fantastic FRIDAY { staging your home to sell }

{pop sugar}

Keep it simple....

An overpacked room is a red flag to buyers that your home lacks storage space. Pack up unnecessary items and furniture, and move items to your garage or a nearby storage facility.  Clear the way for a sale by letting buyers see your square footage, not your personal belongings.

A few accents in a room ~ whether it be art, accessories or something unique can help bring personality to a room ~ which instantly makes the purchase of your home more appealing.  I'm sure you have felt this feeling walking through a beautifully designed model home.  I've designed several model homes over the years and can help you capture this feeling with your home.

I want my home to look like that!!

For all of you that LOVE home DIY shows - you must have had the chance to watch HGTV's Fixer Upper.  If not...you must watch it as soon as possible.  The projects  the show features are amazing and inspiring.  The designed spaces feel comfortable and lived-in.  

{photo credit:  HGTV Fixer Upper}

{photo credit:  HGTV Fixer Upper}

{photo credit:  HGTV Fixer Upper}

By the end of the show you are thinking to yourself...or saying out loud to your spouse..."I want my home to look like that!"  Unfortunately many of us don't have the resources, time or budget to tackle such a project.  

With some careful planning and budgeting you can phase your home project so that is affordable and realistic.  

kd design studio can provide you with that service.  

{kd design studio}

This concept board illustrates how anything is possible when you have a look or style that you are dreaming of.  One of my main goals is to help you achieve your dream home on a budget.  Let's get together and talk about how we can start the process of making your home - your DREAM home!

Exterior paint love.

On an earlier post (March 13th), I described the challenges of selecting an exterior paint color for your home.  Well today, I would like to share photos of a beautiful scheme that we selected for this particular home.

{before}

{after}

I love how the new color scheme accentuates the Architecture and the details of this home.  The scheme complements the red brick beautifully and really updates the overall look.  I love the "pop" of color that we decided on for the front door - it's perfect in expressing my client's personal style and the wonderful family that lives inside.  Love it!

Southern charm

Check out what a little millwork detail can do for a single room. 

Together my neighbor and I came up with a few details to help make her home capture the charm and coziness of an old farmhouse. They decided to attack one project at a time - the Dining Room being the first.  I must say - they did a tremendous job and it turned out very successful! 

Love the warmth of this home.

{before}

{after}

Special thanks to Mary (photographer extraordinaire) 

@ http://pantier.com

Wedding season

Wedding season is approaching and I can't help but think about my other dream career....being a wedding planner.  

Wedding planning isn't far from being an Interior Designer.  You pick colors your client loves.  You select textures, patterns and fabrics that will become the wedding dress, the bridesmaids dresses, the centerpieces, the cake design....  all of it so fun!  Like good design ~ everything should blend, complement and have meaning.  Meaning to make things flow...to make the couple happy and to create a beautiful memory.  

I saw this image today and it just got me thinking....maybe I should look into planning weddings.  I think I like to plan just a little too much.

Happy Wednesday!

{source:  The Bird & the Bear Photography & Films and popsugar}

Bringing the outdoors in

There is nothing more beautiful than natural stone. 

I'm working with a client right now that would like to create the Master Bathroom of her dreams.  She wants a place to relax, a beautiful place that feels romantic, cozy and peaceful.  She lives in a gorgeous rustic home and is surrounded by nature - large flowering trees, green grass fields and newly blooming flower beds.  Through much discussion and inspiration we are planning on creating a space that brings that outdoors with natural stone, river rock and warm wood finishes.  We are then  going to surround the space with beautiful lighting, candles and nature.  

These are our inspiration photos:

Stay tuned for the final project!  Doesn't everyone need and deserve a room like this?

Happy Easter!

I love Easter and the beginning of Spring.  Seeing the grass turn green and the tulips blooming always  makes me happy!  It means that Winter is coming to an end (hopefully).....

With the beautiful outdoors - I thought it would be fun to decorate in more of a neutral Easter palette and surround my decor with the green of nature.  It's fun doing something different than your traditional pastel decorations.

Best wishes for a Happy Easter weekend surrounded by your family & friends.

{photo credits:  digdig.com, b3hd.blogspot.com and pinterest}

Smile!

Everyone needs a bath mat like this one! What a great way to make you smile in the morning! Love it! - http://studiokddesign.blogspot.com.

(http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/u…/catalog/productdetail.jsp…)

Time to Paint!.....?

                                                    { credit:  Thomas Bateman Architecture}

Spring is quickly on it's way....and it's time to paint the house.  Just thinking about this can cause an enormous amount of anxiety.  Should you keep the colors the same, should you try something different...and if you do decide to change it up-how do you decide on a color palette?

I am currently working with a client on this very decision.  She has 10 different color samples "decorating" the side of her home and is still having a tough time selecting a color.  This can be a daunting task, but here are a few guidelines to help you get on the right path to making a good decision.

#1 - Look for Inspiration - this inspiration could come from your neighborhood, a magazine or your favorite TV show.  Study the elements of the houses that you drawn to.  

#2 - Consider the style or your home - it's so important to remember that certain colors work on certain homes.  A Colorado rustic home just wouldn't feel right painted purple.

#3 - Consider your landscape and other substantial details that surround your home.  If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful landscaped yard with flowering trees and gardens.  You may want to think about using a more neutral color so that it works as a backdrop.  You want your exterior to coordinate not clash.

#4 - Think about the overall look that you want.  Your home should exude your personality.  Are you a fun, outgoing type that loves color and a sense a whimsy?  Be a little daring with color.  If you are more of a formal, organized type that appreciates order, maybe your paint color should be a little more safe and neutral.

#5 - Take some time to really invest in your color decision.  Get several paint chips and pin them up somewhere on the exterior of your home where you get several different levels of light.  Hang them there for a week or so - and take the time to look at them at different times of the day.  Paint colors will change dramatically during the morning and evening hours.  Use the process of elimination as you question some of your choices.  The color winner will be the sample that looks good - day or night, sunny or cloudy.

Good luck and Happy painting!

Let the Spring begin!

How I love the sun!  It inspires me to get moving and do the things that have been on my to-do list for weeks!

First thing on my list...update my blog.   This blog will be a place to inspire you with your own home design.  I will be sharing new products, helpful design tips and trends, and things that inspire me.  I'll also share the progress of current design projects.

Let's work together to make your house become the home that you've always dreamed of.  Whether is be an in-home consultation, a "e-design" package that we can do by email, or an answer to a question that has become a "design block".  Let's get your design dilemmas off your to do list so you can enjoy your home more fully.

Let the Spring begin!

  {House Beautiful}

{caitlin wilson textiles}

{Ballard Designs}