DEFINING YOUR SENSE OF PLACE THROUGH INTERIOR DESIGN
by Cassidy Mantor
How do you make a space comfortable, stylish, and balanced for your family and friends this holiday? We spoke with three interior design experts who gave us ideas on how to solve the toughest design issues in our homes this season.
The holidays might look a little different this year, but there are certain traditions we can still count on. Whether you need to bring in a new sleeper sofa, experiment with modern wallpaper and fun lighting in your powder room, or enhance your environment with living plants, we hope you are inspired to bring the best of the Flathead Valley into your home this season.
Wright’s Furniture
INTERIOR DESIGN FOR THE HOLIDAYS
After a long spring of catching up on to-do lists and a busy summer of enjoying every moment of wonderful weather, fall offers a chance to take stock and recharge. Autumn also offers an opportunity to change the feel of your home to embrace the best that the season has to offer. As the holidays approach, you may be thinking of where you’ll have your guests sleep, eat, and gather and how to make it look good.
Whitefish-based Wright’s Furniture has been serving the Flathead Valley since 1976. They are one of the region’s largest and most respected retailers, and they are a leading supplier of designer furniture to the custom home market of western Montana and the northern Rocky Mountain region. In addition to representing hundreds of manufacturers, artists, and craftspeople, Wright’s has a 60,000-square-foot showroom in Whitefish where customers can experience their furniture and get design ideas for every type of space. The showroom is currently filled with textures, colors, and accessories that are appropriate for the holidays to help inspire you as we head into the fall and winter seasons.
“Harvest-themed patterns, and soft plaids can create a beautiful impact. You can also add other elements from nature, either real or faux, such as feathers, furs, antlers, and leathers.”
–Alana Wright, Interior Designer, Wright’s Furniture
CREATING A WARM SPACE: COLORS & TEXTURES
Alana Wright, lead interior designer at Wright’s Furniture, explains, “Some of our first instincts to help set a fall mood at home include replacing seasonal summer florals with branches and autumn-colored florals in your vases. We can enhance fall textures in any room by placing pinecones and acorns in bowls, as well as adding many cozy layers of blankets and toss pillows. Decorative teak wood bowls, pumpkins, dried corn, harvest-themed patterns, and soft plaids can create a beautiful impact. You can also add other elements from nature, either real or faux, such as feathers, furs, antlers, and leathers.”
Alana explains that a fall season color palette can be easily achieved with warm natural colors. Shades of brown, taupe, green, ivory, and cream should be favored. Consider adding accents of rust, burgundy, orange, yellow, navy blue, and other rich, earthy tones.
Designing a space for a holiday is different for everyone. Alana says that popular areas to rearrange or emphasize a seasonal décor are front porches, entryways, and living rooms. “Whether you need to rearrange the furniture to fit a Christmas tree, add a coat rack and bench for taking off snow gear in the entry, or simply feature holiday-inspired accessories, we use colors and textures to create a festive atmosphere,” she says. Wright’s mission is to satisfy the customer. In keeping with that goal, their approach to getting your home ready for the new seasons is a process that is different for every person, style, and space.
“Our favorite sleeper sofas today are amazingly comfortable, and they come in various styles, sizes, fabrics, leathers, and mattress options. You can add a small twin-size sleeper chair all the way up to a super king-size sleeper sofa.”
–Alana Wright, Interior Designer, Wright’s Furniture
SLEEPER SOFAS, EXTENDABLE DINING TABLES, AND OTTOMANS
When space planning for a room, Wright’s strives to create layouts that provide the style, comfort, and function required. Often, everyday living is different than hosting for the holidays and requires less seating, sleeping areas, etc. “To help with this, we offer ways to easily add seating, storage, and sleep spaces for guests that do not interfere with a simple everyday layout,” explains Alana. Some of Wright’s favorite ways to add extra function without losing space are sleeper sofas, extendable dining tables, benches, and ottomans for extra seating and storage.
Traditional sleeper sofas may invoke memories of watching movies in the basement with friends during sleepovers and an awkward bar poking into your back, but today’s sleeper sofas have evolved. “Our favorite sleeper sofas today are amazingly comfortable, and they come in various styles, sizes, fabrics, leathers, and mattress options,” Alana says. “You can add a small twin-size sleeper chair all the way up to a super king-size sleeper sofa.”
For more dining space, there are many options for adding an extension leaf to the table so your dining set can be set for four to six people for everyday living, and then extend to eight to twelve people if needed. Extra dining chairs can be added to the set and can be stored in other rooms when the table is not extended.
Alana also likes to add a bench in the entry or at the end of a bed as a great way to add a multifunctional seating option that can be pulled up to the dining table or into the living room for extra seating during the holidays. Ottomans of all styles and sizes are another favorite way that Wright’s likes to add extra seating to living spaces and bedrooms. Small and low to the ground, they can provide many different functions without taking up a lot of space in your home’s layout and can be easily moved from place to place. Alana loves to use ottomans as an extra seat, a footrest, a coffee table, or a bench at the end of a bed.
The goal at Wright’s Furniture is to design environments that reflect the personality of the people who will use the space. A third-generation family business, they are innovative and they constantly evolve their best practices to meet the needs of their customers.
Alana says, “Today, the health and safety of our employees, customers, and community remains a top priority. We are prepared and happy to help where we can as families have been adjusting to more time at home. At Wright’s we adhere to social distancing guidelines, capacity is limited, appointments are encouraged, and private or virtual shopping appointments are available. We continue to offer free design services and free local delivery and look forward to helping you get your home ready for the holidays.”
For more information, call 406.862.2455 or visit wrightsfurniturestore.net.
Zetooney Hanson Interiors
STATEMENT POWDER ROOMS
“The house has pops of red throughout, but the powder room was the one space in their home where they wanted to really convey the fun of the house.”
–Shaina Hanson, Principal Designer, Zetooney Hanson Interiors
“How do you feel about wallpaper?”
That’s one of the first questions Jennifer Zetooney and Shaina Hanson, principal designers at Zetooney Hanson Interiors (ZH), ask when they get started on your home. ZH is a full-service interior design company based in Whitefish, specializing in residential, commercial, and resort design. They are dedicated to providing a pleasant design experience for their clients. They have over 20 years of combined experience in interior design.
ZH designs spaces of all sizes with their signature ease, including powder rooms. “People are a little more willing to take risks in their powder rooms because they’re smaller spaces,” Jennifer says. “While we usually gravitate towards neutrals in the larger spaces, we can play with colors and textures to turn the powder room into the jewelry box of the house.”
Shaina, who loves incorporating the element of surprise into interior design, also loves powder rooms for the design challenges they present. “They’re opportunities to make an impactful statement in a concentrated space, such as a fun wall covering, without it being too big of a commitment.”
BRIGHT COLORS AND STATEMENT MIRRORS
When it comes down to designing the identity of the powder room, ZH is inspired by both the existing home and the homeowner’s style. Shaina and Jennifer work with clients to create inspiration boards based on photos of spaces they like. They define their color and style palettes based on the existing home as well as the client’s stylistic preferences. They bring in functional elements, such as storage on the wall or cabinets, and they also incorporate fun elements through wallpaper, bright colors, unique lighting, and mirrors. The finished space is effortlessly stylish and functional.
“Powder rooms are places to explore design elements that might not work on the grander scale of the home,” explains Shaina. One example of this exploration is a bold plaster accent wall in one of ZH’s recent projects. “The house has pops of red throughout, but the powder room was the one space in their home where they wanted to really convey the fun of the house,” recalls Shaina. Accordingly, ZH made a statement with spicy ombre walls, warm lighting, and a hammered copper sink.
Another feature ZH loves incorporating in powder rooms are statement mirrors, which sometimes even take the place of art when space is limited on the walls. Jennifer describes one project, saying, “The powder room was a place where we were able to blend rustic and modern elements from the rest of the house and make a cohesive design statement.” To make that statement, walnut cabinets, a shimmery wall covering with cork texture, and brick herringbone flooring all came together in a way that summarized the identity of the rest of the house, but on a smaller scale.
BOLD DESIGN ELEMENTS
Sinks are another opportunity to push the design envelope in the powder room. While you might want more traditional sinks in the master bathroom, a stone sink or an I-beam sink can make a great statement in the powder room. “You might not want a vessel sink in the bathroom that you’re using regularly, but it can be fun to see one in your powder room,” says Shaina.
One recent I-beam sink that ZH completed was in a powder room where a standard sink wasn’t an option due to space limitations. “We got creative in that space,” recalls Jennifer. “We had I-beams throughout the entire home, so we tied that element into the powder room by creating a wall to wall sink.”
Powder rooms are great places to introduce something whimsical or bright. “They’re almost like a special surprise when you have guests over,” explains Jennifer. “While a powder room isn’t necessarily an obvious showpiece of the home like the kitchen typically is, it is an area where you can create something unexpected that everyone will experience when they use it.”
ZH also enjoys designing powder rooms that are elegantly modern. One powder room in a home on the mountain allowed ZH to create a luxurious space that used the same cabinetry and countertops as what was used in the kitchen. “The powder room was adjacent to the kitchen, so we wanted to carry the luxuriousness of the open space into the smaller room,” explains Jennifer. ZH added delicate pendant lighting, an LED mirror, and a toe-kick light to tie in with the rest of the house where the bathrooms all had back-lit LED mirrors. ZH brought in a clean vanity with no hardware that, as Jennifer explains, “Makes it a little different but still ties it in with the rest of the space.”
“We got creative in that space. We had I-beams throughout the entire home, so we tied that element into the powder room by creating a wall to wall sink.”
–Shaina Hanson, Principal Designer, Zetooney Hanson Interiors
WALLPAPER LOVE
Modern wallpaper is nothing like the thin material in homes of decades past. It’s much more durable today. While tile might be preferable in certain locations, such as kids’ bathrooms that get daily use with a lot of splashing, Shaina and Jennifer have more clients who are willing to try wallpaper in a powder room that has occasional use, particularly for entertaining.
Depending on the style of the home, ZH will offer a range of papers to select. “The sky is the limit,” says Shaina, citing global papers and grasscloth, among others. While the goal is to create a design that you love, today’s wallpaper is also less difficult to remove. “If we know it’s something a client would want to replace down the road, we can steer towards new ‘temp’ wallpaper which is a ‘peel and stick’ option. They’re all very durable,” says Jennifer. “Unlike what we think of with our grandparents’ wallpapers that would peel over the years, today, our installers prep the walls so they’re smooth and primed. That preparation helps with both longevity and also down the road if any future design changes are desired.”
For clients on the fence about wallpaper, ZH may bring them to their resource library. “Our process involves sharing swatches and physically exploring samples so you have a chance to see what you really like,” explains Shaina. “It’s never all-or-nothing, either. We can bring in elements of surprise by painting the cabinets and doing other fun options.”
Whether you are into wallpaper or not, ZH is a breeze to work with. They will design beautiful spaces to enjoy Flathead Valley life with style and ease.
For more information call 406.730.8588 or visit zetooneyhansoninteriors.com.
Above, a client shares their orchid plant’s progression from bud to full bloom. Below, a pop of color energizes the room.
The Bungalow
CARING FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT
“I love seeing photos of orchids that clients bought some time ago that are now in bloom. It makes me proud of them for creating intentional spaces that are part of their self-care routines. I share in their success and satisfaction when a plant thrives.”
–Jill Lamberson, Owner, The Bungalow
FLORALS FROM THE BUNGALOW
Self-care has been put in the spotlight in recent months as we navigate the curveballs that 2020 has thrown our way. Yoga, aromatherapy baths, and meditation come to mind as ways to bring calm and balance into our lives. We’ve been forced to adapt to working from home, to kids in virtual school, and to cutting back on in-person social gatherings. We are now living more intentionally than ever before. Maybe we’ve participated in an online lecture to spark new thought, or we’ve had time to read more books or learn to bake the perfect sourdough bread. Above all, the past few months have been an opportunity for us to prioritize our mental and physical health, as well as the well-being of those around us. As we head into the colder months when we will spend more time inside, we have a new opportunity to apply that same intentionality into our personal spaces. We can proactively take steps to enhance our environments as well as our bodies and minds.
ENHANCING YOUR ENVIRONMENT WITH PLANTS
Plants can be the catalyst that transform your home into a supportive and nurturing environment. “There’s a story behind each photo a client sends me,” Jill Lamberson, owner of The Bungalow in Whitefish, says. “For example, I love seeing photos of orchids that they bought some time ago that are now in bloom. It makes me proud of them for creating intentional spaces that are part of their self-care routines. I share in their success and satisfaction when a plant thrives.”
Seeing one’s plant thriving is an exceptionally grounding experience, because it’s a direct reflection of one’s ability to care for a living thing. Beyond the validation of being able to keep it alive, it’s evidence of having acquired new skills and knowledge. Human nature leads us to want to build upon that foundation and go deeper, from that initial air plant or succulent, to a whole terrarium or more. Jill delights in watching the evolution of the plants that her customers purchase go from a superficial decoration to an essential part of their personal environments that perpetuate happiness as they thrive.
The plant’s growth is a metaphor for the discovery Jill sees in her customers as they begin spending more time caring for their plants. She explains, “There’s a learning curve, but the constant is our intentionality to nurture and care for ourselves and our environments.”
“If we’re spending six, eight, or ten hours a day working from our new home offices while it’s snowing or 20 degrees outside, a plant or florals can help you thrive.”
–Jill Lamberson, Owner, The Bungalow
STAYING CONNECTED WITH NATURE
As we head into fall and winter and lose our outdoor environments of gardens and landscape beds, it’s vital to create something inside that gives us that same pleasure. “Nature is awe-inspiring, even in its domesticated form,” explains Jill. Forced bulbs and terrariums are two options Jill suggests for bringing the natural world inside for the winter. She also suggests a plant as a holiday, birthday, or housewarming gift, because it could spark someone’s newfound self-care routine.
For people working from home this fall and winter, visually stimulating botanicals can also help increase productivity. Great choices for home offices include flowers for a pop of color, or a plant to provide additional oxygen in the room. “If we’re spending six, eight, or ten hours a day working from our new home offices while it’s snowing or 20 degrees outside, a plant or florals can help you thrive, particularly when we lose natural Vitamin D from the sun,” explains Jill.
Although COVID-19 has caused us to become hyper-focused on ourselves and our immediate families, Jill believes we can still connect in a larger, more meaningful way. “Self-care has to be expanded to not only how we enhance our environments as they relate to us, but how they’ll benefit another person or even animals, shifting our attention temporarily away from ourselves to our greater world,” Jill reflects. “Nature, even in a domesticated form, provides so many more benefits than just visual stimulation.”
When it comes down to it, Jill’s goal is to use plants as the mechanism to educate clients on how to create happy environments. She wants her clients to enjoy themselves in their homes and create environments that are healthy and balanced, thriving and beautiful.
For more information call 406.863.9101or visit bungalowflowers.com.
“Nature, even in a domesticated form, provides so many more benefits than just visual stimulation.”
–Jill Lamberson, Owner, The Bungalow
