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How to Make Your New Home Look Vintage

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Designers like me spend lots of time looking through magazines to get inspired and make sure we are staying up to date!  This particular photo caught my eye, not because it was so trendy, but because it was so vintage and it just gave me a sense of comfort of days gone by.  No matter what your style, there is always a piece of the past that feels good to us.  I like to incorporate a special something of my clients “past” in their decorating whenever possible, even if subtly…photos of grandparents, treasures of old books…it says vintage in your own small way.

Photo credit Southern Living Magazine

Creative New Uses for Wallpaper in your Home

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When you hear the word wallpaper do you instantly conjure up images of country themes and floral? Granted there are some wallpaper designs that should be left in the past, there are even more that should be celebrated throughout interiors. For example, the collections from the likes of York Wallcoverings and Thibaut Wallpaper & Fabric are a few of our favorites. They are modern luxurious and full of glamour.

If you just aren’t one to use decorative coverings on your walls have you ever thought about using them in other ways? Given the high design of many of today’s wallpapers there are and endless amount of options of how they can be used in your home. Consider these creative new uses for wallpaper…

To add style to a display case

To accent a fireplace

As wall art

To highlight panels

To add visual interest to the ceilingImages from Better Homes and Gardens

Now do you think differently about using wallpaper in your home? If you would like to discuss any of these options or more ways to use wallpaper throughout the interior design of your home call The Decorative Touch at 913-888-1388

Eye Catching Interior Design of Missoni

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Are you familiar with the popular Italian fashion designer Missoni? You may have more recently heard the name due to an upcoming collaboration with Target which will bring the high-end, bold prints to the masses in the form of clothing and decor. In other news the luxury goods powerhouse recently unveiled Missoni Kuwait the brand’s luxury hotel. And of course a hotel created by one of the greatest fashion designers isn’t just a plain old hotel. Missoni Kuwait features the most eye catching interior design not for those of us who crave vivid colors and bold patterns.

Each and every one of the 18 floors in the hotel is decorated to the nines in brightly colored prints made famous by Missoni. Bold stripes make their home in the lobby highlighted by dramatic lighting, the in-house Italian restaurant features an explosion of floral and the bathroom accessories exude their very own personality. Take a peek at the eye catching interior design of Missoni Kuwait…

Images from ShelterPop

Would you love to stay  in a hotel that features the interior design of Missoni?

Color Palette Influences from San Francisco Showhouse

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Are you currently considering a new color palette for a room in your home?  Well recently came across some images from the San Francisco Decorator Showcase which opened a few weeks ago and we must say it is a very good influence. One of the main things that can be used as an influence are the color palettes featured in the various rooms. Each room includes a mixture of colors ranging from neutral, bright, dark, and earthy. And just as any good design follows they each have their own distinctive style, yet they work together as a whole.

If you are looking for a new color palette for your interiors allow yourself to be influenced by those from the San Francisco Decorator Showcase…

Hayes Valley

Philpotts Interiors

Josephine Fisher

Kathleen Navarra

Matt Murphy

Images from casasugar

If you would like help incorporating any of these color palette ideas into your home call Janine of The Decorative Touch if you are in the Kansas City area.

The Classic Characteristics of Traditional Kitchens

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Have you always favored the look and feel of traditional styles when it comes to the interiors of your home? Traditional designs are often a popular choice because of their ability to withstand the test of time, and their versatility. A traditional kitchen can be rustic, country, eclectic, old world, and even contemporary with the use of high tech appliances.

The Decorative Touch

If you are considering redesigning your kitchen to feature a traditional look consider adding these classic characteristics compiled by Apartment Therapy:

  • Recessed panel cabinets or raised panel cabinet doors
  • More texture and variation, less sleek uniformity
  • Handles and knobs (as opposed to handle-free doors in modern kitchens)
  • Use of freestanding furniture
  • Country or rustic elements, such as farmhouse sinks or weathered woods
  • Natural materials, especially hard wood and stone like marble
  • Upper cabinets and storage
  • Glass or open cabinet
  • Skirting boards
  • Crown molding
  • Neutral tones and white
  • Antique or vintage elements
  • Natural or oriental rugs

The Decorative Touch

If you are in the Lenexa, KS area and would like to discuss the interior design of your kitchen call The Decorative Touch at 913-888-1388.

Glamorous Design Ideas for your Home Office

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Given your busy lifestyle and the latest innovations in technology are you able to work from home a few days a week? As more people begin to take on work duties from their house home offices are on the rise. And we don’t just mean a room with a desk and a computer, but a completely functional and well designed office. You may not realize how important the design of your home office is until you try to working in one with completely bare walls, or better yet from the kitchen table. To keep you motivated and excited about working from home consider these glamorous home office design ideas…

  • Create an accent wall with the help of a decorative wallcovering, or bold paint color.
  • Include an equally stylish and comfortable office chair.
  • Use creative home accessories to store office supplies.
  • Use a chic desk lamp to provide task lighting.

FEMTALKS

Material Girls

creamylife

The Design Fairy

After working for two different design centers for about 10 years, my small design business started right in my old dining room. I know first hand how important it is to stay focused on work even when “at home”. Creating your working world is incredibly important, and having everything at your fingertips is critical. It didn’t take long before my business expanded right into my living room as well, and then into my entire lower level…and then….into our current design studio.
The bottom line is surround yourself with what makes you happy, inspired, and organized. You really don’t know where you might go. Maybe you will find yourself expanding right out of your home as well! Give us a call at 913-888-1388 and let us create a chic home office space for you to work in.

Visit Historic Homes Tour for Antique Design Inspiration

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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

New Home Lines and Shelter Magazine to Debut

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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

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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

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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.