Posts Tagged ‘tulsa’

Double Duty: Reimagining the Home Office

Being an interior designer means you have to have excellent detective skills. Why? As designers, our job is to understand human behavior and figure out how people want to live; Then we create designs for that lifestyle. And, let me tell you, previous living patterns are constantly being rerouted to center around new environments within the home. Case in point: the home office.

For a long time, the communications center was the big trend. You walk in the door, drop your things down, and there’s a built-in desk with the computer and family calendar right in the kitchen. We aren’t seeing that as much now. People want a dedicated office space where you can actually WORK–imagine that! So, let’s take a look at what this space needs to function at its best…

A Multi-Purpose Space

The past decade or more has been defined by open concept living. But, now people are finding they need little spaces within the home to…well, get away from everyone! Whether it’s a place to pay bills, take a phone call, or work on homework, people need quiet workspaces. Sorry, Dad, the home office is now the family office. People simply don’t want to give up that much square footage in their house for a separate room for each of these tasks so you really need a space where all of these activities can happen. Essentially, a landing spot for working. One of my favorite ways to offer the most flexibility within the room is to opt for a table as a workstation rather than a traditional desk. Even better if you can either float the table in the room or have it coming out from one wall so you can get chairs on more than one side. This opens up multiple workstations so, for example, you can be working on your laptop while your child is doing homework across from you. This typically allows for a larger work surface–perfect for school crafts or assembling holiday cards!

Well Equipped

In order for a home office to function well in today’s day and age you need to make sure you have the right equipment. At the top of that equipment list is…you guessed it, the Internet! Connectivity is key. If your router isn’t located in this room and you are not able to get a strong signal, then you simply add a booster. I love Google Boosters and am often surprised how many people don’t know about them–you don’t need an AV guy, just add a booster and you’re set! When the weather is nice the last thing I want to do is be stuck inside my home office. I’ll often take my laptop to the patio, so I added a booster out there–and voila! Working from home is almost like being on vacation….well, almost.
Another must-have item is the wireless printer. If you don’t have one of these already, the next printer you buy should be wireless. It can be easily hidden away in a cabinet or closet and accessed only when you need it. This saves you from unsightly cords and yet another thing on your desk to dust and keep clean.

Work, But Make It Pretty

Office spaces tend to be smaller spaces so, like a powder room, we see it as a chance to do something a little bit more impactful and daring. Perhaps you want to use a color in this room or wallpaper. You don’t have to commit to painting or wallpapering the entire room, believe it or not accent walls are making a comeback—hello, ‘90s!

If you are painting woodwork, be careful to select a color you are NOT using in the kitchen otherwise you will feel like you’re still in the kitchen! Either paint cabinetry and trim the wall color or a new accent color to give this room its own signature.

Mix It Up

It’s perfectly OK to wear a shirt from Target and carry a Gucci bag. We are all about that at Kirkendall Design! So, why not do the same in your home? Mixing and matching styles and eras helps create fresh interiors that celebrate the past, present and future of design. Maybe you love your grandmother’s vintage dining table–use that as your desk! Top it with a lamp from Target and spend money on your rug and fabric to upholster a pair of chairs for either side of the work table. Try to reimagine spaces so they can incorporate things that have meaning to you and that will make the space uniquely yours.

Always look for unexpected material combinations that are intentionally collected. In other words, don’t just go buy the office suite of furniture from Mathis Brothers! When we design for longevity and create spaces that are ambiguous in era they stand the test of time so they may be passed down for generations to come.

Find Your Inspiration

People are pushing back against hustle culture, and rightfully so. As a result, rest and wellness is at the center of each design decision I make. Creating common spaces and peaceful vignettes within the home of our clients helps us tell the story of where people have been and where they are going.

All this gives us a sense of purpose and serves as a huge source of encouragement–especially important in a room where we may be doing something rather uninspiring to begin with (ahem, paying bills). I always try to incorporate a reminder of the past, present and future–this could be an object, a photograph, or even a piece of furniture. It causes us to remember where we are from and who got us here, not to mention who you are working for and where you are going. What could be more motivating than that?

Room For Improvement: Our Favorite Home Improvement

Favorite Home Improvement

I don’t think we talk about this often enough: Curb Appeal

It may be easy to turn a blind eye to the outside, but remember it is your home’s first impression.

The perfect time to consider exterior changes is when you’re getting a new roof. You’ll likely need to repaint some areas so it is a good time to change colors on both your house and the roof.

We like to take a picture of your exterior and do some renderings to show you different options; Light fixtures, different colors, trim changes and perhaps even architectural changes all can make a dramatic improvement.

We recently had a client buy a home because it checked all the boxes—except for the outside. For this particular project we took out two porthole windows on the front of the home. We had plenty of windows for light and the design was distracting to the rest of the home, so out they went. Removing those prompted the painting of the brick because we had to patch those in (and the brick color was less than desirable) which totally changed the look of the home.

We also took off the rounded copper front porch because it didn’t shelter anything. We built a new porch that came out and gave shelter, and changed the front doors. Removing mullions and reworking a window also modernized the home.

These were big changes—huge, in fact! If you have the money to spend, architectural changes such as these can make a meaningful change to not only your home’s curb appeal but also its value.

Save

Start with your front porch and work your way out. First, clean it. There’s nothing worse than walking up to a home with a dirty front porch. Sweep it off, clean your windows and put out a welcome mat and some planters with flowers. Maybe consider updating your address numbers. These are all simple changes that can have a big result.

In one of our projects the owner didn’t want to replace the concrete on the front porch, so we added a four-foot by six-foot outdoor area rug and layered a welcome mat on top of that. It gave a fresh, inviting look and you can’t even see the damaged concrete now.

Landscaping is another relatively simple change. One thing I run into with people who have lived in a house a long time (myself included) is that things you may have planted 20 years ago may not look the best now. I can barely trim my boxwoods they are so overgrown they hardly have any green on them.

If it’s so large it’s hiding or damaging your home—it’s time to go. Pull out the old and put in something fresh and simple. Landscaping provides the biggest bang for your buck.

That’s a wrap on our July home improvement series! If you happened to miss any, you can catch up on the other two posts here:

Our Most Requested Home Improvement
Our Most Impactful Home Improvement

And if you are motivated to start giving your own home some attention, let’s have a conversation.

Contact our design team online HERE or call the office at (918) 250-1650.

Room for Improvement: Our Most Requested Home Improvement

From the most requested to the most impactful—and where to splurge versus save—we are giving you the inside scoop this month on all things home improvement. This will be a three-part series starting with our most requested home improvement.

If our workload over the past two years is any indication (hint: it is!), then it’s clear people are spending more time and money on their homes than ever before. This is driven by the fact that people are spending more time at home, and understandably they want that space to be an oasis—a vacation every day, if you will! We always strive to make your home your sanctuary, so I thought it would be fun to take look at the topic from our perspective—hopefully it will spark some ideas to improve your home!

Most Requested Home Improvement: Kitchen Remodel

No surprise here: the kitchen is always our most requested room when it comes to home improvement. More specifically, people want a kitchen with an island. The kitchen is the heart of the home and people naturally want to make it function better. It’s the room where people congregate so clients always ask me to include an island in the design. The reason is quite simple: they want a boundary. The work zone is a traditional triangle, but with so many people gathering in the room, you need to have a place outside your zone for people to eat, socialize or simply spectate. You can cook, and people can come up and talk to you without getting in your way—win, win! If I can’t work an island into the design due to space constraints, then I try to squeeze in a peninsula. An island is ideal, but both options give you that separation from your work space that immensely improves the room’s function.

Splurge

A large island means more cabinetry, more countertop and…you guessed it, more expense. Even so, I typically like most islands to be at least eight feet long. That gives you the balance of a nice size sink, dishwasher, trash on one side and maybe another stack for dishtowels and such. And, ideally, a depth of four feet allows plenty of space for you to wash dishes or cook without getting your guests wet or in harm’s way. It also means you can have a 12-inch countertop overhang for seating and still squeeze in a 12-inch deep cabinet on the back to house dishes or items you may not use on a daily basis. After all, kitchen cabinetry is prime real estate—you don’t want to waste it on Christmas dishes you may use once a year!

Of course there are plenty of ways to up the ante when it comes to kitchen islands. In one of our favorite projects, the kitchen was visible from the living space, so we gathered all the barstools on one end facing each other to create a conversation and gathering space. We were then able to front the island with an inset shelf that we lit, creating an architectural point of interest so people in the living room weren’t just staring at the back of barstools. A waterfall edge is another popular, albeit pricey, way to make a dramatic statement with your island. This is a great option for kitchens that open to more formal living spaces.

Save

Using a different material on your kitchen island countertop is one way to save some money. You might consider putting a more expensive material on your island and using something more cost-effective on the perimeter counters, which typically have more square-footage.

Changing the lighting above an island, or painting the cabinetry of the island are also great, inexpensive ways to give your island a face-lift. These can really give your kitchen an entirely new look for not much money. If you don’t have an island and are looking to add one, consider using a piece of furniture to save money. I’ve found that consoles make great islands, especially if you don’t have a lot of room and need something narrow. It will give you that work zone boundary, and some extra counter space—you’ll be shocked at the difference it will make!

A kitchen update is a great investment for your home. By consulting with a professional, you can be sure that the work will be done correctly and add value to your home. Design consultations are a great way to get started on your next home improvement project. To get started, fill out a design request form HERE.

Make sure to stay tuned for the next part of this series where we will discuss the most impactful home improvement projects.

How to Make Your Outdoor Living Area Blend Seamlessly with Your Interiors

Outdoor living is all part of the home experience and people are more invested in their homes now more than ever. Recently we had several clients who have existing outdoor living spaces contact us to help plan an expansion. People clearly love being outside and want more space to enjoy the seasons! One of the reasons I love outdoor living so much is because it does offer a great way to extend your home’s living and entertaining spaces without actually adding on to your home. And with our weather in Tulsa, outdoor living is very doable!

All One Space

Even though we are “interior” designers, we are always looking and thinking about what is right outside your window and how it reflects back into your home. A good example of this practice is when we determine what furniture to source for your outdoor living area. If I have a living room that has sofas and sectionals in it, and there is an exterior living space off this room, I would not typically put a dining table there. Rather, I would put a gathering of chairs so the living room continues to look like a living room all the way through to the outside. But, be careful to note you don’t want only one type of seating in all these spaces. If the interior living space has a grouping of chairs I would put sofas in the exterior living space so that it serves a complimentary function but offers enough difference to keep it visually interesting.

Along the same lines, we often have to ask, what is going to look good and serve your needs. Many outdoor living spaces, especially with newer home build design layouts, have access to the outdoor living from both a living space and the primary bedroom suite. I wouldn’t want to walk out of a bedroom to an eating area; I’d prefer a place to relax and lounge, so the choice to make a cozy seating area seems obvious. And, if you have access and views from the kitchen—that’s the place for your dining table, especially if you are lucky enough to have an outdoor kitchen.

Color Connection

Complimentary colors need to flow from the interior to the exterior. If I have a fairly neutral living space indoors, but I want a bright color by a pool then I usually sneak in a bit of that color in the living room to tie it all together. Similarly, I wouldn’t want a blue/green/yellow motif inside if an orange and red color scheme are on the porch. The two spaces have to work seamlessly together. One of my favorite ways to get color outdoors is through the use of interesting end tables, whether that’s a ceramic garden stool or another material such as stone. In the same vein, if you prefer a more monochromatic look, an interesting end table can add much needed texture to the space. End tables really add a lot of character in an outdoor living space.

Setting the Mood

Lighting is a big deal on exteriors. Again, think about the function. You’re not trying to read a book outside, right? You’re there to gather and socialize, enjoy the fresh air or stoke the fireplace. Outdoor lighting is all about creating ambiance. Well, that and deterring bugs! If I can find a way to get indirect light away from the seating area, then bugs will go towards that and not be a bother for your gathering space. Ceiling lights and lighting around the perimeter of your space are both great ways to accomplish this goal.

Screen Season

Everyone loves the folding accordion doors, but in Tulsa you have maybe a total of six to seven weeks that you can truly open the indoors to the outdoors. Beyond that you have to consider the pollen, which you definitely don’t want in your home. My solution to this is always screens, which help protect against pollen and, perhaps worse in some cases—bugs!

We recommend and use Tulsa Area Screen Co. These screens are usually mounted on the outside of your patio and give you filtered air, privacy and protection from bugs. They are incredibly advanced—they come in different materials and can easily raise and lower to suit your needs. If you have the protection of screens, then you really can have those patio doors open a lot in Tulsa.

Creatures of Comfort

To truly enjoy your outdoor living space as many days out of the year as possible, you’re going to need a little help maintaining the ideal temperature for maximum comfort. This can be accomplished with fans and outdoor heaters. There are some very stylish freestanding heaters or there’s also the option to put them in the ceiling where they can be virtually out of sight.

Fireside

Fireplaces outside are the ultimate. Not only are they beautiful, they also can serve as a screening for areas you don’t want to see. As if that wasn’t enough, they offer the opportunity for a wood-burning fireplace, a feature you may love but not necessarily want the mess of inside your home.

Fire pits are also a hot trend. For one, they are less expensive and two, you can typically accommodate more people around one due to the 360-degree seating opportunities. Some are even freestanding so you can move it around as desired. The one thing to consider is a fire pit or fire table (which uses gas) needs quite a bit of air circulation to operate safely. It is not uncommon for me to have a client whose home already has an outdoor fireplace request to add a fire pit, often somewhere more secluded in their yard. It creates its own little gathering area and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love an excuse for s’mores?

Bathing Beauty: A look at the latest in bathroom design trends

We are now more than two years into the pandemic and people are still cocooning. It’s almost as if we are still realizing the volatility we had in our lives that caused us to go home in the first place. People are seeking to make their homes life-friendly. Just as we want our bedrooms to make us feel like we are in a hotel on vacation, we want our bathrooms to feel like a spa—a truly luxurious retreat with top of the line design and finishes. So, let’s take a look at the latest interior design bathroom trends.

Tile
Probably one of the newest trends out there is the use of large formatting porcelain tile. They are now manufacturing porcelain tile in five-foot panels, essentially slabs. We are able to use this in shower walls, wainscoting, you name it. It looks like marble for a fraction of the cost and its performance is incredible—it won’t chip or shatter.

Speaking of tile, we aren’t using as much of the 12×24 size, as people really are looking for more visual interest. That could be through use of a classic retro black and white floor tile or perhaps something that pays homage to our past like a terrazzo type tile. Likewise, we are seeing a lot of patterned floors which allows us to really make a splash (no pun intended!) and use some truly bold and unusual tile designs.

In larger bathrooms, one easy way to give visual interest and break up the area is to do a border tile. We recently completed a job with a very large master bath. Had this particular bath been wall-to-wall white tile it would have been overwhelming. By creating a border with the floor tile it brought interest to the design and helped define the spaces within the room.

Another way to bring a break in the color of tile, especially in the shower, is to add a vertical stripe with an accent tile. Also think about balancing out your countertops, floors and walls with different tones. A dark charcoal floor balances light walls nicely and vice versa, a dark marble vanity top is easily balanced by white floors.

Getting that Glow
Lighting in general has changed a lot with the LED influence and the bathroom may be the biggest room in the house to benefit from this advancement. We are using indirect LED lighting all throughout bathrooms to create a really pretty indirect light. We have used LEDs under floating vanities, in a shower niche, to backlight a mirror or around the entire perimeter of a room.
If we have room to add a source of light on the vanity wall, we always recommend doing so as it directs the light towards your face and does not cause shadows. Recently, however, we have been using more hanging pendants in place of sconces as it can be positioned in the same height and still cast a flattering light. Larger hanging fixtures and chandeliers are still popular, but we only use them if the room is large enough to properly accommodate them.

It’s All in the Details
People are looking for character so we are constantly looking for ways to add a little something extra to their spaces. A great vehicle for this is always the bathroom vanity cabinets. Our goal is to make them special, in other words they should not look like your kitchen cabinets! We have recently used rift cut white oak slab for a vanity which was absolutely gorgeous. An all-time favorite of mine was a scalloped door pattern we did for a client, and don’t underestimate the power of a simple applied molding pattern to dress things up and make the bathroom unique but always functional.

Half Bath, Full of Design
People often want to make a statement in their powder baths. That may be as simple as staying on trend with a matte black finish on the faucet or perhaps something more daring like a wall of tile behind the vanity. Wallpaper is definitely back and the powder bath is a great place to put it to use. It’s the place where you can go bold or do something different and it’s not overbearing throughout the house. But, even though it’s a small space, people often get overwhelmed with choices. I tell people to think about dressing your powder bath just as you would think of putting an outfit together. If you’re putting on an outfit of full color, black and white is always a classic to go with it. Then, think of the sconces as your earrings. It’s such a small space and so individualized that you can actually make it have a look all its own that’s really well coordinated.

Bath Time
As I like to say, we are having a lot of “bathtub moments.” The freestanding bathtub has been back for years and is still going strong, with a few updates. It is now possible to have a deck mounted faucet for your freestanding tub, which thankfully causes the cost to go down considerably. Remember when I said people are still cocooning? We are seeing the resurgence towards curves and soft lines in all areas of design from furniture to bathtubs. It’s directly related to our desire to cocoon! Whereas we used to install more rectangular tubs, we are now seeing most with a curve in bathroom design.

How to Pull Together a Vacation-Worthy Bedroom

Have you ever thought about the fact that we spend nearly a third of our lives in our bedrooms? We invest in a quality mattress so why is this often the last room we choose to design?

I’ve noticed when clients do request a redesign of their bedroom, it’s usually prompted by travel. They stay at some of the nicest hotels in the world, but when they come home it’s apparent their everyday bedroom experience is less than ideal.

When it comes to your primary bedroom, think about what tone you want the room to have. Typically our clients set the design plan in motion with their requests, whether for a spa-like room, a romantic retreat or, in rare cases, a room with a lot of energy. Knowing what feel you want the room to have will help give you a baseline to anchor your decisions.

We all look for those great moments when we stay at a hotel, and the truth is you can create all those at home. With just a little bit of effort, every day can be a vacation—I’d call that a worthwhile investment!

Now, let’s get started…

The Focal Point

The first question is, “where does the bed go?” A good rule of thumb is that the bed should be placed on the largest wall and ideally the wall opposite the entry to the room. Often those aren’t the same, so you may have to choose which option is best for your space.

The best way to make a room feel special is by painting or accenting the wall behind the bed. Recently we fully upholstered a wall behind a client’s bed. She really wanted a wood headboard, but also liked the softness and texture that an upholstered headboard brings to the room. Bedrooms frequently will have an upholstered headboard against a panel wall, but in this case we did the reverse. Whether it’s wallpaper, paint or something more elaborate, creating a feature wall will help set the tone for your bed and your bedroom. This also may be a good place to introduce a subtle accent color such as navy or blush.

Walls of Art

An easy way to make the room feel pulled together is by adding art to the room. This could be as simple as posters you have printed or a collage of pieces that you may have collected. Generally, I do not put photographs of people in bedrooms—they can bring good memories to mind, but they can also bring up sad memories and in a space where we want to feel relaxed sometimes it is best to keep the feeling as neutral as possible. Besides that, who wants to be watched while they are sleeping?

Let There Be Light

To tackle lighting, you first need to determine if a ceiling fan is a must-have item. Most men want a ceiling fan, but if you can get away with a floor fan or one of those sleek Dyson fans, do so as it will allow you better lighting options. Most ceiling fan lights are simply down-lights, which won’t bring as much ambiance as a beautiful chandelier.

If you absolutely must have a ceiling fan, be sure to provide a lamp for each side of your bed (keep in mind they don’t have to match) and if you have a spot across the room for another lamp (floor or table top), do it. Three lamps is not too much. Having that soft light will be crucial to the room’s feel.

Finally, don’t underestimate mirrors. In the bedroom where we did the fully upholstered wall behind the bed, that room only had natural light on one end of the room, so we used mirrors to bring in more light. Sure, mirrors help make a room seem larger, but I also was taught that mirrors act as windows. You should always look at mirrors as where you could add a window in a room.

Furniture Finding

Bedside tables can be anything from a bachelor’s chest to a round table you put a cover on (a trend from the ‘80s that is making a comeback!) and, once again, they do not have to match. Dressers can be varied as well. You don’t have to use a typical chest of drawers—it can be a sideboard or a large piece of furniture, ideally positioned across from the bed. Consider storing off-season clothing here—this can free up valuable closet space so you can keep your clothing in one location and simply rotate seasonal items. If you have the space, it’s nice to add some sort of seating to set things down when you walk in or just enjoy a quiet spot in the house to relax.

Explore Your senses

For me, nothing is more exciting than to be in a home, and walk into a room that looks good and smells good, where the lighting is great and the textures are wonderful.

One of the ultimate luxuries when it comes to bedrooms is always a quality set of sheets. Peacock Alley is a staff and personal favorite and can be found locally at The Dolphin in Utica Square. While this may not necessarily help your room look pulled together, you will certainly feel the difference. Think about different layers and materials, such as velvets and sateens, for each season. This will not only help keep you comfortable, but the different textures will add visual interest to the room. If you want to use patterns, remember less is more!

One of the senses that does pull a room together, however, is smell. Bedrooms can have a stale scent, but there are a lot of simple solutions for this problem. Sheet sprays (spritz these on your sheets when you make your bed in the morning, otherwise the scent can be overpowering as you’re trying to sleep) and room diffusers take care of this problem and more as you can customize them with sleep-aiding essential oils.

If you have hardwood floors adding a rug is the best way to warm up the space and help with noise control. If you have a king size bed, you’ll need a 9×12 rug to go across that width. Then again, some people really prefer to have two smaller rugs on either side just where you step in and out of bed—a trend now revitalized by the modern farmhouse look—and that works, too

Last but not least, window treatments will add texture and help with sound, but most importantly they will help with light control. The absolute best way to block out or filter light to your desired level is with draperies. I recommend layers. Start with shades and then add drapes for the highest level of control.

New Year, New Look

Simple Ways to Update Your Home

I don’t know about you, but after the holiday decor is all boxed up and put away I am always ready for a little design refresh in my home. I often hear the same thing from clients so I thought I would share some easy tips for breathing new life into your home this month.

ACCESSORIES

The easiest way to make a change in your decor has and always will be with your accessories. But—here is the fun part, and a shift that has me very excited—I am seeing people gravitate towards incorporating family heirlooms and vintage/organic pieces into their homes again.

I’ve had several clients want to keep and display meaningful pieces they have either inherited or come across. For example, one client had three grandfather clocks. We discarded one and kept the other two, saving one from each side of the family. We gave them both a fresh coat of high-gloss paint and now they are the showstopper in her home. With another client, instead of hiding her expansive collection of barware, we chose to display it all in the bar area which in turn created a truly unique design statement. It’s all about finding creative ways to breathe new life into pieces that are meaningful to you. Don’t just keep them to keep them! Instead, update them, rethink them and give them a significant place in your home. The bonus is that yours will have something no other home will have—a truly one-of-a-kind design element!

If you haven’t inherited any wonderful pieces, don’t fret. Antique stores, resale shops and even various online sites can be a goldmine for quality pieces. Being one of eight siblings, I lost the bid for our family cookie jar when it went to my oldest brother. But, that heirloom was so special to me I eventually found an identical jar and bought it so I could incorporate it into my home. I love teasing my brother now and making him second guess who actually has the real deal! Likewise, I recently came across a vintage 1970s lamp that was incredibly well made and fit into today’s design aesthetic beautifully. It had a horrible shade, but I know that is an easy fix. I can’t wait to find the perfect home for it.

COLOR

Thankfully, the trend over the past several years has been towards monochromatic, somewhat sparse spaces, which makes it very easy to introduce color in small, noncommittal ways. Think pillows, art and small accessories. Benjamin Moore did a great job capturing the color palettes we are asked about most as of late with their 2022 color story. The trend now in color is earthy—terra cotta (I love Benjamin Moore’s “Wildfire”), sage and deep charcoal blues. Benjamin Moore’s “Natural Linen” is a great neutral that is not gray. The neutral trend is here to stay, but it is trending warmer and this color hits the nail on the head. For white, I usually gravitate towards an off-white like Benjamin Moore’s “Wind’s Breath.” You can find Benjamin Moore locally at Spectrum Paint.

TEXTURE

Like I said, the neutral palette is still a strong trend whether it is your total color scheme or a backdrop to the earthy tones mentioned above. The key to making neutral interesting and pleasing to the eye, however, is texture, texture, texture. When it comes to pillows and throws, be sure to incorporate various materials. For accessories, think about layers and juxtaposing elements. Perhaps you have a beautiful bowl on your coffee table…try adding some moss balls. The harmonious blend of opposing materials will make your design pop.

If your home is ready for a refresh and you need our team to be your eyes and ears on the project, fill out a design request form HERE. We’ll go from there!