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3 Luxurious Closet Designs

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Bigger closets are high on homeowner wish lists lately, according to an article from the National Association of Home Builders. For those of you fashionistas who want spacious bedroom closets for all your pretty dresses, heels and accessories, we want to share a few of our favorite “Celebrity Closets” featured in an Elle Decor slideshow to give you inspiration! Take a look at these three beauties:

Nanette Lepore has a completely glam walk-in closet. Who says your closet doesn’t need a chandelier?

Women tend to have a shoe addiction, and we love how Jenna Lyons of J. Crew stores her collection!

Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer’s dressing room is soft and serene. Wouldn’t you love to get ready in here?

Visit Elle Decor to see more stunning closet spaces, and then let us know: Which is your favorite, and how do you imagine your own dream dressing room?

Photos via Elle Decor

Warm Up by a Beautiful Fireplace

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There’s something comforting about a fireplace. It reminds us of tradition, offers the perfect gathering spot for family time and—perhaps best of all—is a place to warm up from the outside fall and winter chill. Fireplaces are also wonderful in interior design, as they often serve as the beautiful focal point of a room.

I am a big fan of making the fireplace the heart of the home, and I am one of those people that has her fireplace on the last chilly days of April and the earliest cool snaps of October! Why not make your fireplace as attractive as possible so you can enjoy every minute cuddled up in your most comfortable chair with a good book and a cup of what warms you?! Here, we’ve compiled three show-stopping fireplaces that take these homes to the next level. Take a peek and get inspired…

This lovely fireplace featured in Better Homes and Gardens offers nice contrast with the stone surround and creamy white mantel.

Wouldn’t you love to enjoy eating dinner while warming up with a fire in the fireplace like in this dining space featured in House & Home?

Of course, we couldn’t leave out this bedroom from our own design portfolio, which includes a fireplace as a comfortable, homey touch.

Can’t get enough of warm décor? Check out our post on using warm colors like reds, oranges and browns to escape from the cold weather of fall and winter!

Photos: 1 via Better Homes and Gardens; 2 via House & Home; 3 interior design by The Decorative Touch

A Glimpse of 2012 Home Accents…

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Rarely do designers get the opportunity to visit a manufacturer in its own environment, but a couple weeks ago I was lucky enough to get away from my studio for a few days. I was invited to a favorite accessory supplier of mine called K&K Interiors in Sandusky, Ohio, and I got a glimpse of what 2012 would look like for home accents, holiday accessories and gifts. It was simply beautiful and inspirational! I was able to take a few photos of their showroom, and believe me, they just don’t do their products justice! But take a peek below and keep in mind that as hard as it is to imagine, spring is just around the corner!

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—Janine Terstriep, The Decorative Touch

Decorative Touch Designer Meets Candice Olson

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I was fortunate enough to be invited to an exclusive event where one of my favorite and well-known interior designers, Candice Olson, spoke live about her career, design inspirations and trends. I was tickled pink to be one of about 100 people lucky enough to hear this awesome, genuine and talented woman share her stories. She is not only talented, sophisticated and inspiring, but she is also warm, inviting and a pleasure to be around.

I was more impressed by her humility as a designer who has certainly “made it” to the top. She was willing to share and still listen to suggestions, as she is developing a wonderful line of furnishings with Norwalk Furniture, a line we carry and believe is the best value in today’s market as well.

Take a peek at norwalkfurniture.com to see what Candice has in store for you for 2012!

—Janine Terstriep, The Decorative Touch

Pink Swan Project Helps Breast Cancer Research

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October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and interior designers are helping the cause.

The Pink Swan Project by Suite New York is a really neat example. Essentially, 19 noteworthy designers put their touch on Franz Hansen’s Swan chairs, which are being auctioned this month with proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, according to Design Milk. The designers include such names as Madeline Weinrib, Vincente Wolf, Alexandra Von Furstenberg and D. B. Kim of PYR for Swarovski. These four incorporated the pink color of the month, so we thought they were especially fitting to share.

Image via Design Milk

But, you can view all 19 chairs on suiteny.com, and the auctions are going on through the end of the month. The Swan chairs are also being showcased in New York City at the Suite New York showroom and the Gagosian Shop.

Want to see more of our updates on the interior design world, what’s in style, decorating tips and The Decorative Touch projects? Simply follow our blog!

Design Trends Emerge from What’s New, What’s Next

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What’s New, What’s Next is an annual event at the New York Design Center that just had its third installment at the end of September. And although the event took place in New York, the emerging design trends are affecting decorating decisions across the U.S. Interior design blog The Editor at Large reported on the new trends that came out at the event, including:

  • More color is being incorporated into interiors, including through the use of beautiful artwork.
  • Mirrors are very “in” in design these days, especially with mirrored surfaces on a furniture piece.
  • Style is taking a turn for the masculine with many textiles looking similar to those in men’s clothing, as well as deeper color choices.
  • Design is getting to be more traditional again.

Visit The Editor at Large to read more about these and other emerging design trends.

If you’re looking for interior design consulting in Kansas City, contact The Decorative Touch today.

Image via nydc.com

How to Let Your Home Make You Smile

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A space can feel more relaxed if it includes curvy furniture.

Your home should be a place you love—a place that makes you smile—and interior design plays an essential role in making this happen. Naturally, we enjoyed House Beautiful’s recent slideshow “10 Ways to Make Your Home Happier.” Here are a few of their ideas we really agree with for bringing more joy into your home:

  • Surround yourself with things that really speak to you.
  • Good design starts in the entryway so you feel happy right when you walk in the door. Don’t be afraid to add splashes of color in this space.
  • Include pieces with curved lines for a welcoming feel; too many harsh angles aren’t as inviting.

Visit House Beautiful to read all their tips for creating a happy home. What have you done lately to let your home put a smile on your face?

If you’re looking for an interior designer who can help you love your home, contact The Decorative Touch in Lenexa, KS today.

Photo: Design by The Decorative Touch

Design by The Decorative Touch Featured in KCH&G

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A luxurious bathroom designed by Janine Terstriep of The Decorative Touch is featured in the October issue of Kansas City Homes and Gardens, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.

Like many homeowners these days, our clients sought a relaxing bathroom retreat, and we created exactly what they were looking for. The blue and cream color palette sets the space apart from the rest of the home, offering the ambiance and serenity of a spa. If you can’t stop eyeing the mosaic staircase, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most luxe features of the space, in addition to the elegant drapes and stunning chandelier.

Thank you so much to Kansas City Homes and Gardens for featuring our design! Pick up a copy of the magazine at a local newsstand or check out the digital edition online and flip to pages 46-47 to see the spread and read the article.

A Look at the Future of American Home Design

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Luxurious bathrooms are on the rise.

Wonderful design blog The Editor at Large recently reported on the findings of the “2020 Crystal Ball Survey” by the International Furnishings and Design Association, which revealed a picture of the normal American home as it’s expected look in the year 2020. Many noteworthy trends emerged, offering an interesting perspective of how home design will evolve over the next nine years. Expectations include:

  • American homes will continue to get smaller.
  • Formal living rooms and formal dining rooms likely won’t be part of future American homes, as people opt for multi-functional spaces like the eat-in kitchen.
  • Bathrooms will become more luxurious with products like fancy fixtures and spa baths.
  • Home automation will become more popular, including high-tech lighting and audio/video systems.

Interested in other predictions for American homes in 2020? Visit The Editor at Large to learn more about the survey’s results.

Photo: Design by The Decorative Touch

Fall in Love with Pinterest

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If you haven’t heard of Pinterest, you need to. It’s perfect for home decorating enthusiasts searching for inspiration and a place to keep all those photos of things you love. As it describes itself, “Pinterest is a virtual pinboard.”

Think of a pinboard as just that—a digital bulletin board you can pin images to. Beneath each image, you can write little notes to yourself to remind you what you love about the picture—maybe it’s just the lamp in the background, or maybe it’s the entire space! Regardless of which, your explanation is sure to ring a bell. Here’s a look at the Home + Furniture section of Pinterest:

Of course, you can also use Pinterest for other hobbies as well—make additional pinboards for cooking, baking, reading and so on. Head over to pinterest.com to check it out, and let us know what you think! We’re sure you’ll love it as much as we do.

Image: Screen shot of pinterest.com