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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.

Kansas City St. Patrick's Day

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the 38th Annual Parade

Kansas City St. Patrick's DayWhether you have Irish roots or not, come out this Thursday and celebrate with the rest of Kansas City at the 38th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This year’s theme boosts the title, ‘No Small Potatoes: A Tribute to the Wee Irish.’ As one of the largest celebratory parades this year’s guests will enjoy large floats reminiscent of the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, leprechauns and a shower of lucky charms. Just as the theme for this year’s parade pays tribute to the wee Irish the Wee Irish Village will include a moonwalk, face painting, balloon animals and much more. Be sure to head out this Thursday for a good time in Kansas City and honor the Irish with the community. If you can’t make it to the parade watch the live broadcast on Fox 4.

  • What: 38th Annual Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
  • When: Thursday March 17 @ 11:30am
  • Where: Midtown/Broadway/Westport
  • For additional parade and parking information visit KC Irish Parade

Image from KC Irish Parade

Blue and White Dish Decor

We’ve all visited a friend’s house or passed through the fine china section of a department store and gushed over the classic blue and white china. If you’ve been contemplating adding the timeless dinnerware to your home now is the time. The classic blue and white color combination is heavily in demand and probably not in the way you think. Instead of displaying your dishes in a china cabinet decorate your home with them.

By displaying the dishes whose colors represent the serene sky and sea throughout your home you can bring in a true feeling of warmth and comfort. You can arrange the dishes in a mosaic to be featured on the wall or as part of a vignette to be displayed on your coffee or entryway table. Not crazy about the idea of using dishes to decorate? Take the design and color of the dishes and translate them into your room instead. Check out these examples and let us know what you think!

Images from shelterpop

2011 Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Kips Bay Chooses 2011 Show House

2011 Kips Bay Decorator Show HouseHave you all heard of the Kips Bay Decorator Show House? It’s the annual fundraiser for the Kips Bay Boys and Girl’s Club in the form of an interior design show house featuring the top designers. Last year’s 38th annual show house was hosted on the Upper East Side of New York, after suffering a set back from its first location choice. The home chosen was a six story home that featured a 17 room renovation.

This year’s 2011 show house location was recently chose and released to the public. The renovation will once again take place on the Upper East Side in a mansion on 63rd Street. The mansion features a neo-Federalist style complete with four stories, 16 rooms and 10,000 square feet. The show will begin April 28, 2011 and run until May 26, 2011 with ticket prices set at $30. Be sure to check back for the list of interior designers, landscape artists, and photographers participating, as well as pictures!

Image from daily fix.

The New Kitchen Island: Oversized Dinner Tables

Aside from the every day appliances what is the one thing you will more than likely see when entering a home’s kitchen? An island. Ever since kitchen islands broke onto the scene they have been a kitchen staple. Many include various features such as storage, cooking space, and additional amenities. As interior design has evolved the kitchen island has taken on a new form and function. And depending on your lifestyle you may find them to be more functional than ever before.

The new kitchen island is something we’ve seen before, only on a larger scale. Kitchen islands are now imitating the design of oversized dinner tables. They can be seen featuring leg forms commonly found on tables with less storage space if any. The classic dinner table design is even more exemplified when seating is include on multiple sides.

Take a look at a few of the new kitchen islands we found and let us know what you think!

Images from houzz

Keeping Up Custom Upholstery

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Interior design by The Decorative Touch

If you are in the market for a new interior design for any room in your home you may end up with custom upholstery. Using custom upholstery is beneficial because it it specially created for you and your furnishings, and it will be unique to only your home. While custom upholstery is an amazing addition to the design of your room, it’s important to remember it will need special care. If you are investing in well worth, quality upholstery you want to take any and every precaution to preserve and keep it clean. Consider these tips for Keeping up custom upholstery:

  • Choose cautiously. When working with your designer be sure to define your lifestyle so that the fabric chosen is a reflection of it.
  • Avoid the sun. Be sure you keep all your furniture that features custom upholstery away from direct sun to avoid the fabric fading.
  • Fluff and flip. Depending on how much use your cushions endure, vacuum, fluff, flip, and rotate them regularly to even out wear and fading.
  • Clean spills quickly. If an accident occurs on your upholstery clean it quickly by blotting the stain with a clean, white clot. Rubbing may damage the texture of the fabric.
  • Proper placement. Create places for  guests to sit food and drinks on side cocktail tables with coasters
  • Call the professionals. Have professionals give your custom upholstery a deep cleaning once every or two years

Want to include custom upholstery in your home? Call The Decorative Touch today to discuss your design ideas.

Tips adapted from ShelterPop

Breathtaking Bathroom Design Inspiration

As you begin working on your remodeling projects for the new year we want to whisper a reminder in your ear. Don’t forget the interior design of your bathroom, especially in your master suite. We haven’t discussed bathroom designs in a while, but that doesn’t mean we think any less of them. Bathrooms are one of our favorites to design because they often go unnoticed. There is nothing more fulfilling than designing a bathroom completely around a client’s personality and seeing their reaction. Because many people don’t give much attention to their bathroom decor, or realize how much time they actually spend in them, seeing it fully designed can be breathtaking.

Because The Decorative Touch believes in thorough design in every room, we think your bathroom should be just as elegant, opulent, glamorous and soothing as any other room. It may even need more considering it is one of the main places you gather your thoughts in the morning and unwind at night. We found a few absolutely amazing bathroom designs in Architectural Digest that we just know you will love. Get ready for sheer bathroom beauty…..

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Honeycomb Predicted to be Pattern of the Year

We’ve already discussed the color of the year, Honeysuckle, and we have another honey to add to the list. While looking for inspiration we came across the 2011 Pattern of the Year Prediction on ShelterPop and low and behold it’s another honey. The predicted pattern for this year is slated to be honeycomb. Fresh out of 2010 where there was an increase in bold patterns being used on virtually everything honeycomb is  breath of fresh, textured air. The print has already been seen throughout a great deal of interior design magazines and catalogs. Take a look at a little honeycomb inspiration…

honeycomb patternhoneycomb patternhoneycomb patternImages from ShelterPop

Will you be adding a little honeycomb to your home?

Inside Celebrity Bedrooms

We’ve featured the homes of celebrities on our blog before because it is always interesting to see how ornate or simple the homes are of those who make millions by entertaining us. Once again we’ve managed to sneak an eye full of a very intimate part of a celebrity’s home, or anyone’s home for that matter. That’s right, we’ve found pictures of some of the top celebrity’s bedrooms and couldn’t be more excited. As lovers of all things design our heads are spinning wondering if they used bold or placid colors that correspond to their personalities, decorated themselves or hired one of our elite counterparts. The wait is over, take a peek inside celebrity bedrooms with us!

Jonathan Adlerbedroom on jonathan adler

Donatella Versacebedroom of donatella versace

Sarah Jessica Parkerbedroom of sarah jessica parker

Brian Atwoodbedroom of brian atwood

Alexandra Wentworthbedroom of alexandra wentworth

Meg Ryanbedroom of meg ryan

Cindy Crawfordbedroom of cindy crawfordImages from ELLE Decor