Classic with a Twist

Get in the Valentines Spirit ;)

Whether you're a fan of Cupid's holiday or not, its right around the corner!

And we are here to show you some modern Valentines decor for that perfect party or brunch you might decide to host!

An easy trick -- using some twig sprigs to be your "modern tree" and adding heart cut outs as ornaments! Takes up a lot of space and is the perfect simple centerpiece.

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Flowers, flowers and more flowers. Just add some pink and red flowers to a table for instant modern glam.

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This tablecloth is quick and easy to make. A plain white table cloth + marker and some X's and O's = Perfect Touch

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Heart shaped name cards. Easy, personal and decorative.

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Not into pink? That's ok too! Glam it up with black, white and gold!

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And our fav - The Love Potion #9 Martini! Recipe HERE

Hope this gets you in the spirit! ;)

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 Comments: 0

Where to Splurge and Where to Save

Design is all about splurges and saves.

Where do you allow the EXTRA and where can you afford to save?
We like to work with our clients, their dreams AND their budgets to make their home the best.

We love this list of splurges and saves from Houzz:

SPLURGE:
Statement lighting - lighting can change a room in its entirety

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Save:
Functional Table - Even a simple table can look high end if paired with the right things

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SPLURGE:
Quality Countertops - beauty and function come with a price

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Save:
Classic Tile - Yes, there are times when statement tile is needed, don't get us wrong, but sometimes the most classic tile can be beautiful

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SPLURGE:
Fun Faucet - It's the "jewelry" of the vanity

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Save:
Minimal Vanity - easy and clean!

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SPLURGE:
Investment Sofa - This MIGHT be your most used piece of furniture in your house... don't skimp!

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Save:
Funky Side Chair - A small side chair doesn't have to break the bank!

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Take these into consideration and lets get ready to put your house together!

Thursday, January 19, 2017 Comments: 0

Don't Knock the Kiddie Table

Part of our business is making design and beauty AND life all one easy mess.

That INCLUDES those kiddos. Many of our clients have young kids (and even our designers! So they are first hand witnesses). Lots of kids want a space to call their own as well! They see their parents dreams coming true, and why wouldn't they want theres to as well?

We make that a priority.

Right now, one of our own designers is working on a new desk niche for her two kids. So while looking for inspiration for her own house, she was inspired for future clients as well!

HOW TO create the kids "space" without disrupting the flow of the house:

TCI recently finished this beautiful home, and in it was this wonderful little nook for a young kid to dream, grow and learn.

Lesson #1 - Even modern chairs come pint sized: We died at this orange mini desk chair.

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Lesson #2: Work with the color scheme:

Creating their own space + making it jive with the rest of the room all starts with coordinating the colors

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Lesson #3: Choose furniture that fits the flow and style of the space

Don't bring in a giant purple bean bag if the rest of the space is clean lined and neutral. This behind-sofa console table turned childs desk is amazing.

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Lesson #4: Think adult style but miniature. Would you have even noticed this was a kids corner at first?! How stinkin cute is the mini table and chairs

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Lesson #5: Keep in line with the function of the room. If the room is used as an office space, create a mini office for the child.

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Ease of glamour ... this is exactly what we mean by this phrase. Making design easy yet glamorous and working for every phase of your life.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Comments: 0

Wallpaper 101 Continued ....

Earlier in the week we educated you guys on wallpaper lingo....

Today we are showing you the "odd" places to use wallpaper that actually AID in the design.

Wallpaper is like good make up; it can disguise or enhance elements that we choose. It can hide irregularities, or create separate zones for better function.

Here are some perfect solutions to needed help:

Have an off-kiltered design place in your home... accentuate it with a little wallpaper to make it seem ON PURPOSE.

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Many people have these "under the stairs" powder baths ... this designer wrapped the ceiling down the wall to pull the eye to the design of the paper not the low ceilings.

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Another powder bath flaw... many can be tiny. Instead of a coat of paint that may make it feel closed in, wrap that bath with a patterned paper for pop and creativity.

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Got uneven walls or bumpy areas in the sheet rock? A good wallpaper installer can smooth that out and hide the flaws with wallpaper in no time.

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Who says wallpaper has to be inside?? Outside is just as fun and surprising as well!

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Add texture ... many people are in to these reclaimed wood walls. But with wood comes mold, allergies, dust etc. This TEXTURED wallpaper looks and feels real.

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Take the place of art - No need for an art piece when your wallpaper mural says it all.

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Who's convinced? Hopefully this "week of wallpaper" got you on board!

Thursday, January 12, 2017 Comments: 0

Wallpaper Lingo - A Little Learning Tip

It is no secret that Traci Connell Interiors loves us some wallpaper.

No, we aren't in the business of matching wallpaper to curtains like the 80's ...
don't worry. BUT we are in the business of creating WOW factors and adding
the unordinary to your home.

Have you ever heard someone talking about wallpaper and felt completely lost?

We thought you might like a little crash course in wallpaper lingo... Listen closely because there will be a pop quiz at the end.... (jk)

A Repeat:

The repeat is the number between one design element and the next... the "repeats" on the wallpaper.

Don't be confused though between a small pattern being a lot of "repeats". Some small patterned wallpaper may be slightly different and actually have a large repeat.

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Pattern Match:

This refers to how the wallpaper will be adjusted on the wall so the design matches up. Some patterns have a straight match, and requires little adjustment. Some other patterns require a drop match and have more waste than the prior.

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Some other patterns require a drop match and have more waste than the prior.

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And yet other patterns have a random match, and you are able to line the wallpaper up easily with almost no waste.

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A typical American roll of paper is 27" wide and many manufacturers will make "double rolls" with twice the amount of paper for ease of purchasing and installing.

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We believe wallpaper makes a LARGE impact and is worth every bit of the confusing language that it comes with !

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 Comments: 0

Favorite Color? The Psychology of Blue

It's no lie that TCI likes the color blue.

While we have a ongoing portfolio of color after color in all our clients homes, we do have quite a few clients that choose to use the color blue in some form or fashion!

Why?

We are looking into the psychology of the color BLUE today. There are many articles written on this subject!

Blue is the color of the sky and sea, it has a calming effect on most.

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It represents trust, truth, wisdom and stability. Blue greens can feel more creative while deep blues feel more serene. Theres many shades within the color BLUE.

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The water element in blue represents relaxation and confidence. Feng Shui uses the color blue in lighter hues to represent youth.

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When one remembers the color blue, they may think of a Caribbean vacation they had been on, or long walks on the beach, hence giving the person a relaxed and calm sense of being.

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It's versatile and well-loved. You really can't go wrong using blue in a design. It works in any room of the house, from the playroom to the master bathroom.

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Everyone has their preference on shades of blue... whether light or dark, this color will be a classic one for the ages!

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Thursday, January 5, 2017 Comments: 0

A Totally Organized New Year in 5 Steps

We hope everyone had a great New Year celebration!

Its a fresh start, a new year and what better way to ring it in but to organize and make ready all your spaces for good use??

Where to begin, how to start? TCI is here to tell you! We've searched and complied a list for you:

Start with the Kitchen:

- Begin with the large appliances and clean them out first

- Tuck away small appliances to clear countertop space

- Work top to bottom by cleaning out cabinets and getting rid of items unneeded

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2. Continue to the Bathrooms:

- Deep Clean

- Declutter by rolling towels and washcloths and storing them neatly

- Buy organizing bins to store tiny toiletries that create dirt and mess

- Keep it up! Continue to keep things clean and put items back where you got them

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3. Focus on the Family Room:

- It's easy to clutter this space. Its the most used and loved area, Start by stacking books, folding blankets, setting pillows up straight and creating order to the room

- Dust and Vacuum. This always helps

- Furniture upholstery- Protect your surfaces with fabric protectant!

- Add a few touches - new pillows, a new accessory