Monthly Archives: March 2014

Interior Design “Spring Cleaning”

Refresh the look and feel of any room with our tips from the designers at La Maison Interiors in Scottsdale. We have great ideas to ‘spring clean’ your interior design in any room of the home. A great way to add a fresh look is to change out pillows with lighter fabrics and less dense patterns and textures. if you begin with a neutral base choose vibrant colored pillows that make a statement and inject color to your aesthetic. Chang out dark, smoky, warm colored pillows to cooler shades of blue, green and yellow

SpringDesgin2Gansu pillow blueRemove heavy drapery from living and dining rooms to let in natural light. Curtains that do not allow light to bleed through appear drab and take away the organic beauty of a room. Curtains also make a space feel smaller and confined, show off those tall ceilings and gorgeous windows this spring! If you are attached to curtains, choose a fabric that is sheer, light and flowy. The lighter the fabric, the easier it will be achieve an airy aesthetic.

Accentuate the existing fabric in a space with a contemporary art piece in a refined frame. Remove heavy frames with too much depth. These types of framing choices appear old and too traditional. Opt for clean, smooth and refined lines. Choosing the right frame is the trickiest part, as the one you choose should match the art itself, but appear cohesive with the aesthetic of your space. If you’re an avid art buyer stray away from darker colors this spring, and go with cool and vibrant pieces that stand out.

Follow the rule of threes and fives when grouping accessories together. Think outside the box, literally and choose soft, organic lines to decorate your coffee or occasional tables. Always group accessories in odd number to avoid splitting items up into even groups. 5 small accessories in a bright color adds more value to your kitchen counter island than two larger objects.

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Our last blog went over how to choose an area rug , detailing the right and wrong ways to to position a rug for any space. Bring the indoors to the outdoor and decorate your patio space with fashionable rugs and contemporary patio furniture for a cohesive look no matter where you entertain your friends this spring. Visit La Maison Interiors in Scottsdale for more ideas on spring cleaning. Entertain guests during the upcoming Easter holiday and decorate the entrance with an inviting banner or hang it above the kids table for a youthful appearance at any party or get together

How to Select an Area Rug

Choosing an area rug for a space all depends on the design direction you want to follow. Once you’ve chosen an area rug it will dictate the patterns, textures and color you implement in the remainder of the room’s aesthetic. The area rug should never be treated as an “after thought” as you should begin with choosing a rug before any other accessory in a room. Every room has a slightly different set of tips and tricks on how to pick the right size and shape, color, pattern or texture.

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Rugs add functionality, but they also act as the focal point to any room in the home. Take a look at your space and discern how large it is, and this will give you a good starting point to how large of a rug to purchase. Luxury rugs at La Maison Interiors come in a variety of patterns and textures, shapes and sizes. Geometrics work best for a contemporary design, and traditional patterns often work with all types of design concepts. Solid colored rugs are best suited for bedrooms as those rugs are often smaller, meant to accent or add warmth to a tile or wood floor.

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Ensure the area rug of your choice is not too small or too large. Measure the doorway to the room and if the width of the rug is relatively close to that measurement you have chosen the right size. Never keep furniture half off of a rug in a hallway or foyer, and when choosing a rug for a smaller space like an office or bedroom ensure the rug is large enough to contain the furniture so it feels cozier, like a cocoon. Experiment with a round rug in a bedroom or foyer. Place the rug under a light fixture in an entryway, but keep furniture off of it. Most rooms are rectangle or square, but if you can successfully implement a round rug, you will create a dramatic effect that appears contemporary and modern.

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In a living room, an area rug should be a focal point. Placing at least two feet of every chair and couch on the rug provides a space for the furniture to rest. This creates continuity enhancing the rooms aesthetic while keeping it cozy. Area rugs are a great opportunity to implement color, texture and pattern into a room. With a variety of different types of area rugs you have more choices than you could possibly need. La Maison Interiors’ selection of all patterns, shapes, sizes and color schemes of luxury area rugs is your final stop to finding the perfect focal point to your living, dining, bedroom or entryway. Keep these tips in mind when choosing a new area rug for your home.

  • Always choose a rug that pulls a space together either with color, pattern and texture or shape and size
  • Ensure the rug is durable and is quality manufactured as you want it to last for a long time
  • Don’t be afraid to choose a bold print or unique pattern as a dramatic rug gives you more opportunity to accessorize in other areas of the room
  • Try a round rug in a space with less furniture such as an entryway or large bathroom

The Kitchen Table

Too often are dining rooms neglected and left to formal occasions and holidays. Start using your dining room by enhancing its look and feel with a brand new luxury table from La Maison. Choose from contemporary tables topped in marble to intimate round tables fit for smaller spaces—no matter your taste. Designing your home is all about your taste and personality so let it shine and demand a great first time impression with all the right luxury furniture at La Maison Interiors.

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 If you decide to keep with a more formal aesthetic make an impression at your next dinner party with two host and hostess chairs at either end of the dining room table. Choose a statement piece for a bold impression. Ensure the chairs compliment the overall design, as you want them to be visually engaging, but not an eyesore. This year, drama and glamour are in. Mirrored table tops or an oversized mirrors effortlessly leaning against the wall in the dining room can make a room feel larger for an opulent atmosphere.

If you are working a smaller space, round tables work best in square rooms for an intimate ambiance, and most people prefer a round table—as its better for conversation. With no formal “head” of the table there is a constant flow of energy around the table. Always pair a square rug with a round table to balance the space. When placing a rug on the floor, make sure the rug is a minimum of 22’ beyond the edge of the table to guarantee chairs will not move off the rug when moved away from the table.

The dining room is a place to spend time with friends and family, eat long meals and carry on conversation. Choosing the right table is very important and will dictate the overall mood of the room. Implement a marble, glass or quartzite tabletop for a more contemporary look or stick with a wood-hewn tabletop for a rustic and relaxed vibe. Benches are making a comeback in the formal dining room, as communal seating is more popular in luxury dining rooms now, more than ever. This keeps the space from feeling too formal as tall and ornate dining room chairs crowd the space. If you need additional seating opt for a table that comes with self-storing leaves so you always have the option to lengthen the table if need be for easy storage and less occupied space in your closet.

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Always remember to implement the ideas you love in your home. Design is all about your personality and how you want to successfully create an extension of your taste in living color at home. Stick with a neutral base this year because you can continue to accent with different colors, patterns and textures when you feel you’ve grown tired of a certain look. Dining rooms have the possibility to change more often than other rooms as accessorizing with lighting, different chairs, seating arrangements and even a different finish on the tabletop can add an entirely different aesthetic with a few simple changes. Come visit our showroom at La Maison Interiors to further your ideas on revamping and enhancing your dining room today.

The Glamorous Kitchen

As home design has changed over the last few decades, designing a luxury kitchen has become a new venture for homeowners. It’s become a place to spend time, versus simply cook a meal. Implementing elaborate and custom cabinetry, large islands with exotic granite countertops and state of the art appliances is a perfect way to add a new design aesthetic.

Honey toned and light wood cabinetry is trending right now. Lighter wood adds a softer aesthetic in the kitchen and adding a touch of glass wherever possible brings a modern touch to the space. Instead of traditional doors opt for open shelving for a sleek design that shows off your kitchenware. Stick with two materials to keep the design simple yet visually engaging. Another trend to explore in 2014 is front door glass matched with honey-toned cabinets. Decide what gradient of glass you’re looking for in terms of transparency. Opaque glass works best for larger doors, such as a pantry door, while transparent glass works better for cabinet doors.

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Additional high-end appliances can change the look and feel of any kitchen. Stainless steel is contemporary, and adds clean lines. Stick with the same finish if you replace the oven, microwave and refrigerator. Mixing chrome or brass finishes can appear too busy. Opt for a classic stove with burners, if you want to keep with a traditional look or choose an electric stove top for a modern update. With so many choices, and avenues to venture down, it is all about your personal taste and style.

If you want to do a small update in your kitchen, but still change the mood, try implementing elaborate knobs and handles. Looking at the countless options might seem overwhelming, but you can easily narrow down what you want by thinking about functionality, style and finish. Match the finish of your knobs, pulls or handles with the appliances in your kitchen, and also coordinate with the cabinetry. Choose a sleek design with little embellishments if you want to achieve a minimalistic design. Play on the style of your cabinets with choosing knobs, pulls and handles, as you want to compliment cabinetry, not contrast. Make sure you like how the handle feels in your hand and try to envision yourself using it every day.

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Brass and chrome finish turns any kitchen into a fabulous one, as it exhibits a sophisticated look. Replace your white or black-faced appliances with chrome-finished items, and modernize the look and feel of the space. Implement recessed lighting underneath cabinets for softer lighting, and don’t forget light adds functionality to counter space at night. Try a set of three pendant lights above the island in a brass or chrome finish to keep with the finish of your appliances.

Interior designers always look forward to redesigning kitchen areas because there are so many avenues to explore. When taking your kitchen from its current standard to a luxury kitchen, La Maison has the right ideas so you can find the perfect balance between your personal style and the trending ideas in 2014. Let us help you find what you’re looking for at La Maison Interiors in Scottsdale.

Visit our showroom for more luxury furniture and kitchen ideas to take your kitchen from ordinary to excellent in no time at all!