Ku Interior Design

09/24/2026

Sometimes the best kitchen solution begins outside the existing kitchen.

The owners of this industrial loft had lived with a very limited kitchen for five years. Next to it, walls enclosed an underused room—and removing them changed what was possible.

The expanded space allowed us to incorporate the exterior windows and create a T-shaped island. The sink and dishwasher form the primary work area across from the refrigerator and range, while the other portion of the island provides additional storage and seating.

Details were planned just as carefully. Drawer bases on either side of the range make stored items easier to access, while custom beetle-kill pine at the open corner cabinet, shelving and refrigerator surround adds warmth and character to the loft.

The finished kitchen came from looking beyond the boundaries of the original space and considering how the entire area could work better.

09/22/2026

What determines the investment in a kitchen or bathroom renovation?

It starts with how much you plan to change. Reworking the layout, moving plumbing or electrical, adding cabinetry, and addressing existing conditions can all affect the work involved.

Materials and fixtures matter, but they are only part of the picture. Labor, installation, construction details, and the decisions required to bring everything together also contribute to the overall investment.

That’s why design and budget need to develop together. A well-defined design gives contractors a much clearer basis for pricing the work—and gives homeowners better information for making decisions.

If you’re considering a kitchen or bath renovation, I have a Kitchen & Bath Investment Guide designed to help you understand what to expect before you begin. Contact Ku Interior Design to request a copy.

09/17/2026

Not every home needs the same level of change.

In this condo, some spaces already worked well. Others presented opportunities to improve function: additional kitchen storage, a more useful laundry room, and a home office that could also accommodate overnight guests.

In the bedroom, an existing soffit influenced the height of the bed, the custom wall-to-wall headboard and the use of wallpaper. Rather than treating each decision separately, they were designed to work together.

Good design starts with understanding what already works, recognizing where change will make a meaningful difference, and recommending the right solution for the home.

09/15/2026

Moving into a new condo? Start planning as soon as possible.

There are decisions that are much easier to make before move-in—furniture placement, window treatments, lighting, wallcoverings, art and how the rooms will relate to one another.

Planning the home as a whole also means individual selections can be made with a clear direction rather than one at a time.

The goal isn’t simply to have everything ready for move-in. It’s to make better decisions before you get there.

09/10/2026

A restrained color palette doesn’t have to feel restrained.

In this Denver condo, a limited palette creates cohesion without making every room look the same.

Variation in shade, value and intensity creates range. Pattern adds movement. Texture changes the way color responds to light. And the balance shifts from room to room—sometimes teal dominates, sometimes purple or gold takes the lead.

That’s an important distinction when I’m designing an entire home. The goal isn’t to repeat the same colors everywhere. It’s to create relationships between the rooms so the home feels considered as a whole.

09/08/2026

How early should you hire an interior designer? Earlier than many homeowners think.

The most useful time to bring in a designer is before the major decisions start getting made.

For a renovation, that means before construction pricing—when the design is developed enough for contractors to understand what they are actually pricing.

For a new home or condo, it can mean before ordering, when there may still be opportunities to evaluate the floor plan, electrical and lighting, cabinetry, finishes and other builder options.

And before move-in, thoughtful planning can help determine how the home should function and what changes make sense before everything arrives.

The goal isn’t necessarily to start construction sooner. It’s to start planning soon enough to make better decisions.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Renovating an older home doesn’t mean making it look new.

In this bathroom, the existing shower location worked, so it stayed. But the enclosure was rethought with a half wall, an interior window aligned with the exterior window, and a recessed niche.

The rest of the room was redesigned with new cabinetry, lighting and materials that feel current while still belonging in the home.

Sometimes the best renovation decisions aren’t about changing everything. They’re about recognizing what works, what doesn’t, and where a change will make the biggest difference.

09/01/2026

Yes, you can remodel a high-rise condo—but the building changes the rules.

HOA requirements, building systems, elevator access, delivery restrictions, work hours and even demolition procedures can affect what’s possible and how the project needs to be planned.

Understanding those constraints early doesn’t limit the design. It gives us the information we need to recognize the possibilities and develop solutions that work within the realities of the building.

I cover more of what Denver condo owners should know before construction begins in “Can You Remodel a High-Rise Condo?” on the Ku Interior Design blog.

Read more at kuinteriordesign.com.

08/29/2026

It’s always meaningful to see a project recognized—and especially nice to see this one in print.

My 1st Place Medium Kitchen from the 2026 NKBA Rocky Mountain Peak Awards is featured in the September/October Kitchens issue of Colorado Homes & Lifestyles.

This Denver high-rise kitchen was part of a much larger renovation, with every decision considered in relation to how the homeowners wanted to live in the entire space. I’m pleased to see it included alongside the other award-winning work from this year's competition.