Making an Entrance !

May 16, 2018 Andrea Freeman

Do you ever feel that something is missing from your home's entry ? Maybe it's hard to see the front door ? or your entry way is just plain lacking style ? .... here are some tips to help your home - Make an entrance !!

# 1 Make the most of your front door - Your front door is one of the first impressions guests have of your home and sets the stage for what they may see next. Make sure your front door is visible - add additional lighting on the sides of the door and above to give a full view at night. Add color to your door to make it stand out - That being said you can take the color more subtle or highly saturated - its up to you but a good rule of thumb is to make sure it fits into the color palette of your home. And last but not least - add details ! In the above picture you see two large planters that compliment the style of the home and add symmetry to the door.

#2 Think about the interior door - Painting the backside of your front door in a pop of color to compliment the entry way is an unexpected way to add style! The above picture shows just how much impact this can give to your entry way - Bonus - tying the color into an area rug really makes this work !

# 3 Adding Texture - In an entry way texture can be introduced in many ways - above the textured grass wallpaper sets the mood for this home. You can also add texture with woven baskets - high pile area rugs and much more. Texture is a great way to make introduction to your home - especially for those who prefer a more monochromatic palette.

# 4 Let there be light - Don’t skimp on your foyer lighting. Select a fixture that makes a statement and defines the area, as does this handsome lantern.

In closing , your entryway is the first introduction your guest have to your beautiful home ! Why not make the most of it ? Design Your Life!

Source: MakinganEntrance

Getting In Touch With The Feel Of Your Home

May 8, 2018 Andrea Freeman

In looking to create a home that speaks to you and your family - there is one simple question to ask yourself and a question we ask clients on a regular basis - " How do you want your home to feel?" Defining the feel of your home gives us so much information as designers to create a home that reflects our clients lifestyle - and it is a really effective way to define the purpose of your home for you and your family. Knowing the feeling that you want your home to reflect can give you the big picture perspective to create the best home for your lifestyle. Ready to give it a try ? First take a look and ask and answer the questions below ( do this for every member of the household ) and then we will move on to suggestions for bringing those feelings into your space!

This cozy living room is all about comfort. Photo courtesy of Pinterest

The Questions

How do you want your home to feel ?
How do you want to feel when you walk through the door ?
What do you wish guests would think about your home when they come over ?
What are the top three words you would use to describe how you want your home to feel ?

Once you have the answers , putting together your style becomes clearer - here are a few ways to bring " All the Feels" to your home

If you want your home to feel more relaxed ..... A relaxed home is a home where you don't have to feel afraid to put your feet on the sofa , cuddle up with your favorite puppy or kitty and take your shoes off ,- It's a home that invites you to take your hair down. If this is the ideal way for your home to feel consider using performance/durable fabrics and materials and loosening your expectation on perfection - this style is all about "lived in" If you have items in your home that don't meet these guidelines - consider switching them out for items that comfortable and durable and won't break your heart when they get scratched ( or in designer terms : distressed)

This relaxed living room features slipcovers on oversized chaises - easy to clean and ultra-cozy! Picture courtesy of Pinterest

If you want your home to feel peaceful.... If you want your home to feel like a sanctuary ( and who doesn't with todays fast pace world) Here are a few different ways to make this feeling more present in your home

Use soft blues , greys and greens for a peaceful color palette
Keep clutter to a minimum
Revive your senses with texture and use natural scents to create calm
Use drapery lined with blackout lining to control light and sound

This peaceful bedroom features a cool blue mixed with crisp neutrals to create a calm space. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

If you want your home to feel authentic .... Surround yourself with things you love ! If this means books , art that speaks to you , travel souvenirs from your globe trotting - do it in a fun and curated way that shows off your passions. A great tip for making this come together is using a cohesive color scheme and pops of color to bring your collections together.

Surrounding yourself with objects you love in your home creates a feeling of autheticity - bringing it together with a cohesive color palette shows off this colection in a sophisticated way. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

If you want your home to feel creative .... Create spaces for creativity ! This can mean using a home office for an art studio or creating a multi functional space to follow your artistic pursuits and have a place to check up on emails. Having a creative home can also mean bringing that feeling to other rooms - display your handiwork , use pin boards to tack photos and articles that inspire you and look for nooks in every space to use that creative flair.

This creative space plays double duty in being a craft room and a space to use as a home office. Photo courtesy of Pinterest

There are no wrong or right answers about what feeling we want to create in our homes .. only that it be completly personal to the inhabitats. Are you trying to create that perfect feeling in your home ? that reflects you and suits you ? You know who to call !!

#designyourlife

New Year Home Refresh

January 12, 2018 Andrea Freeman

It is a New Year and what better way to kick of the year then to refresh our homes to make them lighter , brighter and more open! As designers, we are constantly giving clients tips and tricks on how to design in between the bigger projects. If you are not ready to give your kitchen a complete overhaul or tear down walls in your home, then we have some great tips for you to open your space and make your home refreshed and have an entirely new feel.

First and foremost - creating open space within your home may see complicated, but it is quite easy. Often time here at K. Smith Interiors we will space plan for our clients to help design the best layout possible that incorporates your life along with utilizing the space. One simple tip toward creating an open space (without tearing down the wall between the kitchen and living space) is to clear out the bulky furnishings or move them so that they are not taking up so much of the space in the room. Another tip, if you cannot get rid of the larger bulk pieces of furniture is to paint them in a lighter tone so that they will sink into the space and not take over the space. Custom refinishing can help by creating pieces that will look completely new and updated, as well as having the large pieces blend into the room.

Tricking the eye to thinking the room is bigger than it is by using all one color note, is one way to make your space look more open. Mirrors can also help to make a small space look larger because it draws in light from outside and reflects it back into the room. This is particularly great for tight hallways or small rooms because it gives the illusion of a wider area or creates the look of a “window” where none exists.

If you have a dining room that is rarely used or never used and only walked by… why not change it up? Turn that room into a useable space. Converting the room into an office, den, library, or entertainment room really will bring a whole new life into your home. You will find that you will use this room more often when you make it work for your lifestyle. A few pieces of furniture, rugs, warm paint, and some artwork can transform this room and make it seem like you have even more space in your home.

Let there be light! Lighting is the most effective design element when it comes to making a room feel taller and more expansive. Dark areas in a home are often not inviting and make the space feel very small. Changing out old and out of date fixtures can breathe life into your space, giving it a whole new feel. Lighting should always be layered - ambient lighting, accent lighting, and task lighting. These light layers give the room a glow that will get rid of the dark corners. We suggest using all three basic kinds of lighting - Ambient lighting as your main lighting (often this is overhead lighting that floods the room) , accent lighting ( the decorative lighting that highlights the architecture of the room or artwork – chandelier or sconces) and last but not least- task lighting ( floor lamps and table lamps that add function to that specific area). The three layers of light really brighten up a space and make it feel warm and inviting.

Let there be light ! this room is a great example of the three types of lighting creating a soft and warm lighting scheme. Photo courtesy of Pinterest

When we talk lighting, it is important not to forget about our natural light. Don’t let your windows be bare, especially in these cooler months. Our windows really shine when they are dressed up and frame the outdoors. If you have smaller windows, then treatments can be designed and placed in such a way that it gives the illusion of taller more expansive windows. Updating window treatments is easy and can change the entire look and feel in a room. From sheers, to panels, to woven woods there are different looks and layers that are perfect for each room. By leaving windows bare you are really leaving your rooms unfinished! Remember, you are not covering up your view…. you are simply framing in your view and directing the eye to see the nature that is right outside, with the bonus of controlling the light at the same time.

Creating a space right outside your windows that can be an extra living space (no matter how big or small) is a perfect way to open-up your home. With stylish chairs, oversized cushions, throws and decorative pillows you can create a space that you will want to cozy up with a nice glass of wine and a good book. You will wonder why you had not utilized this space before and it will soon become one of your more favorite spots within the home.

Updating your bathroom, where you spend every morning getting ready, is one of the more important spaces in your home. Starting off your day off in a space that makes you feel like you are in a luxurious spa is a wonderful feeling. If you are waiting to overhaul your bathroom but want a spa like experience, here are some easy tips to refresh your bathroom this New Year. Replace dated door knobs and hardware on the cabinets with more updated trending styles. You can also change out the old smaller rug for a longer runner as well changing out the older vanity lights. Changing linens in the bathroom will have a huge benefit – try swapping out colored towels to soft and fluffy white towels to create a hotel-like look. Paint is also a great way to update and refresh a bathroom and is the most cost-effective way to get a lot of look for less. Hot tip – light colors with warm undertones will make the space feel more inviting and larger.

With just these few simple tips you can make your home feel refreshed and new again. It will give you the kick off for the New Year. It is surprising how space planning, cleaning and painting can be so simple but can make the biggest difference. We love refreshing our clients’ homes and with these very simple tips you can spruce up your space to give you a fresh start into 2018.

Design Your Life!