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.

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

Interior Design Online

As we all know, it's 2012 and the internet is taking over pretty much every industry out there.  From ordering pizza, clothing, groceries, etc., a consumer can pretty much get whatever they want from the good ol' world wide web.  Interior design is not exception!  Tons of designers are evolving to the technologic changes, therefore, marketing towards online interior design.  One of those design firms happens to be yours truly!

While we primarily do the hands on approach with design, we have been implementing some designs digitally.  This process comes in packages depending upon the details of the project.  So, here is a step-by-step system of how we design online.

1.  We ask you a series of questions through e-mail
2.  We have you measure the room and your existing furniture, etc.
3.  From looking at the measurements you sent us, we create a floor plan
4.  We tell you where to take pictures from.... You will have to take TONS of pictures because we won't be able to see it in person
5.  After those initial steps, we get started on the preliminary design concept
6.  We will first send you several digital design board options through e-mail
7.  If your project is more than furnishing and require demolition or customizations, we can help you find tradespeople in you area.
8.  Once we've figured out the perfect design for you, we will help you in ordering product and getting everything completed properly.

While it is more hands on for you, the client, it will usually be less expensive and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.  Also, you don't have to live in the Dallas area, or even the Texas area, because we can assist you wherever you are!

Here are some examples of digital boards we've done!!  If you like any of these boards and/or would like more information on KAID's Online Design, e-mail us at kim@interiorsbykim.com.

Bohemian Living Room... If you like it, let us know!!

Funky Formal Dining Room

Masculine Office Space

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

The Pink and the Gray

Well, this might be a bit premature, but I have to share our most recent work here at Kim Armstrong Interior Design.  We haven't gotten these professional photographed, but you can very much appreciate the design and customizations by my awesome I-phone photos.  Enjoy, and of course, what do you think!??

This photo is actually professionally done.  The chair and vanity are both completely custom, designed by KAID.  This photo was taken by Kim Burnstad (who is AMAZING!)  Please visit her website at kbbphotography.com

Like I said, I-phone photo, but you can see how delicious this room is.  Custom headboard, daybed, bedding, and frames!  All done by yours truly, Kim Armstrong ID

Ms. Wilma's favorite spot in the house.  She blends nicely :)

Wall of custom frames with family photos.  It doesn't get much more beautiful/heartfelt than that.

HGTV Coastal Images

Exciting news today!  KAID was featured on HGTV for our beach house designs.  They created a category on their site for "Coastal Inspired Bedrooms" and featured THREE of our photos!  Check them out, they are images 11, 16, and 17.

http://www.hgtv.com/bedrooms/coastal-inspired-bedrooms/pictures/index.html

Beach House Bliss- Part I

The Blue Room- Galveston, Texas


Now that it's summer time, let's take a look at a beach house we designed last July.  This is a perfect example that good design takes a really long time to go out of style, if ever.

The blue room, an unexpected attention grabber, is somewhat similar to seeing a celebrity moseying down a suburban street.  The alluring navy blue walls (Benjamin Moore- Stunning 826) paired with cream, its extreme opposite, create quite a dramatic spectacle. 

The concept of this room was derived from the navy and cream, floral duvet.  Surprisingly, the duvet, along with several other items like the art and rug, were purchased from online auctions and discounted home stores.  Because we really needed a high impact punch against the dark wall, we had the leather headboard custom made.  To really add a designer touch, we chose an affordable navy blue velvet and cream nautical rope to make the Euro pillows.  The Euros actually ended up being comparable in price to a retail store, but happened to be exactly what we wanted.  Tips in creating a space like this include utilizing high contrast, mixing “splurge” and “save” items, and adding a few customized touches.

The Sun and Surf Living Room- Galveston, Texas

“Cozy, casual, easy living,” our client’s exact requests for their beach house’s living room in Galveston, Texas.  They originally planned on renting out the residence, but after the initial reveal, they immediately decided to keep it for themselves. 

To get an easygoing vibe of this sort, it actually requires a well thought out formula and inspiration.  The inspiration was not an object, but more of an idea to subtly bring the sunny beach indoors.  Understated yellows and blues anchor the room, while custom-made linen drapes, pops of red, and different wood tones add interest.  Our favorite and most innovative element of the room happens to be the six framed prints of sea animals and birds.  The “prints” were actually pages from a book that we had framed and matted; they flow perfectly with the opposing beach view.

Although there are tons of elements within one space, we had to formulate a sense of balance between them all.  Instead of seeing each individual piece, you see one unified room that screams, “Come relax!”