Vote for Stagetecture: #DesignHounds Top 100 Design Influencers for 2018

This year I was excited to see Stagetecture has been nominated amongst the Top 100! So very honored to even be included with other influencers that I personally look up to! If you remember back the BlogTour LA and BlogTour Ambiente trips I went on – they were all sponsored by Modenus, so I am always grateful for being included in any of their awesome events.

Stagetecture would love our Vote!

Please vote for Stagetecture here –> Top 100 Design Influencers <—

You can vote once a day until October 10, 2017!

Thanks so much for your vote and thanks to Modenus’ #DesignHounds for including me.

-Ronique

Home Renovation: Should You Remodel or Move Out?

The question of whether you should move or do a home improvement is not always an easy one to answer. There will always be times when it’s better to renovate and improve an existing home, but there are certainly occasions when it’s best to think about selling and buying something else.

Before you make a final decision one way or the other, here are some things you should consider:

Image via: HGTV

Do You Have Room to Expand?

If your family has outgrown your house and your renovation plans revolve around adding more living space, consider carefully whether you have the available room to expand.

Some homes don’t have sufficient space in the yard to build on new rooms. Others may not be in council areas that allow an extra story to be added, especially if your home is already story.

If you don’t have the room to add extra living space, it may be time to consider selling the old home and hunting for something that suits your growing family a bit better.

Can You Re-Purpose Rooms?

Do you have rooms in your home that rarely get used? Many homes have formal dining rooms that do little more than gather dust. Others have ample attic space that doubles as convenient storage space.

If you’re thinking of selling your home and moving to something a little bigger, see if you can re-purpose any of your existing rooms first. You might turn a formal dining room into a home office. You could convert a cluttered attic space into a teenage retreat.

Wrong House, Right Neighborhood

Many people find themselves living in a house that no longer suits their needs, but they’re reluctant to move because they love the neighborhood. Of course, some people may want to remain in the same area, but can’t afford to buy a something else in that location due to increasing house prices. There are also the associated costs of selling the existing house and buying a new home to consider that eat into your available equity.

If moving to a different area isn’t an option, then it makes sense to plan renovations that allow you to upgrade your home to suit your needs.

Improving Value or Capitalizing

A good renovation can improve the value of some properties by more money than it cost to complete the project.

Of course, there are also plenty of horror stories out there of people spending tens of thousands of pounds on renovating and remodeling, only to learn that the house value hasn’t changed at all. This is known as capitalizing, or spending more money on a house than it is potentially worth.

If you’re unsure about whether your property’s value will increase after finishing your major renovations, speak to a real estate agent who is familiar with your area. Discuss your intended project and research what similar properties are selling for in the immediate area. You can learn more at Austin & Wyatt.

Image via: Home Bunch

Are You Investing in Your Home or Throwing Good Money After Bad?

Many people recognize the benefit of investing in the family home. Spending money on necessary repairs and maintenance is a long-term investment in ensuring the house is well-looked after. Likewise, spending money on upgrades can also be a good investment.

However, when you’re constantly spending money just to keep up with basic maintenance problems, it may be time to move. Imagine spending thousands of pounds on basic repairs that won’t change the size or function of the home in the end.

If your home requires significant repairs just to keep it in a livable condition and you don’t have the available time or money to keep up with it, it may be time to consider selling. After all, there are people out there with plenty of enthusiasm and motivation who would love the opportunity to purchase a home that needs renovating.

The decision of whether to move or improve is a personal one. Only you can decide whether it’s time to sell your family home and move onto something else, or whether it’s worth staying on in your existing house and working through renovations and repairs over time.

Take the time to work through the real costs of moving versus staying and renovating. Work out exactly how much you can afford to spend and check that you qualify for the finance you need. When you’ve considered all your options, you’ll be in a better position to make an informed decision.

Oliver Corrigan has turned his DIY enthusiasm and prowess into an investment strategy and enjoys sharing his thoughts with others who are considering what to do with their property to improve or move. He writes regularly for a number of property and consumer websites.

For more home remodeling tips on Stagetecture, click here.

My Highlights from #DesignBloggersTour #HPMkt

All images by Stagetecture

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This gorgeous vignette was at Fine Furniture

Instead of me rehashing every day I thought sharing the highlights of my favorite brands and design trends would make for a much better recap.

Geometric Designs with Glimmer

Geometrics in patterns isn’t new to the world of design, but seeing it in inspiring ways was a trend at High Point Market. Subtle and bold instances were everywhere. As you can see in the bar tray above in the first Fine Furniture photo, the Greek key feet of the tray counterbalances the kaleidoscope inspired lamp to the left.

Bernhardt Furniture had beautiful accents of the Greek key symbols throughout their Soho Luxe collection. If you look carefully throughout their furniture, each piece is elegantly detailed with patterns, symbols and shimmering brass or mirrors.

Color Meets Prints in Fabrics, Wallpapers, & Textiles

Another design trend I loved seeing was furniture brands combining furniture fabrics, curtain textiles, and wallpaper to create a cohesive look. Thibaut Design did this beautifully. The nations oldest continuing wallpaper company showed us fresh pops of color from floor to furniture to walls.

Classic Styles are Retold in New Ways

It was a pleasure to meet Jamie Drake again in person at High Point. I had first met Jamie at the Sub Zero Wolf New Generation Media Event in 2013. He has paired with Theodore Alexander Furniture to bring his impeccable style and unique blend of soft jewel tones to his line. I was able to catch this shot of him as he was being photographed by the “REAL” photographers I saw a trend of bringing the Regency Style of vintage Hollywood glam adorned with modern fabrics to be one of the best highlights of Jamie’s line.

Wrapping up High Point Market

It’s hard to capture the event in blog posts because you don’t get to see, touch, hear and feel the hustle and bustle of High Point Market. I have however left you with the best parts of the market, and spared you the sore feet. Soon you will start seeing the highlights in home decor magazines, furniture stores, and beyond. I hope you enjoyed coming along with me and I can’t wait for our next adventure together!

-Ronique

5 Designers Share How to Avoid a Dream Kitchen Renovation Nightmare

Image via: Cheryl Kees Clendenon – Interior Designer, In Detail Interiors

Ensure You Aren’t Remodeling For Only Today’s Trends

“When planning a new kitchen renovation, take a good look at your family’s current lifestyle needs, rethink old habits and design the kitchen with an eye to the future.” – Susan Serra – President, Susan Serra Associates, Inc.

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is to only follow current trends. Unless you can afford to remodel your kitchen every year or two, steer clear of designer trends that are unconventional. Trends are always changing, and what may be popular today will not be popular tomorrow. Renovate your kitchen to suit your habits and lifestyle and you’ll never regret your decision. Often times bright colors, new materials that haven’t been tested expansively, and new technologies need a chance to have stayed the test of time in kitchens. Consider hiring a Kitchen Designer who can help you weed out today’s trends but still stay modern and classic.

Image via: Susan Serra, President, Susan Serra Associates, Inc

Prioritize Functionality in your Kitchen Remodel

In the past kitchens were considered just for their functionality. Today, they are multifunctional rooms where homeowners prepare food, entertain, the kids hang out and of course eat. Kitchens are the focal points in homes and a large part of modern households. When refurbishing your kitchen, give priority to function. The layout you choose should be determined by the way your family uses your kitchen on a daily basis. Keep in mind that you won’t renovate your kitchen again for many years to come so it is important to make it functional. Interior Designer Linda Merrill from Linda Merrill says it best, “Kitchens can be beautiful spaces, but never forget that they are workspaces first and foremost.”

Thoroughly Plan in Advance

Interior Design Consultant, Michelle Cortizo of Cortizo Interiors says, “A kitchen renovation can require more thoughtful decisions than any other room in the house, planning is key!” A kitchen remodel is a big undertaking. Before you start the project, strategize. Note down what you want it to accomplish for you and your family and guests. You can write a detailed list specifying your goals for renovating and create an idea folder that you collect kitchens, products, and architectural details you find appealing.

Image via: Michelle Cortizo – Cortizo Interiors and BLANCO.

Invest in the Best Sink

According to Interior Designer, Cheryl Kees Clendenon from In Detail Interiors, you should “Buy the best sink you can afford because you are not replacing it without replacing the countertops too!” Her words hit home because the sink is one of the most overlooked kitchen fixtures. When most homeowners refurbish their kitchens, they replace their cabinetry and countertops but forget to replace the sinks. While the kitchen is the heart and soul of the home, the sink is its centerpiece. It handles most of the daily chores as it is the only workspace used to prepare meals and to clean up. Consider what type of sink will grow with your family and will help make prepping and cleaning easier than your current sink.

Image via: Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail Interiors

Don’t Just Replicate your Kitchen from a Magazine

Many people find it easier to copy other kitchen designs when renovating their kitchens. But interior designer Jamie Gold, Kitchen & Bath Designer from JGKitchens, warns against it. Jamie says, “Before you renovate your kitchen, know that the latest fad you loved in a movie or magazine may not look right in your home or work well for your household.” The design you want to replicate can be out of your price range or be incompatible with your home’s structure. While interior design websites and magazines are full of ideas, the design you choose should be perfect for your space. Consider hiring a design professional who can look at your specific space and help you choose what fits your needs.

Kitchen renovation mistakes come in all sizes. Some are small and unnoticeable while others are big and visible. But they all have one thing in common: they can be avoided. If you are remodeling your kitchen and want to avoid a renovation nightmare, look to these designers’ tips to help you save money, energy, and time. Your kitchen is the heart of the home – take the time to make it right for you and your wallet.

For more kitchen ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Disclosure: My trip and accommodations to Spain were sponsored through the Tile of Spain. All opinions are my own.

February 2014 was a whirlwind for me and many of my colleagues in the interior design blogging niche. February 2-6th I was at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and February 8-15th, I was fortunate to travel to Valencia and Madrid, Spain with the Tile of Spain. For many reasons other than the obvious this was a monumental trip for me. To be able to experience architectural Europe is any architects dream and on top of this to visit the Cevisama Tile Trade Show and visit some of the artisan tile factories was amazing!

Unforgettable Highlights: My @TileofSpain Architectural Trip to Spain

 From the historic…. 

To the ultra-modern… we saw it all in Spain!

Here’s my recap of my week long trip! Stay tuned to Freshome.com to see the trends I found at the Cevisama Tile Trade Show.

Who is the Tile of Spain?

Tile of Spain is the international brand representing 125 ceramic tile manufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER). Along with myself I was accompanied by Susan Serra – from Susan Serra Associates, the other design journalists, the winners of the Tile of Spain – Passport to Creativity contest, and staff from Tile of Spain and Frank Advertising. Here’s the highlights of my awesome trip!

Day 1 – Trip to Madrid, Spain

I have never flown internationally, so I was a bit nervous to get on a 10 hour plane ride to Madrid, Spain! I also knew this was a chance of a lifetime so I needed to face my fear and do it! Ha! It was much less worrisome than I anticipated. I had packed up my outlet converters, exchanged my dollars into Euros in Miami, and had my magazines, laptop, and iPod ready.

Day 2 – First Day in Madrid – Finally Meet Everyone!

After watching 2 movies on the plane and listening to 10 podcasts on my iPod, and eating dinner and breakfast we arrived at the Madrid airport. I loved the modern and industrial architecture of the airport.. nothing like in the U.S. The airport was SPOTLESS!! You could literally eat off the floors…. gorgeous view at the baggage claim.

We finally met at the historical and renovated Hotel Las Latras and I had my first experience of eating delicious tapas. (Little did I know this was just the beginning of the food.. food and more delicious food!)

Day 3 – Madrid Museum Axis Architectural Tour

Awesome museum tours of:

– Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

– Prado Museum – Caixa Forum*

– Reina Sofía Museum

– Viva Madrid Restaurant Lunch offered by TOS.*

– Telefonica Foundation Building designed by Moneo Brock Studio.

Amazing views at the Telefonica Foundation Building 

Day 4 – Last Day in Madrid, off to Valencia – Visit San Antón Market, Slaughter House conversion into a Museum

– Visit San Antón Market. Guided by QVE Studio.  Lunch at San Antón Restaurant offered by TOS. (Interior designed by Agustín Granell and Eatside).  Visit “Matadero de Madrid”

– Bus Transfer from Madrid old slaughterhouse to Atocha Train Station

– High Speed Train AVE Madrid – Valencia

My first time on a high speed train! It was an awesome experience to take the train from Madrid to Valencia

Day 5 – Valencia – First Day at Cevisama Trade Show and Tile Factory Tours 

- Tile Of Spain Manufacturer tours 

– Registration for press conference 

– ASCER Press Conference 

– Bus to Castellón Factories and visit Castellón Factories

The tile factories were amazing! We get to witness a few of the artisan workers painting tiles by hand. Incredible

Day 6 & 7 – Cevisama Tile Show, visit Tile of Spain Booths, and Tour of Valencia Old City

The tile show was nothing like I have ever seen! To see the trends and all of the highlights – visit my Instagram to see all of the inspiring tile.

Relief tiles, large format, and colorful new and organic inspired tiles were big at Cevisama

Touring Old Valencia City was like a walk into a history book.

If I had one hundred more pages I would show you all the beautiful tile, sights, historic architecture and more that I loved on this trip. I thank Tile of Spain for bringing me along on this architectural trip as it was a memory I will hold dear for a life time!

For more Tile of Spain posts on Stagetecture, click here.

I’m excited to be asked by Tile of Spain to join them this February 9-15, 2014 as we visit Madrid, Valencia and attend the Cevisama tile trade show.  Tile of Spain is known in the industry for bringing international tile brands together to offer unsurpassed quality and beautiful products for your home tiling projects.

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Tile of Spain – 2014 Passport to Creativity Contest

Tile of Spain, the international brand representing 125 ceramic tile manufacturers belonging to the Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association (ASCER), is proud to announce the winners of the 2014 “Passport to Creativity” contest.

The four design professionals selected to participate in an 8-day, architectural tour and trip to Spain are:

Winners Announced!!

Kristyna Borden, Interior Design Professional, HOK Architects
David DeQuattro, Principal, RGB Architects
Denise M Fitzgerald, Interior Designer, Bolick Distributors
Monica Hanley, Interior Designer/ Business Development Director, NEMD Architects Inc

About the Trip to Spain:

Part of the Architects and Designers Tour running February 8 to February 15, 2014, Passport to Creativity winners will have the opportunity to explore Madrid and Valencia, Spain.

They will be able to immerse themselves in Spanish culture, sample world-famous culinary arts, observe sites and attractions with architectural and design significance and gain a general understanding and appreciation for Spain.

 We get a guided tour of Cevisama trade show in Valencia, Spain

The trip also includes a guided visit to Cevisama 2014, factory and booth tours and a press conference. All architect and designers participants will earn CEU credits. Journalists from selected architecture and design media will also participate in the tour.

Stay up to date with Stagetecture as I take you along on the trip and you can follow the Tile of Spain – Spain Architecture Trip 2014 –  Pinterest board here.

For more media and design trips from Stagetecture, visit here.

Day 3 in Los Angeles for #BlogTourLA and the home design inspiration was flowing like a river yesterday!! If you missed the recap of BlogTour LA Day 1 & 2, click here. Yesterday was a visit to Lamps Plus (in which I’m going to be joining their fabulous blog – Style Illuminated Blog team next week… YEAH!) and Westedge Design Fair’s opening day.

Here’s just a few of the many great highlights of the day.

#BlogTourLA Highlights: Lamps Plus Store Visit

If you’re interested in the Lamps Plus Color Plus collection – check it out here on Stagetecture.

Westedge Design Fair Highlights

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Gorgeous products from Gessi – if you’d like to see their other products, click here for the Stagetecture post.

Zia Priven – Always Gorgeous Lighting

Innovative Westedge Highlights

I absolutely loved all of the innovation of materials, finishes, and modern twists on old design. These two were my fav’s!

So today we are off to Heath Ceramics, Natural Curiosities and a walking tour of local shops in Venice Beach… Wheh hew

Follow along for BlogTour LA highlights:

Twitter: Follow the conversation: @Stagetecture and Follow the stream of all the bloggers: #BlogTourLA

Facebook: Follow my Instagram posts on my personal page: RoniqueJonesGibson and Stagetecture Fan Page

Pinterest: Follow the BlogTour LA board for images & design inspiration

Google+: Follow the communities and join in on the hightlights from BlogTour LA

For the rest of the BlogTour LA Agenda, click here.

For more BlogTour LA posts, click here

Today is day 3 depending on how you count the days at fabulous #BlogTourLA. On Tuesday when we arrived here in Los Angeles, California it was so jammed packed with excitement. From meeting all of the other design bloggers to ending the evening at the delicious La Boheme restaurant in West Hollywood. So I consider yesterday.. Day 2.

Day 2 Higlights – BlogTourLA

Day 2 was absolutely amazing. From the gorgeous shops of Dragonette and Mecox Gardens to seeing the innovative and always beautiful Walker Zanger tile showroom, there wasn’t a dull moment.

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One of the biggest highlights of the day was meeting design icon Kelly Wearstler in person and meeting her staff, asking her questions and walking through her design office and then store. It’s always great to meet the “Wizard behind the curtain” and seeing her gorgeous interiors, furniture, jewelry and clothing lines was hands down the highlight of the day.

We finished up at the new Poggenpohl showroom and met Blanco and Gagganeau – all innovative German kitchen pioneers who have revolutionized how we use our kitchens. The Oktoberfest of pretzels, sandwiches and German fare was wonderful and Day 2 came to a close with me hitting the bed hard last night! HA

Today is day 3.. Westedge Fair, we go to Lamps Plus, Gessi, and then in the evening is the opening party for Westedge.. Wheh hew.. stay close and I will take you along.

Follow along for BlogTour LA highlights:

Twitter: Follow the conversation: @Stagetecture and Follow the stream of all the bloggers: #BlogTourLA

Facebook: Follow my Instagram posts on my personal page: RoniqueJonesGibson and Stagetecture Fan Page

Pinterest: Follow the BlogTour LA board for images & design inspiration

Google+: Follow the communities and join in on the hightlights from BlogTour LA

For the rest of the BlogTour LA Agenda, click here.

For more BlogTour LA posts, click here

You know that feeling children have around December 15th that they don’t think they can make it another 10 days until Christmas Day, December 25th? That is the exact feeling I think me and the #BlogTourLA designers and bloggers feel this week!

Image via: Haworth Marketing & Media

All of the planning, posting, packing and primping.. it’s time to hit Los Angeles, California – the City of Angels – Oct. 1 – Oct. 6th for BlogTour LA! Here’s the BlogTour LA agenda and how to follow along to enjoy the festivities.

#BlogTour LA 

Many people ask me what we will do, what are the events and the agenda for our LA trip. Well the wait is over, here are the plans for the week. Just between you and me, I’m not sure if I will want to resume my “regular life” after attending all of these fabulous designer events! Not only will you get to follow along with me, but your virtual suitcase is the best way to experience the LA wonderment with me.

Image via: Blanco

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Follow me in my virtual suitcase!

Instagram: Follow the images I capture in LA along the way on Instagram:  RoniqueGibson

Twitter: Follow the conversation: @Stagetecture and Follow the stream of all the bloggers: #BlogTourLA

Facebook: Follow my Instagram posts on my personal page: RoniqueJonesGibson and Stagetecture Fan Page

Pinterest: Follow the BlogTour LA board for images & design inspiration

Google+: Follow the communities and join in on the hightlights from BlogTour LA

BlogTour LA Agenda: Oct 1-6

Oct. 1st – Tuesday

All times in Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Arrive in LA

4-6pm – Orientation meet and greet at hotel

7 – 10pm – Modenus Dinner

Oct. 2nd – Wednesday

10 – 12 – Event at Walker Zanger – New collections, local bloggers

12:15 – 1pm – Mansour Rugs – Learn ancient traditions of rug making

1 – 3 pm – Design tour –  Led by Christian May of Maison 21 and Jill Seidner at Jill Seidner Interior Design

3 – 5 pm – Kelly Wearstler – Office tour & shop visit

5:30 – 8 pm – Poggenpohl kitchens, Blanco America and Gaggenau invite you to a German Oktoberfest

Image via: PoggenPohl

Oct. 3rd – Thursday

9:30 am Leave hotel

10 – 11:45 am Brunch – Lamps Plus

12 – 5 pm Westedge – Gessi Press Event – Tappas & Tequila

7:30 – 10 Party at Westedge

Oct. 4th – Friday

10:15 – 11:45 Heath Ceramics – Shop Tour

12 – 2 pm Natural Curiosities – Tour of the Showroom

4 – 7 pm Abbot Kinney – Walking Tour of Local Shops

Open evening

Image via: Gessi

Oct. 5th – Saturday

Morning Free

11:30am – Leave Hotel

12 – 2 pm – Snyder Diamond – Brunch event and you get to see Gessi and Mr Steam products in action Mr Steam

2 – 5 pm – At the Spa – Mr. Steam is hosting a Spa afternoon

7 – 10 – Farewell party – TBA

For more BlogTour LA posts, click here

As the saying goes, our home is where our heart is. There’s no doubt about the veracity of this statement. Well, your lot area doesn’t matter. It has been proven so many times that bigger isn’t always better when it comes to home design. What matters the most is how you maximize the space and make the most out of it.

Stagetecture visited the Target House in Memphis, Tennessee on the Brizo | St. Jude Children’s hospital tour and it inspired us to seek out other organizations who are helping the community through home design.

This year, Southern Living chose the best team to design, build, and decorate the ultimate Southern farmhouse on the grounds of Fontanel, former home of country legend Barbara Mandrell. See how the design trends of the year and southern comfort can be used as inspiration in your home!

All images via: Southern Living

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This year, you will be more amazed as to how home design ideas are going. These designs combine beauty, functionality and eco-friendly components in your home. And it’s not only in your home interior but also the exterior. This is pretty exciting especially that it’s all about your home. Of course, you never get enough when it comes to your home. Check out these beautiful home ideas trending this 2013:

• Living room

A rustic and refined living room makes a mark in this year’s home. This brings nostalgic moments and very effective when it comes creating a rural outlook in your interior. You will see the wood beams horizontally layout like that of a barn house design. But keep in mind that these wood beams are beautifully installed like a decorative item. The refined arrangement provides a systematic array of displaying your furnishings in the living room. Your living room will never look so classy with this design.

• Kitchen

Nowadays, the kitchen is one of the main areas at home that designers are looking very symmetrically. The trend for kitchen is to provide more balance in terms of design and space. A symmetrically balanced kitchen gives more proportion as to how you feel inside your kitchen. Gone are the days when you will be overwhelmed with the kitchen tools and equipment. This year, you will see different elements at every corner but the scale and size balance each other. This will definitely enhance your kitchen experience in a symmetrical manner.

• Porches

Who says porches are for loner? Well, think again. The new trend is to create inviting porches where you can accommodate your guests or even spend quality time with the whole family. Designers are using subtle color palettes to complement the surroundings. You also have great help with comfortable seating and furniture to provide an inviting ambiance to anyone. Your guests and loved ones will definitely find this place worth their time.

• Master suite

This should be part of the list. A graceful master suite is making thumbs up this year. Nowadays, spool beds are getting nods with American manufacturers. The graceful spools complemented with well-designed posts are a perfect combination. Also, this type of bed is finished with a nice paint for optimum appearance. The design of the graceful master suite is completed by adding beddings, furnishings, lamp shades and other room essentials that blend with the theme.

• Dining room

The dining room is the heart of the home. This place is where the whole family gathers together and share, not only the food, but also quality moments. A casual design dining room is making an impressive run. The design is highlighted with wide windows on the sides, covered with sheer café curtains. The windows allow the sunlight to enter the room providing natural light and heat to the surroundings. Also, the graceful dance of the curtains brought about by the soft blow of the wind makes it more stunning.

You see, when it comes to home designs, everything is evolving. It never stops and never will. It continues to enhance and willing to face the challenge. The Southern Living 2013 Idea House is certainly one to give you ideas and inspiration for your cozy abode.

For more bedroom & living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.