Tran+Thomas Interior Design » Designer Tips

Trend Series: Yellow & Orange

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 22:48:22 +0000

If you’re looking for an easy way to update your house, color can quickly inject some life into your space. Two of the hottest shades this year, yellow and orange, bring to mind citrus and sunshine. This week, we wanted to give you a few, simple tips for each color. Whether you’re comfortable going bold or would prefer a neutral palette, there’s a way for you to bring these hues into your home.

YELLOW
How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun. -Vincent Van Gogh

When it comes to the color psychology of yellow, it’s often described as cheery and warm. But, be warned. It’s said to create feelings of frustration and anger. People are more likely to lose their tempers in yellow rooms, and babies tend to cry more. However, we can’t picture anyone flipping a table in this dining room.

But, it’s not all bad. Yellow can increase the metabolism. Is anyone else getting ready for swimsuit season?

Since yellow is the most visible color, it is also grabs the most attention. Use it in small doses to draw focus, like a traffic sign or in advertisements.

Not sure how to use yellow? Try it with white. The combination is classic and beautiful. We think pale yellows can make a room feel wonderful, bright and sunny. It’s very pretty with lots of natural light.

ORANGE
Orange is very blatant and vulgar. It makes you immediately start having feelings.–Wolf Kahn

A combination of yellow and red, orange is considered an energetic color. It can call to mind feelings of excitement, enthusiasm and warmth. As a matter of fact, tangerine was named color of the year. I wonder if it gets a crown.

Like yellow, orange is also used to draw attention. It is a wonderful accent color and in a way, is refreshing. There is something very citrus about orange, and to us, it’s a very happy color.

That being said, orange is a more aggressive shade with lots of energy. We wouldn’t typically use it in kids’ rooms, as it could make settling down more difficult. However, it can be quite lovely kitchens.

Trend Series: Steampunk

admin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:54:55 +0000

Steampunk, a blend of vintage, Victorian style and today’s technology, has found its way into the interior design world. Wonderfully bizarre and alluring, the style is best known for oddly beautiful objects, art and rooms. If you were throwing a dinner party and Steampunk was a guest, it would be the person telling interesting, somewhat unbelievable stories.

Though you may be unfamiliar with the term, you’ve probably seen the look. Movies like Hugo and The Golden Compass draw on this design sense. Think science fiction meets the Industrial Revolution.

The concept has been around since the 1980’s, but it’s recently become one of the hot, new trends for 2012. By taking elements from the Victorian era and mixing them with current technology, Steampunk can be described as pure fantasy. Still not sure? We’ve included photos from fashion, as well as interior design to give you a clearer picture.

Incorporating this look into your home is fairly simply. Start by looking for items using machines, wood, cogs, polished metals, rivets and leather straps in unique ways.

Steampunk spaces reflect a mix of old and new…machine and steam. An example of a new “classic” is this crystal chandelier within the metal sphere. This piece would be absolutely stunning in any space.

Here’s a second example using metal steins.

No matter how you decide to use it in your home you can be assured the result will be visually stunning and unexpected, which quite frankly, is how we’d like to be described.

T + T on Trends

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:01:13 +0000

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been sitting in our studio drinking cocoa spiked with cinnamon and cooking up ideas for our blog. In between installations and design meetings, we decided to do a trend series over the next few months and couldn’t be more excited about it. Although we touched on trends in our International Furniture & Accessories Market recap, this upcoming series will be much more in-depth. In each post, you’ll find tips on how to incorporate these new elements into your home or business, along with plenty of eye candy.

We’ve developed a great line-up with our thoughts on wallpaper, steampunk and pattern to start. That being said, we will take breaks from trends occasionally to talk about other time sensitive, world threatening issues, like master bedrooms for Valentine’s Day or outdoor spaces this spring. Things will get pretty spicy.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, “I don’t want to miss a single installment of this exciting series.”

Well, you don’t have to. Look for new post announcements on our Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin pages, and feel free to drop us a line. We can’t wait to hear your favorite trends and insightful musings.

Cheers!
Jill & Carmen

Rolling Out the Red Carpet

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:04:31 +0000

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

But to create a truly luxurious retreat, try these extras:

Fragrant flowers
Mouthwash
A new toothbrush and toothpaste
Candy and/or mints
A small radio or stereo
Snacks and/or bottled water
A coffee pot and accessories complete with a small, laminated card on how to make the best cup in town
A sewing kit
Magazines
A journal and beautiful pen
A small selection of essential oils (Some of our favorites are rosemary, eucalyptus and lavender.)

Assorted teas or hot chocolate
A candle on a beautiful plate with matches
A miniature tree or special soaps for the holidays

To Market, To Market

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:56:24 +0000

This November, we went to the International Furniture & Accessories Market in North Carolina to scope out new trends and collect pieces for our clients. Walking from booth to booth, we chatted up furniture, accessory and rug designers to get a clearer picture of how the industry is doing, where it’s going and what is fading out, along with what’s coming down the pipeline. Think of us as interior designers and detectives. Sitting on our favorite vendors’ pieces and touching all of the new items tells us more about how something could work in a client’s home than any number of pictures could.

Every year, we learn a lot at market, but trust us, it’s completely earned. For five days, we spend our time scouring miles and miles of home furnishing offerings. In addition to some killer calves, we always come back with tips on what is hot in home interior design. We’re so excited to share our finds with you and won’t even make you walk a mile first. Here’s our top 16 trends:

1. Steampunk

2. Wallpaper is hot, hot, hot, and it is nothing like what you might find in your grandma’s home

3. Ikat fabric/patterns were everywhere. Houndstooth, zebras, chevron, fret, damasks, quatrefoils and burlaps are still in too.

4. Leather in lighting

5. Art deco

6. Small metal tables

7. Metal covered furniture

8. Unusual headboards

9. Bright yellows and oranges

10. American flags

11. Fun chairs with interesting backs

12. Large rug patterns

13. Tree inspirations (i.e. drift wood)

14. Little, red tables

15. Gold/gilt with older pieces and/or worn fabrics

16. Nailheads

If you’d like to read more about what our trips can be like, here’s a great article Jill wrote for KC Home Design a few years ago.

Antlers In The Mountains And Your Living Room

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:19:18 +0000

I am an animal lover. Love the deer…don’t shoot me. They are gorgeous creatures. I hope many of you agree with me.

With them shedding their antlers naturally, it is wonderful to find them for your home and make them as striking as when they crown a buck.

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

See more photos on facebook

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

Get Book Smart: How To Display Books – III of III

admin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 18:16:15 +0000

We all have them. They’re heavy, all different sizes, colors, even shapes. For the avid reader, we want to be sure and display them as a part of our home. They are our friends who remind us who we have met in stories, who we want to be and what we know. They are in a sense, who we are, so they should be a part of our space, too. They are our books.

While the digital age is only getting more sophisticated, there is solace in our reading the original copy…holding the pages in our hands on a comfortable sofa with good lighting, enjoying, even noticing the faint essence of the pages. How do we organize our paper friends in a way that allows us to enjoy their lines? Look on…

• Don’t overlook the importance of use. A benefit of stacking horizontally then placing the books on their end is they are easier to retrieve when the mood arises.

• Recover with generously decorated paper, wallpaper or wrapping paper. Fur? Leather?

• Dare I suggest spray painting?

• For books you are less fond of, remove the outer cover for texture and uniformity.

• Mix them amongst clever and inviting objects for even more interest and sophistication

• Wrap the with twine

• Bind them with buckles

• Create a color theme

• Lay them on a table

• Open them

• Display them backward

***SEE MORE GREAT BOOK IDEAS IN PART I OF III

“Like” us on facebook, won’t you!?

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

Got a comment? Reaction? Question?
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

interior designer, home, consultant, firm, ideas, photos.

“After” my design solutions were installed by our teams.

Get Book Smart: How To Display Books – II of III

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:43:47 +0000

• Don’t overlook the importance of use. A benefit of stacking horizontally then placing the books on their end is they are easier to retrieve when the mood arises.

• Recover with generously decorated paper, wallpaper or wrapping paper. Fur? Leather?

• Dare I suggest spray painting?

• For books you are less fond of, remove the outer cover for texture and uniformity.

• Mix them amongst clever and inviting objects for even more interest and sophistication

• Wrap the with twine

• Bind them with buckles

• Create a color theme

• Lay them on a table

• Open them

• Display them backward

***SEE MORE GREAT BOOK IDEAS IN PART III OF III

“Like” us on facebook, won’t you!?

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

Got a comment? Reaction? Question?
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

Get Book Smart: How To Display Books – I of III

admin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:56:54 +0000

• Don’t overlook the importance of use. A benefit of stacking horizontally then placing the books on their end is they are easier to retrieve when the mood arises.

• Recover with generously decorated paper, wallpaper or wrapping paper. Fur? Leather?

• Dare I suggest spray painting?

• For books you are less fond of, remove the outer cover for texture and uniformity.

• Mix them amongst clever and inviting objects for even more interest and sophistication

• Wrap the with twine

• Bind them with buckles

• Create a color theme

• Lay them on a table

• Open them

• Display them backward

***MORE BOOK IDEAS, SEE PART II

“Like” us on facebook, won’t you!?

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

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

Photos: Jill Tran Interior Design

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

Invitation To Hear Me Share Holiday Decor Ideas As Guest Speaker At KC’s Central Exchange Tomorrow

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:22:38 +0000

Come out for a wonderful lunch, some fantastic ladies and catch the spirit of the season with our slide show and demonstrations. You are sure to leave inspired and with many ideas to make your entertaining even more festive and fun! 11:45 – 1:15

You must register with the Central Exchange or call 816-471-7560.

See “Upcoming Programs” a this link to Central Exchange: Bring the Spirit of the Season into your Home

Link for logged in CX members

I hope to see you there!

jill