Designing a kid-friendly home can be a challenge. We want our interiors to satisfy our little ones’ wants and needs, stimulate and inspire their growing brains and bodies and reflect their personalities. At the same time, we want to maintain the design and flow of our homes without our kids and their toys overtaking the house! The moms of the Talie Jane Interiors team had a fun time putting together some of our favorite creative and inspiring design ideas that bridge that gap. Check them out! FAMILY ROOMS Family rooms are the gathering area in homes. So, the last thing you want is a cluttered mess of toys. You want to make your living area somewhere where you and your kids will be at peace and can still have company over without anxiety! Here are some tips for a kid-friendly family room: Keep It Open Open-concept living spaces are fantastic for kid-centric families. You can be in the kitchen while keeping an eye and ear on the kids! Choose Durable Materials The kids are going to spill something. And we know they’regoing to wipe their hands and noses on the furniture too… When in Doubt, Go Round! No one wants […]
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Color is a universal language and a powerful communication tool. Of all the elements that make up a visual design, color is perhaps the most vital influential. It plays a vital role in fine arts such as painting and photography, advertising and branding, fashion, beauty, industrial design and of course interior design. But what is it about color that goes beyond the simple hues we see in the rainbow? Color psychology is the study between color and human behavior. In other words, color psychology perceived color as a trigger of perceptions, feeling and emotions. It’s a fascinating field that explores how different hues can influence mood, decision-making and even physiological reactions, often in ways that operate beneath our conscious awareness. And why is color so important in the psychology of interior design? The answer lies in its ability to define a room’s purpose and influence its occupants’ behavior. This interplay between colors and our minds significantly impacts how we experience different environments. The strategic use of color in interior spaces can guide how we feel and act, making color psychology a vital tool for designers aiming to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also emotionally and psychologically supportive. Often when we […]
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In the world of interior design, furry companions are often overlooked, and relegated to the realm of practicality rather than aesthetics. But what if I told you that your four-legged friends could not only coexist harmoniously with your décor but enhance it?From choosing the right fabrics to incorporating pet-friendly furniture, there are countless ways to ensure your home remains a sanctuary for all its inhabitants, furry or otherwise. After all, home is where the heart is—and where our beloved pets make every moment a little brighter.In this month’s blog, we will be discussing the unique ways to flawlessly integrate four-legged friends into a well-designed home including pup-friendly furniture, spot-cleaning tips and tricks, feeding stations, built-in kennels, and ultimate wash stations. Pup-Friendly Furniture For those of us who share our homes with furry companions, incorporating furniture that accommodates their needs is a necessity. Living with dogs brings immeasurable joy, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when it comes to keeping your furniture clean and pet-friendly. The “no dogs on the furniture” rule isn’t always realistic. One of the fundamental principles behind dog-friendly furniture is ensuring comfort for both humans and their canine counterparts. After all, what […]
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Trends may come and go, but certain design elements will never go out of style. With our immediate access to technology, it’s easy to see the current trends. However, a timeless design will outlast the ever-revolving cycle of design trends. A home with a timeless design has a strong sense of place which is reflected in its color palette, materials, design elements, and connection to its surrounding landscape. It’s thoughtful and intentional, and functionally works now and into the future. In this month’s blog, we review those timeless elements and provide ways to embrace them in your own home. What is Timeless Design? Timeless design is the intentional choice to incorporate classic, functional, and aesthetically pleasing design elements over trendy, fleeting, or socially loud ideas. How to Select a Timeless Color Palette (1) Timeless colors are those that will transcend all design trends. While we can still appreciate current trends, timeless colors never grow old, can be used in different ways and will still be in style. However, timeless colors can be so overdone that they too become trendy (think of an all-gray home). Your safest bet in choosing a timeless color is make your selection based on context. Where will […]
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Simply put, aging in place means choosing to stay in your home with family, friends, and neighbors — instead of moving to a residential facility designed to support long-term care, such as an assisted living facility — as you grow older. (1) THE NEED The need for aging in place is significant and is becoming even more so. Senior citizens make up the country’s fastest-growing population, according to the latest U.S. census results. They’re outpacing the growth of the general population at a rate of 15.1 percent to 9.7 percent, and the total number of individuals over 65 is projected to nearly double before 2050! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 6 will be age 60 or older by 2030. And adding to this initiative is that fact that 90% of US residents aged 45+ say they prefer to remain in their homes even when they need assistance. (2)This phenomenon is significant and deserves discussion. Designers have the ability to prolong an individuals’ ability to safely live at home. There’s a true responsibility here.Aging in place is strongly linked to greater health and happiness outcomes for seniors, particularly when social isolation concerns are addressed, but it […]
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Grout is often neglected in the tile selection process, or just treated as an afterthought. But it shouldn’t be! It’s as much a part of the overall finished look as the tile itself. The selection of grout can truly define the character of a space based on the amount of contrast and rhythm that is introduced. The job of grout is to bring out the best in the tile or stone that it surrounds.Grout seems so simple but there are myriad types of grout that are recommended for various applications, design choices for creating patterns and interest and an overwhelming number of colors to choose from. So, how do you select the perfect grout? The team at Talie Jane Interiors offers some great tips. Grout Types Surprisingly, there are many different types of grout. Who knew? However, all usually fall into one of three types: Sanded, un-sanded and epoxy. Sanded Grout• This type of grout includes a small amount of sand, which increases the strength of the grout joints, improving the overall durability of the product.• Best for large tile seams, interior flooring projects, ceramic and stone tiles, and high-traffic areas.• However, it is gritty and may scratch or scuff […]
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Wallpaper is back and better than ever! As one of our favorite materials, we are thrilled about its exuberant return to the forefront of the interior design world. Wallpaper is one of the manifestations of design creativity; it has come a long way over the decades, with fresh new designs and uses. We’re not only finding a shift from minimalist to more layered spaces on social media, but we are also seeing more beautiful wallcoverings in hit TV shows and movies, like Emma, Bridgerton, The Goldfinch, and The Queen’s Gambit, that leave a lasting impression. (1) But before wallpapering every room, lets learn more about this single most transformative element in our design arsenal – its history, materials, applications and creative uses. History (2) Wallpaper has been around for centuries, with roots tracing back to the ancient Chinese, who are said to have pasted rice paper onto walls as far back as the Qin dynasty. It was used as a form of decoration in palaces and homes, and eventually made its way to Europe in the 16th century. By the 19th century, wallpaper was becoming increasingly popular due to advancements in printing technology, which allowed wallpaper to be mass-produced and accessible to a larger audience. Types […]
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Everyone wants a beautiful, organized home. So, when it comes to design, storage and functionality need to be a top priority. Afterall, homes are meant to be lived in. That means accounting for clothes, shoes, winter coats, books, paperwork and files, countertop appliances, toys and the “stuff” we surround ourselves with every day. (1) Without an organization strategy, the best design vision can fall victim to clutter and disorder. Keeping an organized home allows the interior design to look and function at its best! (1) The Talie Jane Interiors team has put together some creative storage solutions for key areas that tend to gather clutter. Which ideas work best for you? Entry One of the most clutter-prone areas in the house is the entry. Shoes, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, dog leashes, it all finds a home here. But it doesn’t have to be messy or disorganized. In fact, it should be a pristine space to welcome guests and showcase the beauty of your home. Try some of these ideas: Living Room There are so many ways to add storage to a living room or family room. One of my favorite and easiest solutions? Incorporate multi-functional furniture that doubles as storage […]
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It’s fireplace season! Time to enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate or glass of mulled wine while curled up next to a cracking, roaring fire. Sounds delightful! Not only do fireplaces add warmth and comfort, they also create a dramatic focal point in any room, provide the perfect backdrop for entertaining and add value to your home. But with so many options to choose from, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. Read on to learn about the types of fireplaces and the pros and cons of each so you can find the one that’s right for you. Wood Burning Fireplace Essentially, a standard wood-burning fireplace comprises these elements: Hearth (floor in front of the fireplace), Firebox (where the wood burns), Damper (the lever that opens and closes the flue) and the Smoke chamber and flue (where the smoke is drawn up and out). There are three types of wood burning fireplaces: How it Functions Before lighting a fire, the damper is opened to allow smoke and combustion gases to escape. Once the fire is lit, the extremely hot combustion gases begin to rise up the chimney by convection. At the same time, the fire is drawing air from […]
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“The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.” Le Corbusier – Architect Think about the difference between getting your photo taken in at your local DMV under harsh fluorescent lighting, versus your picture at a sexy, low-lit restaurant. Good lighting is truly everything, but it is oftentimes an afterthought when designing a room. Whether it’s a bright task lamp on your desk to help you stay productive or a sconce by your bedside for cozy late-night reading, lighting is one of the most powerful tools for creating a specific mood. Bringing lighting decisions to the forefront of the design can make all the difference, and we’ll show you how. Layer the Light Lighting, like any great interior design element, should be layered to create contrast. A mix of accent, ambient, natural, and task lighting in the home provides a nice balance of light and dark that grants each room richness and depth: Accent lighting – supplementary light that illuminates dark corners or small spaces. A can light placed above a shower enclosure is one example. Ambient lighting – the general overall light that illuminates the entire space, such as a chandelier in the center of a […]
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