2023 SPRING NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2023

Interior Design . Renovations . Construction.

Furniture . Lighting . Art . Window Coverings . Floor Coverings .

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I N S P O

S P R I N G - I S -

I N - B L O O M

It's a new year which means new projects and beautiful new things in the design world. As always, we want to do a little recap with you of what's been going on with Kat Nelson Designs over the past few months. We had the honor of being featured as the "Contemporary Queen" for Modern Luxury and received the Best of Design Award for 2023! Aditionally, we were awarded with another Houzz Best of Service award! It feels so good to be recognized for our teams hard work to making happy clients dreams come true!

I think we can speak for everyone when we say we are over the cold snap and ready for some sunshine! The birds chirping and the flowers starting to bloom is giving us tons of inspiration for fun designs in the new year!

Before prepping a space for a makeover, it is crucial to do some spring cleaning. Although it's a dreaded chore, doing the annual declutter of all your spaces will not only make your home feel lighter, but allow you to go into a room with a clear plan of what you actually have to work with. Plus, you might even find some treasures you didn't know you had!

A trick of the trade that makes Kat Nelson Designs so unique is the approach of decorating in layers. Mixing the brand new with the once loved pieces and tying it all together with a whole lot of personality. That right there is the secret recipe to a space that feels true to the ones living in it.

Along with the decluttering, if you feel like no matter what you add you can't seem to get your space to feel refreshed, it's time to start moving your furniture around! Rearranging furniture is a guaranteed way to give your room a second life. Although, it might take you some time to remember where that new chair placement is, as to not stub your toe!

Since we are on the topic of refreshing spaces, an easy way to freshen up what you may already have lying around is to take your old art pieces and put them in a new design forward frame. You are able to give some old art a new life and get a great bang for your buck when it comes to re-accessorizing.

Another thing about interior design is not having to start from a blank canvas to achieve a whole new look! In your family room, switching out your pillows can do wonders. They are a great way to add in seasonal or pops of color that bring you joy. Pairing that with some uniform throws can help pull your whole new look together. The same goes for lamps. Experimenting with different lamp shade shapes and sizes can allow you to switch up your pre-loved pieces and shine a new light on the situation!

Pro tip: The diameter of your lamp shade should stay 2-3" within the confines of your side table.

Speaking of Spring, your outdoor landscaping is the first thing someone sees when they come to your home, but usually at the bottom of the list of house to-do's. Landscaping can seem like the most daunting task, but with the right guidance it's very rewarding. We promise! Unless you are an under cover horticulturist, when refreshing your yard, this is a great time to head to your local nursery and speak with someone with a vast understanding of plants. Or you can take it up another notch and reach out to a landscape architect who can help you design the yard of your dreams! By using fresh seasonal blooms, tidying up of some shrubs, and trees, you can breathe new life into your homes exterior and bring those plants inside, freshening up your interior.

Stay well and Live Beautifully!

Kat

I T ' S

P E R S O N A L

The sun is shining brighter and the days are starting to get a little longer. This is the perfect salad to get you in the mood for spring, Enjoy!

BEET AND BURRATA SALAD

BEETS:

2 bunches baby beets, scrubbed and trimmed
2 Tbsps champagne vinegar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
4 sprigs of fresh thyme

DRESSING:

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp champagne vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard

SALAD:

One 5oz container baby arugula
One 8oz container burrata cheese
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
** add blood oranges

For the beets: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Put the beets in an 8-inch square baking dish. Add the vinegar, salt, thyme sprigs and 3 Tbsp of water to the baking dish. Toss well to coat. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and roast until the beets are tender all the way through about 50 minutes. Allow the beets to cool slightly, then use paper towel to rub off the skins. Cut the beets into quarters or sixths depending on the size. Toss with any of the remaining liquid from roasting. Set aside to cool slightly.

For the dressing: Heat a small skillet over low heat. Add the oil, shallots and 1/4 tsp of the salt and cook until the shallots are soft but not brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the hear and cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, Dijon mustard and remaining 1/4 tsp salt. Add the cooled oil mixture and whisk to combine.

For the salad: Add the arugula and beets to the dressing and toss gently to coat. Place the salad on a large platter and tear the burrata around the sides. Sprinkle with pine nuts.

Enjoy!

W H A T 'S

H O T ?

We know what you're thinking, but this isn't your Great Aunt Betty's wallpaper! Wallpaper has made leaps and bounds over the years and we are going to share with you why you should be using it in your spaces!

Unlike paint, you're able to create so much depth and interest in your space due to texture with wallpaper. We are seeing the trend emerging of resurrecting the types of patterns that ring true to English colonials or 1950's Americana. The limits are endless when it comes to today's papers. In a recent project, the client's were going for a 1920's prohibition inspired speakeasy, faux Tommy Gun's and all. We opted for a faux crocodile skin and the amount of personality it brought to the space was really something. If that feels too outside of your wheelhouse have no fear, on the other end of the spectrum is the tried and true grass cloth's that I don't think we will ever stop obsessing over. They make you do a double take to realize that it's not actually paint put a woven paper. It can be intimidating wallpapering a whole space, but as long as you keep balance in the forefront of your mind, it's very difficult to fail. It may be called 'wallpaper', but some of our favorite applications are taking the wallpaper you've put on your walls and carrying it to the ceiling. Or in some cases, just covering the ceiling alone. Basically, this is your sign to put wallpaper in your home!

F E A T U R E

L A K E . F R O N T . L I V I N G

For these empty nesters who have an amazing view of the lake, creating a space that invoked as much peace and serenity as their surroundings was crucial. In many of the homes we have the pleasure of helping renovate, they all start with your standard builder grade finishes that were trending at the time. Lots of dark woods, heavy molding, and interesting uses of space. For this project, the clients knew that they wanted to keep things nice and light as they have tall windows that bring in some of the most beautiful natural light. In true Kat Nelson Designs fashion, the front sitting room, Kat opted for a conversation seating area to help make this area of their home actually function and give the clients a place to host friends for pre-dinner cocktails or enjoy a slow Sunday morning with their grandkids. In that sitting room, the space gets so much light, Kat chose a sun-resistant performance fabric that would stand the test of time.

More performance fabrics were incorporated in the keeping room, as well. In hopes that their grandkids don't get their big comfy couch confused for the world's largest napkin. Due to the client's proximity to the lake, it really took all of the guess work out of finalizing a color palette. All we had to do was look out the window. By using warm greens, blues, teals, and browns it brought the outside in. When it came to accessorizing, Kat opted for pieces that felt more natural, and not as polished to help create a beautiful juxtaposition of textures and finishes.

Instead of going the traditional route of drapes in the keeping room, Kat opted for bamboo window shades due to the configuration of the furniture in that space. Because the sectional had to sit so close to the wall, it made the most sense to find a solution that still provided privacy, but also looked beautiful.

The kitchen just needed a fresh coat of paint, new countertops, hardware, and we can't forget exquisite lighting to really help pull that space together. The space feels so fresh and functional, all without ripping out all of the cabinets. A new look doesn't have to mean a total gut renovation... especially when it comes to a kitchen. Just check out that before and after!

We just don't think it can get more serene than this. We love this project and we hope you do too!

B U S I N E S S

S P O T L I G H T !

Finding yourself in need of a little personal self-care this spring? Well, you're in luck, Kat is sharing her secret weapon! We have partnered with Jenny Azar, NP-C to offer you 10% off any treatment when you mention Kat Nelson Designs. This offer is valid through June 1st, 2023 and must be redeemed at the PSGA Avalon office.

"I always feel like I'm in great hands with Jenny- she never over does it!"

-Kat