3 GENIUS TIPS FOR LIVING IN A SMALL SPACE
Anyone who has lived in a city, gone to university, or had a less than ideal housing budget has probably had to live in tight quarters. At first, it might seem that there is no possible way to function in such cramped spaces. But with the right furniture decisions and...
PROJECT REVEAL: HARBORVIEW KITCHEN
A true design challenge is being tasked to completely transform a space without undergoing a major renovation. There are plenty of instances where this makes sense. You don't want to sink more cash into your house , you have a good layout you can work with or you are...
HOW TO DECORATE A RENTAL: THE 3 P’S!
Decorating a rental can have some serious limitations. Often you can't paint, replace carpet or lighting or even put holes in the walls. I used to struggle with this when I spent the majority of the year abroad for my husband's career. We lived in rental apartments...
THE NEW SEA SALT
There was a time not so long ago, that there was a good chance that *almost* every bathroom you entered was painted a shade of sea salt. Not that there's anything wrong with that! But just like the sea, we all have to adapt and change. Don't get us wrong, it's a nice...
PROJECT REVEAL: HONEYBEE MASTER BATH
We are so excited to share this project with you. It was one of those DREAM projects where things went almost completely 100% to plan with out any major hiccups or surprises. As soon as we stepped into this home we knew this project was going ot be something special....
5 TIPS FOR A SHARED BEDROOM
Anytime you are creating a space for multiple users the job becomes a little bit more difficult. Not only do you have to consider the overall flow of the space, but you also need to consider the individual needs of each user. Packing all the necessary items into a...
2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
2020. What a ride. For so many, this year didn't go exactly as planned. For lots of us, that is an understatement. However, Curio Design + Curio Custom feel lucky to have been able to keep working through the pandemic. Supporting our clients, building our projects,...
5 INEXPENSIVE UPDATES FOR YOUR GUEST BATH
When it comes to design, guest rooms always take the back seat. We focus on our living rooms and kitchens and our personal master bathrooms but have a hard time sinking serious bucks into a space that doesn't get as much use. But a nice and welcoming guest space...
DESIGN TRENDS FOR 2021
'Predictions' feels like a tricky word after the year we have had. But the DESIGN TRENDS must go on! We will be spending this New Year's Eve at home, obviously, but we will spend it in our fanciest sweat pants, dreaming up the next time we can wear lipstick without...
PROJECT REVEAL: NEUTRAL NICOLET MASTER BATH
Master bathrooms are kind of becoming our thing. There is something about taking an old, dated, cramped space and infusing it with personality and function. We love it even more when it is a master bathroom. That means our client is prioritizing self-care and needs...
TOP 3 TRICKS FOR THAT DESIGNER LOOK
Something is missing. You've worked hard to update your home, you love the colors, the furniture, the overall look...but something you can't *quite* put a finger on is keeping you from having that designer look, that Instagram vibe. What is it? We've got our top three...
PROJECT REVEAL : MODERN FOURSQUARE KITCHEN
Major renovations are one of our favorite jobs (ok...we love every kind of job for different reasons! ) but there is something about knocking down walls and reorganizing space that really makes a job special. A major renovation gives us so much control over the...
RULES OF THUMB FOR GROUT
The details matter. When we start a project, everyone is excited about the big vision plan and the Pinterest-worthy reveal. Part of my job as the designer is to support that vibe while also bringing attention to details. Small things. The oft-overlooked design make or...
HOW TO MAKE DESIGN PERSONAL: AVOIDING THE PINTEREST TRAP
The age of Pinterest and Instagram have made diverse, gorgeous, and well-staged designs available to us, quite literally, at our fingertips. But just like the whole of social media, the rooms you seen designed on Pinterest aren't as real as they feel. You might feel...
PROJECT REVEAL: BELL FINANCIAL
Working on commercial spaces is one of our favorite kind of projects. We have to flex a different creative muscle and consider factors like durability, ease of maintenance and accessibility-- factors that aren't as heavily weighed in residential design. One of my...
VIRTUAL INTERIOR DESIGN – SINCE 2012
Curio Design was born through Virtual Design Services. When Curio came into existence, before a pandemic, before Zoom rooms were all the rage, before our vacations were canceled and we started looking more closely at our homes --- all of our services were provided...
PROJECT REVEAL: B+W LAKESHORE BATH
We love a bold bathroom! And not all of our projects are major renovations--some only require a few upgrades to bring the space up to times! The Before. The existing bathroom was a perfectly-fine builder-grade space. Functional? Yes. Spacious? 100%. But definitely...
WHAT COMES FIRST? THE CONTRACTOR OR THE DESIGNER
It's a classic chicken and egg scenario, but I think I've got the answer. Through the years I have found that as soon as people decide on a renovation, they immediately start looking for a contractor. A contractor will want to know the scope of the project to get you...
PROJECT REVEAL: MID CENTURY GUEST BATH
Three dreamy bathrooms in one house!? Yes-- it's true. This is the 3rd and final bathroom in this amazing house. The details are the perfect compliment to the black cabinets of the kitchen while the warm wood vanities create connect to the guest bath and master bath....
WHAT DOES A KITCHEN RENO ACTUALLY COST
Bad news first: kitchen renovations are expensive. Good news? They are usually a very good return on investment, whether that means having a functional, heavily used space in your home or increasing the resale value. The most important thing to remember is the HGTV...
The Curio Design Blog
Founded in 2012 by Allison Harlow, Curio Design Studio focuses on creating distinctive interior environments for new construction, whole house renovations and kitchen + bath remodels for modern families and leading professionals.
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