Tag: lighting

Meet Sara Noble: Our Featured Design Partner!

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Sara Noble and the Noble Designs team! Sara will be guest blogging for us each month on things like up-to-date design trends, decor and more. We’re excited to pair up with one of the best designers in town! Sara has been designing for lucky Kansas Citians for 16 years and has grown her company to include a team of five designers plus additional staff. We absolutely love her modern classic design aesthetic. Sara says, “I think it’s important to ground your space with some classics but equally important to add in a fresh twist so it stays current.” We couldn’t agree more. Think classic with a punch, simple but elegant. Another thing we love about Sara’s sensibilities is that even though she adds fresh twists to stay current, her designs are really timeless and her homes and spaces are designed to last.

Sara Noble’s Inspiration

We asked Sara where she draws her inspiration. She said, “Inspiration is everywhere. I am a certified Instagram junkie. Pinterest has good ideas as well. And then we travel for fun and for work. The market at High Point (North Carolina) is always inspiring and builds up our enthusiasm!” She also notes being inspired by fashion, photography and style icons Jacqueline Kennedy and Kansas City’s Kate Spade.

Sara’s Family…in her own words

“I have two kids who are currently racing around preparing for finals which kills their mother who would prefer they didn’t wait until the last minute. My daughter, Eleanor, will be a senior next year and is heavily involved in volleyball. My son, Andrew, will be a sophomore and loves soccer. They are good kids and most days I’m happy to not only claim them but show them off. My boyfriend Vince works as an appraiser. It allows for a good mix of conversation on design and finance and how the two affect each other. My parents are two doors down, and I’m happy to report that I love it! They are easygoing, supportive and always ready to make cocktails. My brother and his two kids aren’t far away either, which is great.”

Tell us about YOUR home!

It goes without saying that everyone want to know about the designer’s home! What does it look like? (Same thing goes for chefs…everyone wonders what they cook when at home and what sort of appliances are used!) “I built a home in Olathe 4 years ago near my kids’ school. I love it. It’s not huge, and like any home, I have things I wish I could have afforded, but the style is all me. I have a white colonial home on the outside and made the inside more modern with an offset fireplace that has sleek marble floor to ceiling. I have some bright wallpaper on the kitchen wall and fun, interesting lights everywhere. My next move will be downtown when the kids are out of high school. I’m excited to build something for a different life phase.”We also asked Sara to tell us 3 inexpensive things that homeowners can do to transform or update a room. Here’s what she said:

Paint – One of the cheapest and most dramatic transformations. We are seeing light colors becoming more and more popular.
Fresh Flowers – Trader Joe’s is my secret weapon. You can buy a cheap bunch of flowers and then snip some greenery from your bushes at home to mix in.
Lighting – Really this should be #1, lighting is the most important thing you can do to transform a room. However I’m not sure I would put this in the inexpensive category. Lighting is so important I think it’s where you should start with your budget and it’s where you should be willing to splurge. (See our previous post on lighting.)

She said that if she had to come with another inexpensive update, she would go with new kitchen towels! “There are so many fun patterns now and people forget how gross their old ones get.”

How Sara will help Cami’s clients through our blog:

“I am thrilled to be working with Cami and her team. We love the homes she sells. So anytime we get to peek at one, we get a good look at the Kansas City market and those who care about their homes. I hope to share some fun tips with everyone and remind them that sometimes it makes sense to bring in a professional. We are ready to share with you what we can do!”Be sure to bookmark our blog and check back often as Sara will be contributing content each month and give us tips and trends on all things decor and design! Like what you see? Follow Noble Designs on Instagram at @nobledesigns! Look for the crown!

5 lighting trends we love

Lighting is something that you typically notice when it’s really good or really bad. Many homeowners make the mistake of not having enough when it comes to lighting. Sometimes, certain events at your home call for different lighting. (Think an evening cocktail party.) People often wonder if they can mix finishes in their rooms (do the light fixtures in my kitchen need to match the cabinet pulls?). With so much to consider, we thought we’d highlight some of the trends we are loving now!

Chandeliers: Lighting with big impact

The classic overhead fixture has come a long way! Chandeliers can be had in contemporary designs with updated finishes.Warm metals are popping up everywhere! Think of fixtures made of rich copper (hammered or raw copper exude a natural beauty, while a satin finish feels luxurious) or brass. Brass fixtures can be polished, aged or burnished. The varying patinas give totally different looks! Brass is definitely making a comeback. A few weeks back, we shared an awesome photo of a powder room with a mosaic tile floor and brass bath fixtures. Check it out on our Instagram account!Gold tones (especially rose gold) are also hot this year. Like its brass counterpart, gold doesn’t always have to be shiny and bright.

Vintage Vibe: Upgraded

“Vintage” is one of those oft-overused words. When it applies to this year’s lighting trends, there’s a little “upgrade” from the typical looks that celebrate an older, industrial age. This year’s fixtures really showcase sleeker materials and modern technology. Sure, fans will still see the natural colors, rustic finishes and simple designs that have come to define vintage lighting.The sleeker materials make the lights feel more thoughtful in design and less “I found this old bucket, hung it upside down and screwed a lightbulb in it!”. Vintage lights work well in the kitchen (think above the island or work space) and as wall lights or sconces. (Image: Library Pendant by Troy Lighting, via Bellacor.)

Mixed Metals

It’s like wondering if you can wear a brown belt with black shoes. Can you mix metals when it comes to your lighting choices? The short answer is yes. Mixing metallic design elements can be achieved by doing it within a single lighting fixture or even within a larger design environment (an entire room).The key? Make your choices look intentional. Put some thought into it. One of the areas you can look to “mix” it up is the actual texture of the fixtures. Consider mixing hammered, matte and even polished finishes for a layered, rich look. You might also consider mixing warm metals (gold, copper) and cold (silver, chrome) metals.

Energy-Saving bulbs

As with many areas of their lives, homeowners are choosing to go green and conserve energy wherever possible. It comes as no surprise that choosing energy-saving lightbulbs helps homeowners create a more earth-friendly home. LED and CFL bulbs are currently the most efficient choices. These use up to 80% less energy and last significantly longer than incandescent bulbs. Before purchasing bulbs, make sure you light fixture is compatible!

Star light, Star BRIGHT!

Starburst fixtures catapulted onto the scene last year and they are still making major statements everywhere you look. You can see this bold fixture combines the WOWS of the gold and the starburst. (Image: luxxu.com)Often, like a quick paint makeover, lighting is an inexpensive way to dramatically update your home. We often have sellers look at their lighting before we list and a) make sure there’s enough to highlight the home, and b) that it is updated and works with the aesthetic of the home. Read more about staging here.The Cami Jones Collaborative team is committed to helping our sellers realize top dollar for their homes! We offer best-in-class marketing support, and you can expect things like professional staging services, photography, expertly-made flyers, postcards, and a smart social media strategy. Contact us here or call us today at 913-402-2550 and let us show you how we use the latest and most effective technology to market it in a variety of ways.*Photo Credit: allen + roth Collinwick Pendant lanterns over the island via Lowe’s

Home Décor Trends 2018

We’re well into January and we’ve been compiling 2018 home décor trends from our favorite websites and blogs! We thought we’d share what we’ve seen so far. It’s no surprise, but the categories that make us “ooooh” and “ahhhh” are Kitchen and Bath. These areas are where most homeowners choose to focus their time, energy (and money). They are also the places where one change (flooring, tile, lighting, wall covering) can make a huge impact.Often, many homeowners look to see where they’ll get the most bang for their buck when spending décor or remodel dollars. It should come as no surprise that according to HGTV, a minor bathroom remodel pays the biggest dividends. They note that it costs about $10,500 to replace the tub, tile surround, floor, toilet, sink, vanity and fixtures. You’ll get back an average of $10,700 at resale, a recoup rate of 102 percent. But how to decorate? Here are the latest décor trends for 2018, broken down into some major categories:

Kitchen

According to ELLE Decor, the #1 kitchen trend to look for is colored cabinets; blue and green specifically. These fresh hues can be mixed with other colors or complementing wood stains. They are even bold enough to stand on their own.Another trend is to go bold (if blue and green cabinets weren’t bold enough for you!). Consider using Pantone’s color of the year, Ultra Violet. If painting an entire wall is too much for you, use it as an accent color. Perhaps paint the inside of a built-in with the bold color or call attention to a tufted seat, piece of art, or accent wall.Sticking with the dark, bold colors that are on-trend for kitchens, dark countertops are back in. Dramatic blacks are in style as are deep greens.Mix-and-match finishes are something to look for, too. “Using multiple colors in kitchens has become a popular trend this year. For example, painting base walls or cabinets in a dark charcoal tone and upper cabinets and walls in creamy off-white tones is something we’re seeing more and more of,” according to Sue Wadden, the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. This would be in contrast to a kitchen with white cabinets, white tile and a white countertop.Finally, high contrast marble with bold veining is very popular as a kitchen statement piece.

Bath

According to trendsetters, stainless steel and polished nickel might be things of the past, replaced by brass (again!). Brass accents actually impart a warm tone when compared to the sometimes cold and clinical look of stainless steel. Think brass faucet fixtures or cabinet handles. These would look great coupled with another trend for baths– black and white. We’ve seen some terrific black and white tile floor designs. Another cool look is to wallpaper one wall of the vanity in a glossy black and white pattern, and paint the other walls solid.Bucket sinks (also known as Trough sinks) are farmhouse inspired and will be popular in both kitchen and bath. Think retro and nostalgic…these are hot! (Image via Pinterest.)

Lighting

Huffington Post points out that one of the biggest trends is lighting is to “buy local.” Interesting, artisan lighting fixtures from local artists and small businesses ensure that your home doesn’t look like every other one in the neighborhood! They personalize your home and boost the local economy, to boot!We will continue to see more LED lighting. It is affordable and cost-efficient in the long run. The upfront cost for LED bulbs is likely more…but you will make it up as they are more efficient. Look for LED lights outside of the home as well. People are spending more time and money on their patios and outdoor living spaces, and lighting is no exception.Look also for nostaligic details like retro Edison bulbs, which were really making a surge in 2017. They complement popular farmhouse style homes, industrial condos, lofts and everything in between.

Flooring

Flooring, like many other areas of our lives, is increasingly giving a nod to alternative, eco-friendly and organic materials. Linoleum has seen a resurgence as manufacturers have upped the style quotient and incorporated style and design that don’t scream hospital or grade school flooring. Linoleum designs can even mimic limestone or other natural material with veining!Another popular flooring option is cork. We love this look of cork penny mosaic with dark grout! (Image courtesy www.tierneyconner.com.) There are even newer whitewashed corks for a lighter look and feel.Ready to update your home? Whether you’re updating so you can stay put, or updating and spiffing up to sell, there are lots of beautiful options out there!