OUTDOOR LIVING WITH AN INDOOR FLAIR

 

Look in any design magazine and you will see that decks and patios have evolved into inviting, lushly furnished, accessorized spaces that live like any other room INSIDE your home

Directly facing the Intracoastal Waterway, this OUTDOOR LIVING space began as a hot uninviting patio. 

Our design objective was to reduce glare and add both shade and comfortable seating arrangements that would create a ‘room’ bridging the owners interior and exterior spaces.

We began by repainting the deckboards a mocha color and adding a soft faux sisal rug that reduced the glare and heat of the previous all-white decking. The addition of two custom designed umbrellas with a pattern of large navy and white bands added shade and visual interest.

Weighty solid blocks of mocha and sand colored woven furnishings combined with a subtle use of coastal themes in shades of cream and azure, tie in the colors of the Intracoastal.

This space is layered with items typical in an interior space: an area rug, plush pillows, side tables, accessories and even a standing lamp !!

With advances in product technology many beautiful and durable items are manufactured for exterior applications.

And of course, the best design of all is that this room offers a ceiling of stars every evening for my wonderful clients to enjoy!

BLACK + WHITE = A CLASSIC COMBINATION WITH A MODERN TOUCH

Small Modern Spaces deserve all the same design elements as large traditional ones : a great focal point, a well thought out furniture arrangement, strictly edited accessories, proper lighting and a great color scheme.  

SMALL SPACE WITH BIG IMPACT

This Townhome designed by Kaywell Interiors has a second story living space--- making it a perfect Loft-Style Design Setting.  

With it's industrial style lighting, overhead fans, travertine floors and a chalky blue-gray paint color, it made perfect sense to decorate with a sleek and modern black/white color scheme.  

The focal point are these terrific personalized train station signs with cities specifically selected by the client.  **DESIGN TIP: Note that the middle panel has an ivory background with black letters.  This adds a layer of interest to the space that three black background screens could not achieve.

The furnishings are an artful mix of old and new blending antique cream velvet covered French Deco chairs with a simple IKEA slipcovered sectional.   An English oak drop-leaf table contrasts with a mid-century modern acrylic and glass coffee table. 

Just as black is the opposite of white, so too does old balance the new creating perfect harmony.

And the last bit of balance is to bring a bold stroke of black to the floor with this  area rug from West Elm.  

CLASSIC    MODERN    CONTEMPORARY     TRADITIONAL

ACCESSORIES ARE NECESSITIES

Here a Blue and White Vase and Standing Lamp were added
to a clients' existing assortment of Seashells and Books

Very few clients want to budget for accessories yet the additional of well placed, well scaled and appropriate pieces can make or break a design.

Some sources suggest interior designers encourage clients to designate up to 20% of their overall budget to accessories. Surprised?  I am not,

because  just as a party dress needs the perfect jewelry, shoes and handbag... so does a room need the perfect artfully arranged tabletops and shelves to achieve a professionally finished look. 



Be it books, seashells, candles or trays, scale and placement is  imperative. Both the positive and negative spaces, the textures and the colors must be integrated.   Collections should be grouped together and rigorously edited.



My pet peeve: too many framed photographs in unmatched frames sprinkled throughout a home!!   Stick to one style of frame (all black, sterling silver, white, etc.) that best suites your decor.   Edit the number of photos on display and group them all together if possible.   My preference is to have just one or two locations of photographs in a home. 



Even a Laundry Room can be Beautifully Accessorized !!



Mantra to Remember: Quantity is not what matters...it is quality and suitability. 

 http://www.kaywellinteriors.com/

FUNCTIONAL & FUN

 Commercial Interior Design doesn't have to be bland and a Church's Youth Center doesn't have to look childish.   This delightful meeting space remains youthful while embracing the lovely sophisticated charm of the building's 19th Century interior.

Here a light filled, turreted and charming space becomes a functional place for people to gather.   Ultrasuede is a durable fabric choice for the cozy wing chairs, alternating the Navy Blue and Sunny Yellow to keep the small space interesting. Pulling the color theme together is a plaid outdoor fabric (tough and cleanable) on the wicker ottoman.

 

BEFORE



Overall the use of color blocking echos the stunning vintage stained glass windows, while fancifully shaped pillows remind us that the space is for the young... or the young at heart!! 

 

 

[Nothing like a before and after photograph to sum up the dramatic change the design process brings to a space.]