Fun with Christmas Trees!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! I LOVE Christmas trees! It's so much fun to decorate them and see all of the interesting ways others decorate their trees. Here are a few savvy Christmas trees I'd like to share you. Enjoy!

Now here is an interesting new trend that's all the rage this year. The Upside-down Christmas tree.

I like the purple and gold theme here. Cute!

Another color coordinated Christmas theme...

Christmas with pink, purple and blue.

Being a Designer is Like Being Fred Astaire

When I get a new client, I rejoice in the process of getting to know them. Their physical space and their dream of how this "space" should look and feel. A house is a house, so, you have the same elements to work with every time. A living room and bedroom, a bathroom, a den etcetera, etcetera...

Yet, no matter the familiarity with the bones of the house, you still have to "dance" with the imagination and desires of the home owners to make it a space that truly belongs to THEM! You have to make it a "home" and not just a house. Every client is different and every dance is different even though the elements you work with are always the same.

This simple truth reminded me of Fred Astaire. You're probably thinking "Whaaaa...". Well, in the video below, taken from the FABULOUS movie "Royal Wedding", Fred Astaire's character is on a cruise ship (lucky beggar) and goes to the gym on the ship to practice dancing (MAN! That's a steady ship!). He has the same tools and space that everyone else would work with. However, he adapts and puts an entertaining spin on how to interact with these elements. Some may get it. Some may not.

My main point is, when it comes to style, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. And the beholder is the person I'm trying to understand. I want to make the beholder's dreams come true.

FYI, I grew up watching Fred Astaire and I've always gleaned inspiration from his creativity and physicality. Enjoy! :)

Home Decor Illustration

Working in Interior design and decoration in Los Angeles is really fun! Clients in the city of angles love to get pictures and visual aids to help them make their spaces look super stylish. They also like to get lavish items, which as a designer, is a BLAST to work with!

I recently did a couple of perspective home decor illustrations for a client of mine. The idea was to get a feel for his style and make tweaks as the project progresses. We didn't go with this concept and just kinda winged it, but these illustrations provided a great start. I thought I should share them below. You can check out more illustrations I've done for past clients on my Houzz.com page.

Perspective Living Room Illustration

Perspective Bedroom Illustration

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow...

Kita Marie Williams - Owner and Designer at
KMW Interiors

I have to admit, I get a little attached to a home I stage or decorate. Every home I touch feels like my home. Or, at least that's how I'm inclined to treat it. Home Staging in Los Angeles is a very competitive business, and I think KMW Interiors has set itself apart with very professional, personal and rather "sentimental" service. I think it might be the genuine LOVE for my work that adds that special KMW Interiors magic.

This week, I had to pack-up up yet another successfully sold property. I'm glad that my work helps get these lovely properties sold! However, I always have to take a moment, look back, smile and say goodbye before I finally lock-up the property and leave it in the hands of its excited new owners. I'm so sappy...

Looking forward to the next home I get to call my own for a while...  :)

Check out my new home staging solutions presentation!

Exalted Home Goods Is On Fire!

So, we've been selling high quality comforters and other home goods on Ebay for about 3 months now under the store name "Exaltedhomegoods", and things are looking good! We have a best-selller and managed to get some buyers for our high-end products. YAY! Interested in looking at what KMW Interiors has for sale over the holidays? Check it out!

100% Cotton Shell Duck Down Filled Comforter
I LOVE this genuine Duck Down Comforter with a pure 100% cotton shell. The down is from European farms that are humane. That means no ducks where harmed to make you warm! There is NOTHING like genuine down. Buy It Now

100% Cotton Down "Alternative" Filled Comforter
This is our HOT item! People LOVE this comforter. Its great for lower budgets or those with allergies. The reviews on this one are fab! Buy It Now

We have a few other items for sale available for local pick-up. If you're in the area and need a stylish coffee table but have a small budget, checkout what we have to offer here.

Our Latest Staging Project

Good news! KMW Interiors recently staged a condo in Brentwood! The Condo had some older details, but we managed to update the look and highlight the spaciousness of the property as well as how to fill in some awkward areas. As a result, the condo sold in less than 30 days! YAY! Keep us in mind for Staging in Los Angeles!

I LOVE MY JOB! Check out a few pics of the space below:

Featured Deals!

KMW Interiors is now selling various home goods and furnishings online via ebay! YAY!

Here are a few deals that you all can take advantage of:

Down Alternative Comforters from Cotton & Downtown:
Full/Queen: $45
King/Cal-King: $55

Click here to see more details.

Kitchen Cart with Wine Rack:

$160

Click here for more details.

Small Modern/Contemporary Desk:

$120

Click here for details.

How to Put Grommets On Drapes

I was working on a design project and I found drapery panels with the prefect color and pattern, but for the style of drapery installation the client had, any drapes I found would have to have grommets. Unfortunately the ones I adored didn't. So, I thought to myself, why limit my options? I'll just put the darn grommets on myself! AND, I'm sharing with you lovely folks how I did it and how you can do it, too! :)

Now some of you may be thinking, what the heck is a grommet? Well, a grommet is is a durable ring that can be inserted in a hole in a fabric. See illustration of drapes with grommets below. Not only are they stylish, they make drapery installation easy. Drapes with grommets are also totally in fashion when it comes to home decor.

So, how do you add grommets? Simple! Here are step-by-step instructions to get started.

Step one:Select the grommets you want to add to your drapes. You can get them at any crafts store or order them online. Be sure to note any extra tools you may need and follow the instructions! Some require the use of an anvil and setting tool and others call for grommet pliers. See images below:

Step Two:
Lay your drapes out backside up so that any marks you make will not be visible on the front. Decide how far you want your grommets to be from the edge of both sides of the drapes and use the grommet as a stencil to draw the circle that you will need to cut out. I have an example I did on a smaller piece of fabric with small grommets as an illustration below.

Step Three:
When it comes to adding the rest of the grommets in the middle, you can do it in two ways.

1. You can measure the space you have between the grommets you will place on the ends and divide it by the diameter of the grommets, then decide how many and how far you want them apart. Or...

2. You can eyeball it! If you have the drapes laid out, you can easily place grommets across the top and move them back and forth or add grommets until it looks right to you. Then, you can mark the holes and cut them out.

Step Four:
Use the hammer and anvil or the grommet pliers to secure them in place. For this part, I will refer you to the instructions on the grommet set you purchased. The instructions will vary depending on the tools called for to secure the grommets. In my example below, I bought a set that uses the anvil and hammer technique. Be sure you put the front side of the grommet on the front side of the drapes!

Voilà!

You have just put a fabulous grommet on your drapes! Yay!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Feel free leave any questions or comments.

Want KMW Interiors to decorate or stage your home? Visit www.kmwinteriors.com for more info or contact us at (310) 592-9083.

More Press Coverage for KMW Interiors!

KMW Interiors has been featured on WatchList News again! Looks like people love it when an Interior Decorator has furniture and decor solutions for their pet cats! Yay! Click Here to read the article.

Want KMW Interiors to decorate or stage your home? Visit www.kmwinteriors.com for more info or contact us at (310) 592-9083.

KMW Interiors Decorates for Feline Clients!

I just completed a fun interior decor project in Santa Monica for a young woman with two beautiful cats. I had a new challenge in that the owner wanted me to incorporate little shelves that the cats can climb on and use as kitty perches. This is something I had never done before so, I really needed to brush up on my research!

In the end, I created custom shelving for Carly's feline roommates and they turned out great! In general, the entire apartment turned out great! Pics are below.

Here is the living/dining area before:

Here is the living/dining area after:

Carly likes bold colors so we went with this great pomegranate color as an accent and accompanied it with earthy neutrals.

The dining area is simple, but perfectly scaled for the small space. Here we see our feline friend taking advantage of the new table.

Carly's new bohemian chic bedroom:

Here is a shot with one of the feline clients enjoying the new digs:

The Cat Shelves:The client can put decorations on the shelves for entertaining and remove them so the cats can perch on them later.

A couple of close-up shots of the custom shelves:

I put carpet on the surface to that kitties have traction when jumping on them.

I hope you enjoyed this post! :)

Want KMW Interiors to decorate or stage your home? Visit www.kmwinteriors.com for more info or contact us at (310) 592-9083.

KMW Interiors in the Press

KMW Interiors is in the press! YAY! Click on the link to see the full story.

Enjoy! WatchListNews

Hollywood Hills Home Staging Project

I just completed a staging project for a great contemporary home in the Hollywood Hills. The home is located on Queens Rd and is in a prime neighborhood in West LA. Just a short drive to the Sunset Strip, this home is close to all of the tinsel town action!

When I saw this home, I immediately knew it would be perfect for a social bachelor or a young jet-setting couple that loves to entertain. The home has 3 master-style bedrooms with opulent bathrooms attached. The interior features custom built doors, closets and bathroom storage all made of exotic Zebrawood.

I have pics of this fabulous house now furnished by KMW Interiors below. Interested in purchasing this contemporary gem? Contact Realtor Anthony Ridino at www.anthonyridino.com.

These fabulous photos were taken by Joshua Freedman of Freedman Photography.

Queens Rd Home Exterior

Pool area has a  great view of the Hollywood Hills

Living Area: Pops of red help contrast with the black floors and white walls giving the space vibrancy

The placement of the bookshelves divides the large space and feature simple décor elements

Pops of color on the dining room table helps bring the living/dining area together

Gourmet kitchen with all of the accouterments a chef would expect

This lower level room features neutral soothing colors and flows right into an open bathroom oasis 

Located in the back of the house, this room features blue to enhance the calm retreat feel of the space

Master Suite: Large window/doors are on almost every wall with fantastic views of the Hollywood Hills and
West Hollywood

The bed is placed in the middle of the room to take full advantage of the great views

Earthy outdoor furniture with a bright pop of green help warm up the coolness of the large concrete patio

The bright green accents complement the blue tiled infinity pool

You can see the green accents in the background with the refreshing blue pool in the foreground

"Spring" it on Outdoors

Flowers are beginning to bloom, the sun is peaking out of the clouds and the days are longer. YAY! Time to get outside! Here are a few KMW Interiors' picks for fabulous outdoor style.

For larger yards and decks:

Create an outdoor living space. A nice sectional and table will give that instant feeling of outdoor living comfort. Place it under a pergola or covered deck to create an outdoor oasis. Note: Teak is one of the best outdoor woods.

Dining al fresco is a right and a privilege in the Spring and Summer months. So, invest in a durable dining set! You can throw fab outdoor parties or host spontaneous get-togethers under the sun. KMW Interiors recommends teak wood dining sets for great value.

For Smaller Patios and Balconies:

Create an outdoor haven for one or two! You can add beautiful outdoor pillows and cushions to this cute little set to add flavor.

This cute, bar height set is great for smaller outdoor spaces. There's nothing like enjoying a cool glass of white wine outside on a beautiful sunny day. Aaahhhh...

Little Extras:

Keep your outdoor pillows and cushions protected with durable storage. This piece can also doubles as seating.

A nice bench can provide added seating or can be used as seating in beautiful garden areas.

Grab the pieces that fit your outdoor space and get outside! :)