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Design Your Room with Multiple Styles

Have you ever found yourself completely enamored with the look of traditional interior designs in your favorite shelter magazine and immediately decided that you would have your room decorated just like them, only to turn the page and fall head over heels in love with a modern design? If you find yourself coveting the looks of various design styles we want you to know that you can in fact have your cake and eat it too. By infusing multiples styles you can please both of your interior design tastes while creating a unique space.

We found a beautiful example on coco+kelley of a room that features traditional and modern elements. Together the styles create a colorful space that still manages to exude an air of elegance. Take a look at the design and let us know your thoughts.

Images from coco+kelley

The contemporary art piece clearly is the defining element of this room. This is such a great presentation of how just one gorgeous and fun piece of artwork can set the entire tone and mood for the whole space.  It might strike your fancy, or you may look for you personal inspiration elsewhere, but the concept of just one great piece is surely shown in this fresh and whimsical space.

Need help infusing two design styles together in your home? Call The Decorative Touch at 913-888-1388.

42nd Symphony Designers’ Showhouse Set to Open

For 42 years the Kansas City Symphony Alliance, a nonprofit volunteer organization which promotes an interest in classical music throughout the Kansas City area, has hosted their annual fundraiser the Symphony Designers’ Showhouse. Known as Kansas City’s biggest home makeover project the showhouse is the place for the latest in interior and landscape design.

This  year the interiors and landscape of the showhouse were designed by 28 professionals located throughout the Kansas City area that include craftsmen, designers, manufacturers, and furniture builders to name a few. Aside from touring the showhouse and viewing the creative designs other events will accompany the tour. Thursday nights will feature live music, food and drinks. If you are in need of design inspiration and entertainment swing by the Symphony Designers’ Showhouse for a taste of both.

As an interior designer myself, and having participate in this event, I know how much work goes into making these rooms look grand enough to be on tour.  I love to walk through these stately homes and see how they have been transformed in a very short time…it is truly magical.
Grab your best friend and have a girls-day-out, it is a treat, and you never know what inspirational message you just might find around the corner!! If you are inspired by the tour just give The Decorative Touch a call and let us help you further develop your ideas!

Visit Historic Homes Tour for Antique Design Inspiration

Are you interested in historic architecture and the look of antique filled interior designs? If so you can gain inspiration this weekend at the Fort Leavenworth Historic Homes Tour. The tour, which is an annual fundraiser for the Friends of the Frontier Army Museum, will feature eight of the most historic homes in Fort Leavenworth. Tour participants will be able to view the architectural features of the homes, as well as the current interior designs. Many of the homes are decorated with a nod to the past with antiques and historic heirlooms on display, so if you are looking for antique design inspiration for your home the Fort Leavenworth Historic Homes Tour is the place to be.

Need help bringing your ideas of how to infuse antiques into your interior design to life? Call The Decorative Touch, we would love to help!

Image from the Ft. Leavenworth Lamp

Add Sparkle to Your Kitchen Design with a Chandelier

Does your kitchen seem to be missing that little something extra? If you’ve been finding the design in your kitchen to be slightly drab lately we have the perfect pick-me-up. New lighting can always transform the look of a room, so why not add sparkle to your kitchen with a chandelier? We know you’re probably thinking chandeliers are typically found in more formal rooms, but work just as well in kitchens.

No matter the design of your kitchen be it formal or casual, a chandelier can bring the slightest taste of elegance, and not to mention a unique look. If you favor over the top design go for a large, elaborate chandelier. If you prefer a more simple design you can achieve the look with two mini chandeliers.  Take a look at these well executed designs and tell us what you think.

Images from houzz

Would you like to add sparkle to your kitchen design with a chandelier? Let Janine help you find the perfect one by calling The Decorative Touch at 913-888-1388.

New Home Lines and Shelter Magazine to Debut

There has been a lot going on in the interior design world this week, first we shared the news of Cynthia Rowley creating a paint palette designed after her read-to-wear fashion line. Now there’s news of two celebrity home lines as well as a new shelter magazine.

Estee Lauder heir Aerin Lauder and Food Network Star Sandra Lee recently revealed their plans to launch home lines in spring of 2012 respectively. Lauder plans to make things easier for consumers with her line Aerin by providing what they are looking for. Lee’s goals are to help customers live their lives simply and beautifully.

Soon after hearing about the new home lines we learned of the new shelter magazine. Hearst is teaming up with HGTV to launch HGTV Magazine. The press release states that the magazine will provide “personal tips, tricks and expertise, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at their shows.” The magazine headed by former Coastal Living editor Sara Peterson will hit stands this fall as Hearst’s fifth shelter magazine.

What are you thoughts on the latest interior design news?

From the Runway to Your Walls

What happens when a fashion designer and former color consultant with her own line of paint team up? You get paint colors inspired by runway fashions. Fashion great Cynthia Rowley recently teamed up with Devine Color founder Gretchen Schauffer to create a paint palette based on her fall 2011 ready-to-wear collection. We love seeing how fashion translates into interior design and vice-versa, so we were thrilled when we came across the news of the pairing.

The palette of 10 paint colors, the “Devine Color Curated by Cynthia Rowley,” offers the same richness, decadence and luxury seen in her clothing.  Rowley used the palette to celebrate the timelessness and beauty of rich colors, feminine confidence and limitless self-expression. And although the palette took inspiration from Rowley’s fall line the mix of colors are perfect to use no matter the season. Take a look at a few examples from “Devine Color Curated by Cynthia Rowley,” would you take inspiration from the runway for the walls in your home?

Images from ShelterPop

exclusive-interiors

Remember to Stop by for Customer Appreciation Day

exclusive-interiorsWe tell you all the time that we appreciate you and now we want to show you. We mentioned that we would be hosting a Customer Appreciation Open House a few weeks ago and we want to remind you to stop by. Exclusive Interiors will host the Open House beginning tomorrow morning at 10am and continuing until 7pm.

We know it’s April’s Fools but we aren’t foolin’ when we say that ALL in-stock designer samples will be 20% off. It’s an unbeatable deal if you are looking to freshen up the design in your home for spring. In addition to the designer sample sale Norwalk Furniture and CRLaine Furniture will be supporting us with a factory authorized custom upholstery sale. This sale also presents 20% off your personal choice of any special order furniture.

We are well aware how much of an appetite you can work up taking advantage of such good deals, so we will be serving refreshments throughout the day with a wine Happy Hour from 4pm-7pm. Come fool with us tomorrow and let us show you just how much we appreciate you!

For additional information contact The Decorative Touch at 913-888-1388.

Accenting your Gray Rooms for Spring

Did you jump at the first mention of the “gray as a neutral” design trend and now have gray hues throughout your home? Although you may love the use of gray in your home you may be finding it slightly drab now that spring colors are popping up everywhere. There is good news; you don’t have to eliminate the gray in your designs as we enter the brightness of spring. All you have to do is accent your gray with vibrant colors. Since gray is one of the latest neutrals you can pair it with any bright color of your choice. Take a look at these rooms designed around gray hues and how the colorful accents immediately liven them up.

Country Living

zgallerie

Chicago Home Magazine

decorpad

houzz

Fixture World

Let us take the guesswork out of picking the right accents to highlight the gray in your rooms, call Janine of The Decorative Touch at 999-999-9999.

Trends in New American Style for 2011

It’s safe to say that the American style of interiors has evolved over the years in an extremely good way. Whether discussing the design in the kitchen or the family gathering room the new American style is much more relaxed, inviting and personal while continuing to exude a simple elegance. A group of designers recently sat down and shared their take on the top trends in new American style for 2011 with House Beautiful and they came up with…

Using bold colors to freshen traditional furniture.

Livable great rooms that are both open and intimate.

Dining alcoves for gatherings that are cozy and dressed-up.

Mixing multiple design styles together in one space.

Modern interiors that also feature the look of a soft design.Images from House Beautiful

Which of the new American Styles would you like to see in your home? To begin designing and planning your new American style interiors call The decorative Touch at 913-888-1388.

Inspiration for a Colorful Spring Home

The countdown to spring is finally over! Now that spring is officially here we can’t stop daydreaming about transforming winter interiors into bright spaces. While looking around for a little colorful, spring inspiration we found a few images of interior designer and watercolorist Ruthie Sommers’ Los Angeles home. Each and every room in her home is full of bold and bright contrasting colors. Although they seem busy by hearing how much color they feature, the rooms are anchored with white helping them maintain a light and airy feel.

We think her home is the perfect celebration of colors and truly an inspiration for color-filled spring designs. Take a look for yourself and in the comments box let us know which colors you would prefer to brighten your home with this spring.

Images by Victoria Pearson for House Beautiful

If you are ready to design your home for spring call Janine of The Decorative Touch today at 913-888-1388.