Friday, July 20, 2012

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!

Friday, May 11, 2012

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

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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. 

Monday, January 23, 2012

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.]

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

TICKLED PINK : DECORATING FOR A LITTLE GIRL


BENJAMIN MOORE # 2081-40
PINK BLOSSOM
SUGAR AND SPICE....AND EVERYTHING NICE!

When Kaywell Interiors was asked to design a bedroom for an adorable and extremely charming little girl, pink naturally was the color of choice.

The inspiration for this room came from a wonderful multishaded pink and apple green cotton fabric from Duralee Fabrics.  A perfect choice for the bedspread and draperies, it is complimented with smaller scale stripes, polka dots and coral patterned companion fabrics- all in various shades of pink and white.  Blended with accents of green and anchored with all-white furniture, this room is smart, fresh and very pretty... just like the girl who lives here.

**KI Interior Design Tip: 
Don't Match Your Colors Exactly-Blend Them.
Blending adds visual interest,sophistication and variety.

And what a perfect way to add that sophisticated variety and interest than by painting the walls a richly hued, blue-based  pink.  Darker and more intense than the colors in the fabrics, it adds depth to the room and a rosy glow to all that are in it! 

VERY NICE INDEED...

Sunday, November 6, 2011

DECORATING WITH BLUE AND WHITE


PALM BEACH, FLORIDA
 LIVING ROOM

It is no secret that blue and white rooms are smart, attractive and immensely popular.   There must be something about this classic combination that  reminds us of an azure sky full of silken clouds or a tropical ocean topped with foamy whitecaps.  

Whatever the Reason... Blue and White is Always Right!

Presented here is a Kaywell Interiors, LLC project that seconds that motion.   Right is many settings yet perfect seaside, this Palm Beach Living Room is a blue and white classic. 

Here are a few of our Design Secrets:

Add Interest by incorporating various shades of blue into your scheme.  There is a lavender hued blue on the walls, a periwinkle blue on the chairs, navy blue bowls, and various blues on the lamps and pillows.  

Add Sophistication by anchoring the upholstery with dark-toned wood furnishings.   The floors, coffee table and side table legs are all a deep, dark mocha.

Use Texture by adding a sisal rug.  Textures in a room are just as important as colors.

Create Balance. The white accessories ( Sea Shell Balls, Starfish and White Orchids on the table) visually balance the white cotton denim slipcovered sofa.

And a final tip: White slipcovers allow any living room to welcome children and pets! 

Remember, Live Beautifully!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION 


KAYWELL INTERIORS: Making First Impressions Last

Front Entrance Ways are not only the entry point into your home: they are where people begin to get a sense of who you are and how you live.


BEFORE
Not the best of first impressions
 
Kaywell Interiors, LLC  recently completed an exterior remodel of a Seaside home in Palm Beach, Florida. 

The existing entry had a nondescript six panel door flanked by 1980's frosted glass sidelights. The entry lacked strong architecture as well as personality.

The clients wished to achieve a British Colonial Style, so we went to work.

The poured concrete floor was covered by honed and filled coquina tiles with accents of seaglass hued glass mosaics on the riser.

KI CONCEPT SKETCH
Vision becomes Reality
The dated frosted glass sidelights were replaced with divided light windows --hurricane proof of course! A decorative PVC header and pilasters were added to frame the doorway and add architectural interest.  

And of course the door...  The piece de resistance for any home!!   Kaywell Interiors designed this dramatic custom mahogany door with fixed louvers to  make a bold statement. The dark driftwood stain color balances the vivid sky blue paint on the home with the soft metallic gray of the standing seam metal roof.  

The addition of a bronze finished lantern supplies much needed lighting as well as one more element of style.  Transformation Complete!!


WELCOME HOME!!