As we’ve noted many times before, for most, the kitchen is the most popular room in the house, whether for the family or for entertaining. As we’ve also noted, however, millennials are the driving force in home sales today, and many of them are buying in urban areas where home are smaller – including the kitchen.Entertaining or congregating in such a small space can be problematic, which makes this article from Houzz.com so timely, 12 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Look and Feel Bigger.Long the universally accepted color for this space, white kitchens became a thing of the past some 25 years ago. Now though, white cabinets and walls can be used to add to the illusion of more space than exists.White kitchens seem larger (White Hamptons Style from BlogLovin.com)
While cabinet depth is generally accepted as 24 inches, most manufacturers offer alternatives: 12” and 15” cabinetry. Especially in lower cabinets, this may be a great way to add a few square feet to the available space in an urban kitchen.Install shallow kitchen cabinetry (Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford)
While many homeowners love to add fancy hardware to the cabinets in their home, for those who seek more space in their kitchen, removing the hardware altogether makes for fewer items to bump into or catch on clothing. Using cabinet doors with touch-activated latches or integrated reach-in pulls reinforces the clean lines of your new kitchen, which subtly helps it appear bigger.Try cabinets without the usual hardware (ThrivingHomeBlog.com)
Double sinks in the kitchen have long been the standard. For those seeking more countertop space, however, installing a single sink makes a great deal of sense.Single sinks save counter space (TypesofKitchenSinks.com)
Panel-ready appliances (usually fridges and dishwashers) are designed to be able to receive a door front of your choosing so they can blend into the look of your kitchen cabinets. The resulting look is more fluid, which creates an overall larger, airier appearance.Install panel appliances (DecorPad.com)
Ironic as it may seem, the place where we store so many of our fattening favorites is available in a “Skinny” size. In fact, refrigerators are available in a stunning array of sizes and taking advantage of this fact when trying to save space in a kitchen is a great idea.Try a skinny fridge (BlogLovin.com)
While these are but half of the ideas offered in the Houzz article, they should be enough to get you started thinking outside the box when it comes to trying to make your client’s small kitchen feel larger. If these are not enough, feel free to check out the article, using the link above.Looking for more new design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
How to Sell More High-End Upholstered Furniture
While upholstered furniture sales will likely generate the biggest tickets and highest revenues for your interior design business, they may not come easily. Simply presenting your offerings as “The Best” will often create a question in your client’s mind – “The best, as compared to what?” Do you have an answer for this?
Home fashion has become a rapidly shifting target, with statements ranging from traditional to transitional to contemporary. This takes place not just from client to client and from home to home, but even from room to room within the same home! Staying current with these shifting home fashion trends is a challenge that all of us must face. With the right approach, these shifting design trends can be dealt with effectively.
Descriptive Language is the Key to Luxury Furniture Sales
Capturing the imagination of your clients – and reinforcing their choices and tastes – is the key to growing your luxury furniture sales. Using descriptive language to distinguish your offerings will go a long way toward helping your clients realize that you have their best interests at heart:
- “Subtle, labor intensive decorative details include hand-sewn welting, double top-stitched seams, and pleating.”
- “Our bespoke furniture includes 8-way hand-tied and handset coil springs, as well as sustainable materials and components.”
- “Tailored from traditional materials to create a sumptuous yet modern (or contemporary) mood that speaks volumes.”
While it goes without saying that you can rarely make an overt appeal, it is also often necessary, and effective, to subtly appeal to your client’s ego; their sense of self-importance and discernment. This can often be done by engaging them in conversations that include more sensuous language, such as stylish presentations, opulence, custom tailoring, sumptuousness, gratification, curvaceous upholstery, lavish covers, artisanship, craftsmanship, bench-built, and hand-crafted.
Understanding your client’s needs, and speaking to those needs in terms that elicit an emotional response, will allow you to close more high-end upholstered furniture sales – and satisfy your client completely and repeatedly.
Farmhouse Design Ideas
From retro design to “modern,” there is a strong trend toward farmhouse design ideas in homes across the country. The reasons for this trend are as varied as the personalities involved: from those seeking a more “homey” feeling that brings back memories of times gone by, to those who find the look “kitschy” and cool.
Whatever your client’s reasons may be, being able to offer a farmhouse feeling to them may make the difference in closing a sale for your design services.
From the exterior to the interior, the farmhouse feel of a home can make a powerful statement of what the owner values. Even location makes a statement. In other words, your client does not have to live in the country to enjoy the farmhouse look in their home. This home is an adaptation of a traditional farmhouse in their open, rural settings, place within the denser urban context of a small town.(RobertBaumann.com)
Urban Farmhouse Design Ideas
Of course, if your client does choose to live in the country, the look and feel of living in a farmhouse does not preclude the installation and use of modern amenities and contemporary design ideas. In fact, innovation may be the most important area of the design challenge you accept when your client is looking to live in a modern farmhouse. (DesignNW.com)
Modern Farmhouse Design Ideas
It’s hard to argue with the results of this farmhouse kitchen look. The slate gray paint, alder cabinets, and stressed oak make this kitchen look as if it had been renovated in stages, while the open shelving offers a practical, at-your-fingertips feel. (Houzz.com)Beautiful Farmhouse Kitchen is also Practical
For a truly innovative farmhouse design, taking them out to the woodshed at first makes one’s head spin (a bit). However, “the project is conceptually inspired by the vernacular woodshed, a familiar and iconic element in the Vermont landscape.” And, while the look may be the very definition of rustic, there is no doubt that comfort and modern amenities were at the forefront of this design. (BirdseyeVT.com)Dual Woodshed Home Design
Looking for interior design trends and tips? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
New Collections from Kravet for Fall 2016
Founded by Samuel Kravet and his four sons nearly 100 years ago (1918), Kravet, Inc. is an industry leader in the home furnishings and design trades. Now in its fifth generation as a family owned and operated business, they have also become one of the largest distributors of fabrics, furniture, wall coverings, trimmings, carpeting, and accessories in the world.
Simply stated… Where Kravet goes, the industry follows. Here, we offer a glimpse of new collections for Fall 2016 from Kravet.
Ralph Lauren Home Fall 2016 Collection
Perhaps the most universally recognized name in the fashion industry, Ralph Lauren offers iconic designs for a discriminating clientele. Similarly, the Ralph Lauren Home is recognized as the first fashion designer to present an all-encompassing collection for the home, offering a distinctive vision and unwavering commitment to craftsmanship that enriches the places we live.
Hoxton - Translating the eclectic sensibility of East London’s artist lofts, Hoxton showcases a diverse mix of painterly florals, wool plaids and ticking stripes in a fresh palette of warm grey, cream, and sepia for a vintage-inspired collection grounded in a modern, bohemian spirit.
Camel Book - Evoking the refinement of the iconic camelhair polo coat, a diverse mix of wool, cotton and linen celebrate the versatility of this classic neutral. From a rustic sophistication to a feminine elegance, camel adds a heritage touch to any home.
Modern Chalet - A highlight of the Fall 2015 womenswear collection was a modern look at winter white. Texture and form become the focus in this Zen-like study of luxurious cream on cream. Touches of stone and taupe firmly ground the collection.
Barbara Barry Fall 2016 Collection
Elegance, Barbara Barry’s new programmed rug collection for Kravet Carpet, is simply that. Three of her most popular Kravet Carpet designs – La Vie En Rose, Line Dance and Renku – balance tonal and textural elements for a subtly refined appeal. Each pattern is offered in three soft, natural colorways reminiscent of Barry’s signature simple yet sophisticated style.
La Vie En Rose - Colorways: Cypress, Moonglow & Oyster, 100% Wool
Line Dance - Colorways: Buff, Hazel & Tea Leaf, Wool & Viscose
Renku - Colorways: Cashew, Ink Brush & Spruce, 100% Wool
Hand Tufted in India, Available in 6x9, 8x10, 9x12, 10x14, custom size
Gastón y Daniela Fall 2016 Collection
Offered in the U.S. through Kravet, Gastón y Daniela is one of the most important fabric houses in the Spanish high-end textile industry. The collection includes an array of opulent textures, colors, and styles that combine to create cohesive sophisticated interiors.
Tierras - Inspired by different periods and places in the Spanish history, each motif in Gaston y Daniela’s Tierras collection is based on a blend of influences, though all of them have been designed to capture the geometric pattern and distinctive color scheme typical of Spanish tiles. The new collection features re-workings of historical elements taken from the decorative arts as well as inspiration from the 1960s pop art aesthetic.
For more on what’s new from Kravet this season, get in touch with TD Fall today.
Design Trends Fall 2016
Here, with a bit of help from HGTV.com, we offer a quick look at what’s hot – and what’s not – as design trends for the fall 2016 season.As is nearly always the case, a focus on colors and textures lead the way for design trends in the second half of this year, with low-maintenance yet often dramatic choices in both being important.Compelling Kitchen DesignsFor example, this stunning kitchen design offers all of the above in a comfortable but compelling space.
"Clients want to have distinctive and beautiful spaces but don't necessarily want high-maintenance materials that they have to worry over constantly or be anxious about when guests visit. That has led to incorporating materials such as porcelain tile and slabs, as well as engineered quartz surfaces. I think the trend now is to create a livable luxury that is beautiful, inviting and resilient!" – Angelica Henry, Angelica Henry Design
"I'm seeing more texture in cabinetry, as opposed to just white or wood. Here, we have two combinations of lacquer and a subtle stripe in the lower cabinets. This combination creates softness and movement and makes the kitchen feel less industrial.” – Ana Donohue, Ana Donohue Interiors
"Don't go overboard, but mixing in a wood island countertop or butcher block outer cabinet adds an organic, warm feel to any space. Many times it's going to save you money versus a stone top." – Jordan Iverson, Iverson Signature HomesInnovation & Creativity in the Master BathWhile kitchens are often the focal point of a home, and therefore important to clients, more private spaces are also a great place to innovate and make an impression on the homeowner. With that in mind, master bathrooms and vanities are trending as targets for designers this fall.
"A trend we’re currently seeing when redesigning master bathrooms is a large steam shower instead of a shower or a bathtub. Like a bathtub, the steam shower provides a luxurious, spa-like retreat but takes up less square footage than a shower and a bathtub combined." – Cavin Costello, The Ranch Mine
In a large master suite bath, "Large-format tiles are a must on floors and walls in a bathroom. The larger it is, the grander the statement." – Paula Ables, Paula Ables Interiors
"We love art and its ever increasing influence on design, including textured art, photography and oversized graphics. This black-and-white print was actually the beginning point of this bathroom design." – Nancy Boland, Duet Design GroupLiving Spaces that Make a StatementWhile the focus of attention is often on smaller spaces, making them seem more elegant or grand, large living spaces may also demand your attention this season.
"Go for over scale dining room light fixtures. Lanterns, chandeliers – it doesn't matter. Groups of two or three, depending on the size, work best for full impact." – Nancy Boland, Duet Design Group
"There are some ideas that might be perceived as trendy, but we think are here to stay. Lucite is an example of a classic material that has made a recent resurgence in design. It's incredibly durable and functional and fits effortlessly into most schemes. We often use Lucite cocktail tables and seating. However, there are endless opportunities when it comes to this versatile material." – Claire Paquin, Clean Design Partners
"I'm noticing a shift from very simple details in a home to a growing appreciation for architectural details (more moldings, more traditional trim profiles, etc.) while still mixing in sleek, transitional furniture." – Lauren Coburn, Lauren Coburn LLCHave you seen any of these design trends in your market yet? Are you ready to incorporate them into your marketing strategy for the last quarter of 2016? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.Looking for more interior design marketing tips and design trends? Get in touch with TD Fall today.
Interior Design Tips – Yes, Sustainability is a Thing
As mentioned in a previous post, Know Your Marketplace - Millennials Influencing Interior Design Trends, the influence of millennials is growing, in many ways shifting the focus and goals of the interior design industry. Of the many ways in which this demographic is influencing our market, sustainability may be the most important – and enduring – as it become ever more important to other age groups and market influencers.As explained by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), sustainable design encompasses more than simply “thinking green”. Sustainable design goes beyond being just efficient, attractive, on time and on budget. It is a design that cares about how such goals are achieved, about its effect on people and on the environment. An environmentally responsible professional makes a commitment to constantly try to find ways to diminish design's impact on the world around us. It is also a smart way of doing business: sustainable design is the fastest growing segment of our industry.Green Design PracticesRather, sustainable design reflects an all-inclusive approach to a designer’s professional responsibilities, by employing:
- Integrated building design developed by collaborative multi-disciplinary teams
- Indoor environments that support occupant well-being and productivity
- Resource and energy efficiency
- Social equity at local and global levels
- Protection of the natural environment
- Positive economic impact of optimized operational and maintenance practices, and life-cycle cost assessments
Whether the ultimate design goal is decoration, renovation or architectural detailing, all interior designers must stay abreast of current trends in the field.In the design industry, today’s fastest-growing segment is the incorporation of sustainable, or “green”, interior design. From the use of rain water collection to supplement waste water needs, to using sustainable materials such as bamboo, innovation is high when it comes to designing a sustainable space.ASID offers a series of reports on sustainable design practices, materials, and products. To learn more, click on the links below:
- The Sustainable Suite (PDF download)
- Interior Design and Global Impact Series (PDF downloads)
- Part 1 - Environmentally Preferable Coverings (453 KB)
- Part 2 - Environmentally Preferable Coverings (481 KB)
- Part 3 - Environmentally Preferable Coverings (342 KB)
Have you begun to see this trend? Is sustainability a thing in your marketplace? How have you responded?
Bold or Subtle Interior Designs - Often, the subtle will draw the eye better than the bold
Every neighborhood has one it seems, the garish purple (or pink) house that all of the neighbors complain about, and that the HOA seems powerless to resolve. Yet, while bold design choices need not overwhelm or offend, the question must be asked: Which is the right choice for your client, bold or subtle?Additionally, one might ask, how bold? Or how subtle? And of course, who decides?Clients often look to make a statement when they ask you to help them reimagine a space I their home. It’s the nature of that declaration, combined with the personalities involved, that will determine just how audacious or delicate a pronouncement your client will wish to see you offer them.While none of the examples below are particularly outrageous, the differences are certainly clear, and telling. The key to success will often be to present your client with degrees of differences that address their inclinations and vision. That way, if you happen to move beyond their comfort level, you will be able to easily pull back.Which kitchen speaks to them most clearly?Though the only difference between these two kitchens is the palette used on the walls, they have clearly different feels to them. When you consider other possibilities such as alternate flooring, lighting, and appliances for example, the opportunities for making a bold or subtle statement become much more obvious. (ParadeOfHomes.org)Which feel fits?
What would you change in these family rooms?While the layouts are identical, opportunities abound for personalizing these similar spaces, based on the desires and personalities of your clients. You could easily shift the feel of the first with different flooring, while a splash of color would transform the second. Then again, perhaps each of these homeowners made deliberate choices that reflect their lifestyles to perfection.What would you ask to learn more about their bold or subtle choices?
Personal choices like these are extremely individualized and, as we all know, homeowners can be very protective of them. Yet, if they’ve asked for your help, they are seeking alternatives and must be coaxed gently toward the direction you think best, based on the vision of the space they’ve presented. Keep in mind though that moving too far in either direction, whether bold or subtle, may cause problems in the long term.No matter how bold you believe they wish to be, it may be best to offer relatively subtle choices at first, until they tell you to “Go for it!”
Colors and Accents – When Just a Splash is Enough
White remains the most popular color for rooms in most homes, mainly because they are versatile and “feel” clean (even when they’re not!). White rooms might create a modern sophisticated feeling of serenity, or make a fun artistic impact on the energy of a space when you add a splash of color.If your goal is to avoid overwhelming a space with too much color, the use of colorful accents may be exactly what you, and your client, are looking for.The examples below may begin with a pure white canvas but, with the judicious and intriguing use of colorful textiles and accessories, these clean and simple styles are accented to create gorgeous central focal points within the spaces.Pencil in some colorWhether a home office, child’s playroom or an artist’s studio, the way these colored pencils are used to add color to this space is far more than just creative – it is inspired!
Clever accents for a white bedroomAdding color to this white bedroom, along with enhanced spacial definition and character, could not be simpler, with the addition of a colorful Mexican weave blanket. (HomeDesigning.com)
Off-targeted, focused accentsOff-center yet still a clear focal point, this splash of yellow at the window in this room helps to balance the other colorful accent pieces in the room.
Good morning rainbows in the kitchenIt’s hard to argue with the colorful kaleidoscope that have been added to enhance this otherwise simple kitchen space.
While many clients will ask you to add color to their spaces, and their lives, many will also fear overshooting the mark. This is when a splash of colors and accents is just enough to keep them happy.
Hot Design Trends - Outdoor Furniture 2016
Spring is upon us, which of course means that your clients will soon be heading outside to enjoy warmer weather. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at the hot design trends in outdoor furniture and patio set-ups for 2016. From clean and simple to elaborate and colorful, the trends in outdoor design and patio furniture this year are as diverse as the latest interior design trends.For many, the design of their backyards, patios, and decks are as important as the rest of their homes. Whether for entertaining or simply enjoying relaxed family moments, many homeowners choose to continue the opulence and style they love within their homes to their outdoor environment, as well.Then too, many consumers have realized that they can custom build their backyard dreams and enjoy being able to create and realize their unique, personalized vision for outdoor living.Outdoor Lounging Reaches a New Level of ComfortOutdoor daybeds provide an ideal place to kick back and relax, whether it be on the porch or by the pool. A daybed is the perfect place to nap, read, sunbathe, and just enjoy the outdoors. Add some colorful throw pillows to cozy it up and an umbrella to provide some shade. Many daybeds come with a built-in shade structure making it a superb spot to lounge all season long. (HayNeedle.com)
Move the Living Room OutsideThe Antalya Outdoor Collection allows your clients to chill in an outdoor living room. A patio becomes a very cozy space when a few home comforts are brought outside. Roll out a rug, plump up the couch with extra pillows and keep a soft throw within reach. If you're short on outdoor furniture, haul a few pieces out from your living room temporarily – sitting on real furniture while outside feels decidedly luxurious. (Houzz.com)
Get More ColorfulThis year's trend in outdoor fabrics have something for everyone; from bright, bold colors to warm, subdued hues. Look for quatrefoil prints and wide stripes, emboldening toss pillows, rugs, umbrellas, and more. Carry color themes across the patio with planters and ottomans interspersed between foundation pieces. (HayNeedle.com)
Mixed Materials and Year ‘Round Outdoor LivingIf the space you're reimagining for your clients can accommodate an indoor/outdoor transition throughout the year, then it goes without saying that modern outdoor furniture made from a combination of materials will help make it a lot easier. Design trends for 2016 will see a focus on mixed material furniture that enables contrast to promote a dynamic fusion between your indoor and outdoor entertaining space. (GardenAndPatioHomeGuide.com)
Have you seen a trend toward more outdoor living in your market? What have you done to accommodate the need to spend more time outside for your clients?
Somerset Bay
Escape to Somerset Bay... and you enter into a realm where a coastal palette seduces your senses, where relaxation washes over you, and the chaos of everyday life fades away. Timeless designs and evocative textures blend seamlessly to create a superbly appointed environment... a place to live, entertain, or escape.With a collection inspired by some of the most impressive coastal locales - Nantucket, Newport, Carmel, Bar Harbor, to name a few - you can expect an equally impressive product. Somerset Bay raises the standard in design and construction. Each piece is handcrafted from the finest plantation grown mahogany and premium veneers and trim. Craftsmen use state-of-the-art techniques to produce the timeless soft Somerset Bay patina. Their skills can further be seen in the distressing, dry-brushing, and antiquing that shapes the character of each piece of handcrafted furniture. And a closer inspection will reveal drawers constructed of renewable, plantation grown mahogany and made with traditional dovetail joints.