Have you ever wondered what type of interior design style best fits you? Our interior design styles quiz will help determine what is most important to you in your surroundings.

1. What statement describes your current interior design?

a) Everything is well planned out and to my complete tastes

b) My furnishings are a little bit of this and a little bit of that

c) My tastes have changed since I first decorated my home

d) What interior design?

2. What are you looking for in furniture?

a) Sleek designs, sharp lines, less is more

b) Oversized furniture that you can get lost in

c) Comfortable, functional, and long-lasting

d) Not sure, but I will know it when I see it

3. What type of wall art catches your eye?

a) Large paintings with ornate frames

b) A cluster of smaller, themed paintings or photos

c) Landscapes, seascapes, or nature

d) People, animals, or action photos

e) Am I supposed to put art on my walls?

4. What type of accessories do you like to have around your home?

a) Meaningful knickknacks from trips and special times

b) Photos of family members

c) Large vases, crystal, pottery, plants, or statues

d) Functional accessories that perform a duty while looking nice

e) Nothing – the less to dust the better

5. What color scheme most defines how you want your surroundings to be?

a) Neutral whites, beiges, pale colors

b) Black, white, grey, silver, and maybe a touch of one color (red?)

c) Sea colors such as aqua, blue, teal, green, and turquoise

d) Brown, gray, black, and neutral

e) Orange, red, yellow, blue, and gold

f) Color scheme – you mean there is an order to it?

6. What makes you feel most at home?

a) Wood, wood, and more wood

b) Metal, brick, stone, glass, and wood

c) Rattan, wicker, and light-colored wood

d) Fabric, fabric, and more fabric

7. How do like your walls covered?

a) White paint – the cleaner the better

b) Brightly colored paint

c) Wood paneling

d) Wallpaper

e) Textured paint

8. What is your idea of storage space?

a) Built-in bookshelves

b) Moveable bookshelves

c) Staggered shelves on the walls

d) Hidden storage

e) I have nothing to store

9. What is your favorite type of flooring?

a) Wide wood planking

b) Tile

c) Carpet

d) Hard flooring and area rugs

e) Whatever is easiest to keep clean

10. What is your design style?

a) Traditional or old-fashioned

b) Modern or contemporary

c) A mish-mash of this and that

d) Something very stylish

Here is one last bonus question from our interior design styles quiz:

11. What room do you most want to change in your home?

a) Bedroom

b) Living room

c) Dining room

d) Den or family room

e) Kitchen

f) Bathroom

g) Home office

h) Every room

You can learn more about different interior design styles in our A to Z guide to 24 styles. Make sure you check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the blogs.

Now that you have answered our interior design styles quiz contact HK Interiors to discover how our interior design services can help you transform your home or office into the vision you desire. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

Getting back from a lovely European vacation, my husband and I had an opportunity to tour 12^th century castles in Germany. It is always fascinating to learn about their daily life. It was especially hard for those toiling away in the kitchen. Just think about this for a minute – there were no microwaves, dishwashers, self-cleaning ovens, or any of the other modern conveniences we take for granted. Back in the 12^th century, they knew how to build kitchens. In a medieval castle, kitchens were an important feature as the Lord of the manor would often throw grand banquets and lavish feasts.

In many medieval castles, the kitchen location is below the Great Hall as in the photo above. After preparation, the banquet would be taken upstairs to the guests. Some castles had kitchens housed in separate buildings to reduce the risk of fire to the primary residence. Still other medieval castle kitchens were located in the great hall.

A benefit of having the kitchen in the main castle was that it also served to heat the building. Many castles that had kitchens in the primary structure also had separate stone staircases used by the servants to deliver the food. …more

The color ivory is neutral, falling somewhere in the color spectrum between cool shades of white and more yellow-based shades of cream. Its calming warmth draws you in and can unify a room, allowing for a mix of diverse colors.

Another aspect of the color ivory is its image of luxury. Ivory is associated with many cultures as being something of immense value. Both elephant tusks and rhinoceros horns are made of ivory and have been prized throughout the centuries for prosperity, healing powers, and wealth. Of course, today we value saving species rather than hunting them for their ivory. Instead, we find other ways to incorporate the clean feel of ivory into the home.

Ivory is compatible with any color of your choice. When paired with a dark color such as navy blue or black, ivory provides a bright focal point for the eye. You can add depth to a room by pairing ivory with dark wood tones. Use lighter woods for a fresher look.

Using the Color Ivory on Walls

When you paint the ceiling a lighter color than the walls, the ceilings will feel higher. Lighter color walls will also make the room appear larger. Conversely, if you have a large room that you want to make feel cozier, opt for darker colors on the walls and ceiling.

You can see an example of the color ivory on the walls in the photo below. White crown molding, ceiling, and doors offset the ivory color. The neutral color scheme continues in the patterned floor rug, sofa, and chair cushions. Rich wood accents bring balance to the room on the chairs, coffee table, ceiling fan, and even the curtain rods at the window. A touch of color, such as shown in the curtains, vase, and accent pillows compliments the ivory walls.

Ivory is relaxing and can bring a touch of elegance to a room. It adds a warmer and richer feel than the color white.

The color ivory works equally well with jewel tones as it does with shades of teal or aqua. When used with these shades of blue, you can create a tropical look in any room.

Of course, there are many shades of the color ivory, and you can see some of them in the links below:

• Benjamin Moore
• Sherwin-Williams

Using Ivory in a Kitchen

Ivory used in a kitchen provides a bright and inviting feel. The natural light that enters through windows appears brighter.

You can use ivory in a kitchen in many ways. As you see in the photo below, shades of ivory are used on the upper cabinets, tile backsplash, and even the accent candles.

It is important not to overdo it with ivory in the kitchen. You do not want the clash of neutral upon neutral, so make your appliances either brushed aluminum or colored enamel. Contrasting with a darker shade for the lower cabinets provides a light, yet rustic feel.

Incorporating Ivory Color Accents in a Room

Most any room can benefit from a touch of ivory color. You can incorporate something as simple as a few accessories to a piece of furniture or even throw pillows on a brightly colored couch. Ivory works well with contrasting colors, furniture styles, and décor.

A nice benefit of ivory is that it seldom gets too busy when mixing textures and patterns. An example of that is highlighted in the photo of ivory accessories below.

HK Interiors can help you with all your interior design needs. Contact us at 954-401-8542 for more information about our many services.

Whether your bedroom is small or large, the right design can combine functionality and personality. What is it that you want most out of your bedroom design? That is the first question to answer.

Some people want to turn their bedrooms into a serene escape from the hectic pace of daily life. Others look to their love of creativity for a visual masterpiece that transforms their bedroom into a work of art.

Whatever your desire for your master bedroom, it is possible to create, and on budget.

The next thing to do is to look around your current bedroom. Are there elements you would like to keep? Some people love their window treatments or a piece of furniture that they want to use to enhance their new bedroom design.

Perhaps you want to start from scratch – keeping nothing from the past and instead opting for a whole new look. You might even be moving into a new home and working from the ground up.

Your interior designer will help you identify the elements most important to you by discussing bedroom design ideas. Colors, textures, patterns – all are essential elements of your new space.

How to Get Started on New Bedroom Design Ideas

Everything in life starts with a plan, and interior design is no different. Bedroom design begins with discussing your likes, dislikes, and visions. Then, your designer will likely create concept boards such as the ones below.

Concept boards help to narrow your design likes and dislikes. Perhaps you want an eclectic piece of furniture to be the focal point of your bedroom design. In the pictures for the bedroom above, both the couch and the black iron bed add a unique and artistic feel.

The bedroom decorating ideas presented in your designer’s concept boards are a starting place to take your design to the next step – implementation.

Master Bedroom Designs That Bring Deep Sleep

In the first master bedroom design below, the client loved blue. We started with a blank slate – every element of the room would be new. Laminate floors replaced the carpet, while accents on the pillows and bedspread matched the blue on the walls. Gold picture frames complemented the gold accents in the bed table lamps. The room has a simple yet elegant look and feel.

In the following design for bedroom, the client was still using her college days furniture. We completed an entire makeover from floor to ceiling. Blackout shades are hidden from sight under the cornices. Traversing sheers soften the windows. The furniture elements brought a mature touch of class to a room that once held memories of college days.

In the final bedroom picture below, an art lover wanted to mix textures and patterns to create an eclectic haven. Multiple throw pillows accent both the sofa seating area and bed. The warmth of the walls and fabrics created a serene yet sophisticated statement.

As you can see, bedroom design can express many different feelings and desires. To learn how to transform your bedroom into a magnificent getaway from the outside world, contact HK Interiors. Our interior design services can help you create magic in any room of your home or office. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.

You want a new look for your room, home, or office, but have no idea how mixing patterns works. For some people, the simple task of putting together an outfit or choosing the right tie, purse, or shoes can seem daunting. When it comes to your home, the results will last a long time – getting it right the first time can save you a lot of money.

That is why it is often best to hire an interior designer to help with mixing patterns and textures for that perfect look. Yes, you may be spending a bit more money up front, but what you save in the long run is usually worth the expense.

An interior designer knows how to mix patterns and textures. You do not want an abundance of large, geometric shapes that will tax the eye. Too many small design patterns can confuse the eye, especially if you are working with a small space.

Complementing colors are often opposite each other on the color wheel. They may also come from combining certain colors. Such as using blue as the dominant color with yellow and green as accents. Finding a fabric that combines all those elements is an excellent starting point. Choosing a stripe, chevron, or other bold pattern for the main fabric is always a good touch.

In this blog, we will touch mostly on patterns, saving an extensive look at textures for another article.

Dos of Mixing Patterns in Your Home

Interior design has rules, and while nothing is etched in stone (unless part of your design), there are some basic guidelines to follow when mixing patterns in a room.

Know that you can mix solids, stripes, and dots in the same room. Florals are also excellent patterns to mix into the design.

Here are 3 important “Dos” of pattern mixing:

1 – Use shades of the same color. Different shades of a color create a softer, quiet ambiance. The photo below shows the fabrics chosen to accent a brown sofa.

2 – Do use multiple colors but pick one multi-colored fabric and build patterns and textures from there. The chaise featured the dominant color in the room. Colors from the pillow in the front provided additional accents and patterns.

3 – When mixing patterns, make certain they are different. Stripes, dots, ikats, geometrics, or florals can all work together when following the same color scheme as in the kitchen banquet below.

Remember to include some neutral light colors to give the eyes a rest from the chosen patterns. Multiple scale patterns can work as long as they do not contrast too much.

Don’ts of Mixing Patterns in Your Home

Of course, where you have dos, you also have don’ts. Mixing patterns, textures, and colors that do not go well together will tax the eyes and create a space that is the opposite of relaxing and enjoyable.

The 3 important “Don’ts” in the list below will help you avoid making costly mistakes:

1 – Don’t be inconsistent with the quality of the fabric.  Using an inexpensive fabric will not wear well in the long run and can lead you to increased costs down the road.

2 – Do not choose a fabric that does not belong. If you use very soft colors for a bedroom, the one lipstick red chevron with big yellow dots will ruin the feel.

3 – Avoid using large-scaled patterns on smaller accent pieces, such as throw pillows. They are best meant for larger items like beds, walls, or wherever a large repeat is needed.

One last word of advice – avoid mixing patterns and colors that are too busy. Visually, it is too much to look at and will be competing for your attention.

You can also contact HK Interiors to discover how our interior design services can help you transform your home or office into the vision you desire. Call 954-401-8542 today for all your interior design needs.