Functional Kitchen Befor and After By Candice Olson

When a celebrity stylist needed help making over his kitchen, he called Candice Olson. The divine designer transformed his space from 1980s and old to glamorous and now.

• By : Candice Olson

Before: Outdated and Cold

This outdated kitchen doesn't exactly say "stylist to the stars."

After: Fashionable and Functional

Enter Candice Olson who created a new kitchen that is both traditional and hip. Divine details include travertine floors, a quartz-topped island, crystal chandeliers and a stunning, silver-foil wallpaper.

New Window Treatment Ideas From HGTV Dream Homes

Learn new stylish and functional ways to use window treatments and revitalize your decor with ideas from past HGTV Dream Homes.

Dramatic Drapes

The longer the curtains, the more dramatic and elegant the design. In this master suite sheer loose linen drapes frame the queen size bed as well as the bay window. When trying to design a casual and more informal space, try using shorter curtains.

Bold Colors

This brightly painted kids' room designed for HGTV Dream Home 2010 is both colorful and lively. The rustic red walls scream high energy alongside the two-toned sliding curtains. Placed on a track, the drapes can be easily extended at night to provide privacy, as well as insulation on cooler nights.

Stylishly Unique

With an endless array of patterns and styles, you can be sure to find a curtain design that fits your personal decor. In HGTV Dream Home 2008, a striped fabric is used for the curtain trimming as well as the kids' overhead bed treatment. Dressed in a mixture of patterns and textures, this bedroom is youthful and fun.

Drapes Make a Decorative Divide

Curtains make great room dividers and can be adjusted to your preference. They can be pulled back with ties, pinned apart or simply allowed to hang freely. In this master suite the cream-colored curtains make the perfect divide between the bed and meditation area. Use them as a simple way to define different areas of your home.

Enhance the Details

Drapes are not just for windows. In this formal foyer the drapes enhance the architecture while making a stylish statement. Placed alongside the architectural posts, the flowy cream curtains create a dramatic entrance, leading you from the front door into the family room and kitchen.

Decorative Designs

Curtains can be extremely decorative. Use them to add a touch of personality to your space. Long curtains, such as these lightly patterned neutral fabrics, will add height and bring drama to your decor. Simplistically designed, this dining room is styled with handcrafted furnishings and neutral fabrics and accessories.

How to Arrange Art : 2012 Ideas

Artwork is a great way to add interest to a room, but arranging art can be stressful. Relax -- with our expert advice on how and where to hang art (and how much to hang), your home will feel like a gallery in no time.
Veronica Toney

Above the Sofa 

"People have a tendency to hang art too high," says Linda Crisolo, Art.com director of merchandising. "The center of the image should be at eye level." In living rooms, people are usually sitting, so artwork should be lower. A good way to ensure you're placing artwork at the right height is to hang it one hand width above the sofa.

In Scale 

A common problem when hanging artwork above a sofa or sideboard is that it's not in scale. Having pieces that are too small or too large will make the whole arrangement look strange. "Make sure artwork is at least two-thirds the size of the sofa or sideboard," Crisolo says. "For example, a 9-foot-long sofa should have a 6-foot-wide expanse of art above it."

Add Visual Balance 

When you hang multiple pieces in a group, visual balance is very important. "In a group arrangement, keep heavy pieces to the bottom and left," says Crisolo. "It balances the weight of the items because the eye starts on the left. If you have an even arrangement, put the heaviest piece in the middle."

Mix-and-Match Gallery 

Gallery arrangements are easy solutions for blank walls. Give the display interest by including more than just framed art, such as the vase and plates used in this living room. Start by defining the dimensions of your display. Position the most prominent piece at eye level in the center and work outward. "If you're using different frames, spread them out to give a little breathing room between each piece," Crisolo recommends.

Level Arrangement 

Hanging multiple pieces around a room can be difficult, especially when walls, doorways, or windows separate the pieces. "When hanging multiple pieces around the room, don't try to make the bottoms or tops of frames level. Level the middles," Crisolo says.

In the Bedroom 

In the bedroom, choose personal art, such as family photographs or your own photography. If you're arranging the pieces in groupings, Crisolo recommends sticking with one color theme, either all black-and-white or all color photographs.

In the Kitchen 

In the kitchen, hang art in a place where it won't get damaged by water or heat. Consider placing art above an office space, near the dining table, or above open counter space.

Crisolo also recommends avoiding kitchen art in the kitchen. "I tend to shy away from pictures of asparagus in the kitchen," she says. "Vintage art with traditional frames works in a traditional kitchen. In a modern kitchen, try bright colors with stainless-steel frames."

Consider Size 

When deciding where to hang images in your home, consider the wall space available and the arrangement of the room. "Use small pieces between windows and doors," Crisolo says. "If small items are in a space too large, the pieces look lost. With larger pieces, allow room for people to step back and admire the work."

Layer Pieces 

"Above a mantel or fireplace is the perfect place to layer pieces," Crisolo says. "A house looks like a home when you can see layers of artwork and accessories."

Hang in Style 

Make sure your arrangement matches your decorating style. "Symmetrical arrangements are more traditional or formal. Asymmetrical is modern," Crisolo says. "Also look at the image and style of the frame. For cottage-style rooms, stick with vintage images or botanicals. In modern rooms, choose large and abstract pieces."

Prop It Up 

While blank walls are a natural choice for displaying artwork, there is another option. Prop artwork against a wall or piece of furniture for a casual display.

luxury living rooms Decorating Ideas 2012 by Candice Olson

Designer Candice Olson mixes comfy furnishings with elegant textiles and color schemes to create family rooms that define the meaning of lived-in luxury.

Contemporary yet Rustic

Rustic elements are combined with streamlined contemporary furnishings to create a couple-friendly living room. The tumbled marble fireplace contrasts well with the dark, luxurious wooden hearth and cabinets. For optimal fireplace and TV viewing, a large sectional sofa in creamy chenille and an ottoman in espresso brown are centered in the room.

Effortless Style

To brighten up this attic living space, Candice installs light-toned wood floors, brings in a cream sectional and adds track lighting. A color palette of greens, blues and tans complement the lighter tones, while paisley fabric and wall decals add a feminine, bohemian quality to the space. A reclaimed wood ceiling with faux beams adds architectural interest.

Eclectic Mix

Modernize a living room with a combination of different design styles. Sleek chairs in a classic paisley print are mixed with a traditional tufted ottoman in butterscotch leather and a contemporary sectional in taupe velvet. Rustic meets elegant in a two-layer treatment of woven blinds and silk draperies on the bay windows.

Multi-Functional Living

To create a more functional space, divide a room into different zones. The bay window is the perfect setting for a home office and features custom built-in shelving, while the area next to the back window is the library lounge, an ideal spot for conversations and reading. The main area of the room is used for TV watching and hanging out. Tie the entire space together by using the same color palette, like the combination of chocolate, caramel and oatmeal in this living room.

Romantic and Feminine

Dark wood paneling is painted antique white to brighten up this living room, which features a color palette of pink, green, cream and chocolate. To mimic the fabric used on the chairs, whimsical vinyl graphics of an agapanthus flower are transferred onto the ceiling, giving it the quality of a hand-painted piece of art.

Cottage Casual

Custom cabinetry plays a key role in this living room, providing plenty of storage and a place to display collectibles. The fireplace flows seamlessly into the cabinetry and features a sandy-tone mosaic tile surround. To give the room a more intimate feel, a fan is hung 36 inches below the ceiling, while a color palette of white, sand, pale blue and green keeps the space light and airy.

Gender Neutral

For most family rooms, creating a space that appeals to both genders is a must, so Candice chose a mostly neutral palette of deep browns, cool creams and inky charcoals for this living room. The corner is turned into an office with an antique desk flanked by mirror-backed bookcases, and the living room is ideal for relaxing with a large sectional and leather club chairs.

Muted Sophistication

Finding the right place for a TV is often problematic; however, in this living room, the 46-inch TV takes center stage since it doubles as a mirror when not in use. Carpet tiles in shades of calming blue, green, taupe and beige reflect the fabric used to cover the bench seat and pillows on the sofa. Stainless steel accents add a contemporary flair to the room. 

Comfy Elegance

A metallic floral-patterned wallpaper provides a luxe backdrop to the cozy living room, which features a silvery linen sectional and a classic writer's desk. Soft, gauzy sheers trimmed in gold satin separate the living and dining rooms, as well as diffuse natural light from the large windows at the end of the rooms.

Bold and Colorful

Two feature walls, one a brilliant fuchsia and the other covered in teal-and-gold paisley wallpaper, create an instant wow factor is this open plan living room. Low-slung furniture in white and peacock blue create a cool, lounge-like vibe, while natural-stained maple flooring and updated shag carpet ground the space.

Urban Functionality

In this urban loft, a color palette of gray, black and white is paired with shimmery steel and rich wood accents for a cool, contemporary vibe. Modern furnishings, smart track lightings and a dramatic ceiling fan combine for a stylish and functional living space.

Rustic Chic

Hand-scraped oak flooring is the perfect contrast to the impressive limestone fireplace, and a wall of cabinetry with custom bookcases and stainless steel dressers provides plenty of storage for the TV and media components. Distressed leather furniture with tufted detail adds vintage elegance to the room with blue linen draperies creating a beautiful backdrop to the space.

2012 Candice Olson's Kitchen Design Ideas From HGTV

Candice Olson, a leading designer in the United States and Canada, began her career in commercial and residential design after graduating from the School of Interior Design at Ryerson University in Toronto. Candice received accolades and media attention for her distinctive and exceptional work before moving her design career to television. In fact, earlier in her career, the New York Times identified her as “one to watch.”
Candace Olson is a genius when it comes to total renovations and overhauls. When it comes to kitchens, she is definitely the queen. If I were to choose any designer to build my dream kitchen, it would Candace Olson hands down.
Her signature trademark for many of her kitchen countertops is quartz which is beautiful and more durable than granite. Granite will stain and so having really light colors for granite counter tops actually takes a lot of work to upkeep.

Create your own divine kitchen with Candice Olson's top 10 kitchen design and decorating tips.

Creative Backsplashes

Backsplashes add character to the kitchen. This tin-tile backsplash was painted cream for an antique effect.

The Necessary Island

If your kitchen is all about family, invest in an island. This long island features a stunning white quartz countertop, white and chrome bar chairs, and a dark wood base to match the mahogany floor.

Unique Flooring

Make a statement with your kitchen flooring. Stripes of light and dark concrete-like material add an unexpected touch to this contemporary kitchen.

Find Inspiration in Your Favorites

Bring the charm of your favorite place to the kitchen. Displaced after Hurricane Katrina, this couple now live in a Big Easy kitchen with French-style accessories.

Use a Similar Color

Integrate family rooms into the kitchen through color. Dark, espresso-toned cabinets coordinate well with this space's black sofa and warm khaki walls.

Love Your Kitchen

Design your kitchen to cater to what you love. This baker's dream kitchen includes a peninsula for entertaining, a lounge area and comfortable flooring.

Update Cabinets

On a budget? Refinish existing cabinetry. These former maple cabinets look custom with their new finish and same-color painted bulkhead.

Open Up Your Space

Knock out a wall to add space to your kitchen. This kitchen seamlessly integrates with the dining area, using a buffet island to separate the two.

Durable Solutions

Design your dream kitchen for durability. Three kinds of porcelain tile and carefully planned cabinet storage make this kitchen a stylish workhorse.

Mix It Up

Two-toned kitchens are more interesting than one-toned. A marble island, different cabinet finishes and Art Deco tile make this Candice's favorite Divine Design kitchen makeover.

Modern living room design ideas by Andreas Charalambous

Andreas Charalambous 

Mr. Charalambous is the founding Principal of FORMA Design. He combines over twenty five years of experience in Architecture and Interior Architecture with his deep interest in all aspects of design (Furniture, Lighting, Graphics) and a … read morecareer in Painting and Photography-with group and individual shows throughout North America and Europe. A Fulbright scholar during his studies at Cornell University, he has practiced architecture in Washington, New York and London, while working for a series of distinguished architectural firms. He has received numerous awards, including awards from the DC Chapter, the Northern VA Chapter, the Potomac Valley, MD Chapter and the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for Outstanding Achievement in Interior Architecture on various FORMA projects, as well as awards from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) for excellence in Residential, Healthcare and Hospitality Interiors. He also has been published extensively. FORMA Design was selected to be part of an exhibit sponsored by the American Institute of Architects called 21:4:21, that included 21 architects building for the 21st Century.