Designing Connections - Article in The Highlands Current

I enjoyed reflecting on my childhood for this article in The Highlands Current for Hispanic Heritage Month 2023. My Puerto Rican family were fun, musical, and so loving. Hope you enjoy the read!

Follow this link to the article.

Elevate Your Space for the Holidays with Quick-Ship Furniture Options!

Refresh Your Home for the Holidays

We hope your summer was a great one, filled with equal parts relaxation and adventure! As the days grow shorter and the holiday season approaches, it's time to bring a touch of magic to your home. And what better way to do that than by revamping your living spaces with new upholstered pieces? Now that the summer sun has set and the cool breeze of autumn is upon us, it's the perfect moment to prepare your home for the upcoming festivities. Whether you're considering a complete dining room makeover or simply want to spruce up the guest room for visiting family and friends, we have you covered. The good news is, there's still time to transform your space!

Our expertly curated selection of furniture comes from several trusted vendors, and what sets us apart is our commitment to quality, customization, and speedy delivery. With thousands of fabric options at your disposal, we can create bespoke upholstered furniture pieces tailored to your unique style and preferences. Imagine having these stunning additions in your home just in time for the holidays!

Unmatched Quality and Craftsmanship

While these pieces can be made and shipped quickly, you're not just getting any furniture – you're investing in high-quality pieces that are built to last. The furniture frames come with a lifetime guarantee, offering you peace of mind and assurance in your purchase. Plus, these exceptional pieces are proudly manufactured right here in the United States, supporting local craftsmanship and ensuring top-notch quality control.

These furniture programs cover a wide range of options to cater to all your interior design needs. Whether you're looking to revamp your living room, create a cozy guest space, or refresh your dining area, we've got you covered. Here's just a taste of what we offer:

• Sofas: Sink into comfort and style with a new luxurious sofas.

• Sleepers: Provide a warm welcome to overnight guests with a sleeper sofa.

• Sectionals: Create versatile seating arrangements with a modular sectional.

• Lounge Chairs: Kick back and relax.

• Swivel Chairs: Add a fun and functional twist to your seating with swivel chairs.

• Dining Chairs: Elevate your dining experience with new elegant dining chairs.

• Bar & Counter Stools: Upgrade your kitchen or bar area with a new chic stool.

• Desk Chairs: Make your workspace inviting with a custom desk chair.

• Benches: Add a touch of charm to your entryway or bedroom.

• Ottomans: Complete your seating ensemble with a versatile ottoman.

• Upholstered Beds: Sleep in style with a luxurious upholstered bed.

Ready to Transform Your Spaces in time for the Holidays?

Your dream of having beautifully designed, high-quality furniture in your home for the holidays is just a call away. We're thrilled to be a part of your interior design journey and excited to help you create spaces that reflect your unique personality and taste.

How awesome is that? Don't wait any longer – reach out to us today and let's get started on transforming your spaces into something truly extraordinary. The holiday season is right around the corner, and there's no better time to give your home the gift of a stunning makeover. Embrace the magic of the holidays with our exclusive furniture service, and let your home shine this festive season!

Design-Build Project: Hudson Valley, NY

We would like to share a glimpse of the largest design-build project we have done. Christine handled everything for this project. She designed the home; specified all the finish materials, fixtures, hardware, lighting, appliances, etc; placed the orders and coordinated the deliveries; hired the sub-contractors and kept schedules running smoothly. She designed custom millwork features, including a custom front oak door with a speakeasy window.

This home is in Putnam County, NY on 7 acres. It is 5,500 square feet addition to a 960sqft home. We wanted to use the existing home's footprint and to be mindful of the landscape.

When you approach from the street (unpaved road) the house looks like a one level home and fits with the other homes nearby. But it actually opens up (or down you might say) because of the steep slope it was built on.

On the main level the design focus was on comforts for the family and creating spaces that would be great for entertaining. The house was positioned to best take advantage of the natural sunlight and worked with the slope of the property. The original home was converted into a three car garage.

Both levels of the home have many points to access balconies and patios.

Tree top living. This balcony with access from both the family room and the great room is perfect for both entertaining and intimate quiet moments. We used a slate for durability and added a fun pattern. The ceiling was given a bead and batten ceiling. We chose a rough hewn oak for the pillars to tie it to the wooded location.

For this kitchen we started with architectural details. We took great care in the placement of the windows. With Both East and South windows this kitchen was bright all day.

Choosing slate for the main level of the home was a good choice for the rural location and for entertaining. We changed the pattern and sizes of the slate throughout the main level to add interest.

Much thought was given to the layout and finishes of the cabinetry. The popular style when this kitchen was designed was an ornate Italianate look. Choosing timelessness in our designs over the latest fad is a very important consideration to bring value to our clients. We chose maple in a traditional color finish and added a rubbed finish to pick up the details. Hidden in the wall we added a cabinet to house the central vacuum hose. The swinging door with the waterfall glazing could be opened for entertaining or closed to keep privacy from the entry hall. A desk with file cabinets were added as a family information hub.

In the adjoining family room, a triple round double hung window added a really awesome architectural detail.

All the doors and windows were given the custom two-over-one glazing feature.

Lighting was also given a lot of thought. A combination of task lighting and decorative lighting options (all on dimmers) help this space always have the best lighting options. We chose scones for the family room instead of recessed or simply one center fixture (and which would not have been enough lighting). They add charm as well.

The featured triple round double hung window was the wow factor for the family room. Throughout the home the exterior French doors were given custom mullion details to match the windows.

Here are examples of architectural details I used to enhance these rooms.

On the left is a small bedroom that was used as an office and periodic guest bedroom. I utilized the 10 foot ceilings by adding lit niches about the closets. We decide to use double French doors to the balcony. Out of the shot is an interior double French glazed door. When all four doors were all open it made this space became a common area for the bedroom level with an indoor-outdoor connection. As you came down the stairs you would be welcomed by this space.

The photo on the right is of was a staircase custom built on-site from for the unusual space. We worked with a local shop to customize the railings. We had the carpenter add doors underneath the stairs for storage. All this was created from our drawings and collaboration with trusted tradesmen.

We designed this bathroom with luxury in mind. It has a six foot long tub, a walk-in glass and tile shower - both with upscale fixtures. The space for the cabinetry was so wide that we designed a center panel to create the look of a furniture piece. The inset of the cabinetry is a herringbone detail. The floors and wall are limestone with mother of pearl insets. The floor inset repeats the herringbone detail. The window treatments are both silk to continue with the luxury.

Many clients think that all the fixtures and lighting should have the same finish. This room is an example of how mixing the finishes make the bathroom feel more like another room and not a utility space. The knobs of the cabinetry were chosen with a dark oil-rubbed bronze to enhance the warm tone of the wood. The plumbing fixtures were all traditional chrome because they show off the details best and really shiny fixtures really are the best in my opinion. The center fixture was chosen to create a perfect lighting mood in the evenings.

Oh! Designs Interiors, Inc. offers a variety of design services for all budgets. We are committed to providing a professional process that exceeds expectations.