They say the only constant is change, and that certainly applies to homes. You may have renovated before, but the fact remains that some aspect or other of your home has likely fallen out of style. While a home design project can sound overwhelming and expensive, there are many ways to make your home design project painless, affordable and flexible with today’s trends.
We’ve tapped the expertise of local interior designers Shelly Reilly, owner of Shelly’s Interior Concepts, and DeAnne Koppendrayer of LDK Homes and Designs by D. to share some insights into tackling your home’s interior design.
Meet Your Designers
Shelly Reilly, owner of Shelly’s Interior Concepts, has been in the business for 23 years and specializes in custom draperies. “My passion is helping people beautify their homes. With every job I am hands on and provide personal attention to every detail.”
DeAnne Koppendrayer of LDK Homes specializes in newly constructed homes. She offers clients an entire package from design to furnishing their homes. “I have always been fascinated with homes—going to Parade of Homes was my favorite thing to do when I was younger. I have been able to work in many different areas in the field from cabinets to lighting to building materials to furniture.”
So let’s get started!
1. Focus on the kitchen The kitchen is the heart and hearth of the home, so it makes sense that it’s the most popular room to redesign.
“The kitchen is the room that makes the biggest impact,” Koppendrayer says. “Everyone uses it and guests tend to spend time there.” Koppendrayer recommends creating large, eat-in kitchens with oversized walk-in pantries and additional sink space.
An easy way to update your kitchen without completely gutting it is to re-tile the backsplash behind your stove.
“It is a small space and the cost is minimal for the ‘wow factor’ it will give your kitchen,” Reilly says.
2. Avoid common misconceptions Certain aspects of a redesign can seem simple and obvious in theory, but end up being a bit of a mess in practice. Many people assume that picking a paint color is no sweat. But paint is frequently an expensive and risky venture. If you paint a room and change your mind on the color, you waste a lot of time and money.
“I have been to homes where people spent $200 or more on paint samples all over their home,” Reilly says. “With a trained eye, you can find the right paint color right away.”
Another common error is getting too attached to matching everything perfectly. Koppendrayer has seen many matched metal finishes that lead to a disappointing final look. “The design trend is to mix these and have them complement each other to create a chic modern look,” she says.
3. Stay on top of trends Looking for an on-trend makeover for your home? Consider adding reclaimed and natural elements, and simple white tile to your space.
“Leather, stone, wood and clay are being seen in many different ways in the home—people want a home that feels warm and comfortable,” Koppendrayer says. “Also, simple white tile in subway and hexagon patterns is very strong.”
Another way to add interest to your home is to place pops of color and pattern in unexpected places.
“One of the top design trends for 2016 is wall colors in neutral gray tones with bright colors added in accessories, or accent walls with deep, rich colors,” Reilly say. “Wallpaper is also making a comeback on accent walls and small spaces to enhance the drama of the room.”
4. Use your resources The best way to start a project is to generate ideas, so you can narrow down to specific examples of what you want to try in your own home.
Reilly recommends taking to the Internet for inspiration. The websites Houzz and Pinterest are both great places to see what other people are doing in their homes.
“Clients can add photos and write reviews, so potential customers can gain ideas before they even call a designer,” she adds.
When looking for raw materials or inspiration in stores, Koppendrayer will order from HomeGoods and Wayfair, and she loves to visit vintage shops to find one-of-a-kind items.
5. Make a big change with a small project Not all of us have the time or budget to tackle gutting and refinishing our entire home, or even a single room. Luckily, there are several ways to make a large impact without investing a great deal of time and money.
Koppendrayer enjoys focusing on a statement piece of furniture to add interest to a room. “If you have an old piece of furniture you don’t like, paint it and add fun hardware,” she says. “This also works for outdated accessories; spray paint works wonders.”
Both Reilly and Koppendrayer agree that creating accent spaces with paint can dramatically change a room.
“One of the least expensive and most rewarding effects when redecorating is changing paint colors to get a fresh new look,” Reilly says.
“Color blocking—where you use two different hues of the same color on various walls—is very on-trend right now,” Koppendrayer adds.
6. Don’t be afraid to hire a designer It can be easy to think that working with a designer will cause your budget to skyrocket. But, according to Reilly, this can be counterintuitive.
“Everyone has a budget and I help the customer stay on this budget,” she says. “I have so many resources to draw from and know where to find materials at all of the price points.”
Reilly adds that it isn’t true that homeowners interested in working with a designer have to find someone who has exactly their style.
“I love working with people to help them solve design challenges,” Reilly explains. “Every person has their own unique style, and I love to help create a home to match.”
