Waukesha County Home

Refresh From Page 1 Kempf: "The best way to refresh a room is to change the paint color or add wallpa- per, or switch up the furniture layout," she said, adding that smaller details like switching out an area rug, artwork or adding accessories like accent pillows can make "a tremendous difference" to the overall feel of a space. "If you're afraid to commit to four walls of wallpaper, try wallpapering just the ceiling for something unexpected. This is fun to do in a powder room or dining room," she said. Another idea for creating a new feel to a space is to change the purpose of a room, Kempf said. For example, a sunroom could become a dining room and a dining room a sitting room or small den. "Especially if it's adjacent to an open kitchen," she added. "People always gather around the kitchen, why not make the seating more inviting? Plus, if you have a formal dining room that is rarely used, it can be a fun change for that space." Simple changes like these can "really give new life to a space," she said. Waukesha County Home: How can homeowners make small spaces work for them? Are there designs for a room that achieve the feeling of additional space? Kempf: "My best tip for small spaces is to find furniture pieces that can be multi- functional," she said. And Kempf emphasized the importance of keeping clutter to a minimum. "Clutter can make an already small space feel even smaller, so finding pieces that match your style and offer functional storage is key," she said. Waukesha County Home: Are there any new decorating trends that homeown- ers can incorporate to give rooms a fresh feel? Kempf: "Soft, light earthy tones are back," she said. Sherwin-Williams Company has named the color "Upward" as the "Color of the Year 2024" on its website. The color is "a breezy, blissful blue," the site said. When painting a room, Kempf recom- mended using the same paint color, but in different finishes, on trim and walls for a "soft tone on tone look." "Layer in textures and patterns to add interest in a space," she said. HOME OCTOBER 2023 2 Distributed by: ©2023 by Conley Media Waukesha County Home is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Home Volume 12 ■ Number 6 ■ October 2023 "My best tip for small spaces is to find furniture pieces that can be multi- functional." – Karen Kempf, Principal designer and owner of Karen's Kempf Interiors Photo submitted by Jane Thurow of Karen Kempf Interiors A powder room following a renovation project by Karen Kempf Interiors. Karen Kempf, principal designer and owner of the business, said adding wallpaper is a good way to update a space.

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