Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Difference Between Interior Decorator and Interior Designer

When it comes to home improvements, you often hear the terms Interior Decorator or Interior Designer. Usually these terms are interchanged, but did you know these two actually differ? Let us learn and differentiate the two, should you be interested to pursue a career in either one of them.

First let us look at what an Interior Designer does. They are the creative professionals who work on the structural aspect of a house. They need to make designs, sketches, plans under strict safety codes and regulations. But prior to this, an Interior Designer is required to take classes to get at least a diploma, better yet a bachelor's degree or even proceed for masters. After that, they are still subjected to licensing exams, which would allow them to work especially in certain states. Some Interior Designers who get enough education and experience can also proceed to work as certified architects.
An Interior Decorator on the other hand does not require that much formal training and a license in order to work. Their training demands are less rigorous. Some Decorators are self-taught, as long as they have the right aesthetics to beautify a space, while others can opt to take short training programs or an associate's degree in a community college.

The nature of their work also varies in that an Interior Decorator is concerned mainly on the appearance of a space. This would include things like what colours the walls should be, what drapes would complement it, how many throw pillows to include, or should you be placing a carpet in the area. They can even change the floors or mouldings on the ceiling, but they cannot change any standing structure. Just as their title imply, they only make decorative alterations and improvements.

Interior Designers work more closely with architects, although Designers cannot alter or move load-bearing structures, they can change the non-load bearing fixtures in a space. To do this, they would need a design, which can range from a sketch to a plan which he can also render in 3D. They also work with other elements such as lighting, doors, or windows. It is also their job to see to it that a design falls within safety regulations.

A Designer's concern is more about the total appearance of an area, including its architectural elements, while a Decorator is limited only on good arrangements for a better living space.

If an Interior Decorator selects the kind of furniture to place in a room, the Interior Designer goes steps further because they know how to design, select materials and make furniture. Another thing is that an Interior Designer focuses on one area, while a Decorator can work with various spaces.

These differences make it clear that an Interior Designer and Interior Decorator are two different professions. Although they are in the same ballpark, but they both play different games.

If you find yourself interested in the interesting and challenging field of Interior designing, we at Raffles Design Institute can provide you with the best education and training. We prepare our students to be globally competitive through our industry relevant curriculum, intensive training programs, and experienced lecturers. We have a total of 38 colleges, in 35 cities, in 14 countries.

Friday, November 18, 2011

French Style Furniture For a Vintage Interior Design!


The subtle Design and elegance of French Style Furniture is the perfect choice if you want to bring out an old world feel for your house. Many home owners want a classy and simple Design that speaks by quality rather than decoration. You can choose a different theme or layout for each of the rooms, depending on your preferences. The casual, country feel is in popular demand when it comes to purchasing French Style Furniture for a new home. The beautifully crafted patterns allow a lot of creativity with colors and shades so you can fill up each room with a different mood for a beautiful collage of emotions.
The main material used in such Furniture Designs consist of hardwood or different variations of raw wood crafted into various Designs. The long deep cuts and free flowing lines are symbolic of French Style bedroom Furniture, allowing you to build up a relaxed and comforting environment all around. If you are into French home décor, you would notice the lush flower patterns and natural curves that are common to all household items. You can easily get attracted to antique French Style Furniture because of the deep, brooding textures and color elements.

When it comes to selecting a proper color for your Designs, you will be amazed to see the number of beautiful contrasts that country French Style Furniture can offer to you. Most of the Styles are a mix of bright and subtle colors to capture the proper atmosphere. You would see shades of arctic green or bright gold interspersed with more dull colors like greys and blacks. The painted French Style Furniture makes for a lush and colorful Interior without going overboard. If you want an artistic Design without complex patterns, this is the best option to try out in your new home.

The brilliant Designs and colors complement the sharp and durable texture that is associated with all Vintage French Style Furniture in stores. Many Designer shops stock such items on a regular basis so you can always keep a tab on your local stores. If there are any festival or special sale offers, you have the opportunity to get amazing French Style Furniture discounts for your purchases. In this way, you can decorate your home the way you want while sticking to the recommended budget limits. It is a great opportunity for Furniture lovers looking to add a fresh touch to their homes.

In case you are just remodeling your home and don't want to bear such expenses, you can always go for used French Style Furniture found at retail and thrift stores. They are available at affordable prices and you can refurnish them the way you want. The traditional carvings found in French Style provincial Furniture are a sign of rich cultural heritage. If you are a connoisseur of good living, you would enjoy the intricate beauty and richness that French décor has to offer to your home. It fills up a home with its own essence, making it a place worth living in.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Interior Designer


Many people are wary when it comes to hiring a Professional Interior Designer to choose home accessories and decor for their space. In fact, many people think they can find the same home accessories and create a Designer look without any experience what-so-ever. Unfortunately, this isn't true. Home decor is an art and a Professional Interior Designer is the artist. Fortunately, there are many benefits to hiring a Professional, whether it's a big shot New York Interior Designer or a small town Designer.

Unlimited Access

When decorating a home, some people think they have access to all the same home accessories and decor items that a Professional has access to. Unfortunately, this isn't true. There are many manufacturers and even some stores that are strictly "Designers only." This can be frustrating to the amateur decorator. However, this can be one of the biggest benefits to hiring a Designer.
By hiring one, you open up an entire new world of products, materials, textiles, furnitures and more that you would not have had access to before. This means you're less likely to see your custom made sofa or other furnitures in your neighbor's living room.

Discounts

It's true, by hiring a Professional, you may be privy to certain discounts. Many stores offer discounts on home accessories, furnitures, other products and services in hopes that they'll return and bring additional business.

Discounts are often offered because the store knows that should the Interior Designer photograph the room, another client may want a specific accessory or furnitures that happened to have come from their store. This guarantees repeat business for the store and thus gives the Interior Designer you are working with discounts.

This could mean you spend less money overall, however you must be clear with your chosen decorator that you expect to see these discounts reflected in your own bill. After all, they would have made a commission off you even if they hadn't received those discounts; so you see also see benefits from this.

Proper Lighting

Another huge benefit of an Interior Designer is that they will ensure your space is not only beautiful, but that it is properly lit. Many people forget to take lighting into account when picking out home decor, but it's a huge part of good Interior design.

Color Palette

It's not uncommon for people to struggle with a color palette for their space. They often make the mistake of choosing paint first and then trying to find home accessories to fit into the space. An Interior Designer will better be able to come up with a color palette and find the right accessories to fit seamlessly.

Despite any misconceptions you may have heard about Interior Designers, hopefully you see now that there are more pros than cons to hiring a Professional!

Monday, November 7, 2011

House Interior Design Styles of the Tudor and Jacobean Periods


Whitewashed plaster between wooden structural beams was the most common wall finish of Tudor living room Designs - or any room for that matter. Timber paneling of oak was also a strongly featured Interior Design style in the Houses of wealthier people. This would have been in a lighter tone of wood than we might expect, the darkening with which we are familiar having occurred through age or staining. Other cheaper woods were also used and these were often painted in colors or finished to imitate finer woods or other rich materials.

The most commonly seen division of panels was in squares or rectangles. Additional decoration might also be applied in the form of painting or carving (especially in the popular linen fold Design). Later in the period the joins of panel sections were often concealed behind carved pilasters. Wall-papers, made in panels for adhering to fabric before being attached to walls, were produced during the sixteenth century, but these were only to be seen in a minority of Houses.
Ceilings in the larger Houses, later on, tended to be highly decorated with plaster-work, the Designs for which were often geometric in nature. Heraldic and floral motifs featured and strap-work was often to be seen.

Flooring

Compacted earth strewn with loose rushes gradually lost out in favor of rush matting. Wooden floor-boards in oak, elm or imported fir and of varying widths - generally of more generous proportions than their present-day equivalents - began to be seen in wealthier Households. In the latter part of the period these might be covered with carpets from the Orient, Turkey or continental Europe, or perhaps even home-produced examples. Flagstones were also a widely used floor surface.

Furnishings

The most notable feature of furniture during this period was the number of new items coming into use. The canopied four-poster bed was still the most important piece (mattresses were now filled with feathers instead of straw), but newly introduced were such pieces as chests on stands, presses (tall cupboards for clothing or foodstuffs) and bookcases.

Oak was still the popular choice of wood for those who could afford it. For others, cheaper softwoods might be used and these were usually painted to disguise their humble origins. Furniture was often turned and quite bulbous in nature with a highly carved surface.

Upholstery started to appear and House Interiors became altogether more comfortable thanks to the use of cloths such as brocade, silk damask, woolen cloth and velvet. Textile window treatments were rarely seen (where they existed, they would consist of just one curtain, on a pole and swagged to one side), wooden shutters being more usual.

Lighting And Accessories

Interiors were lit by either rush lights or tallow candles plus, of course, the light emanating from an open fire. Unlike our modern, odorless, smooth-burning candles, the tallow variety, being manufactured from animal fats, would have performed erratically and given off smells and smoke. Accessorizing as we know it - employing items purely for their decorative value - was less prevalent. However, pewter serving ware and bold candlesticks, functional as well as attractive, would often be on display.

Michelle has been running her House and bathroom Design ideas business since early 2000, and has been publishing living room Designs tips since 2005. Michelle recently posted about the effects that modern ceiling fans can have on a room, and the impact they can have on your energy and heating bills, even if your room only warrants one of the many different small ceiling fans.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Interior Design Online Course - What is the Institute Of Interior Design?


Online learning makes an education possible for just about anyone, at any stage of their life, to achieve an objective or fulfill a life long dream. People with the desire to learn are no longer bound by disabilities, geographical locations, social status or their own private history. With an education online everything starts afresh and it is never too late.

There are some educational institutions that offer a course in Interior design online. As the demand for Interior Designers continue to grow, Online Schools provide students with the option of learning this wonderfully creative discipline at home at their own convenience.

Let us look at The Institute Of Interior Design. Please be aware that the writer is not recommending this course but providing information only.

The Institute of Interior Design has been in operation since 1998. With facilities in the USA, the UK, Australia, India and Pakistan, the Institute offers Certificate and Diploma home study courses in Interior design. The Institute is accredited by the Open and Learning Quality Council (ODLQC). This body was set up in 1968 and is one of the prime accreditation bodies for distance learning courses.

The course claims to show how to become a professional Interior designer. The online course provides a complete learning package full of information, Tips and exercises providing a permanent reference library essential for consulting after completing the course.

The course has been constructed by experienced industry experts. Interested DIY (Do It Yourself) Interior Designers will find this online course ideal as it offers advice of how to approach each room.

The course provides insight into this creative world of design. The course covers areas of interest such as selecting the right fabrics, presentation of designs, finding customers, how much to charge and the paper work required. The aim of the course is to provide precise and helpful information about being a professional.

Accreditation is an important aspect of any course. What is the point of paying for a course if it is not recognized as being of any value? This course is fully accredited by ASET providing an award equivalent to Level 4 of the National Learning Framework (post A level/HNC/HND standard). ASET is a national Awarding Body recognized by the Department of Education and Skills and by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in Britain. It has been accrediting vocational learning for more than 50 years and now works with more than 200 providers in the UK and internationally.

There is no need to have a talent for drawing as the course reveals how to produce competent drawings by hand. The course also supplies a copy of 'Visual Home' which is a powerful but easy-to-use computer program that quickly produces beautiful floor plans.

Many students take around eighteen months to gain their Diploma. It is worth remembering that because it is home study, the student studies at their own pace. They can take as long as they want as the Institute sets no time limit.

The course material includes numerous self-assessment exercises plus assignments which are evaluated by an experienced tutor. The tutor is there to help and offer advice and suggestions on anything to do with the subject matter.

How will the Diploma of Interior Design benefit the budding Interior designer?

The course will show the student how to set up a professional practice. A Diploma is issued on successfully completing the course as recognition of the skills and the knowledge acquired. It will enable the successful student to use the initials Dip.ID (Inst.ID) after their name. Their name is added to the Institutes list of Approved Interior Designers with an 'Approved Designer' logo to add to their website. If requested, the Institute will also send out a press release to the local newspapers to inform the public of the new practice.

Some students are a bit nervous about enrolling so it is best for the individual students to contact the Institute and inquire about their guarantees and refund policies.There are other ID courses available online and a few credible schools are offering four year online programs. Be aware that online programs and distance learning courses in the field of Interior design may not be recognized as a sufficient or credible form of education.

Prospective students should question whether the program will provide the student with the credentials required to be licensed in most states and provinces or to be hired by most Interior design firms. It would not hurt for serious students to investigate the graduation rates and find out where the graduates of these online courses are employed.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Home Decor Magazines: Your Home With Thank You


For most people it doesn't take long to realize by looking around at their Home that improvements are required. You might want to keep putting it off, but you know your Home is looking a little dated and that you need to reDecorate. Many turn to Home Decor Magazines for ideas and inspiration.

Home Decor Magazines and catalogs let common folks like you and me peek inside the magical world of Home Decorating. They offer helpful tips and suggestions we can use when reDecorating our Homes. The pictures give us a clear understand, while the text guides us in our decision making efforts.
There are a myriad of Home Decor Magazines in the magazine racks at your local bookstore or magazine outlet. Decorating ideas abound on their pages, and beautiful pictures inspire us further to be bold and daring in our Decor choices. Catalogues also give us the chance to buy our wares directly from them while we are at a fevered pitch to have their very room layout down to the drapes and carpet.

You can find Magazines such as these online as well, which includes online Magazines or ezines as well as typical printed magazine subscriptions which will come straight to your Home.

New interior design Magazines are being published constantly. Some of the more popular variety are listed below.

Better Homes and Gardens -- This magazine focuses the reader's attention on information about things Homeowners would be interested in, and their family. Ideas for Decorating your Home and your garden are included. Better Homes and Gardens is also well known for their annual publications which cover certain topics in depth.

Country Living -- A monthly magazine chock full of ideas for country living, décor, crafts, antiques and such. Great pictures. They include tips on cooking as well for those into that sort of thing. This interior Decorating magazine also details furniture and window treatments, fireplace, historic colors, architecture and fabric.

Traditional Home -- As the name implies, this magazine is all about historical Homes and how to Decorate them. They talk about places you can actually visit to take notes and feel the ambiance of various traditional Decorating styles. In particular they discuss furniture, window treatments, fabric and color schemes.

Elle Decor -- A semi-monthly publication devoted to modern design, that leans a little to the French style. Luxury is the word. They write about ways that typical Homeowners can transform their Home into these luxury abodes.

In addition you may find that these publications offer insights or perspectives you find pleasing:

House Beautiful
Southern Living
Architectural Digest
Touch of Class Magazine
Domino Magazine
Metropolitan Home

One of the more popular interior design catalogs, known for their cheap Home Decor is Pottery Barn. Their stores are available in much of the country. They offer a wide variety of styles and prices.

You will also find that many craft Magazines are helpful as they show not only how to make things you can use in your Home, but great photographs displaying those made items in ways you might find helpful and inspiring.

Unfortunately there aren't many free Magazines available, but you can find some newsletters to subscribe to online that may keep you up to date on the latest Home fashion trends.

Home Decor Magazines provide a great resource and inspiration. Their expert guidance offer help while making decisions about various techniques, step-by-step instructions, and great ideas which can help you achieve a desired look.

Chad writes about Home Decor, furnishings and interior design on his site. Here you can find more information on Home Decor Magazines, furniture, Decorating tips and more.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Join The Booming Industry Of Interior Design!


A degree in Interior Design can offer people who pursue it a variety of options for careers. Degrees in this field vary depending on what your specific career goals are. Becoming an Interior Designer is an excellent way for someone who loves to decorate and has creative tendencies to express themselves while earning a living.

Depending on where you live, the educational requirements may vary. You will be able to find Interior Design degrees varying from Associate's to Master's degrees or even doctorate degrees. The degree you choose to earn depends on the level you wish to work at, so research the degrees and see if they line up with your desires as an Interior Designer. It is important to make sure your program is accredited so that you will be able to actively use the education you've earned.
Professionals in this field need to be well-rounded, with both the ability to think in terms of business as well as creatively. While earning your Interior Design degree, you will learn how to fulfill your clients' expectations as well as factoring in their budget. Being able to create the ideal space while managing clients' financial needs, creating accurate sketches and finding color and material samples, meeting deadlines, and making sure that you find the right people to perform any construction that needs completed are all parts of becoming and being an Interior Designer.

Entering into a career as an Designer is exciting, but can also be challenging, so be prepared. There are many creative people who are striving to become Interior Designers, and you may find that the field is a little competitive. A little competition is no problem for someone who is creative and determined, so people who are serious about succeeding in the Industry will find a way. Designers often work for small firms, on a contract basis, or even employ themselves by starting their own Design business. Having a degree, at least an Associate's or a Bachelor's will be an extremely valuable asset as you seek work. The higher level of education you have, the more likely you are to earn more money and land more jobs. Make sure you know if your state requires you to become licensed to work as an Interior Designer.

The job of an Interior Designer requires one to marry functionality, safety, and visual appeal to suit the needs of clients. These professionals, while earning their degrees and gaining experience, will become equipped with the ability to accurately assess the type of Designs that will be most effective in the spaces they are working with, as Designers deal with both public and private spaces. In modern times, many have begun dabbling in architectural detailing, whereas before they just stuck to strictly the Interior decoration.

As technology becomes a more prevalent factor in the work world, it becomes increasingly necessary for Interior Designers to have the ability to work with computer aided Design software. Check with the educational program you are considering completing to find out if they offer this type of training.

As people become more aware of the benefits of a pleasant Interior space and its effect on humans psychologically and physically, it is anticipated that the demand for professionals in this field will increase. In fact, in the next 10 years, the demand for Interior Designers is expected to increase about 20 percent.

Monday, October 31, 2011

What Decor Style Am I? Interior Design Personalities and Needs


Television and the Internet has given us an incredible insight and locking into some of the most stylish and well Designed homes in the world. We see incredible Decor every day and it leaves many people asking the question 'what Decor Style am I?'

Of course there are an infinite amount of Styles and types of interior Design to suit every different taste imaginable. There are also Designs and Styles of Decor that suit individual locations, for example one interior that is perfect for a New York apartment may not be perfect for a London flat.

If you are wondering what Decor Style your personality is then the easiest way to do this is to break the Styles into three understandable genres - traditional, modern and eclectic.
If you'd like interior Designs that are slightly warmer, richer in colour and include ornaments and scenic paintings, then perhaps you are more of a traditionalist. Think country cottage as opposed to penthouse suite.

Perhaps you prefer clean lines, light colours and the more minimalistic approach. Do you like the look of innovative Designer furniture, hard floors and open plan rooms? If this is you then you are definitely suited to a more modern Style.

Finally we have the eclectic personality, which can be very similar to the modern Decor. I like to think of the eclectic Style as being very clever. For example imagine an antique piece of china displayed in a deep box frame hanging on a wall or etched mirrors strategically placed.

Of course to really understand your Style and to find the answer to the question, what Decor Style am I? Then your best speaking to an interior Designer who can advise you on what work will best suit your home and your personality.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Window treatments – How to identify a Reputable Interior Designer?


If you have decided that your home space is in need of a complete makeover, you may wisely be looking for a professional to help you get the most out of your property. But for finding a reputed Interior design company London is about more than just scanning the phonebook for the first match. Keep in mind these essential points are for choosing the right professional for your project.

At some point in your life you might need help from a local service provider who is experienced and has a creative flair for Interior design work. But other than opening up the Yellow Pages and reading the display ads, what are your options for finding a reputable Interior designer?
In most cases, you might not know where to start, and you might not even know what types of questions to ask. Then there's the unknown factor of how much it's going to cost.

Since you probably don't have much experience working with Designers, it's always safe to call several of your friends to ask if any of them have ever hired such a professional to help with their home design projects.
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Decorating:The next group of people to ask would be co-workers, or people from your church or place of worship. It's like the old adage, if you don't ask people before you buy something, you will always hear about the good people someone hired after your work has been completed.

Since we're living in the Information Age with social marketing sites and all the Internet forums and communication options open to us, you might think it would be a simple solution, but it's usually not.

Many times, Interior Designers are multi-talented and work with commercial as well as residential clients. If you like a particular style that you've seen in a restaurant, ask the owner if he hired an Interior designer. If the answer is yes, then ask for the designer's name and contact information.

If that approach is "too out there" for your personality, then visit trade association web sites such as the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and look for a web page that lists Designers based on their location, design specialties, and pricing structures. When you find a suitable match with your expectations, then call or contact the designer to make an appointment to discuss your project.

Friday, October 28, 2011

The Importance of Interior Designing

Interior Designing is very crucial as it will be the very first thing that would catch your attention. Once you get inside a hotel, it is the Interior design that you'll notice first. Let's admit, people are born to be judgmental especially those who know more about art and design. You may have a huge and an expensive building but then if it has an awful Interior design, it's not going to give justice to how spacious or costly your place is especially if it's going to be for a business establishment. For example, if the Interior design of your restaurant isn't that appealing then do not expect that guests will keep on coming back as Interior design plays a major role.

So, the best thing to do is ask help from the experts. Below are the ways as to how you could get hold of the best Interior designers in town:
1. Research About Interior Designing – You need to know the basics of Interior Designing so that you could fully explain to the Interior designer what you really want and also understand some of its technicalities. Normally, if you're pretty clueless with something, it sometimes stirs up misunderstanding especially if you're going to deal with an expert. The designer might have ideas which you think is farfetched but actually very important. Therefore, it is highly recommended for you to know the basics first just before getting yourself an Interior designer.

2. Know what you want – Just before you'll talk to the Interior designers, you must know what you want with the design. The color of the wall, the furniture, the theme like if it must be modern-looking or classic or maybe both, the accessories etc. You may get some ideas through searching online, magazines, Interior Designing books etc. Inform the designer of what you want so that he would have an idea as to how your place would want to look like.

3. Get Referrals – Try to talk to a person who already had an experience in hiring an Interior designer. First-hand information will be the best information since he'll be talking based on his experiences. Do not hesitate to ask questions and take down important notes.

4. Leave it to the Expert – Once you already made up your mind as to how your place must look like, let your Interior designer do its thing. He/she has studied that field and so you must remember that he knows the craft more than you do. You must listen to his suggestions and recommendations. You must also realize that there are also designs which would not suit your place and so you should be open-minded and listen to what the Interior designer has to say. Through this way, you will be able to have a harmonious work relationship and miscommunication will be avoided.

If you're going to follow the steps above, for sure, you'll be able to get good Interior Designing results. If you'd like to get hold of the best Interior designers, you could try checking out Arizona Interior Design or Phoenix Interior Design.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Organic Interior Designs


Organic design of Interiors uses natural elements for creating those Designs by minimal usage of synthetic materials. An Organic decorator should be aware of the type of natural elements available in the market and in nature which can be used to replace those synthetic decorators. It will be quite challenging for usual indoor decorators to turn to eco-friendly Interior decorators.

Now a days green or Organic Interior decoration is not very much accepted by the people around the world. But more than 70% of the people around the world would like to live a life which is close to nature. The reason i am telling is because, when looking the travel statistics around the world people are choosing destinations which are close to nature for their holidays. People love nature and likes to have fresh intake of oxygen. Fresh air is not available in big cities and in artificially ventilated Interiors. So people are traveling to those ecological and nature friendly places spend at least some days in a year. Which type of room would you love to live in through out your lifespan whether it is an artificially created room or in a room which is filled with natural light and with a breeze of natural air.
Many people think that green Interior decorating is being utilized by those who don't want to spend much money on their Interiors. People who are willing to spend much money on their Interiors think that their Interior will feel unusual if their turn to Organic Interior decorating. It is a fact that people used to return to those indoors which are Organically designed than those with synthetically designed indoors. Moreover people living inside Organic designed Interiors have got less friction and differences among them when compared to people living in synthetically designed Interiors. Organic Interior design can create that ambience inside a room which can create a sense of tranquility and serenity inside the rooms.With some simple measures and changes synthetically designed rooms can be changed to Organic. Organically designed Interiors are decorated in such a way that it should provide that much need calm and rejuvenation for mind and soul. After all what we need for our homes or office Interiors is peace of mind.

Organic Interior design has become relevant in today's world because of the amount of pollution happening in our cities. Every day people are adding more air conditioners to their rooms. Many research have proved that emissions from these air conditioners is one of the reason for climate change. Organic Interior decorators around the world are having the opinion that people are gradually thinking about Organic Interior Designs for their rooms.

Inviting Mother Nature into the home through home design is an exceptional way to get back to basics while infusing a house with warmth, color, purpose and practicality. We were originally Organic to begin with, so why not keep up the tradition of peace, harmony and health.

Allure the pacifying Mother Nature into your indoors through Organic Interior design is an exceptional way to get back to basics while incorporating a home or office Interior with warmth, color, purpose and practicality. Our ancestors lived an Organic life, so why not keep up the tradition of peace, harmony and health.

Sajive Gangadharan is an Interior design consultant in Kerala who have been in the field of Organic Interior design for more than 13 years. Sajive have born and bought up in a remote village in Kerala where he had led a pure Organic life. His childhood experiences with Organic living have persuaded him to become an Organic Interior designer. He is a pioneer in Interior design Kerala in the field of Organic Interior designing. His Organic designing concepts have been awarded by Interior design organisations and institutions around the world and recently become a certified Organic Interior designer in Kerala, India.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Georgian Style Interior Design Tips


Walls were a very important part of the Georgian Interior and much attention was paid to their treatment. Classically, the wall area would have been divided into three sections: the dado/wainscoting, incorporating the skirting/base board, dado panel and rail (which would be at a height of approximately 75 cm/2ft 6in); the field or mid-wall section; and the top section made up of frieze and cornice.

Early in the period these panels would most probably have been made of oak and finished with a simple wax polish. Later, with the introduction of softwoods, the paneling may have been painted, albeit in rather drab colors, or given a faux wood finish.
Hangings of precious textiles and tapestries were fashionable and fabric walling as we know it also popular (except in the dining room, where food smells might be trapped). Fabrics such as silk and wool damask were attached to walls above dado height by means of wooden battens and finished with a gilt fillet. Costly wallpapers (including flock types and patterns with oriental themes) in sheets rather than rolls were highly prized and most frequently attached to a canvas backing before being hung, thus enabling them to be removed when the owners departed.

Flooring

Exposed bare wooden planks or parquet, simply scrubbed and waxed (and, for coziness, topped with an oriental or area rug) are typical Georgian treatments. For an alternative covering, a painted and varnished floor cloth made of canvas might be incorporated into the scheme. For halls and the grander areas of a house, stone or marble flooring, possibly in a classical pattern, was considered most appropriate.

Furnishings

Close co-ordination between all the soft furnishings within a room would have been evident, each item echoing the material and Style of others. Popular fabrics of the day were velvet, brocade, damask, silk, chintz and tapestry. Oriental themes influenced many of the fabrics and toile de jouy might well have depicted scenes from Chinese life. Embroidered textiles were also very popular.

Lighting And Accessories

The main source of light, apart from the fire, would have been candles. These were housed in candlesticks, candelabra, wall sconces and lanterns made of wood, glass, brass or silver. Many candlesticks were based on classical Designs, while those for the candelabra were mainly rococo in feel. Mirrors in gilt frames featured strongly, as did lacquerwork screens, porcelain ware and fans from the Orient.

Paintings (often hung from a visible fabric bow) were a popular form of wall decoration and sometimes prints were applied directly on to the wall. Silhouettes and silverware were also favored. Items were usually displayed in a symmetrical pattern.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Finding The Design Program That Best Suits Your Needs


Do you consider yourself a creative person, with a knack for creative Design? Are you contemplating a career in Design? If so, you should know that there are dozens of Design Schools that offer a variety of certificate, Associates, and Bachelors degree Programs that concentrate on some of the most innovative areas of creative Design. If you are not sure what your area of pursuit should be, consider some of the Design careers listed in this article.

If you are a visionary who enjoys coming up with ideas and bringing them to fruition, industrial Design might appeal to you. The industrial Design process combines several factors, like creativity, technical information, historic and current ideological influences, and production that bring to life product Designs that can have significant cultural influence. Industrial Designers can secure such diverse careers as product, furniture, automotive, or toy Designer.
Graphic Design typically appeals to the person who likes to draw and enjoys making sense out of abstract images. As a student of graphic Design, you would develop technical and aesthetic skills in drawing, Design, composition, and color. Hands on learning include using industry-related technology and software. Graphic Design skills are in constant demand due to the competitive world of advertising, publishing, and communications. A degree in graphic Design can yield jobs like assistant Designer, graphic Designer, and layout artist.

For those who can walk into a room, bare or furnished, and create a totally new layout in their head would probably do very well in interior Design. Students pursuing a career in interior Design can look forward to developing through individual Design process and studying architecture, drafting, lighting, and drawing. Careers as an interior Designer can include residential planners, Design consultants, and project managers.

Do you find television commercials just as entertaining as some of your favorite Programs? Advertising may be your area of expertise. As a student of advertising, you would learn both the creative and business side of the commercial realm. This includes copywriting, art direction, and account supervision. As a result, you could pursue a profession as an assistant art director, copywriter, or account manager.

Doodling on a pad won't get you recognized as an in-demand illustrator. You might want to consider developing your skills in the illustration degree Program. In this degree Program students learn technical skills while developing their individual expressive style. Curriculum can focus on drawing, painting, and photography. Their degree can garner jobs like book illustrator, graphic novelist, storyboard artists, 2-D artist, and art director.

Interior Designers enjoy furnishing a room to create a specific layout. Designers who have the skill to Design space can investigate residential Design. Typically, you do not have to have previous art or Design experience for the residential Design Program. It is usually offered as a diploma based Program. Students learn about space planning, textiles, furnishings, and engage in hands-on projects like drafting floor plans. Graduates are equipped to apply for entry-level employment such as residential planners.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Interior Design and Trendsetting


Many 20th century Interior Designers had no formal training but they are trendsetters in the world of Design and decorations. They have an eye for art and they are being paid for that. Now, there are lots of Interior Design school and courses that caters to individual need. There are also magazines where common folks can do do-it-yourself projects. Interior Design has now become a trend in itself where more people are willing to spend money to achieve that unique edge. There are also Designers who can command a hefty sum for ideas alone. It is rapidly growing because people are influenced by the Design of celebrity's homes and then they want to apply the same Design on their own home at a lesser cost.
There are a wide range of working conditions and employment opportunities within the scale of the Interior Design jobs. Small and large companies often hire Interior Designers as employees on regular working hours. While some work freelance, they do not have regular clients and workloads are given by the client's word of mouth or by referrals. Besides, they usually work long hours. Interior Design jobs entail a lot of stress because deadlines have to met, client's budget must be considered, and of course, the clients themselves. Their work tends to involve a great deal of traveling to visit different locations, studios, or client's home and offices. With the aid of the recent technology, the process of contracting clients and communicating Design alternatives has become easier and requires less travel. The customers are quite happy with these developments because the Design process became more interactive and exciting, in a relatively technological but labor-intensive environment. Architecture jobs, on the other hand, is the art and science of Designing and erecting buildings and other physical structures. While the architect's job is to Design the physical components of the house or building, what the Interior Designer do is put some aesthetic values to that Design down to the minutest details like flowers and vases. An architecture job shop not only involved technical pens and drafting papers. They use computer-aided Design (CAD) software to manipulate their Designs in different dimensions. A wider definition may comprise all Design activity from the macro level like urban or landscape architecture, to the micro-level like construction details and furniture. Architecture jobs involves the process of product planning, Designing, and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social and aesthetic considerations. It also requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow. Architectural jobs also encompass the pragmatic aspects of realizing building and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating, and construction administration. The documentation produced by the architects are typically drawings, plans and technical specification and they define the structure and behavior of the building or homes that is to be or has been constructed. Interior Design jobs, meanwhile, involves looking for materials that fit together to make the specific look specified by the architectural Design come to life. Architectural works are often perceived as the cultural and political symbols of a certain nation as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Bedroom Interior Design Ideas Review


Bedroom Interior Design Ideas provide independent tips for people who are looking to improve their Bedroom. There is a general misconception when people think and believe that the only way to Design and furnish a Bedroom is in a modern, old-fashion or themed style. This is not true at all. It is true that a Bedroom should be Designed entirely individual and furnished in a way that it helps you to have a great time during your sleeping hours and TV hours.

In fact, your Bedroom is not a public place, and therefore mustn't be furnished in a strict manner. You should feel entirely free to decorate your wall and add furniture to this place however you desire it. There are no rules or obligations for you.
The truth that the average person spends around 7 to 9 hours in his or her Bedroom makes it crystal clear that this place has to be valuable for you. If you cannot sleep well at night because you don't feel comfortable or safe in your Bedroom you are very likely not going to produce optimal results in your profession. At the same time, it should be clear that having interrupted sleep can damage your health enormously. The better you can sleep at night the better results you will produce out there in the world.

So, what is the solution? Indoor water features are definitely one of the aspects that every Bedroom should have. In fact, indoor water features bring calmness and comfort to your sleeping hours. We all know that we tend to sleep a lot better when it rains. It is because the human psycho reacts well to natural things like rain. But adding indoor water features is just a single aspect which can improve your Bedroom.

Our Bedroom Interior Design Ideas suggest having a TV in your Bedroom if it isn't going to harm your sleep. Unfortunately, many people get literally addicted to watching TV and do this until 3 in the morning even though they have to work the next day at 9AM. You can have a TV in your Bedroom but don´t let it have a negative impact on your sleep.

Having framed pictures or posters can help you to feel great as well, especially if the paintings or pictures represent individuals whom you highly value.

As you can see, Bedroom Interior Design Ideas help make your sleeping environment more comfortable.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Interior Design - Incorporating Feng Shui in Western Design Styles


Building and decorating a place that is ideal for dwelling or even work take more than just having the right architect or being able to afford great furniture. For those who wish to have a structure that feels right and brings the best out of anyone who steps in it, using Feng Shui wisdom in Design is a must.

There are many ways that you can incorporate Feng Shui in your Interior Design projects. The very first thing that you should keep in mind is that incorporating Feng Shui into Design takes more than just having a beautiful place. The end results must be rooms and spaces that flow in harmony with you and your family. Every piece of furniture does not necessarily follow a conventional aesthetic standard. In fact, you may end up having pieces that you will not consider beautiful. But as long as they bring peace and comfort to the dwellers, they will not interfere with the chi of the whole place.
The Bagua map will guide you in Designing your home or work space. According to the Bagua map, each aspect of your life is represented in several areas of your home. In relation to this, all areas should be in harmony with each other. The way your arrange your furniture will also be guided by the Bagua map.

When choosing colors, you must consider what is ideal for a specific area of your house. Different colors represent different things and elements. Choose accordingly. For example, if you wish to have a house that represents prosperity, purple is your choice. The elements that you should also choose to promote this aspect of your life are water and wood.

In the end, your home or work space should make you feel at peace. Shapes and colors should be balanced; furniture and the amount of light should be in perfect harmony to those who occupy the room.

Interior Design Tips - Decorating With Picture Frames


Choosing Frames for your art in your Interior Design can be tricky, but here are a few ideas to help you make you best selections.

Modern Pictures usually have simple clean lined Frames. Modern art is usually an expression in itself and the frame is usually very simple, or no frame at all. The common materials used for modern Design are black matte Frames, metals like gold, silver or bronze or plastics, such as acrylic boxes.
Traditional art can have more detail and ornamentation. Traditional art is softer usually and the frame may lend itself to more detail. Be sure that the frame is not more busy than the subject unless you want the frame to be more highlighted than the art subject.
The finish of the frame should compliment the art. Darker art would usually have a darker frame, lighter art would more than likely have a lighter frame. The mat color would usually be complimentary to the main background color of the art and a secondary color mat would compliment one of the main colors of the art also.
Choose the frame to the art, not the room. This is important because sometimes people choose Frames to go with the entire color scheme of the room. This art may actually only go with one color in the color scheme for the room and that is fine. It is not necessary to have all the colors in you room color scheme associated with the art, so choose the frame that highlights the art best, not the entire room. Choose a style of frame that compliments the style of art. Modern frame for modern art, traditional frame for traditional art and playful Frames for kids art. Darker Frames for dark art and lighter Frames for light art.
The scale or size of the frame should be related to the scale of the painting. Smaller Pictures can be made to feel larger by leaving space around them between the Picture and the frame. This can be done with several layers of mats or the art can even "float" if you want to put it in a plexiglass frame for a more modern look. If the art is made to look larger by space around it, then the frame can be larger scale too. Very large art may have 4"-6" or more frame width. Remember to consider this frame width in the overall size of the art. Some art may be framed to size with a smaller frame with a smaller Picture and larger scale Frames with larger Pictures. There also is a trend to put a thin metal frame around a large piece of art. This highlights the Picture and looks like a border around it, as apposed to a framed look.
The frame does not need to "match" the Picture, it should harmonize with it. Color matching is not necessary when choosing your frame with art. Stand back and see if the color of the frame harmonizes nicely with the colors in the art. Too much matching can make it look boring.
Very formal settings many times have gold leaf or silver leaf finishes. Formality can be added to art by using metals such as gold leaf and silver leaf. It is like fine jewelry surrounding your art. Can be very elegant, pretty and accent the art perfectly. This can be used with modern or traditional art, smooth or ornate Frames.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Five Tips for a Smart Traveling Interior Designer


I'm continuing to be inspired by all the traveling I've been doing (and will be for the next two weeks). This week this inspiration is translating into my top 5 Tips that I've developed throughout the years and am glad to share with you today.

1. Input all traveling details into your calendar. Printing every piece of paper and confirmation is burdensome (not to mention not very eco-friendly) and relying on memory is, well..., not recommended. Entering everything into my calendar and synching it with my smart phone has been a god-send. It particularly came in handy, when I was running late to the airport, after a longer-than-planned installation, and needed to quickly figure out where to park. Here are the exact details to include:

a. flight times - back and forth

b. airline (I once almost ended up at the wrong terminal, thinking I was flying US Air, but it was Delta instead)

c. confirmation #'s

d. where you're flying from (this may sound so obvious, but I live right between Philadelphia and Newark airport and can easily fly from either)

e. parking garage (and any coupons you want to use - parking can really add up)

f. ground transportation (shuttle, where to buy the ticket, etc)

g. hotel address and phone number (in case the plane is late and you have to call to confirm you're still coming)

2. Pack one extra outfit. I am a big fan of only packing what I will absolutely wear. I really don't like coming home and having to wash all the extra clothes that I didn't wear. Having said that, I recently came from a short trip, where I could have used just one extra outfit to go to an evening reception. From now on, I will make sure to pack an extra outfit.

3. Switch your shoes from one day to the next. I've learned this back in my corporate days, when we spent long hours on the floor of a trade show. There is nothing better than being able to wear a different pair every other day.

4. Bring all the right chargers. If I want to stay connected, I have to make sure to bring my phone and computer chargers. You may have more devices that you need charged up.

If you're traveling in the summer and are bare-foot, bring a pair of socks. This may sound like a silly tip, but seriously, you can use them to walk through security (after you've had to relinquish your shoes, on the airplane (where AC is usually cranked up very high) and at the hotel instead of slippers.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Several Concerns About Interior Design for the Office


Interior designing is a detailed subject with a very broad scope of work. It is a specialized job as each corner of the home, office or showroom demands for exclusive attention. Just like home, there are several concerns about Interior decoration and designing for the office which need to be considered as well. The kind of business, the locality, integration of business equipment, the type of clientele, customer comfort, number of staff and many other things similar to these are kept in mind by the Designers before starting any project.

There are different kinds of Interior design but generally people are aware and discuss only about the residential, commercial, and green house design. In recent times, the businesses have realized the significance of marketing and presentation. They are now aware that if they will look good, they will sell good. Due to that a huge number of businesses have turned towards the renovation of their offices. Last 2 decades have gone really well for the Interior decorators especially in the developed countries as their industry has touched new heights.
No matter how professional and experienced an Interior decoration firm is, every project is different and like a challenge for them. Before starting the project, the designer need to understand the actual requirement of the client as only then he will realize that what is expected from him. The understanding of the business is another aspect which should be clear at the very first step.

After having the clear understanding of the above, the designer needs to prepare a proper and complete plan which will give him the correct estimate regarding the amount of time and finances requires to finalize the project. There are few things which are really a piece of concern in designing any office. Interior designer should work hard on the walls, ceilings, doors, lighting, flooring, furniture, curtains and wall hangings to provide them a distinctive appearance. Proper spaces should be provided at appropriate places as with too much stuff the office will present a congested look.

The designer must make sure that his work will align and complement the nature of business as well. For example use of bright shades and colourful paintings will be perfect at any advertising agency but for a law firm this scheme will not suitable. In addition to that the surrounding of the business premises also requires some attention. The garden must look refreshing and well organized.

Many Designers are also inclined toward Feng Shui which is a Chinese art and that look after the energy which is running in your office. A combination of good Interior design with feng shui can do magic for your office.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Bedroom Interior Design Tips & Idea

Whether you want a contemporary look or a traditional look, there are plenty of options for master Bedroom decorating. The first step to Bedroom decorating is deciding the color scheme.
If you want the room to have an energizing effect then colors like yellow, turquoise or cranberry are perfect choices for Bedroom color schemes. Choosing Themes Knowing how to theme your Bedroom can be a challenge.
Another great Idea for decorating a Bedroom, is using drapes to add a soft touch to the room. Draperies are a great way of how to decorate a Bedroom on a budget.
A Bedroom should be a personal getaway, a sanctuary, which expresses your favorite colors, feelings, and collections. Of all the rooms in your home, the Bedroom is the most personal. We spend almost one third of our lives in our Bedroom and thus, your Bedroom should be a tranquil retreat or a private haven where you are able to get away from it all and relax after a hard day's work.
Thinking beyond just color, fold a fringed throw and place it under your pillows with fringe cascading toward the floor. Painted green of the walls, dark wood accent furniture pieces and the natural linen fabric combine to give this Bedroom Design a quality Bedroom Design feel. For example a dark wood bookcase is a stunning and unexpected backdrop for the bed in this dramatic and somewhat gave a masculine Bedroom impression. Chocolate leather or suede sitting chairs complimented by an accent pillow or decorative throw continue the masculine appeal in Design.
Another important but often overlooked factor of room comfort and the quality of air inside the room. Good fresh air will work wonders for a better nights sleep and can really affect the feel and atmosphere in a space.
Well, you'll learn about some decorating styles that will help you create the Bedroom you want, visit Singapore Interior Design for more...

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Interior Design Ideas: Windows With Style


When it comes to interior Design Ideas, Windows are one of the favourite pieces that many people love to concentrate on for home décor. To learn about the modern and popular choices for stylish Windows, consider some of the following common points that all top decorators include in their décor:

Fabrics

With the number of different fabric blends available today, there are endless possibilities for beautiful and unique Windows to add Style to a room. Choose from a wide array of natural fabrics like cotton, silk, linen and even wool or from any number of the synthetic blends that are popular today.
Heavy Opaque

In some interior Design Ideas, Windows play a big role in a room. Sometimes the Windows can be the focal point or simply work to create an ideal environment for the person living or working in it. By using heavy opaque window treatments, it's possible to block out unwanted light, dull noise from outside and even create a bold yet calm atmosphere.

Light Sheer

Most of the interior Design Ideas for Windows, especially whimsical and modern Styles will include light sheer treatments. Sheer curtains, blinds and shades offer a beautiful filtered light that softens the room, giving it a warm serene feel to it. Combine several layers of sheers in different colours for a fun subdued addition of colour.

Natural Materials

When considering modern interior Design Ideas, Windows are the pieces that bring nature into the home from sunlight and views from the outdoors. This is one of the main reasons many people love to use natural materials for their window treatments and also as a way to tie in a natural feel indoors.

Wood

Wood is one of the top choices for blinds since they offer a strong look with a warm natural charm. Wood can be included as the main window treatment or even as accessories for other window Styles. There is much flexibility to match wood into décor since there are endless shades and colours available.

Bamboo

When it comes to ethnic and modern interior Design Ideas, Windows with bamboo coverings are usually at the top of the list. Bamboo is a beautiful versatile material that suits many different home décor Styles, especially those with an Asian feel to them.

Colours and Patterns

Using colours and patterns for Windows is a great way to make a plain room vibrant. Change the look and feel of any space by adding shades, curtains or accessories in a bold colour or Design.

Contrasting Colours

Some of the top interior Design Ideas for Windows will have a beautiful mix of contrasting colours. Whether it's in a pattern or from window treatment combination's, contrasting colours offer a bold statement in any room.

Bold Patterns

Along with contrasting colours, bold patterns are another way to make a big statement in a home. This is especially striking when decorating large Windows in a room. Though it will certainly have a bright fun look to it, it's also important not to make it overpowering or else the rest of the room may seem lost.

Bold patterns are also a wonderful way to bring attention to smaller Windows in a room, especially when curtains are drawn back to form a lovely frame, showing the views from outside.

Tone on Tone

Many classic and sophisticated interior Design Ideas for Windows will include subdued class and Style, especially with the addition of tone on tone Styles. Choose fun patterns without showing them in a bold manner. This Style works beautifully with paisley prints, polka dots, floral patterns and more.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Retail Interior Design Advice


Experienced Retail Interior Designers take advantage of certain formulas which are recognised as being effective tools in the successful marketing and selling of goods. They are able to use their 'tricks of the trade' to produce effective Design capable of significantly boosting a company's sales and profit.

Any business owner who has employed the services of a good Retail Interior Designer will tell you that whilst the cost of hiring a Designer might at first appear to be an unwanted expense, with the right choice of Designer, it is a cost which can lead to significant returns. With in-depth knowledge and awareness of the types of psychological conditions that can be manipulated to produce a desired impact on shoppers, specialist Designers are coming up with increasingly sophisticated techniques. These techniques are used to assist retailers in persuading consumers to part with their hard-earned cash.

Supermarkets and other food outlets make use of strategies like the smell of baking bread to make their customers feel hungry. Retail outlets use techniques such as placing merchandise that is considered as an impulse buy at the end of aisles, or in close proximity to till areas. Stock which has a wide profit margin is often placed at a customer's eye level, as it is a well established fact that consumers are more likely to purchase goods which are in their line of sight.

The exterior image of your store and window display areas in particular, can be used to great advantage. Huge numbers of people love shopping so much that they essentially consider it a leisure activity and many people spend hours of their spare time, shopping and browsing in shop windows. Sophisticated Design can create desire and longing in an individual and encourage people to enter stores and purchase items they didn't intentionally set out to buy. The first role of a retail Designer is to make the front of your store look inviting and accessible to customers and to Design and create a provocative window display that will urge individuals to come inside to purchase items.

The Interior of any store is of equal importance and it is essential to create the perfect mood and atmosphere to make your clients feel relaxed and comfortable. A quality shopping experience in the right environment will encourage customers to spend time browsing and spending their money. Customers are much more likely to come back to your store after a pleasurable shopping experience and the inevitability of their return leads to a likelihood of increased sales and profit.

Within the retail Interior a number of tools are employed to create the right image for a store and give it an appealing ambiance. Good use of colour, music and light can be used to make customers feel more comfortable. Generally people feel more at ease when there are other people around and they have a clear line of sight. So it is important that stores feel spacious, are simple to navigate and that they are kept clean and totally uncluttered.

New and creative, themed displays can help a store keep a fresh and vibrant appearance and can be used to promote both seasonal and sale items effectively. The practice of moving displays around from time to time can also assist stores to retain the interest of customers and make them feel more inquisitive and curious.

Whether you choose to employ a Retail Interior Designer or decide to take on the challenge yourself, don't undervalue the impact that visual communication has on your sales.

SmithBrewer offer Design and build services for retail and commercial Interiors, our in-house retail Design team offers a wealth of experience and Design skills within the graphic and product Design and retail display fields. We provide a retail Interior Design service for commercial properties such as offices, hotels, bars and restaurants. We can create a full scheme for you or can Design feature areas or even individual pieces of furniture to suit an existing scheme

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Design Styles, Minimalistic Interior Design


In this age of less equals more, minimalism, has found a growing population of admirers. While not everyone is ready to "let go" of their materialistic tendencies and embrace an ideology that promotes space and empty areas as desirable Interior Design elements, many do. If you're toying with the idea of simplifying your life and your Interior Design scheme, but aren't ready to sell the Chippendale yet, then Design Styles featuring Minimalistic Interior Design elements can be added to an existing decor very sparingly (pun intended).
For instance, let's consider an average home that contains: two bedrooms, two baths, a living room, a dining area, a kitchen and maybe a den. In the "average" home that is already decorated in one of the more typical Design schools, you'd have well over a hundred items of furniture inside, and usually a lot more. In a minimalist house, on the other hand, you'd have no more than twenty-five and probably less. Since the extremes between how most of us live and the minimalist ideal decor are so very far apart from one another, compromise seems a wise course of action.

In an ideal minimalist home, the living room would have a simple, flat bench, a rug and maybe a lamp. No television set, no coffee table, no chairs and no excessive materialism would be allowed in the space. In a compromised minimalist environment, however, you could winnow out some of the excess furniture and banish the clutter gathering bits. It would not, of course, be purely minimalist but it would be headed in the direction of it.

Design ideas incorporating Minimalistic Interior Design elements can be added to existing homes and incorporated into emerging decors with ease. In fact, the biggest problem with this school of decorating is working too hard at it.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Importance of an Interior Designer

It is important for a building to have a good Interior design. In an office setting, once the area isn't properly designed, people will get uncomfortable with their surrounding and once they're on that state, they don't get to perform well in their given responsibilities.

You need to have a design which would be, for example, in a classroom, conducive for learning. So, with that, you need to choose a bright-colored paint on the wall and the fixtures should also be refreshing to the eyes and the area must be filled with the latest gadgets there is.

Another example is for hospitals, the old hospitals would look creepy and gloomy and so it is a challenge for the part of an Interior Designer to have a design which will not put a patient to further distress. It should be a wall painted in happy and bright colors which signifies hope to patients, especially the ones who have serious illness.
An Interior Designer's job is also very crucial to every building since it's what's being immediately got noticed at first. People will not judge by the foundation a certain building has but the design inside it. They also need to consider the personality of the owner or how or what are the things the building owner would want the Interior design to be like. So, it is a must for every Interior Designer to sit and brainstorm with the owner otherwise the design will solely be everything that an Interior design wants and the owners wants will be overlooked.

So, if you're trying to put up a building, ensure that you have the best Interior Designer in town. There are a lot of Phoenix based Interior designs or Arizona Interior designs to choose from. All you need to is make an extensive research. Ask around and get advices from people who got themselves their personal Interior Designer. Learn from their experiences. Do not forget to ask questions so that you'll get the information that you want. Also, read from testimonials that you get to see online or at Interior designing magazines. Get enough information just before you'll start taking the plunge.

Remember that putting up a building is a serious business and so you must have a good Interior Designer – someone you could trust and someone, despite a pricey rate, will provide exceptional results.

But just before getting an Interior Designer, be sure you know what you really want, like the design, color, fixtures and more. You could not be able to get good Interior designing results if you, as the owner, don't even know what you want. It's pointless getting an Interior Designer if you'll just let him do everything. It's like a two-way street, both of you must contribute an idea otherwise you'll end up regretting the design and worst, having it refurbished anytime.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Standard Magazine...The NEW Interior Design Magazine


Standard Magazine is an Interior Design Magazine unlike any other. Flip through a couple pages of its premiere issue (September 2010), and you'll quickly see you're in for a satisfying treat.

Like many publications, Standard has well-written, interesting articles and many enchanting photographs. But in its overarching point of view, Standard Magazine is blazing its own, unique trail.

In Standard Magazine's view, sustainable homes should be simply . . . standard. All the ideas in the Magazine are green and ecologically friendly as a matter of course. This outlook gives the Magazine the freedom and license to place its emphasis elsewhere: on top-notch, inspirational, and beautiful Design.
Standard Magazine is an Interior Design Magazine created by Designer and author Kelly LaPlante, who taught the Design industry that "green is a standard, not a style." After twelve years of pioneering eco-Design in sustainable homes, LaPlante says it's "time to change the conversation and to raise the bar again."

"After more than a decade of pushing my industry toward sustainable homes," LaPlante says, "I've decided that the time has come to really treat green like a standard-and that means not making a big deal about it anymore."

The Magazine "won't be hitting you over the head with our morals," she says.

Raising the bar means that, as far as Interior Design goes, being green - using recycled materials and pieces in clever, appealing ways, for instance -- is a basic, minimum requirement. All the components -- eco-friendly paints, wallpapers, fabrics, carpets and more -- are easy to obtain and affordable - and therefore should be used, period..

As Kelly says, "Doing the right thing, and doing it beautifully, is absolutely expected of everything and everyone we feature."

Author of ?cologique (2008), LaPlante says, "Our manifesto is that Design should be captivating, timeless, built to last and, of course, produced in a way that honors people and the planet. This will be reflected in each issue, on every page." And reading through Standard's maiden issue quickly confirms that: this is an Interior Design Magazine that's packed with great ideas, superb writing (one writer used the phrase "mouth-hanging-open immobility" to describe a recent favorable impression she had), and captivating photos.

Standard's high standards extend beyond sustainable homes: no trees, for instance, are harmed in its publication. This Interior Design Magazine is primarily published online, as opposed to on paper.

Just as the underlying concept behind Standard is to focus on beautiful Design (while making sustainable homes in the process), each issue of the Magazine itself will be created as a readable, pleasurable experience.

Standard's style is also collaborative - its staff is interested in hearing tips, ideas, and feedback. Standard wants to help like-minded people find inspiration and beauty.

As columnist James Saavedra says, "We all deserve a life infused with beauty and style."

The pages of Standard exude a certain joy and, flipping through its articles, you might just start feeling rather joyful yourself. This Interior Design Magazine does not overly concern itself with decomposition of recycled materials - instead it communicates bold beauty and creativity.

There seems to be no better way to close an article about this Interior Design Magazine than to quote its writers' final sentence in announcing its entrance into the world: Welcome to the Post-Green Movement!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Inspirational Art Nouveau Interior Design Styles


The art nouveau style saw a fundamental change in Interior Design Styles. Rather then using inspiration from the past Designers began to look at the things around them to inspire some of the most wonderful furniture, lighting and patterns which make this particular style unique.

In the beginning people either loved it and embraced the Designs with open arms or loathed it and said it would never become popular-the latter being very wrong! The art nouveau style saw a revival in the 1960s and again today in the 21st century Interiors Designers are still using some of the concepts within their Interior Styles.
Famous names associated with art nouveau are Charles Renie Macintosh who introduced wonderful patterns for wall papers and fabrics. It is for these Designs he is probably most associated.

Louis Comfort Tiffany Designed and created wonderful lighting using a host of different coloured glass in table lamp shades on which the stands depicted nature and animals predominately.

Emille Galle Designed fabulous furniture, ceramics and glass wear to compliment this new Design fashion in the art nouveau style with influences from Rocco. Rene Lalique glass wear and jewellery items are highly sought after in the auction rooms, with people hoping to find these exquisite pieces to add to their collections.

These 'new' Designers believed in fine craftsmanship and quality but they also embraced and accepted mass production.

To achieve the art nouveau look in your home there are some key and fundamental 'rules' to be followed.

Floors should be parquet and stained or vanished. While Macintosh experiments with Interiors which were 'all white' typically the colour tones were muted and comprised of sage greens, browns and mustard, combined with lilac, purple and peacock blue. Walls were either painted in one of the muted tones, 'off white' or papered with patterns inspired by nature and often included birds, particularly peacocks and dragonflies.

Macintosh is world famed for his high backed chairs with black gloss lacquer. However chairs upholstered in replicas of floral fabrics with muted tones would look in keeping with the art nouveau theme.

If you could afford a genuine Tiffany lamp it would undoubtedly be the show case of the room, however this is highly unlikely for most! Reproduction Tiffany lamps are widely available in the high street or online and are essential to achieve the art nouveau look.

Ornaments were glass, the opaly and pearlescent Styles for which Lalique is famed, along with pewter and silver. Antiques shops and boot fairs are ideal places to find art nouveau ornaments which do not necessarily command a high price due to the mass production at the time. To complete the art nouveau look the room should have plenty of flowers and peacock feathers which are one of the hallmarks of this Interior Design style.

Windows contained stained glass panels, these can been found at salvage yards if you are lucky or modern reproduction would work equally as well.