Celebrity Bedrooms We Love

Hours in front of the camera, being chased by the paparazzi, signing autographs for adoring fans...of course, every celebrity needs a swanky place to recharge after a long day. The private spaces of these stars are as diverse as their talents, taking high-end interior design to a whole new level of style and comfort. Last month we took a turn through some kitchens with famous owners. Today, we're strolling through a few celebrity bedrooms we love.

Meg Ryan's Master Bedroom

We love the glassed peak in Meg Ryan’s light infused bedroom on Martha’s Vineyard. The simple charm of the barn style sliding door and the heavy custom-made trunk create a rustic feel. We love the white-washed walls that lend a feeling of never ending light. What we especially love is the very personal touch of a stack of favorite books at the end of the bed. We can just imagine grabbing one and climbing into that comfy bed at the end of everyday.

SJP and Matthew Broderick's Retreat

Clean white curtains and walls, and an over-sized bed that brings to mind big fluffy white clouds makes Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s nightly retreat a heaven on earth. What we love are the punches of color reflected in an aqua Christopher Spitzmiller lamp, a blue vase, and apple-green vintage armchairs. That pile of pillows looks especially inviting.

Nightly Escape of Ellen Pompeo

After a long day on the set, sometimes you just want to escape to new worlds. Ellen Pompeo of Grey’s Anatomy enjoys a well-traveled look for her Hollywood Hills bedroom. Pompeo found the bed at one of her favorite Parisian stores, Caravane Chambre 19. The true magic in this room is in the details: an antique Egyptian wall hanging, Moroccan-style brass lamps, an Indian throw, and 1950s West African pillows from Hollywood at Home. Five countries represented in one room-now that's an escape!

What do you love about these rooms? Anything missing that you just couldn't do without? Share with us in the comments.

If you're ready to create your own personal escape, you can't go wrong with enlisting a little help. Our interior design services are just what you need.

Story inspired by an MSN feature. Photo credit: Elle Decor

Interior Design Trends - The Simple Modern Kitchen

Few places in your home can bring together family and friends like a kitchen can. Your kitchen is where you roll out those delicious holiday desserts and tasty dinner dishes - and the place where you sip on your morning coffee before beginning the day ahead. All in all, your kitchen is an important place isn’t it? So what would the interior design of your dream kitchen look like?

Some of the growing trends in kitchen design are a mix of vintage and modern space accents. Open shelving is becoming a more popular alternative to conventional cabinets and are used as opportunities to present kitchenware and accessories to guests.

Simple, clean and elegant white kitchens are becoming of a trend since they are so easy to design. Customizations can go from lighting accents like vintage lamps, chandeliers or other lighting fixtures.  Of course, anyone who knows me, knows I love a Jean-Richard Chandelier.

Other popular customizations are stainless steel and sleek appliances that reinforce the modern aesthetic.

What would you do with a dream kitchen? Are there any particular styles or accents that you would want to use in your home?

Popular Master Bedroom Accents

Master bedrooms are among the most luxurious areas of any home - and they should be! After all, this is where the house “masters” spend their time sleeping; it’s a private place.  Just because it is private doesn’t mean it can’t use some extra attention to detail; a lot of time is spent in this space. There are some simple additions to the interior design that can be made to any master bedroom to give a bit more personality and add more focal points.

Ledges
This feature is often found in larger living spaces but can be just as practical. Adding a ledge above a headboard on the main wall can present photographs and art in a much more relaxed way by leaning them against the wall. Interested? Add the ledge on the focal wall about six inches from the top of your headboard.

Mixing Styles
Matching all furniture styles in a bedroom is no longer a necessity. Mix and match the styles that you love for a comfortable room. There are a ton of home furnishings that you can mix and match safely. Vintage dressers and mirrors alongside antiques blend together to show off the personality of the household master.

Exposed & High Ceilings 
High ceilings have been a popular household addition for the past few years, but only recently have unfinished ceilings become more popular. Install wooden beams to give the appearance that rafters are exposed from your ceiling without the true exposed feeling.

Have you used any of these design styles in your home? Which are your favorite?

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.