Willmar, Minnesota, design studio aims to create home interiors to match every personality – West Central Tribune

WILLMAR

— As the Christmas trimmings are put away and people’s attention turns to resolutions and fresh starts, the start of the new year can also be a great time to rearrange a living room or remodel a kitchen.

For more than 40 years, the

Interior Design Studio

in downtown Willmar has been helping its clients find their design style and create their dream living spaces.

“Each project is unique and customized to the client,” said Katie Morgan, who purchased IDS in 2020 after having worked at the business for 20 years.

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune

IDS can provide pretty much everything a person needs to redecorate their home from indoor and outdoor furniture to rugs, lights, window treatments and bedding. The business also offers personalized design services. The design services at IDS begin with a client meeting. Popular projects at IDS include space planning, furniture layouts and selections, color consultations and remodeling projects including kitchens and bathrooms.

“I meet with the client to assess the space, define styles, needs and budget,” Morgan said.

Probably the most important step in a renovation project is to have a detailed plan and budget in place before making a single purchase or swinging the sledgehammer. Once a design plan and budget have been finalized, then construction, installation, and delivery can transform the plan into a finished project, IDS available at every step.

“It is a one-stop design shop for your home,” Morgan said.

There are many different interior design themes to choose from. There are styles based on historical or design eras such as Art Deco or Victorian; styles based on the natural world like coastal; a place like southwestern, Mediterranean or French country; or an aesthetic such as traditional, transitional or modern. A design style can also be built around a feeling or vibe, such as “hygge,” a Danish concept that means cozy.

Just like fashion, there are trends in interior design as well, with some styles more popular than others. Right now, Morgan sees mid-century modern, transitional, traditional and coastal being some of the more popular styles.

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune

“Trends and specific patterns come and go,” Morgan said. “We are seeing less of the all-gray or all-white designs.”

While trends continue to influence the design choices made by clients, people are more willing to take a design chance, or be more open to adding their personalities to the style, Morgan said. A special piece of furniture or a bold pattern can go a long way in putting an individual stamp on a project.

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune

Color can be one of the simplest changes to make to an interior, and one of the most impactful. A person can add new paint on the walls or change the feel of a room through the placement of a few pops of color from pillows, throws or rugs. Growing in popularity are warmer neutrals, as well as more vibrant hues such as shades of brown, burgundy, plum, gold and cinnamon tones.

“People are embracing color,” Morgan said.

Other trends in interior design are using quality finishes, textural elements, wallpaper to personalize spaces, metal tones and nature inspired motifs. People are paying attention to light in a space, whether that means adding task lighting in a kitchen, creating ways to increase the natural light in a room or installing motorized blinds to make it easier to control the amount of light, Morgan said.

In kitchens, clients are looking at ways to use spaces in more than one way, such as a kitchen island doubling as a dining space. Painted cabinets remain popular, but light and mid-range wood tones are growing in popularity. Of course, storage is always important in a kitchen design and prep kitchens are also a new trend.

Bathroom trends include wet rooms, steam showers, freestanding tubs, curb less showers, health and wellness options and bringing the spa into the home.

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune

“Kitchens and bathrooms will remain popular,” in regards to home renovation projects, Morgan said.

For those looking for a timeless look that won’t go out of style within a few years, Morgan advises clients to follow trends in their accent pieces — such as art, pillows and rugs — while using more classic elements for harder-to-change or more expensive parts of a design, like tile, lighting and cabinetry.

“Design with balance, proportion and scale. Respect the home’s architecture, using quality pieces, blending old and new,” Morgan said.

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune

When renovating and redesigning their homes, owners do still think about the potential resale value of the property, but that is becoming less of a deciding factor. Today, people are starting to design for their long-term comfort and happiness in a home, instead of just what they may be able to sell a home for.

“We are seeing an increase of designing a space with what you love and having longevity in mind,” Morgan said. “Aging in place, focusing on comfort and long-term living. Enjoying the space you are in.”

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune

Each design and home improvement project is different, and can face different challenges and opportunities. IDS can assist in every step of the interior design process, helping make their client’s design dreams come true.

“We are here to help you with your project and stay within budget,” Morgan said. “We work with a variety of budgets and often having the help of a designer will save you time and money in the long run.”