Maurice hotel featured by AD

Outdoor space of model and actress Veronica Webb featured by Architectural Digest

Shangri-La hotel

might be beautiful hotels like the ones pictured above.  Home shelter magazines, destination vacations or even your own favorite trips such as the one below I took to St. John’s also provide an incredible resource.

St. John's

St. John's

Delmar

As you can see as an interior designer I love water and fire features in my outdoor spaces but you should incorporate what you love!

To begin just pull out some of your favorite elements that can be used in your own outdoor space whether its fabrics that remind you of a far away destination, a particular tile design or simply a potted palm.

For more great ideas on how to live outdoors in style and the latest trends, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday morning at 10am on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com) in Kansas City as I talk with  DIY network hosts Marsico and Stearns along with HGTV host Rebecca Koll.

Plus, if you’re looking for design ideas for your interior, then tune into Living Large this Saturday morning at 10:30 on Classical 1660 KXTR (streams live on kxtr.com) as I talk with HGTV host Brice Cooper about creating living spaces. 

And don’t forget to become a fan of our Facebook fan page where we feature additional design tips, articles and pictures!

Gansevoort Hotel

Natural light highlighting the interior

 lighting your space because that’s critical to a successful design.   

A great example of wonderful lighting can be seen above in the photo of the Gansevoort Hotel where my daughter lived in Florida.  Don’t you just love the way the column’s architecture’s highlighted with accent lighting?

 As an interior designer I always begin by doing a walkthrough of  my client’s space during the day so I can see how the sunlight plays off the interior and then find ways to bring natural light deeper into the rooms whether the project’s in Kansas City or across the country. (see example above)

And when walking through your interior with a interior designer or contractor, remember to consider all three types of lighting from ambient/general lighting that illuminates your space overall to task lighting (cooking, reading, etc) to accent lighting that can beautifully showcase your home’s archictecture or artwork.

Of the three types of lighting for a home, ambient light seems the most misunderstood.  By definition ambient means to go around so in order to accomplish this feat make sure diffused lighting dominates to create a glow instead of a glare. 

Gansevoort Hotel

 For more great tips on successful remodeling and what pitfalls to avoid, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com) as Laura Hunt, one of the top designers in the U.S., reveals how to successfully remodel your space along with local design expert David Jimenez who just completed a remodel of his new condo.  And if you can’t tune in Sunday, listen to the show’s podcast later by clicking on our blog’s Living Large podcast link at the top.

If you want more ideas for finishes and fabrics too, then tune into Living Large at 10:30am this Saturday on Classical 1660 KXTR as New York designer and Kansas City native Marshall Watson talks with me about the latest in finishes for interior design plus fabrics. 

Plus, don’t forget to join our Facebook fan page by clicking here.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-Large/217431843107

Interior design by Karen Mills

Stop for a moment or two and close your eyes while visualizing your dream bedroom.   What do you see in style and color?  Now open your eyes.  How did the room make you feel?  If you can answer those questions, you’re on the way to creating a wonderful bedroom.  If you can’t, it might be time to call a designer or decorator. 

Once I’ve determined that question for my clients along with their favorite style and color choices, I love to start the designing their bedroom with the selection of a beautiful bed  that captures my client’s personality whether it’s hollywood glam with a fabulous padded headboard and shimmering fabrics or perhaps just a casual canopy bed that envelopes them with wonderful fabrics. 

And as you might have guessed by now, padded headboards and canopy beds are two of my favorite choices as an interior designer whether its for one of my clients in Kansas City or surrounding areas like Overland Park, Leawood and Mission Hills or a more distant client, because they wrap you in comfortable bliss and hug you with fabulous fabrics. 

For more great tips on creating beautiful bedrooms, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com) in Kansas City as I interview the host of Tacky House on Style Network, Kelly Edwards along with an editor from Traditional Home magazine and other bedding experts. 

Plus if you need help in the kitchen, tune in this Saturday morning at 10:30am CST on Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with the HGTV.com editor about designing kitchens.

Sapphire Blue

Since personalization still rules as the biggest design trend this year, I believe color experts are forced to widen their color forecasts for 2011 to include the numerous paths we’re traveling down the design road. 

 As an interior designer, blues still dominate in many areas, but the neutrals and combinations are transforming because of individual preferences whether its a taste for refined style, bold colors, vintage looks or global views.

Icy Gray

Experts’ forecasts for 2011 vary and include everything from cool neutrals and muted colors to deep rich colors ranging from icy grays and chocolate browns to bright reds, fuchsia purples and sapphire blue or a washed out denim.    

Denim Blue

Fuchsia purple

To hear the complete 2011 Color Forecast for the interior design industry including the hottest color combinations and trends predicted for 2011, don’t miss this Sunday at 10am CST on Living Large on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com) in Kansas City as I talk to the top color experts from around the country including Leatrice Eiseman, the director of the Pantone Color Institute, Jackie Jordan, the director of color marketing from Sherwin Williams and the director  of color trends for the Color Association of the U.S. who have similar views but definitely different opinions about the biggest trend for 2011.

And if you’re looking for ideas for Outdoor Room design, don’t miss DIY TV Network host Gino Panero at 10:30 Saturday on Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR who shares great ideas with everyone.

Bathroom design

I just love this shower and how the tile draws your eye around the room.    And speaking of tile, check out some of the wallcoverings I’ve been considering for a new bathroom I’m designing!   It doesn’t matter whether you live in New York or Los Angeles or Kansas City or surrounding areas like Overland Park, Leawood or Mission Hills, you can still have fabulous design in your home.

Bedazzled Bauble wallcovering by Maya RomanoffMaya Romanoff wallcovering

Maya Romanoff wallcovering

 Maya offers not only great wallcoverings but also murals like the one below.

Maya Romanoff wallcovering

 And if you’re wondering how to inject a little personality into your own space, look at this seashell bathroom from House Beautiful magazine. 

House Beautiful magazine bathroom

Design by Thomas Pheasant as featured by Architectural Digest

Design by Thomas Pheasant as featured by Architectural Digest

I love to begin a design with an inspiration piece that speaks to my client whether it’s artwork, a beautiful fabric or even a piece of clothing!  Other inspiration pieces could include a beautiful rug, jewelry or even a place you’ve visited on a trip.  Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine how you would like to feel in the space and I think you’ll be surprised at what comes to mind whether its a hotel like this one or someone’s home.

Hilton South

 Recreating the look of this hotel lobby could be quite simple.  Just take a design element that you love like the circle motifs and repeat them in your own space in different ways whether its wallpaper, an area rug or the shapes of your furniture.  The circular light fixture below is a great example of repeating circular shapes.

For more great ideas and inspiration, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST as I talk with HGTV host of Design on a Dime, Brice Cooper along with nationally known designer Thomas Pheasant, plus a designer who’s a K.C. native.

And for tips on design styles, make sure you tune in to hear nationally known former model Kathy Ireland talk about what she likes in design at 10:30am CST on Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR.

Design by Marshall Watson. Photograph from traditionalhome.com

Check out this wallcovering from Traditional Home magazine of a room design by K.C. native Marshall Watson for the Hampton Designer Showhouse in New York!

English oiled walls with schlacking. Photo from Traditional Home magazine

 Almost looks like a clearcoat over wallpaper but its actually English oiled walls that have been schlacked and its absolutely stunning.

Mediations wallcovering by Maya Romanoff

And of course as an interior designer and decorator, I always love the extraordinary work of Maya Romanoff

Bedazzled Ruby by Maya Romanoff

But let’s not forget about fabulous new fabrics too!

Kravet Luxury Plain fabrics

For more great tips on the latest finishes and fabrics, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ in Kansas City as I talk with nationally known designer and K.C. native Marshall Watson along with the PBS host of A Moment of Luxury Bill Stubbs among others.

And for the latest in outdoor style, don’t miss Living Large this Saturday at 10:30am CST on Classical 1660 KXTR as I talk with Fine Living Network host Karen Duffy.

Plus don’t forget to become a fan of our Living Large Facebook fan page!

Italian kitchen design

You’re not alone! As an interior designer I always suggest that you start by looking for inspiration in design magazines to get ideas of what you like and check out the latest tile at the your local store.  Plus, remember before you hire a remodeling company to begin construction, make sure you consult with a professional interior designer first.  Not only can they help you fine tune your cabinet, hardware, lighting, color and tile finishes to make sure they coordinate together, but  they can also help you avoid costly mistakes and enhance your design with a great lighting scheme.

Contemporary kitchen

Futuristic kitchen?

Traditional kitchen

One of the best suggestions I heard from a kitchen designer I interviewed on Living Large was her advice to place a sticky note in your kitchen every time you thought of something you didn’t want like so when you designed a new kitchen it would include the improvements most important to you.

When planning your kitchen think about whether you will be cooking in this kitchen or just using it for entertaining because chefs often use their kitchen much differently and may need additional sinks or work areas instead of additional seating that might be required for a kitchen that entertains.

Contemporary kitchen

For more great information on designing kitchens and what’s hot, don’t miss Living Large this Sunday at 10am CST on News Radio 980 KMBZ (streams live on kmbz.com) in Kansas City as I interview the HGTV.com senior editor Mary Graff along with kitchen designer, author and UCLA instructor Don Silvers among others. 

And this Saturday make sure you tune in at 10:30am CST to Living Large on Classical 1660 KXTR (streams live on kxtr.com) as I talk about the latest window treatments along with window treatment expert Susan Schurz.   

Plus connect with us on our Facebook fan page!