I was shocked as my new business partner, Carmen Thomas and I, kept hearing my name over and over at the Design Excellence Awards by KC Magazine.  I am flattered beyond flattered and oh, so humbled. It is such a joy to have my work, time, effort, ideas and dreams recognized.  No one knows how much work an interior designer REALLY does for their clients like the people in that room.

The people I would like to thank…Everyone at KC Magazine…Katie Van Luchene, Eryn Swanson, Erin Calvin, Dara Macan, Kim Tucker and all of the other wonderful people at KC Magazine.  Thank you, thank  you.

Of course too, I would like to thank my clients because if it wasn’t for their faith in me, none of the gorgeous rooms would have happened and I wouldn’t have been standing there without my umbrella.

Thank you all so much!

Yours,

Jill

Awards from KC Magazine:

Edward Tanner for Interior Design, Lifetime achievement award

Gold:  Interior, Speciality Room

Gold:  Interior, Bathroom

Silver:  Interior, Dining/Living Room

Bronze:  Interior, Dining/Living Room

Gold:  Interior, Best Use of Art

Bronze:  Interior, Best Use of Art

Silver:  Interior, Children’s Room

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

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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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These 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, New York…mod!

"DURING"

"DURING"

"AFTER"

"BEFORE"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

Click here to view the second blog in which I share this apartment with you.  There you can see more “BEFORE” and “AFTER” photos of the living room and bedroom of this cool apartment.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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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.

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

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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By Jill Tran & Co.

By Jill Tran & Co.

By Jill Tran & Co.

By Jill Tran & Co.

It will no doubt be everywhere this year!  I love that it is fun and bright. 

Photo from Pantone

-jill

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I hope you find these as uplifting as I know the color experts are hoping you do.  (I am looking forward to emerald being a top pick, but alas, will have to wait until 2011 or 2012).  I find color fascinating and the way they choose these colors constantly, even more interesting.  Did you know one of the reasons chartreuse was such a strong color influence in the home and product design, for so many years, was in strong part due to the popularity of the Shrek movies?  Pop culture, events and the health of our planet are just a few of the facts studied to predict the next hot colors.

Look for them this year….  Have a safe and Happy New Year’s Eve and New Year!!!  Cheers!

-jill

For this dining room, I chose Butter Up as shown in the color group above. Such a fantstic color! Great too, to take it from a small color chip here and see it in a full room!

Make it fab!

Jill

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May you be surrounded by love this holiday…

May it be beautiful and full of precious details, family and friends…

May your holiday be wonderful and memorable.  From the bottom of my heart, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

-jill

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These happy and bright colors make me smile!

Such colors remind me of cheerful rooms we’ve had fun doing…

-jill

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I cannot believe another Thanksgiving has come and gone!  My family and I had a lovely celebration right down to the centerpiece.  I promised I would share my table with you…

The table (covered in my grandmother’s tablecloth), was a hit as it overflowed sweet yummies and goodies.  Everyone had a favorite…blackberries, cranberries (we had fun watching the children try these!), chocolates, nuts and clementines.  Everyone just kept laughing, reminising and nibbling…

Such an “interactive” table grouping is as fun as it is beautiful.  I just love it when the conversation continues after the meal and everyone is enjoying  the jazz, each other and the decedent treats on the table.

The handle of my grandmother’s silver creamer, nestled in pecans and almonds, peaks through the fresh sage from my garden.

My good friends gave me this fascinating serving spoon a few years ago.  It is such a lovely piece with a jeweled handle.

Fresh clementines ready to cleanse the pallet and refresh the senses…

Fresh blackberries are a treat indeed, on silver.

Chocolate and toffee covered pistachios on an antique butter dish.  Need I say more?