Budget is usually at the top of the list while making plans to decorate or redecorate your home. It is easy to look at a picture in a magazine and say you want your room to look like that. Sometimes the small finishing items in the pictures can be very expensive may pose a problem for your budget. There's no need to be discouraged because there are always alternate ideas to help you achieve your goal or vision. Resources such as magazines, books, television programs and Internet websites are very helpful with suggestions and ideas for interior decorating ideas. By using these mediums almost always you can find lower priced alternatives to any high priced obstacles you may come across while decorating your home. For instance, using silk plants and artificial flower arrangements instead of real ones will make a huge difference in the cost of purchasing and maintenance. If you're one that loves color there are numerous designs to choose from.
Rustic decorating is fascinating because it focuses on old and handmade type objects. This is the perfect opportunity to display your collectables and trinkets that have been handed down throughout the years. This style suggests using traditional style silk plants or items that may have the look of worn, distressed or antique finishes. If you're a person who fancies antiques, rustic interior decorating may be the fit for you. When choosing paint color for this type of design, darker and warmer shades are suggested. Deep grey or red brick works well in the area of this type of decor. Whimsical is another type of decorating you may find appealing. This type of design lets you go crazy with your imagination using any and all of your favorite colors. You should decorate you space thoroughly with all the colors of your liking, within the same color palette of course. The rule of thumb is if you choose daring bright colors you need to stay within that shade of color. If you decide to use pastel colors stay with colors in that pastel palette.
Traditional design may be for you if you find it hard to move entirely into the modern look of decorating. This decor style combines the modern look with the elegant look of earlier times. Space is the primary concern in this type of design. To help create a spacious atmosphere, colors such as beige or light cafe is recommended for the walls to give them a neutral look. To add a splash of color to the space, darker colors like burgundy, light purples, blues and greens are recommended for fabrics, rugs, etc. When picking out accessories china and crystal objects will compliment this style along with traditional silk plants and trees to fill in the empty corners where there is too much wall showing. You might also like to add some artwork such as paintings with wood frames or turn of the century pictures framed in dark wood.
These are just three of many design types you can choose from. There is one that is right for you and your space. Looking through some sources regarding interior decorating will give you a greater idea of the link between furnishings, flooring, color and accessories. Using your individual tastes and interests you should be able to find a style that works for you. Redecorating your home can transform it into a haven of elegance, enjoyment with a little imagination and a small budget.
The Cathartic Effect of Fountains Beyond Interior Design and Decorating
We often search for peace and relaxation after we have wrestled with big responsibilities and exhausting tasks in the office. Most of us are looking for things or ambiance that will soothe our tired mind and body. Scientific studies show that aside from sleeping, there are several ways to calm and relax our body from stress. Are you one of those who always come home late from work and grapple with mental and physical strain? If you are, you have probably experienced staring at the office water fountains as you pass it by. It certainty makes you to stop and gaze upon it. You may never know the reason for its inducement but two things for sure, you are amazed and at the same time, appeased!
While there is a way of catharsis, many believed that water has the power to purge and cleanse our mind and our body. From the benefits of drinking it, water has therapeutic effects especially when it is flowing water. Asians especially the Chinese believe that flowing water from your indoor floor standing fountains is a lucky sign for continuous money and financial luck aside from the sanative noise it creates.
This belief has actually made a lot of people arrange fountains inside their homes not only for interior design and decorating purposes. Office water fountains may have built to correspond with this reason. Say, the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, Illinois that is built in the heart of the city surrounded with business establishments or the Bethesda Fountain, one of the world's most popular fountains as the crown jewel of New York's Central Park. These fountains and many others in the world aim to give out the benefits of nature's healing capacity.
At home, you can definitely make this ambiance possible. By building an indoor floor standing fountains in your favorite part of the house, the dream of a calm and purging environment is now in your hands. The benefit of having your own fountain at home like those office water fountains is firstly an addition to indoor decoration and to refurbish your house with the state of equilibrium.
The calmness is felt when everything at home is ruled by sense of balance. Your aim of building one at home should be well planned and prepared. Fountain will not operate without electricity which means it should be built safely. Unsafe wirings of your fountain might cause fire. You may never want your house burn caused by your fountain, right? Or it may be the most ironic accident that could happen.
While there is a way of catharsis, many believed that water has the power to purge and cleanse our mind and our body. From the benefits of drinking it, water has therapeutic effects especially when it is flowing water. Asians especially the Chinese believe that flowing water from your indoor floor standing fountains is a lucky sign for continuous money and financial luck aside from the sanative noise it creates.
This belief has actually made a lot of people arrange fountains inside their homes not only for interior design and decorating purposes. Office water fountains may have built to correspond with this reason. Say, the Buckingham Fountain in Chicago, Illinois that is built in the heart of the city surrounded with business establishments or the Bethesda Fountain, one of the world's most popular fountains as the crown jewel of New York's Central Park. These fountains and many others in the world aim to give out the benefits of nature's healing capacity.
At home, you can definitely make this ambiance possible. By building an indoor floor standing fountains in your favorite part of the house, the dream of a calm and purging environment is now in your hands. The benefit of having your own fountain at home like those office water fountains is firstly an addition to indoor decoration and to refurbish your house with the state of equilibrium.
The calmness is felt when everything at home is ruled by sense of balance. Your aim of building one at home should be well planned and prepared. Fountain will not operate without electricity which means it should be built safely. Unsafe wirings of your fountain might cause fire. You may never want your house burn caused by your fountain, right? Or it may be the most ironic accident that could happen.
Creating Sumptuous Spaces - Tips on Interior Design and Decorating
Our homes are our castles, our keep and refuge to which we return after doing battle with corporate dragons, traffic, bureaucratic brain scientists and recalcitrant nursery school tots. And how much more pleasant the experience when the space is to die for. And getting those spaces beautiful is one of life's great pleasures. There is nothing quite like a spot of interior design and decorating therapy to brighten the dingiest day.
Well, most of the time anyway. Sometimes things can really go badly wrong and slips between the drawing board and the paint bucket can cause some spectacularly unexpected and, well, interesting results. Never fear though, there a couple of basic pointers when it comes to decorating that can save the day.
Make your own choices. Although glossy house and home magazines can offer up tons of great ideas, your home is your space and anything you apply should center around your needs, taste and the constraints of the space itself.
Lighting and the effect of furnishings and features affects everything you put into a space, so don't choose fabrics, carpets etc. in the store. Ask for samples or swatches and check them in your home environment.
The same applies to colour. Don't choose paint in a store. Buy a sample and paint a small section of wall and assess the effect in your room. Also remember that texture plays a big role in how colours present themselves. Paint on a smooth wall will look subtly different when applied to a textured finish, particularly as light shifts through the area.
Don't crowd your walls. Unless you have absolutely no choice, don't allow furniture to hug the walls of a room. Group the furniture to create social space and don't be afraid to utilise the centre spaces. Walls are easier to maintain in this way as well.
Don't box yourself in. Points of entry and exit should never be obstructed and logical traffic flows should be left open. This not only makes for an easy flow through the area but facilitates cleaning.
Avoid trends. Trends are gone as quickly as they pop up. Stick with classic, timeless themes and quality furnishings. Neon animal print faux fur may be "in" today but will probably be a source of great embarrassment tomorrow.
Create focal points in an area. Any room benefits hugely from having a feature or furnishings that create strong focal attractions. Arrange the furnishings in the room to maximise the effect of that focal point. At the same time try and keep the focal attraction generic with wide appeal. Uncle Ernie's stuffed whale head is not a good idea for the living room wall.
Well, most of the time anyway. Sometimes things can really go badly wrong and slips between the drawing board and the paint bucket can cause some spectacularly unexpected and, well, interesting results. Never fear though, there a couple of basic pointers when it comes to decorating that can save the day.
Make your own choices. Although glossy house and home magazines can offer up tons of great ideas, your home is your space and anything you apply should center around your needs, taste and the constraints of the space itself.
Lighting and the effect of furnishings and features affects everything you put into a space, so don't choose fabrics, carpets etc. in the store. Ask for samples or swatches and check them in your home environment.
The same applies to colour. Don't choose paint in a store. Buy a sample and paint a small section of wall and assess the effect in your room. Also remember that texture plays a big role in how colours present themselves. Paint on a smooth wall will look subtly different when applied to a textured finish, particularly as light shifts through the area.
Don't crowd your walls. Unless you have absolutely no choice, don't allow furniture to hug the walls of a room. Group the furniture to create social space and don't be afraid to utilise the centre spaces. Walls are easier to maintain in this way as well.
Don't box yourself in. Points of entry and exit should never be obstructed and logical traffic flows should be left open. This not only makes for an easy flow through the area but facilitates cleaning.
Avoid trends. Trends are gone as quickly as they pop up. Stick with classic, timeless themes and quality furnishings. Neon animal print faux fur may be "in" today but will probably be a source of great embarrassment tomorrow.
Create focal points in an area. Any room benefits hugely from having a feature or furnishings that create strong focal attractions. Arrange the furnishings in the room to maximise the effect of that focal point. At the same time try and keep the focal attraction generic with wide appeal. Uncle Ernie's stuffed whale head is not a good idea for the living room wall.
Interior Design and Decorating in Limited Urban Space
When new home owners try to picture out the interior design and decorating, they might cringe at the thought. Most people who can already afford their homes have set aside a budget for the interior design and decors but do not like the idea of having to plan and start the theme for their house. That is when the idea of hiring interior designers comes in handy especially when the owner has no background or idea of the right way to spice up their living space in the big metro.
The idea of limited space in urban homes is a reality. Most of these city houses have a few square feet spare for patios or small yards in the front or back. The idea of urbanized living space is to find a functional limited space and transform it into a chic but livable place for young professionals or starting couples. This can be challenging for lay persons who could only look at the confined area of small condos or apartments in the big city.
But with the development of decors that are affordable and easy to find, decorating your urban space can no longer be that of a hard work. Metal materials generally swamp decors sections in most shops since they are durable, malleable for easy designs, and look sophisticatedly modern. A great example would be metal wall clocks that can last for a long time, great in many interior designs, and modern pieces. Innovative décor companies also include organizer furniture and decors like the shoe rack and many others that can help your place more organized and spacious.
Cabinets and pantries are usually incorporated into the interior design of a room and seem to be concealed for the most part. The many compartments for the modern kitchen in most condos, for example, are placed underneath kitchen counters or overhead to strategically maximize the tight kitchen space. Good thing that most appliances are made in mini modes and are easily placed in small places around the kitchen. Targeting for a minimal but functional theme can truly help in maximizing the rest of the limited space in the condo or apartment units.
Getting the right kind of designer to do your design and décor can also be a great contributor for your urban zone revamp or start. Ask for recommendations from friends or families who have a great place to boast about and ignore the pricy tags of commended professionals who ask for too much for their service fees. Settle for a designer who can recommend lesser but not less creative alternative design schemes for your living space.
Remember that your living space and the interior design and decorating are essential to keep yourselves happy and calm in your own little private sanctuary. Couples should seriously consider the right designer to guide them in design and decors. Do not try to invest in novice designers who can disappoint you with too much enthusiasm and your place might end up looking like an art experiment. You must also stay clear of the most in demand designer to do your living space for you as they can end up doing too little for too much payment. Settle instead for someone who understands you concept and respect it no matter what.
The idea of limited space in urban homes is a reality. Most of these city houses have a few square feet spare for patios or small yards in the front or back. The idea of urbanized living space is to find a functional limited space and transform it into a chic but livable place for young professionals or starting couples. This can be challenging for lay persons who could only look at the confined area of small condos or apartments in the big city.
But with the development of decors that are affordable and easy to find, decorating your urban space can no longer be that of a hard work. Metal materials generally swamp decors sections in most shops since they are durable, malleable for easy designs, and look sophisticatedly modern. A great example would be metal wall clocks that can last for a long time, great in many interior designs, and modern pieces. Innovative décor companies also include organizer furniture and decors like the shoe rack and many others that can help your place more organized and spacious.
Cabinets and pantries are usually incorporated into the interior design of a room and seem to be concealed for the most part. The many compartments for the modern kitchen in most condos, for example, are placed underneath kitchen counters or overhead to strategically maximize the tight kitchen space. Good thing that most appliances are made in mini modes and are easily placed in small places around the kitchen. Targeting for a minimal but functional theme can truly help in maximizing the rest of the limited space in the condo or apartment units.
Getting the right kind of designer to do your design and décor can also be a great contributor for your urban zone revamp or start. Ask for recommendations from friends or families who have a great place to boast about and ignore the pricy tags of commended professionals who ask for too much for their service fees. Settle for a designer who can recommend lesser but not less creative alternative design schemes for your living space.
Remember that your living space and the interior design and decorating are essential to keep yourselves happy and calm in your own little private sanctuary. Couples should seriously consider the right designer to guide them in design and decors. Do not try to invest in novice designers who can disappoint you with too much enthusiasm and your place might end up looking like an art experiment. You must also stay clear of the most in demand designer to do your living space for you as they can end up doing too little for too much payment. Settle instead for someone who understands you concept and respect it no matter what.
Interior Design And Decorating - Economical Picture Frames
People say that home is where the heart is. Therefore careful planning is essential for the success of our home because, after all, no matter the troubles and the obstacles we encounter everyday, we always come home and rest our weary bodies. Our homes are the picture of us and an expression of our individuality. In relation to this, there are elaborate houses with the best interiors and decoration while there are houses that are simple yet classy and beautiful. Whatever you like, the most important thing is that you are happy at the end of the day coming home and resting your exhausted body. There are others who seek the skills of interior designers to beautify their houses which will bring pleasure to the owner's eyes and that of the visitor while there are others that simply contemplate on their own ideas of interior designing and decorating. If you are on a budget constraint but still want to uphold the beauty of the house you are aspiring, you can choose picture frames as a good alternative to pricey decorations.
Frames can either be placed on surfaces like desks, tables and even on walls so choose your pick. Frames are casings of images such as photographs, paintings and drawings and they exist for the sole purpose of preserving the beauty of such while providing beauty to an empty wall, table or desks. You can choose from materials such as the classic gold, silver and bronze, woods, aluminum, plastics, seashells and other materials available.
Prices of picture frames depends on the size, colors, styles, shapes and materials used. First thing to consider is to determine the size you want like for instance you can choose from 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14 and 16x20. Good news for you, you can consider multiple picture frames as an efficient indoor decorating that is affordable at the same time beautiful. There are 3 openings, 7 opening and 9 openings available with various styles and colors according to your needs and the needs of your household. You can choose from vintage picture frames, bala picture frames, wooden picture frames, petal picture photo frame and other styles that you can be proud of.
If you specifically want pictures that can be mounted on walls, you can choose to consider wall picture frames as an efficient choice. Walls with frames will really spice up the look of your hallways and walls that will serve as your focal area. Simple houses with beautiful and appropriate frames will be appealing not only for you but for the people around. There are also colors, styles and sizes with different materials available according to your preferences. For instance you can choose from Dakota wall trapeze, family crossroads collage, vintage picture frames and other wall mounted frames.
Achieve elaborate interior design and decoration with the help of picture frames that are cheap and affordable but exhibits good results at the same time. You can find one in nearby stores but if you want unique ones you can search and look in the internet for more quality and beautiful works. Indeed, these frames will give beauty to your empty and dull desks, tables and walls not to mention the memories it can bring. Pictures that are well-preserved with the help of frames will certainly last a lifetime.
Low Cost Interior Design and Decorating Tips
Thinking of a home or office renovation, but worried about the cost of the interior designing and decorating? Do you think you can't afford to spend much on the interior designing but wish for an elegant make over for your room? You don't have to get vexed about not having too much money to spend on your decoration, because you can do a fabulous job of decorating your house without spending much of your pennies, if you do it wise.
Plan your budget
Low or high, you should always have a specific budget plan for your work, rather than saying 'I want the room's interior design to be done at a low cost it is better to have an idea of how much you are ready to spend. Coming to the correct value may not be possible but giving an almost accurate estimate will always help. Divide your budget under different task like, $ 100 for new furniture, $ 50 for paint etc rather than quoting the whole amount. But remember your budget plan should be realistic and should be strictly followed for a successful low cost interior designing.
Be the interior designer yourself
Hiring a firm or a specialist to do the makeover might give you a completely remarkable room or office, but remember the more established they are, the more you will end up paying them for the service alone. So it is best to take your imagination into play and come up with how much you are going to spent and what would have to be changed or introduced. You can refer articles in magazines or the internet to get ample ideas on how to do the job at minimum cost.
Shop low and wide
You are planning to decorate the interiors of the room, so it calls for full day fun shopping. Are you aware that most of the goods you buy at the branded Shoppe may be available at an unbelievably slashed price in local shops and auction houses? So take your time to hunt in the second hand shops, bargain market and any shop with a year ending sale or shop renovation sale sign board. You are going to hit on something great at an unbelievable price. But just getting the thing at a low price should not tempt you to buy it; you should buy only those things you came to shop for. Otherwise, the low priced shopping experience will turn to a conflicting one.
Get your things auctioned
If you are renovating the place, you may have to remove a piece of furniture, curtains and a lot of junk you may no longer require. Rather than shifting them to the storeroom, you can get these things sold at a low price to get a tip on your budget; you can either auction it or sell it to a second hand shop. Remember your stuff might not fetch much, but removing these will help you to de clutter the room and at the same time get a small raise on your budget. But if you are doing the interior designing and decorating from start, don't worry for not having anything to sell; you can have an option of choosing very wisely and designing the room afresh with no time loss.
Reuse your stuff
You can use a lot of things at hand in a novel and creative way to make the interior designing a fun and creative experience. You can make a cushion cover out of your old curtain by stitching together the pieces but while choosing the fabric, see to it that it either gives an arresting effect to the otherwise blunt room or else combine with the mood of it. You can also use an old piece of furniture and polish it to make a centrepiece of the room. Your grandmother's chest drawer can boast the main attraction in your drawing room if you space it well and take care to project it.
Decorative pieces
Decorative items and wall painting can come in any range and sometimes it may cost you a fortune. But it's not just costly decorative pieces and antique collections that can make your interior boast a good appearance. You can use a family portrait or a painting your little one did to give a new look to the walls. These paintings and photos don't just come free, they are worthless and just a good frame will do the job. Similarly you can also use decorative candles and gift pieces in a creative way to change the face of your room.
Plan your budget
Low or high, you should always have a specific budget plan for your work, rather than saying 'I want the room's interior design to be done at a low cost it is better to have an idea of how much you are ready to spend. Coming to the correct value may not be possible but giving an almost accurate estimate will always help. Divide your budget under different task like, $ 100 for new furniture, $ 50 for paint etc rather than quoting the whole amount. But remember your budget plan should be realistic and should be strictly followed for a successful low cost interior designing.
Be the interior designer yourself
Hiring a firm or a specialist to do the makeover might give you a completely remarkable room or office, but remember the more established they are, the more you will end up paying them for the service alone. So it is best to take your imagination into play and come up with how much you are going to spent and what would have to be changed or introduced. You can refer articles in magazines or the internet to get ample ideas on how to do the job at minimum cost.
Shop low and wide
You are planning to decorate the interiors of the room, so it calls for full day fun shopping. Are you aware that most of the goods you buy at the branded Shoppe may be available at an unbelievably slashed price in local shops and auction houses? So take your time to hunt in the second hand shops, bargain market and any shop with a year ending sale or shop renovation sale sign board. You are going to hit on something great at an unbelievable price. But just getting the thing at a low price should not tempt you to buy it; you should buy only those things you came to shop for. Otherwise, the low priced shopping experience will turn to a conflicting one.
Get your things auctioned
If you are renovating the place, you may have to remove a piece of furniture, curtains and a lot of junk you may no longer require. Rather than shifting them to the storeroom, you can get these things sold at a low price to get a tip on your budget; you can either auction it or sell it to a second hand shop. Remember your stuff might not fetch much, but removing these will help you to de clutter the room and at the same time get a small raise on your budget. But if you are doing the interior designing and decorating from start, don't worry for not having anything to sell; you can have an option of choosing very wisely and designing the room afresh with no time loss.
Reuse your stuff
You can use a lot of things at hand in a novel and creative way to make the interior designing a fun and creative experience. You can make a cushion cover out of your old curtain by stitching together the pieces but while choosing the fabric, see to it that it either gives an arresting effect to the otherwise blunt room or else combine with the mood of it. You can also use an old piece of furniture and polish it to make a centrepiece of the room. Your grandmother's chest drawer can boast the main attraction in your drawing room if you space it well and take care to project it.
Decorative pieces
Decorative items and wall painting can come in any range and sometimes it may cost you a fortune. But it's not just costly decorative pieces and antique collections that can make your interior boast a good appearance. You can use a family portrait or a painting your little one did to give a new look to the walls. These paintings and photos don't just come free, they are worthless and just a good frame will do the job. Similarly you can also use decorative candles and gift pieces in a creative way to change the face of your room.
The Great Rewards of Interior Design and Decorating
Interior design and decorating has been among the famous ways to improve the internal aspect of the house or any establishment. This practice of designing and decorating the interior of the house has become common and public since most if not all households desire that they live in a residence that provide them the best of comfort and security. Interior design and decorating primarily focuses on the improvement of the appearance or aesthetic of the furniture, design, decors, appliances, and other equipment inside the house.
Practically, interior designing and decorating improves not only the owner's satisfaction of living in the building but such practice also increases the market value of the house. Most houses have enormous price tag not only because they are strategically located or that their foundations are strong but also because the interior of the house has a magnificent appearance of strength, quality, and beauty combined. Thus, some houses have interiors that cost double than the structure itself since the appliances include an integrated 3D television, the sofa is classical, top of the line couch, and a complete set of home entertainment among others.
Among the different great benefits that interior design and decorating provides for the homeowners are the feeling of outstanding comfort and relaxation, the pride of owning such a splendid house, the certainty of higher market valuation in case of selling or mortgaging such property, and the security of having a safe and sound residential building. With the top of the line appliances and furniture arranged in the most elegant manner, the dwellers should undoubtedly enjoy every moment they are inside the house.
Having an elegantly designed and decorated home interior also boosts confidence and pride of the owner to invite guests and host parties. This gut comes from the satisfaction that the house is very prepared for such functions and can very well accommodate every desire of the guests. The homeowner will also enjoy the financial benefit of having a highly valued and appraised real estate property at his disposal. Interior design and decorating is but another form of investment in your housing unit. This ensures that your home does not only incur depreciation but also an upswing of its value in the market.
Finally, this practice updates the safety and lucky arrangements of the interior fixtures and decorations. The safety features of the internal aspect of the house are checked and upgraded with modern security equipment that suit the overall design concept of the building. In oriental practice especially that of the Chinese, the belief that the arrangements of furnitures and fixtures inside the house either attract or repel luck and fortune.
With all of these great promises and rewards of interior design and decorating, no wonder almost every household has an utmost interest and desire to redesign and redecorate their interior so that it suits and fits with one's standards of excellence, comfort, and style plus it also provides them advantages in the financial and fortune matters.
Practically, interior designing and decorating improves not only the owner's satisfaction of living in the building but such practice also increases the market value of the house. Most houses have enormous price tag not only because they are strategically located or that their foundations are strong but also because the interior of the house has a magnificent appearance of strength, quality, and beauty combined. Thus, some houses have interiors that cost double than the structure itself since the appliances include an integrated 3D television, the sofa is classical, top of the line couch, and a complete set of home entertainment among others.
Among the different great benefits that interior design and decorating provides for the homeowners are the feeling of outstanding comfort and relaxation, the pride of owning such a splendid house, the certainty of higher market valuation in case of selling or mortgaging such property, and the security of having a safe and sound residential building. With the top of the line appliances and furniture arranged in the most elegant manner, the dwellers should undoubtedly enjoy every moment they are inside the house.
Having an elegantly designed and decorated home interior also boosts confidence and pride of the owner to invite guests and host parties. This gut comes from the satisfaction that the house is very prepared for such functions and can very well accommodate every desire of the guests. The homeowner will also enjoy the financial benefit of having a highly valued and appraised real estate property at his disposal. Interior design and decorating is but another form of investment in your housing unit. This ensures that your home does not only incur depreciation but also an upswing of its value in the market.
Finally, this practice updates the safety and lucky arrangements of the interior fixtures and decorations. The safety features of the internal aspect of the house are checked and upgraded with modern security equipment that suit the overall design concept of the building. In oriental practice especially that of the Chinese, the belief that the arrangements of furnitures and fixtures inside the house either attract or repel luck and fortune.
With all of these great promises and rewards of interior design and decorating, no wonder almost every household has an utmost interest and desire to redesign and redecorate their interior so that it suits and fits with one's standards of excellence, comfort, and style plus it also provides them advantages in the financial and fortune matters.
How to Find the Right Designer for Your Interior Design and Decorating Projects
Looking for an interior designer or interior decorator can be overwhelming if you are not sure which designer you need for the scope or your project. Are you building, renovating or moving and need professional advice? Are you planning to sell your property and not sure how to get ready for the first inspection?
This document gives you answers to frequently asked questions in regards to interior design, interior decorating, colour consulting and property styling.
It will help you finding the right designer for your interior design and decorating projects and eventually create your individual style in your home.
What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior stylist?
You may have asked yourself this question already when facing a building or renovation project. Do I need an interior designer, an interior decorator, a colour consultant or an interior stylist?
The answer is that it depends on the scope of the project.
An interior designer is a skilled professional who is designing interior environments according to your briefing. The interior designer either modifies what already exists (renovation) or provides an entirely new design for a space (new build). In this case the interior designer works closely with the architect and comes in at an early stage of the project. Interior designers work either along a team in design firm or on their own.
What is the job of an interior stylist? An interior stylist is a designer or consultant in a field subject to changes in style, especially fashion or interior decoration. An interior stylist cultivates or maintains any particular style and in most cases stylist are finders, keepers and collectors of beautiful objects.
The interior stylist can help you finding your own style, creating beautiful interiors that are unique and meaningful. This can be achieved with the simplest things and does not have to be expensive. The only thing you need to do is keep your eyes open to beautiful things in nature, architecture, design, museums, art, exhibitions, books, textiles and travel. There is only one rule: Only collect or buy things that mean something to you!
How does a colour consultation work?
The colour consultation focuses on creating a colour scheme for a specific room or space or the whole house according to your briefing. A qualified colour consultant can help you with interior and exterior colour schemes.
Prior to designing a colour scheme for you the colour consultant should always talk to you about the mood and atmosphere you would like to achieve in your space. He will explain to you the differences between the paint companies and their products and choose the right product for your needs. After designing the colour scheme you will receive a written recommendation including a specification sheet and brushouts ready for your painter to start.
Why is it important to seek advice from a designer when choosing colours?
Colour is the most powerful tool when it comes to non-verbal communication and the design element that makes a space come alive. Colour brings individuality in a space and it is one of the most useful tools to master when finding your own style.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, says in her book Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color: "Among other uses, color stimulates and works synergistically with all of the senses, symbolizes abstract concepts and thoughts, expresses fantasy or wish fulfillment, recalls another time or place and produces an aesthetic or emotional response."
When choosing a colour for a room or house it is important to think about the mood and atmosphere you would like to achieve. Is it a dark room or flooded with natural light? In which direction is the room facing? How are the proportions? Do you live in a small apartment or a contemporary newly built house with open plan living areas? All this needs to be considered when choosing colours for a space.
If you are overwhelmed by the choice of colours available - yes, there are thousands on the market - how can you start finding your personal colour scheme?
For some people it is a longer journey, for others it comes more naturally. The most important thing is to take some time, open your eyes, walk around your home and absorb the colour combinations you see. Then start gathering all the pieces you love. This can be anything from old porcelain, travel souvenirs, photographs, artwork, clothes, tear sheets from magazines, fabric swatches, stationary, a collection of stones, feathers or glass objects.
And don't forget nature as inspiration for a colour scheme (interior or exterior). If you live near the ocean, shades of blues and greens can be used to link your interior with its surroundings. Flowers, butterflies, stones, shells, driftwood are fantastic inspirations for colour schemes.
Once you have gathered all your beloved treasures in one spot, play around with the pieces, group them by colours and you will see a colour palette emerge. This "moodboard" is a great starting point for your interior designer, interior stylist or colour consultant to help you creating an individual and personal space, a home that reflects who you are and a place that you love coming home to.
Stylist's tip: Before you start painting always buy a test pot and paint a large sheet of paper or cardboard (one square metre) with your colour. Tape it to the walls in your room and study it for a couple of days. Look at it in daylight and artificial light. This is very important as colours change depending on the light, the orientation of the room, other colours in the room and spatial elements like furniture and artwork for example.
What is the difference between a colour and a styling consultation?
The colour consultation focuses on creating a colour scheme for a specific room or space or the whole house according to your briefing. A qualified colour consultant can help you with interior and exterior colour schemes.
The styling consultation focuses on creating a certain (Your) style in your home or simply on answering all your questions about colours, style, furniture sourcing and placement, art sourcing and placement, displays of your collections, accessories, proportions in a space, lighting etc.
Again it is vital that the designer listens to what you would like to achieve (briefing) and makes sure that he understood what you want (debriefing). Don't let the interior designer or interior stylist talk you into something you don't like!
How do I maximise the output of my styling consultation?
Are you planning to colour, redecorate or renovate, but don't know where to start? Do you have lots of questions about colour schemes, furniture placement, how to display your collections, books or other beloved things? Are you not sure whether to redecorate with your old furniture and accessories or to renovate and create a new look? Do you need inspirations where to source furniture and accessories, second hand pieces or antiques?
If you prepare your first consultation with your stylist properly, you will get answers to all the questions you have. Here are my tips how to maximise the output from your styling or colour consultation:
• Be clear what you would like the outcome of the consultation to be.
• Decide which room or space you would like to focus on. Is it only one room or the whole house?
• Prepare yourself with tear sheets from interior design magazines like Real Living, Inside Out, Belle or Vogue Living. There are plenty on the market so choose the one that speaks to you most and start collecting pages of everything you like: colour schemes, furniture, accessories, room layouts, rugs, flooring, wallpaper, decorative items and everything that speaks to you. If you do this for a couple of weeks you will clearly see what you like and find your own personal style.
• Keep your eyes open to the beautiful things around you: nature, architecture, design, museums, art, exhibitions, books, textiles and travel.
• Make sure that your stylist is listening and explain what you want to achieve with your styling project, what you would like a room to do for you and what mood you would like to create in your space.
And finally one of the most important things: Don't let the stylist talk you into something you don't like! You have to live in the space and you need to feel comfortable and at home! It is all about creating your home with your personal touch.
How do I find my own style?
The answer is as simple as this: explore the world around you and appreciate the beauty that lies within everything you discover!
Keep your eyes open and your mind excited! Discover and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you every day! Find inspiration in nature, buildings, shops, exhibitions, museums, art, events, markets, magazines and of course books.
One of my favourite books I spotted in a museum shop is called: How to be an explorer of the world by Keri Smith. On the back it says: "At any given moment, no matter where you are, there are hundreds of things around you that are interesting and worth documenting."
A stylist's tip: always carry a little notebook and a pen with you in order to be able to sketch, doodle and write down what you discover.
Keep all your findings, notes and pictures in a folder or box and keep searching for at least four to eight weeks. Then start to group things by colour or theme and you will discover what your style is. And there are no rules. It is all about finding what you like!
Books for your inspiration
This is a list of books that I personally own and love! They are all a fantastic source of inspiration and creative ideas for your home.
Sibella Court: Bowerbird
Shannon Fricke: Sense of Style
Megan Morton: Home Love
Holly Becker: Decorate
Susanna Salk: Be Your Own Decorator
Geraldine James: Creative Walls
Hans Blomquist: The Natural Home
Is it necessary to seek advice from a stylist when I want to sell my property?
If you plan to sell your house it is worth investing in a styling consultation. A professional property stylist can help you to achieve maximum impact when presenting your home to potential buyers. A property stylist will help you to get ready for the first inspection by giving you advice on how to style your house with what you have. He will help you with colour schemes that attract potential buyers. He will also advice if you need rental furniture to style each room according to its function and help potential buyers to envisage themselves in the space. Property styling is all about creating a wow factor in key areas of your home and help the buyers to envisage themselves in your space. Once the styling is done don't forget to book your stylist for the real estate photography shoot to make sure everything looks perfect on this day!
This document gives you answers to frequently asked questions in regards to interior design, interior decorating, colour consulting and property styling.
It will help you finding the right designer for your interior design and decorating projects and eventually create your individual style in your home.
What is the difference between an interior designer and an interior stylist?
You may have asked yourself this question already when facing a building or renovation project. Do I need an interior designer, an interior decorator, a colour consultant or an interior stylist?
The answer is that it depends on the scope of the project.
An interior designer is a skilled professional who is designing interior environments according to your briefing. The interior designer either modifies what already exists (renovation) or provides an entirely new design for a space (new build). In this case the interior designer works closely with the architect and comes in at an early stage of the project. Interior designers work either along a team in design firm or on their own.
What is the job of an interior stylist? An interior stylist is a designer or consultant in a field subject to changes in style, especially fashion or interior decoration. An interior stylist cultivates or maintains any particular style and in most cases stylist are finders, keepers and collectors of beautiful objects.
The interior stylist can help you finding your own style, creating beautiful interiors that are unique and meaningful. This can be achieved with the simplest things and does not have to be expensive. The only thing you need to do is keep your eyes open to beautiful things in nature, architecture, design, museums, art, exhibitions, books, textiles and travel. There is only one rule: Only collect or buy things that mean something to you!
How does a colour consultation work?
The colour consultation focuses on creating a colour scheme for a specific room or space or the whole house according to your briefing. A qualified colour consultant can help you with interior and exterior colour schemes.
Prior to designing a colour scheme for you the colour consultant should always talk to you about the mood and atmosphere you would like to achieve in your space. He will explain to you the differences between the paint companies and their products and choose the right product for your needs. After designing the colour scheme you will receive a written recommendation including a specification sheet and brushouts ready for your painter to start.
Why is it important to seek advice from a designer when choosing colours?
Colour is the most powerful tool when it comes to non-verbal communication and the design element that makes a space come alive. Colour brings individuality in a space and it is one of the most useful tools to master when finding your own style.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, says in her book Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color: "Among other uses, color stimulates and works synergistically with all of the senses, symbolizes abstract concepts and thoughts, expresses fantasy or wish fulfillment, recalls another time or place and produces an aesthetic or emotional response."
When choosing a colour for a room or house it is important to think about the mood and atmosphere you would like to achieve. Is it a dark room or flooded with natural light? In which direction is the room facing? How are the proportions? Do you live in a small apartment or a contemporary newly built house with open plan living areas? All this needs to be considered when choosing colours for a space.
If you are overwhelmed by the choice of colours available - yes, there are thousands on the market - how can you start finding your personal colour scheme?
For some people it is a longer journey, for others it comes more naturally. The most important thing is to take some time, open your eyes, walk around your home and absorb the colour combinations you see. Then start gathering all the pieces you love. This can be anything from old porcelain, travel souvenirs, photographs, artwork, clothes, tear sheets from magazines, fabric swatches, stationary, a collection of stones, feathers or glass objects.
And don't forget nature as inspiration for a colour scheme (interior or exterior). If you live near the ocean, shades of blues and greens can be used to link your interior with its surroundings. Flowers, butterflies, stones, shells, driftwood are fantastic inspirations for colour schemes.
Once you have gathered all your beloved treasures in one spot, play around with the pieces, group them by colours and you will see a colour palette emerge. This "moodboard" is a great starting point for your interior designer, interior stylist or colour consultant to help you creating an individual and personal space, a home that reflects who you are and a place that you love coming home to.
Stylist's tip: Before you start painting always buy a test pot and paint a large sheet of paper or cardboard (one square metre) with your colour. Tape it to the walls in your room and study it for a couple of days. Look at it in daylight and artificial light. This is very important as colours change depending on the light, the orientation of the room, other colours in the room and spatial elements like furniture and artwork for example.
What is the difference between a colour and a styling consultation?
The colour consultation focuses on creating a colour scheme for a specific room or space or the whole house according to your briefing. A qualified colour consultant can help you with interior and exterior colour schemes.
The styling consultation focuses on creating a certain (Your) style in your home or simply on answering all your questions about colours, style, furniture sourcing and placement, art sourcing and placement, displays of your collections, accessories, proportions in a space, lighting etc.
Again it is vital that the designer listens to what you would like to achieve (briefing) and makes sure that he understood what you want (debriefing). Don't let the interior designer or interior stylist talk you into something you don't like!
How do I maximise the output of my styling consultation?
Are you planning to colour, redecorate or renovate, but don't know where to start? Do you have lots of questions about colour schemes, furniture placement, how to display your collections, books or other beloved things? Are you not sure whether to redecorate with your old furniture and accessories or to renovate and create a new look? Do you need inspirations where to source furniture and accessories, second hand pieces or antiques?
If you prepare your first consultation with your stylist properly, you will get answers to all the questions you have. Here are my tips how to maximise the output from your styling or colour consultation:
• Be clear what you would like the outcome of the consultation to be.
• Decide which room or space you would like to focus on. Is it only one room or the whole house?
• Prepare yourself with tear sheets from interior design magazines like Real Living, Inside Out, Belle or Vogue Living. There are plenty on the market so choose the one that speaks to you most and start collecting pages of everything you like: colour schemes, furniture, accessories, room layouts, rugs, flooring, wallpaper, decorative items and everything that speaks to you. If you do this for a couple of weeks you will clearly see what you like and find your own personal style.
• Keep your eyes open to the beautiful things around you: nature, architecture, design, museums, art, exhibitions, books, textiles and travel.
• Make sure that your stylist is listening and explain what you want to achieve with your styling project, what you would like a room to do for you and what mood you would like to create in your space.
And finally one of the most important things: Don't let the stylist talk you into something you don't like! You have to live in the space and you need to feel comfortable and at home! It is all about creating your home with your personal touch.
How do I find my own style?
The answer is as simple as this: explore the world around you and appreciate the beauty that lies within everything you discover!
Keep your eyes open and your mind excited! Discover and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you every day! Find inspiration in nature, buildings, shops, exhibitions, museums, art, events, markets, magazines and of course books.
One of my favourite books I spotted in a museum shop is called: How to be an explorer of the world by Keri Smith. On the back it says: "At any given moment, no matter where you are, there are hundreds of things around you that are interesting and worth documenting."
A stylist's tip: always carry a little notebook and a pen with you in order to be able to sketch, doodle and write down what you discover.
Keep all your findings, notes and pictures in a folder or box and keep searching for at least four to eight weeks. Then start to group things by colour or theme and you will discover what your style is. And there are no rules. It is all about finding what you like!
Books for your inspiration
This is a list of books that I personally own and love! They are all a fantastic source of inspiration and creative ideas for your home.
Sibella Court: Bowerbird
Shannon Fricke: Sense of Style
Megan Morton: Home Love
Holly Becker: Decorate
Susanna Salk: Be Your Own Decorator
Geraldine James: Creative Walls
Hans Blomquist: The Natural Home
Is it necessary to seek advice from a stylist when I want to sell my property?
If you plan to sell your house it is worth investing in a styling consultation. A professional property stylist can help you to achieve maximum impact when presenting your home to potential buyers. A property stylist will help you to get ready for the first inspection by giving you advice on how to style your house with what you have. He will help you with colour schemes that attract potential buyers. He will also advice if you need rental furniture to style each room according to its function and help potential buyers to envisage themselves in the space. Property styling is all about creating a wow factor in key areas of your home and help the buyers to envisage themselves in your space. Once the styling is done don't forget to book your stylist for the real estate photography shoot to make sure everything looks perfect on this day!
Interior Design and Decorating
Have you ever known or met a person that just as a natural gift for interior decorating and designing? Those people don't even have to go to any special school to learn this trade; it is just within them! However, if you are not one of those gifted souls and would love to learn this trade, for the intrepid interior designer and decorator there are many career choices. Some people prefer working as a general interior designer and decorator. Others prefer to specialize in one kind of designing and decorating such as those shown in southern home designing and decorating or perhaps the western interior designing decorating theme.
Office interior decorating and decorating has lots of different specialties for example: blue print drawing, hallway design or lobby desigtning decorating etc. It is important to remember the goal of designing and decorating an office that would make the the clients and employees environment feel more at home than instead of a work space.
If you choose to a specialized field of interior design and decorating there are some downsides you need to be aware of. Most important to remember if you limit your scope for a certain specialized area of interior design and decorating, you are also limiting your number of clients.
There are also upsides to specializing in one particular area of interior design and decorating. Due diligences will be an asset in helping you make a name for yourself and perhaps become one of the top few interior designers and decorators in your specialized area of expertise.
Interior design and decorating is a specialized career with many opportunities. If you have natural creative and artistic talent this is a great way to express your personal creativity. ~Anthony Benjamin~
Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings.
Office interior decorating and decorating has lots of different specialties for example: blue print drawing, hallway design or lobby desigtning decorating etc. It is important to remember the goal of designing and decorating an office that would make the the clients and employees environment feel more at home than instead of a work space.
If you choose to a specialized field of interior design and decorating there are some downsides you need to be aware of. Most important to remember if you limit your scope for a certain specialized area of interior design and decorating, you are also limiting your number of clients.
There are also upsides to specializing in one particular area of interior design and decorating. Due diligences will be an asset in helping you make a name for yourself and perhaps become one of the top few interior designers and decorators in your specialized area of expertise.
Interior design and decorating is a specialized career with many opportunities. If you have natural creative and artistic talent this is a great way to express your personal creativity. ~Anthony Benjamin~
Anthony Benjamin is an avid world traveler, lover of nature and animals. He loves to write and share his wealth of information and adventures in his writings.
Cheap Interior Design and Decoration
Most people spend a lot of money for the interior design. Sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Can someone make a beautiful interior design and decoration without spending a lot of money? Of course he can. I do not claim that the result will be the same with an interior design made by a professional and getting the most expensive furniture, but you can have a "good" result with just a few money. Some people take loans in order to decorate their house. This is unacceptable for me.
Here are some ideas for cheap decoration and interior.
1) Take a used sofa and get some nice covers. It will look very nice, believe me. Even if the sofa is partially damaged nobody will notice. But you must be careful just to be comfortable, and not to be damaged and have problems when someone is going to sit. I am talking about visual damages that will be covered by the covers.
2) Use many pictures on your wall to fill it instead of getting expensive furniture. A picture can replace a lot of things. It also makes the room look bigger as it does not require any space. In children rooms and bedrooms you can even use cheap posters. Posters also have the plus that you can put on the wall whatever you like, for example your favourite singer or band, your favourite team etc.
For the living room it is not good to use posters. You need normal pictures with frames. But don't worry there are also cheap pictures, unless you want to buy an original painting. But why should you do that? who will understand if the painting is original or not. Unless you invite in your house art experts. But even in this occasion you can not impress them anyway without spending a lot of money, so concentrate on the appearance and the interior design.
How to choose a picture for your living room and how to place it is an other topic that will need time to mention now. If you want to see more you can visit my website and find completely free interior design and decorating ideas. I don't try to make money from that, just share my ideas. Maybe you should also have a look there. And remember do not spend money if you don't have money. You can make wonderful things with just a few hundreds dollars!
Interior Design and Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Do you live in an apartment, dorm or a space that when you spread both arms out, opposite walls are being touched? It is very common to live in a small space or have a small living space that you would like to make more use of. Decorating small spaces to be more functional is a large part of what interior designers do and they are here to help. The classic question of how to make the best design choices for small spaces is about to be answered by following these interior design tips!
Tip 1: How to Make Small Seem Larger
It can be tough for those who did not go to a top interior design college to make a small space feel airy and open, but these interior design tips will be a great place to start. One of the easiest ways to create an open flow to any room is to have armless furniture. This will facilitate an unfettered look with the illusion of more space. Also placing larger pieces of furniture back to back, such as a couch and a table, will leave an expansive border around the largest pieces of furniture in the room. You can also seem to add space by covering unattractive storage with a tapestry or artwork. These simple interior design tips will quickly expand your small space.
Tip 2: How to Make Small Functional
Now that there seems to be more airiness in your space, you now have to make your space functional. The first step to functional living is to realize that there just might not be enough room for everything to have its own space, and serious organization is essential. Wall shelving can be used for organizational boxes. You can also use the walls of your kitchen to hang pots, pans and potholders. Remember that the walls, cabinets and awkward spaces within your dwelling are all possible places to store and organize your things.
Tip 3: How to Make Small a Destination
Don't just use your small space, but make your small or under-used spaces a destination within your home. Take an unused part of the living space, like the top of the stairs and add a bench and a reading lamp with a functional reading or knitting basket that can easily fit underneath the bench. This organized, but welcoming look will have you reading for hours and feeling completely relaxed in your small space in no time. If you have a window area, creating this reading area with natural light will make it all the more cozy. Just because a small area is not currently being used doesn't mean it can't be!
Tip 1: How to Make Small Seem Larger
It can be tough for those who did not go to a top interior design college to make a small space feel airy and open, but these interior design tips will be a great place to start. One of the easiest ways to create an open flow to any room is to have armless furniture. This will facilitate an unfettered look with the illusion of more space. Also placing larger pieces of furniture back to back, such as a couch and a table, will leave an expansive border around the largest pieces of furniture in the room. You can also seem to add space by covering unattractive storage with a tapestry or artwork. These simple interior design tips will quickly expand your small space.
Tip 2: How to Make Small Functional
Now that there seems to be more airiness in your space, you now have to make your space functional. The first step to functional living is to realize that there just might not be enough room for everything to have its own space, and serious organization is essential. Wall shelving can be used for organizational boxes. You can also use the walls of your kitchen to hang pots, pans and potholders. Remember that the walls, cabinets and awkward spaces within your dwelling are all possible places to store and organize your things.
Tip 3: How to Make Small a Destination
Don't just use your small space, but make your small or under-used spaces a destination within your home. Take an unused part of the living space, like the top of the stairs and add a bench and a reading lamp with a functional reading or knitting basket that can easily fit underneath the bench. This organized, but welcoming look will have you reading for hours and feeling completely relaxed in your small space in no time. If you have a window area, creating this reading area with natural light will make it all the more cozy. Just because a small area is not currently being used doesn't mean it can't be!
Interior Design and the Art of Feng Shui
The role of feng shui in interior design is vital. The principles behind feng shui coincide with the common aim of interior design for the space to be functional and aesthetically pleasing. These are credible and logical ideas that should be treated as beneficial guides in designing and decorating interior spaces. Feng shui is somewhat like a science that is based on a systematic determination of what the space needs, gathering pertinent information, experimenting with furniture arrangements and interior design elements guided by sociological principles, reaching the most reasonable and feasible results and building a list of recommendations that will aid in the design implementation.
Embracing this practice can be done by anyone who has the patience, time and energy to engage in re-arranging and redecorating design elements until such time when a final layout and design can be achieved. You can make your life easier by hiring an expert to have him assess the needs of your particular space. You do have to spend extra money, but for a worthwhile endeavor such as this, it will be one of the wisest things you can do.
Rather than be uncomfortable and restless in your living room with the wrong layout, why not consult your feng shui master or browse a guide book to find a feasible and workable layout. Feel free to rearrange your sofa or the dining table and find out where the best location for them is. Why not interchange the location of your living room and your dining area? You might realize that the new layout is better and it will allow you to maximize the garden view adjacent to the two areas. It will be a matter of trial and error to see what works and what doesn't. You have to learn to be in tune with every element you have in your house. You just might find the culprit for your morning tantrums in the morbid and gloomy painting that you have neglectfully placed on the right side of your hallway. Whatever element that gives you a discomfited and bothered feeling, you either have to remove it or change its location.
For feng shui practices to work and be successful in the long run, you must take the initial step to get to know yourself better and familiarize yourself with your surroundings, specifically your home. You must reach a balance between what you need as an individual and what your space requires. In feng shui, basically every form of hindrance, eyesore, or clutter should be eliminated because they disrupt the flow of positive energy around your home. The design elements that are left exude vitality and harmony that will appeal to you on a physical level as well as on a psychological and emotional one.
Interior Designing and You
House owners from all around the world are turning to professional interior decorators because they are tired of living in the same old house for years and years. Although interior decorators have helped them in every way possible, they also charge a hefty amount as their fees. So why not try something that gives you a new look to your house and also saves you a lot of money. This can be possible only if you are willing to take up the entire affair of interior designing on your own hands. Following a few steps can help you achieve this feat within a matter of days.
The first step towards a successful designing attempt is to have a proper plan. Until and unless you have a plan you won't be able to reach your goal. Now planning may be one of the toughest challenges you face during the stint as an interior decorator. But don't worry as there are abundant sources of information that can help you in more ways than one. Home improvement magazines and television shows on interior decoration can help a lot in providing information about the changing styles and trends in the society. You can also learn about the decor items or furnishings you need to look for while designing the look of the house.
Internet has become also a major contributor in helping out the likes of you when they decide to take up interior decoration on their own hands. A number of websites offer valuable tips and tricks about how to complete the entire task without breaking a sweat. Compiled by a team of competent experts in the field of home improvement, these databases are being used as reference points by millions all around the world. Apart from these there are also a whole bunch of public blogs and discussion forums where users discuss about the intricacies of interior designing. So try and register yourself in one of these platforms and you may updates about the regular development in the world of home improvement.
Internet has also become a good source of resources and furnishing products. More and more buyers are flocking to these online stores to get their hands on the latest products in for decorating their house. The best part about these online stores is that you get the best products at the best possible prices. Don't be concerned about the quality of these products if you chose to buy them from a renowned online vendor. But before you make the payment make sure you go through the company background and shipping policies of the company. Place your order and the products reach your house within weeks. With the approaching festive seasons this is the best time to buy as most vendors are offering special holiday discount packages to buyers.
If you consider online shopping as risky business then stick to the good old local markets. You can always find some very good home furnishing stores around your house. These stores contain extensive collections of carpets, curtains, door, handles, window blinds etc. You may even find a whole lot of stylish appliances and accessories for bathrooms and kitchens.
Interior Design and the Use of Paint Colours
Are you searching for the right colors to paint your home? Its true that choosing and matching colors for your house is not an easy job for a number of reasons. Even if you have a color scheme in mind, you can not be sure it will look good in the room.
First, you must discover what shade would be best for your psychological comfort and how to manipulate it to your interior´s advantage. Interior designers and remodeling experts advise browsing and comparing pictures of different rooms in order to get an idea of how your house will look in a particular hue.
Generally, when decorating a house, an interior designer keeps three important things in mind: the clients´ personal color and style preferences, the use of space and the structure of the room (lighting and architectural details). Other designers rely on feng shui principles in order to achieve harmony and balance in one´s home environment. If you understand the psychological effects that colors have on peoples minds and bodies, you can design rooms which will foster health, well-being and prosperity.
Other things you should consider when decorating rooms are: the effect of light on your color choices, the way colors mix together and if they match with the color of the furniture. Too many or the wrong shades together can create a disastrous look.
Also, be careful when using trendy colors. They can be fresh and beautiful, but they must also blend in with the rest of the objects in the room. If you prefer trendy shades of pink like bubblegum, coral, or traditional rose, do not hesitate to use them for a nice, cozy and feminine atmosphere, without forgetting to add the appropriate furniture and design details. White and blue is also a classic color scheme that would do for any bedroom, but monochromatic palettes of Crown emulsion smell free makes it even more delightful.
And if you live in a house in which rooms connect so that you can see from one into another, choose Crown emulsion smell free colors that relate to each other in a pleasing way. Using unrelated colours in adjoining rooms can affect the overall image of harmony and unity in your house.
Famous Interior Designers and Their Styles in Interior Design - Part 2
Monday, July 16, 2012
Early Interior Designers
Fritz August Breuhaus (1883 - 1960)
One of the most brilliant architects and famous interior designers of his time, Fritz August Breuhaus de Groot has many legends surrounding his genealogy, as he claimed to descend from the Breuhaus de Groot dynasty of Dutch painters. Though he was an architect, Fritz August Breuhaus sought to make a name for himself in the field of interior design. Breuhaus founded the fabric manufacturing facility Mikado-Werkstaatten in Bonn in 1923 to manufacture fabrics printed after his designs. He also designed decorative as well as utilitarian objects during the period. He was always a reputed interior designer, though the peak of his design career was in the late 1920s.
Stephan Bouldin (1880- 1967)
Stephan Bouldin was a Parisian interior decorator and designer who became the president of 'Maison Jansen', one of the leading interior design companies of the 20th century. In the early 1960's he became involved renovation and redecoration of many of the rooms within the Whitehouse - including the Oval Office and the Cabinet room - at the request the first lady, Jacqueline Kennedy. He was also a great teacher and mentor in interior design inspiring his assistants, peers and followers to also excel in the discipline of design.
Emilio Terry (1890-1969)
Jose Emilio Terry y Dorticos or Emilio Terry was an interior decorator and designer, landscape artist and artist of Cuba, though he is mostly known for his career in France. Terry's family has acquired the Chateau de Chenonceau, and he was immediately influenced by its style. This influenced his design of furniture, tapestries and other works of art. His style was basically a blend of classical and baroque influenced by the Chateau de Chenonceau, a style referred to by him as 'Louis XVII style'. Among Terry's famous interior design works was carried out in the Chateau de Groussay acquired by Charles de Beistegui in 1939.
Dorothy Draper (1889-1969)
Referred to as "America's Most Fabulous Decorator", Dorothy Draper was a highly influential American interior decorator who was active from the early to the middle of the 20th century. Her style was marked by contrast and a boldness that was truly refreshing. What really became the influential factor for an entire generation of designers was her use of floral glam and color stripes. Possibly the best way to describe her style is through the words of her own saying, "If it looks right, it's right." Her book, "Decorating is Fun" has brought interior decoration and design from its lofty pedestals to the common man.
In Part 3 of this article - which can be accessed through the 'Article Source' link below - we look at the careers of modern interior designers including Jean Royere, Jed Johnson, Verner Panton, Terence Conran, Kelly Hoppen, Mauro Lipparini and Ron Arad.
Interior Design and Home Decoration - Basic Ideas
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Homes are decorated through interior design ideas thus turned into a place that invites and helps relaxing. Such ideas assist you on your way to designing a modern interior.
A wide area of your home is subject to interior decoration. Examples include carpeting, painting, tiling, furniture, wallpaper, lighting fixtures, paintings and other. The ideas for designing the interior of your home are always a subject of change and improvement. Nearly each day design styles that are new appear. Through them an individual expresses his vision of the home interior and his personal tastes in numerous ways.
To have a home that is large is not a necessity in order for you to have good furniture and fixtures. You can make it so that you adapt a limited space by integrating your bookcase within a wall thus saving a lot of space. Creativity is necessary should you desire a modern home. Next we'll talk about ideas concerning the modern design of the interior.
Have a basic idea what your room should look like before you start shopping. What is it that must be accomplished? Small details often rely upon basic features so start with them first. Shapes and lines should be taken into consideration. Find what qualities a particular room has. Examine the way textures help creating visual effects. Consider that a room that should gather the whole family probably will have to be full of children and even pets. A room that will host so much action perhaps will have different needs from a quiet room so it's worth considering the paint color, lighting and the fabrics used. If you begin with this in mind it might prove to be a method for decoration your home that is the most simple and economic.
You can start thinking about items such as furniture, lampshades, wallpaper and linens. When making your choice among them consider your budget too as you don't have to spend a fortune just to have it all. Having extra money at your disposal means you can go for wall moderation or even add an additional room.
Art deco is a style that is popular for interior design. In it most lines take angular fashion that look beautiful. The colors resonate.
Another popular design style is the Asian. Both colorful and bold it is used for effect to maximize a limited space. The wooden design is common for this furniture type and so are the details painted by hand. Often the accessories rely on featuring animals.
An interior design not so common is occasionally named an eclectic style. A variety of styles that differ make up for a unique look that adds creativity.
An important part of the design is the lighting. Its types are different and among them are recessed lighting, ceramic lamps, Victorian lamps, and track lighting. A great effect is brought to the room by a shining light. Sometimes all the attention in a room is concentrated on a single bright chandelier.
Interior Design and Home Staging - The Benefits
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Interior Design used to be the privelage of the elite. Your bank balance had to be large to afford to employ a Designer who could create your space. Things are very different now. With programmes like House Doctor people are becoming more and more aware of how to make the space they live in feel like their own little bit of luxury. Home Stagers are rarely qualified in Design, most have just have an eye for what looks good, so when an Interior Designer takes on both Interior Design and Home Staging then the results can be astounding.
Most Interior Designers look down on Home Staging, but that can be a costly mistake. Concept Design Studio in Maidstone have been amazed at the positive response they have received from utilising their Design Practice and incorporating Home Staging into the mix of Interior Design. Designer Saffiere says "It has been an interesting time here at Concept Design Studio, I have through Home Staging, been privileged to have helped many many clients who just need a push in the right direction, and never thought they could use the services of Interior Designer to reach their goal"
Home Staging can very easily be incorporated into the Design Practice. It takes up little of your time and can be a great assest to the business. It is remarkable how just a little bit of advice can assist a client and help them to go in the right direction.
Interior Design does not need to be so inaccessible and expensive, Interior Design should be available to everyone and the philosophy of Concept Design Studio in Maidstone is one that should be taken on by Interior Designers in the UK
Interior Design needs to move forward into this new market of ordinary people who want some advice from a professional but cannot afford to take on a whole project and all the costs involved
Building Design and Decor Into Any Room
Have you ever walked into your house, looked around and thought about knocking down every framed painting on the wall, pulling down the drapes, peeling off the table covers and kicking those pillows off the couch, simply because you just had a vision of what that room really needs to look like? You probably just returned from visiting a friend or from your doctor's office where you sat in the welcoming lounge that had such tantalizing taste in color and floral arrangement perfection, so unique and warmly comforting, you did not want to get up and leave! Driving home, you conjured up these different settings in your mind and thought out your action plan. The color would have to be a bold red with chocolate trim and accompanying accents and you would be taking down those five year old beige and gold drapes that were so 1990's! The old framed art work on the living room wall would be replaced with something more abstract and modern.
Well then, do not just keep dreaming, dreamer! Take action and plunge head on into an exciting room makeover. Decor and Design are products of artist's dreams and visions. They develop in like fashion, as would an expensive oil painting on canvas after the inspiration of that artist and meticulous brush stroke after stroke, painfully skilled mixing of colors on a palette and imagination gone wild to produce proof of the dream. The final decor of the room you wish to transform is also that vivid vision you had when you walked into the room.
If you are going for a warm look choose fabric and accents with warm colors like red, red-orange, red-violet, orange, yellow-orange and yellow. These are colors we use in fall and winter too. Cool colors, generally associated with spring-time and summer would belong to the blue group and include blue-green, blue-violet, green, yellow-green, and violet. However, there is no hard and fast rule that you adhere to these color schemes. Do what you think brings out the beauty of your own house. Do it in your very own style! You can find any line of furnishings and decorations in colors of your choice in department stores ranging from high priced fancy ones to ones that boast name brand products at low prices. You could probably also find products of a particular color in one store and matching accessories in the exact same shade in yet another store. With a bit of patience and browsing time, one could find an entire custom made decor line to furnish a room while saving as you compare prices!
Whether you wait for spring to have your fling or would like to do the 'polar plunge' into decor and design make over, use your creative instincts and enjoy yourself rearranging furniture and planning out your design and decor. Make that room your very own signature collection show room! And if you come up with new ideas of your own, pass them on please!!
Famous Interior Designers and Their Styles in Interior Design - Part 3
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Modern Interior Designers
Jean Royere Jean Royere is often considered to be one of the all time great French famous interior designers. His career spanned from 1931 to 1970 in which he opened galleries on 3 different continents for the sole purpose of exhibiting his designs. His list of clients included some of the world's elite and royalty where he was entrusted to design the interiors of palaces and some of the most exclusives houses in the world. He was also a world redounded furniture designer and his works were displayed in various art galleries and exhibitions.
Jed Johnson Jed Johnson started his interior decoration and design company in the 1960's from Andy Warhol's Manhattan house. He was to undertake projects for the celebrity clients including Pierre Bergé, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, Richard Gere, and Barbara Streisand. In 1996 he was awarded the Interior Design Hall of Fame Award as recognition to his remarkable contribution to the profession.
Verner Panton Verner Panton is generally regarded to be the most talented Danish interior designer and furniture designer of the twenty first century. His not only characteristic of the 1960's, they helped to define the furniture and interior decoration styles developed in the era. His work was often considered to be modern ad futuristic, utilising vivid colours and technologies of day. He was the first designer to create the 'form-moulded chair' which was constructed in plastic without the use of joints. He is considered to be one of the most important contributors in interior decoration and design in the 20th century.
Terence Conran Terence Conran's contribution to architecture and interior design has enabled him to win a great number of awards. He is the founder of the highly successful 'Habitat' furnishing chain which grew to 36 stores in Britain France and Belgium. He also founded the Conran Design Group in 1956 and went on to establish the leading European interior design consultancy, Conran Associates. One of his most important projects was the renovation and restoration of a large historic riverside area of London. He has also authored many books on various subjects, although mostly on interior design.
Kelly Hoppen The multi award winning interior designer, Kelly Hoppen, is recognized as a modern day trend setter in the world of interior design. Her style is renowned for its individuality, simplicity and excellence where she incorporates colours and shades inspired by nature to give a luxurious timeless and simplistic ambiance. She is also a respected author on the subject, successfully publishing several best selling books. Although her designs are varied and dynamic, she is perhaps most well known for the signature 'East Meets West' Style.
Mauro Lipparini Italian Mauro Lipparini is another eminent interior designer. He is probably best known for his 'natural minimalism' style. Lipparini's style is characterized by wonderful touches of pleasure and joy. His use of bold colors and innovative visual ideas conveys several elements of the artistic. Lipparini has made several commendable contributions to the industrial design industry, including developing products for Japanese and European firms of high repute. Accolades that he has won in the course of his career include the International Du Pont Award Koln and the Young & Designer Milano.
Ron Arad A celebrated name from the Middle East that has graced the interior design world and met the needs of the rich and famous is Israel-born Ron Arad. Ron Arad achieved popularity in the 1980's for being a self-taught maker and designer of sculptural furniture. He is the creator of the Ron Arad Studio in Como, Italy and his works appear in many architectural and design publications across the world. He has also exhibited at a number of galleries and museums.
In Part 4 of this article - which can be accessed through the 'Article Source' link below - we look at the careers of celebrity interior designers including Rachel Ashwell, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Linda Barker, Nina Campbell, Tara Bernard.
Interior Design and Architecture - How to Tie Interior and Exterior Together
The key is to pay close attention to the size and shape of the facility. Creating a coordinated setting is all about acquiring appropriate furniture and fixtures to fill in the room. Never forget that interior design and architecture must complement one another or else your room will wind up as a jumble of odd bits and pieces that do not appear to belong together.
Interior Design in the Office
Well-designed corporate buildings are a pleasing sight to behold. All around the country, you will see commercial buildings with remarkable designs that are both functional and beautiful. If you happen to maintain an office in a commercial building that prides itself on the beautiful architecture, make certain that you don't spoil the effect by placing interior décor items that do not blend with the existing architecture. To make sure that your interior design does blend well with the architecture,
it would be a wise decision to hire an interior decorator to do your office. A good interior decorator is adept at knowing just how to blend interior design and architecture. That way no one can accuse you of creating a sort of monstrosity inside your office.
When hiring an interior designer, you will want to present him or her with the ideas of what you are looking for. For instance, you might have in mind to project an ultra modern atmosphere in your office which will suit your occupation. Of course it's easier to simply let the interior designer decide what all to do with the office décor. However, if you want to keep your personal touch in your surroundings, it would be smart to suggest your ideas about the design in advance. Besides, the blending of interior design and architecture is not the ultimate objective in designing your office.
You will also want to have an office where it will be a comfortable and pleasing place to work. Functionality and comfort of the office should be one of your primary considerations aside from the interior design and architecture.
Since decorating your office will entail a sizable investment, you might want to give your Interior Designing Techniques an idea of how much you are willing to budget on the décor. Giving the interior designer such guidelines will help a great deal when he or she sets about to select furniture and fixtures for your office.
Entryways: Make a Great First Impression With the Design and Decor of This Little Space
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The entryway of your home is the first impression visitors get of the interior. Even those not invited further in judge your home based on what they see immediately inside the front door.
Because of our climate, most Canadian homes have an enclosed vestibule, or entryway, with nothing but the front door, an interior door leading in to the home, and sometimes a closet. Being small spaces, these areas are often almost neglected in terms of design and decor. Home builders seem to have a habit of locating a thermostat and/or light switch dead-centre on the only usable wall space these vestibules offer. So how can design and decor be handled in a space that is frequently only about 42"X72", and where 72"X72" is considered luxurious?
There are two ways to handle the vestibule: utilitarian, or decorative. Of course you can also combine utilitarian (functional) with the decorative, but there isn't necessarily enough space to really separate the two.
Utilitarian simply means that you are using useful items to help create the decor:
coat racks
hooks or pegs
mirrors with hooks/pegs
umbrella stands (with a decorative umbrella to match your decor)
storage bench
shoe rack (capable of concealing shoes and boots)
shelf or box for mail and keys
Decorative vestibules are done to look good but don't necessarily offer the more practical accessories and furnishings.
People are often afraid to decorate their vestibules, fearing that a small space will end up looking even more confining. If done properly, even a dark-coloured vestibule can look dramatic and rich rather than crammed and unwelcoming. Opt for colours (dark or light) from the warm palette, and don't forget that there are even some blues that are warm, while others are cool. Use contrast carefully -- black and white will appear to shrink a room, while, for example, honey coloured walls with walnut brown wood furnishings or accents will just look stunning. Make sure to have a mirror on the wall, both for convenience and to visually expand the area.
If you're doing some renovating in the entryway, consider replacing the interior door with a French door (with window panes) or another type of door that offers partial window. If you feel you need a bit more privacy, just hang a sheer curtain panel (secured at top and bottom) in a dark colour for real drama. The front door should allow in a generous amount of light. Pay extra attention to your choice of flooring, as this area must be easy to clean, and is even better if it conceals some dirt so you won't feel the need to be cleaning daily. Also, shoes or boots often come in wet, so it is advisable to avoid polished or glossy finishes which encourage accidents. Avoid wood flooring and laminate floors, as they will not hold up well to the wear they'll get. If you'll be replacing the light fixture in a small vestibule, be careful not to select something that will get hit by the door; otherwise it should offer good lighting (quality light bulbs provide a more natural looking light without yellow or pink undertones), and have a bit of pizzazz to it to complement the decor.
Famous Interior Designers and Their Styles in Interior Design - Part 1
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Introduction
This series of 4 articles takes a brief but informative look at 21 of the most famous and Interior Designers, from the earliest pioneers right through to the most celebrated modern day designers.
The Pioneers of Interior Design
Jean-Henri Jansen (1854-1928)
Dutch designer, Jean-Henri Jansen, launched one of the first ever international interior design companies 'Maison Jansen' (House of Jansen) in 1880, which became renowned for designing and creating exceptionally beautiful and high quality furniture which would be utilized in a multitude of interior decoration projects. House of Jansen opened branches in 8 of the major cities of the world. Jansen worked closely with the talented interior designer Stephane Boudin whom he made director of the company. The clients of House of Jansen included Royalty and the rich and famous.
Elsie de Wolfe (1865-1950)
The first lady of interior decoration, Elsie de Wolfe considered herself an 'ugly child'. This Victorian stage actress was a rebel of her times and was credited by many to be the inventor of the modern profession of interior design, even though there were already established interior designers in her time. Elsie disliked Victorian tastes altogether, her designs were therefore generally made up of light and bright colors, contrary to the drab and gloomy Victorian décor coupled with unnecessary excesses such as heavy velvet draperies. This was a pioneering departure from the contemporary designs of the time. Elsie's influence continues to be felt in the modern world of interior design.
Ogden Codman (1863-1951)
American interior decorator and architect, Ogden Codman spent his childhood in his birthplace of Boston before heading to France in his youth for a period of time. Codman had two uncles who influenced him tremendously - architect John Hubbard and decorator Richard Ogden. Some of Ogden Codman's works include Edith Wharton's Newport home, Land's End, the Rockefeller family estate of New York client John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the Newport summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Along with novelist Edith Wharton, Codman co-authored a guidepost of American interior design, 'The Decoration of Houses' in 1897.
Frances Elkins (1888-1953)
Born in Milwaukee, Frances Adler Elkins was one of the most prominent interior decorator and designer of the previous century. Sister of the famed Chicago architect David Adler, Elkins was known for her futuristic designs that brought together different styles and elements from various periods. They included country French styles, chinoiserie and art deco. The furnishings featured in her designs included designers such as Jean-Michel Frank and Alberto Giacometti. The career of Elkins that spanned over three decades is glittered with many high profile commissions in Hawaii, the Midwest and northern and southern California, none more interesting than the restoration of the 1830s structure, Casa Amesti in Monterrey, California.
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)
Frank Lloyd Wright was an interior designer and architect whose career included more than 1000 projects, 500 of them that have been complete. Wright was known for his promotion of organic architecture, an example of which is Fallingwater. The Robie House is an example of Wright's leadership of the Prairie School architectural movement, while the Rosenbaum House depicts Wright's Usonian home concept. Wright also had refreshing ideas for every kind of building, be it church, office, school, hotel or museum. Along with excellent architectural renderings, Wright also designed much of the interiors of his buildings including the Décor, layout and furniture.
There's a Big Difference Between Interior Designers and Interior Decorators
Monday, June 18, 2012
If you're thinking about buying new furniture and accessories for your living room that's one thing. But if you're talking about knocking down a wall to enlarge your dining room and you want to add on another bathroom, too, that's another. One requires the services of an interior decorator but the other means you'll need to start interviewing interior designers. Many people don't know which is which. Do you?
Interior Decorators are people who help you redecorate you home. They help you choose fabrics and finishes and paint colors that will give you the look you want for your existing room just as it is. They'll suggest different furniture arrangements and help you pick out new accessories or artwork. But they will not physically alter the dimensions of your room, even though they may be able to make it look bigger, or they may be able to actually give you more space by arranging the furniture in a different way.
Interior Designers are usually brought in while the house or office space is being designed, before it's even built. Or, if you're adding a room onto your home, you might want to consult an interior designer to make sure you're making the best use of the space.
Home builders generally have a designer on staff to consult with their clients before they start building the home. The designer works from the blueprints up, listening to the buyer's concerns. The buyer may want more closet space than what's called for in the plans, or perhaps a larger kitchen or an extra bath. But overall, the dimensions of the house still stay the same. So it's up to the designer then to work these changes into the blueprints in such a way that they make the buyer happy, but they don't affect the structural integrity of the home.
Interior Designers and interior decorators do occasionally overlap in the services they provide. And you'll need the services of both when you're building a new home. For example, your designer will need to know that you're planning on a king-size bed so he doesn't put the closet door in the middle of the wall. You decorator will need to know that your designer is knocking out a wall to make room for a fireplace so he doesn't plan bookcases for that spot.
But generally you'll use the services of the designer before your house is built to make sure everything you want in your home is there and that it's all functional. And after it's built, you'll use the services of the decorator to help you make your home an expression of you and your family.
Here's an easy way to remember the difference. When you design something, that means you're creating something new. So designers are involved in creating your space. When you decorate something, that means you're adorning something that already exists. So interior decorators are involved in adorning your room, or putting the finishing touches on it, after it's already been built.
The Two D's of Home Improvement - Design and Decorate
Thursday, June 14, 2012
A great deal of time is spent at home. It is a refuge from a hard day of work and a place to enjoy family activities and gatherings.
We want to make our home attractive, comfortable and efficient for our use. In the process of decorating our home, we want to make sure it fits the architecture of the space. Designing the interior provides a certain "feel." Interior decoration includes applying wallpaper, painting the walls, choosing furniture and fittings such as light fixtures, and adding decorative elements such as paintings, flowers, and statuary.
The concept of home interior decoration began in the late 18th century. The concept has evolved over the years and has gone through many trends and transitions. Today, home interior decoration and design focuses on innovative ways to decorate on a budget.
The objective of interior decorating is to improve the home functionally and have it to reflect the owner's tastes and personality in a unique way. This is a challenge.
An interior designer and/or an architect can help with the design and decoration. In years past, there has been a distinction made between an interior designer and an interior decorator.
Interior decorating focuses on finishing such as wallpaper, window covering, furnishings, and paint. Interior design deals with the architecture in addition to the decoration. Interior design is focused on the space as a whole such as the layout of the rooms as well as custom made furnishings.
Color palettes change, the same as in fashion, as trends change. Color is also a unique preference. While some homeowners may follow current trends, others may use colors that fit their personality whether they are in vogue or not.
Innovative home interior decorating ideas which cost less but give the impression of being up-to-date decorating schemes are what young professionals and newly married couples are trying to achieve. Most of these ideas are eclectic decorating styles in which the home owner can put their own stamp of uniqueness. Harmony has to be balanced with uniqueness so that the home provides functionality.
In one year alone, homeowners spent approximately $175 billion on home improvement. About 65% of this can be attributed to interior decoration. Most money is spent on improving bathrooms and kitchens. Growing in popularity are specialty rooms such as home theaters and craft rooms.
There are new trends, new styles, new decorative elements, and new colors each year. It is difficult to keep track of these trends. The important rule in home decorating is that whatever you choose to do with your home be functional and comfortable for you.
Interior Designer Vs Decorator - Who is Who?
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
People talk about an interior designer and a decorator as two professionals who do exactly the same thing, but nothing is furthest from the truth. Although both may possess the same abilities and talents to create gorgeous spaces, there are important differences between the two.
So, what exactly are these differences that are so fundamental but still not recognized even by dictionaries?
As the American Society of Interior-Designers states, an interior designer is a person who is "professionally trained to create a functional and quality interior environment. Qualified through education, experience, and examination, a professional designer can identify, research and creatively resolve issues and lead to a healthy, safe and comfortable physical environment." Basically, interior design is the art and science of understanding human behavior so as to create living spaces.
Interior-designers have lots of responsibilities; they organize a space to work for a certain activity; they ensure the designs comply with building and safety codes; they manage the whole process of construction and installation of a design; they design for the right acoustics and lighting; they are responsible for choosing the fixtures, furnishings, products, materials and colors.
In many states, interior designers require a license to work, and they have to take a test to earn it. Only then, is the interior designer acknowledged as a professional with the right qualifications to make difficult decisions in regards to living spaces.
In contrast, interior decorators only worry about the surface decoration, this is, fabrics, paint, furnishings, lighting, and other materials. Decoration is the act of adorning and furnishing a space with beautiful things.
Besides doing the above, interior designers also have to worry about many other things. While a decorator will just have to select the floor's type, color, and texture, the designer will have to also consider the use it will be given, the acoustics it will produce, how flammable it is, its toxic properties, and the static electricity requirements, among others.
The interior designer's main concern is the human interaction and behavior that will accompany a space; this is not so for the interior decorator. The decorator centers on visual beauty, while the designer works to make beautiful work in terms of functionality, efficiency, and safety as well.
It is important to recognize each professional for what they do. Both do valuable and specific work that is worth acknowledging. Contact a local interior designer in Seattle and confirm the value of true experience.
If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They'll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don't forget to mention amelydesigns.com as the original source).
What Is Interior Design and How Is It Different From Interior Decorating?
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
To begin this journey, first an attempt must be made to answer the question, 'What is Interior Design'; The National Council for Interior Design Qualification offers up the following definition: 'is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive'. Comparing this to the definitions provided by The Free Dictionary for an interior decorator: 'also called interior designer a person whose profession is the planning of the decoration and furnishings of the interior of houses, shops, etc.' and 'a person whose profession is the painting and wallpapering of houses'
Well it is understandable, based on the two definitions above, why there are two camps. One camp holds that the interior designer is held to a higher standard and has significantly more training and design responsibilities than the interior decorator, and then there are those that bunch them all together as one and the same. There are those that look at the designer as a version of an architect and those that look at them as being a house painter. No wonder there is confusion amongst the ranks.
In an attempt to answer the question, 'Is there a difference or not?', a Google search was performed for 'Interior Decorator Degree' and the response overwhelmingly returned results for 'Interior Designer'; and not the keyword as searched. One can reasonably conclude that since one can get a degree in interior design, but not as an interior decorator, that there is a difference.
So where would one draw the line between a designer and a decorator? Reverting back to the two definitions above one can discern the key difference. The definition for the designer refers to 'built interior environment' whereas the decorator suggests 'decorating and furnishing' as the key activities. The higher standard is the designer's ability and responsibilities to call for tearing out walls, flooring, windows, lighting, electrical, as well as recommending furniture and miscellaneous design pieces. In short, the scope their role includes the responsibilities of a decorator, but goes much further.
Often it is critical for the designer to understand the wants and needs of the individual or company leadership that is hiring them to make a space comfortable and esthetically pleasing to 'the eye of the beholder'; meaning whoever is paying the freight. This will require the designer to ask the question, 'What is interior design through the eyes of my employer?'
Determining just how to customize a small dwelling area up to major corporate businesses like a national restaurant chain that must be attractive to the eye in many different regions of the country with a common design can be very challenging. Requiring a grasp of many different fields including developing and reading floor plans, a knowledge of building codes, and access to a long list of contractors that are capable of doing the work to specification are just a few of the extra requirement that separate interior design from decoration.
Often specializing in unique areas like hotels, casinos, restaurants, or other businesses that may regularly freshen up their designs to keep their businesses looking comfortable yet enticing, designers generally develop skill sets that may not play all that well outside of their special areas of expertise. What they probably are looking for in the interior design of a hospital is most likely a far cry from what they are looking for at a casino. Perhaps a better example would be determining just how to continue on with a southwestern theme for a Mexican restaurant chain in places like Seattle, St. Louis, Charlotte, Pittsburg, and Boston. What is interior design widely accepted in one region may not be well accepted in another.
In asking, 'What is interior design?' in today's environment, one must also begin to start thinking green and to look for ways to minimize the consumption of non-renewable energy sources. How does one create areas with a lot of natural lighting but not subject the individual to the blazing rays of the sun? How does one incorporate solar panels into the design or solar powered floor heaters in colder climates without losing the esthetic charm and ambiance of marble floors? These are the challenges of today's designers. It's a good thing that they love their jobs.
Recession Proof Your Interior Design Or Decorating Business
Monday, May 28, 2012
If you make your living as an interior designer or decorator the current economy has got to be hurting your business. When the economy is slow, many people who might otherwise hire an interior designer or decorator are forced to move such a 'non-essential' service to the bottom of their priority list. If you haven't felt the pinch yet, brace yourself as your business could take a drastic nose-dive during an economic recession. Nobody really needs interior design services, especially in have-not times.
There's also the fact that so many of your days are spent on the business-side of design; negotiating with contractors, waiting for deliveries to arrive, billing, gathering quotes, and so on. This is all time that doesn't directly generate revenue for your interior design or decorating business, and when client billings are already meager, this can really hurt your financial situation.
Maybe you're one of the many trained interior decorators who have ended up working in retail for a 100% commission. If the economy gets worse and you're working purely on commission, where does that leave you? Even in good times, if you work for 100% commission you might as well be your own boss and have the freedom to market yourself to new clients rather than being tied to any one store.
When I decided to take the reigns of my life back and do something that would allow me to profit from my creativity, I considered a career in interior design. I struggled with that option countless times across a 20 year period when I was unsatisfied in my work. I researched, and even interviewed, many interior design schools in my "former life"; but for some reason I never took the step to enroll. I decided with my BA, MBA and a couple decades of experience in business, being in a classroom for two to four years with kids 20 years my junior was not something I wanted to do.
Never mind tuition costs and the tremendous loss of income while you're a student. Then who knows how many years of working experience as a designer or decorator would be needed after graduation to really start earning money. I wanted to unleash my creativity and love for decorating, but I definitely needed to start making money as soon as possible. So, I started my own home staging company.
As soon as my business was launched, the money was coming in. Within my second year as a home stager I was making up to $10,000 per month. Compare that to the median annual salary of $36,150 a year for an Interior Designer according to Salary.com this year. I'm very happy I trusted my instincts!
If you're an interior designer or decorator and you aren't making enough money, consider adding Home Staging to your service mix or switching to a more profitable career as a Home Stager altogether.
Here a few ways a home staging business can be more profitable than an interior design business:
o As a home stager you get the opportunity to work with different types of people than you would as an interior designer. Generally, only very high income individuals hire interior designers, which limits your target market. Home stagers work mostly with clients in the middle to upper income level which gives you a much larger percentage of the population to market to, and increases the number of projects available for you to work on.
o Home stagers enjoy a higher volume of projects than interior designers because each one is so short in nature. One interior design project might take months to complete (especially when you factor in the wait times to have upholstery done, or furniture delivered), but the average home staging project takes only a few hours or days. There's no way I could have decorated hundreds of homes within a couple of years as a new interior designer, the way I did as a new home stager. With such quick projects, a home stager is able to complete (and get paid for) a significantly higher number of projects per year than an interior designer who often has client work on hold through no fault of their own.
o When the economy is slow, people eliminate the non-essentials. Interior design or decorating isn't really high on the "essential items list" especially when choices need to be made about what to give up, and there's no real deadline to redecorate or renovate a room. In uncertain times, interior design moves way down on the priority list, while home staging move up. No matter how slow the economy is or how much the real estate market has declined, there will always be people who absolutely have to sell and move by a certain date. Divorce, job relocation, job loss, mounting debts, a death in the family or a birth often get people to put their house on the market even if it isn't the best time to sell. When a homeowner is desperate to sell their house, a home stager will often be involved since the seller stands to make a handsome profit from their services. When people have less time, less money or less equity in their house, they need a home stager so they can get whatever they can out of the sale of their home! As a home stager, your creativity and talent for decorating will serve you well in slow economic times and slow real estate markets.
I especially love the amount of creative freedom I get as a home stager. Because my clients know I'm decorating their home to sell and not for them to live in, I am able to execute my creative vision without their interference or taking their taste into consideration. I can't imagine wasting hours sitting with a client who can't decide which color they want for their bathroom, or which fabric to pick for their drapes. My clients don't care what I choose as long as their house will sell quicker because of it. Besides that, my home staging business is extremely profitable which every entrepreneur wants.
If your interior design business isn't doing as well as you hoped, it's not too late to make a change towards living a more creatively fulfilling career that is also more profitable. Do some research into the home staging field. It's a career that is virtually "recession-proof".
Interior Design and Interior Decorating - Some Definitions
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Interior Decoration and Interior Design, although related disciplines, are different in terms of their application. Interior Decoration is the process of decorating a house with regards to finishes (for example wallpaper and paint, choice of furniture and fittings as well as adding finishing touches and decorations such as paintings and objets d'art. All of this provide a certain "feel" to a house but essentially the underlying structure of the house is not changed.
Interior decoration is normally professionally done by Interior Decorators although recently the trend has been for people to learn about Interior Decorating through various courses or books and then apply the techniques themselves-usually on a shoestring budget. The whole objective of Interior Decorating is to make a house aesthetically pleasing and at the same time, unique, since it should reflect the owner's specific personality and tastes.
Interior design on the other hand is more integrated with the architecture of a building and a professional Interior Designer will work closely with architects and builders to make choices regarding the integral design of the whole house or building. This includes looking at choices with regards to room layout, choice of cabinets and tiles and lots of other design factors. While the Interior Design budget for new developments used to be minimal, it is recognized these days that incorporating Interior Design into the project means the difference between a run-of-the-mill development and one that contributes to the branding and life-style image of the project. The money spent on Interior Design is therefore seen as a worthwhile investment in the whole property development process.
Homeowners are spending more and more to improve their homes. Since it is relatively easy to change the appearance of a house by changing the finishings and fittings a large portion of this money goes into Interior Decorating. The growing popularity in do-it-yourself Interior Decorating has meant that a whole industry around Interior Decorating courses, books and TV Shows have also sprung up, and it has become a popular hobby for married couples. Innovative Interior Decoration ideas, which cost less but at the same time giving the impression of style and class, are in vogue.
Young entrepreneurs have also seen the gap and there is a growing demand for information and courses on how to break into the Interior Design and Interior Decoration Industry. This has also given the home {interior decoration industry a boost.
Although the trend recently is for people to tackle the exciting task of transforming a house themselves, it has to be recognized that this falls more in the area of Interior Decorating. Interior Design still requires study of the context of Interior Design, the theory of good design, knowledge of the technical advances in the engineering industry for both residential as well as commercial buildings and knowledge of the latest trends and advances in the Interior Design industry.
In short, an Interior Design project in which all the elements of design are pulled together is still the ambit of the professional designer who should be able to deliver on projects that extend beyond the boundaries of a hobby pastime.
Interior Design and Your Carpets
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Floor in a particular space is a very important thing. It says a lot about how functional and clean is this room. So, what we can do to make the space beautiful, worth living in and elegant?
Most of us don't pay so much attention in what trend the room was designed. Usually our first look goes to the floor. It is not a very strange thing cause we are taking our shoes of and the floor catches our attention.
In many places, especially hotels, campuses and public places the choice goes to carpet. We usually also choose the carpet to our homes. That is why it seems that choosing the right color and design of the carpet might be so important.
Carpet installation is not always an easy task. We have to measure the room, make sure that it won't be a problem for door opening and also be sure that it will match the room with all the important elements.
One of the elements that we have to consider (and mostly forget about) is room humidity. If the floor seems to be a bit too wet it might be a big problem cause the carpet won't stick to the floor. Next element might be the temperature that is in the room when we install the carpet.
Deciding on the carpet in our homes we should also carefully choose the company that would make the installation - from the tools and their experience might depend the look of your floor for many next years.
If we can't make a good decision of choosing the carpet and company we can decide on having rugs, door mats and other small mats. We can match the color of them and with our home design. We also spend less money and make a bigger change in the rooms.
The Basic Concepts of Interior Design and Decorating
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Home decorating ideas are fun to work around. The first step is finding out who you are and what you like doing. The next steps involve the situation you are in and how you can make themes fit you. An individual, a family, a business or an office situation will reveal character. It is an entirely fascinating and rewarding subject. It is well worth the time it takes to develop themes that fit you. It will make your life well worth living. Do not make the mistake of thinking decorations are only for parties, only for the rich, and only if you have money. Home decorating ideas are for children to develop their personalities; they are for students and for any season of life. Your life can be visualized in what is around you and is a great idea for motivating you through life. Why not motivate you and those around you for the best?
First step is to find out who you are. Understand your likes and dislikes, in other words what kind of personality you are. The basic personalities are introvert and extrovert with as many combinations as there are people. Cultures, past experiences and interests all add to the concept of who you are. Basic point: you will buy from your preferences which have roots in your character.
Another step involves analyzing the situation you are in. The life style you live will of course affect your home decoration ideas. When you are home all the time, you need to make sure that your home decor is practical and useful according to your tastes. Careers take time and therefore the home needs to reflect who you are but also needs to be more maintenance and care free. Offices and businesses will reflect to other people who you are and you need to be comfortable with that.
The next step is to take into consideration where you are. Whether you own your own home or rent; travel in your own RV or travel and live in other temporary housing, take your decorating talents with you. Changing jobs frequently can be challenging or you can turn it into a great adventure. You change your likes and dislikes, but never who you really are. The important part of this concept is to find one theme that enhances who you are and make it fit where you are now.
One more step to understand the purpose of the home decorating ideas. This world is a life of stress and conflict, and your home needs to be a place of refuge for you. Ideally, home should be free from stress, but practically your home should motivate you to be the best you can be. Stress is not the issue, motivation for character is.
The last step is using home decorating ideas for motivation. Home decorating should reflect who you are and show your character. The projects, hobbies, activities you do should blend into your decor and give you the freedom to express yourself. Office decorating should reflect who you are and motivate your business to reflect the character of your business.
In other words, whatever you want to use your home or office decor for will show who you are. Enjoy the experience of becoming better than you are now. Every time you wake up, every time you enter a room, you should be comfortable. Be creative, support those who are involved in your life, and make your life count.
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