Birds, Birds and More Birds! What’s Hot!

First off, I have to apologize for not blogging in a month.  I have been SWAMPED with work and am so thankful to all of you for so much great opportunities to make people’s homes amazing right now.  During that time, too…was the High Point Furniture and Accessory Market.  What fun!

A darling headboard.

What was hot at the High Point Market?  Well the title pretty much sums it up….flocks and flocks of birds!  I will show you all of the gorgeous goodies I found for the next several weeks so you are up to speed on what is the latest of the greatest.

Birds on lamps, birds on fabrics, chairs, tables, artwork.  Is there anything I missed?  Enjoy!

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Make it fab…or don’t bother!

-Jill

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Photos:  Jill Tran Interior Design and Co.

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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.

More NYC Apartment “BEFORE” and “AFTER” Photos

There is nothing more fun to me than New York City.  The lights, the people, the design.  It is so exciting!

These NYC 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, our New York…mod!

Click here to view the first blog in which I shared this apartment with you.  There you can see more “BEFORE” and “AFTER” photos of the kitchen, hall and landing of this cool apartment.

"BEFORE"

"DURING"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"AFTER"

"BEFORE"

"AFTER"

WANT TO SEE THE OTHER “BEFORE” AND “AFTERS OF THIS SAME APARTMENT?

Click here to view the first blog in which I shared this apartment with you.  There you can see the kitchen, hall and landing of this cool apartment.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

Share your comments?  Reactions?  Questions?

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

Photos:  Jill Tran Interior Design and Co.

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.

Down On Broadway

While in New York last month, I had the pleasure of being in the Bernard Jacobs Theater.  We saw  Gods of Carnage…funny and surprising.  I was especially fond of the cast we were lucky to see as it included Annie Potts from Designing Women.  It was ironic to see her perform while our staff was  there finishing up an apartment in New York.

The theater was as much eye-candy as the production.  I loved the interior architecture and details and wanted to show you, too.

Ceiling detail of quatrefoils.

The entrance...lovely.

Details on the lower level.

Looking up (and trying not to fall) as we walked in to find our seats.

Our seats were close to the stage. Looking straight up.

To the left of the stage, wow!

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

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Photos:  Jill Tran Interior Design and Co.

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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 countr

Fabulous “Everyday” Exterior Details In New York’s Upper East Side

One of the most enjoyable things about New York City to this Kansas City Interior Designer, is the opportunity to walk and admire all of the beauty of the buildings and store windows.  I love the “break” you are given to let your mind and eyes wander to all of the details each street has to offer.  As I am a willing slave to my camera, I took some shots of some of what I found inspiring.  I hope you find they bring you some joy, too.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

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

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

The Master’s Bedroom Sitting Area, BEFORE and AFTER

Generally, the Master Bedroom is the last room in the house to get any attention and this client’s home was no exception.  All of the furniture that hadn’t found a special place and the oddball pieces made their way here.  It was time for a change.

She wanted it to be feminine, but not too much.  She loved soft colors…blues especially.  This sitting room was off the Master, of which I had painted a beautiful blue, so I wanted this sitting room to have a different ratio of colors.  There was to be a space for her, one for him and comfort was of utmost importance.

Master sitting room "BEFORE"

Master sitting room "AFTER"

I was first inspired by the piece I found for the space that you can see to the right…a Chinese Chippendale frame surrounding a pair of blue birds.  It looked like a soft summer day to me, so I decided to create the “rest of the afternoon” in the space it would crown.

For him, a very comfortable chair with a good depth and handsome style.  For her, a soft loveseat to sit, curl up in or just relax.  To stretch their legs in front of the sunny window or to relax before bed, an ottoman and a half.  It will not only make sitting more enjoyable, it can hold a tray of tea or catch a book set down mid-chapter.  The old, flat carpet was replaced with a rich Oak floor under the client’s rug.  Once a mismatched space, it now is the perfect spot to share morning coffee.

Make it fab!

-Jill

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

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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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!

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.

"AFTER" Crib corner.

"BEFORE" Storage corner.

"AFTER" Storage corner.

"BEFORE" Window area.

"AFTER" Window area.

"BEFORE" Empty wall, but nice legs!

"AFTER" Now a functional and pretty wall!

I just love how this shot turned out.

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.

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.