Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

Design Trends Recap of High Point Furniture Market Spring 2019

The hot new design trends were featured all over High Point Market this Spring! Kelly and I just got back and have so much to share! Listen here to our podcast for more info!

Our goal when we are there is to:

  1. Sit on as many sofas and chairs as possible so we are 100% confident of comfort for our clients.
  2. Look closely at the quality and finishes of case goods.
  3. Take thousands of photos and copious notes to remember our favorites.
  4. View new products and trends.
  5. Find new vendors and maintain relationships with our current ones.
  6. Attend events and support design colleagues who are launching collections or speaking on panels.
  7. Check out all of the beautiful displays and vignettes for stylizing inspiration.
  8. Share with our podcast listeners, blog readers and our clients what we’ve learned!

The biggest trend we saw was the use of rattan, wicker, bamboo, jute, rope and other natural materials. Many of these products are harvested raw materials that are made wet so that they can be easily woven on furniture, lighting, etc.  These items were ALL OVER High Point Market!

Here are some of our favorites:

The Coastal Living Collection From Universal Furniture

 

Scalloped Console from Mainly Baskets

Currey and Company Pendant and Table Lamp

In relation to color, we saw a lot of  teal/peacock, blush, green, black and white and less gray, more warmer tones.

Theodore Alexander

Newport Cottages

Thibaut Design

Vanguard Furniture

Robin Bruce

In furniture we saw a lot of wood grains, shagreen, curves, metal on wood, modular end tables into corners of sectionals, acrylic, upholstered headboards, panel beds and martini/drink tables.

Woodbridge Furniture

Thom Filicia for Vanguard Furniture

Bernhardt Furniture

Port 68

Vanguard Furniture

Studio A Home

Here’s what is trending in fabrics:  Inside Out, Mohair, Chenille, Shearling and Fawn (this was EVERYWHERE!)

Shown here by Thibaut Design is the “miracle” fabric called Inside Out.

This fabric covers every issue – it has the stain resistant properties of Crypton as well as the fade resistant, anti-mildew, bleach cleanability of Sunbrella and so much more!

Made Goods

Vanguard Furniture

And here’s the “FAWN” that was everywhere!

You also can’t help noticing the “fashion” trends.  This market we saw more women wearing tennis shoes than ever before.  Not the frumpy ones – the cool and stylish ones.  One of the “hot” brands was Golden Goose available at Nordstrom.

And, yes, they are sold looking “worn”.  Consider yourself in the know!

Happy Spring!

Joann

 

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED!

We’ve worked hard to have our design projects published nationally and regionally many times over. To us, it’s a stamp of approval from the highest level of our peers – the editors of the magazines we covet. Our first national publication was a 4 page spread in Southern Lady Magazine. We were (and still are) so proud of that feature! Our next feature is coming up in August/September issue of Southern Cottage which is published by Engaged Media, Inc.

To be totally honest though, we’ve never received a single new client from being published, but it has certainly built our credibility in the eyes of those prospective clients that care about that kind of thing.

So consider this podcast what we call a “teaching episode” for our fellow designers and new designers as we share what we’ve learned along the way on HOW TO GET PUBLISHED.

Here is sneak peak on what we talk about on Podcast Episode #25.

 DESIGN WITH AN EYE FOR PUBLICATION

We remember taking a coaching class from Arkansas designer Tobi Fairley and she said, “When I walk into a home of a new client, I’m designing with the end in mind, with how my design will look when it’s photographed and published.”   We didn’t quite understand that as new designers, but we do now.

This is the approach we now take as well. It helps us to focus on every wall and every corner to make sure that the design is balanced and “full”. When you look through a camera lens, you see flat and dull areas of a space right away. So if we design with this viewpoint in mind, we won’t miss anything.

  LEAVE THE SPACE “FINISHED” – IN OTHER WORDS, DESIGN FULLY

A. We aim to leave a space fully designed so that our client has nothing left to worry about. Of course we leave picture frames to be filled and small details like that, but we work hard to incorporate many of the clients personal and important accessories, art and chatkes into the design from the beginning. When we stylize on install day, we include cozy throws, fresh soaps, laundered linens – you name it! This way, the client is thrilled and when we come back to photograph, we don’t have a ton to do.

photo credit – Lauren Rubinstein Photography

INVEST IN QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY

A. This is our #1 piece of advice not only to have for your website but to have to offer editors.

i. Average costs

ii. Research photographers and pay for the best

iii. Scouting shots vs. providing professional photography to editors

  HOW TO PREPARE FOR A PHOTO SHOOT

A. Prepare your client – clean and tidy the space, no need to be home (this will take hours).

B. Fresh flowers the day before – make your own or order ahead – all one color is best

i. Kinds that looks best

ii. Containers that look best

Photo credit – Emily Followill Photography

C. Take photos on install day and look for “holes” or areas that need to be “full” for magazines

D. How to dress a kitchen

photo credit – Lauren Rubinstein Photography

E. It’s ok to remove furniture – look thru the lens with your photographer and offer your eye – participate in your shoot

 REACH OUT TO EDITORS, MEET & GREET!

A. Don’t be shy! They are people too.

B. Get used to the names on the Masthead of each shelter magazine. Reach out on social media.

C. Post original work on social media especially Instagram. Editors are trolling!

D. Don’t be afraid to start locally – blogs, newspapers, etc.

E. Read Amy Flurry’s book “Recipe for Press”

We’ve been very lucky to have been published many times over.  Here are just a few:

Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Atlanta Magazine Home

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Better Homes and Gardens

Charleston Magazine

Cottages and Bungalows

HGTV Magazine

House of Turquoise Blog

Kitchen and Bath Makeovers

Marietta Daily Journal

Southern Style at Home

To see more, check out our press page!

We always end the podcast with a “humorous” quote and an “inspirational” quote.  Here they are!!

Our podcast has just been approved on Spotify!  You can listen here or here!

All the best,

Joann

What color is the White House?

We recently attended a Gather for Design event at Miko and Boone Home in Roswell, Georgia where we learned some interesting facts about the color white and product knowledge on Sherwin William paints.

The entire White House exterior (trim and body) is painted with 570 gallons of Whisper White.

The Hollywood Sign was restored to its full beauty and got a “face-lift” from Sherwin Williams and The Hollywood Sign Trust.  This was the most extensive refurbishment in nearly 35 years and was completed in time for the Sign to celebrate it’s 90th birthday in 2013.

To ensure the makeover endures the test of time, the existing coatings were removed from each of the letters, a time-intensive process completed almost entirely by hand.

Here are some favorite rooms in white:

Designer Brooke Davenport – Southern California Master Bedroom

Designer Louise Brooks – Glossy White Kitchen

Above images: Coastal Living – Photo by Mark Lohman, Stylist: Francoise O’Neill

What is the advantage to painting a white room?

White has an ability to reflect the maximum light in a room.  It is bright, fresh and clean.  Adding bold texture and pops of color is the secret to creating a stylish space.  There is a reason art gallery walls are white.  They ensure the artwork remains the focus.

I love nothing more than a brick fireplace painted white.  Check out Kelly’s personal family room:

Check out the before and after of another fireplace we designed for a client painting the brick white:

A fresh coat of white paint and a custom zinc mantel – what a transformation!

It’s no wonder that white is a staple for interior designers.  Our favorite – Sherwin Williams Westhighland White – SW7566

Have a great week!

Joann

 

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Charleston Show House

We are excited to announce that we have been asked to participate in the Charleston Symphony  Orchestra League Show House in partnership  with Traditional Home beginning  March 16th to April 15, 2017 Mondays through Saturdays 10am -4pm and Sundays 1-4pm.

This gorgeous circa 1840 house is a stunning Greek Revival structure just a few steps from the historic Charleston harbor.  It boasts magnificent decorative plaster ceilings, original moldings and fireplaces, gracious rooms and dramatic double piazzas.

The chair of this great event is Julianne Taylor, Founder and Creative Director of Taylor Burke Home which offers upholstered furniture, benches, tables, dining, fabrics and lighting.  She is also the author of Design Her, a celebration of female entrepreneurs shaping today’s home decor industry.  You can order a copy by clicking here.  It’s a great graduation gift for women or those yearning to start a new business!

We are thrilled to be designing the 2nd story laundry room.   This is a dream come true for us as we LOVE Charleston! Even though the space is small, we have some BIG plans!

We are amidst some serious talent –  Holly Hollingsworth Phillips, Meg Caswell Holladay, Michael Mitchell, Tyler Hill, Alexandre Fleuren, Bobbi Jo Engelby, Lauren Messina, Terry Stephenson, Terri Caban Baldwin, Jay Richard Valk Sandra Faulkenberry Ericksen GordonDunning, and Cathy McCullough Austin.

If you’ve considered visiting this amazing city, this Spring would be a great time to do it.  A fun girls weekend for sure.

Here are just some of my favorite things about Charleston:

Shopping on King Street – just to name a few – Apple Store, Urban Outfitters, J.Crew, Lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer, Soma Intimates, Hampden Clothing, George C. Birlant & Co. Antiques, Atelier Gallery, Louis Vuitton, Le Creuset and hundreds more.  On the second Sunday of every month, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, King Street is closed to vehicle traffic to celebrate southern Sunday afternoons by welcoming everyone to stroll, shop, dine and enjoy Charleston.

There are at least 12 art galleries on King Street alone.  One of my favorite artists, Erin Gregory, is represented by The Atelier Gallery at 153 King Street.

Award winning dining – my latest favorite 167 Raw for the best seafood ever!

Another amazing restaurant called Husk at 76 Queen Street.  Check out the “haint blue” porch ceiling.  What is that you ask?

Lori Sawaya, a color strateiest, says many Southerners suggest that blue porch ceilings originated out of the fear of haints. Southerners, especially in the area of South Carolina, have a name for the ceiling paint used on porches – the soft blue-green is referred to as “Haint Blue.”

“Haints are restless spirits of the dead who, for whatever reason, have not moved on from their physical world,” says Sawaya.

Haint blue, which can also be found on door and window frames as well as porch ceilings, is intended to protect the homeowner from being “taken” or influenced by haints. It is said to protect the house and the occupants of the house from evil.

Another great reason to visit Charleston?   The beaches and resorts:

Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island!!

photo credit

Come see why Charleston has been voted the No.1 City in the World and No. 1 City in the U.S and Canada in the Travel and Leisure 2016 World’s Best Awards!

Mark your calendars for the  Charleston Symphony  Orchestra League Show House beginning  March 16th to April 15, 2017 Mondays through Saturdays 10am -4pm and Sundays 1-4pm.

Have a great week!

Joann

Coastal Living Hamptons Showhouse 2016

For 48 years, I have spent my summers in the Hamptons. High hedges hiding graceful mansions, cold ocean waters, flat, wide streets for biking, quaint cafes, farm stands, fresh pies and picking crabs are just a few of my fond memories. One of my priorities this trip was to attend the Coastal Living Showhouse in Sag Harbor, just 45 minutes from my parents home in Quogue. 

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This incredible home is brand new and was built by Touch of Grey, Inc and designed entirely by the talented Meg Braff.  The architect is Fred Throo and the landscape architect is Mahoney Associates. The show home benefited the Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery.

The house was bright, fresh, coastal and happy.  I loved every square inch of it. 

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Meg tastefully used an abundance of wallpaper which I was thrilled to see because I LOVE wallpaper. It added movement, texture and bright colors all over. 

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I have to admit though, that more than the wallpaper, I loved the use of bright colored tiles in all of the bathrooms.  So brave and so beautiful!

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It was so hot in Sag Harbor last week.  All I wanted to do was jump in the crystal blue pool and then lounge in an airy cabana complete with full kitchen and bath.

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It was nice to see a lot  of the same manufacturers that we use regularly with our clients such as Lee Industries, Circa Lighting, Wendover Art, Sunbrella Fabrics, Delta Faucets, Thibaut, Peacock Alley, Dash & Albert and more. We must be doing something right!

The terrace level of the home was the FUN level – complete with fitness room, theatre room, office and pool/lounge room.  

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I loved the house because it was spacious but manageable. It had a natural flow and was perfect for big families or lots of guests. Fully furnished the house is for sale for $5.2 million. Interested? 

For more information about the Coastal Living Showhouse, click HERE. 

The house is open Thursdays – Sundays until September 4th. 

Enjoy!

Kelly