Modern minimalist décor is very powerful when it is handled correctly.  Contrary to what many think, this interior design style is not about leaving spaces empty, but about creating a room where everything has a function.  Modern minimalist décor is, then, for people looking for organization amid the chaotic surroundings of life and modern society.

In order to be clear, let’s define ‘modern’ and ‘minimalist’.

‘Modern’ is not ‘contemporary’.  ‘Contemporary’ is a time period, and ‘modern’ is a lifestyle.  It is an attitude that cherishes technology and social contact; it simplifies life. It is sincere and eliminates the things that have no true meaning for you.

‘Minimalist’ can apply to ‘modern’ or other decoration styles.  The minimalist movement in design started after WWII as a back-to-the-basics approach that considered simple living a more relaxed and comfortable way of existence.

When applied to ‘modern’, the minimalist approach works when it shows someone’s favorite colors and shapes in a dynamic and fun way.  When interior designers in Seattle decorate in a modern minimalist style, she is creating a space to fit the owner’s way of life.  Every single item will have a specific purpose and place.  The designer will create a warm, practical and extremely welcoming atmosphere by using, or leaving out, color and texture.

Drama in modern minimalist décor is not achieved through strong color.  Big elements like walls, furniture and floors will show white and neutral colors.  The light is used to challenge the soft white walls, and the architectural characteristics of the space are exhibited.

In the same way, forget about heavy textures for this style.  The basis for a hit modern minimalist décor is soft fabrics, leather furniture, shiny cabinets and floors, and linear and invisible moldings.

With clarity on the client’s needs, a professional designer will create a living and enchanting minimalist space.  She will help the owner feel accomplished and relaxed in his or her life by getting rid of things that are not needed.  The modern minimalist décor is a style that rejoices in clean lines and an open space.  It is certainly a style that lets a person rebel against the dominating and rampant consumerism that has taken control over the world.

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To most couples, the bedroom is an intimate space they share and spend a lot of time together in. To make your bedroom a place where you and your partner can look forward to retreating into, consider new ways to invite an element of romance into your bedroom decor. Invest in the help of a Seattle interior designer to help you achieve the best look to suit your and your partner’s tastes and preferences. Here are some great ideas to inspire you:

1. Obliterate clutter
Clutter and mess can be one of the biggest killers of romance. It’s hard to relax in a messy space and having various objects lying around can be a major distraction. First, spend time cleaning out your closets for unwanted items you have amassed over time. Then speak to your interior designer about the best ways to maximize your space. You’ll want your belongings to be kept well organized and hidden out of the way in closets and storage drawers that perhaps slip underneath the bed. Look for classy storage ideas that will help mask your belongings and add an element of style to you room as well, e.g., a vintage dressing table or an elegant leather ottoman for the foot of the bed.

2. Your bed and bedding
Beds are personal items of furniture and should suit your and your partner’s personal tastes. You’ll want something that is attractive and deliciously comfortable. You might choose a bed with an ornate iron frame or opt for a more contemporary style that sits low and has a simple wooden box frame. Your sheets should be special, as well. Talk to your interior designer about which fabrics, e.g., silk, satin or cotton, and colors would best suit your bedroom design. It’s easier to feel romantic if your bed always looks inviting.

3. Have fun with lighting
Lighting can impact your mood. You’ll need bright lights while you read or are sorting through clothes, but to create a romantic atmosphere, dimmed or colored lights will calm the senses. You might want to add new light fixtures which can be dimmed when needed or find shades that add color to your existing lamps. You might even opt to have a romantic fireplace installed. If you and your partner love candles, ask your interior designer for ways to create a candle deck or similar feature that you can enjoy using.

4. Personalize
The most important thing about your bedroom space is that it is YOUR bedroom space. Ask your interior designer to help you personalize your interior. Are there photos that are very personal to you both e.g., one of you cuddling together, or a painting that you both love and want displayed? Do you like the look of mirrors and want a few more in the room? Or perhaps you love the smell of fresh flowers and want somewhere to display them? Discuss your preferences with your interior designer in Seattle. They’ll help you incorporate the things you enjoy into your private space.

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A baby’s mind is constantly developing and absorbing things from its environment like a sponge. You’ll want to make sure a child’s nursery is a space that engages their mind and senses, and encourages their learning. Speak to your Seattle interior designer about these five great ideas that can help make a child’s nursery more stimulating.

1. Themed room
Pick a theme for the child’s nursery that relates to something you hope they will become familiar with from an early age. Some popular ideas are animals (a farm or safari theme), the alphabet and numbers, the ocean and ocean dwellers, seasons or night and day. Speak to your interior designer about ways to incorporate them into your room’s decor, e.g., through wallpaper, borders, having a mural painted and finding corresponding accessories like lampshades, blinds and painted dressers.

2. Decorate the ceiling
In its early months, a baby spends a lot of time on its back looking up towards the ceiling. Make use of this space - perhaps have contrasting colored patterns painted onto it or even a mural of the morning or night sky. You could choose several different designs depending on what each part of the room is used for, e.g., a plain design may be needed in the space where baby falls asleep. You can also add stimulating accessories like mobiles or hanging toys to certain areas.

3. Create a library
Reading is a wonderful way to stimulate intelligence. Begin your child’s interest in books from a young age by incorporating a library into your nursery. You might opt to have a few shelves of books put up or maybe a few book cabinets erected. Perhaps add a rug or a rocking chair that you and your child can settle on while enjoying the library’s books.

4. Define spaces
You’ll want your nursery to be both a stimulating environment and a calming space where your baby can be soothed during nap and bedtimes. Define areas in the room where baby can go to be stimulated and those where they can unwind and be put to sleep. In stimulating areas, the decor can include mobiles, colorful walls designs and items such as a play mat for tummy time. In calming areas, the decor can incorporate soothing colors, dim lighting, and furniture such as a rocking chair for bonding time between parent and baby.

5. Toys and more toys!
Toys can be enjoyed at all ages, are visually stimulating to even a newborn and will also add another dimension to your decor if you want to display them in your nursery. If you have a themed room, you might choose to fill the room with toys relating to the theme. You may also want a designated area, perhaps a toy box or cupboard, where you can store toys at the end of the day. Ask your Seattle interior designer how you might incorporate toys into your chosen decor.

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According to an ancient Chinese science of more than 4000 years, the position and orientation of the space being constructed and the placing of objects in the home will bring harmony not only to our home but to other aspects of our lives. The Chinese believe there’s a reflection of our inner thinking and feelings in the interior design of our homes.
With the art and science of Feng Shui, we can make changes in our lives by simply making changes in our homes.

Nowadays, an increasing number of interior designers in Seattle, Miami, New York as well as other cities worldwide are considering and taking this science into account when it comes to decorating.

To achieve a harmonious, relaxed atmosphere, you must put your home in order and know where to place objects and which colors to use.

With these basics we can focus on some of the tips on how to obtain harmony in our everyday life:

Outside

The outside of your house should have a clear entrance. This means that you shouldn’t have dead bushes, shrubs, and flowers. The address should be clearly visible. Keep the yard clean and clear as this will provide an organized area where you will feel harmony with clear and organized thoughts as you enter.

Family room

Everyone gathers in the family room which is the heart of the home. We consider this room a cheerful and comfortable place where we want to make sure our guests feel at home. We have to get rid of clutter; this will allow the Chi to flow naturally. Choose natural light and use a color scheme that reflects your personality. Use pastels, not strong colors. You may consult the symbolism of colors and the energy they release before choosing the ones you’ll use.

Bedrooms

Do not place the bed with the foot of the bed facing a doorway. Make sure part of the bed always touches a wall; it promotes stability. Color is important in all rooms. In the bedroom, we want tranquility and relaxation so we should choose a color that encourages these feelings.

Dining room

Organize the seating comfortably so that everyone can talk to each other. When choosing a table, make sure it is round; this symbolizes stability. There should be plenty of free space near doorways; do not place any chairs or furniture where it would make it difficult for people to pass. If you don’t have any windows in your dining room, put a chandelier or a ceiling fan, as this will permit the flow of the Chi.

Bathroom

Place bathrooms appropriately in the house because this represents the homeowner’s finances. Keep them clean and well-ventilated. The bathroom should not be visible from the front door. Use a method of ventilation; this is necessary and very important, allowing the Sha energy to be eliminated quickly, and on the other hand the Chi to flow.

Kitchen

It is very important where you place the stove and the sink. Do not place the stove facing the doorway as the chef should not be surprised but focused. Never place the sink next to the stove, as this represents water and the stove fire. There should be something between these; you can always place a mirror if you have any design inconveniences.
Keep these clean to encourage family finances. Paint the kitchen white; this symbolizes purity for good health.

With these Feng Shui principles we have a guide on how to decorate our homes and encourage a harmonious, balanced life.

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Are you secretly craving a stress-free cooking haven? Has your kitchen turned into a disorganized and cluttered nightmare that any cook would dread? If you’ve answered yes to both questions, you might not have to panic just yet. Interior designers in Seattle will tell you many people like to think of their kitchen as the heart of their home. It’s important that you keep it in good shape so not only will you be able to cook with ease, but also enjoy cooking and preparing the meals that feed you and your family. Luckily, that stress-free kitchen haven is not out of reach. Follow these three simple steps and you’re sure to fall in love with your cooking space again:

1. Get ready to get tough
You’ll need to empty out all your cupboards, units, and drawers. Then you should evaluate what really needs to stay in your kitchen and what you should throw away, give away or sell. This means making tough decisions to help you reclaim valuable kitchen space. Get rid of appliances you know you will hardly use and can do without, like that fondue set or bread maker you were given last Christmas. Throw away duplicates of any kitchen tools that you don’t need. And let go of chipped kitchenware or containers with missing lids that you’ve always hoped you might find a use for one day. Don’t forget to look through your food closet, fridge and freezer too - make sure you aren’t keeping hold of foods you’ll never get around to eating.

2. Make your cooking space make sense
The next step is to evaluate how you use your kitchen. Assign different areas of the kitchen to different cooking tasks, e.g, cutting and chopping foods or mixing and stacking ingredients. Then store your foods and utensils that are most relevant to these areas close by. Keep utensils that you will need at the stove, like wooden spoons and pans, within close reach, and likewise with oven and sink. You can then place items that you use less often in cupboards that are harder to reach or access.

3. Organize as much as you can
Once your cooking space makes sense, you’ll still need to ensure each cupboard and drawer is well organized so you don’t have to search hard or route around to access the items you need. It’s easy to buy organizers for kitchen areas such as the cutlery drawer or for foodstuff like spices. Invest in a lid organizer for your pot and pan lids, too, as stacking these in your cupboards can be a messy and clumsy affair. If you want to organize a cupboard but can’t find the appropriate organizer, use simple plastic baskets to store and separate where possible.

Once you’ve completed these three steps, enjoy the difference of a stress-free, clear and uncluttered kitchen!

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To kill a space, there is nothing better than strict rules, however, there are certain ‘crimes’ in decorating that not even the boldest interior designer in Seattle will dare to commit for the sake of originality or fame.

Crime #1: Neglect Editing
The rule that states that less is more is sacred.  An overcrowded room, full of furniture and trinkets, diminishes its main purpose, which is to showcase you and anyone else meant to enjoy it.  Be brave and get rid of half the furniture and everything else inside your rooms; keep what you truly love, donate what you think is beautiful, discard what doesn’t work, and allow for pure and positive energy to flow around every corner.

Crime #2: Shut Your Ears to the Room
Listen to the empty room before you decorate it.  Feel its proportions, its surfaces, textures and colors; check the quality and the direction of light, and let its function guide the design.  The furniture for a room must move places according to the space it was designated for.

Crime #3: Follow Trends Mindlessly
Forget about copying the minimalistic or Asian style presented by the top interior design magazine.  The best room is the one with a unique identity, where you go in and immediately feel its special energy and balance because it shows your personality; the room is you!

Crime #4: Settle For What’s Common
A room decorated with certain objects or style just because that’s what’s normally done, is a loser.  Your imagination is the limit as to what your special room can become.  Let it surprise you with your unexpected side, allow it to show you how confident and unique you truly are.

Crime #5: Not Make It Fun
Have you heard the advice: don’t take yourself too seriously?  Well, it applies to decorating too.  There is always, and there always should be, room to be ironic, clever and interesting in a funny way.  Good taste should be a personal principle, not an established rule.

Crime #6: Dread Color
Color is the cheapest and fastest way to imprint personality into a room.  A well-selected color completely transforms a space and opens it to the senses from the inside out.  Want to laugh, dream, dance, or rest fully in your home?  Paint it with vibrancy and let bold colors speak about you.  Never fear it!

Crime #7: Being Too Formal
Long are gone the days of formal dinning as in the XVIII century castles.  Today we enjoy using and mixing our best china every day.  At home, you want to actually feel at home; feel free, relaxed and be casual.  You want your guests to feel at ease and special.  You want to live your life at home!

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It’s time to take down your old, tattered window treatments, but you’re not quite sure what to replace them with. Just don’t be in a hurry to hang up any reasonable substitute. Ask top interior designers in Seattle, New York, Chicago, or LA - they’d all tell you the same thing: how you dress your windows can have a dramatic effect on how your room looks and feels. While you peruse and consider your choices, from sheer window treatments to bamboo blinds, keep these top insider tips in mind:

1. Decisions, decisions…
Window treatments aren’t just additional decor, they are functional too. When choosing yours, ask yourself these important questions: Are they needed for privacy? Do I want them to help keep in heat, prevent drafts, or allow the room to stay cool? How much light should they let in or block? If your window treatments are for a bedroom, you might choose a heavy material which won’t allow a single ray to spoil your sleep. Alternatively, you might like sheer fabrics for those rooms where you want to let in as much light as possible, for example, a kitchen area or attic window. Blinds are great for windows where you need a variety of functions: pull them up for an unobstructed window, open them for a partial view, or close them fully to keep outside eyes away.

2. Exaggerate it!
If you want to draw attention to your windows, order more fabric and hang your window treatment pole 6-12 in. above their frames. This makes your windows look much larger than they really are. Allow your drapes to hang to the floor past the bottom of the window frames to add even more height to the illusion!

3. Bring in the sunshine
If you’d like your windows to let in as much light as possible during the day, opt for window treatments and add 12-18 in. more length on each end of your rod. This means you can pull the window treatments aside without obstructing any part of the pane. It also helps narrow windows appear wider.

4. To line or not to line?
As well as the design, you’ll need to decide if your window treatments should have a lining or not. A lining protects the window treatment from dirt on the window and sunlight which may fade the fabric. It helps keep more light out and can actually provide extra insulation - which might in turn reduce your electric bills! On the other hand, unlined window treatments are easier to clean, lighter to handle, and better for rooms you wish to keep cool. They are practical in areas such as the kitchen or bathroom where added steam and moisture necessitates regular cleaning.

5. Mix and match
Scared your sheer window treatment will turn transparent when houselights are on? Just add a heavier drape to draw at night. Feel like your blinds aren’t interesting or warm enough? Why not add a window treatment pelmet to your window frame? If you can’t decide on one good option, you can always combine!

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We have an exciting announcement about a new service we have developed for those clients who just are not ready or able to work with us on a full scale design project. It is a terrific new resource for those smaller tighter budget projects:

A recently divorced woman is remodeling a 1924 home that used to be the school house in Sultan, Washington.  She has some ideas on how she wants the space to look, she has a passion for design; she has a very small budget. She has no idea where to begin.  Like many do-it-yourselfers, she is willing to put in the work and the elbow grease to get the job done; and like many she wants to do the job correctly the first time, saving money, work and time.  She thinks, “wouldn’t it be great to have a friend who is a designer?” She could call her friend to consult before she makes an expensive mistake.  What color will work best for the walls?  Should she paint the ceiling?  How does she expand the space visually?

Up until now she didn’t know where to turn. Here’s where our new can be a life saver.  This service will help with everything from a quick color consultation to a complete remodel. Call A Designer.com is a new idea in interior design.   You call and set up an appointment for a phone consultation.  The first 10 minutes are free! Once you set up an account, you can send any pictures or even video you have of the space.  The designers will help you plan your project, answer your design questions, help find resources in your area all with out the retainer fees required when hiring a traditional designer.

Call A Designer.com is the sister company of a Northwest Interior Design Firm, Amely Wurmbrand Designs. When using Call A Designer, you get the same professional expert advice and guidance from an award winning design studio even with an extremely tight budget.  Call A Designer is certainly not an appropriate solution for every person, or every project.  Many people and projects still require the holistic thought and hands on approach of our full service interior design firm, Amely Wurmbrand Designs.  However, if budget is mandatory above all else, and you have the time, ability and desire to do all the leg work, Call A Designer is a solution that can help you. Now you can have a friend in the design business, CallADesigner.com.

One of the biggest challenges faced by interior designers in Seattle, or anywhere,  is dealing with small rooms. Knowing what to do with furniture and decorations is too much of a hassle when there isn’t enough room. If this is an issue that affects your interior design options, here is some good news: size doesn’t matter after all; creativity does. Here are four great tips that will give you the answers you need to solve your room size issues:

The Secret Behind Colors
Light, cool colors make a space feel open, airy, bigger, and brighter. Combining shades of cream and light blue is just one of the great color schemes that can open up a small room. It is all about illusion. You can paint your wall trim and moldings a lighter color than your wall which will make the wall appear further back, making the room, thus, seem bigger.

Clear up the Clutter
Too much stuff always makes a small space feel cramped. With things neatly arranged and out of sight, the space that is in view will feel orderly and open. Furniture poses yet another challenge. With furniture and accessories blocking the view into a room and out to open spaces, a room will look smaller. By moving furniture out and away from walkways, you’ll open up the space and make it feel larger, especially if you can see the floor. Setting your furniture at an angle works because the longest straight line in any given room is its diagonal. When you place your furniture at an angle, it leads the eye along the longer distance, rather than the shorter wall. You can even use the space behind the piece in the corner for additional storage.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Mirrors are one of the best tricks to make your room look larger. Use a focal point and angle your mirrors towards it, which will give the illusion of depth. Mirrors also reflect both natural and artificial light to make a room brighter during the day and night. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger. This is especially effective near a window so the outdoors can be reflected. Mirrors on walls and glass tabletops will make it seem like there’s a more open flow.

Let There be Light!
Lighting is a key element in opening up a space. Any room will look larger if it’s well-lit, either by natural light or artificial lighting. If you have access to natural light, make full use of it. Bring it into your home through windows. Pull back window coverings or use sheer ones to bring more light in. Open up the windows to let the light of the outdoors into the space, as well. By letting the natural light flow into the room, it will open up the room and make it look larger. If you do not have a lot of natural light, you can add some lighting features to the room to make it look bigger. Don’t forget to use a bit of up lighting for dramatic effect and the creation of a false sense of space.

Scale
The size of the furnishings you place in a room also has an effect on the perception of size of the space.  You want to be sure not to use too many over scaled pieces in a small space.  Opt for more petite chairs with light visual lines and colors as opposed to heavy dark pieces that are chunky or overly large for the space.  It is the difference between the furnishings of baroque Europe and those of the directoire period: think visually light in most pieces.  You may need one or two heavier looking pieces to visually anchor the space and keep it from wanting to metaphorically float away, but in general lighter pieces will serve such a space much better.

Everyone wants to enjoy living spaces with a warm personality, where they can relax after a hard day of work or rejoice with family and friends over a homemade meal.

Although the main elements in a room- sofas, tables, chairs, and rugs in living spaces, and bed, side tables, and chests of drawers in the bedroom- are key to its general feel, the details and accents are the ones in charge of setting the atmosphere for a cozy, warm, and inviting feeling.

Many people turn to professional interior designers for help in creating their dreamed home environment, and they end up with beautiful spaces perfect for complementing and enhancing their lifestyles.  However, if hiring an interior designer in Seattle, New York, Mississippi, or any other location is over budget right now, you can still enjoy the luxury of a designed look by implementing these easy and affordable ideas:

1.  Get cool lamps.  Lighting is an easy and classy way to enhance any space. Contrary to overhead lightning, which is harsh, impersonal, cold, and uninviting, indirect light provided by beautiful and unique lamps can really turn your living spaces into calm and relaxing areas while decorating them with gorgeous lampshades reflecting your personal taste and style.

2. Choose unique wall hangings.  Not only art pieces fit your walls.  Look for special wooden objects, like trays or masks, or even fabrics, which convey a sense of style, energize and complement your personality.  Any object can work, just be creative and follow your instinct.

3.  Bring the sea into your house.  Shells, coral, and starfish always look good and give a sense of elegance to a space.  They conveys a link to nature and love for life, which are a positive signature in decoration.

4.  Get an unusual chair.  It will be a focal point of interest and, the more different and contrasting, the better!  If not a chair, it can be any object which may dominate the room and show off your character, portraying you as an interesting and unique individual.

5.  Frame notes.  Those notes your friends and family have given you, and you do not want to throw away, but have no idea where to put, frame them and show them off.  Those are powerful messages, guiding your energy and reminding you of what’s important.  Your spaces will immediately be filled with caring vibes from the people who wrote them, and these can be felt and lived.

6.  Books and books.  Nothing says cozy and interesting as books.  Besides intensifying any space’s appearance, books convey knowledge, intelligence, and balance.  Any welcoming atmosphere must contain books, these reveal yourself to your guests, showing them your interests.

7. Make it personal.  No matter how many elements you put into a room, it will never feel complete unless you include yourself in it.  Personalize your spaces with special objects from vacation trips, flea market finds, or any object that relates personally to you.  The idea is that anyone who visits you goes away knowing you a little better because of a unique element they saw on a table, decorating a sofa,or holding a picture.