Recent Happenings | TMID on TV!

Fall is almost here! And we are so excited to start drinking our PSLs and lighting our Fall candles. Let’s be honest, it’s way too hot outside for boots or any of that, but even in Florida, we have our ways of getting ready for the season. Labor Day weekend, the big benchmark to enter into the Fall season, we were asked to do a feature on Good Day Orlando about how to get your home ready for the season. So our owner, Christina Kairis, did a fun little feature that aired on Labor Day morning.

Not only are the items that she features inexpensive but they are easily accessible. Check out the clip to get all the deets!

http://www.fox35orlando.com/good-day/357066958-video

Recent Happenings | Summer Installs

We've had some jobs close up recently which is always super exciting because we can finally appreciate the finished product.  The homeowner loves it too because their house is finished! First job was a residential project in Windermere.  The client loves cool colors and specifically requested a very serene, relaxing design.  We love the way it turned out and the client was super happy too!  These are only a few shots but we've got more to come!

This next job was completely different.  The owner loved cobalt blue and black and wanted us to mix in a modern flare with his very traditional home.  He loves interesting pieces and wasn't afraid of making a statement:

And this is our most recent install at a Foot Massage Spa opening up in Downtown Orlando!

We've got more in the works so be sure to stop back by to see the finished product!

Trends | What You'll Be Seeing in Kitchens

Oftentimes, people put money into updating their kitchen and they want it to be "classic".  Meaning, they want it to stand the test of time and be something that will transition well within the ever-changing design trends.  I truly think it's impossible to design something that will ALWAYS be in style.  However, I don't think it's impossible to design something that the homeowner will love for a long time.  But that really depends on the home owner and what they like.

Right now, there are some key design trends that will most likely transition well as what's popular in kitchens evolves.  So instead of telling you about a style that you'll never have to change again, we'll tell you about what's popular right now and you can decide if you like it or not and how it blends with your current (and/or future) furnishings.

Many people are getting more expressive and brave with their cabinet colors.  Where white cabinets were the thing, blue or some version of it has become the new neutral in kitchens.  It gives your cabinets a little color but this "color" is also pretty neutral and blends well with pretty much anything ---like jeans go with anything.  You can mix blue cabinets with whites, greys, and wood tones.  This gives your kitchen a lot of depth and makes it look way more custom.

Quartz has really taken the top spot for countertop materials in kitchens.  Manufacturers are upping their game and coming out with quartz that looks like just about anything.  The most popular pattern in quartz, however, is the marbled countertop, though.  It has the durability of quartz but the look of marble.  The best of both worlds! (and no, we don't ever think marble is going out of style!)

You've probably noticed that open shelving is all over Pinterest.  It's that minimal look that allows you to keep an open, airy feeling while also keeping some storage options.  It's fun and interesting but definitely a trend that will not blend well with other styles that come and go.  We love it but would recommend doing it in small bits if you're not wanting to make a lot of changes later.

Lots and lots of white and lots and lots of light are huge in kitchens right now.   The white reflects the light and makes everything feel much more open.  The element is important for good design regardless of what is currently trending because it makes you feel like you have more space and that will never get old!

Finally, we'd be lying if we said kitchen cabinets were shaker, are shaker, and will be shaker.  That clean style--straight lines, squared corners, and a simple recessed panel is pretty much always going to go with anything so while it's hot now, you're not buying into a trend, you're buying into a classic look!

Style Identification | Modern Farmhouse

Joanna Gaines has made modern farmhouse and highly-sought out style.  It's casual, comfortable, lived-in, unpretentious and versatile.  For families with kids, it allows mom to have a space she feels looks finished and stylish while also being able to incorporate function for her family.  So we're here today to highlight this fun style and explain exactly what factors you should look for when implementing or identifying the modern farmhouse style.

One of the biggest parts of modern farmhouse is the wood elements scattered throughout. If your home has wood beams, that's a huge modern farmhouse element.  These are reminiscent of old barns and exposed trusses and give a home a warm element.

The kitchen is a huge part of tying the design style together in any home but a modern farmhouse kitchen is truly the heart of the home.  A modern farmhouse kitchen is well-used and well-loved.  It's not pristine. matchy-matchy, and perfectly tailored.  It's a little eclectic and exposed.   Open shelving is common element in the modern farmhouse because your grandmas cups should be on display!  Modern farmhouse kitchens have a variety of cabinet colors in the kitchen but whites and navys are used most often.

It wouldn't be a farmhouse without a barn door.  And since barn doors can be added at any point, it's an easy element to include even if you're redecorating your house to make it look modern farmhouse without doing a lot of remodeling.  The great thing about barn doors is that they come in a variety of styles, colors, and sizes so it doesn't take much to find one that will work in your home.

Once you get to the furnishings part of your modern farmhouse, there are a few elements that are essential to flow with the the theme.  The first is a wood dining table (usually trestle) oftentimes with bench seating.  This goes with the whole "the kitchen is the heart of the home" mentality and the functionality of a dining area for large parties.  Wood furniture is warm and relatively inexpensive.  It can be beautiful in pristine condition and also fit in well after it's been used and has some character.  Benches are also a much more casual look in the dining room and lots of kids can be squeezed on one for maximized seating. :)

Finally, woven furniture and accents are another essential element when decorating a modern farmhouse style home.  Rattan and sea grass area all over the furnishings market in the version of chairs, lights, baskets, and even door fronts.  You'll have no shortage of options to incorporate into your home.

What do you think?  Are you ready to re-decorate your home in the modern farmhouse style? It's really not that hard!  We promise!

Design News | Pantone's Color of the Year 2018

So we're over here scratching our heads because we've been designing our little hearts out and just realized that we haven't been using Panetone's Color of the Year.  What do you think that means?  

For the last couple of years the hot color was millennial pink.  It's subtle and mature and perfect for an adult but also works great in a little girl's room.  It's a very versatile color for what it is and we really love it.  Pantone's pick was Greenery for 2017-- a bright green that felt very modern.  It worked for certain applications but definitely wasn't our go-to color.

This year, however, the pick is Ultra Violet- an intense, grape-crayon purple.  What?!  We don't mind a subtle lavender or even a grey-ish purple like this:

...but a bright, in-your-face purple called Ultra Violet is a little confusing for us.  We'd even say that we don't mind a little bit of this purple mixed in the right pattern with some other calm colors to balance it out, but we're not quite ready for an entire room of it.

What are your thoughts?

Have you been seeing a lot of purple furniture in stores and wondered why?  Here's your explanation!  Hopefully the 2019 color is a little more useable.  For now, we'll stick with Millennial Pink and by pass Ultra Violet.