All About Window Treatments!

Window treatments can be custom made in a variety of different styles, and working with a designer will help select the perfect style for the house, design style of room, and needs of client.  Between panels, shades, swags and valances the choices can seem overwhelming, but a good designer can help narrow them down and select whats best.  At Kellie Burke Interiors, we can also combine treatment styles or even create a whole new custom look depending on needs and wants of client.   Window treatments are the best way to warm up a space, make it feel homey and give a room a finished look.  Many clients are worried about losing their view or having a treatment that is too heavy, but even a simple top treatment can make all the difference in the world without obstructing the view. 

Layered looks for window treatments are also key.  The best under-treatments to start with are woven wood shades, shutters, or shades in custom fabric options.  These all make a great foundation to start with, and for those with a tighter budget more ornate layers can be added on later.  The under-treatment is the best way to control light and privacy.  Any additional layers, with the exception of some panels, are best to be used as a decorative option. 

Window treatments can be as ornate or as simple as the client and the space requires.  Panels are the most versatile, as they can be ultra-modern with clean lines in a simple fabric, or trim can be added to a patterned fabric and you’ve already stepped up the look. Additional options can be layered with panels including cornices, swags and jabots (just to name a few). 

Working with a designer is most beneficial when it comes to window treatments because many time stock sizes aren’t quite right, leaving an unfinished look.  A decorator will also understand scale and proportion of the space, as well as placement of the treatments on the wall.  Color and texture are also two qualities that can enhance a space when used correctly.  

For more information, or to set up a consultation, please contact Kellie Burke Interiors at 860.232.9128.

Habersham: Old World Elegance

Kellie Burke Interiors is proud to announce that we are the Connecticut dealer for Habersham Kitchen & Bath!  After 40 years in business, Habersham Home launched their Kitchen and Bath Collection in Spring 2002.  Designed with luxury and elegance in mind, Habersham Kitchens and Baths are “inspired by the elaborate furnishings of Europe’s 18^th century palatial estates and the simplified, romantic styles of the French countryside.”

Custom Habersham Kitchen

Our favorite thing about Habersham Kitchens is that they are fully customizable.  From sizes to styles to finishes, every detail is hand selected.  We work closely with our clients and the staff at Habersham to design a kitchen that best suits the needs and wants of the client.  Kitchen storage has improved drastically over the years, and Habersham has all of the latest options for pots and pans, pantry storage and everything else imaginable.  Habersham also has a large selection of finishes to choose from. There are Studio Finishes which combine color and texture in a gradual layering process that has amazing depth and character.  The Connoisseur Finishes have the look of fine antique furniture seen in many estate homes.  Habersham also works with Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams to provide custom colors in any paint selection you find.  Habersham Home also makes furniture, so the look that you select for your kitchen can be carried into the dining room and beyond. 

Habersham cabinetry also has a home beyond the kitchen; it is great for a home office, creating a great built in storage look that, like their kitchens, is fully customizable.  Habersham also makes dressing rooms that are to die for. They can be customized to hold laundry, closet rods, shoes, jewelry and more. 

Because we are a full service interior design firm, we have the ability to do a complete kitchen remodel; from moving walls and windows to selecting the cabinet finishes, counter tops and hardware; an entire design scheme will come together beautifully.  

Custom Habersham Dressing Room

Custom Habersham Dressing Room

Custom Habersham Bathroom

Custom Habersham Media Center

Custom Habersham Door/Bookcase

KBI Signature Jackets

Spring is here! Warmer weather is right around the corner and at Kellie Burke Interiors we are ready to put our wool coats away for until next winter! However, spring mornings and evenings can still be chilly until we hit summer, and for that we recommend our Signature Kellie Burke Jackets.

The signature jackets are Kellie Burke’s own design made from hand selected fabrics from our design studio… fashion inspired by the home!  They make a perfect light weight jacket for spring and fall weather, or can be worn as part of an outfit anytime of the year.  

Select Past Season styles are now on sale for $350! Get them while they last! 

The Animal Kingdom: Leopard

Alright, we have to admit it; at Kellie Burke Interiors we have an obsession with all things animal print.  We have our favorite design techniques; adding a pop of color, mixing textures and playing with sparkle, but animal print may be our favorite thing to add to a room.  Leopard, a classic animal print, might take the cake as far as favorites go.

Small Accent with a Leopard Print Pillow

Like most, if not all animal prints, leopard is essentially a neutral.  It can work in any design scheme, and in some form, almost any style of décor.  The key is using it properly. Unless you are using leopard as a major design statement, it is best to use it on smaller furniture pieces or accessories.  We love an ottoman upholstered in a classic leopard with nail head trim. Pillows are also a great way to add touches.  If you are looking for a more subtle effect, look for even smaller touches.  We recently installed a chandelier in a client’s home; the inside lining on the candlestick shades were a leopard silk and it looks fabulous. 

With the popularity of leopard there are thousands and thousands of fabrics to choose from.  This allows you to find both a scale and color way that best fits the design scheme.  If you have a small pillow in a traditional scheme, a small scale classic leopard would be perfect.  Likewise, if you are upholstering an ottoman, you may want to consider a larger scale print that better suits the piece.  There are so many color variations of leopard today.  Rather than varying from light to dark, we can now find leopard in any color of the rainbow. If you have an elegant, sophisticated space a leopard in a deep wine and tan could suit it perfectly.  If color and funk is what you’re after a hot pink or deep turquoise would certainly brighten the space. There are also monochromatic color ways which are great for neutral design schemes, or a client who isn’t sure they want to make the full commitment. Either way, there is truly something for everyone!

Leopard Print Side Chair in Nursery

So join us in our addiction! Try some leopard! You can start off with little hints and accents here and there, and see where your design inspiration takes you!

Setting the Mood with Lighting

One of our favorite custom lighting vendors recently held a contest for Best Lighting Application.  We knew we had to enter, and decided that Bricco Trattoria in Glastonbury, CT was the design that would take home the gold; and now we are excited to announce that we WON! 

When designing a lighting scheme you first want to consider the practical uses for a space.  A restaurant is similar to a residential dining room or family room in the sense that you don’t need bright lighting; it is more about creating ambiance than anything else.  Lighting that is too harsh, that would be more appropriate in a home office or kitchen, makes it hard to relax and get in the mood that you are trying to create in the space. 

Light fixtures are also a great way to set the style for the room.  If you are going for a romantic look in a bedroom, than an ornate, crystal chandelier is perfection. For a modern kitchen, sleek pendant lights not only provide excellent task lighting but simple lines will add to the minimalist look.  And for an Old World style family room? Think ornate and over the top, with gold shades, intricate iron work, and lots of scroll work. 

Lastly, light fixtures often can bring texture, as well as light, into a space.  As seen at Bricco Trattoria, we’ve mixed chandeliers with a rope detail, cylinders in a metal cage design, sleek, oversized pendants, and chandeliers with clusters of metal caged globes. What you get is a mix of textures that adds to the design scheme.  It is also important to use a variety of fixtures in a space. Rather than repeating one fixture over and over in either a home or a restaurant, it is better design to choose several fixtures with similar characteristics, and mix them to keep things interesting. 

View pictures from our award winning lighting design below!

Glam Up That Table!

It may feel like you were just scrambling to set your holiday table yesterday, but Kellie Burke Interiors is ready to talk tabletops! 

A beautifully set table can be the visual highlight of any dinner, whether it’s a holiday party, special occasion, or “just another weekday dinner”.  After participating in “Set To Celebrate” Holiday Table Show at the Town and Country Club in Hartford last December we are ready to share our tips!

Layer, Layer, Layer!

Just as layering helps add interest to an outfit or a window treatment; it can do the same for a table.  We decided to feature Vietri’s Incanto line, we liked the crisp “winter white” that it brought to our holiday-glam table, but also viewed it as a neutral, every day dinnerware set that is found in many kitchen cabinets. We love that there are different shapes within this collection to layer on top of another, rather than having circle upon circle. Then, we placed the Vietri Chiaroscuro appetizer plate on top; the black was a great pop against the white.  By adding our Kellie Burke Interiors as a party favor, it ties all of the layers below it together as well as adding height to each table setting.  

Texture 

The next element we incorporated was texture. With the intricate detailing of the Vietri dinnerware, we already had some texture from the get-go.  Our flatware, also Vietri, has some texture as well in the basket weave pattern of the metal at the base of the handle.  The holly berries sprigs that we tucked into the candle ribbon also add texture (as well as a pop of color). Lastly, our centerpiece, which consisted of branches with glitter and sparkles, enhanced the texture as well. 

The Element of Surprise

Last, but certainly not least, is the element of surprise. That unexpected something that takes your table over the top.  We took a ebony faux fur blanket and layered it over a plain white cloth as our dramatic tablecloth. Not only is it completely out of the box it adds to the layers that we have going on as well as brings a different texture to the table.  Faux fur was having a major moment this year so we were so excited to glam up our table and participate in this trend.

It is helpful to have a color scheme in mind beforehand, as well as having a general idea as to the direction that your table will take, but after that use these three tips and watch your table go from drab to fab! Have fun! 

To purchase Vietri, or any item seen please contact us!

Kellie Burke Interiors

993A Farmington Avenue

West Hartford, CT 06107

T: 860-232-9128

www.kellieburke.com

Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Embellished Candles = Decorative Eye Candy

So here we are, nearing the end of January, still trapped in the winter blues while we are wrapped in our cozy blankets, waiting for spring to come.  Since this is the time of year when we are spending the most time indoors, we think that it’s the most important time to keep your home looking fresh and exciting, and at Kellie Burke Interiors, we’ve got a great way to do that; embellished candles! 

We all love the ambiance that a room full of lit candles has, but these amazing decorative candles are a way to add some excitement and life to a space.  They are oversized to be even more dramatic and come in a variety of colors and sizes. The Fleur de Lis is a great motif to add to an Old World Style room, whereas the Skull and Crossbones adds a touch of sparkle and edge to any space you can think of.  At Kellie Burke Interiors, we all fell in love with the pink “Key to your Heart Candle” a great pick for Valentine’s Day!

Haute News! Now Introducing Kellie Burke Interiors Private Label Fabrics!

Kellie Burke Interiors is proud to announce our new line of Private Label Fabrics, exclusively available at our West Hartford Center showroom: Window by Kellie Burke.  After opening Window in Fall 2011, we were looking for the next way to bring style into the homes of our clients; this new line of fabrics is the latest and greatest way to get Kellie Burke Interior’s signature look. 

The Kellie Burke Private line includes fabrics in a full range of colors and styles, varying from sheers to silks; linens to lavish wovens, ensuring that there is something for everyone in the line. In addition to becoming a go to line for our design clients, we also utilize this line as part of our Window showroom services to assist clients in selecting window treatments that are perfect for their décor and lifestyle.

Come explore our signature fabric line or to get a design consultation! 

Kellie Burke Interiors 

993A Farmington Avenue 

West Hartford, CT 06107

T- 860.232.9128

kellieburke.com 

Hours: 

Monday- Friday: 9:00am- 5:00pm