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

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***MORE BOOK IDEAS, SEE PART II

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Make it fab!

-Jill

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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.

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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

Sparkle For The Holidays And New Year: Part II of IV

The little girl in me (and the big girl too, for that matter) just loves sparkle and shine.  Below are some fantastic lighting pieces, pendants and chandeliers that make my eyes get big and bring a smile to my face.  I loved stuffed animals as a child too, of course, but nothing made me stare, gaze longer and jump up and down than glass and crystal that caught my eye.  Santa, can you bring one to everyone please?

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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.

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Sparkle For The Holidays and New Year: Part I of IV

The little girl in me (and the big girl too, for that matter) just loves sparkle and shine.  Below are some fantastic lighting pieces, pendants and chandeliers that make my eyes get big and bring a smile to my face.  I loved stuffed animals as a child too, of course, but nothing made me stare, gaze longer and jump up and down than glass and crystal that caught my eye.  Santa, can you bring one to everyone please?

“Like” 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. of product we carry.

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

2011 Color Forecast

It is that time of year again…the time to improve, renew and make better.  Your home should be a huge part of that.

Sherwin Williams‘ 2011 color forecast is here.  Tell me what you think.  I hope you are inspired and moved to make some positive changes in your life that will bring you years of joy to come and not just 2011.  To a wonderful 2011 for you and yours.  May it be your most wonderful, prosperous and fun year yet!

READ HOW TO PICK YOUR PAINT COLOR

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Make it fab and good luck picking the right color for you!

-Jill

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

Tell me what you think of these.  Do they inspire you?

Photos: Sherwin Williams

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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interior designer, home, consultant, firm, ideas, photos.

“After” my design solutions were installed by our teams.

Happy Halloween! Trick Or Treat For Eye Candy

A little spray paint, some jewels, a martini and some patience...

Have a fun and safe holiday!

-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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Inspiring Design In Fall Colors: Part I of III

There is nothing like spectacular design…it make you feel good.  For example, how do these designs make you feel?  They are from the historic Greystone Estate in Beverly Hills and was Veranda’s third show house.  Such gentle fall colors here.  I thought the time seemed right to share these with you.

***SEE PART II OF THIS SERIES click here

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Photos:  Veranda

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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“After” my design solutions were installed by our teams.

New York Apartment, Before And After

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

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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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.

Wallpaper How-To’s…How To Make It Gorgeous!

While the thought of wallpaper makes some people scream, for you, I hope it will bring squeals of delight!  It is back in full force and with so many gorgeous papers out there to choose from, they are just starting to make just paint look, well, not as exciting.  Why not have the best?

After hearing what my readers think about wallpaper, most of us hear “wallpaper” and our minds automatically go back to some very dated looks.  Think TV.  You all mentioned All In The Family, Dallas, Everybody Loves Raymond, Eight is Enough, Family Ties and Growing Pains?  Sooooo yesterday with those set looks, right?!  Today papers are showing up in grand spaces on shows of all kinds.  They are now in young hip shows.  The Apprentice and America’s Next Top Model.  Ant those are just a few.  Of course, paper never left some of the grandest homes I have had the pleasure of seeing in person.  Papers make spaces so amazing.

Another fear I am finding from my readers is not putting the paper up, but taking it down.  To remove it right, the walls must be sized first.  Sizing is similar to applying paint.  It rolls on.  It holds the paper tight to the walls, yet releases it the day you want to change the wall’s surface again.

As far as resale for a home, telling the buyer the walls were properly sized before the paper was hung could make them happy.  Keep in mind though that a fashionable and up-to-date home will attract buyers sometimes more than the “neutral” and/or “safe” home’s design.  When they think back to a home, they will remember the home that was the most beautiful…not the most neutral.

See the paper I added to this little babe's room...it is white with little glass beads for a sheer, gorgeous and light sparkly look.

For thoughts on how to hang wallpaper, check out this link for Seabrook Wallpaper’s directions.  I think they are good instructions and cover most everything.  How To Hang Wallpaper

As far as choosing paper, be aware of the scale of the print.  Smaller rooms should usually have smaller prints, larger prints for larger rooms.  Unless you want a more fun and funky look….like we wanted in the hip bath we redesigned above.  Watch for flocked papers and foils in bathrooms or areas with moisture.  While a lot of papers are tough, some can take a little less cleaning such as with surface added details like the flocking or beads, ete..  Take a chance and make a fun, gorgeous choice. If you aren’t so sure at first, try a smaller space first like a bathroom.  Get a great paper hanger, too that has done this a million times.  They know all about plumb lines, prepasted -vs- non-pasted papers, tricky areas, etc. It is money well spent.

Wallpaper question?  Let me know and shoot me a comment.  Think bigger than paint…think paper!  Send me your pics…I want to see!

Make it fab!

Jill

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pics by Jill Tran Interior Design and Co. and Schumacher

Hanging With ‘Momma Said’ Blogger, Jen Singer

While at the Kansas City’s Central Exchange downtown last week (of which I am a member), I met fellow blogger of Momma Said, Jen Singer.  Now granted, she blogs about being a mom (and is quite funny!) and not interior design, yet being a mother myself and designing spaces for little ones, I wanted to share the moment with you. She was funny, charming and strong with her points…my kind of gal!

Jen Singer and myself

I constantly am designing with clients’ kiddos in mind.  I enhance spaces for children living their little lives while sharing the same spaces with family that loves them so.  As people ask Jen to share her funny stories of kids and parenting, people ask me how to help make their homes more enjoyable and easier with kids.  It can be done!

Thought this was a funny pic from Avanti...we have all thought about doing this at one point, right?

I wanted to repeat here my blog on designing for kids and pets so many of us are blessed with.  The link is below.  All those little feet and paws running all over our house…marking the carpets, chewing the furniture and wiping food on the wall…aren’t they precious?!  So messy, silly and lovable all at the same time.  I just got a call today to help replace a cushion that was the main course for a client’s dog.  Life happens.  Kiss all of your kids!

A Beautiful Home With Pets And Children? Yes!

And another blog on a baby’s room:

For The Baby Book; First Steps and a Design Award

Make it fab!

-Jill

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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