School Success Set-Ups 101
By Mary Ellen “Meg” Labaziewicz • November 19, 2020
Our lives have changed dramatically over the last few months. Working, learning, and socializing from home is the new normal! Now, it is back to school time and the look of “back to school” takes many different forms. Whether your child is heading back to a traditional school setting, working online, or homeschooling, their study environment at home is crucial for success. Interior design can be utilized to create an environment that will help your children be set up for success at home. Designing work zones throughout your home designed specifically for certain school activities can be very beneficial. This works for homes of all sizes. One zone could be for focused academic work. Ergonomically sized furniture for children with desk and chairs sized for them is a great idea. There are many inexpensive options, so you can relax if your child happens to get markers, paint or put stickers on the furniture, as my children did. Helping your children keep organized also aids in the learning process. Their desktop space should have accessories to help them keep their school supplies readily available. Cute little trays or containers for pencils will help them get right to work as soon as they sit down. One of my daughters loved to read at her desk, which always surprised me. She would sit there for hours. However, I find many children love a cozy reading nook. It could be a big cushy chair, or beanbags and pillows in a corner on the floor, but the idea is to have a specific place to relax and read. If you plan to share some cozy reading time with your child, be sure you have enough space for two. Another zone could be dedicated to spreading out for crafts or other school projects. Projects were always big in our house. My girls loved working on projects. Ideally this would be a place where a project could have a home for a few days if necessary. A simple card table can do the trick. I have found an increased interest for whiteboards in homes which would be perfect for this zone, as would cork boards, chalk boards and metal boards with cute magnets. Both color and lighting are important design aspects to boost kid’s moods and creativity. Nothing sets the mood better than lighting. Ideally having several light sources is best. Natural light is a wonderful way to lift our spirits. Specifically, when designing learning spaces, task lighting is best to insure your child has enough light to read or work at their desk. Research shows that children respond to color. Blue, helps with productivity and yellow grabs your attention making them great choices for when focus is required. Green has a calming effect and works well in your reading nook. Orange lifts your mood and red is an energizer. Setting your children up for success while studying at home does not have to be expensive or require a lot of homework. Take a few tips from my interior design notebook and have a little fun. I hope these ideas will bring you and your family a wonderful learning experience.
As an interior designer I am always looking for what latest, newest, and hottest trends. I love this about interior design. There is always something new to see and learn. It’s continually changing to reflect the ever-changing way we live. I recently attended High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina and it was clear that wellness was one of the hottest design trends. Given our experiences over the last few years it’s not a big surprise. Our mood is easily influenced by our surroundings, and in turn can affect our health, productivity, and quality of life. Spaces with clutter, poor air circulation, and harsh or not enough lighting are proven to cause stress. Good design is about the balance of aesthetics and functionality and when done well can help promote a greater sense of well-being. Here are some of my favorite ways to create a more calming environment: nature, spiritual nook, lighting, decluttering, space planning, colors, and smart technology. We continue to see and love the spaces that blur the line between indoors and out. Bringing the outside in and the inside out by using plants, natural materials like wood and bamboo, as well as colors that mimic nature can easily be incorporated in every space. Rattan is having a moment being used in everything from furniture to lighting. It makes the perfect accent to the lighter brighter paint color we are currenting seeing. I love the idea of a Zen or yoga nook since it does not take up a lot of space and can be incorporated in an office, bedroom or living room. A meditation pillow, crystals, and any other items that bring you joy is a simple way to carve out an area for you to go into every time you want to practice meditation, gratefulness, or just be still. In one home we recently worked in we used beautiful baskets to store weights, bands, and a yoga mat. Lighting is important and can take several forms and most rooms would benefit from each. Natural light is the perfect mood booster provided you’re not trying to sleep. I recently changed the location of my office to the room with the best morning sun. It’s been a wonderful way to start my day. Task and ambient lighting are also important to set the mood for job or relaxation. Decluttering is an easy way to bring a sense of calm. Find a place for all your necessaires and pitch what you don’t need. Consider using baskets and trays to beautify and organize. I like to label things as well which makes it easier for others to help keep control of the clutter. In my kitchen our toaster sits on a pretty tray which also serves as a crumb catcher making clean up easy. Space planning is vital to a room feeling and functioning right. It’s the very first step in designing a room. An inviting space is one with ample seating that gives a sense of comfort, relaxation, and increased functionality. Consider the traffic patterns and specific uses of the space. The more personalized you make your home the more relaxed and restored you will feel from the stresses of everyday life. Colors play a large part in how a space feels. Neutrals and natural colors are said to be calming which makes them a great back drop to add more intense colors and texture. Calming, nature inspired colors like shades of green are associated with balance, renewal and are currently very popular. Ready for some pizazz? Consider adding small doses of these colors, red is stimulating, yellow is energizing, black is dramatic. If you are planning a project like a kitchen or bath remodel, use this opportunity to level up your amenities. It may not add as much to the cost as you think. Take advantage of the new technology by adding modern appliances such as smart fridges and a charging station to increase efficiency and make your kitchen more of a sociable area. In your bathroom consider a smart shower which allows you to set the water temperature, flow rate, shower duration and smart toilets have features like seat warmers, touch-free automatic lids, night lights and even speakers for your favorite music. Rain shower heads, jets and soaking tubs are additional bathroom amenities many homeowners desire for relaxing. As we ring in 2023 with anticipation and excitement for all that may come, I hope you found some inspiration for lower the stress in your home. Wishing you a wonderful new year!
…bringing a few of the top spring trends of 2022 into and outside your home.
It may only be early March, but I’ve had Spring on my mind since Super Bowl Sunday. Don’t get me wrong, I love cozying up in front of the fire and the look of a soft blanket draped over every chair. But there’s something about the fresh inspiration that comes from first peeks of daffodils welcoming warmer weather. Clearly, I’ve got a case of spring fever, and the only way to satisfy it is by changing out my décor. Sprucing up for the spring should be a source of joy, not stress, so here are a few of my favorite spring décor ideas to get you started. Bring the outdoors in by using colors and elements from nature throughout your home. I like to fill my vases with spring floral branches from my yard, or even better, pussy willows. Nothing is more calming than design inspired from nature. Freshen up the fragrance of your home with the scent of spring. For me that is lilac. When I lived in Rochester, New York, Highland Park- home to over 1,200 lilac bushes- was walking distance from my house. You know it is Spring when the lilacs are in bloom. Think upcoming holidays: shamrocks, eggs, birds, butterflies, and bunnies for fun decorating ideas. Change out your pillows, candles, and flowers. Tulips are the flower of spring! Having a huge bouquet of them on your bathroom counter or on your bedside table will brighten up space instantly. Mantles shouldn’t just be decorated with at Christmas with stockings and garland. Transform them for spring by hanging white bead strings from them, adding light-colored pictures to them and wooden accessories. Incorporating a few fresh changes to your home décor may be all you need to curb your spring fever and enjoy whatever is left of winter.
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. - Edith Sitwell Christmas decorations away. I turn my thoughts to stocking up for cold weather - from regular essentials like flashlights and warm socks to the fun essentials like bottles of wine, favorite hot teas, new board games and puzzles. I have my cold weather favorite home design ideas too. Let me help your home be fully prepared for the season of coziness. Cozy Bedding and Toasty Throws Fresh, new bedding is an instant pick-me-up for lagging spirits in winter. Think layers of warm coziness — flannel sheets, wool blankets and thick duvets. And, having an assortment of luxuriously soft throws is a must. On cold days there’s nothing better than toting one around from room to room (along with a mug of hot tea, of course) to warm your shoulders or toes. Sunlight Large windows invite natural light into living rooms and make the living spaces bright and comfortable. Various lighting fixtures create an attractive lighting design which allows to alter the intensity of illumination and change the mood in the living room. Ceiling lights, table lamps or floor lamps are the ideal combinations for creating visual comfort in modern living rooms. Candles You’ll want both the ambient and emergency variety — although really, is there much difference? In a power outage, I find that large pillar candles (the type that often come in lanterns and hurricanes) give off the most lights, and they also look lovely on a regular evening. Whatever type you prefer, having a drawer full of extras on hand will ensure that you’ll never be stuck in the dark. As always, don’t leave candles unattended. Warm Floor Rugs Floor rugs work as anchors and unite living room furniture creating harmony and aesthetic appeal. A soft floor rug is ideal for winter decorating, and you can remove it and put in storage in spring and summer. Artificial materials are easy to clean, but blends of human-made and natural fibers create beautiful, practical, durable, and comfortable floor rugs, perfect for living room decorating in cold seasons. Cozy Corner Creating a cozy corner for reading and rest is an excellent idea that enhances your comfortable living room design. The soft chair and an ottoman or built-in bench and wall shelves with books look inviting, warm, and comfortable.
Is one of your New Year's resolutions to give your home a makeover? Are you looking for inspiration and wondering about top interior design trends for the year ahead? Look no further. In 2022, many of our design decisions will continue to be driven by our new normal: more time at home . You will see that as a common thread in my predictions below. So, what’s ahead in 2022 in the world of interior design? Check it out... High End Luxe Finishes The need to feel relaxed and maybe even pampered in-home means we expect to see higher end finishes, particularly in bathrooms. This can translate to showers with multiple shower heads and steam, large soaking tubs and bidets. Wood-tone vanities like teak and enhancing natural light when possible will also be popular. Nature-Centered Spaces Our connection to nature and its calming effects will be seen throughout our homes this year. I expect to see an emphasis on creating calming environments with natural lighting and ventilation, and green tones—from sage to hunter—will make a big impact. Incorporating a lot of plants will be a common theme as well. I am often asked for green thumb strategies. If live plants are what you want, go big! Larger plants are much more forgiving if you happen to forget to water them from time to time (like me). Curved Furniture Furnishings of curves bring a fresh and soft wavy feeling. From curved corners within walls and cabinets to curved backs of sofas, dining chairs and arched cabinets, the angular line of furnishing is softening. In one of our current projects our client wanted a cozy conversation lounge in her poker room, and we found the perfect sofas from Four Hands (pictured in the center above). I am in love! Sustainability Sustainability is a major issue for everyone, so in 2022, being environmentally-friendly when designing a space is a must. Clients are requiring it and so many designers are rising to the occasion by sourcing the best materials for the long-term health of our eco-system. One of my personal go-to sustainable options: reupholster when you can. You don’t always have to buy new! Mindful Spaces This year will continue to bring about a deeper awareness of our spaces and the impact they have on our emotions and wellbeing. We will see more spaces that have personality and personal ties to the interests, hobbies and pleasures of its owner. Last year we worked on two home sports bars: a '70’s glam poker lounge and a game room. We expect to see a lot more of this moving forward. So much fun!!! A Return to Traditional Expect roll arm sofas, wingback chairs, dining tables based on antique styles, and pieces with detail and some history. And why not? We love shopping at consignment shops for traditional pieces, which is also one way to combat the supply chain issue ( and tie in sustainability!). For materials, we're going to see more natural materials become popular again. Marble, real wood, linens, mohair—things that feel more organic and nice to the touch are in. Seamless Look Inside and Outside More people are enhancing their outdoor living spaces with furniture choices that look much like their indoor furniture. I see more intentionally-designed outdoor living spaces that don't sacrifice on style and expand the families' living and entertaining space to outside of the home. We have put together a Pinterest board with some photo inspiration so you can get some ideas for your own home. You can check it out here . Which 2022 design trend are you most looking forward to?
It’s the holiday season and here at Inspired Interiors by Meg we are feeling very merry and bright (and we hope you are too)! Today we wanted to share our top holiday design tips for 2021 so you can deck the halls in style. So, here are this year’s top trends in holiday home design: White Christmas trees According to this study that collected data across various social media platforms, the number one trend in holiday home decor this year is—drumroll, please: white Christmas trees! We love how versatile this trend is and how easy it is to incorporate it into your overall decorating style. Warm, neutral tones Warm and neutral tones are hot this year, which pairs perfectly with the white trees. While cool tones are often popular to fit in with the chillier weather, this year we’re loving the warm and snug feel of cozy tans and browns. Too much is never enough! Last year we had to keep our gatherings small and intimate, so I think we can all agree that we’re excited to see our healthy friends and family in larger groups this year. That said, in 2021, it’s time to go all out! Bring out all the decorations; this is not the time to take a minimalist approach. Nostalgic decor One of our personal favorite trends we’ve noticed this year is a nod to Christmases past. Due to the pandemic, we’ve all been reminded of what really matters in life: family. Reminiscing on simpler times has made a lot of us decide to bring back old family traditions and we’ve definitely seen this general trend make its way into home decor as well. Vintage tree trimmings Similarly, vintage tree trimmings are another hot trend for this year (think 1950s-style glass ornaments). This micro-trend fits into two larger trends we’ve been seeing all year: 1. vintage style making a comeback and 2. sustainability. Shop in your parents’ or grandparents’ attics and you may find just the perfect items. We hope you enjoy your holiday season and would love to hear how you’re going to deck the halls this year.
As we have quarantined at home, our needs for privacy, security, flexibility, and beauty have changed the way we want to live. Social distancing has become the new standard, and even as restrictions begin to lift and life goes back to 'normal', the time spent inside will have bigger shifts starting with the way we see our homes. As I think about life post pandemic with a dreamy giddy feeling, here are my thoughts on post COVID-19 interior design trends that are here to stay. As working from home has taught many of us, rooms that do it all are coveted assets. Multipurpose spaces — especially in the kitchen and dining areas — are in hot demand. Rooms that can accommodate study nooks, movie or game night with ease, home gyms and libraries, as well as areas to let off steam and find privacy will continue to be a priority for homeowners. Nature and it's calming effects are here to stay in our homes as our desire to have a connection to nature is only going to grow post COVID. Our inherent need to feel connected to the outside world will mean outdoor areas, no matter the size, will play a more significant role in the overall design of our homes during and after the pandemic. Bring on the calm! Whether a grand house or a tiny apartment, your home's entry is the sight that welcomes you and your guests and entries are changing as we focus more attention to cleanliness. Beautiful and functional storage is on the rise, especially for shoes and tucking our masks away. Having lived in Japan where shoes are left at the door in favor of slippers, I personally love this. In addition, a desire for many to sanitize their hands upon returning home results in a tray beautifully displayed with antibacterial hand wash in an effort to keep our homes safe from those nasty germs. While spacious layouts and open floor plans were once all the rage, you can expect to see more separation—with and without walls—in the new year. Creative partitions to divide areas of your home can take many shapes: soft materials like curtains for noise reduction, glass or even well placed plants. Hotel inspired amenities are on the rise in home design and are likely here to stay. From lux soft sheets, bamboo are my personal favorite, to ambient lighting and perfumed candles, we desire a vacation feeling without venturing past our homes. As the distinction has blurred between our home life and our work life, we will continue to design for respite and provide ways to draw boundaries around some practices. How the home is connected to the outdoors—views, light, and air—and to spaces that allow respite will continue to be particularly valued. Thanks for reading, Meg
Is one of your New Year's resolutions to give your home a makeover? Are you looking for inspiration and wondering about top interior design trends for the year ahead? Look no further. In 2022, many of our design decisions will continue to be driven by our new normal: more time at home. You will see that as a common thread in my predictions below. So, what’s ahead in 2022 in the world of interior design? Check it out... High End Luxe Finishes The need to feel relaxed and maybe even pampered in-home means we expect to see higher end finishes, particularly in bathrooms. This can translate to showers with multiple shower heads and steam, large soaking tubs and bidets. Wood-tone vanities like teak and enhancing natural light when possible will also be popular. Nature-Centered Spaces Our connection to nature and its calming effects will be seen throughout our homes this year. I expect to see an emphasis on creating calming environments with natural lighting and ventilation, and green tones—from sage to hunter—will make a big impact. Incorporating a lot of plants will be a common theme as well. I am often asked for green thumb strategies. If live plants are what you want, go big! Larger plants are much more forgiving if you happen to forget to water them from time to time (like me). Curved Furniture Furnishings of curves bring a fresh and soft wavy feeling. From curved corners within walls and cabinets to curved backs of sofas, dining chairs and arched cabinets, the angular line of furnishing is softening. In this project our client wanted a cozy conversation lounge in her poker room, and these sofas from Four Hands were the perfect solution. I am in love! Sustainability Sustainability is a major issue for everyone, so in 2022, being environmentally-friendly when designing a space is a must. Clients are requiring it and so many designers are rising to the occasion by sourcing the best materials for the long-term health of our eco-system. One of my personal go-to sustainable options: reupholster when you can. You don’t always have to buy new! Mindful Spaces This year will continue to bring about a deeper awareness of our spaces and the impact they have on our emotions and wellbeing. We will see more spaces that have personality and personal ties to the interests, hobbies and pleasures of its owner. Last year we worked on two home sports bars: a '70’s glam poker lounge and a game room. We expect to see a lot more of this moving forward. So much fun!!! A Return to Traditional Expect roll arm sofas, wingback chairs, dining tables based on antique styles, and pieces with detail and some history. And why not? We love shopping at consignment shops for traditional pieces, which is also one way to combat the supply chain issue (and tie in sustainability!). For materials, we're going to see more natural materials become popular again. Marble, real wood, linens, mohair—things that feel more organic and nice to the touch are in. Seamless Look Inside and Outside More people are enhancing their outdoor living spaces with furniture choices that look much like their indoor furniture. I see more intentionally-designed outdoor living spaces that don't sacrifice on style and expand the families' living and entertaining space to outside of the home. Which 2022 design trend are you most looking forward to incorporating into your home?
It's my favorite time of year!
As an interior designer, I am always looking at the latest, newest, and hottest design trends. I shop my favorite vendors at trade shows to see what’s trending before it even comes to market. I love this about interior design. There is always something new to see and to learn. It continuously changes with technology, building materials, colors, furniture, lighting, and accessories. Even though I enjoy this part of designing, good interior design is about balancing. It meshes the client’s desired aesthetic and atmosphere. It shows their family history and layers the old and the new to tells their story. With the increased time many of us are spending at home, you may be looking to refresh a space. Are your thinking your family room needs different furniture to function better or your guest bedroom, which now also functions as an office needs paint or maybe a total kitchen redesign. Whatever project you may be considering, you will want to know the trends to consider your inspirations. Here are five of my favorite current interior design trends: curved lines, live plants, bold patterns, multifunctional spaces, and modern interior. If you are looking at furniture right now, consider some with soft curves lines. This is a great way to add an unexpected element to your space. Curved sofas work best when “floating” your furniture, meaning when you place the furniture off the walls and more in the center of the room. As more interior designs have open floor plans, “floating” your furniture to make cozy areas is a great design tool. I’ve always loved taking care of plants. I even had them in my college dorm. However, once my children came along, and we all started traveling so much due to living in Asia, I became less attentive to them until recently. Plants are lovely to fill a space with texture, color, nature, and fresh air. Think big, small, ivy, and colors. Live walls are a beautiful trend that works inside and outside of the home. Plants can hang from the ceiling tucked safely into a macramé hanger. Yes, macramé is back speaking of my college plants. It’s also trendy to hang a vessel on the wall and add a plant. The plants could make a great science project for your children. Fun and modern bold black and white graphic patterns are everywhere. The contrast is beautiful. It can be a focal point or an accent in a space. It’s all about achieving a balance between the serenity of white and boldness of black. Effortlessly chic black-and-white interiors rarely go out of style. Pick your favorite color as an accent, and you are ready to go! My daughter chose an emerald green sofa to go with her mostly black and white apartment in Boston. It looks so fresh! Multifunctional spaces at home are on-trend and likely to stay for a while. In the era of open floor plans, working from home and mobile electronic devices, multifunctional rooms are a must. The kitchen island becomes both dining rooms and workstations. Offices double as guest bedrooms. I have noticed that many clients are looking for smaller homes, which almost requires them to combine room functionality. In recent years modern interiors have been all the rage. We have seen cabinets with straight lines, gray or white walls, and lighter wood floors. Even here in Allen, TX. If you were to stop by any model home and it is easy to see. They are lighter and brighter than a few years ago. However, there is a slow movement back to the classics Interiors free from the rigor of the prevailing modern taste. I thought this would be an excellent place to end as it takes us back to the beginning. Keep your favorite, family, or well-made pieces. They so often make an excellent foundation for layering in style de jour.
