Interior Design Trends – Cool In-Home Bars

We’re not sure if folks, adults especially (and hopefully), are drinking more or simply looking for a cool new place to imbibe but, in-home bars seem to be one of the hottest interior design trends this year. From basements to kitchens and from bonus rooms or lounges to outdoor areas, a Google search for “design trends in home bars” will result in articles with anywhere from “8 Top Trends” to “221 Best Home Bar Images” on Pinterest. (Make sure you log out of Pinterest first, or the link won’t work.)While we certainly have no opposition to viewing more than 18 dozen images of in-home bar designs, that’s quite a bar-ier for a busy designer to overcome. (See what we did there? LOL)With that in mind, we offer half-a-dozen in-home bar images that we can only describe as… Awesomely kewl!In-Home Bar Images We LikePerfect for a small space, such as a basement, this wet bar, and its black and white palette are full of urban edge and crisp lines, as seen on “Restored by the Fords”, on HGTV.Once again, if space is an issue (which happens fairly often), a recessed bar may be the perfect answer, especially when the wood being used complements the hardwood floors of the room. (Zillow.com)For blending a bar into an existing space, the slim railing in this design visually separates this midcentury bar and lounge while maintaining an overall open look. An orange banquette is a fun pop of color in the space. (HGTV)“Just because bars are hidden away in the basement, does not mean that basement bars do not deserve a great look. Creating simple but classy bars in the basement is a trend that is quickly catching on. We are finding that more and more homeowners are spending more money on the right design. This involves a more streamlined design that focuses on the base cabinets only and the countertop space needed for seating.” (SebringDesignBuild.com)When space and functionality collide, you sometimes have to fit an in-home bar where you can. Here, creativity serves a purpose; to smoothly integrate your desire to meet the needs of the homeowner. (CrowellPhoto.com)When possible a full-service bar design can make a huge impression on homeowner and guests alike. The full service in this home includes a full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, and even a pass-through window out to the patio. (HGTV)No value judgments here. After all, it’s not like we think homeowners are suddenly drinking too much. But, it has to be said, the trend toward in-home bars really is pretty cool.Looking for more new interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Online Marketing Tips – SEO Basics

We’ve been sharing some valuable information lately about the importance of organic SEO for your design business website. We’ve also shared some insight into the techniques and strategy for effective optimization of your content, whether your website pages or blog posts.In this post, we’d like to share some of the reasons you should be following this valuable advice, by offering some of the most basic SEO information you need to understand why it’s so critical to your success.How to Get Found by Google When you publish information to your website, the copy on your Home Page or a blog post, Google "spiders" (automated software) go into each article and scans the copy for "keywords." These spiders are analyzing everything about that page to determine where to index that page within the billions of pages in the Google search engine.For example, if you go to www.Google.com and search under the keyword phrase “interior design,” you will notice something like 1,750,000,000 pages are indexed in Google for this phrase in the search results (and this number is constantly changing).Google will rank a page or article based on over 200 sets of criteria, which can include: design elements, programming style, ease of navigation, popularity, and many more. Since Google is scanning your content, you can see the value of trying to give Google as much "help" as possible.Search engine optimization (SEO) is all about suggesting to Google where to index your content in their search results (SERPs). This is known as “optimized content.”If you want to be indexed under the keyword phrase “interior design,” then you need to repeat that keyword phrase regularly in your content, thus telling Google that your optimized content is related to the business of interior design.Since Google has the power to place you anywhere it wants in their SERPs, all you can do is optimize pages and posts to suggest to the search engine giant where you should be indexed for their searchers.If you are trying to get indexed on the first page of the search results for the phrase “interior design”, you must realize that you are competing with entire websites, more than 1 billion, in this case, that may have dozens of pages which collectively try and rank (or get indexed highly) for the same phrase. It would be nearly impossible for a single blog post to compete with all of those websites. It will be much easier to create content that ranks well for what’s known as a “long-tailed keyword phrase.”Instead of “interior design” (a broad phrase), a long-tailed version might be “interior design for 3 bedroom home” (3.9 million pages in the return). In other words, the more narrowly targeted the keyword phrase used in your content, the more likely you will rank highly in Google's search results for that phrase.The higher you rank (the best spot is page 1 in the top 5 results), the more people will click on the link to your page or post. The more people that click on your link, the more exposure you get, etc. This will be fun for you once you've optimized a few pages and posts – and have seen the results!For more, click here for a free SEO Guide from NGNG Enterprises.Looking for more interior design tips, trends, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Trendy Design Trends That Are Trending in 2018

We just can’t help ourselves. Perhaps too often we spend hours every week perusing a variety of online sources for interior design trends, and predictions of new trends, for the upcoming seasons. While doing so can be illuminating, it can also be a bit more than frustrating – it sometimes seems that those who write about the design business are more interested in forcing a new trend into the marketplace than in simply reporting what is actually taking place.Having said that, we are beginning to notice at least slight agreement in a few areas for this year: Hallelujah!Have ceilings been so boring for so long that we’ve all agreed to finally take action and do something about them? Perhaps – perhaps not. What we do know is that more than one column on design trends have made the claim that making a bold statement with ceilings will be big in 2018.Bold Ceiling Designs are HotElledecor.comLAtimes.comWhile we’ve already predicted that purple will be popular this season, thanks to Pantone choosing it as the Color of the Year, plenty of scribes are predicting that shades of blue will continue to hold their own on the palettes used in home design. Not to be left out, other warmer colors will also remain in the up-to-date designer’s arsenal of color choices.Which Color Dominates the Design Market This Year?Hgtv.comHousebeautiful.comKitchens always feature heavily in any discussion of interior design trends, as they should. Whether speculating about how space will be allocated in the most popular room in most homes, which types of appliances should be used, or the types of cabinets, flooring, and backsplash will work best to enhance the space – a good interior designer must always pay attention kitchens.Kitchens Are Central to Any Home      Hgtv.comLAtimes.comFreshome.comThe sharp designer understands that they need to make sure the kitchen is as important to their design plan as it is to the homeowner. Never take kitchen designs for granted.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Tips - How Accessories Complete a Room Design

Accessories play an important role in your overall design plan. They bring color into a space, insert texture where needed, add shape, depth or height, provide focal points, and last but not least, they reflect your client’s personality and style. (Not to mention your own.)Simply put, a room without accessories can feel generic and uninviting. That being said, there is an art to accessorizing well and it does require a bit of planning. It’s one of our favorite parts of designing a space because it completes the room and gives it that finishing touch.Here are the key elements to artful accessorizing:

1. Take cues from the existing color palette in the room. The job of your accessories can either be to enhance the existing shades or to bring color to an otherwise neutral canvas.
2. Be aware of access points and make sure your accessories won’t hinder the traffic flow. With that in mind, an accessory can also be a guide in defining an area or directing traffic.
3. Never overcrowd a tabletop or shelf with too many accessories. Make sure you are able to pick one up without disturbing anything else.
4. Use accessories to emphasize your client’s personality, allowing it to shine through and don’t be afraid to include personal items that have sentimental value for them.
5. Pay attention to the height, weight, and shape of your accessories and place them where they will enhance the surrounding décor.
6. Display accessories in groups. Odd numbers are more interesting to the eye.
7. Vary the size and height of accessories in a grouping.
8. Experiment by moving things around to find the best placement.

So where do you start? It’s good to know all of your options, so here’s a short list of what to consider when accessorizing your space:

• Framed artwork or photographs
• Sculptures, figurines or other art objects
• Vases
• Candleholders and candles
• Lanterns
• Pillows or Cushions
• Throws
• Bowls
• Baskets
• Floral arrangements
• Urns
• Books
• Clocks
• Trays
• Mirrors

While the furnishings and/or floor covering may be the focal point of the space you're designing, use accessories to make the space feel complete.Looking for more interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Hot Kitchen Design Trends 2018 – What Will Kitchens Look Like This Year?

In real estate, people talk about location, location, location. In home design, the talk is of kitchens, kitchens, kitchens. The reason for this is pretty clear, and we’ve mentioned it before, the kitchen is the most used room in the house. With that in mind, we look at some hot kitchen design trends for 2018.Country Kitchen DesignsWhether traditional or contemporary, the country kitchen look is expected to be trending strong next year. From grey undertones that look like stone to contrasting colors between cabinetry and flooring, each of these designs possesses a timeless quality that would be difficult to match were it not for the country theme in both. (CountryLiving.com)Contrasts and Two-tone ColorsSpeaking of contrasts, another hot design trend this year will be two-tone colors in the kitchen. Not only does this kitchen show delightfully contrasting accents between the backsplash, flooring, and cabinets, the cabinetry itself is nicely inconsistent: weathered white oak and Farrow & Ball's Cornforth White paint in Modern Eggshell. (HouseBeautiful.com)Island StorageOften a dead space, kitchen islands remain popular with homeowners. Finding innovative ways to employ these well-loved features for storage uses will be a big trend this year. For example, a kitchen island with a refrigerated crisper built right into it is a design decision that stands out from the pack.Hidden AppliancesEspecially when counter space is at a premium, getting appliances out of the way will be too. However, the trend for 2018 is to get all appliances off the countertops, even if there is plenty of space to be used.Kitchen as Command CenterThe kitchen is the center of activity in many homes. The large wall of cabinets serves as a command center concealing a telephone and compartments for family mail, calendars, and cookbooks. Painted cabinets and granite countertops make this space a bright gathering place for family fun and entertaining.What kinds of kitchen design trends have you seen, that you believe will continue throughout 2018?Looking for more interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Home Remodeling Growth Looking Strong, Short and Long-Term

According to an article at MultiBriefs.com, a site which claims to be “The leading source for targeted, industry-specific news briefs”, growth in the home remodeling sector looks strong for the foreseeable future. Remarkably, other reliable sources concur with this assessment of the marketplace, allowing for an extremely optimistic outlook for next year.

This is, of course, good news for interior designers, home furnishing dealers and suppliers, and contractors. “Coming on the heels of third-quarter indicators that showed sustained high levels of activity in the remodeling industry for the remainder of the year, recent longer-term projections forecast even higher levels of growth in the coming year and beyond,” the article said.Quarterly Growth in Home Remodeling It goes without saying that the natural disasters experienced by homeowners in Texas and Florida (and other southern states) at the beginning of Q4 this year have sparked the need for residential repairs. However, various assessments of the market have determined such demand is not enough to account for the consistent rise in remodeling activity throughout the year.In fact, the National Association of Home Builders reports its Remodeling Market index rose by 2 points in Q3, to 57, compared to the score for the second quarter. The index for current market conditions rose by just 1 point over Q3, but the index for future market indicators, at 58, was up 3 points.“Current market conditions increased one point from the second quarter of 2017 to 56. Among its three major components, major additions and alterations waned one point to 53, minor additions and alterations increased three points to 56, and the home maintenance and repair component rose one point to 58.”That assessment correlates with the findings of Houzz's third-quarter Renovation Barometer, which also found remodeling activity up quarter-over-quarter and remodeler sentiment optimistic about demand continuing into the fourth quarter. It also showed the level of backlogs had increased in recent months.Looking ahead to next year, longer-term projections are forecasting potentially even higher levels of demand. In releasing its third-quarter National Residential Economic Report, Metrostudy projects that the surge in remodeling activity that began in the second quarter will continue throughout 2018 and likely well beyond.In short, designers, suppliers, and contractors have great cause for optimism through the end of 2017 and well into 2018. If your design business has been slow this quarter, it’s time to be more proactive, since it seems the home remodeling work is out there!Looking for more new design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Diversify to Meet Changing Market Forces in the Design Business

If there is one thing we can all count it’s this: things change. This includes market forces in the design business as much as any other. Those who do not respond to such changes tend to get left behind, while others prosper. How to be among the latter?As proof of the changing times, we’re in, an interesting article at MultiBriefs.com recently caught our eye. Titled, Diversify to grow your revenues, and written by design consultant Lloyd Princeton, a strong argument is made for diversification of income streams to meet the changing needs of the marketplace.As Princeton argues, while the design business has experienced nice growth in the second half of this year, and is expected to continue to do so into next year, “Many designers are not benefitting from the increase in demand, or they may be getting more business but are not realizing the revenues or profits they had hoped for at the beginning of the year.”“Clients are more frequently seeking design consultations and advice, rather than hiring designers to design and manage projects, often resulting in lower fees and fewer billable hours for the designer. This is making it tough for sole practitioners and smaller firms to remain profitable.“In the past, when designers wanted to increase their revenues, they would focus on selling clients more products. Those opportunities are becoming harder to come by now, as more and more clients choose to go online and do their own purchasing.“Designers need to be looking for other sources of revenue to sustain their businesses and maintain their incomes. I am not talking about diversifying your interior design practice or menu of services. I am talking about diversifying your sources of income.”Diversify Income StreamsWhile the big “Go-to” for most designers looking to diversify has always been product development, Princeton argues against this trend in the current market. Explaining that it is simply too competitive to expect enough market share to sustain a profitable business model, he suggests looking for income streams outside the design industry, instead.What those streams may be depends, of course, on your location and the vagaries of your particular market. However, an old reliable jumps to the front of the list for him, real estate investment.He closes with this advice: “If you have some cash available to invest in an opportunity outside of interior design that could serve as a hedge against the current volatile conditions in the industry, I advise you to talk with reliable counsel and explore it. It could be just the edge you need to keep your business going and provide you a more secure future.”Looking for more new design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Marketing to Millennials – Understanding the Buying Habits of Millennials

The millennial generation may be the most researched age group ever – at least as far as marketing research goes. Tens of millions of dollars are spent yearly to study the social media and buying habits of millennials. Of course, there is a good reason for this, when you consider that millennials will spend some $600 billion at retail this year.Of course, statistics mean little if you are unable to apply them to your niche. It does make sense to explore the numbers, to at least get a sense of how to market to millennials, and when it might be beneficial to make an effort.The first thing to know is this: Millennials spend the greatest portion of their “online time” on their smartphones, as 24% of millennial smartphone owners said, “nearly all” of their online time is spent on their smartphones, and 27% said “most” of their online time is spent on their smartphones.In other words, if your furnishings or interior design website is not “mobile friendly,” you have little chance of capturing even a small portion of the millennials in your area.When and Where Do Millennials Shop?With a heartfelt “Thank you” to LeadsCon.com (and their various sources), here are some valuable statistics to help you understand the buying habits of millennials:

• Numbering roughly 77 million, millennials make up about one-fourth of the US population.
• 25% of millennials in the US speak a language other than English at home.
• Millennials in the US wield about $1.3 trillion in total annual buying power.
• The median income for millennials in the US who are year-round, full-time workers is $33,883.
• More than 85% of millennials in the US own smartphones.
• US millennials touch their smartphones 45 times a day.
• 87% of online adults in the US age 18 to 29 use Facebook, with 53% on Instagram, 37% on Twitter, and 34% on Pinterest. That age group represents a large chunk of millennials.
• 83% of millennials in the US connect with companies on social media networks.
• The top five favorite brands of millennials in the US are Nike, Apple, Samsung, Sony, and Walmart.
• Just 26 percent of millennials in the US are married, compared with 36 percent of Generation X, 48 percent of Baby Boomers and 65 percent of the Silent Generation at the same age (Pew Research Center).
• 66% of millennials in the US follow a company or brand on Twitter and 64% like a company or brand on Facebook to score a coupon or discount.
• 56% percent of millennials in the US would share their location with companies to receive coupons or deals for nearby businesses.
• 51% percent of US millennials would share information with companies in exchange for an incentive.
• Only 6% of millennials in the US consider online advertising to be credible.
• For 95% of millennials in the US, friends are the most credible source of product information.

Regarding online shopping, 15% of millennial smartphone owners said they make online purchases on their smartphones “multiple times per week.” Another 15% of millennial smartphone owners said they make online purchases on their smartphones “weekly.”With this in mind, it would be a good idea to make sure your website is mobile friendly. Click here to visit Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test page. If you receive a positive result, great. If not, get on the phone to your website designer ASAP and demand answers – with a fix!Looking for more new design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Tips - Most Hated Room Design Ideas

Just because some ideas are popular does not make them practical, or lasting. In the interior design business, even the hottest trends can become hated room design ideas fairly quickly. Here we share a few trends that were once popular but which have become anathema.

Hated Living Rooms Designs

Perhaps the most popular living room design idea in recent memory, at least in new homes built in the past 20 years, the TV-over-the-fireplace has become the least appreciated design choice you can make. This, despite the fact that so many new homes feature a built-in location for the TV, above the fireplace.

For many designers, it’s the fireplace that should be the focus of the family’s living space, not a large black plastic appliance. Then, you have the ergonomic inconvenience of placing a television at a height that is largely uncomfortable for many to watch it, instead of at eye level. (Yeah, how did that neck-breaker of an idea become acceptable?)

While funk and faux may make a space unique, it may also be too unique. After all, few homeowners stay put for decades any longer, which means they’ll eventually need to sell. Though the family in the home below may have loved living in the funky design of the living room below, odds are prospective buyers will find it off-putting.

"Asking a buyer to adopt your specific design style is risky," says Jill Hosking-Cartland, an interior designer in Windham, NH. "Most buyers see these polarizing design elements as work they will have to do and spend money on to make the home a reflection of their own personal style."

Outdated everything – need we say more?

(Sorry you had to see that!)

Hated Kitchen Designs

As the most-used room in the house, kitchens tend to be most reflective of the homeowner’s personal style: including everything from the merely practical to the latest, most innovative looks and appliances.

White appliances make a kitchen feel dated. A 21^st Century kitchen will feature stainless steel or black stainless-steel appliances. And, while they don’t all have to be SMART, they should certainly be digital.

Black stainless is all the rage in kitchens across the country!

When a picture is worth a thousand words – little else needs to be said.

From open shelving to reclaimed wood, and from mixed countertops to mixed metals, this kitchen is breaking all the rules of a well-designed, harmonious space (and that’s without even mentioning the color!)

There are so many challenges here the prospect of redesigning the space is daunting but, considering the psychic damage that is likely being done the family that lives here, designers should be lining up to bid on this job.

When DIY has gone out of control, a designer is needed to fix it.

OK, just stop already!

When working with a homeowner, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that they are part of a transient population; they’re likely to sell their home sooner rather than later. According to the US Census Bureau, just 37% of Americans have lived in their homes for more than 10 years, with a median duration of 5.9 years.

This means that they, and you, should design their home with the high probability of resale in mind.

Looking for more new design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Quick and Easy Home Design Tips: How to Bring Summer Inside

From time to time, an interior design job requires subtle touches that may not come to mind immediately. For a client who loves the outdoors but lives downtown, or who loves the beach but lives in the middle of the country, you can bring summer inside with these quick and easy home design tips.Often, the smallest change can alter the feel of a space significantly. These tips will help you set up a client’s home in ways that make it feel spa-like and outdoorsy.

Imagination Brings a Trip to the Coast Inside

For client who miss life on the coast, a strategic use of decorative sea shells as an accent can bring the coast to them. (AcanthusAndAcorn.com)If you're looking for more than just an accent, sea shells and a rustic shelf, along with a few other items, can alter the entire feel of a room. Is this what vacation looked like when they were children? (CompletelyCoastal.com)

Wood Bath Mats Add Luxury and Reduce Humidity

It’s easy to add a touch of luxury to the bath, along with an outside feel, using wooden bath mats. Hard woods like ash, or Aromatic Japanese hinoki wood, are naturally resistant to humidity and have some antibacterial properties. They will help to reduce the feeling of dampness and the potential for bacterial growth that is present in a thick cloth mat. (Crate & Barrel, dog not included)

Beach Accessories in the Home Tell the Story

Hanging beach towels in the bath may be the quickest, easiest way to bring summer inside. For anyone who’s slow to grasp the concept, these towels tell the story loud and clear! (MyHomeIdeas.com)

Outdoor Showers Bring the Beach Home

Last but not least, if you can’t bring summer inside, set up an outside shower, enabling your clients to feel like they’re living at the beach. An outdoor shower near the pool makes sense anyway but, for those who want to feel closer to the beach, this is a great way to get them there. (CoastalLiving.com)You can take it a step further by adding beach themed accessories…Or a nautical theme.Do you have other ideas to make a home feel “summery”? Share your summer home design tips in the comments section below.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.