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

Read more »

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

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

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

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Make it fab!

-Jill

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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

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

***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

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

\

***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

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

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

• Click here TO VIEW JILL’S NEWEST  TIPS, ADVICE AND INSPIRATION IN HER POPULAR BLOG

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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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

• Click here TO VIEW JILL’S NEWEST  TIPS, ADVICE AND INSPIRATION IN HER POPULAR BLOG

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.

Contact Jill

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