Who doesn’t love Christmas decorations? If you got a chance to visit the Orlando Museum Council of 101’s recent Festival of Trees, I hope you were as inspired as I was.  

Held annually every November, Festival of Trees celebrates the beauty of the holiday season with designer-decorated trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, raffles, and more.

This is the 8th year that I’ve participated in the event as a designer and this year I designed not one, not two, but three trees! Whew! It was hard work but so much fun and best of all the proceeds go to the many charities supported by Council of 101.

Silver and Gold Make for an Elegant Combo

Metallica, sponsored by Corcoran Premier Reality. This beautiful and elegant tree mixes silver, gold, and white to create a timeless look.

The Metallica tree I created for Corcoran Premier Realty sold, which means I’ll be setting it up at the purchaser’s location of choice.

The Metallica tree’s skirt, made up of 5 yards of gold polyester material loosely draped around the base, adds the finishing touch.

A beautiful tree deserves to be in beautiful company. If your tree is in the dining area, or near it, don’t forget to show your dining room or buffet table some love. Using the same silver, gold, and white theme, I created a centerpiece to compliment the tree. The candles, feathers, linens, and flatware all add different textures to enhance the overall look.

Here Comes Christmas

Here Comes Christmas, sponsored by Orlando Health.

This is the 2nd year I’ve had the privilege to design a tree sponsored by Orlando Health. While red is a holiday staple, the lime green color really pops and makes any Christmas tree a bit cheerier. Instead of a traditional star on top, I created a tree topper from the same sprays I used in the décor to give the tree added dimension and interest.

May All of Your Wishes Come True

May All of Your Wishes Come True, sponsored by Jon Paul Trevasani, M.D. and the Staff of The Aesthetic Surgery Centre of Maitland.

Soft pinks and gold create a warm and traditional looking tree. I love how this tree gives off an old-fashioned Victorian vibe, yet still looks modern enough for today’s décor.

Want to Decorate Your Tree Like a Pro?

Your Christmas tree is the centerpiece of your holiday décor so give it all the attention it so rightly deserves. 

Here are some of my Pro-Tips to make your tree stand out this holiday season. Warning: Your tree might look so good that the family decides to come over every holiday!

• Invest in a high-quality artificial tree. Christmas trees crafted from premium materials provide sturdy and reliable support for decorations and can stand up to repeated use year after year, while maintaining its beautiful look. 
• Change out your ribbon every year to give your tree a “new” look.
• Use 2 types of ribbon on your tree—a solid and a print or 2 solids to create interest.
• Take the time to fully fluff and shape the branches. Fluffing the branches helps to make your Christmas tree look fuller and more natural. It can be time-consuming, but totally worth it!
• A new tree skirt can change the look of your tree but it doesn’t have to be expensive. I buy 5 yards of pretty fabric and drape it around the base to add a pop of color or interest. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box. In the past I’ve used a white fur rug (Ikea) as a tree skirt and it looked fabulous.
• Design around a theme. A professional-looking Christmas tree has a central look that ties the decorations together. Deciding on a theme before choosing your decorations sets the tone and gives you a clear idea on how to decorate your tree.
• Decorate from the top of the tree and then work towards the bottom. This way, you can easily check your design as you dress up your tree.
• Don’t forget tree picks and sprays. Tree picks and floral sprays come in many forms, such as decorated branches, twigs, berries, or even pine cones. Use them as subtle accents to complement the entire look of your tree. Grouping picks together using floral wire is a creative way to elevate the visual appeal of your tree without overpowering other decorations. Sprays are also great for adding a splash of color to wreaths and garlands, as well.

A beautiful Christmas tree takes time and patience to decorate, but the joy it will give you and your family during the holiday season makes it all worthwhile.

I hope these Christmas tree decorating pro tips have inspired you! If you’d like to have me create some seasonal holiday styling for your home or office decor, you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. And feel free to give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399, and we can explore some lovely seasonal Christmas holiday decor options together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

Did you know that most potential homebuyers make up their mind about a property within the first five minutes of walking through the door?

Staging a home is all about creating an engaging, move-in-ready look that gives a buyer an emotional connection with the house. So when my staging partner, Tami Nasvik and I were asked to stage a luxurious lakefront condo in one of Orlando’s most sought-after locations, we were delighted to take on the project.

Attention to Detail

With over 3000 square feet of living space, this condo located on the 5th floor, has breathtaking lake views from nearly every room. But we also wanted potential buyers to soak in the expansive living areas, wood floors, and gorgeous crown molding.

Neutral warm colors and placing furniture in “friendly” configurations invites friends and family to sit and chat in areas that were previously considered formal living spaces.

Buyers are looking for a dining area that will accommodate their furniture, lifestyle, and relatives for family dinners. When staging a dining room, don’t overdo the table’s centerpiece. Here, we used some simple greenery to add a pop of color and interest.

Carmen’s Pro Staging Tip: If you plan on using an area rug under your table, bring it in first and center it under the chandelier or main light fixture.

This oversized family room spans 30 feet long with plenty of room for entertaining or enjoying the panoramic lake views. You’ll notice the room has built-in placement for a TV that can be hidden with closed doors when not in use.

Carmen’s Pro Staging Tip: If you have a TV in the family room make sure the furniture is placed so that you can actually see the screen. Many designers make the mistake of eliminating a TV when staging, but buyers want to envision where to place their own TV and furniture.

Lake Views for the Win

Who wouldn’t want to eat breakfast every morning with this view in sight? There’s no need to overdo the staging here because the view does it all. Simple settings and a centerpiece topiary give the breakfast nook table dimension and bring the kitchen area to life.

Master Bedroom

The bed is typically the focal point in any bedroom, so placement is everything. Orange is a great color (and a favorite of mine!) to accessorize with. It adds both an elegant, yet modern touch to neutrals.

Carmen’s Pro Staging Tip: Don’t put a King sized bed in a room that’s too small. I recommend a room be at least 12 feet by 9 feet to accommodate a standard King size bed. This will leave at least 30 inches of space around the bed for free movement.

Don’t Forget the Outdoors

Enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the stunning lake views.

Show potential buyers how to use every inch of the property. Here, strategically placed lounge chairs and a table make the most of a space that can sometimes be overlooked when staging a home.

Why Stage Your Home?

Even in a red-hot real estate market, staging your home gives you an advantage over other sellers.

A recent survey from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals shows that staging helps sell homes three to 30 times faster than homes that are not staged, and can help increase the sale price by up to 20% on average.

Staging a home can be as simple as moving around a few pieces of furniture to a complete overhaul, and can be done within any budget.

I’d Love to Give You a Tour!

If you’re interested in seeing this condo for a potential purchase, I’d be happy to give you a tour. It’s priced at $849,900 and won’t be on the market for long! You can reach me at (407) 743-2399 to schedule a tour or talk to me about any staging projects you might be planning.

Details on the Condo:

Luxurious lakefront living in guard gated community with a spacious open floor plan on the 5th floor. The unit enjoys plenty of natural light and breathtaking lake views from every room. It features 3 bedrooms plus an office, expansive living areas, wood floors throughout and double balconies. The kitchen is fully equipped with 42” wood cabinetry, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances, breakfast nook and sliders leading out to the balcony. This spectacular condo comes with underground parking, a storage unit, access to the community clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, and fitness center. Vizcaya is within minutes to the famous Restaurant Row, is a great location to area attractions, the airport, and so much more. In the evening you have fireworks views from all the major theme parks on a nightly basis. Don’t miss the opportunity to own one of the nicest floor plans in the neighborhood.

Pumpkins That Pop

Trimmings That Transition

Lanterns That Last

Decorations That Work Double-Duty

The fiery red-orange will inspire you to break out of your color comfort zone.

Over the last several years, muted colors have encouraged serenity in our homes. Last year, it was all about green, fostering a connection with nature. Now, Benjamin Moore is looking to a bolder, more courageous future with its Color of the Year for 2023: Raspberry Blush (2008-30). The saturated red-orange is basically the best color in a really good sunset, and it’ll inspire you to break free from your color comfort zone.

“It’s a really charismatic color and doesn’t sit quietly on the wall,” says Andrea Magno, color marketing and development director at Benjamin Moore. “It’s about awakening our senses and getting people to engage with a vivacious color.”

The 2023 color of the year is a trend toward warmer hues

Notably, Raspberry Blush marks a pull toward warmer hues. “We’ve had colors that are on the cooler side of the color wheel for a number of years, and now we’re really starting to see a shift to the warmer colors,” Magno says.

Playing with Raspberry Blush can mean blanketing your walls with it—like as a modern take on the red dining room of the past—or incorporating it in a smaller way through a painted piece of furniture. No matter how much surface area you allot for the color, it’ll bring high energy into any space.

Exciting colors trending for 2023

Raspberry Blush also sets the stage for Benjamin Moore’s color trends palette for 2023. The eight-color palette features an eclectic mix of colors with nostalgic references to periods like the ’80s and ’90s as well as deeply saturated hues found in the wild. “A lot of times people talk about (and we’ve done it, too) looking at nature as a point of inspiration,” Magno explains. “But for this year, instead of looking at more organic, vegetal colors, we were looking at the standout colors—the fiery colors of a sunset, tropical flowers, the depths of the Mediterranean.”

To celebrate Raspberry Blush, Benjamin Moore tapped the electro-funk duo Chromeo to bring the color’s personality to life through a new song fittingly called “Raspberry Blush.” You can also find eight playlists dedicated to each color in the palette on Spotify for an immersive visual and audible experience—perfect for putting on the loudspeaker as you give your home a paint refresh!

Do you love the Benjamin Moore 2023 color of the year?

If this bold new coral color for 2023 has inspired you, and you’d like to see how to incorporate it into your spaces, I’m always available for consultations. If this sounds appealing, we can talk about how Raspberry Blush can enhance your interior spaces. Choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Would you like to mix furniture and decor design styles in your home but don’t know how? Are you struggling to create a cohesive look with the mix of furniture and accent pieces you’ve accumulated?

Mixing takes some practice, but it makes the decorating experience much more enjoyable. This loose style is a great equalizer in interior design. A mixed style snubs its nose at the rules by blending old with new, cheap with pricey, bold with subtle, and classic with trendy.

While there are many different interior design styles, few fit into just one category. More and more people favor a mixed style to play off their existing furnishings and incorporate new pieces. Combining what you have on hand with something completely new and unexpected gives you the license to invent a uniquely tailored style for your home.

The good news is you can easily and beautifully mix different decorating styles, like traditional, modern, or farmhouse, to create a stylish interior. Follow these helpful tips and guidelines to design with confidence.

Pick your main style

One way to start mixing and matching interior design styles is to employ the 80/20 rule. This means that approximately 80 percent of your space should feature one design style, and the other 20 percent can include others.

For example, if you have a living room with a traditional sofa and chairs, for instance, you can lighten the look by adding framed contemporary prints and light curtains in a natural material.

Most people end up mixing decorating styles in their home without realizing it. That’s what makes your home warm and inviting.

The neutral color palette in the example shown here, allows the homeowner to easily incorporate fun and trendy accent pieces without needing to completely redo the room.

Consider your space

A room’s built-in features can influence its style. For instance, white-painted crown molding may impart a traditional look, while an open floor plan and concrete flooring can provide a modern feel.

But there are ways to work in other styles, too, despite your space’s existing structural elements. You can make a traditional kitchen with white cabinets and butcher-block counters look more contemporary by giving it a bold backsplash and modern tile flooring.

Or you can warm a modern space with high ceilings by adding a comfy traditional-style sofa, a rustic brick accent wall, and warm pops of color.

Create balance

Combining diverse design styles is a balancing act. To make your space look harmonious, give each side of the room equal visual weight.

For instance, if a large built-in bookcase dominates one area, you could counterbalance it with an overstuffed sofa on the other side of the room. If your coffee table features a red vase, add other red accessories throughout the space.

If you want to combine two design elements in your room, such as Scandinavian and midcentury modern, intersperse both styles throughout instead of featuring one style at one end and the other style at the other.

Find commonality

You can effortlessly mix contrasting furnishings by accentuating the qualities they share.

For instance, a transitional-style sofa, midcentury accent chairs, rustic coffee table, and farmhouse dining table can look perfect together if your sofa and chairs have similar farmhouse-style throw pillows and your rustic and midcentury furnishings have matching wood tones.

Texture can blend design styles and make a room more interesting. If you have a space filled with industrial-style furniture but would like to bring in rustic features, you could add a live-edge wood coffee table with black hairpin legs and a distressed wood mantel over your fireplace.

Use color to unify

Repeating colors is an effective tactic for blending design styles. A good rule of thumb is to develop a color palette with three to five main colors. You can expand this color scheme by adding lighter or darker versions of its core colors.

You can even turn a design element that’s pricey or stands out from the rest of your decor into a focal point by incorporating its palette into your overall color scheme. For example, if you have a red-brick fireplace, you can pick up its rust color as an accent color in your room to make your fireplace pop.

Know your design styles

It’s helpful to know the hallmarks of design styles when planning your decor. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Bohemian: If you love a global aesthetic, this style, which mixes and matches fabrics and decor from around the world, is for you. Think Japanese block prints, handwoven rugs, and hanging macramé planters filled with houseplants.

Industrial: This style suggests an urban loft or warehouse, and it may include exposed beams and ductwork, high ceilings, concrete surfaces, and sparse furniture.

Modern: A modern style is defined by sleek, clean lines, dark-hued colors—think black-framed windows—and a combination of metal, glass, and steel.

Modern farmhouse: Popularized by designer Joanna Gaines, this style features a light and neutral color palette, homey fabrics like chunky knits and grain sacks, natural and painted wood furniture, decorative wood signs, and rustic shiplap walls.

Scandinavian: Rooms with a Scandinavian theme may have white walls and feature uncluttered spaces accented with lush houseplants, minimalistic furniture, and light wood floors à la IKEA.

Traditional: Traditional design may include luxurious features, such as ornately carved furniture, dark wood finishes, gold flourishes, rich fabrics like velvet, and curved lines.

Transitional: This style mixes modern and traditional styles and may include traditionally inspired furniture that’s toned down in size and ornamentation and a neutral color palette with bright splashes of color.

Tips for Mixing Interior Styles

Welcome “cozy season” into your home in a big way with inspiration from these inspiring and comforting color schemes.

Fall is definitely here, and there’s no better way to get in the seasonal spirit than with a bit of cozy interior inspiration guaranteed to make you want to embrace the impending chill.

From sumptuous fabrics to autumnal-inspired hues, these rooms showcase some of the most stunning color palettes the season has to offer in a tour de force that rivals even the best Blue Ridge leaf-peeping route.

Royal Blue and Camel Leather

The formal dining room incorporates a moody-yet-crisp palette of lacquered blue (Stiffkey Blue by Farrow & Ball to be precise), and combined with the family’s antiques and leather dining chairs, invokes a lovely use of color.

Oatmeal and Ink

Neutrals are applicable to any season, and when it comes to cooler temps, the key to making them work is all about layering. This comfy guest room emphasizes the unique refurbished surroundings (the building was once an old church), with creamy shades of oatmeal and pops of black for a tranquil relaxation zone.

Forest Green and Mustard

Equal parts refined and invigorating, this sophisticated sitting room showcases the power of fabric choice. Mustard yellow chairs feel seasonally appropriate for fall when rendered in a luscious crushed velvet, while dynamic floor-to-ceiling forest green acts as a lively foil.

Dove Gray and Mauve

To impart the feeling of a boutique hotel in this family home, a calming palette of dove gray and mauve perfectly encapsulates the slow days of fall. Here, Dovetail by Sherwin-Williams coats the walls and trim, while rosey bed linens offer a welcoming place to wind down. A beautiful touch brings color to the ceiling, covering the “fifth wall” in graphic wallpaper and creating a plush headboard wall behind the bed.

Navy Blue and Mahogany

Rich and moody scenes seem to go hand-in-hand with the fall season and no room exemplifies the vibe better than this kitchen. A stormy navy blue (Sea Serpent by Sherwin-Williams) blankets the room from floor to ceiling while mahogany details (like Hellman-Chang stools and a custom wood and brass range hood) bring an almost copper-like quality to the color palette.

Steel, Blush, and Rust

In this sitting room, a Roman clay finish from Portola Paints (meant to look like plaster, without the hassle) adds a time-worn dimension to the fireplace, while a duo of blush chairs adds a touch of sweetness. Streamlined black accents and a few strategic pops of rust (such as the velvet bolster pillows on the couch) add a slightly masculine edge that feels in line with the moodier fall months.

Pumpkin, Blue-Gray, and Navy

When working with fall color schemes, there’s no rule that says moody is the only way to go. This bright and airy bedroom keeps the cheer, relying on a saturated palette of pumpkin orange, misty blue-gray, and rich navy to anchor an otherwise neutral space. Instead of coating the walls in one standout hue, a mixture of patterns and prints packs a beautiful punch.

Citron and Denim

A limey citron couch takes center stage in this cozy family room. Layer upon layer – including a hand-sewn quilt, collectibles, and a plush toss – add to the cozy fall feel, which is anchored by a sleek blue chair and feathery asparagus fern centerpiece.

Dark Green and Birch

If there was an interior embodiment of a cable knit sweater, this room would be it. In this study, an almost-black shade of green – Rookwood Dark Green by Sherwin-Wiliams – brings intimacy and dimension to the towering space. Accents of birch and taupe offset the gutsy hue, while custom curtains keep things playful.

Ochre, Opal, and Gray

When you hear the words “Tennessee mountain escape” your mind probably jumps right to crisp fall days spent fireside, right? Such daydreams were the goal for this abode, which embodies all the intimacy of the season while still keeping the airy appeal of a vacation home. Pops of rich ochre offset the opalescent look of limewashed stone, while gray-washed beams and a sliding barn door covered in Schumacher linen keep things from skewing too traditional farmhouse.

Amber, Apple Green, and Royal Blue

When it comes to fall, no place does it better than the Hudson Valley, so it makes sense that this 1850s house is ripe with seasonal inspiration. The key to making on-the-nose hues like amber, royal, and apple green work in real life? Juxtapositioning them with lots of patterns. Here, an eye-catching burnt orange velvet couch and tartan ottoman are juxtaposed with an eclectic collection of prints and patterns. The whole look is finished off with window and door trim painted Great Barrington Green by Benjamin Moore.

Some very lovely fall color palettes here, and in some very unexpected combinations! I hope you enjoyed these approaches, and you can see that these color combinations transcend the seasons – but there’s just a bit of extra coziness with fall. And you know I’m here to help you pull it all together and find your best color palette for your personal spaces.

If these colors have inspired you, just give me a call anytime at (407) 743-2399. I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, and we can set up a consultation to explore some lovely, colorful territory together. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com and you can also click this link to message me via my website.

Sometimes, we spend so much time focusing on interior design that we forget about the outdoor spaces of our homes. Many people with patios neglect that space, which means they’re missing out on having beautiful outdoor retreats. If your patio decor is lacking, there are countless ways to add some flair to it.

Get relaxed with some pillows and rugs

Get floor pillows that you and your guests can use to sit on the ground for more relaxed occasions. You can also cover the ground with an outdoor rug that will bring a little warmth into the space.

Have fun with creative seating

Hang hammocks if you want to use your patio for a relaxing, quiet place to think or read. If you want to make your patio extra comfortable, throw in a futon or daybed.

The right plants will enhance the space

Add a few potted plants to bring nature into this indoor-outdoor space. They’ll brighten up the area nicely. Just make sure that the layout of the patio allows your plants or flowers to get enough sunlight.

So many different ways to enjoy a food area

If you like to eat outdoors, add a small table and a few chairs to your patio space. During the warmer months, you can head outside and enjoy dinner with a sunset view. If you’re feeling fancy, consider purchasing a bar cart, which will help you bring cocktails from the kitchen to the patio seamlessly. You can even install a tabletop firepit if you’re interested in roasting marshmallows on the patio.

Add a little privacy with curtains and partitions

To add an element of privacy, hang a curtain or set up a partition to separate your patio space from the outdoors. You can even repaint old shutters from your home and use them as a barrier between your patio and the rest of your yard. If you’d still like to get natural sunlight, choose a light-colored curtain or only set up a partition on one side of the patio for partial privacy.

Bring the outside in (and vice versa)

Make your patio have a natural transition between your home and backyard. Include furniture that is a mix of both indoors and outdoors, such as wicker chairs with decorative pillows.

Enjoy the night with attractive lighting

Incorporate lighting so that you can use your patio at night. Whether it’s a large light or a number of twinkly string lights, adequate lighting will allow you to get the most use out of your space.

Your patio has more potential than you might’ve realized. Think about how you’d like to use your space, and you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to transform this often overlooked part of the home.

If this article has you inspired, I’d love the opportunity to help you make the most of your patio space for exceptional outdoor living. Just contact me for a consultation.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post. You can also click this “contact” link, or you can email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.

Sometimes wall art might be a painting, and sometimes it’s something else.

There are a handful of “essentials” that make a home or space functional and comfortable. One of these, of course, is a roof over your head. Another obvious one is furniture. I place decorative elements like wall art in this same category of essentials.

And when you have large walls to decorate, it’s the perfect opportunity to tie a room together in many ways.

The right pieces for your walls can introduce intrigue, personality, inspiration, and dimension to your abode. You’ll be amazed at how transformative one large statement piece (or display) can be.

If you have some blank walls to dress up, here are some large wall art ideas that hopefully inspire you in some attractive and unexpected ways, as well as ideas for how you might want to display them. 

Large wall art

If you have tall ceilings in your living room, you should think about hanging a big wall decor piece. With large oversized art, the most important thing is that it fits to scale, meaning it fits with the size of your wall.

Bring the beach fun indoors

If you live by the coast or like beachy home design, why not hang a surfboard?  A simple design can nail the look without going over the top.  

Make light with mirrors

One of the best wall decor ideas for living rooms is to hang multiple mirrors. When placed across from a window, you double the amount of light while creating the illusion of a larger space.  

Gallery walls (and the Rule of Threes)

In the world of interior design, the rule of threes suggests that groups of three (or other odd numbers) are more attractive to the eye than even numbers. You can embrace this concept in your living room by hanging a three-piece framed art set. 

Murals & large maps

There are many wonderful artists who focus a good bit of their time painting incredible murals on the walls of art-loving homeowners. It’s important to select a style that is compatible with your interior decor and furnishings, and mural artists usually have wonderful suggestions once they see your space.

These days, murals are often created as panels that are adhesive and easily removable. And the styles available are lovely and astounding. Moody seascapes, bright abstracts, soothing watercolors – they’re all available in square, portrait, and landscape orientations.

I love maps! Large world maps make great wall art because they’re timeless, useful, and often come in versatile hues. What child wouldn’t love exploring the world in his or her bedroom? These can be painted by a muralist or bought as wallpapers, stick-on shapes, or removable printed murals.

Go bright, bold, geometric

For a high-impact dining nook, consider hanging a larger piece with lots of bold colors, geometric shapes, and endless details you’ll want to admire over the years.

Set against simple but striking black furniture, this large-scale, kaleidoscopic piece is clearly meant to be the focal point of the room.

Lighted wall art

Think outside the bulb with lighted wall art. Take a look at how this battery-powered shadowbox showcases natural birch branches with a subtle glow.  

Try a tapestry

An easy way to cover a large amount of space is by choosing a colorful tapestry to hang above your furniture.

While there are endless patterns and designs to choose from, selecting a colorful option can change the vibe of an entire space. This particular piece is playful, and the wrinkled texture draws your attention in an unexpected way.

Repurpose your rug

You can often find wall art inspiration in the most unexpected places. Rugs can tie different elements of a room together, but rather than laying one on the floor, try hanging it up on the wall instead.

The textured, woven design of the rug in this room is perfectly contrasted by the white wall behind it, allowing it to be viewed and admired in a brand new way.

There are so many ways to beautify your large walls with art of all kinds! And what’s shown here is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’d like to explore any of these approaches further, let me know and together, we can determine the best kind of art for your space.

I’m easy to reach – you can choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com, and, of course, you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399. You can also click here to send me a message.

When Maggie Sojourner, a local judge, asked me to help with the design aspects of the renovation of her Sears Kit home, I was all in. I had previously done some work for Maggie, so I was familiar with her home and excited and honored to help breathe new life into her charming historic bungalow. 

Located in the downtown Orlando area, Maggie’s house was one of the over 70,000 “kit homes” that were sold through the Sears Roebuck and Company catalog between 1908 and 1940. 

The renovation added 1200 square feet to the home and included a large beautiful kitchen, a new master bedroom, bath, and laundry room. 

House in a Box

Part of a bygone era, the Sears Kit Homes have a unique place in architectural history. 

With over 370 different plans to choose from, each kit came with a book-length instruction manual and everything needed to build the house—including lumber, nuts, bolts, and even paint. Plumbing, electrical, and heating equipment could be purchased separately, also from Sears. 

Maggie’s home is the “Sunbeam” model and has been featured in the Orlando Sentinel and other newspapers and online articles. She has the original title search information and the plaque that identifies the house as a Sears Home.

When I asked Maggie what first drew her to the home, she said, “I fell in love with the spacious front porch that looks across Central Boulevard into Carl Langford Park.”

Warm Spacious Kitchens Are the Heart of the Home

The original 1700-square-foot home had plenty of character and charm but lacked the more practical aspects of today’s larger kitchens and bathrooms.

Kitchens used to be hidden and placed in the back of the house, but today, many kitchens are the focal point of an open concept living area where family and friends gather to socialize.

For Maggie, the kitchen was the highlight of her renovation. “The most exciting part was when I could finally get into my new kitchen and cook. My prior kitchen was only big enough for one person at a time.”

I like to call kitchen islands the “magnets” of the home. They draw people in and serve multiple duties. 

The island in Maggie’s kitchen allows plenty of space for meal prep, provides extra storage, a place to eat, and even houses her microwave. It’s also a great spot for her grandchildren to sit and color or work on puzzles while she’s cooking. The faux leather seats on the island stools not only add texture to the room’s decor, they make for easy cleaning. 

Carmen’s Pro tip: It’s tempting to make your kitchen island as big as possible, but you need to allow plenty of room around your island so people can move comfortably. Most designers recommend at least 42 inches of space between the island and the kitchen counter or other structures, but I like 48 inches better. And unless your kitchen is at least 13 feet wide, I don’t recommend an island at all. 

Lighting is one of the most important elements of design in any room but you have to remember to keep things in proportion. The hanging pendent above Maggie’s island was a piece that I’d chosen for her old kitchen. Maggie liked it and wanted to keep it, but one pendant was too small. Luckily, this piece was still in stock and I was able to get a second light fixture to create a more balanced look. 

Wallpaper Makes a Statement

Maggie’s home had a small passageway between the kitchen and the dining room. Typically, in older homes these areas were used for credenzas or buffet tables. 

Although the area was small, I wanted to highlight it, so I suggested wallpaper. The pattern has both an older and modern feel to it, and the vibrant green color brings life to an area that might otherwise be overlooked.

Carmen’s Pro Tip: Wallpaper can also be used to hide something you don’t want seen. The home’s electrical box is in the middle of this room. An experienced wallpaper installer covered the box’s cover, making what was once an unsightly necessity blend in seamlessly. 

Art For the Pop

Nothing makes an area “pop” more than a lovely piece of artwork. Maggie wanted to brighten the all-white look in the powder room, so I suggested we order framed prints from art.com.

Artwork doesn’t have to be expensive, and you don’t have to have a degree in fine art to select some nice pieces for your home.

Carmen’s Pro Tip: If you’re hanging more than one framed print in a small area, using images from the same series will keep the look cohesive.

Pulling It All Together

Contrasting textures are a perfect way to create interest and give visual weight to areas where you want to draw attention. Repeating those textures throughout several rooms helps to create a theme, unifying your look.

Shiplap, prevalent in today’s Modern Farmhouse decor, feels both “old” and current. We used it in both bathrooms and as an interesting detail in the kitchen’s range hood.

Woven Roman shades aren’t just practical. They also add a warm look to the kitchen, laundry, and powder room windows.

Tile flooring in the laundry room and powder bath, while not identical, looks similar enough to create a uniform look.

And, of course, color is a great way to create a theme among rooms. The all-white upper kitchen cabinets were softened by an occasional lower cabinet in “moonstone,” a blue-gray color used in the laundry room.

The same blue color palette graced the bed quilt and accessories. Blue is one of the most popular colors to use in the bedroom, and for a good reason. According to psychologists, the color blue promotes relaxation and sound sleep.

The secret to using repetitive elements is to keep it balanced so that it doesn’t become predictable.

Thinking of renovating your home?

Maggie had a strong vision of what she wanted, but like many clients, she wasn’t sure how to put the look together. That’s where a designer comes in. 

In my experience, clients are sometimes afraid to make design decisions because they don’t want to make an expensive mistake. So before starting a renovation project, I sit down with a client, and we make an extensive list of likes and dislikes, go over budget, and make initial selections.  

A designer can also act as a buffer between the client and the contractor, reducing stress on the client and making the renovation run smoother, ultimately saving time.

“I enjoyed working with Carmen to select the colors and designs for the rooms,” Maggie said. “I am “color” challenged, and she really made this much easier.”

Maggie had a few tips to share with anyone planning a renovation: 

• Have a good idea of what you want and what it will cost.
• Be prepared for additional costs.
• Make sure you have a reputable contractor, as you will spend a great deal of time talking with him/her and relying on him/her. 
• Practice patience as the process takes longer than planned. 
• And finally, “It was a long time from start to finish, but well worth the wait.” 

A home renovation adds value to what is probably one of your most significant investments and allows you to make a house truly your own. 

If you have a project you’ve been thinking about, give me a call. And it doesn’t have to be big. Some of my favorite design jobs have been for smaller rooms and areas. 

Let’s discuss how to turn your ordinary space into an extraordinary place. 

Choose a contact method below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com

And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399

It’s looking like ’70s-style interiors are back, and historically speaking, we’re right on track. After two years of living in a nightmarish reality, it makes sense why we’d adopt a decade where you could flip between The Brady Bunch and the Watergate trials on your Admiral TV set. If this summer’s “coastal grandmother” and “Barbiecore” trends tell us anything, it’s that people are looking to repurpose tokens from the past with comfort and color in mind. So, what’s next in fall design trends? Luxuriously cozy cabins with a vintage-inspired twist.

As we head into fall, it seems as if the ’70s theme is getting a cozy, organic modern upgrade. Everything is earthy, vibrant, and nostalgic – from dark wood furnishings to checkered decor that screams “groovy, baby” (in an Austin Powers voice). Here are seven trends likely to lead the pack in 2022’s fall home styling.

Bold ’70s Colors are One of the Biggest Fall Design Trends

“From boho to disco, ’70s interiors are having a moment. The trend is all about incorporating earthy tones like hunter green, mustard yellow, and blues, with materials like rattan and bamboo—in fact, searches for rattan have shot up by 77 percent on Pinterest,” says Nick Drewe, trend expert at WeThrift.com. And if you’ve been following 2022’s shift towards green, this should come as no surprise. Green has been topping the design trend charts over the past years, and a muted sage variation is popping up everywhere for fall. Add a little blue to the green and you have Glidden’s 2023 color of the year (see my DesignShots article in this issue).

Fringed Accents for a Nostalgic Fall

There’s one ’70s decor fall design trend that everybody seems to be drooling over: the revival of fringes. The attraction with fringes and tassels started even before the fashionable stage outfits of Elvis Presley, had a prevalent presence in the ’70s. If you’d like to bring this Elvis-inspired trend into your home, you can start with small changes, like adding fringe material to your rugs and carpets. You don’t have to go overboard to incorporate fringe into your decor. Keep it simple for a pared-back elegant look and work with accessories such as cushions to pull off this trend. Combining fringing with functional pieces, such as mirrors, not only adds a decorative touch but creates a feature out of them too.

Kitchen Plate Walls

Another old-but-new look among fall design trends that celebs are loving this season is “plate walls”. With a lot of inspiration from Gwyneth Paltrow’s farmhouse-style kitchen wall and Kris Jenner’s dish room, it seems like dressing the walls with decorative plates is all the rage in 2022. One very cool thing about this trend is that the possibilities are endless when it comes to placement and configurations. This season, there are a lot of hand-painted platters mixed with more modern designs. It’s a blending of modern and cozy traditional. That may be why, for many, it’s so visually stimulating and popping up in a lot of nostalgic fall designs.

Plush Pumpkins And Rattan Gourds are Big Fall Design Trends

Probably the most ubiquitous trend we’re all seeing this year is the use of organic materials, and this continues from the past few years. Of course, this is especially well-suited to the fall season. From rattan pumpkins and woven vases to wood chip gourds and driftwood bits, organics are everywhere defining the character of the season. There’s an astonishing assortment of pumpkin decor available this year, from woven rattan and corn husks to weathered stone and wood.

Checkerboard Patterns

Another trend that’s gaining traction is the use of checkerboard patterns. From timeless checkered accessories to elegant black and white floors, the look oozes sophistication while offering a pop of pattern. So, for fall, you can expect to see the look taking a more muted approach. A checkered pattern adds a touch of whimsy and is a great way to break up the look of an otherwise neutral room. However, this is the kind of pattern that requires restraint and vision – you don’t want to feel like you’re at the circus, so tread carefully. Perhaps sage green checkered ceramic mugs and vases next to tone-on-tone checkered bedding and plush patterned area rugs, as an example.

Dark Wood Furniture

Blonde wood has been a designer favorite for the past four or five years. The trend paralleled the rise of modern Scandinavian-inspired, white-on-white interiors that are still popular today. This year, though, we’re seeing a noticeable shift towards darker wood tones paired with moody paint colors for a more dramatic look. Lately in design, dark brown is popping up everywhere – we’re seeing it used on walls and in furniture – and there’s a resurgence of dark woods used in cabinetry and accent pieces.

Vintage Vessels

Many of us have been seeing vintage vessels all over our feeds. The beauty of vintage vessels is the unique patterns, colors, and textures that have been imprinted on them over time. Each one is different and one of a kind. This variance adds character and intrigue, giving warmth and visual interest.

Many designs are showcasing vintage ceramic and antique vessels throughout fall-inspired vignettes. They can be tough to find, and you may have to search outside of the US to find what you’re looking for, but the results can be very worthwhile.

I’m available for consultations and design projects to help you bring fall into your home or business. There are so many beautiful choices to make any space gently transition to the fall and/or holiday season. Or if you do like a clean sweep, I can do it all in one visit. If this sounds like a good plan, let’s talk more about warming up your spaces with the colors and scents, and textures of the fall season. Just choose a contact method right below this blog post, or click this “contact” link. You can also email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com And you can always call me anytime at (407) 743-2399.