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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

 

 

Rustic, Traditional, and a Touch of Modern Décor

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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.
The Fabulous Foyer: Pretty and Classic

The Fabulous Foyer

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They say first impressions are everlasting, so since the foyer is the first impression your home will make on guests, we want to inspire you to create a decor for your foyer. The entryway can be just as creative as other parts of your home.

For example, we were drawn to this foyer because of the design of the chair. This seat has been upholstered, allowing the fabric to keep a relevant, updated feel while preserving the antique ambiance of the chair.

The Fabulous Foyer: Pretty and Classic

The Fabulous Foyer: Pretty and Classic

Photo: HouseBeautiful.com

If you’ve read the last few posts of this blog, you know that we are huge fans of antiques and vintage. The entryway of your home is a great way to let all of your guests know how much you appreciate things of old. In this foyer, antiques included the American hooked rugs. Such a nice touch.

The Fabulous Foyer: The Anitque Entryway

The Fabulous Foyer: The Antique Entryway

Photo: HouseBeautiful.com

This neoclassical foyer uses creamy marble floors, paired with antique Italian commodes that are topped by marble urns. The space is brought together by a Zodiac light.

The Fabulous Foyer: Neoclassical

The Fabulous Foyer: Neoclassical

Photo: HouseBeautiful.com

Are you thinking of redesigning your entryway? We can help you create the foyer of your dreams. Just contact us. We can help you come up with ideas that will match your home’s look and feel.

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island (The Decoractive Touch)

The Extraordinary Kitchen Island

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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

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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.

The Decorative Touch: The Master Bedroom

New Year, New Colors, New Look for Your Home

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The best part of the impending new year is that we all have the opportunity to start over, and try something different. This thought is not only true for the circumstances in our lives, but also the way we decorate homes. We invite you to try new things, new ideas, and new ways to celebrate the new you in 2012. Let examine several major rooms in your home and how you can incorporate new colors and create a unique look in each room.

Living Room
In this living room featured below, we emphasis color by using an unorthodox method: painting the ceiling. As displayed, we reversed the norm, and instead of putting rich colored walls in the living room, we’ve opted for a vibrant ceiling, accenting the space with the wall art and pillows. With tangerine tango the color of the year, the living room seems like the perfect opportunity to take risks. You may have seen this photo before on this blog, but we didn’t know when this homeowner and I made the decision to use this vibrant burnt orange on her ceiling that it was going to be forecasted as Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year.  So we hope you don’t mind that we are featuring it again, as it is a favorite of mine as well, and an inspiration for you to step out of your comfort zone and see how fabulous color can be on your ceiling.

The Decorative Touch: The Living Room

The Decorative Touch: The Living Room

Kitchen
This coming year, let’s brighten up our kitchen will soft colors such as pastels. These neutral and light hues will evoke an ambiance of contentment and joy, perfect for creating family memories in the kitchen. For pops of rich color, designers should think of using the island counter tops in a kitchen as a centerpiece for color, as shown below we this fun shade of blue.

The Decorative Touch: The Kitchen

The Decorative Touch: The Kitchen

Master Bedroom
The master suite is a place of serenity and rest for nearly all of us. Instead of adding rich colors, bedrooms are well served with relaxing tones, allowing you to be lulled to sleep. The wall color in this master bedroom below is accented with the bed comforter, curtains, and the decorative pillows.

The Decorative Touch: The Master Bedroom

The Decorative Touch: The Master Bedroom

 

Are you thinking of changing your look for the new year in your home? The Decorative Touch can help keep you create the ideal feel and traditional touch. Just contact us, and we are delighted to serve.

Unique Ways to Add Portraits and Painting in the Home

Unique Ways to Add Portraits and Paintings in the Home

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When you think of adding a family portrait to your home, you typically envision a large painting above the fireplace. But there’s more than one way to include this classic tradition. We are urging you to think of the new way to add paintings and portraits to your home.

For instance, pillows are an avant-garde way to add the feel of paintings throughout the home. This way, including paintings becomes much more versatile, with the idea lending itself to the the traditional living room scenario but also in places such as on top of your bed, in a chair, or on a sofa.

Unique Ways to Add Portraits and Painting in the Home

Also, portraits can travel with you as a tote bag, and when you come home, you can leave the bag hanging on a hook to display the painting when you are not using it. Be open to putting portraits on accent pieces, such as ceramic jars and throws for the sofa.

Feel free to connect with us, and we can help you add portraits throughout your home. Visit our contact page for more information.

Photos: Decor8.com

Design Inspiration from Keri Russell’s Home

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Keri Russell and Family inside their Brooklyn home

In an article featured in Elle Decor, actress Keri Russell’s brownstone in Brooklyn was spotlighted. We thought we’d share just a few photos of her beautiful home with our readers. If you’re redecorating your home and would like to add a stylish touch to your decor, perhaps these gorgeous photos will serve as inspiration for you!

Inside the living room of Keri Russell’s home, the rug by Shaw Floors, Ochre light fixture, and linen-upholstered armchairs by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams work together to create a cozy and welcome living space.

The chic but welcoming kitchen features a light fixture by Rejuvenation, a kitchen island and cabinetry made out of espresso-stained reclaimed fir, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, and Grohe sink fittings.

The luxurious master bathroom inside Keri Russell’s home a Victoria + Albert claw-foot tub that has Samuel Heath fittings; this tub looks perfect for relaxing in!

Inside the master bedroom, there is a sheepskin rug by IKEA adorning the floor and a chandelier found at an antiques fair serving as the bedroom light fixture. The bed features bedding and headboard fabric by Matteo, and the bedside table was created by Shane Deary, Keri’s husband.

Images courtesy of Elle Decor

Decorative Touches that Gwyneth Paltrow Can’t Live Without

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Gwyneth Paltrow

Elle Decor featured an article spotlighting a few of Gwyneth Paltrow’s favorite things that she just cannot live without, including decorative touches found inside her beautiful home in London, where she resides with her husband Chris Martin of the band Coldplay and their two children. Check out these photos of just a few of her favorite things for design inspiration inside your home.

A well decorated with gorgeous hand-painted wallpaper. This wallapaper by De Gournay is featured on one wall inside Gwyneth Paltrow’s living room.

Seasonal flowers in single-variety arrangements. Gwyneth Paltrow likes to casually arrange flowers like white lilies, peonies, and hydrangeas and place them around her home.

Beautiful, majestic photography featured as artwork inside the home. Gwyneth Paltrow has photography by Darren Almond (like the photo above) featured inside her home.

Whimsical star lanterns hung from the ceiling. Star lanterns by Charles Edwards, like the one seen here, hang at different levels in Gwyneth Paltrow’s stair hallway, so that Gwyneth and her family can gaze at them on their way up to bed at night.

Great Tips for Decorating and Decluttering Your Kitchen

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Are you redecorating your kitchen inside your home? Do you want to add style to your kitchen but also keep it organized and maintain its functionality? This was the charge given to us for the kitchen shown here.

This customer wanted a taste of french country, and yet a classic kitchen.  She and I were delighted with the finished product!  She doubled the size of her kitchen and was able to enjoy the use of this wonderful new island!
When you do a room addition or renovation, you are so happy to complete the project, that clutter and “things” left sitting around will be a thing of the past!
Here are a few tips on helping you stay tidy…

Courtesy of iVillage, check out these excellent tips that are perfect for decorating and decluttering your kitchen.

  • Keep the top of your refrigerator clear of clutter, unless you’d like to feature a modest display of your favorite (and most beautiful) cookbooks. Make sure you add bookends to offset your display.
  • Set up a creative display of your glassware in your kitchen. Feature your pretty glasses on the second shelf in your cabinet, while keeping the glasses you use every day on the bottom shelf, if your cabinets have glass panes.
  • Install a rack underneath your cabinet, and use it to hang and display your beautiful wineglasses.
  • Change up the decorative items (aprons, tea towels, potholders, picture frames, knick knacks, etc) you have inside your kitchen each season. Reflecting the time of year with your decor is a great way to decorate.

Let Janine Terstriep and the staff at The Decorative Touch help you create a kitchen that meets your needs for both style and function.