler. You can hang pictures from your latest vacation by having a map can serve as the border of the picture frame.

Plus, I can identify special finds in stores that have items with map patterns pre-printed on them. I would use boxes, pillows, or decorative wooden letters with maps printed on them.

Maps can be used to decorate anywhere you can glue paper too, including lining drawers, wrapping presents, and making book dustjackets.

At The Decorative Touch, we’d love to help you integrate these ideas into your home decorating. Please feel free to give us a call if you’d like to get started: 913-888-1388

Photos via marthastewart.com

The Decorative Touch is Featured on Houzz

The Decorative Touch is Featured on Houzz.com

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.comSoft 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

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

Kumquat with indigo

Opposites Attract: Complimentary Color Schemes

Color theory is something we’ve always implemented here at The Decorative Touch for a long time, so we were thrilled to see a recent House Beautiful article about opposite color schemes. Photos like these can make anybody complimentary!

Kumquat with indigo

Kumquat with indigo

The chairs above, by Jeffrey Bilhuber, contrast kumquat with indigo, which is almost opposite on the color wheel. Note that the indigo is a little less vibrant than the kumquat; it would have been too bold otherwise.

Color wheel

Color wheel

Image courtesy of Cornell University

The seating area below, by Melissa Warner, balances vibrant color with a more neutral sofa. When it comes to color, neutrals are the pause that refreshes.

Vibrant color with a more neutral sofa

Vibrant color with a more neutral sofa

The Hamptons cottage below contrasts orange with blue. The blue is more subtle than the orange, enabling the quilt to really pop like the piece of art it is.

Contrast orange with blue

Contrast orange with blue

If you are looking to refresh your home with a thoughtfully-planned-out color scheme, contact us at The Decorative Touch or visit www.decorativetouchltd.com

Designing an Eco-Friendly Home

Many homeowners are opting for a green lifestyle these days, so what better place to start eco-friendly living than in your own living space? The Decorative Touch  is well versed in what exactly it means to ‘go green’. I understand that green never means you have to sacrifice style.

Designing an Eco-friendly Home

Designing an Eco-friendly Home

Eco-friendly interior design should not only be recyclable but also harmless. In order to successfully complete eco-friendly interior design, natural and organic materials have to be used. That means no particleboard. No chromed metal. And sorry, no plastic. Although you may spend more of your budget to design an eco-home, the natural materials are very durable, good quality, and of course safer.

Nearly every part of your home can be made ‘green’, including wall coverings and paint. Think about river rocks to decorate the walls, or perhaps wood panels, ceramic tile, cork, or wallpaper made of bamboo. For your ceilings, opt for wood panels. Flooring is not an eco-friendly exception.  It can be made of stone or wooden parquet made from European woods, bamboo or cork. The results will be stunning and eco-friendly.  Combine lighter and darker words to create fun shapes and patterns in the room.

Your furniture can come from sustainable forests, be upholstered with eco-friendly fabrics, and at The Decorative Touch  we even like to ‘recycle’ by infusing beautiful antique or vintage pieces to create a unique vibe for your home. Also, accessories can offer great choices for green home decor: glass or clay vases, rocks, wicker baskets, old chests, and dry leaves or tree branches from your backyard.

Other benefits? Lower maintenance costs, less energy usage, higher levels of occupant satisfaction, and lower Co2 emissions.

Seem like a big task? That’s what The Decorative Touch is here for. Just reach out to us, and we’ll give you a new, fresh, green start on your home.

Photo via stagetecture.com

Rope Bathroom Decor

How to Use Rope for Design

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

Leather Tapestry

Wall Décor

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

 

 

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island (The Decoractive Touch)

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

Having a kitchen island in your home can be very advantageous for your living space, assuming that you have an open floor plan. (When you have a small space, a compact kitchen might be the better way to go.)  FreshHome.com says that kitchen islands are a more recent development in the space, and we find that this addition is a great approach when you want the stove to be accessible from many sides of the room. It is also helpful when two or even three people cook together at the same time. And furthermore, if you love to invite friends and family over for food, the kitchen island’s counter top can function as a surface for serving meals. Not only are kitchen islands practical, but they can serve as a beautiful aesthetic to the room as well.  We decided to share a few kitchen islands we find extremely original and divine, with each island creative in its own way. With all of the options we will show you, we think you may have more clarity as to which type kitchen island to include in your home.

 

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island (The Decoractive Touch)

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island (The Decoractive Touch)

Photo: The Decorative Touch

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

Photos: freshome.com

Please let The Decorative Touch know if you need help deciding on a redesign for the kitchen. We’re always happy to help.

The 2012 Polka Dot Trend

The Polka Dot Trend

At The Decorative Touch, we draw ideas from our surroundings. We are truly inspired by the plethora of polka dots we see on the fashion runways. This pattern is manifesting in the fabrics and clothes that women will be wearing all of 2012. And you’ll also see the polka dot trend included in the fabrics, design and upholstery in interior decorating for 2012.

I have loved polka dots for as long as I can remember, and so this “trend” is an easy favorite of mine.  You might have noticed Kate Spade has lined her purses in polka dots for a while now, and Robert Allen fabrics have had these little dots in there fabric line for years!  I have done a nursery or two using these cheerful little prints, and they will never go out of style.  Whimsical and elegant depending on the texture, I think polka dots are here to stay.

Designer Luca Luca is the first piece that aroused my enthusiasm for the trend. This floor-length dress is found in the spring 2012 collection. See here the dots are plentiful but not overly large.

LucaLucaSpring2012

Luca Luca Spring 2012

Photo: nymag.com

Interior designers can reincarnate the look by using upscale polka dots linens in more fancy rooms such as the dining room, where the tablecloth, cloth chairs and even napkins can come into play.

 

The Polka Dot Trend: Dining Room

The Polka Dot Trend: Dining Room

Photo: Elements of Style

Another fashion picture of inspiration we’d like to show you (illustrating that the polka dot trend is transcending fashion and interior design alike) comes from the American edition of Vogue magazine.

Sarah Jessica Parker: Vogue August 2011

Sarah Jessica Parker: Vogue August 2011

Photo: Vogue.com

We can recreate the look actress Sarah Jessica Parker wears in the August 2011 issue of Vogue, with accents throughout the home sure not to overpower the theme, but to only accentuate the already established feel of the room.

The 2012 Polka Dot Trend

The Polka Dot Trend 2012

 

The 2012 Polka Dot Trend

The 2012 Polka Dot Trend

Photo: Elements of Style

Of course, polka dots should not be over done, or you might risk losing the graceful touch to your home. For help including this trend in your home in a seamless way, contact us. We’ve got several great ideas for you.