Out-of-the-Ordinary ART!

When beginning to think about artwork for a clients home … there are so many variables. 

Art is such a personal thing. 

When we have the chance to step outside the box, we try to REALLY get creative.

This week, we stumbled upon this image:

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The "artwork" is suspended from the ceiling! We love art that you wouldn't necessarily see as "art" the first glance you get. You have to take a second look to realize what it really is.

We love to get 3-Dimensional:

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There are a variety of art "plates" out there today. We like to take them, and then arrange them in a way that you wouldn't think.

That's our job. Coming up with a new way to look at things.

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In this turquoise dining room, we combined a typical canvas art piece with bright colored folded glass plates that flank both sides for a bit of the unexpected.

What do you do with a large empty wall? Many would start with a grouping of canvas pieces, but we took a few colorful glass blown "art pieces" and asymmetrically
 arranged them to take up this blank wall!

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You can MIX framed artwork with 3 Dimensional pieces to jazz things up. In this modern living room, we flanked the fireplace with framed abstract art pieces and placed a large 3-D metal art piece on the side wall for a different touch!

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Kids rooms are the best for thinking outside the box. In this fun game room, we got "down and dirty" literally and created our own "Paint Bucket" art. 
You might remember our tutorial HERE!!

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Think outside the box… be extraordinary!
Thursday, October 9, 2014 Comments: 0
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Optimal Lighting - Bedroom Addition

Bedrooms are multifunctional spaces
So how can you utilize this "living room, dining room, playroom and home office"
 to its maximum potential??

*** LIGHTING ***

It's the key to everything in a space. It can change the color, feel and statement in a room.

We are laying out 4 simple steps to help you decide what works best for YOU!

1. Decide the Type of Lighting you Need
- a ceiling light with a dimmer : this is key to setting the mood for your bedroom
- sconces create a soft ambiance
- floor lamps are nice to light up a dark corner
- nightstand lighting

TCI PROJECT link

2. How to utilize the lighting
- make sure they are near outlets so cords aren't being tripped over
- get the correct height of nightstand light:
** bottom of shade is at eye level when you are sitting up in bed

TCI PROJECT link

3. Think about how you live
- do you like to read at night, but your spouse is ready for sleep?
- do you wake in the night and need a dim light?

TCI PROJECT link

4. Find your style
- lighting is a big part of your design
- it can set the stage for your personal style

TCI PROJECT link

Kathi Fleck of Lonestar Property Solutions gives her opinion on 
bedroom lighting today to help YOU out!

"How to Choose the Right Lighting for Each Room
Most rooms perform better with multiple layers of lighting and three types of lighting work well in many rooms, in addition to natural light. 

1: Ambient Light-
You will want an ambient light, which is the general lighting for the room. You flip a switch and the overhead light brightens the room as a general light.

2: Task Light-
This allows you to work on a specific function with adequate light and it can be used with or without the ambient light.

3: Accent Light-
When you have a special object, such as art, or the focus over a fireplace, accent light will direct your attention to this area of the room.


Bedroom Lighting Tips - 
-  In addition to the ceiling light, many like the task light of a 

lamp on a dresser or desk in the bedroom.



- The best light for bedrooms is generally warm light, which is more flattering and restful. If you do a lot of reading in your bedroom, however, be sure to keep a 
cool-light shaded task lamp nearby to prevent eyestrain.

As you consider you next remodel, make sure you place a 
special emphasis on the lighting."

Read more on lighting… 


Happy Lighting!
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 Comments: 0
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Accessories PERFECT for Fall.

It's that time of year again! Bring out the pumpkins, spice candles and faux leaves.

BUT Do you have to?! We have accessories to show you that are PERFECT for Fall, but don't have the kitschy appearance of a bowl full of fake fall leaves!

1. Earth tones. Use natural plant life that brings in the fall colors. Auburn, moss green, and taupes are great starters.

TCI Project
2. Wood Look. Natural wood is always a plus in the fall season. It brings the outdoors inside, which is what everyone wants to do in this crisp season!

3. Lanterns. What says FALL better than a great collection of lanterns?? Fill the inside with the unexpected. Books, or a pop of color to coordinate with your home.

4. Don't forget about your OUTDOORS! Pottery and Plants. Need I say more??

5. Wire baskets and Fall Colors. A touch of coral and rust in the Autumn season just seems to bring a sense of the north-east to Texas! A few sprigs of color mixed in a natural wire basket will brighten up any countertop.

TCI Project
Share your pictures of Fall Accessories on our FACEBOOK PAGE!! We'd love to see them!
Thursday, October 2, 2014 Comments: 0
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Gold is the New Silver!

While we still like our silver … TCI is branching out and
 LOVING gold accents in our latest designs!
This is a Powder Bath at the Mansion on Turtle Creek!

For a splash of the unexpected, we think that gold is 
no longer your grandma's favorite accessory. 

It is bold, bright, and unique.

CHECK OUT WHY WE THINK SO!

- Brass mixed with blue is a favorite color combo of ours. It brings a touch of 
modern in with the old, making the perfect blend. 
Lighting and even hardware are ways to bring this look in.

** See the gold cup pulls on the blue painted cabinets!?

- Dark, rich, wood tones and gold. Mmmm yes please! This knot ball is a perfect conversation piece, but also adds a new color to the space that coordinates with pillows and accessories throughout.

- Gold BRIGHTENS. Yes, sounds like something you might already know. BUT if you are bold enough to darken your space by painting walls black, or navy… you can quickly add light (spunk) to the space by bringing in gold in the plumbing fixtures, hardware or wall decor!

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WILL YOU GO FOR THE GOLD?!
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Comments: 0
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Creative Storage Solutions for Building a Home

When a homeowner comes to us with their first floor plan to start editing and making it the best it can be, one of their first questions is always, 
WHERE CAN WE ADD IN STORAGE?

Everyone has it … STUFF. And we all need a place to put it! 
(And make it look aesthetically pleasing of course)

So we have collaborated again with Kathi Fleck of Lone Star Property Solutions to help YOU with a few creative ways to "hide" your prized possessions (or junk;)

First : A few of TCI's favorite storage solutions from around the web!
- An under the stair liquor cabinet. Talk about handy!
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- Don't want a pile of shoes at the bottom of your stairs where everyone leave them? 
Make a stair… a DRAWER!
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- Kitchens are always the best place for creative storage. These are two we love. 
A Platter Divider Drawer!
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- And if you look to the bottom left: individual shelves for your rolling pins!
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- Lastly, TCI just thought this was too amazing not to share. You want storage? 
Well this children's playroom has it ALL!
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LoneStar Property Solutions weighs in on ideas they have put to use:
There are many ways to find space where none seems to exist.
 The key is to look and then look again.

Glimpse beyond a door, look above the window, peek below a table and put a cabinet in a place you never thought to put it before. 
Instead of looking around at eye level, look up and down. Think vertical. 


These clients are avid cooks and spend most of their time in the kitchen. We removed the old cooktop and narrow drawers. Oversized deep drawers allow for easy access for most of their pots and pans.



Most of my clients want to use that corner space and complain about crawling into the corners of underused cabinets. Yet the thought of a wobbly Lazy-Susan caused them to hesitate before putting in new kitchen cabinets. These sturdy Susans are the ideal way to store small appliances and make great use of that corner space.

How do you make use of the corner on an oversized bathroom vanity? This corner cabinet balances the room and cabinet, allowing for items to be hidden from view yet accessible to both sides of the vanity.
 It even houses electrical for keeping the hair dryer, rollers, curling iron plus more.

Hopefully you all have a better idea of some fun and creative ways to STORE!
Thursday, September 25, 2014 Comments: 0
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New Home Journals - Courtney's House

Part 2 of our NEW HOME JOURNALS!

Today we are excited to walk you through Courtney's 
beginning stages of her family's home build!

And like we started off with Terra's -- We first kick off with THE LOT!

On a little over a 1/3rd of an acre in McKinney, this cul-de-sac lot will give plenty of room for their growing family to have years of play-worthy backyard space!



The full brick home with accented cedar garage doors and shutters 
will provide a nice contrast to the landscaping around.


Courtney chose to use all rectangular and square windows instead of half-moon or eyebrow windows throughout the home. This makes life SO much easier when it comes to window treatments as well ;)

A few of the home specs!:
3700 Sq Ft
4 Bedroom 
3.5 Baths
Custom Kitchen
Family Room
Media Room
Gameroom/Playroom
Office
And Much More...

FIRST FLOOR:
 SECOND FLOOR:

Many of the finishes are completely selected and concepts are already starting to form! Courtney's vision for the home is light and airy. The minimalistic view of "less is more" will be put into play throughout the space. 
Grays, whites, with a splash of brushed nickel in the finishes are the beginning concepts….

We will share these concepts soon! For now, here are a few of the finishes:
- 12' Vein Cut Stone Fireplace Surround
- 42" Linear Fireplace
- Linear Glass Backsplash
- 3CM Granite and Quartz Countertops
- Espresso Stain Wood Floors
- Brushed Nickel Delta Plumbing Fixtures
- Stainless Steel Frigidaire Appliances
- Modern Black Iron Stair Railing
- Brushed Nickel Custom Lighting
- And Much more...

And the exciting part -- The framing for the foundation has begun! In the next week,
 we hope for plumbing to be laid and foundation to be poured!

Construction Specs:
- 16 SEER HVAC Systems
- Radiant Barrier Roof Decking
- Low-E, Double Paned Windows
- R-38 Blown Insulation
- Rinnai Tankless Gas Water Heaters
- PEX Plumbing Systems

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for concepts and images
 to find out more of what these home will look like!
Thursday, September 18, 2014 Comments: 0
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Terra and Courtney: New Home Journals - Part 1

But "you do this for a living, it must be SO fun to design your own home!!!….."
It's a common misconception about Interior Designers ;)

Today we are starting a series about our very own … Terra and Courtney! 
Ironically, they are both building new homes… across the street from each other!!

We want to share with you our build-journeys. 
The good, the bad, AND the ugly ;) But hopefully mostly the good!

When it comes to building your own home, and you are a designer… 
it is 100 times harder than designing for a client! 
Because you are your hardest critic.

Today we will walk you through Terra's beginning stages in her home build!

First off -- The LOT. 
Sitting on a beautiful 1/2 acre in Prosper, this "piece of dirt" will transform 
into a gorgeous homesite for her and her family.

The official sign-off on the lot!


The most incredible part of this home is that Terra and her husband are actually the
  architect AND designers on the project. 
Every detail has been thought out and drawn by THEM!

Terra pulled out her drafting markers from school and went to town on the 
front elevation of their home. The realistic drawing gives them a visual 
to begin the design of their home. 

A few of the House Specs
4,729 SF
4 Bdrm
3.5 Bath
2 Living Rooms
Office
His/Her Closet
Walk Out Attic
Much More…

The beginnings of the finish selections are underway! 
Here are a few of the best:

Finishes
Hand Scraped Wood Floors
Natural Stone Tile
3CM Granite Countertops
Kohler Plumbing Fixtures
Solid Core 7ft and 8ft Interior Doors
Iron Rod Staircase
Beautiful Kolbe Low-E Aluminum/Wood Casement Windows
Contemporary Trim Package
Near Perfect Flat Wall Texturing
Low-E Glass Shower Enclosures
Beautifully designed by Terra
Much More…
Like we mentioned before, the beauty of this home, is that Terra has been 
able to design this home exactly how she wants and to fit her and her families needs. 

The final floor plan is perfect!

FIRST FLOOR:

SECOND FLOOR:
A few Construction Specs
Pex Home Run Plumbing
Spray Foam Encapsulation
Zip Systems Exterior and Roof Sheathing
Ditra Uncoupling Membrane under Natural Stone
21 SEER Carrier Air Conditioners
96 AFUE Gas Furnaces
Walk Out Attic
Much More…

Up Next We will walk you through Courtney's new home build 
and all the details that go into it! 
STAY TUNED!

We are excited to take you along these journeys as we share our concepts, visions, finishes and eventually the finished products!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 Comments: 0
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