Bathrooms and Interior Design - Exposed Sinks

Exposed sink lines are all the rage now in popular home design and new modern, classic styles that show off plumbing.   The interior design of the modern bathroom has taken on a new, chic trend.

Varied Styles Regardless of what style pipeline you have below your sync, the materials can be used to match other features in your bathroom. Look for copper, brass, stainless steel and nickel for popular coordination opportunities.
  
So, you love the look, but don’t quite understand it?  Your sink trap is what your sink uses to keep air from the sewer from coming back up into the home. In restrooms that aren’t used as frequently, the water in the trap evaporates.

Sink traps come in different shapes that are often referred to as different letters: the “P-trap” and the “U-trap”.

The P-trap is most used in areas where there needs to be some room saved underneath the sink. Use it in vanities for some extra storage for towels, or other bathroom necessities.

The U-trap is one of the most common used for commercial and industrial purposes.

Neither option do the trick for you? Check out creative options like water slides, sinks that simply shoot the water down a slide-like accent and into either the toilet or shower to conserve water.

Iconic American Design Styles - Part 3

In the past two posts we’ve covered two of the most iconic American design elements found in homes starting from the 18th century all the way to homes today. Different elements have been taken from different styles across the globe and integrated to modern styles today.

Many of those elements are in today’s featured iconic American design style, which happens to be one of the most recognizable and popular styles in American history.

Ranch Style
 Ranch style homes are among the most recognizable home designs in history today. Ranch style homes were built to be an escape from the city life of long hours and hard work so the homeowner could come home and relax with loved ones in the “great room” floor plan. Made popular in the 1950's, and especially in the Preston Hollow area of Dallas interior design s and homes.

Ranch style homes have unique floor plans. Rarely does a ranch style home have more than one story because it’s designed to stretch across the property horizontally. The design highlights large rooms as “family rooms” and places special emphasis on the kitchen and other rooms that will be used for entertainment. In Texas - we'd call it 'sprawling'.

Sliding glass doors, panoramic views over the backyard and large overhanging roof lines all contribute to one of the most popular styles - and especially in Dallas interior design - in all of American history.

Do you live in a ranch style home? What are some of your favorite elements of this design?

Iconic American Design Styles - Part 2

American homes, both interior design and architecture - have stood with proud columns and elaborate moldings, have been modern and minimal, some traditional - while others sat tucked away in the hills - a log cabin with a western or rustic style.

In our first post, we featured the Iconic American colonial-style design that draws its roots from the 13 colonies. In our second post of our Iconic American Design Styles, we’ll discuss a 19th century style that can still be found in older neighborhoods today: Tudor Style.

Tudor Style

Tudor-style homes are still popular and are mostly found in the older neighborhoods sprinkled throughout the country. Tudor-style homes are symbolic for their stucco, wood and stonework exteriors that build up to highly steeped roof lines and facades.

Tudor-style homes take their inspiration from European medieval homes in England in the 19th century and create a true storybook feeling home.

Create your own Tudor Style design by first tackling some exterior work that will distinctly associate it with its medieval inspiration. Consider adding in wide windows that feature plenty of light and some old-world furniture.

Iconic American Design Styles - Part 1

Homes and interior design styles have changed throughout history, and across cultures. Did you know that there’s been many iconic American designs that have been replicated all over the world? 

American 'design styles' have taken some of the best features from cultures everywhere - and included them in their layouts, floorplans and designs. These popular styles have passed the test of time, and many can still be found throughout many countries today.

American homes have changed drastically over the years, and we’ve seen some beautiful design styles come from it. In our first feature of Iconic American Design Styles. We’ll feature one iconic style in this three-part series and dive into some of the most popular styles of American interior designs.

Colonial Style

Colonial-style homes take their roots from the original American 13 colonies. Colonial homes often have wide porches, entry-facing columns and shutters bordering the windows.

The interior of a colonial-style home is quite notable also. Most are two-story with wide and open floor plans that feature the rooms all centering off a main room, hallway or stairway. The focus of a colonial home is on the entryway where moldings, built-in bookcases and stairwells all draw back to the nostalgic 18th century. Simple, traditional furnishings typically accompany this architecture style, along with muted and simple coloration. Embellishments in the form of grand columns and moldings steal the show.

Interested in creating your own colonial-style home? It’s not too difficult. Adding a taste of elegance in your furniture can help create your own distinctive space. Browse our Dallas furniture showroom to take a virtual tour - to see how you can create your own colonial masterpiece.

Ellen-gance of a California Ranch - Celebrity Interior Design Feature

Ellen DeGeneres and partner Portia de Rossi show off their beautiful Santa Monica ranch where they’re able to both escape - in a Celebrity Home post on Elle Decor.

Even though we aren’t all able to move to a breathtaking cabin in the foothills of gorgeous mountains, we can still take some design principles and apply them to our own comfortable home.

Find Your Outdoor Space

On their property, DeGeneres and de Rossi have a pergola that sits on a pasture under a tree with seating arrangements underneath including a daybed and wicker sofa. This gives them a chance to “escape” from the norm and to take in the surrounding landscape.

Find Your Style

A cabin kitchen in their home features industrial lighting that is both rustic and antique and bring in a barn-like feel to their cabin. Add in some leather or a cowhide rug to create a truly authentic feel to the interior design of any room.

Find Your Comfort

One of the most remarkable things about the property is how genuine it's period setting feels - 18th to 19th century - while keeping a modern style appearance. They chose each of their cabins to have a different mood, and it’s much demonstrated in how contemporary some feel.

Find what makes you comfortable inside your own home and make the most out of it. While we may not have a sunset outside our balcony window, it’s possible to make each glimpse around the home to feel that special.

Stop by our Dallas furniture showroom and browse some of our most popular furniture options to give you that special "Ellen-gance".

Gracefully Aging With Interior Design

Getting older shouldn't mean you compromise your style – in fact, there are various ways to use interior design to make your home safer and more comfortable without sacrificing what makes your living space unique. 

Public health and safety officials agree that the way your home is designed can be a major contributor to complications in aging at home.

So how can you decorate for safety? Change the way you think of interior design. Interior design isn’t simply aesthetics. Proper interior design allows the homeowner to live freely in a house that fits their needs. It’s about functionality without losing personality. It's about choosing the right home furnishings. The right furniture. It's about accessorizing and adding your own style and decor to the things you must have; to the things you need to get by day to day.

Although there seems to be a negative connotation from the public regarding 'aging design' elements, those feelings are often ill-placed. Normally when we think of designing for aging, products that are sterile or unattractive seem to come in mind. But truly, you can opt for high quality, strong and sturdy furniture or even specialized furniture, or home accessories and appliances that are made for special needs - without compromising your style.

Contact a Dallas interior designer who is well versed in aging in place design. It doesn’t take much to transform a room to a safer area; just some quick changes in furniture placement, flooring and lighting can be a true game changer for safety.

Have you thought about how you would redesign your home for aging? What features do you feel you’d need to include?

3 Tips for Designing in a Small Interior Space

In today’s financial world, times can be tough. It's a tough economy out there. The way this seems to play out the most is when people are led to sell their home and move into something smaller - like an apartment or townhouse. It's about the "D" word: Downsizing.

These changes can be very difficult to adjust to, but with proper planning and interior design, you can create a cozy and stylish living space that will help you overcome the challenges that downsizing can present.

Tiny Size Technology
Today’s technology can work wonders in helping you downsize. Gaming onsoles and gadgetscan double as home entertainment system by playing movies (either streaming or DVD/Blu-ray) and music from a variety of services. Small and portable tablets like the popular iPad can replace bulky desktop computers, which often require their own desk or “area” in order to use.

Small Space Accents
Positioning of home decorating accents like curtains and doors can make a smaller space feel much larger and bright than it really is.  Floor-to-ceiling doors can give the appearance of tall ceilings. Long curtains that drape to the ground can create a longer wall space which opens up many more options to display with artwork or family photos or memorabilia.

Shared Spaces 
Do you really entertain often? Do you have guests all the time - ? If people aren’t coming over and staying as often as you had hoped - it might be time to drop the guest bedroom and opt for a pull out sofa instead. If you don’t have room for a desk, plan accordingly and opt for some gadgets to make that aspect of your life more portable.

Come by and see why we were nominated AGAIN for Best Furniture by WFAAlist (oh, and click here to VOTE NOW!) and let's pick a style that suits you from our Dallas Showroom. How do you make your space feel larger? Share your tips in the comments below.