Winter is still a few months away, but there is nothing quite like replicating that exquisite winter white glow in your own Kansas City home. As lovely as a beautiful white family home sounds, many parents think it’s impossible when you have children. However, as an interior designer, I know that it’s a common misconception among many couples raising families today. You can have a beautiful home that resembles the crystalline snow cover of a winter wonderland, you simply have to use sensible fabrics and surfaces that are easily wiped clean.
Take a look at this beautiful family home from Traditional Home that features a lovely bright white color scheme that all can enjoy.
A bounty of natural light warms this formal intimate and elegant living room that features “silk velvet sofas, Louis XVI chairs, armchairs upholstered in embroidered silk, and antique tables with new wooden tops”.
The dining room floor, painted white, is bordered with silver-leaf stripes to define the perimeter.
The family-friendly leather chairs are great for the kitchen table and breakfast area, so no matter where the kids eat, cleanup will be quick and easy. The vintage French posters that decorate the walls add a nice pop of color to the contemporary dining space.
In the family room, where the children love to hang out, the mix of chocolate browns are textural and allow the room not to feel as white as it really is.
Are you thinking about brightening your Kansas City home’s interiors?
Creating a Cozy Cottage Bathroom
/in Tips /by decorativetouchCottage design is perfect for a bathroom space because it is intimate, comfortable, and cozy. Those are all great descriptions for a bathroom. And it works perfectly if you don’t have a lot of space. So don’t count your smaller bathrooms out. They too can be just as enjoyable as a sprawling master bath. You simply have to be more strategic in the decor and design. Take a look at a few cottage style bathrooms that are cozy and quite charming.
By adding a splash of bright yellow with an elegant beaded board, the vintage character was instantaneous in this cottage powder room.
If you love a big bathtub, this stately period-style tub adds lots of charm but a lot of weight too. So you want to make sure you have the right floor to support its weight. Instead of installed cabinetry, a glass shelved cabinet on wheels provides convenient storage.
If you live in the greater Kansas City area and would like an interior designer’s professional touch to help you remodel your home, contact The Decorative Touch.
Photos: www.bhg.com
A Bright White Family Home
/in In Style /by decorativetouchWinter is still a few months away, but there is nothing quite like replicating that exquisite winter white glow in your own Kansas City home. As lovely as a beautiful white family home sounds, many parents think it’s impossible when you have children. However, as an interior designer, I know that it’s a common misconception among many couples raising families today. You can have a beautiful home that resembles the crystalline snow cover of a winter wonderland, you simply have to use sensible fabrics and surfaces that are easily wiped clean.
Take a look at this beautiful family home from Traditional Home that features a lovely bright white color scheme that all can enjoy.
A bounty of natural light warms this formal intimate and elegant living room that features “silk velvet sofas, Louis XVI chairs, armchairs upholstered in embroidered silk, and antique tables with new wooden tops”.
The family-friendly leather chairs are great for the kitchen table and breakfast area, so no matter where the kids eat, cleanup will be quick and easy. The vintage French posters that decorate the walls add a nice pop of color to the contemporary dining space.
Are you thinking about brightening your Kansas City home’s interiors?
Kate Spade: Staying True to her Roots
/in News /by decorativetouchVia LuxQ
Kate Spade is a name recognized all over the world but nowhere more than in Kansas City. Before attending Arizona State and heading to the Big Apple, Kate graduated from St. Theresa’s Academy and attended the University of Kansas. Then it was in 1993 that ever-popular line of Kate Spade Handbags was born, which expanded to include stationary, home décor, shoes, perfume, loungewear and even eyewear.
But Kate has never forgotten her roots. She gets back to Kansas City several times a year and makes visiting her old haunts a priority. In an interview, Kate told the Kansas City Star about her home visits saying, “All I want to do is eat barbecue . . . We often go to Arthur Bryant’s because my dad likes it. I also have to go to Ponak’s—I love the food . . . And I love going to Winstead’s.”
Kate also admits that a part of her decorating style comes from where and how she grew up. She told the Kansas City Star, “A lot of it comes from my mom. She never let us turn the overhead lights on. Also, I picked up on the salon-style way of hanging wall art because I grew up with it.”
Even though she sold her company five years ago to focus on her family and her seven year old daughter, Kate knows that those days are numbered, “At some point, she’s going to be sick of me and not want me around,” making us wonder what this Midwest designer has planned next.
Via Adeline Adeline
Studying in Comfort and Style
/in Tips /by decorativetouchFall is right around the corner and so is the beginning of a new school year. Now is the perfect time to evaluate your available study space. Since kitchen counters cannot accommodate computers and printers, it’s important to have a designated school work space with a proper desk. The desk should work to not only create a comfortable and functional work space, but it should complement the rest of your home’s decor, as well.
Of course, you can always purchase a desk from a big name retailer or pricey home furnishings store, but there are also other options. You can achieve a decorative and functional desk that is also inexpensive by thinking a little outside of the box.
Yard sales, thrift stores and even websites like Craigslist can be the perfect place to find a solid wooden desk for less. Keep your eye out for a vintage all-in-one school desk, too. Kids love being able to lift open the tops of the desks to store all of their school supplies right inside. A second-hand desk also opens the door to a little creativity; you can make it your own by adding a new finish or a fresh coat of paint.
Another fantastic option is to repurpose. You can easily use an old table or piece of furniture such as an outdoor patio table or even a vanity and give it new life as a school desk.
Photo via pinterest.com
Have you achieved a work or study space with unique finds or creative decorating tips? We’d love to hear about it! Let us know in the comments section below.
Via Houzz
Worldwide British Style
/in In Style /by decorativetouchAs the entire world watches the 2012 Olympics, there is a renewed interest in all things English, especially interior design. And two things come to mind when English décor is discussed, quaint brick cottages full of history and light airy modern flats featuring fresh colors and cutting edge styles.
Photo Credit: Heart Home Magazine
Photo via pinterest.com
Many of these English brick country homes are blessed with outstanding architectural detail. And if you are presently decorating a home with some these same features: high ceilings, soaring windows and intricate mouldings, then take advantage of the space by using tall mirrors, stenciled ceilings and contrasting moulding colors. While a modern American home would take advantage of the extra space by crafting oversized built-ins, the English generally favor more low slung pieces emphasizing the room’s openness.
Photo Credit: styleathome.com
If your tastes run more toward the modern, think bright colorful fabrics meshing with bold furniture and accent pieces. It’s easy to update a classic piece with a couple coats of paint or funky upholstery. Or the newest trend is all white…and while it does present a clean crisp look just think twice if you have pets or children!
Would you ever consider bringing a bit of English design influence into your Kansas City home?
Great Rooms: Keeping the Flow Consistent, but Distinctive
/in slider, Tips /by decorativetouchYou may remember the days where dinner was promptly at 7 p.m. and everyone was at the dinner table at that time. Well that almost seems like a luxury today. However, many homeowners are wanting to bring the family back together in one room with a great room home remodel. The typical great room usually brings together the family room, kitchen, dining room, and/or a sitting room. The beauty of the great room is now the whole family can enjoy being together while doing different tasks. But some people seem to get a bit overwhelmed when it comes to decorating such a grand space. Simply remember: together, but separate.
When decorating the space you want the interiors and furnishings to flow together, however, you want to make sure to create distinctions that separate the space.
Photo Credit: arizonafoothillsmagazine.com
Area rugs work well for defining a space. There are a variety of ways you can arrange furniture on or around the rug to create conversation nooks that allow you to comfortably chat with family and friends.
Photo via Houzz.com
Mixing the flooring is another great way to separate these areas without disturbing the design flow.
Are you having trouble keeping the flow of your great room consistent? The Decorative Touch is here to help! If you live in the greater Kansas City area, give us a call at 913-888-1388.