How many times have you walked into a furniture store and wondered how many other people have that same sofa? Finding out that you just spend thousands of dollars on the identical bedroom set that a friend has can be frustrating, at the very least. However, buying custom furniture can eliminate those concerns.

Your furnishings should reflect your personality and lifestyle. That does not mean you have to pay thousands more than what a showroom is offering. Yes, you will pay slightly more for custom made furniture than an off-the-floor piece, but it will be worth it.

Whether you are furnishing your very first home, or remodeling for the umpteenth time, opting for personalized, handmade furniture over mass production can take your home to the next level.

For some people, the thought of buying custom furniture can be daunting. How will you know what you want? That is where the services of an interior designer can be invaluable. As you can see in the renderings below, your designer will sketch out drawings for your concept. You will be able to provide input as to what features and custom ideas to incorporate into your new furniture.

There are five benefits of buying custom furniture that we will explain today:

• Higher quality
• Good Investment
• One-of-a-kind
• Perfect function and fit
• Exact color and size

Higher Quality Benefits of Custom Furniture

The cookie-cutter approach to furniture manufacturing means assembly line products filling up the floor of your favorite showrooms. To get top quality mass-manufactured furniture, you will likely need to go to designer showrooms and pay higher prices.

The other option is custom furniture manufactured to your specifications from master builders. The builder will pay attention to every detail, ensuring that the finished product meets your expectations. Remember, when you pay for custom furniture, you get long-lasting quality at the same time.

Custom Furniture Is a Good Investment

Some people naturally equate custom furniture with designer furnishings. That is not the case. Of course, you can go the designer route if you desire. However, custom does not always mean high prices.

Your designer will work with a custom furniture manufacturer to stay within your budget for the project. Options for wood, style, and materials will help create a unique look without breaking the bank.

Custom Furniture is One-Of-A-Kind

Unlike the standard showroom sofa available in three different colors, you have the option to choose from a myriad of fabrics and designs. Best of all, your new pieces will be unique, one-of-a-kind furnishings that you will not see in your neighbor’s home.

Your, and your interior designer’s imagination can be put to work creating a piece of furniture that speaks to your dreams, desires, and needs.

Custom Furniture Provides the Perfect Function and Fit

Function and fit are two primary reasons why people turn to custom furniture manufacturers. Perhaps you have an oddly shaped wall and need a wall-unit to fill the space, or maybe you want hidden compartments or unique shelving to display your collectibles. Having furniture custom built to your space specifications beats carrying around a tape measure from showroom to showroom.

First, we look at function. What do you need the piece of furniture to do? Then we turn to the space and consider the fit. Whatever your need and requirements, custom, handmade furniture can provide the answer. Whether you are looking for simplicity or a piece that is complex, your needs can turn into spectacular designs.

Another benefit of having furniture crafted to your needs is the incorporation of electrical and wiring needs. This is an especially important feature to consider when designing an entertainment center. You may want to change stereo or television components in the future. Ease of getting to wiring can make quite a difference when the time comes. Your interior designer also knows the type of craftsmen necessary to complete your project. An electrician may be necessary if you are installing lighting in a unit.

Get the Exact Color and Size You Need from Custom Furniture

From wood to fabrics to laminates, custom designed furniture can incorporate different materials and patterns to meet your requirements, as well as your desires. You do not have to settle for the three options offered by the furniture store. Only your imagination can hold you back – but do not worry, your interior designer will help you along the way.

Remember, your designer knows reputable furniture manufacturers that can create what you want at a reasonable price.

Contact HK Interiors to discover how our interior design services can help you create magic in your home or office. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

Most people automatically think that hiring an interior designer is expensive. They will have to spend extra money to have someone do something they can do themselves. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Professional interior design can actually save you quite a bit of time and money that you did not expect.

Today, cost-conscious homeowners turn to professional interior designers to create the home of their dreams – for less money. What you pay in fees often comes out to far less than you would have spent on costly design mistakes.

Are you ready to learn the 5 ways hiring an interior designer can save you money?

If so, check out the list below:

• Interior designers can prevent you from making costly mistakes
• An interior designer can save you time and money
• Access to trade only discounts
• Knowing when to spend money on quality for durability
• Planning for the future

Interior Designers Can Prevent Costly Mistakes

How often have you gone shopping and come home with an impulse buy? When looking for furnishings or accent pieces for their homes, consumers often buy what they like. Until they get something home, they have no idea how it will look in the room. If your new sofa looks great, but now everything else doesn’t match, you could be spending well more than you bargained for when you started your remodel.

Hiring an interior designer before you start buying is a smarter move. After listening attentively to your wants, likes, and dislikes, the designer can determine where your money can be best spent. Careful planning of the room can avoid costly mistakes.

Hiring an Interior Designer Can Save You Time and Money

Yes, you can spend hours, days, or even weeks searching online for that perfect vase or rug or end table. Or, you can let your interior designer free up your time by researching what you want.

Hiring an interior designer means that someone else, with extensive knowledge of where to look, is doing the legwork. Designers know to check measurements, lead time, quality, pricing, and durability. Their knowledge translates into significant savings for the consumer.

Interior Designers Often Have Access to Trade-Only Discounts and to Trade-Only Showrooms

Some manufacturers offer direct discounts to interior designers. That incentive saves the consumer money on any purchases with that company. Trade discounts can add up to a nominal discount or wholesale pricing.

By hiring an interior designer, you may save a significant amount of money on that designer furniture you thought was out of your price range.

Interior Designers Know When to Spend a Little Bit Extra on Quality

You may not want to spend that extra $500 on a higher-quality sofa right now, but if it outlasts the cheaper one by ten years, the purchase may be worth it. Interior designers know that quality craftsmanship stands the test of time. Your interior designer will help you determine when and how to spend more to save in the long run.

There are pieces of furniture, art, etc. that are worth splurging on, and other areas where you are better off saving money. Will your room look better with new flooring or wallpaper? Should you spend more on window treatments or furniture for the biggest impact? These are questions that can be best answered by hiring an interior designer.

Interior Designers Know How to Plan for the Future During a Remodel

Your life is ever-changing, and your home should reflect that fact. No, that does not mean going out and buying new furniture every few years. It is about adjusting your home to changes in your lifestyle.

For example, a family with young children will want to invest in furnishings that will grow and change as the children age. When you hire an interior designer, she or he will consider that in any remodel or design.

Another example is keeping in mind market value, and how a particular remodel will hold up in future sales. Even though you may not be planning to move at this time, a good interior designer knows that everything can change overnight. Incorporating concepts and ideas that will add to a home’s market value is an excellent way an interior designer can save you money.

To discover 8 ways to afford an interior designer, click here.

Are you ready to save money on your next remodel? If so, contact HK Interiors to discover how our interior design services can help you create magic in your home or office. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

In our previous blog about basic color theory, we discussed the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. Next, we will examine the impact of the secondary and tertiary colors.

What are the secondary colors?

When you combine two primary colors, you wind up with a secondary color. Red and blue equal purple. Red and yellow make orange. Yellow and blue turn into green.

What are the tertiary colors?

By mixing primary and secondary colors, you wind up with the following six tertiary colors:

• Red-orange
• Yellow-orange
• Yellow-green
• Blue-green
• Blue-violet
• Red-violet

Of course, the art of color theory does not stop there. By varying the amount of one color in the combination, you can wind up with an endless array of shades. Just walk into any paint shop, and the swatches are astounding. How will you ever decide?

That is where the help of an experienced interior designer is invaluable. The use of color in design is an art. There is also a science behind it – often termed room color psychology. As an interior designer, it is my role to help select the precise shades for your room. We can incorporate color schemes into your walls, window coverings, furnishings, flooring, or accent pieces.

Incorporating Secondary and Tertiary Color Theory into Your Home

When we delve into the psychology of colors in interior design, we often find ways to address specific issues a person may have. For example, the right colors can help if you have a lot of stress in your life. We will want to add cooler, calming colors, such as varying shades of purple, blue, and green into your home.

The color theory wheel also helps you pick complimentary colors – but we will save that conversation for another time.

Now let us examine the color theory behind the three secondary colors. The tertiary colors will be variations of the impacts you read about below:

Purple – Often associated with royalty, purple brings with it a feeling of power. When tinged with more of a blue undertone, purple can add calm and serenity to your space. Purple shades that have a bit more red increase attention and are more dominating. You can also use purple to stimulate creativity.

Orange – When looking for a touch of warmth, consider a vibrant shade of orange. The kitchen and dining room are two areas of your home that can benefit from orange as it stimulates appetite and may help improve digestion

Green – It is natural to think about nature when using the color green. This is a wonderful way to incorporate the outdoors into your home. Green is associated with balance, harmony, energy, and stability.

Using Color Theory to Go Beyond the Primary and Secondary Colors

The world would be a boring place if we stopped at the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. There is still so much more to experience – and to bring into the home. We can continue to use color theory to add other hues into our interior designs, such as:

Pink – It is not surprising that pink is often found in the rooms of little girls. Pink has a fresh sweetness that is soothing to the eye.

Gray – Elegant yet conservative, beware of yellow tints that can impart a depressing feel. Gray brings a refreshing appearance, especially when combined with white, black, and a hint of color. Using silver shades will spice gray up and bring a feeling of wealth and prosperity. Gray is a great neutral color.

Black – If you are looking for a bold, powerful, and elegant look, search no further than black. Just be careful not to overdo black in your home.

Brown – Also associated with nature, brown is a neutral color that adds stability and security to your space. The richness of wood is symbolic of good taste and is often used in offices

White – Clean, crisp, refreshing – perhaps the most neutral of all “colors.” White is quiet, airy, pure – devoid of color, and lends itself to any accents. You can also achieve a formal look by using cooler shades and textures of white. Warmer hues bring a cozy feel to the room.

You can also refer back to Part 1 of this series on color theory to read up on the primary colors.

Please contact HK Interiors to discover how our interior design services can help you create magic in your home or office. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

Whether you are moving into a new home or engaging in a remodel, you have many decisions to make. Nothing is more important than choosing your color schemes. You can add color to your room by painting it on the walls, wallpaper, selecting vibrant window treatments, or adding a few strategically placed throw pillows or a rug. Basic color theory is as much a science as it is an art.

The psychology of colors in interior design might surprise you. Color can create and even alter mood, ambiance, and feeling.

There are no limits to the number of colors you can put in your home. One person who used different and contrasting colors in a previous house stated how creative she felt at home.

Now that does not mean you should randomly choose colors to paint on your walls. There is a science and an art to color theory. You want to employ practical guidance in the mixing of colors. How will a specific color combination enhance your interior design? These are things you need to consider.

The Impact of Basic Color Theory on You and Your Surroundings

Color can impact your mood and emotional well-being. By utilizing room color psychology, you can create a place of tranquility or stimulation. While some people do react differently to specific colors, there is a generalization that we follow as to how basic color theory will impact a room.

Here are some examples as to how you can use color in a room:

• Home Office – if you are a writer or designer, you may want colors that will stimulate your creativity, such as yellow and purple. Accountants and attorneys might choose colors that increase concentration, such as gray or brown. Of course, an individual’s own personality may alter the colors used in an office. Calming colors can help relax an overly stimulated mind, whereas vibrant colors can help energize someone who often feels sedate.
• Bedroom – people who have trouble sleeping do best with colors that calm and relax the mind, like blue and purple. Individuals who want to heat up their love life might select black, red, or an orange caramel shade.

These are just some of the ways you can incorporate basic color theory into your daily life and surroundings.

Selecting Your Colors – Incorporating Color Theory into Your Home

Using color in design of your new home or remodel can be both exciting and stressful. How will you feel when the project is done, and what will others think when they walk into your home?

An interior designer who has extensive knowledge of basic color theory is the best person to speak with when selecting your colors. The guidance offered will be invaluable when it comes to making your home the haven you desire.

As we examine the various colors on the color theory wheel, you will be able to see how to use them in your life. One thing to remember – warm, dark colors can make your room look smaller while brighter colors give a feeling of spaciousness.

In this blog, we will look at the three primary colors – red, blue, and yellow. Our follow-up blog will examine the secondary (orange, purple, and green) and tertiary (six additional shades) colors.

The three primary colors:

Red – We think about passion, energy, and excitement when looking at the color “red.” It is psychologically stimulating and can increase heart rate. You may see red used in kitchens as it helps improve appetite. Be careful about using red in a bedroom – while it may be stimulating for romance, it often impairs relaxation and sleep.

Blue – When you want to lower heart rate and blood pressure, blue brings the calming effect you need. That is why you often see various shades of blue used in bedrooms. Blue also has a cooling effect, making it beneficial for sunny rooms. Lighter shades of blue can help enlarge the appearance of a small space. If you want to decrease your appetite and lose weight, consider adding touches of blue to your kitchen.

Yellow – If you are looking to brighten up your surroundings, yellow may be the color you want. Pale yellow to honey gold shades can add a feeling of sunshine and happiness to your surroundings. Yellow can stimulate memory, enhance creativity, and add optimism to your home. It is vital that the right shade of yellow be chosen to create the effect you desire.

Check out Part 2 of this series to learn more about how to incorporate secondary and tertiary colors into your home.

Please contact HK Interiors to discover how our interior design services can help you create magic in your home or office. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

The kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. It is a place for gathering, eating, drinking, laughing, and activity. When considering a remodel, your kitchen design ideas should take into consideration the amount of use and traffic this room will see.

For example, do you entertain frequently? If so, chances are your guests will want to hang around while you are in the kitchen doing prep work. You want to have as much space as possible, and perhaps even bar stools on the other side of a counter.

Incorporating these kitchen design ideas also has much to do with the present shape and style of the kitchen. If you are going to change the positioning of current base cabinets, are there extra floor tiles to fill in any gaps? This is crucial to consider if you are not changing out your flooring. We call this keeping the same footprint. One solution is extending base cabinets or an island if a variance in design or shape will uncover original builder foundation or cement flooring.

Other things to keep in mind when planning a kitchen interior design include:

• What will you discover when removing cabinets that will be replaced – this also goes back to changes in the footprint of the kitchen
• If the flooring was never completed under the cabinets, you might need to have tile or concrete installed for an even surface under the new base cabinets
• What changes in lighting are necessary or desired – moving an island or work surfaces could change the lighting patterns
• Alterations in electrical wiring, outlets, and plumbing for new appliances

Remodeled Kitchen Design Ideas – Going from Dated to Sleek

In the original kitchen photos below, you will see how the cabinets sat low on the walls. There was quite a bit of space that the homeowner had filled with artificial plants to balance the stark white cabinets.

When contemplating remodeling kitchen design ideas where an island is in the picture, you do have to consider the footprint. In this room, the client wanted a long, sleek island rather than the odd shape of the one below. However, there were no extra floor tiles to fill in any gaps. To accommodate the change, we ensured that the island would be large enough to cover any original foundation. Builders install kitchens then lay flooring and cut out around base cabinets. This can be a headache when you are ready to renovate a kitchen years down the road.

In the “after” photos below, you will see how the cabinets were installed higher on the wall. The result was a roomier feel to the open space.

The sleek island features wide counter space – excellent for food preparation. We kept in the bi-level counter extending it out to accommodate four bar stools as seen in the kitchen pictures below.

In the photo on the right above, you will see how we incorporated a pantry for large platters and food storage containers to the side of the refrigerator. This puts many supplies as well as food items within easy reach of all family members.

As you look at these remodeled kitchen design ideas, you are probably wondering what happened to the microwave. You can see that the customer desired a stainless-steel hood over the stovetop. The unique kitchen cabinet design incorporated glass doors on either side of the hood. The doors hide a small microwave and toaster oven out of sight.

Our final feature was to incorporate sleek pendant lighting features over the long counter. By comparing the before and after kitchen design pictures, you will also notice that we increased the recessed lighting in the ceiling.

All these changes transformed the kitchen from bland and dated to sleek and modern.

To discover what kitchen design ideas await you, please contact HK Interiors. Discover how our interior design services can help you create magic in your home. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.