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.

You may have had a modern kitchen twenty years ago when you bought your home, but now it is dated. It is time for some modern ideas in kitchen design to heat things up in one of the busiest rooms of your home.

What features are important to you? If your kitchen is the family and friend gathering place, you may also want it roomy and open to facilitate inclusive entertaining.

Do you need more storage space, counter space, or both? If so, floor to ceiling cabinets and single level islands can provide what you need.

Your taste in color may have also changed. Perhaps you are tired of light colored kitchen cabinets and want to go darker. Or, maybe you want to take your dark kitchen cabinet design lighter.

You may not know what you want until you see a particular piece of granite, and that may change your kitchen design ideas. Choosing cabinet colors to augment colors in the granite can give your kitchen an exciting facelift.

Older kitchens often incorporated desks, bookshelves, and decorative shelving in their designs. With today’s exciting options for home offices, most people want to maximize their kitchen space.

You will see the incorporation of this space in the after photos of the new kitchen design.

Adding Style and Flair to an Open Kitchen Design

The original builder’s kitchen design featured a smaller standard pantry with an ordinary slatted door next to the refrigerator. You will see this in the photo on the left. As you can see in the construction photo below right, we built an entirely new, larger cabinet for the pantry. To increase storage space, the kitchen cabinets now extend higher, up to the top of the walls.

The extra storage space in both the pantry and the kitchen cabinets was one of the requests of the client.

Molding at the top of the cabinets brings a sophisticated look to the kitchen design. As a result, the kitchen has a more finished and elegant feel.

In these next before and after kitchen pictures, you can see how the change in kitchen cabinet height impacts the design. You may also notice that the microwave is no longer hanging over the stove. Now, you will find it conveniently housed in a cabinet drawer. Sleek, modern cabinetry and door handles complement the new refrigerator. A stainless-steel chimney hood hangs over the stove.

The Right Kitchen Design Will Breathe New Life into Your Home

The original builder’s kitchen featured a two-tier island separating the kitchen from the family room. With the beautiful piece of granite that we found for this counter, we changed to a single level kitchen island design to optimize counter space for entertaining. Although the kitchen did have the original cabinets, recently installed new porcelain tile throughout the home was a positive feature because we would be able to match the tile. Due to the flooring cut outs around the original cabinets, extra porcelain tiles were added and concrete used to fill and create an even surface for the new kitchen installation.

Perhaps the most unique feature for many people to notice is the two-color kitchen. We were able to pull both the light and dark colors from the granite and use them in the cabinetry. The result was stylish sophistication and a beautiful kitchen for the family to enjoy for many years to come.

To discover new kitchen design ideas, contact HK Interiors for a consultation. Our interior design services can help you revitalize your home. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

One of the easiest ways to update your home is with some of the latest designs in window treatments. Texture, color, and patterned materials can transform your space in exciting new ways.

You may not have enough money for a complete remodel or full interior design. However, you can utilize the services of an interior designer to transform your room, space, or home with exciting new window treatments.

Best of all, the money you spend may come back to you in monthly savings on your energy bill. New, energy-efficient window coverings can keep the summer heat out of your home, reducing your cooling costs. For those in cooler climates, during winter’s coldest days, the right window treatments can help keep the indoor warmth from heading outside.

Remember, window treatments serve multiple purposes:

• Décor and design
• Creating ambience
• Adding privacy
• Regulating temperature
• Controlling light

Options in Window Treatments to Consider That Will Update Your Home

The modern window treatments highlighted below are just some of the ideas available to you today. A simple change in curtains can update your home in exciting ways.

Bring Nature Indoors

Today, many people want to bring the feel of nature indoors. Natural materials such as woven shades or bamboo blinds create an earthy feel. Consider combining them with a layering of stationary panels for an added touch of elegance. By layering two different window treatments, you can create unique dimensions in your home.

Jewel Tones

Jewel tones in vibrant shades of radiant ruby, shimmering turquoise, deep emerald, and rich amethyst can create an atmosphere of sophisticated luxury or fun. When bringing in jewel tones, you add a sense of romance. These vibrant colors can lend themselves to many fabrics.

Window Sheers or Shades

While you may want darker, thicker window treatments in a bedroom to block out the morning light, you may want to let that same natural light into your other rooms. Window sheers are see-through panels that bring the light in while adding a touch of warmth to the room. From vibrant colors to creamy shades of white, window sheers can breathe new life into your room.

Geometric Designs

Bring some excitement into your home with window treatments featuring fun patterns. Creative, geometric designs call the eyes to your windows, and you can make a new statement just by choosing a dramatic or fun design. Whether you want window curtains with just a touch of design across the top or full-scale geometric window shades, today’s new patterns can transform your room.

Metallics

Some rooms, such as bedrooms and living rooms lend themselves to the brilliance of metallics. Hang these gold, silver, and bronze window curtains from classic metal rods to create a glamorous setting.

Darker Neutrals

A step to the side from metallics, darker neutrals in slate or charcoal add a touch of sophistication to your home. When going for an elegant look, window treatments in these colors may fit the bill.

Shutters

Another option in window treatments is shutters. Choosing solid shutters for a bedroom can help keep the morning light from waking you before your alarm. Another plus – shutters are energy-efficient as they protect against the summer heat and keep in the warmth on the coldest of days.

Pairing the right fabric with the right design is essential. A delicate sheer would not stand a chance against a southwest exposure in our Florida climate. Using the right fabric for its function and design is key – avoiding sheers when looking for privacy or room darkening.

Window treatments can get costly due to yardage or intricacy of design. Some windows are 2 stories tall and motorization may be necessary to figure in to the overall cost.

For help choosing the right window treatments for your home, please contact HK Interiors at 954-401-8542.

Can I Afford an Interior Designer? How to Make it a Reality!

It is a misconception that hiring an interior designer is so expensive that only the wealthy can afford one. While an extensive remodel of your home could require the financial means to embark down this road, updating your living space does not have to cost a fortune.

You will have to pay for the services of a good interior designer. However, you might be surprised at how much that can save you along the way. Remember, most interior designers have contacts and connections to get you discounts on flooring, furnishings, and remodeling services. They also oversee your remodeling and design project so that you do not have to worry about it yourself.

8 Ways to Afford an Interior Designer for Your Next Remodeling or Redecorating Project

You have spent months pouring over architectural and design magazines and watched countless television shows. The book of design ideas you have is overflowing with photos of what you like. Unfortunately, you do not know how to choose what will look best in your living spaces. Consequently, you have no idea how to make your dreams come to life.

Great interior design does not have to cost a fortune. You can start by asking friends for recommendations. You can also interview a number of interior designers, look at their portfolios of work, and discuss budget constraints as a starting point.

8 Ways to Afford an Interior Designer

1. Determine your budget for the project and stick to it. Present this information to the interior designer upfront and ask what she or he can do for that price.

2. Be realistic with your expectations. Yes, you may love the look of hardwood floors, but if that will eat up your entire budget, an interior designer may offer other suggestions that look as nice but for less money. Do some research in advance so that you do not feel blindsided by costs during your meeting.

3. Prioritize what you really need in the space. Consider the basic necessities luxury items. That custom sofa might be nice, but an interior designer may be able to find you a similar looking piece of furniture at a much lower price. Mixing higher and lower end items can give you the look you want for less money.

4. Stop thinking that you cannot afford great interior design services. Many design firms offer different options in levels of service, including anything from full management to consultations by the hour. Unless you have exhausted all avenues, you will not know this until you try.

5. Consider doing your project in phases. Although the dream of redoing your entire home all at once is appealing, focusing on one area at a time may make the whole project more affordable. What room is at the top of your list first? Tackle that project before the others.

6. Even if you cannot get the affordable interior design service that you want right now, it may not be that far off. How much more money do you need to save? Most important is to create a workable plan for how you will accomplish that goal.

7. A good place to start with your new design plan is to consider what needs to go or will stay. Look around your house and see what unused items you can sell online or donate. “Letting go” is a great stimulus for change, and it can also open you up to new possibilities.

8. Ask your interior design candidates if there are any areas where you can do it yourself to save money, such as painting or cabinet installation if you are extremely handy. Having a design consultation, one on one with a designer can help start you on the right path.

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.

Home office design is not always as simple as it might sound. Creating a customized space, especially in a uniquely shaped room can be a challenge for an interior designer. What do you do with a tiny wall in the corner of a small room and how do you create an efficient space?

There are times when a room does not consist of four walls with normal angles. These spaces can pose some of the biggest home office design challenges. In this office, a small corner wall with a 45-degree angle was an issue. The client required a significant amount of storage space as you can see from the before photos.

Additionally, the room was extremely narrow as you can see from the wall behind the desk. The unique corner is to the left of the photo, and a window takes up almost half of the wall with only a tiny amount of wall space on the other side. A second window also limits storage opportunities and wall space. As you can see in the picture, the door opens right into the cramped workspace.

Check out the desk in the photo below. A lack of storage space meant files were placed on the floor, next to a lamp behind the desk – anywhere there was room. There is even a box on the floor under the desk. Consequently, an inefficient workspace can greatly reduce your productivity.

Taking Home Office Design from Cramped to Efficient

The lack of organized storage in the before photos means that books, papers, and other important items are just shoved or placed wherever space allows. One problem with this home office design is trying to find what you need when you need it. A small space can also begin to look very cramped, with the furnishings creating difficult movement.

The before and after photos show how a custom computer desk can be worked into the storage space. Creating two built-in desks also allows for flexible working spaces. As you can see in the after photos, there is now an abundance of drawers, cabinets, and shelves throughout the room. The uniquely angled corner units allowed for maximum utilization of the unusual space.

Clutter is the number one problem many people face today. You cannot work efficiently if you must take time to go searching for files or supplies. An orderly and well-laid out workspace can save you valuable time. This allows you the freedom to go about your business of making money.

Custom built-in office furniture can give you exactly what you need in your workspace. As you can see, this client has a nice mixture of cabinets, shelves, and drawers. Excellent use of the small space next to the window utilizes shelves and smaller drawers for storage of office supplies.

Utilizing three walls for the home office built-ins means that the client can now enter into an uncluttered and open space. The center of the room and entranceway are no longer cramped, resulting in a larger feel to the room. Additionally, the abundant counter space makes it easy to spread out and work with ease.

Incorporating Function, Design, and Efficiency in Your Home Office Design

As an interior designer, there are some things I always take into consideration when creating a new space for a client:

• What are the most pressing needs? These are the things the client must have in their space.
• What are the dream items on their wish list? These are not the important aspects of the project, but things that would be nice to have if budget permits.
• How does the person work in the room? Do they sit in one place all the time or will it be beneficial if they could swivel or move easily from one workstation to another?
• What would simplify their workday ? Is it better to have storage across the room or do they need quick and easy access to a drawer or bookshelf?
• How many workstations do you need? This is especially important if more than one person works in the space, or different types of work areas are necessary.
• What pieces of office equipment do you use? We need to measure and create space for computers, printers, and other necessary items.

What home office ideas and desires do you have? Perhaps you want a new custom office desk or cabinets. Even the toughest design dilemmas can have solutions when you get creative and turn to custom office designs to optimize your workspace.

Please contact HK Interiors for help with your home office design. We are here to help you create the room, space, home, or office that reflects your style. Call us today at 954-401-8542 for all your interior design needs.

Best Laundry Room Idea: Combine Function, Practicality, and Style

Doing laundry is a fact of life. Clothes, towels, sheets, and other items get dirty. You have to wash them. Interior design can and should also extend to your laundry room. Here is your best laundry room idea –  combine function and practicality with style.

Whether your laundry room is tiny or spacious, there is much you can do to maximize your productivity.

Redesigning your laundry room cabinets is one of the best ways to increase storage space in your home. Many times, people do not have enough cabinets in laundry room areas or even their kitchen. Perhaps your pantry is small or inconveniently located. A thorough redesign of your laundry room layout can provide you a larger pantry, increased storage space, and an updated appearance.

Modernizing Your Laundry Room with Updated Cabinets

The best laundry room idea begins with a desire. What do you crave in this space? For some people, it is all about having additional room for storage. Many older homes and condos are lacking in cabinets. Closets become stacked sky high with boxes and bins. Incorporating more storage into your laundry room design will ease the burden of where to store those dishes you use only once a year.

In the before and after laundry room décor photos below, you can see how every space was expertly filled with additional storage. The modern cabinetry breathed new life into this space, allowing for wide shelving to hold sorting laundry baskets. For families with young children, the baskets help to teach them to sort their clothes at an early age. Of course, this time-saving feature simplifies laundry time for mom and dad.

You may be thinking that it is not necessary to consider décor for laundry room in your interior design plans. Just look at the lovely touch the blue tile brings behind the sink. For a very small cost, the modest upgrade can enhance your home’s value when you go to sell it in the future.

Maximizing Your Laundry Room Space and Function

What else is important to you in your laundry room plans? For the owner of this home, increased counter space was also desired. A laundry room with sink and counter space can make it easier to pretreat stains, as well as do hand laundry.

Whether you are looking for small laundry room ideas or want to reimagine a larger space you have now, an interior designer can help transform your work area.

Creating functional, practical, and stylish laundry room plans does not have to be expensive. What they can save you in time and stress now and in the future will likely be worth the added expense of turning to a professional for help.

Do you have a laundry room or other area of your home in need of updating? If so, please contact HK Interiors with your personal queries. We are here to help you design the room, space, home, or office that reflects your style. Call us today at 954-401-8542 for all your interior design needs.

Living Room Makeovers: The Power of Before and After Photos in Interior Design

Your living room makes a statement – whether designed for entertaining or family life, it tells a story. Living room makeovers can be as simple as changing wall color and a few key elements to a complete redo of all furnishings.

Perhaps you love your sofa and chairs but would like to update the feel of the room. Bringing color into the interior design can make all the difference in the world. Changing from earth tones to vibrant colors creates a modern and airy feel. Those same colors can then be incorporated into other rooms of the house for a soothing flow.

In these before and after photos, you will see how one room went from dated to modern by changing out the rug for one with a beautiful design element that incorporates the blue of the chairs.

Coordinated wall color, accent pillows, and changes in plants, tables, and lamps lightened the feel of the room.

Many of the elements remained the same:

• Sofa
• Floor  lamp
• Window treatments
• Art and mirror
• Plant next to sofa

The use of a smaller oval coffee table created more walk-through space in the room, giving it a larger feel. Even the see-through table lamp helps to provide an airier feel in front of the mirror.

A more symmetrical plant compliments the floor lamp flanking the drapes. The previous decorations on the coffee table cut off the room and blocked the outdoors. Using a smaller accent piece on the coffee table provides an unrestricted view.

The redesigned dining room continued the use of blue teal from the living room for a balanced feel to the home.

Living Room Makeovers for Small or Unusual Spaces

Some homes, condominiums, and apartments have open floor plans. You may have to carve out a unique living space that makes a statement while incorporating functionality.

Living room makeovers in smaller spaces can still go bold. It is clear from the before photo below that animal stripes were a desired element. Unfortunately, the low chair and bulky table gave the room a crowded feel.

As with the previous design, some elements were kept, such as the glass coffee table and corner lamp. However, a complete change of flooring was utilized to modernize the space. A black accent rug over the wood floors tied in with the zebra-striped chairs and accent pillow.

The smaller side table still allowed for the display of a few favorite photos. Brightly colored flowers strategically hung over the sofa gave the space the pop of color it needed.

Living room makeovers can change the look and feel of your home. The living room is often one of the first places people see when they walk in the door. The right interior design can welcome guests into your home with style.

To discuss interior design ideas for living room makeovers of your personal space, please contact HK Interiors for a free consultation. We are here to help you design the room, space, home, or office that reflects your style. Call us today at 954-401-8542 for all your interior design needs.

9 Most Commonly Asked Interior Design Questions

You are not going to hire an interior designer without first asking some questions. Therefore, to help you in your quest for the perfect match, here are the 9 top interior design questions most commonly asked:

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In our previous blog, 5 Reasons Why Interior Office Designs Matters for Your Business, we discussed the importance of design in the workplace. Now we are going to discuss home office ideas you can use. 

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