We’re Showered With Design Awards

It was an amazing evening.

I was shocked as my new business partner, Carmen Thomas and I, kept hearing my name over and over at the Design Excellence Awards by KC Magazine.  I am flattered beyond flattered and oh, so humbled. It is such a joy to have my work, time, effort, ideas and dreams recognized.  No one knows how much work an interior designer REALLY does for their clients like the people in that room.

The people I would like to thank…Everyone at KC Magazine…Katie Van Luchene, Eryn Swanson, Erin Calvin, Dara Macan, Kim Tucker and all of the other wonderful people at KC Magazine.  Thank you, thank  you.

Of course too, I would like to thank my clients because if it wasn’t for their faith in me, none of the gorgeous rooms would have happened and I wouldn’t have been standing there without my umbrella.

Thank you all so much!

Yours,

Jill

Awards from KC Magazine:

Edward Tanner for Interior Design, Lifetime achievement award

Gold:  Interior, Speciality Room

Gold:  Interior, Bathroom

Silver:  Interior, Dining/Living Room

Bronze:  Interior, Dining/Living Room

Gold:  Interior, Best Use of Art

Bronze:  Interior, Best Use of Art

Silver:  Interior, Children’s Room

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

How A Design Came Together For KC Magazine, The Living Room

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.

A "before" shot of their living room. They wanted it to be much more beautiful and special.

Another "before" shot of the space. Kerry just wasn't pleased with it. It lacked color and interest for her.

The design I created for them starts to come together with wonderful details and exquisite fabrics. Jill Tran Interior Design.

The same room completed as shot by Bob Greenspan for KC Magazine. It is colorful, interesting, beautiful, has more seating and rich in special details and features to make it wonderful! Jill Tran Interior Design

The same page from KC Magazine. Jill Tran Interior Design

Notice the rich color pops…not too much, but just enough.  The seating is comfortable and welcoming with luxurious fabrics.  The cow art was commissioned from artist Mary Ann Johnson and is of the homeowners’ farm.

Close up of KC Magazine. Jill Tran Interior Design

Me standing in the space, it is fun to enjoy it for a moment. Jill Tran Interior Design

The original shot of the space we took with the bull I found (the plan was to move him to the back hall once the other piece came in, which we did). I love the croc skull I found, too. A little rough and tumble. 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

Living Room Gold Award, Before and After

One of my favorite things to do after completing a space, is to walk around and remember what it used to be…

You can almost do that now here as well.  Isn’t it amazing the difference?

The photos here are from our gold award for the Living Room/Dining Room category for the Design Excellence Awards from the prestigious KC Magazine.  They recognize  Kansas City’s best interior designers, architects and kitchen designers with gold, silver or bronze awards in a variety of catagories for residential and commercial interior and exterior design.  It is always such an honor to have your hard work appreciated.  Thank you again, KC Mag!

"Before"

This client was ready for a complete living room transformation.  She wanted to have her sectional worked into her custom design.  Like so many, she didn’t want to get rid of her oak trim and moldings, but knew the finish looked dated.  She loved the crisp contrast between creams and blacks, but wanted a hint of color here and there.  She desired the room be warm, spacious feeling, transitional (a look between traditional and contemporary) and traditional in feel, sophisticated and friendly.

"After" my design solutions were installed by our teams.

To fulfill the client’s wishes for a space she would love, I decided some crisper lines would be an essential first step.  She loved them.  Small patterns add texture and color.  Interesting artwork in rich hues and fascinating sconces add warmth and mood for entertaining in the evenings. We exchanged the “common” lamps and accent tables with more unique and handsome pieces to give the room a memorable look.  I also chose elegant furnishings for a fuller and more complete layout.  Our design using classic lines, hues and a discerning eye have transformed her main living area into a rich, transitional room for her to enjoy every day!

"Before"

"After" my design solutions were installed by our teams.

Another view of her living space:

"Before"

"After" my design solutions were installed by our teams.

Thank you so much again KC Magazine and judges for the honors!

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)

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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

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

• 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.

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

Caught On Site!

Fun to open a great site and find myself featured on the home page.  Do check out KC Magazine…they make Kansas City cool.

Thanks, KC Mag!

-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.

Contact Jill

A Few More Pics…

Another quick mention and photo from the evening…such an honor!

I collect costume jewelry so I am a little partial to this cover.

That is me in the upper right-hand corner.