Our Baths Feautured In KC Home Design Magazine

The always stunning Kansas City Home Design Magazine interviewed me on bath design for this month’s issue on all of the wonderful trends and exciting ideas that are so fresh and “today.”  Such spaces can be so luxurious and beautiful.  The opportunities are limited only by your imagination!  I know you already know how important the design of your home can be to your life.  Keep in mind, the bathroom and bedroom are where you start and finish your day…how do yours make you feel?  What do you see when you open your eyes first thing?

Thank you Kansas City Home Design!

Close-up on the page...

Close-up on the page...

Make it fab!

-Jill

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Photos:  Our bath designs are featured on the pages of KC Home Design Magazine

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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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pics by Jill Tran Interior Design and Co. and Schumacher

Wallpapers Are Moving In, And I’m Loving It!

Dear Jill,

I want my living room to look great.  I am having trouble deciding between paint, faux finishes and even wallpaper???  For some reason the paper scares me a bit.  What do you think?

Love your blog and work.  Thank you very much,

Anne in KC

Hello, Anne!

I get asked this so often…but who doesn’t love a great paper?  If you are thinking about your grandmother’s kitchen, your aunt’s bathroom or the guest room in the house you grew up in, you are thinking way too long ago.

Today’s papers are gorgeous, crisp and exciting.  They add such beauty to a space.  Paint is just not cutting it anymore!

Faux Finishes -vs- Wallpaper -vs- Paint

Faux paint finishes?  My thoughts are this:  Just like with anything in life and design, there are good ones and there are bad ones.  Just be certain you truly have a talented person do your faux finishes that have done them a million times before.  I would rather see a solid paint than a bad faux.  It can be easier to strip wallpaper that has been correctly applied (using sizing first) than to sand down and paint over a faux (depending on the faux)!  Many faux finishes are stained or have the color mixed in so if one was to paint over those finishes, the paint would “fill” the small cracks and the look would be lost.

Paint is well, just paint.  Yet there is nothing like the richness of a beautiful paint job highlighting trims and architectural details. Paint is easy to change or, even paper over!  Texture should be a consideration for you with paint too as there are so many different textures now…even metallic paints.

A few well said thoughts from Seabrook papers:  With so many design options in the world of home decorating today, why use wallpaper? Besides the obvious beauty that wallpaper brings to a home, the practicality of its durability and cleanability is a definite bonus in adorning your walls. Wallpaper is the single most effective way to change a room’s decor. By simply applying paper to a wall, elegant design is instantly present in your home to enrich your living quarters and your everyday experience. While wallpaper has astonishing historical relevance, it is also completely en vogue for today’s home fashions. Artistic designs and contemporary color palettes will enhance your home’s interior and ultimately contribute to the value of your home.

The opportunity to add depth, complex textures, intricate patterns, and varied colors is easily achieved when you choose to use wallpaper. Modern technology has integrated sophisticated printing techniques into today’s wallpaper, providing everyone with the chance to incorporate stunning art into their homes. The colors and patterns of wallpaper can subliminally affect your emotional well-being and attitude, adding a boost of energy, serenity, or cheer to your daily living.

Much attention has been turned to our children’s’ rooms within the world of interior design. Pattern is very important in decorating for children because of the repetition within a design. This repetition, or rhythm, of a pattern promotes problem solving and gives the child a sense of stability. Many visual learning aids have been combined into the designs of Seabrook’s recent children’s lines.  Yet another reason to use wallpaper in a child’s room is the inherent durability and ease of cleaning – always welcome where kids are concerned!

Add to your individuality by choosing a wallpaper pattern that is particularly suited to you, and watch your home transform into a one-of-a-kind backdrop that is a reflection of your life!

So, Anne….I vote wallpaper!  Just find a really great one!

Next blog:  How to choose wallpaper and install it correctly.

In the meantime, make it fab!

-Jill

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More blogs by Jill on Wallpaper, click here. Jill Tran is a Kansas City Interior Designer and creates beautiful, custom interiors for Kansas City Interior Design clients and clients around the country.

Additional Tips On Hanging Art And Mirrors

In my previous blog, I explained how to know how high to hang art and mirrors.  So what if you have a group or a small crowd?  How can you hang them all right the first time?

As easy as it is to put 5 million little holes in the wall, it is easy to hang a group perfectly (it may take a second at first, but preparation is everything).  Simply make a paper pattern by outlining each frame on a large piece of newspaper.  From there, gently tape them onto the wall to form a lovely grouping.  Now you have a template.

If you have different sizes, an effective way to make them look nice (and not so crazy) is to line them up along some edges.  For example, notice in the group below how the tops, bottoms or sides of 2 or more of the frames line up to form a line or “row.”  This helps your eye to grace over the art itself and not get stuck on the pattern the frames make.

A great grouping...how to hang them all perfectly the first time? Read on.

Your hardware:

Wires can be weaker on the back of a piece, yet they offer your art freedom to move (not always a good thing).  They make straightening and centering a piece much easier once it is up.  Wire hangers also tilt your piece off the wall…sometimes too much, which can not look so good.  This is especially true if you approach the piece from the side as you enter the room.

Me giving a final straightening to an oil. For this frame, a wire hanger on the back was the best choice.

Instead of the wire on the back, try D-rings on each side of the piece individually screwed into the frame.  Having the piece attached to the wall in 2 places keeps it close to the wall, straight and if one side were to “give way,” hopefully, the other side would hold to keep your piece from crashing to the floor.  Like a little insurance policy.

For very heavy pieces, get an engineer! and/or a friend.  Get help with lifting them on and off a wall.  Always go into the studs with wood screws or nails.  When in doubt, use a larger anchor.

Some hanging of art is a feat of engineering. You have to plan on pieces getting knocked into or touched and adjust your plan accordingly.

A good distance to light a piece from is 8 feet away…provided it is in the space that a viewer will not cast a shadow while admiring it.

...and now that I have given you the basic rules of hanging artwork, I am going to shake things up a bit with this lovely room. The height of this artwork breaks all the rules yet is fun.

Happy picture hanging!

READ MORE ON HANGING ARTWORK AND MIRRORS, click here

Make it fab!

-Jill

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Thanks to homedesignfind.com, blog.mlive.com and apartmenttherapy.com

When And Where To Hang Your Artwork (And Crooked Can Be Perfect)

There is nothing like a piece of artwork, a mirror or other item (like a tapestry) floating in the middle of a wall.  I believe one of the most common mistakes in a home is the height at which artwork is hung.  Everyone feels driven to hang their artwork for the L.A. Lakers’ to view…a little too high!  Hello, most of us are down here!

Keep the pieces "grounded" to what is around them. The cabinet "grounds" the piece it is supporting and the pieces on the wall "hold" each other with the "center" of the grouping being about 57" off the floor.

The most basic rule for hanging a piece is to hang the “center” of the piece about 57″ off the floor (not the trim top but the floor). This lets the piece be a part of the group that it is “topping off.”  If over a sofa, the piece  needs to look like it is “with” the sofa and belongs there.

I had this piece hung immediately over the sofa. In this way, it was low enough to be at a good viewing level, was "anchored" to the sofa and high enough not to cover the beautiful frame.

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule:

If you or someone living in the space are quite tall, be sure to accommodate.  For example, a tall man should be able to see his entire face in a larger mirror so you may need to raise the piece accordingly.

Odd-shaped or over-sized pieces can be tricky.  To determine the height to hang such a piece, you may need to use an artistic eye.

Be sure and watch how a piece is leveled, too.  While hanging a large mirror in New York recently, we actually had to hang it crooked.  Why?  The ceiling and trim were crooked.  That is what your eye will compare it to so you must bow down to the architecture.  We generally use a level and laser when hanging, but sometimes, even the best technology can not accommodate for what the human eye accepts.

An example that sometimes you just need to use an "artful eye" to hang larger pieces is above. I love these pieces and wanted them to hang with the heads of the dancers at eye-level so your first feeling of walking into the space was of movement and dance.

I will address how to hang pieces in my next blog.  Good luck and remember, keep your pieces low and “grounded” with is going on around them…even if that is just the floor.

When you think height, think Heinz – Heinz 57, Baby!  NOW you’ll remember…57″.

57" is the magic height.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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Thanks to 3.bp.blogspot

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

Swatch Botch? How To Choose Paint Colors

Dear Jill,
I love the colorful rooms I see in magazines but when I try to imitate them I fall short.   My house now looks embarrassing. Should I just go all beige?  Help!
– Leslie in Overland Park, KS

BEFORE: From gold to a...

AFTER: ...soft, jeweled turquoise.

Hi Leslie,
What?! Beige—in Kansas City?  We may be famous for fountains, but there’s nothing watered down about our color palette…intense KC Royals blue, hot red KC Chiefs, and lush green Corporate Woods. (Even Andre’s chocolate brown can be intense!) But I understand your frustration.

Wall color is a difficult part of a design.  It is easy to fall in love with all the pretty color squares at the paint store only to have them scream “juvenile!” once they expand to fill your walls. Poorly chosen paint can give you that sick feeling in your stomach when you first step back to admire the room and realize you made a big fat faux pas.

Just differentiating paint colors is a job in itself. When swatches are side-by-side on a paper strip, your eye naturally compares one color to the next, which can be misleading. Just as you don’t want to stand by the best-looking person in the room (unless he or she is your date,) you need to separate your final color selections from each other to see the value and shade each truly offers.

BEFORE: From a light gold to a...

AFTER: ...striking, bold red.

Remember also that when the breakfast bowls are put away and the evening cocktails come out, there is a rebirth for all wall colors.  Each phase of daylight (and moonlight!) will completely change how a color dresses your walls. Shadows, light sources and reflections conspire to create a very different wall color at dusk—one you might relate to as you would an ogre or as a handsome man in a three-piece suit.  (No offense to Shrek, but I say pick the latter and head down to the Capital Grille!)

But all beige?  Please don’t.  You must be subscribing to the “neutral” myth, one I’m convinced was created by fearful real estate agents who needed something to tell tacky home sellers.  I once created a red and green interior for a home in Brookside that turned out stunning! (No, it didn’t look like Mrs. Claus lived there.) When it came time to sell, the Realtor® was scared of the color. I insisted the house was to remain as painted and suggested he increase the asking price. After he politely said I was a nut job, he raised the price to prove his point.  The client had four offers in three days—all for full price.

BEFORE: From an olive green to an...

AFTER: ...unexpected and striking black.

Often color is compromised when building a custom home and the colors are chosen before anyone has a visual reference.  With an exhaustive amount of decisions to make during construction, many people feel overwhelmed and they settle on beiges or off-whites and hope for the best.  A better idea is to complete the design plan once the blueprints are drawn. In doing so, superior colors and materials for the walls and other surfaces can be properly chosen the first time.  Too often, people lose sight of the final product in such a detailed process.  But if they are spending a fortune to create their dream home…is plain vanilla the best answer?   “Neutrals” can be very unflattering to skin tones as well.  I can’t remember the last time I told my girlfriend, Jean, “the dress I am wearing to the party is Johnson County Beige” or “your engagement ring is lovely—it’s so neutral!”

BEFORE: From a worn red to a...

AFTER: ...fresh, peaceful space to study.

But by now you may be asking yourself what the alternative may be. I submit this idea: think about the colors you are drawn to over and over again in all aspects of your life.  Have faith and trust your instincts. Don’t be seduced by the painful logic, “If you don’t like the color, then just paint it again!”  Now really, my friends, who wants to paint twice?  To get it right the first time, separate and hang your color options on the wall.  I recommend using larger swatches (obtained through a reputable dealer or by calling the paint manufacturer.)  Study them day and night; move them around; take them all down and view each one at a time.  And one more trick: make your final color decision AFTER the rest of the room is designed. You can tweak wall colors very easily, but that beautiful heirloom chaise you plan to recover –in a smashing flame stitch, of course—only works with so many hues.  Just remember:  fabrics and furniture first, lighting and accessories second, carpet and paint last.  Don’t chicken out on me, Leslie.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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Lamps! How Do You Pick? Ask Jill…

Hey, Jill!

I have been wanting to find some really pretty lamps for my living room.  I have gone all over the city only to be disappointed.  I never found any lamps that really caught my eye and of the few that I liked a little, how do I know which shapes and sizes are best? Help!

—Ashley in Overland Park, KS

Ashley!  Lamps are the light of your life…what would we do without them?  You are right to keep searching…I am a believer in only buying things that are truly fantastic or you will never be happy you purchased them.  Keep your search going with a few items in mind:

Fantastic little lamp I found...

Where to start?  Your goals:

Will the lighting be for accenting the room, reading or task lighting?  Or frankly, do you just think a lamp would be a great accessory in an area?  If you are wanting the lamp to have a higher function (task, reading), than you need a brighter bulb and wider shade base.  You may even strongly consider a double bulb socket.  If the lamp is for accent, the wattage maximum or the size of the shade is not as important as the beauty or size of the piece.

This showroom had some unbelievable pieces and lighting.

Bulbs.

The size of your shade and the harp (the thick wire that extends from the base of the socket, over the bulb where the shade generally sits) will determine the size of your bulb.  The larger your bulb wattage, the more heat it will give off.  Therefore for safety issues, you must keep your shade far enough away from your bulb and the top of your shade must be large enough, for the rising heat to safely escape the area.  Never exceed the recommended wattage on the lamp base.  If you change the shade (a great way to update a lamp) be cautious and consult a professional if you are unclear of the proper bulb size to use with the new shade’s style.  When shopping for a new shade, keep in mind 3-way bulbs will only fit under harps that are 7.5″ or higher.  If you wish to have lighting options similar to those offered by a 3-way bulb but want a shorter shade and harp, have a dimmer socket installed.  Dimmer sockets fit standard bulb bases and can give any bulb 2 light levels.

Cute, fun floor lamp that has a double bulb socket.

Shades.

Other than what I mentioned above about safety and light bulbs, take a leap and find a great shade!  There are two kinds of shades available.  “Hard” is generally made from papers or plastics which may or may not be covered with fabric.  Hard shades are less expensive choices and generally let less light through so they can be darker. You may also recognize them as many are lined with foils. “Soft” shades are sewn in several places and are fabric on the interior and exterior.  Both have lots of color/fabric options (you can, of course, have custom shades made in your choice of fabrics) but you need to consider the color of light each will produce.  Blue shade, blue light.  That is why you see so many light/neutral fabrics on lamp shades.  Generally, more light will pass through the sides of a soft shade in a lighter fabric, so they can be brighter.

This stunning lamp I found is gorgeous, but might not be the best choice for an area that needs more light. It has a hard shade in a black fabric.

Size.

The taller the lamp, the more light it can shed….and the easier to tip over in a busy area.  Take note too of where the bulbs are when you sit.  The last thing you want is to be having a conversation in the evening, squinting.

I am studying the material of this lamp.

Materials.

In my opinion, lamps are art!  With so many options out there for lamp bases, please don’t compromise on a lamp that you are not sure about.  “Wait to find great.”  Care is generally easy with most surfaces.  Do watch for too many “pointy” (that is a professional term…ha!) items protruding out of the base as these can catch on sleeves and jewelry.

Good luck with your lamp search, Amber.  Hope this sheds some light on your task at hand.

Make it fab!

Jill

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Ask Jill: Help! My House Is Dull…

Jill,
I put my holiday decor away, and now my poor main floor looks dead.  I bought new furnishings that looked great in the showroom, but have proven to be mistakes.  I just want my home to be beautiful and romantic.  It’s still so blah.  Any ideas?  Help!
– Brianna in Fairway, KS

Brianna,
When people ask me my favorite color, the answer is easy—“sparkly!”   I bring it into rooms any time opportunity allows.  Just as I want sparkles adorning my wardrobe, I want it in my rooms…glimmering in the corner, glistening overhead, reflecting all around. Like dancing sun rays, “room jewelry” allows happiness to radiate and interiors to come alive.

Light is magic.  Think of the shimmering gilded dome of our city’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.   Imagine your dream car buffed to a mirror shine while driving beneath the Plaza lights, local fountains refracting sunlight as they magnify the wishes purchased with tossed pennies, or a new driver—polished to a tee—launching the ball at Loche Loyd.  There is nothing like brilliant, shiny and new.

Bringing that sparkle into your home requires finessing existing light sources such as windows, fixtures, lamps, and candles. Reflecting or enhancing these will provide still greater effect, so select a few ideas listed here, get engaged, and adorn, adorn. One way to do this is to enhance the walls themselves. Today’s metallic paints and foiled wallpapers offer options in color, pattern and surprising zing. Some papers even feature tiny glass “beads” that reflect light and change their shade as you move about the room.

Windows offer the opportunity for natural light, so OPEN THEM!  It always amazes me when driving around such a beautiful city that so many homes have their windows—and window treatments—closed all day, all year.  Let the sun kiss your face and invite nature to join your lifestyle. Then enhance your windows with great drapes.  Try fabrics accented with metallic threads, beading, reflective embroidery details or rich, lush silks (any silks should be interlined to help prevent sun damage).   Add a “necklace” to your window with fringes bursting with beads and crystals.  You can echo the effect with decorative pillows.  Don’t be stingy…make it decadent!  Instead of covering your front door’s sidelights with drapes for privacy, add stained, beveled or seeded glass panels.  Consider complementing some of the room’s sparkle with deep velvets or richly textured fabrics. They will absorb just enough light to create depth and drama.

Every well-dressed room should have a chandelier!  In gracious homes, their employment is not just in foyers and dining rooms.  Allow them to serve your bedroom, bath or even your closet (your shoes and jewelry will sparkle, too!) Add bobeches (the small glass or metal dishes that appear to support the chandelier’s candles) adorned with beads, pearls or crystals.  Even changing your bulbs to the crystal clear style or a brighter wattage can add sparkle.  On your lamps, change the finial at the top to crystal.  Add a pair of sconces that flank your mantle and dangle still more jewelry from their arms.

To add some dazzle to your furnishings, consider polished upholstery tacks, decorative trims or new drawer and cabinet pulls.  New doorknobs for each room are a nice detail that can also enhance exterior doors.  When changing an exterior handle, replace or add a new kick plate to match.

Punctuate your mirrors with metallic frames and beveled edges. Place them so they are opposite a window or other light source to double the brightness. Artwork behind standard glass can emulate a mirror and can be used to your advantage in the same way—in most cases, clear or museum glass is preferable anyway.

Of course, accessories offer lots of opportunities for sparkle.  Crystal, glass, and metal objects reflect light, and can refresh a tired table or shelf.

After you have adorned your interior and adjusted the lighting, treat yourself to a romantic dinner.  Your home will now have something in common with our city’s twinkling lights as witnessed from the Hyatt’s Skies or the shimmering sculpture in its lobby. Or better yet, eat THERE (or your own special place) and return to your nest for a night cap. And just as you’re melting into your loved one’s arms, catch a glimpse of your room’s new jewelry—and the sparkle that matches the twinkle in his eye.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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A Fun Resolution For You And Your Home

Take a group of “BEFORE” shots of your entire home!  As your life shifts and changes, as your family grows, as you make your home more beautiful, there is nothing more fun than seeing the changes…measuring them.  Pulling out the “BEFORE” photos can do that!  See how far you have decided to come.  Another hint: take them with children or grandchildren in the shot for yet another measure of time.  Try it!

I want to share with you to see a few of my “BEFORE” and “AFTER” shots here.  It is so fun for me to see the changes, look back and appreciate all of my work and planning.  What a difference!  Enjoy!

Happy New Year!!!!!

-jill

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Before You Move Art Into Your Home, It Should Move You

People ask me all the time about how to select art for their home.  I have one answer, it must “move” you!

I am not a big believer that art must “match” a room.  One thing I love in a great interior design, is when art stands on it’s own.  It makes a statement.  It tells us something about the owner.  We, as humans, are all multi-dimensional and our art and rooms should reflect who we are.

The photos below are a small series of me looking at a piece I fell in love with at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art.  It is privately owned piece by the Kemper family created by Joan Mitchell, is an oil on canvas and untitled…so I guess I won’t be bringing it home (I am wiping a tear…).  I think it is spectacular.  To someone else, it may be the opposite.  Yet, it was teaching me something about myself and what I naturally am drawn to, so the next piece I purchase may be a little different. That is what makes art so great.  Art influences us and makes us feel something.   Doubtful there will ever be one piece everyone will like…and I love that.

The basic bottom lines for choosing art is to purchase only what you love.  If it “haunts” you after you have seen it, then it should be yours (unless the Kemper’s already own it, ha!)  Don’t just purchase to fill a space, fill your soul.

There are many other things to consider when purchasing art of which I will touch on soon.  Stay tune and keep your eyes open for your next great piece.