T + T on Trends

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

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 »

Holiday Decorating – No Elves Required

With Thanksgiving behind us, we’ve started the mad dash of the holidays. It often feels like we’re running from place to place crossing items off our to do list, instead of really enjoying all the season has to offer. One of our favorite ways to celebrate is to create a safe haven at home. Arming yourselves with a few decorating tricks and lots of hot chocolate will help keep you in the holiday spirit. (At the very least, the cocoa always seems to do the trick for us.)

Read more »

Antlers In The Mountains And Your Living Room

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.

Color? Take A Kiss From Spring

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

The inspiration...

...the finish!

Follow us on facebook.

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.

Contact Jill

How To Make A Great Outdoor Living Area

Grass, mud, puddles.

We have all seen it, then been amazed as it became flowers, a fireplace….beautiful!

Outdoor areas today are much more than they used to be and can include just as many luxuries as the finest indoor kitchens.  Below is a space designed by myself and Clay Lyon of Lyon Construction.  It turned out beautifully and won us an award from KC Magazine.

To start:

• Think about how you live, cook and spend time outside.  Who is there?  How often?  What says luxury to you?
• Write down the features you want, then research them.  Like below, there is a Big Green Egg Grill, a pizza oven, fireplace, sitting areas, a swing, etc.

"During" the process. This area used to be all mud and grass. At this point, the entire outdoor living area has been through the idea phase, planned, approved and is in the middle of the installation process.

• Layout the space.  Professionals are great at this as they know all the right questions to ask.  We came up with the plan below which was perfect with how it connected to the house and how the yard worked.  Don’t forget the details that take it from average and expected to something more memorable.

"After" It is complete!

• Make it happen.  Get pros, do it yourself, do both, but do it right.  Be sure to ask lots of questions if you don’t know how to make an area work properly, efficiently or safe (think about the heat, etc.).
• Add the finishing touches…down to your choices for silverware, plates and flowers.  I loved this table and thought it was perfect for the family and their needs.  Don’t forget the invites, the pizza and the marshmallows…you have yourself an outdoor party!

• 
  

  

  The Big Green Egg! Fantastic for the outdoor chef!

  
  

Enjoyed this blog?  Follow us on facebook.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

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 – 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

“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

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

Holiday Decor Tip #8

We all love holiday decor and like every other season, your home’s decor says everything about you.  Make it look festive, together and beautiful!  I wanted to share a few fun and easy tips the last two weeks before Christmas.

May you have a great holiday and may your home be fabulous!!!  Cheers!

A favorite table centerpiece of mine is filling the middle of the table with candy, fruit and nuts. It is beautiful and when the meal is over, everyone loves to linger, laugh and nibble.

Who doesn't love the decadence of never ending chocolate? Lovely and yummy.

If you choose to share shelled nuts, don't forget to put out a nutcracker or two. It is fun to watch your family and guests interact and crack them for each other.

xoxo

Jill

“Like” us on facebook, won’t you!?

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