magda – Interior Design ReImagine Interiors

How to make your rental feel like home

October 25, 2023 by magda Filed Under: blog, decorating

As a designer, moving into rental was a bit of an adjustment, to say the least. I was limited in what upgrades I could bring into this new space, but with a little creativity, even the plainest space can be transformed into something that you love. I did have a blank slate to work with and that made things a bit easier. Here are some of the decor updates I did to make this new home feel like home, and you can try them too regardless if it is a rental home or your forever home.

Update the lighting

I swapped out the builder grade/dated light fixtures for some that are more my style and had some personality.

Most homes for rent available here don’t really have great lighting but this is an opportunity to personalize your new place by adding floor and table lamps.

Art and decor

In most of the cases painting the walls is not allowed, and hanging wallpaper was completely out of discussion. I used art to make my new home feel less blah. Can you tell I love color? And the white background works actually great now!

I used area rugs, to add color and texture, and helped defining the rooms in an open floor plan.

Bring in some life with greenery

I definitely don’t have a green thumb but love some greenery around. It feels like it brings a room to life and adds another layer. I prefer real plants and chose tropical trees because of the low maintenance required.

Furniture positioning

Living in a small space with an open floor plan isn’t really helping with storage for items needed day to day. Placing an armchair in the corner created a conversation area for the living room and it also helped to hide the printer, all the cables from TV, router etc.

Create a cozy corner

Last but not least, one of the projects that brought me a lot of joy was helping my kids feel like home. Creating a cozy corner in my daughter’s room to hang out and creatively playing with light in my son’s room made for two happy little kids.

Should I Hire An Interior Designer?

August 3, 2018 by magda Filed Under: decorating, design

Renovating or decorating your home can be very exciting but it can also be overwhelming and time consuming. Having an interior designer in your team could save you lots of headaches and money in the long term.
Sure, interior designers create beautiful rooms but how do you know if you should hire one?

1. You want a low time commitment
Working with an interior designer can save you countless hours going through a multitude of options, trying to pull everything together, making sure the end result will be coehesive throughout the house and will function as you need it to. Sourcing & tracking orders to make sure project is completed on time and on budget can be real time sucker too especially when you’d rather spend that time at the beach with your family or playing tennis.

2. You need functionality
A room that doesn’t function as you need it will end up being a waste of space. As an interior designer, my goal is to understand exactly how you will be living in your space and design that space to fulfill those needs.

Do you have small children and need extra storage, or you want to know your beautiful new sofa will survive toddler years and pets?
Our knowledge of materials and vendors will ensure we design your ideal space. Not only your home will be beautifully decorated but it will fit your day to day needs.

3. You want a unique look
As interior designers, we pride ourselves not only for creativity and problem solving skills. We also have the connections and knowledge to to source or build those unique pieces that are right for you, your family and lifestyle so that your home will be we’ll be uniquely yours.

4. You want a cost effective project
Hiring an interior designer is an investment but the value we bring by avoiding costly mistakes, sourcing the right items for your project and solving issues before they become time and money sucking mistakes usually offsets the cost and more.

5. You need peace of mind.
Decorating or renovating is not only about the financial investment but also about the time until you can resume life as normal. Working with a professional you will know that at the end of the process your space will be stunning and will function as you need it to

Are you wondering if you need an interior designer helping with your project? Reach out to ask any questions you may have or check out our services page.

Online Interior Design – Get Great Design Wherever You Are

April 29, 2018 by magda Filed Under: decorating, design

Online interior design is quite the thing for a few years now but is it a service for you?

Online interior design services are geared towards those who are not local to the Philadelphia area and it works beautifully wherever you are because you are measuring, send us pictures of your space and items you wish to keep.

Due to popular demand, this year Reimagine Interiors started offering online design but for us is more than just that. We are offering a comprehensive design plan so if you live in the greater Philadelphia area and are looking to keep the cost lower online interior design can be great, if you don’t mind doing some of the work on your own.

If you never worked with an interior designer, our online service might be a good place to start.

Online interior design is ideal for you if you are someone who can take a concept and run with it and if your project is decor/ design only and it doesn’t involve a renovation, construction or addition. If you need help with space planning, concept boards and 3D visualization to get a feel of the room before purchasing furniture the online interior design service is going to give you all the tools needed to execute great design.

What does online interior design cost?

Our flat fee service is $1,500 per room and it includes: a floor plan, a 3D view of the space, a concept board & shopping list with the items we select based on your input and budget so you can go ahead an purchase, install and update at your own pace. You’ll also get inspiration images and suggestions for placement. This is a one time fee and it does not include any furnishings. If you have an open space/multi function space or more rooms contact us.

So how does online interior design compare to full service design?
At Reimagine Interiors, our full service interior design is a streamlined step-by-step process that ensures our design is delivered with no excuses. The full service design enables me to execute projects and renovations from the first meeting to the final touches. I get to know you, we make a few decisions in the beginning together, but then I will take over and make your dream home a reality. It is a hands on process and we focus on making sure all the details are right.
As your interior designer it is my job to identify and represent your personality in the space. Our full service interior design clients know their home will be a reflection of their style and lifestyle, be it sophisticated and luxurious or comfortable and inviting.

Sophisticated Bathroom Design – One Room Room Challenge Week 2

April 14, 2018 by magda Filed Under: Uncategorized

Hi! And welcome to the second week of One Room Challenge. Last week we started working on the guest bathroom and this is my design plan for the bathroom.

This week was not so fun, to say the least. I got the dreaded email that my wallpaper is on backorder till May 4th. I am stubborn enough not to want to change it but will our project be completed for the reveal? I doubt it, but still hoping for an earlier ship date!
I also received the quote for the shower doors from my initial design plan and they have a turn around time 8-12weeks. Now that is not going to work. I am trying to come up with ideas on how to get a similar look for less but until then back to the design board.

We (and it is a royal we since I didn’t honestly do much) did make progress though:

And here is our chief assistant (or was it chief to the assistant:)) cutie behind all the work:

Not looking pretty, but we’re getting there. Next week we should have all the tile up and grouted and start building the vanity, priming the walls and fun stuff like that!

Don’t forget to head on over to The One Room Challenge page to check out the featured designers and bloggers and all the other participants. I know I love seeing everyone’s progress!

One Room Challenge: From None to One Modern and Sophisticated Bathroom – Week 1

April 5, 2018 by magda Filed Under: Uncategorized

Hi there! If you are new to my blog, I am glad you are here! I am Magda and I own ReImagine Interiors, an interior design boutique firm based in the Philadelphia suburbs. It is my first time participating as a guest in the One Room Challenge and I am super excited about it (and nervous too!)

So what will I be designing? I put a lot of thought into this, and believe it or not I was paralyzed by indecision until earlier this week because while I have so many projects in work, finalizing a room in 6 weeks feels like is a lot of pressure. Since both my in-laws and my family will be visiting this summer the pressure is on already to have the guest suite ready. We’ll start with the guest bathroom since that does not really exist…yet.

The space that will become the guest bathroom used to be our(awkwardly located) walk in closet that we re-designed to be a laundry room and guest bathroom. The framing is done and the plumbing is there. We also had a few oopsie moments along the way so this should be easy right?

And here is the partial design board for this space. I tried to not get to crazy with it, since it will be a space used by my in laws, but keep will it light and bright like the rest of the house.

Our To Do List:

Hanging drywall on the ceiling and walls – halfway done
Laying cement board on the floors and shower wall
Installing the vapor barrier
Tiling the floor and shower walls
Priming & painting the space; hanging wallpaper
Build the vanity
Installing fixtures
Installing the light fixture
Purchase all finishes and hope everything will make it on time! This is not a time you want to hear the dreaded “on backorder” word

That seems like a lot and I am pretty sure I forgot some things on the way. Wish me luck and follow along for the next six weeks as I share the progress of this bathroom makeover. You can find updates on Instagram and Facebook, and of course, right here on the blog every Thursday.

In the meantime, check out the main participants and sponsors of The One Room Challenge. Be sure to check out the week 1 linkup for the guest participants

Mixing metal finishes – what you should know

February 6, 2018 by magda Filed Under: Color and Design, Interior Design&Decorating

I love mixing metals because it’s an effortless way to design a room that has a collected feel. Mixing metal finishes will also add interest and depth to a room — as long as it is done right, of course. Not done right and your space will become mismatched or overbearing.

So how do you do it right? These are my top five tips on decorating with mixed metals:

1. Choose a dominant finish

While all the metals you will choose will play an important role in the overall look you should focus on a dominant one and then decide on the others. Choosing the dominant metal finish depends on the overall look you want to achieve. Once you decided which metal will work with your design style you can go ahead and choose the accent finishes just as you’d choose an accent color.

In the kitchen below the gold used for fixtures and accents adds a warm glow and charm while complementing the oil-brushed hardware used as a dominant finish.

Kitchen design – mixed metals

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2. Treat metal finishes like colors.

When planning your design thinking about metal finishes the same way you do for a color scheme can be helpful. With mostly cool finishes or colors in the space adding warm metals, like gold and brass can come off as a pop of color.

We used gold accents in the dining room below to add warmth and contrast with the navy walls and dark wood.

3. Don’t single out.

The same way we would do with color, pattern or any other design element, repeating a metal in the space will create balance.

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4. Placement is key

Another way to mix metals successfully is by separating the different finishes by height. In the picture below even though both silver and gold finishes were used they never compete for attention. They add to the room dynamic and can I say just how much I love the contrast between the gold handles and dark cabinetry!?

Bathroom Design|Mixed Metal Finishes| Gold and Chrome

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5. Consider Your Color Scheme

Traditionally, warm metals like gold and brass are usually used with a warm color palette and cool metals like silver and chrome with cooler hues. In neutral rooms, adding metallic accents is mandatory in order to bring texture, color and warmth. When using gray tones like we did in the living room below using gold accents can really make a room come to life.

Additionally, using cooler metals in combination with an earthier color scheme can give an updated feel.

Planning to (re)decorate this year? 4 things to consider first.

January 25, 2018 by magda Filed Under: Interior Design&Decorating

New year, new projects! This time of the year is a good time to start planning if you consider remodeling and schedule some updates around the house that you’ve been putting off. Here are a few things you should do before starting any project

Open Layout Family Room and Kitchen Design

via Sita Montgomery Interiors

1. Plan Before You Begin

Know what you want done. Is it the family room? Is the family room and adjoining kitchen? Once you have that down try and figure out what are your must haves for each space and what are your “would be nice to have but can live without” items. Knowing the scope of work will help you get your budget in check.

2. Think budget

When allocating a budget for items splurge on signature, quality pieces that will stand the test of time. Items like kitchen cabinets, solid wood flooring, dining room tables, beds, and architectural details like exposed beams and your front door, to name just a few. And, if you are like most homeowners and don’t want to redecorate in 3-5 years stick with classic lines and timeless styles for these items. Read here how you can create a home that is current, yet timeless

white kitchen navy island and gold accents

Splurge in items that will stand the test of time

3. Keep function in mind

In order to make your remodeling/redecorating project a success it is important to have a functional design. Your aim should be to create a space that is equally efficient and appealing. It will also be easier in the long run to switch up decor if the base layout is solid.
Think ahead on how are you using the room and if you want to accommodate large or small gatherings and plan accordingly. The furniture should fit in a room perfectly. It should belong to a room and be neither too large as to overpower, or too small as to seem unimportant.

4. Keep in mind that things do go wrong

It’s not like always something goes wrong but there might be items you didn’t account for or just unexpected expenses. Always budget an extra 10-15% for these. Common budget busters are typically impulsive buys, freight and shipping or the electrician that had to step in when you thought you can install the pendants yourself.

If you need a comprehensive plan for your decorating or remodeling project and peace of mind you are making the right choices the first time, I can help. Contact us today.

Can your home be current but not trendy? 5 tips to design a home that is timeless yet contemporary

January 19, 2018 by magda Filed Under: Interior Design&Decorating

It is important to design a home that will grow and change as you need it to. And most homeowners looking to redecorate or design a new home want a look that is current but it wont feel dated in a few years. As a designer, I keep up on what’s new and trendy in design and home decorating and trends change often! So how do you weigh in what is timeless interior design versus a design trend?

I believe creating classic – yet modern and livable spaces is all about making right choices and adhering to smart design fundamentals. Save trendy splurges for accessories and items that can be easily changed and follow these 5 steps for a timeless feel.

Incorporate trendy in accessories that are easy to switch out

via pinterest

1. Choose furniture that has classic lines

and steer away from ornate and overly busy patterns, shapes and spaces for a room with a timeless look. A timeless design is classic and less is often more. So steer away from over sized, over stuffed sofas as well as those which appear to be overly streamlined.

Choose furniture with classic lines

Studio McGee

2. Choose clean lines

Even though everything goes out of style eventually, chances are overly decorated or ornate styles will be the first ones to go and will show their age more than simpler designs. Only think about the “french country” kitchens with their very ornate inlays and intricate details that were so popular. These looked out of date five later. Hard to put a time stamp on the kitchen below though.

Clean lines are always in style

Dungan Nequette

3. Mix different styles and design periods.

This is one of the most important things to do if you don’t want your home interior to feel stuck in a specific era or design trend. You can always mix classic with contemporary or add a little touch of glam to rustic etc.

Mix interior design styles

4. Mix metals.

Mixing metals is one of my favorite ways to break the matchy matchy and avoid feeling trapped in a specific trend. Combining silver and gold, brass and iron can add visual interest and depth to a space as long as it is done right.

Mix metals for a classic yet contemporary feel

via pinterest

Wonder how to mix metals? Read here my top 5 tips to take in consideration when planing to redecorate your home.

5. Choose items you love.

Regardless of the trends stay true to who you are and what you love. You don’t have to(and shouldn’t) love any single finish and not everything has to boost personality but you are less likely to tire of a piece if you were always drawn to that style even if it is not the current trend. The goal is to create a beautiful home that makes YOU happy.

Choose items you love for a home that feels timeless

At ReImagine Interiors, the focus is on designing spaces that are classic but current and a true reflection of those who live there. Click here to find out how I can help transform your design dreams into reality. If you have any questions or want to set up an appointment, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us here.

7 Interior Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

September 25, 2017 by magda Filed Under: decorating, design

As a design consultant, I often meet clients that took on decorating for themselves and got stuck. Most of the times, not only the issues are common, but also the reasons they ended up not knowing in which direction to go anymore are because of these really common interior design mistakes:

1. Not having a plan. There is a reason this design mistake is the first on my list: without a plan one is bound to make all the following mistakes I listed here and more.

What I always recommend is finding a color palette and shopping within that palette. But if you want to ensure a cohesive look that is not the only thing you need to keep in mind. You first must know yourself and what you like. Most of us like different design styles and it is important to make sure all the styles we like can blend nicely when we consider decorating our home.

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2. Choosing paint color first. Color is one of the first design decisions we make when decorating. But choosing wall color first might end up as being a mistake because all your other choices will have to relate to the paint color. Yes, it is not the end of the world and paint is cheap. But there are also a million paint colors out there and paint can be custom mixed, whereas there aren’t nearly as many rug, fabric, pieces of art to choose from.

Tip: choose your fabrics, rug or art first and draw inspiration from there.(while taking in consideration your fixed elements, of course!)

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3. Buying furniture without measuring. This goes without saying: when ordering furniture please, please make sure it fits well in the space. That beautiful sectional you loved in the showroom and can sit the whole family might be too large for your family room. It is also a good idea to make sure it will fit through any doors and pathways in order to make it to the room you are planning to use it in.

Tip: You can use blue tape to mark the area available for the piece you consider and make sure there is enough space available.

4. Buying furniture that is not human scale. You know what I mean: buying furniture that is too large because the room is large, buying small furniture because the room is small, or the last one I heard – buying tall furniture because the ceilings are tall. Furniture is relative to people and it should always be human sized. If the room is bigger or smaller it just means one might need more or less furniture.

familyroomsectional

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5. Buying something you don’t love. We’ve all been there…Sometimes it’s a budget issue, sometimes is just desperation to have a place to sit or the need for something to finish that room. The next thing you know, you go out and buy the first thing that seems to fit the bill….But we always regret buying something that was just good enough and not the piece we really wanted…Yes, it makes sense sometimes but if you can don’t give in desperation the next decision might be a better one.

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6. Buying things before you know how you will use the space. When I meet new clients I always ask “what are you using this space for? and how do you want it to feel”. More often than not, I leave people wondering because most of us have the formal living room (or dining room) and we imagine that room should be stiff and formal room when all we want is to hide in there and read a book or watch TV away from loud teenagers. Think how YOU would like to use the space and furnish it accordingly.

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Interior designer Jenny Komenda’s living room
Photo: Courtesy of Jenny Komenda

7. Design by committee. Don’t let your girlfriend, neighbor, mother or decorator completely define your home because opinions can vary greatly. By all means if you hired a designer, take their advice but don’t make this a friends and extended family event. Too often clients seem to be intimidated by design but they actually have a strong sense of style. You know what you need and you know what you like. You need to speak up because you are the one who has to live there.

#designertips: How to update your beige home with grey

May 10, 2017 by magda Filed Under: decorating, design, tips

Grey is in and is still going strong for over 10 years now.

But trends in our area usually pick up later and even new construction is not always updated. Beige walls, warm earthy colors, travertine floors and splashes and very creamy whites on the woodwork and that many would wish they could change to embrace the grey but they don’t know how to do it without having to invest in all new furniture, decor, etc. So what do you do if it is all beige and want to go grey?

1. The easiest way is to start adding grey in small doses. Grey accents are not going to make it all grey but, they are going to update your decor.

Photo by Mauricio Nava Design, LLC – Look for traditional living room design inspiration

Photo by Mauricio Nava Design, LLC – Search transitional living room pictures

2. Find a fabric, rug or art that combines both grey and beige and pull out your color scheme from there by repeating the colors throughout your room.

Photo by Thompson Custom Homes – Look for traditional living room design inspiration

3. Metallic accents, glass, mirror are all in and they are going to help updating your color palette.

Photo by Elite Austin Designs – Discover transitional living room design ideas

4. Are you ready to paint but you are not sure a cool grey will work well with beige? You are right – it wont! Grey will most often read blue near peachy, fleshy tones. Your option is to go with a warmer grey. If you don’t want to go as dark as the purple grey Dovetail from Sherwin Williams is you can try a softer grey like Revere Pewter from Benjamin Moore ( even though I have to say I saw this one read blue in some situations) Or even better go with Sherwin Williams’ Accessible Beige – it is not a true gray but will definitely make the beige look updated.

Photo by L Marie Interior Design – Browse traditional living room ideas

Another thing that will update a beige interior is adding large scale pattern in black and white like the rug below

Photo by Urban Design Associates – Search southwestern living room design ideas