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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

Benjamin Moore Reveals Trendy Colors for 2012

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Now that it’s November, are you starting to get curious about next year’s interior design trends? Perhaps the four Color Trend 2012 palettes recently released from paint company Benjamin Moore will help satiate your appetite. As described on the Benjamin Moore website,

“[The company has] searched the world, exploring the latest trends, to bring you a collection of inspired palettes that offer a fresh perspective on your personal style. These four select color groups will bring life to any home and transform the ordinary into the sublime.”

The 2012 palettes include the nature-inspired Earth & Sky palette, the versatile Eclectic Elegance palette, the sophisticated Spiced Life palette, and the classic Sense & Sensibility palette. Visit benjaminmoore.com to see all these palettes come to life in beautifully designed rooms like this one, which Benjamin Moore uses to exemplify the Eclectic Elegance color scheme.

Are you still interested in other big color trends for 2012? Check out our posts on the Sherwin-Williams 2012 color forecast and more of next year’s hottest hues.

Image: benjaminmoore.com

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!

Follow our blog to have all of our updates on what’s in style, interior design tips, Decorative Touch projects and more delivered right to your email inbox!

—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!

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.

Décor Color Palette: Autumn’s in the Air

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Over the years I have had clients moving to the Midwest from both coastlines, and I have helped them with the furnishing and decorating of their new Midwestern homes. Ironically, they have had trouble embracing the colors we use here due to the lasting impression of the coastal environments they have left behind. I totally understand that where you live has an effect on how you create the space that surrounds your interior! The great thing here is we experience the change of seasons, and much of our weather makes us feel like we want to wrap up in warmth—hence the warmer colors used in many of our interiors!

With the turning of the leaves in Kansas City, we know what will soon be approaching, and as we grab for those soft cozy throws draped over our sofas, we are happy to have the toasted caramels and rich browns around us to help us feel even warmer just by the nature of our painted walls and furnishings. Winters can be a little longer than we like, so it’s even more important to choose colors that “warm up” your space. Take a peek at these photos… even if winter lasts a while, you’ll feel nice and cozy at home!

From the orange-red ceiling to the wood floors, everything in this space works for “warm” decor. Red and orange accents blend nicely with neutral tan and brown furniture. The fireplace is also perfect for warming up on a chilly night.

This room also has the quintessential fall color scheme: deep oranges, yellows and browns. Small accents also contribute to warming up the space.

How have you incorporated “warmer” décor at home? Or does your home already have the perfect seasonal color scheme? Do share—we’d love to hear from you!

Images: Interior design by The Decorative Touch

4 Tips for Using Area Rugs in Home Design

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Since writing about chevron floors earlier this week, we’ve had flooring on the mind. Now we want to look at how best to use area rugs. While perusing HGTV.com, we came across an excellent slideshow offering area rug-related advice. Here are some of the suggestions we especially agree with:

  1. Always consider your lifestyle before selecting a rug. A delicate area rug isn’t the best option for a family with children and pets.
  2. Area rugs can be used to define different spaces within an open, larger space, like a dining area and a living area.
  3. They’re also great for tying together a color palette. In fact, many designers will purchase the area rug before selecting furniture and accessories because it’s such a defining part of a space.
  4. The rug shouldn’t take up the entire floor. It’s always nice to see gorgeous hardwoods peeking through.

If you’d like an area rug expertly selected and incorporated into your space, contact The Decorative Touch in Lenexa, KS.

Photo: Interior design by The Decorative Touch