Rolling Out the Red Carpet

As the holidays approach, many of us are inviting friends and family to stay in our homes. While preparing for a guest takes a little effort, there’s something really chic about making someone feel completely at ease in your house. There is nothing like the feeling of knowing someone cares about you and is thrilled (and prepared) you are there.

To make a guest’s room really special, we’ve found the key is in the details. That being said, you should start with a gorgeous room, not one that’s serving as a storage space for left over furnishings and boxes. We suggest you begin with fresh bedding; clean, fluffy towels and new, pretty soaps. At this point, we invite you to turn up the volume with:

• Cotton swabs and cotton balls
• Feminine products
• Shaving cream/razor
• Shower products
• Ibuprofen, Tums, Melatonin, etc.
• A plush robe and slippers

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Color? Take A Kiss From Spring

Want a guarantee for a beautiful space?  Take a hint from Spring!

The inspiration...

...the finish!

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Make it fab!

-Jill

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Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for her interior design clients in Kansas City and clients around the country.

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PINK, More Than You Saw In The Kansas City Star

Amazing PINK!

It is vibrant.  It relaxes you when you first see it, then after a long time in it, it can rev you up!  That is why sports teams paint it in their opponents locker rooms!  It was once the color for baby boys before baby blue came along.  It is flattering to all skin types and the child of red…another fabulous color!

Find out even more and read the article with our interview in The Kansas City Star.

Pink is the place to be! Jill Tran Interior Design

This client loved pink and yellow, but wanted elegance... Jill Tran Interior Design

This darling baby's room I designed for a fabulous client that loves pink, black and white. Since pink is such a wonderful baby color, the chair is wonderful! Jill Tran Interior Design

The photo from the KC Star article. Yes, pink at the movies! A fun and easy to enjoy space. Jill Tran Interior Design

The other side of the same room just before the large screen television is installed. Jill Tran Interior Design

This soft, soft pink room is elegant and a house favorite for spending time and relaxing. See the "before" of this space here. Jill Tran Interior Design

See more of the room above including the “before” shots.

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Make it fab!

-Jill

Click here to DISCOVER ALL OF JILL’S LATEST BLOGS FULL OF GREAT DESIGN, TIPS AND INSPIRATION

Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for her interior design clients in Kansas City and clients around the country.

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P. I. N. K.

It is always great fun to see our work in print.  The House and Home section of the Kansas City Star is such a wonderful publication…and this week’s topic is a personal favorite of mine…pink!

Pink.  Yeah, Baby.  Love the pink.

Not only is the color fabulous, it makes you feel fantastic.  It is calming, yet energizing.

           ***Did you know it used to be the color for baby BOYS?  ‘Twas.

See more of our thoughts below in the fabulous Kansas City Star’s House + Home section, Think Pink!, written by Stacy Downs.  

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Have you heard?  The secret is out!  Jill Tran Interior Design is now Tran+Thomas Design Studio.

Inspiring Design In Fall Colors: Part III of III

There is nothing like spectacular design…it make you feel good.  For example, how do these designs make you feel?  They are from the historic Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills and was Veranda’s third show house.  Such gentle fall colors here.  I thought the time seemed right to share these with you.

***SEE PART I OF THIS SERIES click here

Click here to DISCOVER ALL OF JILL’S LATEST BLOGS FULL OF GREAT DESIGN, TIPS AND INSPIRATION

What do you think of these rooms?  Let me know by leaving a comment.

Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for her interior design clients in Kansas City and clients around the country.

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Photos: Veranda

Inspiring Design In Fall Colors: Part II of III

There is nothing like spectacular design…it make you feel good.  For example, how do these designs make you feel?  They are from the historic Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills and was Veranda’s third show house.  Such gentle fall colors here.  I thought the time seemed right to share these with you.

***SEE PART III OF THIS SERIES click here

Click here to DISCOVER ALL OF JILL’S LATEST BLOGS FULL OF GREAT DESIGN, TIPS AND INSPIRATION

Do you love these rooms?  Why?  Leave your comment here!

Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for her interior design clients in Kansas City and clients around the country.

Contact Jill

Photos:  Veranda

“Before, During and After” Photos, A Black And Silver Master Bedroom

WHAT, OH WHAT, HAD THE CLIENT BEEN DREAMING OF?

There is nothing more fabulous than someone who know what kind of bedroom they want…a gorgeous one!  This client loves black high contrasts in color.  Like a classic car, the colors were to be black and silver.  We needed slick design with storage bigger than a glove box and a clean, simple elegance…not too much “stuff” if you know what I mean.

So everything had to change.

"Before"

"Before"

"Before"

PART OF THE PLANNING:

Upon finding the most amazing stripe fabric in black with champagne/silver stripes, I designed this dramatic headboard for the client.  My pencil sketch is below.

***Why simply stripe a piece of furniture when you can add to the complexity, make your upholsterer a little crazy and take the room to the next level?

My illustration to communicate to the upholsterer how I wanted the stripe to appear on the custom headboard.***

THE PLAN COMES TOGETHER:

Installation days are always crazy fun.  This particular day, there were 5 of us respecting the space.  There is nothing more satisfying than working along with such professionals with all of us driven toward the exact same goal…to make the room perfect!

"During" Drapes and rods going up.

"During" Time to begin assembling and making the bed with custom designed bedding.

"During" The headboard begins to make it's way onto the wall.

"During" The guys just brought this piece in. It is magnificent! I should have taken a shot of the inside...you would melt with the velvet lined drawers. I have marked where the TV and sconces are to be hung.

"During" The chandelier goes up in front of the new silver drapes.

DRUM ROLL…..THE DREAM IS HERE:

Finally!  After a long day, you can see the fruits of all the labor.  Months of planning come down to this moment as we now get to enjoy it and stand behind the camera.  It is a beautiful thing.

What did this Client have to say?  Well, she LOVED it!  She went on and on.  Her friends went on and on.  Her family went on and on.  I could go on and on with how pleased she and her husband were with the results and that is what matters to me.  I never really “leave” a job.  I am there if anything ever comes up and to make sure they are 110% thrilled.  I hate to leave, but it is time to continue with the next design spinning in my head….

****What do YOU think of this space?  I would love to hear!  What is your dream bedroom?  Everyone’s is very different and that is what makes each one so great.

"After"

"After" A glorious fabric contrast...unexpected.

"After" The silk drapes are so luxurious with a strong hand.

"After" The hand-carved detail at the top is really something and so very special. I love the space between the upholstered fabric and the carved wood. Did they get the stripe right off of my sketch?

"After" Yes! The fabric on the very custom headboard looks just like my sketch. Striking is the word! Custom silver leaf side tables with plenty of storage.

"After" The diamond studded fabric on the shams add sparkle and catch the sun. Luxury.

"After"

"After" A dramatic finish. The piece looks so spectacular. This photo simply doesn't do it justice...or any part of this room justice!

"After" Such a fantastic finish on this piece. That is a huge way to tell the difference in quality on a piece...the finish.

"After" How wonderful to take a bath with this chandelier on the dimmer. Sparkle and shimmer to relax the day away.

"After" The drapes are the perfect length to add drama, beauty and keep clear of stray bubbles. They are lined to not let light in for a peaceful night's sleep.

"After" Bubbles over bubbles...

Make it fab!

-Jill

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**Got a question?  I’m listening….  Ask by making a comment here!

Tell me what’s on your mind.  I love hearing from you!

Photos:  Jill Tran Interior Design and Co.

Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for her interior design clients in Kansas City and clients around the country.

Contact Jill

More NYC Apartment “BEFORE” and “AFTER” Photos

There is nothing more fun to me than New York City.  The lights, the people, the design.  It is so exciting!

These NYC clients of ours wanted a fun and funky space.  Greens, blues and black…almost a mod look.  They needed a place other than the master bedroom for guest to sleep and wanted the space to be bright and sunny.  I give you, our New York…mod!

Click here to view the first blog in which I shared this apartment with you.  There you can see more “BEFORE” and “AFTER” photos of the kitchen, hall and landing of this cool apartment.

"BEFORE"

"DURING"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"BEFORE"

"AFTER"

WANT TO SEE THE OTHER “BEFORE” AND “AFTERS OF THIS SAME APARTMENT?

Click here to view the first blog in which I shared this apartment with you.  There you can see the kitchen, hall and landing of this cool apartment.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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Share your comments?  Reactions?  Questions?

Tell me what’s on your mind.  I love hearing from you!

Photos:  Jill Tran Interior Design and Co.

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Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for Kansas City Interior Design clients and clients around the country.

Wallpaper How-To’s…How To Make It Gorgeous!

While the thought of wallpaper makes some people scream, for you, I hope it will bring squeals of delight!  It is back in full force and with so many gorgeous papers out there to choose from, they are just starting to make just paint look, well, not as exciting.  Why not have the best?

After hearing what my readers think about wallpaper, most of us hear “wallpaper” and our minds automatically go back to some very dated looks.  Think TV.  You all mentioned All In The Family, Dallas, Everybody Loves Raymond, Eight is Enough, Family Ties and Growing Pains?  Sooooo yesterday with those set looks, right?!  Today papers are showing up in grand spaces on shows of all kinds.  They are now in young hip shows.  The Apprentice and America’s Next Top Model.  Ant those are just a few.  Of course, paper never left some of the grandest homes I have had the pleasure of seeing in person.  Papers make spaces so amazing.

Another fear I am finding from my readers is not putting the paper up, but taking it down.  To remove it right, the walls must be sized first.  Sizing is similar to applying paint.  It rolls on.  It holds the paper tight to the walls, yet releases it the day you want to change the wall’s surface again.

As far as resale for a home, telling the buyer the walls were properly sized before the paper was hung could make them happy.  Keep in mind though that a fashionable and up-to-date home will attract buyers sometimes more than the “neutral” and/or “safe” home’s design.  When they think back to a home, they will remember the home that was the most beautiful…not the most neutral.

See the paper I added to this little babe's room...it is white with little glass beads for a sheer, gorgeous and light sparkly look.

For thoughts on how to hang wallpaper, check out this link for Seabrook Wallpaper’s directions.  I think they are good instructions and cover most everything.  How To Hang Wallpaper

As far as choosing paper, be aware of the scale of the print.  Smaller rooms should usually have smaller prints, larger prints for larger rooms.  Unless you want a more fun and funky look….like we wanted in the hip bath we redesigned above.  Watch for flocked papers and foils in bathrooms or areas with moisture.  While a lot of papers are tough, some can take a little less cleaning such as with surface added details like the flocking or beads, ete..  Take a chance and make a fun, gorgeous choice. If you aren’t so sure at first, try a smaller space first like a bathroom.  Get a great paper hanger, too that has done this a million times.  They know all about plumb lines, prepasted -vs- non-pasted papers, tricky areas, etc. It is money well spent.

Wallpaper question?  Let me know and shoot me a comment.  Think bigger than paint…think paper!  Send me your pics…I want to see!

Make it fab!

Jill

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Send me your comments and questions…email me!

pics by Jill Tran Interior Design and Co. and Schumacher

The Master’s Bedroom Sitting Area, BEFORE and AFTER

Generally, the Master Bedroom is the last room in the house to get any attention and this client’s home was no exception.  All of the furniture that hadn’t found a special place and the oddball pieces made their way here.  It was time for a change.

She wanted it to be feminine, but not too much.  She loved soft colors…blues especially.  This sitting room was off the Master, of which I had painted a beautiful blue, so I wanted this sitting room to have a different ratio of colors.  There was to be a space for her, one for him and comfort was of utmost importance.

Master sitting room "BEFORE"

Master sitting room "AFTER"

I was first inspired by the piece I found for the space that you can see to the right…a Chinese Chippendale frame surrounding a pair of blue birds.  It looked like a soft summer day to me, so I decided to create the “rest of the afternoon” in the space it would crown.

For him, a very comfortable chair with a good depth and handsome style.  For her, a soft loveseat to sit, curl up in or just relax.  To stretch their legs in front of the sunny window or to relax before bed, an ottoman and a half.  It will not only make sitting more enjoyable, it can hold a tray of tea or catch a book set down mid-chapter.  The old, flat carpet was replaced with a rich Oak floor under the client’s rug.  Once a mismatched space, it now is the perfect spot to share morning coffee.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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Got a comment?  Reaction?  Question?  Interior Design question…WWJD? (What Would Jill Do) Tell me what’s on your mind.  I love hearing from you!

Photos:  Jill Tran Interior Design and Co.

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