This week our Lake of the Ozarks luxury furniture store is going to take a look at the different versions of country-inspired interior designs. As with most general terms, there are a lot of different branches that stem from this look, and John Elliott Interiors will explain the differences between them for you in today's blog.


Country
There is more than one type of design considered "country," as you can see by the additional paragraphs below. For this first description, we are talking about a look that has a more handmade, simple quality about it. You will see lots of wood, handmade pottery, baskets, and possibly hand-forged metals.

There is an old-fashioned elegance in a country style. Often there is an extensive use of white wood paneling and soft floral patterns. Checked and striped fabrics also fit well into this type of design. Colors are often more muted, with an antique look to them. 

French Country
This style is heavily influenced by farmhouse inspiration. Warm, earthy colors are utilized, and heavy linens are incorporated like handmade quilts. This look, while still Country in style, uses more ornate designs on wooden furnishings. Ornate porcelain dishes are a wonderful addition too. You may also see materials used like stone and brick around the room. 

English Country
English Country has more of an obvious feminine influence. Lush rose patterns and lots of greens, reds, and blues will be used. This design also incorporates ornate, finely carved wooden furniture but adds overstuffed pieces with tufting, as well as skirted furniture. Lots of decorative antiques may be used to finish out the overall look.


Rustic
This particular style draws much of its inspiration from nature, using lots of raw and often unfinished elements such as wood and stone. Coming from the outdoors, the overall look often has a wonderful warmth to it. As for the room itself, vaulted ceilings, reclaimed wood flooring, and wooden beams offer the perfect setting for rustic-style home decor. 

Western 
This takes Rustic to an extreme with a rougher, more raw look. Very cowboy-inspired, worn leathers are perfect for this style, and those can be softened slightly with cozy plaid fabrics. Nature is also evident throughout this design, and the furniture is much larger in scale.


There is a quick explanation of the differences between these "Country" types of looks for your home. Our talented interior designers at the Lake of the Ozarks can go into more detail for you when you come into the John Elliott Interiors showroom to have a look around. Many different styles of interior design are represented in our showroom and we would love to help you discover the perfect one for each room in your home.

There may be several things you simply can’t wait to ask and share with your interior designer, but for today we’ve narrowed it down to a list of four must-discuss topics. Going over these specific things will help your interior decorator get a better grasp on who you are and what your dream space looks like. Here at John Elliot Interiors, our knowledge and expertise in our craft can’t be beaten. Our team of interior design specialists at the Lake of the Ozarks can help transform your house into a home.


LIKES
This first topic of discussion is a no-brainer. You want to make sure that you and your interior designer are on the same page when it comes to things you like. This can be colors, pieces of furniture, or a general look and feel. It’s always a good idea to give some type of direction of what your style may be so they can work from there. And remember, despite what your interior designer’s personal style is, designing for you is our job. Our interior design team will do our best to match what you are looking for while including our professional opinion.


DISLIKES
Your dislikes can often be even more helpful to a designer than your likes. It is incredibly useful to know what types of elements to avoid. If you only tell your designer that you adore the color red, but leave out the fact that you dislike the color purple, there may end up being hints of your least favorite color in your final layout. If there is a particular look and feel that you are not drawn to, make that known as well. It’s important for your interior designer to know what to stay away from.


LIFESTYLE
It’s important for your interior designer to get to know you as a person! The better they understand your lifestyle and what your spaces are used for, the better they will be able to design to accommodate that. If you have young children, your designer will make different adjustments might not be made when designing for a retired couple. If your family tends to reside in the living room rather than the basement, your designer will accommodate less foot traffic downstairs. It’s important that you and your designer keep things realistic. Though you have your dream house in mind, remember to keep your area true to your real life and your location. Though your finished room will be beautiful, you will still be living in it.


DEADLINES
Though you may be decorating for a specific event or time of year, keep in mind that interior design is an ongoing process. Discuss deadlines and flexibility with your interior designer. There is no perfect recipe for a perfect interior. Interior design is a process, and it's one that may take a few adjustments to achieve the look you desire. Discussing a timeline with your interior designer will help with misplaced expectations.

Now that you have a starting point, go ahead and give John Elliot Interiors a call at 573-365-7057 so that we can get started. If you’re looking to add that “WOW” factor to your home, our team of trained designers can provide top interior decorating at the Lake of the Ozarks. Not sure what you’re going for yet? No problem. Stop by our beautiful store and get inspired!

When it comes to finding the best home interiors at the Lake of the Ozarks, your first stop should be John Elliott Interiors. In addition to the exquisite furniture for your home and office you would expect to find inside, we also offer creative suggestions and friendly advice from our talented interior design team. Our store is more than meets the eye, which is saying a lot when the things that first meet your eye are absolutely gorgeous! 


Talented Designers
Establishing trust between our clients and our design team is an integral part of our approach to designing and decorating homes. This is possible due to the wonderful people that work at John Elliott Interiors.

John Elliott, the store's namesake and owner, has both undergrad and graduate degrees in design and also taught design at Penn Valley Community College, Virginia State University, and Stephens College. During his retirement, 2006-2009, John along with his brother designed/built 3 large spec houses in The Villages and 5 spec homes on the golf course at Osage Nation Golf Resort. Their mother, Ruthie, always told John he should have an interior design business, and she was right. His love for it brought him out of retirement.

Working alongside John is his incredible design team. That includes his two sons, Bob & Luke Elliott, Chris Newsom, and Sally Herrin. They have all worked together for years and strive to create elegant rooms and happy clients with their service, integrity, quality, detail, and class. John Elliott Interiors can design new rooms for you or renovate existing spaces from top to bottom, and with over 15 key partners in the design business, they truly can "do it all!" 

Luxury Furniture & Accessories
This Lake of the Ozarks furniture store specializes in providing high-end design and using it to create a comfortable way of living. When you enter the store, you will be amazed at the variety of beautiful things to see. There are over 400 pieces of original artwork from artists, both local and worldwide, 15' tall silk trees, unique accessories, and lamps of every style.


This is all in addition to the luxurious furniture set up all around the store in a way that will inspire you to imagine how everything will look in your own home. If you don't happen to see exactly what you have in mind, we are able to find it through the many different brands that we carry. A few of these include:

• Marge Carson
• Ambella Home Collection
• American Leather
• Arteriors
• Bernhardt
• Charleston Forge
• REISS
• Drexel
• Cyan Design
• Lexington
• Orient Express Furniture
• Tommy Bahama Home & Outdoor Living
• Winston
• ...and many more!  

Our Lake of the Ozarks interior designers are qualified to help you create the most beautiful looks for every room in your home or office. Whether you are furnishing a brand new space or renovating an existing one, John Elliott Interiors has the talent, the knowledge, and the products that will bring the rooms you are imagining into reality. Stop by our store soon and tell us all about your design plans. We'll help you choose the perfect pieces to make it happen! 

When you've decided that you'd like to go a different direction with the decor in your home, the process has only just begun. While the fun part is coming to our home interiors store at the Lake of the Ozarks to pick out your new style, there are a few steps you can take beforehand to make the transition easier. Whether you like to redecorate every season or you've been due for a re-design for the last decade, John Elliott Interiors would like to help you get started. Here are a few things you can do to prepare your space and get the design started on the right foot.

Evaluate Your Space

What space do you want to re-design? Is it a space that has a clear purpose, like the kitchen, or is it a space that could have a new goal, like a spare bedroom? Do you want to continue using this space as you have been or will you go a new direction with it? It's important to decide this ahead of time so you know exactly which direction you want to go in your space before you start purchasing decorations.

Start a Style Board

Pinterest is a great way to put all of your ideas in one place. If you're more of a hands-on person, you can cut pages out of magazines that show what your new style should look like. Do you have a specific color that you want to plan your design around? Maybe a specific furniture piece? It's important to let your Lake of the Ozarks interior designer know about this so they can create your custom style.

Repurpose, Reuse, or Relocate

The difference between designing a new home, and redesigning your current home is that you most likely already have a room full of belongings. Take some time to evaluate what you have in your home and what you're going to do with those items. You can repurpose the items in your space by adding something new to change the look. This would apply for vases or candle stands. Maybe you can add some new floral arrangements and greenery around your item to give it a fresh look. You can reuse items from your space by moving them to other rooms in your home. Maybe you don't have a use for the red couch in your living room anymore, but it would look great in your media room. Finally, some items will need to be relocated. You can sell them, donate them, or give them away to friends or family. One room only needs a specific number of knick-knacks and furniture. If the current ones in your space don't work with your new decor - find a new home for them.

Consult with Your Designer

Finally, you should schedule a consultation with your interior designer. This is a great opportunity to show us what you want to achieve in your space, talk about the flow of your area, and more. Bring your lookbook in, and we'll look through it with you to help you find the exact direction you'd like to go. This is also a great opportunity for us to walk through our Lake of the Ozarks home interiors store and pick out the pieces and styles that you want to define your space with - especially if you don't even know where to start.

Home Design at the Lake of the Ozarks

At John Elliott Interiors over 24,000 square feet of furnishings, plants and accessories are just the tip of the iceberg. John Elliott Interiors will design new or renovate existing spaces, from top to bottom in your home. With over fifteen key partners John Elliott Interiors can do the ‘whole shebang’. Whether you need granite custom cabinets, audio-visual, high-end appliances, flooring, window treatments, painting, and faux painting. Whatever your interior needs, we can handle it quick, easy and right for you.


SaveSave

If you follow trends in your home decor, this year is going to be fabulous. From great colors schemes to beautiful patterns that haven’t been as popular lately - the trends are incredible. Here at John Elliott Interiors, we like to stay on the cutting edge of interior decorating at the Lake of the Ozarks. This isn’t just important for you, but it’s a great asset to us as well. If you’re looking for a new look this season, here are a few things that will have everyone swooning!

Charcoal & Honey

The deep richness of charcoal and matte blacks are being painted on the walls in homes across the country. While this may seem a bit dramatic, when combined with the light, warm shades of honey - you’ll find that they counterbalance each other effectively. You have to be a little edgy to appreciate the dramatics of this style - but we have a feeling you’ll LOVE it once it’s in your home.

The countdown is almost complete, and in less than 24 hours your family will be gathered around your table enjoying a great meal and being thankful for all of the great things that have happened this year. Of course, this doesn't come without its share of challenges because while you're probably thankful for your family being together, you also have to not only prepare your home for visitors but then clean up after they leave. Here are 5 tips to help you keep your sanity as you host Thanksgiving this year!

Make a Gameplan

It's go time, and if you haven't completed a game plan with recipes and ingredients, it's time to get it wrapped up and finalized. Keep in mind that while your family is excited for food, they are mostly excited for family, so if you find something stressing you out - cut it out. Before the holiday gets started, take a walk through your home, straighten up little areas that have been getting used the last few days, spray some room spray or light and candle and get ready!

Stick to the Basics

While having an extravagant menu and ornate decorations straight from Pinterest is always the "goal" when hosting your family for a holiday, keep in mind that the basics are the most imporant. When you find yourself getting wrapped up in the details and stressing out about which serving utensil goes with which dish - take a breather and go back to the basics. Your family wants to visit, have fun, and eat. They won't care if little signs are made for each dish or if you remember to set the decorative pumpkin on the front porch. Food, family, fellowship - that's the most important!

Set Your Thanksgiving Timeline

One of the biggest questions you'll be asked during Thanksgiving is "when's dinner?" Every family has a different timeline for the event, so find what works for you and stick to it. In the hectic planning of the main meal, don't forget that your guests will want to grab a few bites to eat throughout the day, especially if you'll have overnight guests before Thanksgiving. Plan a very simple egg-based breakfast, think omlets or quiche. If you serve a later dinner around two or three o'clock, plan on serving an appetizer around lunch time. You don't have to fix a full meal, but spinach artichoke dip and beer pretzels should keep everyone quite content. Finally, plan what time you want to serve your main meal, and then plan for dessert a few hours later, just so everyone's food has time to settle.

Label Serving Dishes

With all of the family coming in, you will probably be asked several times "how can I help?" It's easy to say that you've got it under control, but with a bit of preparation you can make it easy for your family to participate in preparing the meal. Once you've decided on your menu, take a few moments to label your serving dishes with sticky notes. When someone asks to help, you can point them in the direction of the serving dishes and have them start plating everything up!

Plan Ahead for Leftovers

Finally, leftovers are an obvious occurrence every single Thanksgiving. Instead of trying to figure out what to put everything in, and how to send leftovers with others without losing all of your Tupperware, buy some aluminum pans with lids, or cheap plastic containers. You can send leftovers back, and still keep your containers - everyone is happy!

Happy Thanksgiving from John Elliott Interiors

We love to help you create the perfect home interior design at the Lake of the Ozarks for just this reason. Using your home to host holidays, gather family, and enjoy time together. We want to help you create an interior for your life, and that is exactly what the holidays bring about. If you've been considering updating your home's style lately, let's get started! We provide incredible luxury furniture at the Lake of the Ozarks, along with other accessories, faux plants, and more. Stop by and see us, or give us a call to learn if we have just what you're looking for. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Finding the perfect accent piece for your home isn't as an easy task, but it's extremely rewarding when you do. At John Elliott Interiors, we love helping you find the piece that not only complements you space, but also stands out on it's own and makes an amazing statement. As you begin your hunt for the perfect accent piece, whether it be a lamp, statue, or artwork, here are a few tips to keep you focused.

Look for Lights

Every room needs a little bit of ambiance lighting. Whether that's in the form of a lamp by your chair, a salt lamp in your kitchen, or a interesting lighting piece wired into your bedroom - look for something interesting. This will be different for everyone, obviously,  but don't be afraid to take a bit of a leap. Keep in mind that overhead lighting isn't always enough for a space, it's important, but sometimes the added look of a lamp is all you need to make your space pop. We have many gorgeous lamps in our furniture showroom at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we would love to help you find your fit.

Deck the Walls

If you have large blank walls in your home, it's time to fill them up! They not only lack appeal, but that can easily swallow up your room and make it feel overwhelming. The perfect accent can come in many styles, colors, and even materials. Whether you want a piece of fine art haging at the foot of the stairs, or a large mirror on your entryway - use these pieces to your advantage. Mirrors can give the illusion of more space, and the perfectly sized artwork can make your room feel brighter and more inviting.

Furniture Accents

Using small pieces of furniture to accent your room can make a HUGE difference. Chairs, chests, tables, and ottomans are all good things to consider when looking for something to accent your room. When you are looking for the right accent piece, keep in mind that while the piece needs to complement, but not blend. If you have a traditional style in your home, with red accents, you can find an ottoman that matches the style, but is bright red and pops in your room.

Something Fun & Small

Think of your room as an onion, especially when choosing the small and interesting pieces. The colors, your furniture, and even your rugs are all the outer layers. As guests look at your room more, though, they'll find the small and interesting pieces in your room and be delving into the layers. Are you looking for something small and fun? We've got some GREAT pieces!

Interior Decorating at the Lake of the Ozarks

It can be hard to create your space on your own, and that's why we offer our design services. Let us help you find the PERFECT pieces for your home. From large to small, we have access to thousands of styles and colors, and our 45,000 square food showroom is filled with incredible texures and stories. Come out to our home furnishings store at the Lake of the Ozarks, or contact us about the piece you're looking for. We would love to help you make your house a home through the perfect accent piece.

Are you excited for fall? It seems like it can't get here fast enough! September 22nd is officially the first day of fall and the perfect time to pull out your fall decor and drink Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Pantone, a color specialist in the industry, has released their color choices for Fall 2017 - and it's giving us all of the splendid fall weather, orange leaf chills. Check them out and see if you can incorporate them into your fall decor this season.

Shaded Spruce - PANTONE 19-4524

This dark blue-ish green is sophisticated and classicly warm and cool. Being a dark color makes it perfect for dramatic pops of color, but the shade makes it warm and inviting. We're thinking that it would be divine as part of your table setting. Can you only imagine some beautiful large plates in this shade? Add some beautiful orange pumpkins and leaves to the mix and you'll have an impeccable harvest table.

Golden Lime - PANTONE 16-0243

While lime is typically a summer shade, this color has enough yellow to make it perfectly fall. Add pops of color to your living room with a few pillows and throws in this shade! Or accent your table with Golden Lime napkins or a centerpiece featuring this shade. You don't want to overdo this color, but keeping it as and an accent is divine.

Marina - PANTONE 17-4041

If you want to invite fall into your home, but still, want to keep the fun lake vibe - this color will be IDEAL! It's still a bit fun, and summery, but has muted tones to keep it relaxed and cool. Use this color around your outdoor spaces as pillows or cushions around your firepit or bring it indoors with your candles and other accents.

Navy Peony - PANTONE 19-4029

Navy never goes out of style, and fall is the ideal time to bring it out and accent it. The dark, coolness of this color balances out all of the warm tones that surround the fall season. Use it as a beautiful base color for the rest of your design. It can also be a beautiful accent through patterns that you use - so a navy and orange tablecloth, napkins, or accent pillows would be delightful.

Tawny Port - PANTONE 19-1725

Can anyone say "mmmhmmm?" This color gives us all of the fall feels. It's warm, rich, and enchanting. It would be splendid for a warm, cozy, throw blanket on your bed or couch. It would also be perfect as a tablecloth, or the salad plates in your table setting. Such an excellent fall color for a fun fall season.

Ballet Slipper - PANTONE 13-2808

Are you looking for something a little more delicate this fall? Try pairing this light pink shade with the warm browns and rich reds to achieve a cozy fall feel without the darker, bolder shades. It's a fun, girly spin on the fall palette - and we LOVE it!

Neutral Gray - PANTONE 17-4402

Pair this shade with the Tawny Port and the Ballet Slipper colors to make a stunning fall palette that's a little different than the expected. It also looks divine paired with the warm orange and red shades, as well. You really can't go wrong when you use this delicate and demure gray tone in your fall decorating. It has a sophisticated flair but is still comfortable enough for a cozy fall design.

Butterum - PANTONE 16-1341

This shade is PERFECT for fall, and just what you would expect to see in a fall palette. Whether you incorporate it into your wardrobe or your home, you'll see this simple neutral tan all around. Butterum is a great base for your bolder colors or can be used all on its own as a feature color in your home design, table decor, or front porch decor.

Grenadine - PANTONE 17-1558

This exciting red-orange tone is exactly what you need this fall to spice up your decor. You'll see shades of orange this fall, but this one is a bit different and splendid for this exciting style you want to incorporate. It will be superb in your foliage, table decor, mixed into your wreath on your front door, or even as pillows on your bed!

Autumn Maple - PANTONE 17-1145

Finally, the orange that you love and know. Autumn Maple has all of the cozy feelings of a pumpkin spice latte while sitting on a flannel blanket under a fiery maple tree. Scatter this shade throughout your fall decor, from your table setting to your fall foliage and even the candles that you use to decorate throughout your home! How do you plan on incorporating this warm fall shade?

Home Decor at the Lake of the Ozarks

We're all about updating your home's style every season to mimic the fun designs and colors that come around. Even if you choose the fall shades that mesh well with your current design - there's nothing like updating the style a bit every season. You can make your home feel fresh and updated with a few new accents, throw pillows or blankets, or even candles scattered throughout your home. How will you use these trending colors this fall? We want to see your ideas! If you don't know where to start - come visit the best interior designers at the Lake of the Ozarks! We can help you find the perfect accent for your home design at the Lake of the Ozarks. Happy Fall ya'll!






SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

The weather is getting crisp and the styles are starting to change as we move from the warm summer months to the cooler winter months. This transition doesn’t just happen with the foods we eat (Pumpkin Spice, anyone?) or the clothes we wear (like the infamous flannel shirts), but this change of seasons starts to show up in our homes as well. 2018 is right around the corner, and if you’re thinking about re-designing a Lake of the Ozarks home here are a few trends that you may want to incorporate into your style.

As an interior design store at the Lake of the Ozarks, we have many clients come in with all different types and styles of homes. We help all of our clients create a space that they love, from large luxury homes to cute and quaint vacation condos - and each type has their challenges. In a vacation town, though, we have many clients who want to update the style of their vacation condo, while still making it a functional and usable space when they come for a visit. Here are a few tips to make the most of a small space - whether it's a vacation condo or your tiny home!

Think Up - Not Out

When you have a smaller space, it's important to keep everything moving in an upward direction. It can be even easier if you have nice vaulted ceilings which can be popular among lake homes. Opt for tall bookcases that keep your collection moving towards the ceiling, and if you have decorative shelves or groupings of artwork - keep them moving vertically instead of horizontally.

Find Smart Furniture

There are many pieces of furniture that can create a beautiful style while still improving the usability of your space. Whether you look for bed frames with storage drawers and shelves in it or a hallway cabinet that can store your linens or organize your paperwork. It's important to make sure that your furniture is working with you when creating a beautiful style.

Grow Your Space With Mirrors

Just like magicians use mirrors to create an illusion - create your own illusion with the use of mirrors. Hanging mirrors in small spaces, like a half bathroom, or a small hallway will help make the space feel larger while also making the light even brighter.

Hang Them High

See a common theme here? Keep everything moving upwards! A little trick to make your ceilings look high (even if they aren't) is to hang your curtains as close to the ceiling as you can. The extra height will create a taller illusion and make the ceilings look tall.

Swap Out for a Settee

In small spaces, you can make large pieces of furniture work - but that doesn't always mean it's the best use of your space. If you have a small living area, try swapping your large couch or sectional for a smaller settee to increase the floor space while still providing a space to relax and entertain.

Decorating. Organizing. Living.

At John Elliott Interiors, we want to make your space a place that you can come home to - and feel like you're home! From adding accents to finish the design, adding new furniture, or a complete overhaul of your home and starting fresh, we can help! Let our interior design store at the Lake of the Ozarks be your one stop connection for beauty and style.