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My Lifetime Achievement Award In Interior Design!

I cannot express how humbled I am to be awarded the lifetime achievement award from KC Magazine.  Thank you, thank you….

When people ask me what I do, it really is an easy answer;  ”I help people.  I help them to be happy!”   To get my clients to that point is a tremendous amount of work.  It is a delight to have all of those hours, weeks and months recognized by not only my clients every time we finish a space, but by such the wonderful and amazing staff at KC Magazine.

A big “Thank you!” too, to the article’s author, Kaitlin Motley.  I think you nailed it…even I couldn’t pin my style down!

 

EDWARD TANNER AWARDS – Lifetime Achievement In Interior Design

             Profile by Kaitlin Motley (as seen in KC Magazine, July 2011)

“If the Edward Tanner Award for Interior Design were to recognize achievement for a lifetime only as long as that of our Design Excellence Awards themselves, Jill Tran would still be an indisputable frontrunner.  A talent honored by the awards program all four years, Tran has established herself as a designer with a knack for transforming houses into homes.

Paying strict attention to her clients’ personalities, interests and sometimes hard-to-articulate desires, Tran has achieved what is perhaps the oxymoronic goal for every interior designer’s portfolio:  constant variety.  Armed with myriad influences and emotions suggested by her clients, Tran scours the world for unique pieces that bring everything together in nuanced harmony.  Often quirky painting or sculptures, the pieces add personality to a room and act as jumping-off point for conversation.

The anticipation of the activity and daily life that will take place in the finished rooms could be what inspires Tran to search far and wide for the eye-catching details that often punctuate her work.  She visualizes the way her clients and their guests will interact with a room to be sure no detail is overlooked.  Such was the case with this year’s winning design in the Children’s Room category (not pictured).  ”[A] custom upholstered bench was brought in to allow the little girl to climb into bed by herself like a big girl, without having to utilize a side stool for Mom nad Dad to trip over, ”  Tran says of the project.

If wedding multiple influences and personalities is the challenge for Tran, the other part of interior design seems to come naturally.  She has a trademark flair for layering interesting textures and fabrics and setting them off with bursts of color.  Tran adopts her clients’ visions and maintains their requests, but she leaves an inimitable signature behind.  In regard to Tran’s winning bathroom design (a collaboration with Lyon Design, LLC, above), DEA judge Kim Tucker notes:  ”I am in love with this vanity–and those silly, sexy legs.  The bathtub styling says:  Jill Tran.”

Tran has crafted her brand into design that is quintessentially both her own and her clients’, leaving a bit of legacy behind–just like this award’s namesake.”

 

 

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How Jill Judges The 2011 KC Home & Garden ‘Home Of The Year’ Awards

This year’s day to judge some of Kansas City’s newest homes was, sunny and full of beautiful homes.  It was again time to judge the Kansas City Home and Garden magazine’s 2011 Home of the Year awards.

It is such an honor to again be selected  as one of the judges the work of some of Kansas City’s greatest architects, builders, designers.  I know from my gold in 2008 the work that goes into each submission. The homeowner’s get just as excited.  It is a day to see who was able to do the most with what they had to work with, and how far the bar will be raised, again.
Each year, we are sent in small teams to a variety of homes all over the city in different categories.  The entries are submitted by the homeowners, architects, builders and designers and must be brand-spanking new.
I take the job very seriously.  This year, the 5 properties I judged were from all over the city and all different styles, shapes and sizes!  It is like comparing apples to bananas to oranges.  How do I choose?  Very carefully and thoughtfully…
My team and I had great discussions about which home should win!  My personal criteria?
  1. • I look for unusual and unexpected design solutions that work beautifully
  2. • Note smooth layouts
  3. • Search for special details (especially those that work for the land or homeowner specifically)
  4. • Examine quality of materials and craftsmanship
  5. • Reward green design
  6. • Want thinking outside of the box (instead of a “me too” design) that ultimately adds value to the property and/or the lives of those that will live there
  7. • Notice location
  8. • Judge the overall feel and look of the space. Not only must the home’s design work, it must be outstanding.
I ask myself:
  1. • Did the architect waste space or leave any small, funny areas the homeowners won’t know what to do with?
  2. • Were the niches, built-ins and/or lighting intended to be centered but didn’t quite make it?
  3. • Is the interior cabinet hardware going to last or did the builder cut a corner where no one would look?
  4. • What about window placement?  Vent placement?
  5. • Does the entry have a “WOW” feel?
  6. • Does the exterior complement the land and interior?
  7. • How would someone live in the space and make it their own?
  8. • Were the designers innovative while respecting the style of the structure?
  9. • Were their solutions unique, without going into Oddville?
  10. • Is the selling price appropriate?
The categories are perfectly arranged (I don’t know how Andrea Darr and Brooke Pearl organize this every year) so the judges can make sharp choices as we drive to each structure, critiquing and taking detailed notes as we go.
What does the competition do for you?  It encourage the designers and builders in KC to constantly question their work, push themselves, explore and stay current with trends, materials and procedures.  It matters.
See the KCH&G issue now and  judge for yourself!

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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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How A Design Came Together For KC Magazine, The Den

There is nothing better than wonderful, kind clients.  Those fabulous people that appreciate great design and want to surround themselves with it to make every day better for themselves.  This couple was no exception!

Once frustrated, Kerry and Mike Helmuth turned to me for wonderful design solutions.  Their home needed some TLC and a plan.  Once I discovered the direction they wanted to go with their home’s design, the challenge began.  How to combine a cowboy feel with Country French using greens and a bright color pop here and there?  More seating was a priority, too, but of course, not too much stuff.  Less is more, but sometimes, you just have to break the rules.  But when?  Now.

See the full KC Magazine issue as a pdf



Cover of KC Mag Jill Tran Interior Design's work is featured in.


Assignment
These clients liked little about this room before we began and needed to keep the wainscoting and sofa. “Just make it not so depressing.”  They enjoy horses, own a ranch and asked for a more masculine, comfortable feel.

Challenges
There were several challenges in transforming this space, not the least of them blending two different aesthetic tastes in the overall design.  Large doorways gave the clients no privacy during late evenings OR early mornings.  To establish privacy and a warm, comfortable feel, drapes from another room were “recycled and reinvented” to serve as flexible screening.   The architecture of the room is somewhat odd and creates an awkward traffic flow, proving difficult to lay out in a way for a couple with different relaxation habits.  But after installing a new design and some better lighting, it became the perfect place for reading, watching the news or enjoying a conversation.

Innovations
An oversized dog painting, a zinc horse statue, and a custom velvet lamp shade were also added to amplify the character of a room transformed from cold and odd to warm and personable.




The Den "before". Dark and cold with an odd layout. A tough space to work with!





The design I created for them is starting to come together. They are so pleased and excited! It will be gorgeous. Jill Tran Interior Design





Their den is complete! Photographed here by Bob Greenspan for KC Magazine. It is now warm, inviting, perfect for enjoying and special. Jill Tran Interior Design





The other half of the open KC Magazine. Jill Tran Interior Design





Close up of KC Magazine. Jill Tran Interior Design



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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

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My Own Holiday Decor…Non-Traditional And Happy

It’s October 1st and time to think about the winter holidays!?!  Well that is what we did when the lovely writer Gloria Gale and photographer Jason Dailey stepped into my home in JULY!  That’s right…this is what my house looked like in July of 2010.

Speaking of, many of you always ask about my own personal home and want to see what it looks like.  I wish I had more time to work on my own home but I just get too busy designing great spaces for my clients!  Here it is ready for the holidays, in July.

I do love birds and wanted to be sure to bring them into the space.  I adore the close-up Jason took of the roses and bird seed.  It is so festive, warm and sweet.

Photo shoots are always so interesting and enjoyable.  I took a quick snap here from behind the camera to let you in on the fun.


During the photo shoot. Lights, lights, lights!


Make it fab!

-Jill

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

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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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See Our National Publicity

The lovely Susan Britton, a writer for the national site The Examiner, called last month to do an article on me and my firm.  We had such a great conversation and chatted for over 90 minutes.  She herself is a designer and writes on some of the biggest interior designers and product designers in the country.  I can’t wait to read her upcoming articles as her “to-write” list coming up is amazing…but I have been sworn to secrecy!

Thank you so much, Susan!  Keep me posted!


Read the article here


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Our Bronze Awarded Room…The “Befores” and “Afters”

As an interior designer in Kansas City, it is so humbling to have our firm’s work recognized.  Thank you, KC Magazine once again.

To follow is our bronze in the Living/Dining Room category.

These wonderful clients had a living room space with an awkward floor plan.  It was a long room with great windows and a magnificent view, but the room itself left something to be desired.  They wanted a sectional and great seating for entertaining.  Lighting was an issue in the evening.  She loved green so she and I decided to complement the outdoors and frame them with beautiful pieces with great lines.  The silhouettes in front of the windows needed to be sleeker pieces were what would make her happy.  All of the aging oak needed to be toned down a bit as well.


Mag cover



"Before"



"Before" See the great view?


Our design solutions?

This new area for entertaining needed some wonderful color, softness and beauty so we played up the greens, added drapes up to the crown molding and some beautiful furnishings and accents.  The original oil was commissioned and is fun, unexpected and cuts the space perfectly.  For handsome silhouettes in front of the grand windows, natural sticks, a darling lamp with a semi-opaque glass body and a “tree” table base over marble were perfect.

They are both so thrilled now with their main living space.  It was great fun to help them take a room they had no feelings for and make it wonderful for them and their family to enjoy everyday.


"After"



"After"



"After"


Make it fab!

-Jill


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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.

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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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

Click here to view Jill’s newest tips, advice and inspiration

Tell me what’s on your mind.  I love hearing from you!

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

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

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A Gold Award For A Comfortable Forest

After winning the Gold for this room from Kansas City Home Design magazine’s Design Excellence Awards, I received a lot of questions so I thought I would answer some of them here!

I always try and bring the outdoors inside as it is important not only for the sake of an interior design but for good health.  Whether it be stone, trees, marble, cotton, silk, shaped woods, metals, etc., such materials promote a hearty closeness with nature and an opposition to the slick materials man has created.  Even Fung Shui encourages using those elements for a balanced life.

I always try to look at a space with new eyes and thought with this room, ‘Who said these bookshelves had to be used for books?’  With that, we ripped them out and brought the outdoors in.

Screen shot 2009-11-21 at SaturdayNov 212.16


"BEFORE"

"BEFORE"


The stone fireplace was a work of art hidden behind a wall, ordinary shelves and a dull palette. The unusual solution for a couple that loves the outdoors?


"BEFORE"

"BEFORE"


Bring the outdoors in!  Birch, oak and walnut trees now complement the natural beauty and colors and veins of the rock. The tree’s hand-made leaves colored in coppers, golds and silvers echo the metallic embroidered silk drapes and luxurious custom love seats. Now let it rain or snow outside all it wants.


"AFTER"

"AFTER"


To create your own oasis plan a natural stone wall or floor for rich texture for the eyes and feet.  For placement, let the rock ‘speak’ to the stonemason.  In this room, I used soft cottons and lush silks to contrast the roughness of the stones.  For depth and a directional change, real trees, grasses and twigs add a fascinating interest and color.  If you choose to do the same, just be sure your pieces are free of any critters.  Though Fung Shui encourages live plants in all rooms, I think dried naturals can be beautiful in addition to.

DSC_0238

Bring in a bowl of beautiful rocks, shells, small sticks or pinecones you have collected.   Let your children add to the bowl so they can contribute and increase their observation skills while playing in the sun.


I found this head of Quin Yin while shopping with my friend in Seattle. Carried her home on the plane. She is 45 pounds and just fit under the seat in front of me.

I found this head of Quin Yin while shopping with my friend in Seattle. Carried her home on the plane. She is 45 pounds and just fit under the seat in front of me.


DSC_0241


hhhhhh

DSC_0287

Detail of the hand-painted leaves.

Detail of the hand-painted leaves.


DSC_0283

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For The Baby Book; First Steps and a Design Award

The winners from the 2009 Design Excellence Awards by KC Home Design Magazine were published in their July/August issue with the fantastic finished wood cover.  I get asked quite a bit about the projects I was honored for so thought I would share them here!

A baby’s room I designed for a sweet little girl won the Silver in the Specialty Rooms category.  I am always tickled pink to watch my clients see their homes in print. They get such a kick out of it!  The big question is, “Can we enough copies for all of our friends and family?”

One copy of the mag is going straight to a little girl’s baby book. What a lovely and memorable page that will make for years to come!

Screen shot 2009-11-21 at SaturdayNov 212.16
Not available in the mag are thes “Before” and “After” shots.  Wow!!!

But before you look….

It is fun to know the client wanted to bring black into her baby’s room…AND she didn’t want a color commitment on the walls!   She wanted it to sing, “baby girl,” but not at such a high volume that it would be overwhelming.  She needed a rocker, but not the typical eye-sore rocker.  Once for storage, I saw this room needed some major changes.

My design solutions?  First, I love the challenge of making black work in a baby’s room!  I brought it into rich accent pieces that my Client can use throughout her entire home in the future, but that are soft enough for the baby room for today.  For the walls I chose a glass bead wallpaper and had panels created for a bit of sparkle and elegance.   A comfortable rocker big enough for Daddy to also sit in, soft sconces on remote control so they could be turned on and off without disturbing Baby and silk and linen drapes make even trips in the wee hours lovely.  Where is the changing table you ask?  In the armoire, of course…all tucked away.

The space is now gorgeous for Mommy to enjoy and peacefully cradle a happy child.  In the future it can even lend itself to a toddler or guest room.

 

"BEFORE" Crib corner.

"BEFORE" Crib corner.

"AFTER" Crib corner.

"AFTER" Crib corner.

"BEFORE" Storage corner.

"BEFORE" Storage corner.

"AFTER" Storage corner.

"AFTER" Storage corner.

"BEFORE" Window area.

"BEFORE" Window area.

"AFTER" Window area.

"AFTER" Window area.

"BEFORE" Empty wall.

"BEFORE" Empty wall, but nice legs!

"AFTER" Now a functional and pretty wall!

"AFTER" Now a functional and pretty wall!

I just love how this shot turned out.

I just love how this shot turned out.

I really wanted to give a baby gift so i took scraps of fabric after the drapes, chair and bedding were made and made little clothes for these sweet little bunnies I found.  The one on the right foreground I added gold wings to.

I really wanted to give her a special baby gift so I selected scraps of fabric from the drapes, chair and bedding after they were made, and created little clothes for these sweet bunnies I found. The one on the right foreground I added gold wings to.

Her little "coat" I made is from the same fabric as the crib's bedskirt. She may get a little toasty...

I added her eyelashes and her little "coat" I made is from the same fabric as the crib's bedskirt. She may get a little toasty...

Thank you again for the awards KC Home Design and such an honorable award.

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Elle Decor in Kansas City

What can we say?  We are fabulous, aren’t we?

I do love Kansas City and think this is a most flattering article published by Elle Decor.  I enjoyed our local Patricia Shackelford’s incredible ability to capture our cities graces and she did so by highlighting the best and brightest, yet not the most obvious.  Well done Patricia (she also has a great blog you just MUST see), well done!

I just had to add this to the blog one more time, but this time with regards from Margaret Russell, Elle’s Editor in Chief. Enjoy…again!

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