Simple and Fun Christmas Tablescapes

If you haven't planned it yet, here are some fun and simple holiday tablescapes!! Kim Armstrong Interior Design is all about keeping things low-stress and full of memories, and these examples are great ways of doing so! Also notice the chalkboard table runner on photo #3, great for any occasion!

Sources:
1. http://www.pinterest.com/TheSparkleQueen/christmas-centerpieces-tablescapes/
2. http://www.eatwell101.com/decoration-14-beautiful-table-inspirations-for-holiday-dinners
3. http://findinghomeonline.com/chalkboard-table-runner-night-christmas/

Custom Cookies- Favorite Fabrics as Frosting

It's that time of year again!!  The time for giving, appreciating the little things, and all that is jolly and merry…  Oh yeah, then there's the STRESS of figuring out what to give everyone!

We, here at Kim Armstrong ID, love and appreciate our clients so much, and always want to give them something heartfelt and meaningful.  This year, we dug and dug for a truly genuine gift, and I think we managed to exceed our own expectations!  With the help of Batter Up Cake Shop, located in Plano, TX, we created sugar shortbread cookies with custom frosting applied in the form of our client's favorite fabrics throughout their projects.

Take a look at some of these edible beauties!

Color for the New Year

So, I know we've been gone a while, but it's time again to share our interior design insider knowledge!  Recently, we took a trip to High Point Market, the largest home furnishings industry trade show in the world!  We covered (or tried to cover) over 10 million square feet filled with the latest and greatest products in home furnishings.  Needless to say, we were  exhausted and exhilarated by all the new products and upcoming trends we discovered.

As you may know, we here at Kim Armstrong Interior Design are avid color lovers… like we seriously have an addiction to the point that we coined the word, "colordiction"!  So, obviously, the color trends from High Point are the first things we'd like to share with you.

Everywhere we turned, there were variations of blue.  Ranging from aqua to navy, the stunning cool hue definitely stole the show!  Although emerald and kelly greens have been popular for quite some time, it doesn’t look like they are bowing out just yet.  Believe it or not, one of our favorite color pairings were none other than NAVY AND EMERALD GREEN!  Such a fun and classic combo.

Purple, plum, lavender, or whatever you want to call it, was pretty high up on the color radar.  It didn’t rear it’s head quite like the blue shades did, but we expect it to get more and more popular in the upcoming year.  Last, but not least, pops of orange are coming into the forecast.  It definitely wasn’t as prominent as the others, but was used here or there for a fiery flare.

Our Trip to Timothy Oulton- Dallas

KAID absolutely loves finding new and inventive local vendors, and today, we got quite an eyeful of creativity at the Timothy Oulton showroom in Dallas.  We had been contacted several times to come in for a visit and, finally, had some time to swing by.  Kim and my expectations for our visit were high, but, the staff nearly had to drag us off of the sheepskin sofa and kick us out.  To call it a "visit" is an understatement; we had a legitimate experience, complete with espresso, mind-blowing creativity, and, yes, delectable cake balls (which are delivered daily to their full-service coffee bar, complete with a professional barista).

While Timothy Oulton has an amazing website, I would seriously recommend stopping in and experiencing the brand.  At first glance, some of the items come off quite masculine and monochromatic, but they have tons of colorful and soft options to be explored.  Even more impressive is the fact that their items literally possess history.  Most of their products are made from reclaimed materials, and a lot of their accessories are true antiques.  So, take a peek at our photos, browse their website (http://www.timothyoulton.com), then go visit the showroom (make sure to sit and experience the comfort).

Latte art, and cake by The Hospitality Sweet.... this was only the beginning.

Vintage saddles and a plethora of unique blue and white plates.  These spaces really made an impression.

Who doesn't love rugby and bar seating?  Never did I think I would see the two combined, but Timothy Oulton found a way to do it.  The ball is even removable.  To the right is an amazingly comfy chair- stirrups and cowhide included.

Above you can see more of the imaginative items Timothy Oulton has to offer.  Some of our favorites being the reclaimed wood tables covered in acrylic, and none other than the sheepskin sofa.  Nap time?

Fab Finials- Dress Up Your Windows

So, you've spent all this time and money picking out window treatments and they're finally here!  Then you realize, you've gotta hang them somehow.  We've found that picking drapery hardware can be the hardest part about completing a drapery job.  There are thousands upon thousands of choices out there and if you measure wrong, you're back to square one!

While I can't measure and hang your curtains from behind the keyboard, I can give you some direction in picking the most important part of all drapery hardware- the finial!  Below, I've browsed KAID's library and the web to pick some of the most cutting edge finals out there.  

As always, if you'd like help customizing your windows, contact us at kim@interiorsbykim.com or (214) 500-0600

Trending- Faux Bois Is the New Floral

Who is sick of chevron patterns and florals!?  Well, I'm not quite sick of them, but I must say I'm excited for a new pattern to get some hype!  Faux bois, from the French for false wood, is just that, imitation of a wood grain on different sorts of media (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faux_bois).  

Recently featured in Elle Decor as a hip new print, I will bet big money that it'll be all over the shelves by Spring in extremely awesome hues.  So, luck you to get the heads up!  Go grab some faux bois before everyone has it!  Check out these products I've found below... faux bois oohhh la la!   
 

1.  Fake wood print acryclic accent table- Find it HERE

2.  Faux bois rug- Find it HERE

3.  Printed wood lamp shade- Find it HERE

4.  Velvet faux bois fabric in blue- Find it HERE

5.  Textural fake wood pillow in gray- Find it HERE

6.  "Knock On Wood" Print- Find it HERE

Brass to the Past

Here are KAID, we do a lot of custom pieces because we like things to be PERFECT!  Oddly enough, doing custom pieces is often cheaper and quicker than purchasing from a vendor... who knew?  Anyway, in the process of creating some MAGENTA Louis XIV commode pieces, we needed to find hardware and ormolus for the piece.  Searching all over the internet, we found some great antique ormolu pieces, but finding vintage-esque handles and escutcheons was proving to be nearly impossible.  We did some research and discovered you can age brass...  Soooo, with lots of trial and error, we discovered the most efficient was is as follows:

1.  Make sure your brass pieces are REAL!

2.  Most newer brass pieces have a coating on it.  We got lucky and had the kind of coating that comes off with acetone.  If you have the stubborn coating, you're on your own!

3.  After removing the coating, rinse off the hardware with water and dry.

4.  Once dry, you'll need to submerse the pieces into Brass Darkening Solution J-3499.  Buy it HERE!

5.  It has all the directions on the back of the bottle, so just follow them from there!
6.  If you leave it in too long, all you have to do is polish it up a bit.  We always use Brasso, you can buy it at Lowe's or Home Depot in the cleaning department.

7.  Let us know how this works for you :)

RESULTS 

By Kim Armstrong Interior Design

Bohemian Bedroom and Tone on Tone Theater Room

Here are some room concepts we are preparing to bring to life for a client here in Dallas, Texas.  Kim Armstrong Interior Design developed these spaces through a detailed interview process and a customized questionnaire.  While this images are just a taste of what the finished products will be, these digital designs really help people visualize how the elements will relate.  It's also a lot less time consuming than doing a hand or computer-generated rendering!

Here is a Bohemian bedroom design with focus on having a place for everything.  Organization and clutter free design are always a must no matter what style you're going for.  We created storage in unique ways like putting shoes in the china hutch, using an old vintage desk as a makeup vanity, and attaching lace to ornate frames for jewelry display.

This tone-on-tone media room was designed with a masculine feel, but no woman would turn down watching a movie in this space.  By keeping the color minimal (on pillows and a chair) the rest of the room generates warmth with its color palette of grays, browns, tans, and creams.  Because the space's purpose is to watch movies, the focus should not be the rooms aesthetic, but to bring family and friends together to enjoy movies, reading, and each other's company.

Designer Dorm Rooms for Guys and Girls

It’s that time again; tons of young adults are venturing off to college…  a place they’ve dreamed of and worked for FOREVER.  While most students walk onto campus ready to live it up (and of course study away), the dorm rooms are often a cause of severe disappointment.  Creating warmth in a sterile box containing bunk beds and vinyl tiles can present quite a challenge.  KAID has a couple of tricks to make the dorm days unforgettable.

**Make sure to layer.  For instance, layer your bedding by starting with your foundation of sheets, a duvet, and shams, then adding decorative pillows and a throw.  It's also fun and trendy to layer rugs, such as adding a neutral sisal as the base then topping it with a smaller Indian woven. 

**Be creative with storage.  You can try floating shelves, decorative boxes, and even under the bed storage.

**Avoid being too "matchy".  Because dorms are relatively small, if you go buy everything from the same store, it will look like everyone else's, and very unoriginal.  Be creative and research the internet before shopping, then you can find things that coordinate rather than match.

**Lastly, don't forget to use fabrics and textiles to soften the hardness of your "box".  Yes, boys, even you guys need some curtains and a rug here or there.  It's amazing what a little texture, color, and pattern can do to a space.

For the Ladies...

Here's an example of a fun, eclectic dorm room concept for a color-loving girl.

1.  This is temporary wallpaper that won't mess up your walls- www.modcloth.com

2.  A fun, colorful lamp because dorm lighting can be really dull- www.potterybarn.com

3.  Here's comfy desk chair that emulates an antique- www.pbteen.com

4.  Creative jewelry storage.  Buy some cool mismatch hardware, and make it yourself- http://www.kidspacestuff.com/blog/2012/03/teen-girls-room-vintage-storage-vintage-jewelry/

5.  Floral rug- www.anthropologie.com

6.  Bright coral drapes- www.anthropologie.com

7.  Use cool indian baskets for storage- http://www.ffcais.com/indian-baskets.html

8.  Choose neutral bedding so you can be bold in the rest of the room- www.ikea.com

9.  So I know you have hundreds of Instagram photos.  Why not make them into pillows- www.stitchagram.com

For the Guys...

Here's a masculine design for a dorm room with pops of color.

1.  Two-toned bedding- www.westelm.com

2.  Two-toned drapes- www.anthropolgie.com

3.  Orange accent pillow- www.yliving.com

4.  Striped, orange accent pillow- www.yliving.com

5.  Coordinating rug- www.ikea.com

6.  Decorative storage box- www.yliving.com

7.  Graffiti trash bin- www.crateandbarrel.com

8.  Funky orange futon- www.target.com

9.  Bar code accent pillow- www.yliving.com

10.  Side table for storage- www.ikea.com

11.  Cool desk lamp- www.arteriors.com

Chevron and On and On....

While taking interior design CEU classes at Metrocon, a large conference for designers in Dallas, Texas, I noticed a ton of so-called fashionistas roaming the halls.  The ladies, and occasional dressed-to-the-nines man, who stood out were the ones dressed in black and white chevron patterns.  The most eye-catching of the chevron trenders were the ones who paired their black and white zig zag with an equally bold accent color.

Because I LOVE chevron patterns used in interiors, I thought, what better way to connect fashion and interior design than to blog about this pairing.  It's no secret that home design and fashion trends go hand in hand, just ask the chevron expert, Missoni, whose patented chevron clothing and home goods were and still are a craze.  

Just for effect, I've put together some images displaying the coalition of chevrons in home vs. chevrons on body.  Remember, this doesn't just apply to the chevron pattern; keep an open mind to translating interiors to fashion and vice versa.

Source

Source

Source

Source

Source

If You Can't Find It, Make It

KAID prides itself on never settling for something that just works; we strive for perfection.  Having these kinds of standards often makes it really hard to find what we are looking for.  In order to create what we see in our heads, we have to go to our many great vendors and resources and have it made.

Here are some photos of a couple custom things we've done.  If you are interested in customizing your home or space, you know where to go!  www.interiorsbykim.com

We created the "Madhatter" chair and the drapes.  The photo is BAADD, but we will get you some good ones soon.  Custom is just what it takes sometimes to create that brilliant concept sitting in your head.

Another iPhone photo, but notice all the great pieces.  The two club chairs, pillows, sofa, and drapes are all custom made.  Also, the amazing striped chairs are, you guessed it, custom-made for the space.

Hand-carved French daybed and custom pillows and upholstery.  Turned out so beautiful.

Custom host chair made of a Ralph Lauren wool  We wanted to keep it a modern shape with a traditional, masculine print.  You don't see this everyday.