Introducing: BERNHARDT INTERIORS

Introducing Bernhardt Interiors from ACI Design Studio!

What do a ballerina's movements, a painter's brush stroke and a musician's note have in common? They strive for an artistic ideal, as subjective as that may be. Bernhardt Interiors reaches that same ideal - taking the idea of beauty in art to the pursuit of furniture making.  Inspired by that artistic passion, this eclectic collection of items features fine craftsmanship, unique materials and distinctly modern styling.  Honoring tradition while remaining fashion-forward, classic forms with a modern twist dominate this collection and its thoughtful details allow for an effortless sophistication.  Bernhardt Interiors celebrates art in life and design, and strives to provide pieces that allow anyone to do the same - but in the comfortable confines of their own home.

To view the Spring 2013 Bernhardt Interiors look book, CLICK HERE.

View these styles and more today at ACI Design Studio!

For the Love of Wallpaper!

Who says wallcovering has to be boring? Just about everybody! Now, forget everything you know about wallcovering.  Wallcovering is cool - and always has been.

Historically, wallpaper was the poor man's tapestry. While the aristocrats of the Middle Ages hung valuable and intricately woven tapestries to cover their walls, the teeming masses could not afford such opulence, and they had to settle for simulated tapestry wallcoverings made of decorated paper. Thank goodness paper replaced rugs as the wallcovering of choice! For one thing, if all our walls were still covered in tapestries, they would be so heavy that all our buildings would collapse - not to mention that the iRobot carpet vacuum gizmo would have to learn to climb walls.

In truth, walls were originally covered by thick tapestries to keep the heat in and the cold out; which is not to say that wallpaper will leave you cold.  On the contrary, well-coordinated and properly-hung wallcovering available today can bring all the elements of a room together in a cohesive symphony of warm ambiance - try doing that with accent pillows and a mirror!

The rich textures and materials used in modern designer wallpaper can turn BLAND into GRAND, and FLOP into POP.  Have a look at some of the many surprising and striking fashion wallcovering choices available today.

Your wallcovering options run the gamut from subtle textured neutrals to fashion wallpapers, designer wallpaper, vintage wallpapers, art deco, flocked, mural, embossed and trompe l'oeil wallpapers. You are limited only by your imagination.

Visit a nearby wallpaper retailer or consult your interior designer for more fabulous ideas!

Decorating With Pantone's Emerald, 2013 'Color of the Year'

Stuck with the daunting task of bringing the interior decorating of a kicking and screaming home into this decade?  Perhaps you want to give your home a trendy feeling without going overboard on expenses.  Consider using emerald green, Pantone's 2013 Color of the Year for dramatic effects in every room. 

Emerald is showing up everywhere, especially on the red carpet Freida Pinto dazzled in a emerald-green James Ferreira dress at the NAACP Image Awards and at the Screen Actors Guild Awards Nicole Kidman rocked a pair of emerald-green earrings. Emerald is the color of the season.  Even Mother Nature is getting into the swing of things as the south lawns come alive with this vibrant color.

So you’re thinking…”Ok, that’s great.  Those women are beautiful, but how do I translate that into my drap living room?”  Here’s a few suggestions!  Choose a small, dreary room and go green, literally.  By using emerald everywhere in say, a small kitchen or bathroom, you will infuse life into a dead space.  Resurface or repaint cabinetry, shelving--everything to pull off this trendy look.  Change out the hardware to something more contemporary and you have created sleek new look.

Choose emerald furniture.  This might not be as difficult as you think.  That old dresser in the garage?  Give it a fresh coat of vibrant emerald, add a few stencils, and you have a trendy piece for a girl's dorm room or that guestroom that has always been so blah.  Add a chair with green upholstery and a lamp with emerald accents.  Don't worry that the shades match exactly.  Using different shades will give your decorating a less formal feel, and revitalize the room with a freer, more fun feel.

Let there be emerald light!  Without a significant investment, you can pull that room into this decade by replacing outdated fixtures.  Consider a green chandelier for over the dining room table, and accent with candles, napkins, a table cloth or even green upholstered dining room chairs. Emerald shades on the bar light over the bathroom sink can change the look of the room.  Don't forget towels and washcloths in complimentary colors.

Don't forget the floor.  Carpet replacement is often the first thing people think of when they look at the floor, however, it can come with a pretty hefty price tag and can quickly become overpowering.  And what about those bare floors?  Consider painting the floor a shade of emerald for a change of pace.  Not that adventurous?  Try a Dhurrie.  This thickly woven rug reminiscent of Turkish tile work, comes in a variety of patterns and colors that can complement the decorating in any room.

Decorating with the new Pantone color can breathe spring-like life into a room.  Use as much or as little as you like, but try it out and experience the satisfaction of clients enthused with revitalized atmosphere in their home.



Upholstery 101 - Picking the Right Upholstery for your New Furniture

Solids and patterns and prints, oh my! Trying to find just the right fabric for your upholstery makeover can be overwhelming as there are so many choices available today. From man-made fabrics like rayon and nylon to natural fabrics like cotton and leather, it seems, at times, that the options are limitless. But by the time you finish this blog post, you will be equipped with a set of criteria that will enable you to choose a fabric that will make the right statement for your home.
            
Among the most important aspects of choosing a fabric is the viability of the fabric. Consider where the furniture will be located, whether it will be in a heavily-trafficked area and if it will be exposed to direct sunlight. If the furniture will be used often, look at some fabrics that are tough, durable and have a high abrasion factor. Tightly woven fabrics with at least 15,000 double rubs work very well for furniture that gets a lot of wear and tear.  
 

Room size should also play a part in your decision. Imagine an overwhelming pattern in an extremely small space. The pattern would psychologically consume the room and be overbearing. The fabric you choose should also fit the style of furniture. You should never pick a fabric simply because you like its color; make sure it's something that will be a good fit for the room and the atmosphere. Last, but not least, make sure you absolutely love your fabric. After all, you will be spending many years to come with it! 
 

 As you can see, the fabric that you choose will have much more to do with determining their viability in your home than finding patterns that you may find appealing for the moment. By using these guidelines to choosing the right fabric, you will be well on your way to finding the perfect match for your furniture.  Most importantly, picking out upholstery should be an enjoyable process.  So HAVE FUN! 

How to Create a Home Office that Inspires

Working in a home office has many advantages but without the normal interaction of a busy office, it is important to design and decorate your office in a way that keeps the creative juices flowing.

With a little planning and a few simple touches, it is easy to create a home office that is not only comfortable, functional and efficient but also provides a relaxing, stress free environment so you can do your best work.

Home Office Floor Plan
Determine where your home office will be located. Whether you are using a spare bedroom, converting the den, or using a portion of a room, lay out a basic floor plan noting where each piece of office furniture will be placed.

Wall Color
Do not be afraid to go bold. Choose a paint color you like for all walls or for an accent wall. You will want the room to be inviting and an area you look forward to spending time in. Avoid dull, nondescript colors for the walls unless you plan to enhance the room, including the walls, with colorful and decorative accent pieces.

Window Treatments
If your home office has a window, utilize the natural light to create an added touch of warmth to the room. The type of window dressing you choose is your personal choice but should be one that adds to the overall look and feel of the office. Whether hanging a pair of sheers, installing a traditional window shade, or a pair of wood blinds, incorporate a window dressing that allows the natural light to filter into your office.

Ergonomic Furniture
The appropriate office furniture is vital to a positive and inspirational work environment. There are many desks and chairs to choose from that provide the optimum in functionality and comfort available in contemporary and sleek modern styles. Choose a desk that accommodates your work needs, an ergonomic chair for comfort and support, and a filing cabinet for important papers. Each piece is worth the investment.

Decorative Accessories
Visual stimulants can be inspirational in a home office especially when you have been looking at paperwork or a computer screen for hours. Strategically placed pieces of art, a vase of fresh cut flowers, a soothing waterfall desk clock, and intriguing prints or paintings enhance the decor of the office. Each accessory serves as a pleasing "eye catcher" prompting new ideas. As an added touch, Incorporate items into your home office that reflect your personal style, hobbies, and interests.

Lighting
Adequate lighting is necessary for working at a desk or on the computer. For comfort, consider using an alternative method to traditional overhead incandescent lighting. Traditional light bulbs generate harsh, hot lighting that can lead to eyestrain and headaches. Use lamps with the new energy efficient soft light bulbs or LED lighting as an alternative. Using the softer approach along with natural light creates a positive and inviting work area.

Cozy Spot
A simple change of scenery in your office can keep the creative thoughts flowing uninterrupted. Depending on the amount of room you have, create a separate cozy corner with an overstuffed chair or loveseat, small table, and a lamp. Place the additional furniture so it faces a window so you can enjoy the view. If the work area does not have a window, place the furniture with a view of the decorative artwork on the wall. Consider this your "get away from it all" area for regrouping and refreshing your mind.

Inspired yet? Use these tips as a starting point when designing your office to ensure your personality shines through making the office your own personal sanctuary.

5 Home Interior Trade Secrets from Interior Designers

The world of home interiors and design is full of mystery and intrigue. Most people don’t realize that professionals in this industry tend to be stingy with their secrets. It does make sense. A designer spends years perfecting her craft only to have one benchmark practice go viral, so now everyone is doing it. Sure, it’s thrilling to be a trendsetter, but it is even more exciting to be paid. No need to scour the Internet looking for the best-of-the-best leaked trade secrets. Here are five freebies – just don’t tell anyone where you got them.

1. Don’t Be Scared of Red
That is right. Let me repeat that – don’t be scared of red. It is an intimidating color to be sure, but one that pops in any room. The key is to slip in a little surprise where they least expect it. When staging a kitchen, place a red crock-pot on the counter, for example. Slide in a single red pillow in a tide of seafoam. Use red like chili pepper – add just enough to spice things up, but not enough to burn a hole in the esophagus.

2. Oh, Yes You Can
In interior design, rules last about 30 seconds. Some home interiors guru decides that pink is a travesty, and then someone new designs an all pink house just to prove him wrong. Proper design builds on the personality of the person who has to live with the result. If a customer likes pink, what are you going to tell her? Sorry, I took an oath? No, you are going to find a way to make pink the best little hue in the world. Break all the rules when creating a look. Chances are the person who established them didn’t know what they were talking about anyway.

3. What is that Thingy up There?
Go stand in a room that you are going to decorate. Now look up – see all that empty space? It matters. Don’t forget the ceiling is part of the room. The right ceiling creates ambiance, reflects natural lighting and helps warm the space. The ceiling is the most neglected area of any room, and one of the most useful. Decorate it with color that compliments the décor, or go really crazy and adds some horizontal wallpaper. Nobody will see that coming.

4. Contrast is your New Best Friend
Remember how your mom used to dress you and your sister in matching outfits? It was embarrassing then, it is embarrassing now. Contrast is a good thing in home interiors. It draws and confuses the eye. A confused eye has no time for hate. Plan the palette around contrasting colors. White and black are a bit overused, but good examples. They are complete opposites, but make for exciting décor. If you have to ask, “Will that match,” it might be the right choice. Mix it up with light and dark to get that oh, so pleasing effect.

5. Make a Statement with the Dust Collectors
It may seem like spreading the knickknacks around the room fills space, but all that does is create clutter. Build an area to feature the little doodads and shiny bobbles. This creates conversation instead of mess.

In home interiors, it is not so much what you know, but more what you are willing to try. Audition pieces before purchasing to see if they are bring something to the room, or better yet, get all custom on that space to distinguish it. In all things décor, be the one who sets the trends and then breaks them.

Manufacturer Spotlight - sohoConcept

This month's featured manufacturer comes to us all the way from Turkey.  sohoConcept is a residential and commercial international supplier which "aims to bring the true meaning of quality and value to the end users and specific communities around the world."

Don't want to wait for a shipment all the way from Turkey? Me neither! sohoConcept maintains distribution facilities in USA and Canada allowing shipments to arrive in a little as 4 weeks! But best of all, sohoConcept offers a solution to consumers’ interior furnishing needs with its variety of high quality and competitively priced products.  Check out these great products!

Looking for a variety of base options?  No problem!

Can't get enought? Neither can we! Stop by our showroom and sit in our chairs, touch our fabrics and design your perfect chair with sohoConcept!

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?

As if…we’re dishing it all out!  

Last week we attended an international home furnishings showcase in Las Vegas.  The show offers a global selection of diverse and innovative trends in every product category. Held at the World Market Center in Downtown Las Vegas, the market features leading furniture lines in the industry.  One of our favorite Independent Interior Designers Janelle King of JK Design attended with us.

Here are some of our highlights:

 The 4 Queens on Freemont Street

 We stayed at the luxurious 4 Queens Hotel on Freemont Street in Downtown Las Vegas.  Your drapes and bedding may look like lasts night’s dinner, but you can’t beat that great downtown location and $5 Black Jack tables.  Freemont Street is home to the Viva Vision, the world’s largest big screen that canopy’s over the walk way below. The more than 12 million lights put on a great show every night. Talk about life size images!

Four hands

As for those of you who love Four Hands may have figured out, they do not offer all their products on fourhands.com.  Well do we have exciting news for you!  We now have the hook-up to their online warehouse database.  When you come visit us, this access will be yours as well!  You can sit in our beautiful showroom and peruse through their pages of amazing furniture frames, light fixtures and accessories. We are so excited about this and know you will too when you come in and check it out!

 Sushi Ruko

Suski Ruko was just the start of our culinary tour of Vegas.  Spicy tuna, Shrimp Tempura with Asparagus and California Rolls...need I say more?  The best, I dare say, was the Tuna Sashimi.  Raw tuna draped over a bed of sticky rice, dipped in soy sauce with wasabi…can I get a YUM!  It practically melted in my mouth. Oneof the finest culinary experiences I’ve had to date...wow…I find myself salivating just tying this.

Surya

Flat Weave, and loop pile, and shag…oh my!!  The flat weaves are making a move at Surya.  These rugs are more popular than ever.  And the newest thing in flat weaves? Layering.  You layer your fabrics right?  Ever thought of layering your rugs?  This is a popular trend in floor accessories.  Throw down a flat weave with a texture of your choice and lay your favorite piled rug on top.  Experiment with angles or try a larger flat weave that will show on all sides.  We can’t wait to try this out at ACI and in your space!

Antonio Ballatore

 While wandering around HStudio's showroom in Building A we made a celebrity discovery.  Antonio Ballatore!  Winner of HGTV’s Design Star and his new popular show, The Antonio Treatment. We couldn’t resist and asked for a picture.  He couldn't have been nicer.  I think we all have a new celebrity crush.  The Design Star is now following us on Twitter.  Yes, you heard me right!

Outer Limits

On day two we stumbled across quite an amazing discovery at Outer Limits.  This 2-piece sectional is 69” deep by 77”wide.  Let me put this into words we can call understand, 16 small children could sit on this one pieces for and watch movie on Friday night; the crazy cat lady and her 100 cats could all have their own space to stretch out on; the 6 members of the small Kansas town of Freeport could lie side by side and take a nap.  Still not big enough for you?  Not to worry!  Larger than life Ottomans are available to you as well.  Aside from its gigantic stature, this 5’9” x 6’5” was also created with function in mind.  Turned on its side, it can fit though any standard sized door.  It stays in one sturdy piece, from our showroom to your home.  We love this piece! It would be a great alternative to typical media furniture, and is sure to have all your friends talking. 

Well that’s all folks.  Hope you followed us during market on Facebook and Twitter.  If not, don’t miss out again.  Follow us today!

Still want to know more?  Come by the studio, we’d love to talk to you!

 Here are a few pieces we purchased at market this year. Look for these and more coming soon to ACI!

Neocon 2011

NeoCon is North America's largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors hosting over 700 showrooms and exhibitors.  NeoCon is three days of pure energy, new thinking, new resources, and new products. Over 40,000 architects and designers discover thousands of innovative products and resources for corporate, hospitality, healthcare, retail, government, and institutional and residential interiors.

Neocon was held Monday, June 13 thru Wednesday, June 15 at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, IL.  Our own Brent Dorrah attended the show this year. 

Here are a few vendors and products we found interesting:

Highway Series by Segis

Highway is a modular system of narrow and wide ribbons of upholstered seating which undulate to form seats and armrests creating large central or terminal curved lines. Highway enhances an environments’ quality with its particular play of shapes: the basic composition creates results never seen before, the alternation of curves and horizontal planes offer a marked visual impact. The broadness and versatility of the collection allow limitless compositions.

Taken from: Segis

 Orbit by Fluid Concepts

Orbit is a revolution in workstation design. Orbit workstations conform to how people actually work by providing single location access to a user’s work area In one continuous ergonomic circumference.

Taken from: Fluid Concepts

Ditto by 3form

Play with structure, shape and light with Ditto, a revolutionary new modular product by 3form. Ditto uses cross-shaped pieces designed to work together to create customizable partitions, wall features, art pieces—all in a box. Ditto features the high design flexibility of 3form Varia Ecoresin and the low impact of 40% pre-consumer recycled content.

Taken from: 3form

Bianca by Bradley Hughes

Bradley Hughes offers a line of accent tables that can be customized to suit your specifications. Their table bases are made from hand-forged iron and hand-crafted wood, and all are available in our exclusive line of Bradley Hughes signature finishes. The table top materials can be chosen from a diverse array of exotic materials, including concrete, acid mirror, colored glass, starfire glass, metals and wood. The flexibility to mix and match tops and bottoms make their accent tables unique and versatile. 

Taken from: Bradley Hughes

Ballara by Global

Ballara is a collection of single and modular seating units that incorporate lounge, table and power components. From the classic club to the more contemporary open armed seating and bench, Ballara units can gang together to incorporate an infinite number of lounge seating scenarios. Optional power modules and tablet surfaces that mount outside or in between seats can accommodate various work and collaborative solutions.

Taken from: Global 

10 Things You Might Not Know About ACI Design Studio



1. ACI stands for Abode Commercial Interiors.When ABODE Home closed in 2010, a void was created in Wichita (and the mid west) for contemporary and transitional furniture. We also discovered that Interior Designers and Architects were looking for a place to source quality home and commercial furnishings for their clients. So, in the fall of 2010 we relocated to 1425 E. Douglas and became ACI Design Studio to meet the needs of our residential, commercial and trade customers. 
2. ACI is 1 of 6 Companies under the Transition Group. TG is an umbrella company created in 1997, and is composed of six separate divisions; Furniture Options, Furniture Options Events, Marriott ExecuStay Midwest, Corporate Amenities, ABODE Venue, and ACI Design Studio. Transitions Group is a $21 million company headquartered in Wichita, Kansas with offices in Kansas City, Des Moines, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Dallas, Houston, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans.
3. GM Brent Dorrah has been with the Transitions group for 20 years, working nearly every facet of the company and continues to learn each day. Brent's style and creativity can be seen in the products he sources for ACI. He has completed projects including administrative and executive offices, lobbies, lounges, automotive dealerships, restaurants, bars and cafés, financial institutions and the list goes on. Brent’s design acumen and dedication to “the project”, makes him the perfect person to head up our commercial, trade and residential interior furniture division.
4. We sell furnishings, not just furniture.  We have a wide variety of furniture options that will meet the needs of almost any project, but we have so much more than that!  In our showroom and catalogs you will find a variety of light fixtures, wall hangings, wall art, rugs, pillows, unique office supplies and tons of accessories ie. table art, vases, silk plants, etc.  If you’re just starting a project or looking for that finishing touch, ACI can help!
5. We offer design services.  Choosing the best furnishing for your space goes hand in hand with the design of your space.   With a team of experienced and educated designers, ACI understands how furniture and accessories best function in a space.    Already have a designed space?  ACI can still help you choose the best pieces! ACI also partners with many local designers and would love to match you up.
6. We have exclusive vendor rights for the Wichita area.  ACI has exclusive rights to several vendors for the Midwest area including BDI and Evolve. 
   1. BDI offers uniquely designed and extremely good quality home theater furniture, office furniture & home furnishings.
   2. Evolve is a complete systems furnishings provider that leads the industry in sustainable products.
   3. Calligaris is an Italian Home Design company whose products are designed for everyday use with an eye to satisfying the living needs of today's homes.
   4. Lazar specializes in home furnishings with over 25 years in creating fashionable homes with limitless choices.
7. We furnish outdoors too. Looking to furnish your outdoors this summer, but didn’t think to look here?  At ACI we aim to furnish all spaces including your outdoors.  Outdoor rooms are often leftover or forgotten.   We offer many unique lines not found at most outdoor furniture suppliers. 
8. Not everything we sell is expensive.  At ACI we put quality first.  All the pieces you find in our lines will be top quality and graded for your needs.  This makes some of our items more expensive then our competitors.  What you may not know is that we sell well below list price.  We have lines that range in price and can work within your budget to furnish your space.
9. Traditional products can be found here too.  ACI Design Studio offers unique modern lines not found in the Wichita and Midwest areas.  What you many not know is that ACI offers many traditional furniture and furnishings lines as well.  While you won’t find many of these lines on our showroom floor, we have many catalogs and online options for you to choose from.
10. All of our showroom items are available for immediate purchase.  At ACI we stock our showroom with pieces we find unique and most appealing to our clients.  All items on our showroom are priced and available for immediate purchase.  If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our showroom, we have more!  What is shown in our showroom is just a fraction of what ACI has to offer.  Come pay us a visit, we’d love to get to know you and your project!