Last post, I talked about the KBIS and NKBA’s 50th anniversary, but today I’d like to go a little deeper into my actual involvement with the show.  While at KBIS, I gave two presentation, joined a panel discussion, and was even on a radio interview.  It was a busy show, but I enjoyed every minute of it.

My two presentations were organized to introduce the revolutionary new showroom technology from QueX.  This technology allows users to interact with a virtual showroom and virtual home designs to help designers and clients work more efficiently together when planning and creating a design project. It takes out much of the guesswork and the chance for miscommunications by providing a “virtual” face to face between the designer, client and any  major supplier or GC – enhancing the collaboration process.

I was thrilled to be among one of eight designers selected to interpret a home space for different generations; my design assignment was the GenX Kitchen.  We created drawings, concept boards and virtual 3D’s of our designs which were then loaded on to the QueX platform –  allowing us to interact with our audience using the multi-touch display screens.

Our Fabulous Featured Designers: Andie Day, Carmen Christensen, Cheryl Kees Clendenon, Corey Klassen, (me), Meredith Heron, Susan Serra and Tyler Wisler.

Working with QueX technology allows everyone involved to get a full overview of all aspects of the design process, at the same time enhancing the communication between the client and the design team as a whole.

I was also asked by Veronika Miller of Modenus to share some highlights and favorite finds from #BlogTourNYC and the Architectural Digest Home Design Show.  I was joined by other alum from previous Blog Tours: Tamara Stephenson – BlogTour London, Kelly Morisseau – BlogTourNYC, and Brandon Smith – BlogTour Cologne.  They all had some great insights on how to use some of their favorite discoveries as design inspiration.

Finally, I was invited to do a radio interview for MyFixitUpLife.  Mark and Theresa, the hilarious couple behind this helpful website take you on an insiders tour of the home improvement industry.  They hosted three – hour long shows during KBIS and I was lucky enough to get a jam packed 15 minutes with them.  They are so full of life and energy…I could have spoken with them for hours!

I was so glad to have had this opportunity to meet all of these talented people and experience the industry trends and emerging technology.

Stay tuned for more NOLA adventures!

Stay Inspired!

When planning a major renovation of any space in your home, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and become overwhelmed with the massive changes taking place.  Walls are removed, kitchen’s are gutted and dust is flying….just for starters. Everything old becomes new again – new cabinetry, appliances, floors and furniture are installed – with new colors infused throughout . Yet some of the most important elements of the overall design can be the finishing touches and subtle details that are nestled inside. It’s these details which make a house…..your home!

Once the big changes are made, the final touches and details provides the room with a sense character which unifies the entire design.  It’s like the garnish on a dish or the right accessories to complete an outfit; without the details the room would look new and function well, but look …a little flat.

Spectacular lighting is one detail that should never be overlooked.  The right lighting can transform the mundane to magnificent. In a”modern” environment blend recessed lighting with a sculptural element, for a simple and very effective detail.  Well-chosen light fixtures really acts as the  jewelry for a room.

Selecting the proper display items, decorative accessories, and artwork to suit an overall design can be a major challenge.  You want them to reflect your personality and tastes, but they also need to work well with the other colors, styles, and design elements in the room. A single, piece of  artwork  or spectacular chandelier that pack a punch will not only create a focal point in the room, but add your personality to the space.

What are your favorite finishing touches?  Share them with me in the comments or on my Facebook page!

Stay Inspired!

Images via Better Homes & Gardens, Pinterest, Architectural Digest

What is it about crisp white kitchen countertops that captivates our hearts?  Is it the cleanliness and purity that speaks volumes or the reflective qualities that brighten the overall space? This kitchen design trend has been popular for years, and works beautifully with any kitchen cabinet finish and style.  Its versatility is endless and has an overwhelming appeal to many design savvy homeowners.

White kitchen countertops create a crisp punch to small spaces and offers a modern, upscale appeal.

Using Glassos….Photo image: Julian Wass Designer: Louse Brooks

If you are designing a new kitchen, white is a fantastic starting point. When your kitchen features white surfaces, any accent colors you add can really pop!

Caesarstone countertop organic white

• White gives a kitchen a very clean and open appearance and enhances the brightness of both natural and artificial lighting in the room.
• Plastic laminate counters are history. Instead, choose from several luxurious white materials for your countertops and islands.
• White granites have the luxurious feel of marble at a lower cost. They also have a subtle infusion of color that only serves to bring out the white beauty of the stone.
• Quartz is the highest-rated and most affordable countertop surfaces. There are several white choices and all of them are wonderful!

Image via: Houzz.com Designer: Timothy Corrigan Countertop white thassos

White Caesarstone® is an engineered 95% quartz, very adaptable to most kitchens. Its stains can usually be eliminated with baking soda.  GLASSOS® is a crystallized glass with an intense white surface. It claims to be harder than most granites and offers greater stain proofing, scratch-resistance and never needs to be sealed!. Let’s investigate this one!

I would love to help you design your kitchen with beautiful white surfaces!  Contact me at Interior Makeovers Inc. by calling 310-788-0990 and let’s turn your vision into a reality!

Pantone, a leading authority on color and color communication across industries, has released the 2013 Pantone Color of the Year.  After 2012′s vibrant and warm Tangerine Tango, 2013 takes a refreshing dip in the cooler end of the color spectrum with Emerald.

Image via: Houzz

Emerald is a more balanced and sophisticated tone than the energetic Tangerine Tango, but it also has its own rejuvenating energy that, while not as vivacious as Tangerine Tango, is no less potent.  Historically, this is a color used to symbolize growth, healing, and prosperity, making it a great choice for the promising future we hope to see in 2013.

Image via: Veranda

Using Emerald in your home will convey a sense of both calm and opulence, adding a lushness to your interior design.  Using it as a primary tone in a room might be a bit overwhelming, but it makes a beautiful accent when paired with neutrals like grays and sandy earth tones.  An Emerald accent can become an instant focal point in a room, rejuvenating the look of a space as it rejuvenates you.

Image via: Veranda

I would love to help you design your home’s interior with luscious Emerald accents!  Just contact me at Interior Makeovers Inc. by calling 310-788-0990 or emailing Lori@InteriorMakeovers.com, and I’ll be happy to give your home a unique Pantone-inspired design.

Shabby chic design is definitely a go-to bedroom style for many and selecting bedside tables are an integral part of your bedroom decor – both for function and design. Bedside tables are highly functional furniture pieces that need to provide ample surface area for your lamps, clocks, books, ipad or laptop at the same time compliment the pieces you already have.

So what types of nightstands work best with this Shabby Chic style?

Here are a few tips to help guide you down the right path while shopping for those bedside tables.

I would love to help you design your Master Bedroom. Contact us at Interior Makeovers Inc. 310-788-0990 or email: Lori@InteriorMakeovers.com

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Stay Inspired!

How many house guests did you have visit over summer?  Were you prepared?   Well believe it or not the holidays are just around the corner.   Be ready and well prepared for the next round of guests.  Make them feel pampered from the moment they walk through your door – and show them how much you care.

I would love to help you re-design your space.  Contact us at Interior Makeovers Inc. by calling 310-788-0990 or emailing us at  Lori@InteriorMakeovers.com

One of my current renovation projects is an exciting kitchen renovation.  We will be expanding the size of the kitchen by relocating an adjacent laundry room and utilizing that extra square footage to create a highly functional and extremely beautiful new kitchen.

In order to keep the design feeling focused and purposeful, we had to choose a focal point for the kitchen.  The focal point is the first place to which the eye is drawn when it enters a room, and it acts as an anchor for the rest of the design.  For this kitchen renovation, we are incorporating custom range hood, which will also provide instant character to this space.

 Designer: Linda McDougald                                Photo: Rachael Boling

In recent years, the range hood has evolved from the functional-but-boring feature of the kitchen into a beautifully designed focal point that can really enhance the entire style of the kitchen.  Custom range hoods still provide the very necessary function of  ventilation by removing odors and moisture from the home to improve your air quality, but they do so with an artful touch.  From stainless steel, zinc,  perwter or bronze, these range hoods can be customized to blend seamlessly into any kitchen design, and tend to steal the show by becoming the focal point of the entire kitchen.  This is our goal with this current kitchen renovation project.

Here is the new floor plan for the kitchen renovation:

As you can see, the site lines in this spacious kitchen instantly draw your eyes to the centrally located range.  It is now easily visible from the entryway as well as from the built-in banquette, where the family will spend much of their time gathering and cozying in for those gourmet meals.

Here is an elevation that shows the view of the proposed zinc/stainless barrel shaped range hood:

The size of the range hood will undoubtedly complement the new kitchen design and make an impressive statement in the room.

If you’re interested in adding a custom range hood to your kitchen, there are some excellent resources on both the East and the West coast.  It also helps to have the assistance of a professional designer when making design decisions as big as this one, so please feel free to contact me by calling 310-788-0990 or emailing Lori@InteriorMakeovers.com.

Custom Range Hood Designed by Linda McDougald, Photo by Rachael Boling

Robin’s egg blue is the ultimate color for many and introducing this tranquil color into your bedroom is both cool and refreshing – and will undoubtedly stand the test of time.  This elegant color ranges from turquoise to sea-foam green with many other hues in between.

Re-paint your entire bedroom or simply refinish and paint an old dresser, bookshelves or accessorize with pillows.  Which ever direction you choose ….that ideal color of robin’s egg blue is out there for you!

Have you found that perfect shade of Robin’s Egg blue for your bedroom?  We would love to hear from you so please leave us your experiences in the comment box below.  We look forward to hearing from you!

There has definitely been a resurgence of Hollywood Glamour style recently particularly in bedroom design. Infusing that Hollywood Regency style is all in the glitz, glamour and details!

Think back to old Hollywood movies and envision those glamour queens in those spectacular settings. The style of Hollywood Regency was all about making an impression and having those occupying the space “feel” glamourous!

Isn’t it your turn to feel the glamour? Get ready for your close up!

I would love to help you design you Master Bedroom retreat. Contact us at Interior Makeovers Inc. 310-788-0990 or email: Lori@InteriorMakeovers.com.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Stay Inspired!

I encourage you to leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hands side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”.

Check out some of my work featured on Houzz.com today!

It’s all about crowning your pedestal sink with a fitting mirror.

Click here and see!

Stay Inspired!

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2012 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.