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Sitting in Style

September 15, 2009 in Design and Decorating, Going Green by Brooke | No comments

 

The Eco Metro line at I.O. Metro is adding furniture to the ever-growing list of green products on the market. This eco-friendly line contains upholstery that’s made of 100-percent recycled polyester fibers. The metal springs and frames have at least 95-percent recycled steel or aluminum, while the wood materials come from Sustainable Forest Initiative-certified companies, and all lumber waste is recycled.

If this chair caught your attention (It did mine!) then watch for the new Eco Metro pieces available in October. Everyone deserves to do a little holiday shopping for themselves!

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Twenty percent closer to good, modern design

August 24, 2009 in Design and Decorating by Andrea | No comments

 

Hudson Home just announced a sale on Blu Dot furniture now through September 8. If you like clean-lined furniture that is usable and affordable, check out www.bludot.com, or stop by Hudson Home’s store at the corner of 15th and Grand.

 

 

Posted via email from Andrea’s posterous

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First Look — The Monaco

June 9, 2009 in Homes Tour by Andrea | No comments

Bryant-Ratliff’s show home exudes luxury in a comfortable Country French style. Throughout the house, distressed woodwork and natural stone create a warm, textural palette that feels much older than its modern construction. In the hearth room, the team created drama by highlighting the vaulted ceiling with gorgeous beams that hold their own visual drama against the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace.

It’s hard to tell what it is now, but this image shows the faux detail of an animal skin texture on the walls of the study. It’s the first step in a multi-level process that will next include color. Joann Romano of Architectural Elements has been working diligently on masterfully swathing this wall and nearly every wall in the home with these custom touches.

Ron Ratliff picked up this piece of onyx tile that will be added around the fireplace in the living room. We’re looking forward to seeing more of those lovely colors swirling around the house!

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First Look — The Prairie Stone

June 2, 2009 in Homes Tour by Andrea | No comments

 

Many of Bruce Rieke’s homes have a rustic or Prairie look, and The Prairie Stone is no exception. This home is about earth tones and comfortable yet high-end design. One of the ways the team is achieving this is through the inclusion of stone and wood. Bruce brought in pine logs from his field and is using them everywhere from a log mantel to hiding support posts in the lower level that will flank a wet bar. Each of the logs, like the one above, weighs 400 pounds, and is hand-hewn to give it a finished look.

As if this Coloradoesque home weren’t unique enough, Bruce wants it to have features that aren’t in every home on the block. The newel posts that lead to the lower level are a perfect example. We can’t wait to see what else will debut in this creative home! Stay tuned as we get closer to the tour…

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First Look — The Nantucket

May 27, 2009 in Homes Tour by Andrea | No comments

With its East Coast feel, The Nantucket shines in bright whites and colorful mixes of pastels. Interior designer Gail Golden says color is coming back and uses it to just the right extent. The photo to the left shows an example of the bead board in the laundry room alternating in coastal blues and greens. Can you hear the waves crashing?

There’s also punches of coral and yellow, as seen in the carpet sample shown to the right that will be used in the dining room. You’ll also have to look up to see a unique ceiling treatment that looks like the hull of a boat. Oh, I wish we could set sail today…

In good time, this home will be open like a treasure chest for all to see its secrets inside. Secrets, like the ones behind this hidden room in the library? You’ll have to wait until the third week in August to find out.

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Spring Fling

March 10, 2009 in Design and Decorating by Andrea | No comments

annie_selke_bolts3 With the daffodils popping up over the weekend, you know winter is on the outs. At this point, spring can’t come fast enough. That’s why we’re so enticed by Annie Selke’s fabrics, available exclusively at Calico Corners, with the nearest location on 119th Street in Overland Park. Lime, fuchsia, turquoise — all the colors we won’t see for another several weeks — give us hope during these final drab days. Annie’s bright florals and bold patterns are inspired by classic designs, but their exuberant colors are fresh and modern. What’s also great is how you can pair them. In the photo below, Annie demonstrates her approval of mixing designs. The playful look is elegant yet unpackaged. "It’s all about finding colors in common,"  she notes.  "They don’t have to match exactly." annie-selke-town-settee5

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Wonder Walls

March 3, 2009 in Design and Decorating by Brooke | No comments

Wallpaper has been creeping its way back into homes recently. It’s no wonder, though, with the changes in style and substance. Take the Rimini collection, for instance, a new eco-friendly line from Printers Guild Productions, offering big, bold Italian-inspired prints and designs. From neutrals to metallics and zebra stripes to damasks, there’s something for everyone. paper-1paper-2 paper-31paper-41 Plus, it’s easy to apply, and, like we said before, environmentally friendly — the collection uses water-based inks on nonwoven substrate comprised of a blend of natural, renewable, recycled materials and synthetic fibers. The press release states, "As a result of the manufacturing process, the paper can breathe, keeping it mold- and mildew-free." Hey, that’s all we need to know. (And, bonus, you can use the leftovers for scrapbooking or picture framing.) Find retailers in the area here.

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Share the Warmth

February 24, 2009 in Design and Decorating, Outdoor Living by Brooke | No comments

With winter weather forecasted to continue for another month or so, you’ll have to keep wearing coats, gloves and hats to protect you from the blustery outdoors. You can also keep warm by the fire. We’ve found some "hot" alternatives to the traditional hearth. John Beck Paper & Steel‘s indoor/outdoor fire cube is portable, eco-friendly and handmade (in the St. Louis area, no less). With four fire rings, each flame can reach 6-8 inches tall and produce 3,000 BTUs. It’s made entirely from steel and uses alcohol-based gel fuel made of pure alcohol, water and salt that lasts for two to three hours. The FIRE coffee table by Arik Levy through Planika makes no need for display books. A collection of tables and freestanding models employs wire bases in either red or gray and the patented Glassfire Technology with glass cylinder that contains the flames. The glass cylinders can be removed from the base of the freestanding models and placed anywhere extra warmth is needed. If neither option lights your fire, Planika has other geometric pieces — square, double and single — also with Glassfire Technology. The low, suspended tabletops function as a coffee table and artwork. Its color options include dark oak veneer or MDF painted with white or red lacquer.

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New Year, New Trends

January 22, 2009 in Design and Decorating by Andrea | No comments

Now that we’re several weeks into a new year, with a new president firmly planted in the White House, there’s a lot to look forward to. With high hopes for President Obama, people are feeling optimistic that change is coming. Not just in politics, though. Our current situation has forced us to take a closer look at our lives — our time, money, plans and goals. A lot of that starts at home.

That saying "Your home is your castle" allows us each to be kings and queens — the rulemakers of a certain place in this world. I know that whenever I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I clean. It gives me a sense that I can control something in my life, master clutter and forge simplicity. Taking good care of my home also gives me of sense of pride and ownership.

Most of us are committed to making our homes a place of comfort, poitive energy and beauty. As we move further into 2009, there will be many trends in home design that will become even more popular than they are now. Here’s some of what you’re going to see:

1. More color

The mood ring doesn’t lie. Just as our mood reflects a color, so color affects our mood. The color forecast for 2009 is, literally, across the spectrum. While many homeowners prefer neutrals, gray may take the place of beige. For those who want a pop of color but can’t commit to a full room of it, an accent wall may do the trick. According to the Pantone Color Institute, lively colors like Fuchsia Red and Vibrant Green are making their way into the palette.

 

Thibaut's new Filigree collection includes Henson, exemplifying grand-scale pattern in wallpaper.

2. Wallpaper

Get that image of your grandma’s kitchen out of your head because today’s wallpaper looks nothing like it. Larger, sophisticated patterns lend a room an element of design that’s been missing from walls for years. 

3. Metals

You don’t want to go overboard with it, but a a little metal can really make a room shine. Copper, platinum, dark silver and rose golds bring energy to a space. Copper sinks, especially, are popular locally, and many homeowners let them patina for that "lived-in" look. 

4. Outdoor spaces

The desire for an indoor/outdoor connection doesn’t appear to be waning. Most homes come with some sort of deck or patio, but the most successful and well-used spaces are an extension of the home’s interior style. Weather-resistant furniture, rugs, TVs and artwork are available to make the outside feel as comfortable as the inside.

5. Going green

There is almost always an eco-friendly alternative to any product on the market. You need carpet? Consider wool or sisal. Building a home? Choose FSC-certified wood or use salvaged or reclaimed wood. Green is about making choices and there are plenty out there.

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