classic interior Archives

June 22, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Design Tips, Interior Design3 Comments

Master the Master Suite: Secrets for blending masculine and feminine styles

For me, a successful interior is one that brings the vision my client has in his or her mind – and then some – to life. It’s important that every client the team at Laura U works with feels as though they are truly home when they step through their door. We strive to capture their personality and their spirit with our work.

We especially love the challenge of working with families and couples with differing tastes and styles. This dichotomy between masculine and feminine presents itself often when designing a master bedroom to fit two competing styles. In these instances, it’s our job to ensure her style is balanced with his. Then everyone is happy and feels at home living in the design.

Continue reading to learn our design secrets for successfully combining masculine and feminine styles to create a balanced master bedroom that is equal parts functional and stunning.

June 20, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Design Tips2 Comments

Five Ways to Create a Home Away from Home for Summer Visitors

I love nothing more than entertaining guests at my home. No matter the time of year or season, it’s always so much fun to pamper friends and family, and provide a relaxing haven while they’re away from their own nests. Whether they’re enjoying the patio weather, dining alfresco or just doing some luxurious lounging, I always try to make sure our visitors have everything they need (and more!) during their stay. Of course, when designing homes for my clients, it’s always a priority to create the perfect space for their guests as well!

There is an art to designing a space for guests that is inviting, relaxing and comfortable. Everyone has a story about a hotel, resort, or Airbnb that made their trip much more memorable. What makes a true home away from home for you? Is it a luxe bathtub, a substantial closet, a reading nook in your room or simply an inviting bed with soft, cozy linens?

Read on for some of our tips to turn your home into a place where your family and friends want to return to again and again!

May 26, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Interior DesignLeave a comment

Crystals, Stones and Gold? Yes, please!

Whether it’s our team showing off their favorite interior design finds each month on our Team Obsessions round-up or recaps of our fabulous design discoveries from the various markets we attend each year, we love to share the newest products and ideas in interior design with you!

While I wasn’t able to visit the showroom during my whirlwind trip to the spring High Point Market, the fabulous team at John-Richard knows we MUST stay up on the newest and best. They just sent us their most recent introductions, and they. are. awesome!

Read on to see some of my favorite pieces from the spring introduction.

March 24, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Interior DesignLeave a comment

Top 5 Showrooms for Sourcing Kitchen & Bath “hard” surfaces

One of my favorite parts of remodeling or revamping a space for a client (or myself!) is choosing the materials we will use for surfaces like countertops, flooring, backsplashes and more. When you find the right one, you just know, and it truly makes the biggest difference in the overall look and feel of a room. It can easily elevate a lackluster kitchen into a sleek, modern space for entertaining, and some of our most stunning bathroom renovations include a complete tile overhaul.

So, here is just a little sneak peek into the resources we – and many other design firms in HTX – tap when we’re tackling a project that requires detailed tile and stone designs. There are a handful of expert partners here in Houston that we rely on to help us make our clients’ interiors stellar. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite Houston spots for sourcing the mind-blowing materials we use to give our designs a WOW factor.

March 17, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Interior DesignLeave a comment

Before and After: Timeless Transformation

My husband Michael always jokes that I am never one to back down from a good challenge. If someone tells me something is impossible or simply can’t be done, I can’t help but want to prove them wrong! I think this love for pushing the limits has also translated to our team at Laura U Interior Design. One of our favorite challenges as of late was a home that had fab structural potential, but needed some brightening up to create a cohesive look that was equal parts livable and luxurious.

Our design philosophy at Laura U centers around creating looks that draw inspiration from the past while also considering current trends. This transformation is the perfect example of a space that previously consisted of lots of opulent, dark wood and furniture that created an extremely formal feel throughout. While we think this look can absolutely work for some homes, we knew this home had the potential to really be transformed into an updated, yet timeless design in each room.

I’m particularly proud of this project and am so excited to show off the finished product! Read on to see the process of this timeless transformation unfold.

March 15, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Interior Design1 Comment

Favorite Designs with Shades of Green

Spring is officially here – lush flowers blossoming everywhere you look, people sporting festive shamrocks to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and everyone spending more time outdoors in the beautiful, warm weather. What better way to inject a little spring into your home than with some eye-catching pops of green?

This year’s Pantone Color of the Year is a stimulating and refreshing tone, and is also symbolic of new beginnings. Because of its versatile nature, it’s easy to introduce green into modern or conventional homes. There’s just something about a beautiful mint tone that can relax you, an unexpected shade of jade to lift your spirits, or an indulgent display of teal to put an eclectic spin on a traditional space.

Want to start small? Reach for an emerald vase or introduce a sage-colored throw pillow. Feeling a little more adventurous? Go on and tackle that olive-green accent wall you’ve been dreaming of!

No matter your mood, here are some tips for how to freshen up several different spaces in your home this spring using various lustrous shades of green.

March 12, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Design Tips, Interior DesignLeave a comment

Making the most of built-in nooks

Just because a space is small doesn’t mean it should be deprived of personality. In fact, injecting loads of personality into a small space can be really fun and add instant charm. Whether it’s a built-in space under the window or a cozy reading nook, there are plenty of ways to optimize the space by combining style and function including using pillows, cushions, lighting, stylish accents and storage to create one fab cohesive design.

I personally love capitalizing on these tiny spaces by transforming them into a private hideaway for the kiddos, a tranquil oasis fit for relaxation or a quiet area to dive into a good book.

Continue reading to find out how I make the most out of these built-in spaces.

March 9, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Interior Design1 Comment

5 Design Rules Worth Breaking

As an interior designer, you learn about “design rules” early on and they almost become second nature. Through the years the way you see the rules begins to change as your design style evolves. This is why I always say there is no real “rule book” when it comes to interior design, but rather standard industry best practices to get you started. Then you create your own rules- after all the point is to trust your own instinct and design eye! Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with following the rules, but I have found myself really enjoying projects allowing me to release my inner rule-breaker and push the envelope by creating a unique design with a classically current twists.

Everyone knows the number one design rule I love to break is the need to keep up with the latest trends, but there are a few more I have broken over the years. Continue reading to see five more design “rules” I believe are worth breaking.

February 28, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Design Tips, Interior DesignLeave a comment

Our Fabulous February Finds

As winter begins to drift away and the warmer weather begins to arrive, the Laura U team has been busy looking over the latest collections from some of our favorite vendors and designers. With all this inspiration, we can’t help but get excited for what the spring/summer seasons have in store!

Check out our most recent obsessions that caught our eye this month.

February 24, 2017June 13, 2018classic interior, Classically Current, Design Tips, Interior DesignLeave a comment

Navigating the wide world of wallcoverings

If you’re one of those people who believe wallcoverings are old news or outdated, then allow me to change your mind. Much like a lovely piece of art, wallcoverings add interest and richness to any space! When considering the use of wallcoverings, it is important to choose a style proportionate to the intended space. For instance, small patterns can get lost in a room with high ceilings, vertical stripes tend to make a space look smaller, and horizontal stripes will make a room appear larger.

When it comes to designing with wallcoverings, the possibilities are endless and choosing the right pattern can really make or break a space, so let’s talk about some of my favorite ways to tackle this design tactic!

Category: classic interior