Interior Design
Colour Me Brightly! Understanding Light in Interior Design. Part III: Patterns from Opaque Materials
Author Admin
Professional interior designers are expertly trained in the use of lighting features to create breathtaking results. In this four-part series which I call “Colour Me Brightly: Understanding Light in Interior Design,” I draw on my experience in London’s interior design community to explain this fascinating subject. This third article talks about how to create patterns using opaque materials.
The second way for an interior designer to create light-based patterns involves opaque surfaces, which reflect light back into a room. This pattern creation process is more sophisticated and can be fine-tuned for stunning interior design effects. Light portrayals impact how we understand a surface and its texture. For example, the “standard” technique often seen in London residences simply involves casting a gentle play of light across a wall. The light brushes the fittings, causing the wall to appear even, flat and two-dimensional. Some top London Interior Designers know that their clients crave more drama and stylistic nuance. In such cases, placing lightwell fillings very close to the wall and angling them downwards can be really striking. Using this technique, interior design consultancies can transform the previous gentle wave into an enunciated designer style, as the photons shave the surface and build to form sturdy optical patterns, including top-level arcs and dramatic textures. A sharper, more laser-like focus will only make the pattern more conspicuous – recreating a look that is popular in many trendy London nightclubs.
The direct counterpoint to this interior design technique involves the use of close-offset uplighting. With this approach, floor-level filaments cause the eye to move up vertical columns of light which dance across the wall to form puddles of dappled reflected light on the ceiling. Professional London interior designers often work alongside colour consultants to make sure that the result has practical relevance as well as aesthetic appeal. In particular, some newer London residences often have uncomfortably low ceilings. Interior designers can use this lighting approach to draw attention to the vertical plane of the wall, thereby counterbalancing the hemmed-in feel of the low ceiling.
In the next and final article in this series called “Colour Me Brightly!” I will finish by revealing some top lighting tips from London’s interior design community.
Posted in Interior Design | 
Tags: Brightly, Colour, Design, from, Interior, Light, Materials, Opaque, Part, Patterns, Understanding | 
No Comments »
Interior Design Courses
Author Admin
If you talk about interior design, it sure is a complicated profession, many people thinks architecture is an interior designing and many confuse it with decorating, but this is something different, interior design courses will provide a profession in which you plan and organize the interior structure rather than furnishing or refinishing available interior space. It involves delivering interior environment that is practical (functional) and pleasing, interior design seems simple but there is lot more in interior design.
In past few years, there is constant increase in popularity of interior designing as a profession. Now there is licensed design professionals who are qualified by degree, experience and work. There are even organizations who are developing awareness of interior design and with their constant dedication, this profession is now at where we see it.
Interior design courses are now offering widely online, in universities and in colleges and they teach the process, principal, necessary understanding, knowledge and experience to be successful as an interior designer. If you view from consumer point of view, this all give benefits to consumer end.
Decision making process is the key in the interior designing, take a example of home designing, we eat, sleep, entertain, wash and work in home, there is no readymade design, people lives differently, so while making decision, designer make sense in relationship between home, family, owner and lifestyle.
The basic principles of good interior design are natural, the more close it will be to the nature, the more it will be practical and pleasant, “examine the universe it will teach you how to live”. Interior Designing is an art, art of making life easier by giving environment, it involve the shaping the space, walls and surface. Dedicated skills when combine with artistic waves of mind, transform “imagination into design”.
Glamour: Making it Modern
Author Admin
Glamour: Making it Modern
Glamour. It's hard to define yet most know it when they see it. Today, glamour may still invoke the sophistication and refinement of the golden years of Hollywood art deco, but country, industrial and even nature glamour have joined the more traditional modes. The 21st century has brought glamour and her sisters, decoration and ornamentation back into home design news. Today's most cutting-edge homes embrace design of every kind from every corner of the globe. It's a marriage of disparate styles that finds no contradiction. Glamour is in vogue in homes that are castles (literally) and in one-bedroom rentals at the fringes of downtowns.
Looking at homes recently featured in Metropolitan Home, Glamour, Making It Modern reconsiders them through the following sections:
concepts: looks at the defining general notions of Modern Glamour, such as sheen and scale,
objects: examines elements of home decoration which are inherently glamorous,
rooms: tours homes where everything comes glamorously together.
With a directory of the designers, some of the best in the business, and a list of resources for available products, Glamour, Making It Modern is purely inspirational and absolutely accessible.
How to Start and Operate Your Own Design Firm: A Guide for Interior Designers and Architects
Find More Interior Design Products
Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style
Author Admin
Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style
In her first book, award-winning interior designer Mary McDonald inspires readers to combine old-fashioned elegance with the joy of fearless, exuberant decorating. Consistently ranked one of House Beautiful’s top 100 designers, L.A.-based Mary McDonald’s gorgeous, feminine interiors have graced the cover of every major design magazine. Dubbed the "decorating daredevil" by Domino magazine, McDonald began her career as a milliner and retains a sense of "couture chic" that inspires the look of her interiors, which are simultaneously timeless and of the moment. Her ability to combine bold patterns, chinoiserie, and Indian influences with contemporary lines and an impeccable sense of color has made her one of the most sought-after interior designers working today. Now in her first book, as vibrant and whimsical as Mary and her work, McDonald explores the themes that inform her stylish yet playful sensibility. From her own refurbishment of Buster Keaton’s legendary villa to a stunning range of client projects, McDonald carefully details the colors, fabrics, and accessories she uses to seamlessly pull each look together. Exquisitely photographed, this vivid book is a must for anyone who loves sophisticated, ravishing interiors.
Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits
Author Admin
Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits
The first book to survey the work of this iconic designer, known for her serene "new American classic" look. One of today’s most influential designers, Victoria Hagan exploded onto the scene in 1988 when New York magazine devoted the cover of its design issue to one of her rooms. Since then she has become renowned for her intelligent integration of architectural and interior design, her refined use of materials, her sophisticated color palette, and her strong silhouettes. Always looking to the view, Hagan effortlessly makes a close connection of interior spaces to the surrounding landscape. The houses profiled—ranging from elegant urban residences to casual weekend retreats—reveal Hagan’s unerring attention to what Proust called "the unexpected detail," which makes her interiors beautiful as well as timeless. Throughout, Hagan discourses on the spirit of cherished objects—a print of birds in flight, a vintage star-shaped mirror, or a chair with an unusual silhouette—that add soul and modernity. With stunning photography and personal insights into Hagan’s design philosophy, Victoria Hagan: Interior Portraits is an artful and inspiring collection of this design superstar’s oeuvre.
Find More Interior Design Products
Parisian Interiors: Bold, Elegant, Refined
Author Admin
Parisian Interiors: Bold, Elegant, Refined
Bursting with color and dramatic focal points, these exceptional interiors offer exclusive access into the homes of Paris’s finest art and antiques aficionados. The magic of Paris is distinctly captured in its interiors: windows are tall, and rooms have high ceilings with grand architectural details; but the real charm comes in the thoughtfully selected elements that bring those spaces to life. Paris is rife with antique collectors, art historians, architects, and interior designers who dedicate their lives to the contemplation of each element that goes into the ideal interior. Barbara and René Stoeltie invite us inside the private oases of twenty of the city’s celebrated interiors gurus, capturing in vivid photographs these havens of perfection, brimming with inspiration for the home. While each interior is distinctly unique, they all draw from a rich historical tradition of decorative arts combined with an instinctive desire to reinvent itself, mixing the best elements from different epochs with contemporary art, bold colors, or surprising pattern combinations. A foreword from Jacques Garcia, with his gracious nod to the great Madeleine Castaing, opens this handsome volume.
~NOV 1978~ Vintage INTERIOR DESIGN Magazine -
 | US $19.99 End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 21:21:05 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $19.99 End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 21:22:12 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
Home Decorating for Hаllowееn
Author Admin
If thеrе is еvеr а timе of year whеn thе ghosts аnd goblins roаm thе strееts of thе modеrn world, thаt timе would bе Hаllowееn. Todаy’s ghost аnd goblins аrе probаbly а littlе morе frightеning thаn аt аny othеr timе in history but thеy аrе oftеn tеmpеrеd by а princеss sееking frogs аnd а fеw witchеs аnd wizаrds аlong thе wаy. Hаllowееn is а great dаy to bе а kid but cаn аlso bе а great dаy for grown ups аs wеll. Decorating for Hаllowееn cаn bе аlmost аs fun аs going out аnd bеgging for cаndy аny dаy of thе wееk.
Bеsidеs, hаving а wеll decoratеd home for this holidаy givеs you thе pеrfеct еxcusе to scаrе thе еvil out of some young ghoul or vаmpirе thаt thinks hе or shе hаs thе market cornеrеd on frightеning. Thе really cool thing аbout decorating for Hаllowееn is thаt it is not onе sizе fits аll. You аrе pеrfеctly frее to find some vеry scаry home decorations for this dеlightful holidаy or tаkе on а kindеr, gеntlеr, morе kid friеndly stylе of decorating. Eithеr dеcision is yours аnd yours аlonе аnd should cаrеfully monitor thе scаrе-аbility of your own childrеn whеn dеciding. You cеrtаinly don’t wаnt thеm аfrаid to come home.
For а morе frightеning Hаllowееn scеnе you will probаbly wаnt to usе some strobе lights, frightеning music аnd sound еffеcts, dry icе in ordеr to incorporаtе spooky fog, аnd plеnty of spidеr wеb typе netting in ordеr to givе thosе who dаrе аpproаch your door bеlls а complеtе аnd thorough cаsе of thе williеs. Doеsn’t this sound likе so much fun? Coffins with headlеss strаw mеn аrе аlso а great аddition аs wеll аs skittеring spidеrs аnd thе occаsionаl chаinsаw or two. A glow in thе dаrk hockеy mаsk mаy аlso bе а good choicе. Bodilеss heads suspеndеd by fishing wirе аrе аlso quitе thе highlight for а truе аnd robust fright.
If your goаl is to creatе а kid friеndly Hаllowееn аtmosphеrе thеrе аrе chееrful pumpkin decorations thаt cаn bе found in mаny shаpеs аnd sizеs аs wеll аs Cаspеr thе friеndly ghost, Frаnkеnstеin piÒаtаs, аnd countlеss othеr fun pаrty fаvors thаt аrе dеsignеd to bring еntеrtаinmеnt аnd dеlight rаthеr thаn tеrror аnd fаr. String pumpkin lights аround thе porch for аddеd lighting аnd аnothеr friеndly fаcе in аddition to kееping plеnty of cаndlеs аnd lаntеrns lit nearby. Not аll trick or treatеrs аrе oldеr kids who аpprеciаtе а good scаrе so kееp this in mind аs thе littlе ghosts, goblins, princеssеs, аnd supеr hеroеs аrrivе.
For аdult gаthеrings аll bеts аrе off whеn it comes to home decorating for Hаllowееn. Thеrе аrе аll kinds of thеmеs thаt cаn bе followеd from thе incrеdibly zаny аnd outrаgеous to thе frightеning or flаmboyаnt. Thе biggеst suggеstion in thеsе mаttеrs is to hаvе fun аt аll timеs аnd bring thе bе thе lifе of thе pаrty rаthеr thаn hаving thе decorations upstаgе your еfforts. Fаr too mаny pеoplе spеnd morе timе concеrnеd with how thеy will decoratе thеir homes rаthеr thаn wondеring how thеy will decoratе thеmsеlvеs for thе fеstivitiеs. If you find thе pеrfеct costumеs аll еyеs will bе on you аnd not your decorations.
Fаvoritе suggеstions for аdult pаrtiеs would includе strobе lights, much likе thе frightеning scеnе dеscribеd аbovе, low аdditionаl lights, pеrhаps blаck lights near thе food аnd drink аrea of thе pаrty. Morе dry icе (if tolеrаblе some pеoplе hаvе difficultiеs with thе smеll pаrticulаrly thosе with аllеrgiеs or asthmа so you mаy wаnt to аvoid this insidе your home аnd leavе it for thе еxtеrior). Bаlеs of hаy in thе cornеr mаkе еxcеllеnt аdditionаl seating аnd cаn contributе to thе hаrvеst/аutumn/Hаllowееn аtmosphеrе you аrе аttеmpting to creatе. Just rеmеmbеr thаt thе undеrlying goаl is for you аnd your guеsts to hаvе а great timе. Hаvе good food, good music, аnd good friеnds, аnd thе decorations really аnd truly should bе а sеcondаry concеrn.
Foundations of Interior Design
Author Admin
Foundations of Interior Design
Foundations of Interior Design introduces readers to the creative, technical, and business skills required by the career on which they are about to embark. The service approach focuses on creating safe, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing spaces for residential and contract clients and addresses the current concerns of the design process, sustainability, universal design, and adaptive reuse. Works of professionally-trained interior designers and students richly illustrate the stages of the design process. A variety of engaging presentations on the accompanying CD-ROM reinforce readers understanding and appreciation of the subject.
~SEPT 1978~ Vintage INTERIOR DESIGN Magazine -
 | US $19.99 End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 21:19:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
 | US $19.99 End Date: Saturday May-19-2012 21:20:12 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list |
How Interior Design Consultancies Use Lighting – Artificial and Natural Light
Author Admin
Interior design consultancies understand light in all its forms. In London, lighting is crucial to interior design consultancies that need to create stunning results. In this, the eighth and final article in my series which I call “DeLIGHTed by Design,” I continue to draw on my experience working with some of London’s Top Interior Design Consultancies to explain this exciting area.
When most schoolchildren are asked to think of the countryside, they often imagine the hot, shimmering flicker of a bonfire on a crisp autumn evening or the comforting flare of a scented candle. But how is an interior design consultancy to re-interpret these fabulously earthy and atmospheric scenes for, say, an elegant central London flat? The answer is artificial light.
Interior design consultancies recognise that artificial light is available in many different shades. It is similar to the situation with paint, where buckets that are labelled “white” can actually contain a multitude of different tones. Interior design consultancies employ colour professionals who know that the cool white light of an energy-efficient bulb creates an entirely different effect from the warm yellow-orange tones of a tungsten filament. In London, low-voltage halogen options are often used in darker flats where there is a need to add light during the daytime. Interior design consultancies will install dimmer switches that allow homeowners to reduce the brightness of halogens at night, causing them to adopt a more husky yellow-red glow that is akin to an ancient lantern or oil lamp. By contrast, lamplight is too yellow for most interior design consultancies to include for daytime use, and indeed it can lead to sleepiness or lethargy at work (one of the reasons it is almost never seen in London offices). But at night, tungsten lamps become much more warm and welcoming.
Some interior design consultancies have a love-hate relationship with fluorescent lighting options. These fixtures often emit various shades of white, ranging from a very cool, almost daylight tone, which can be quite crisp, to a warm, rosy streetlight glow. Some interior design consultancies love fluorescent lights for London kitchens, where they illuminate workspaces but save on electricity bills. However, other interior design consultancies stay well away from fluorescent options because their colour does not change as they are dimmed. Fluorescents merely become less bright under such conditions, which can contribute to an unattractively dull, and almost grey, lighting effect.
That brings me to the end of my series “DeLIGHTed by Design.” Thank you for letting me share with you about how London interior design consultancies create fabulous lighting schemes!
Related Interior Design Articles
Posted in Interior Design | Tags: Artificial, Consultancies, Design, Interior, Light, Lighting, Natural | No Comments »
Thomas Chippendale – Work And Styles Influenced The London Interior Design Community
Author Admin
Thomas Chippendale didn’t grow up in London (in fact he was born in Leeds in 1718), but he did move to London at the age of 31, after he had already gained recognition as a premiere furniture maker and cabinetry-focused interior designer. His work and styles influenced the London Interior Design community then, and the Chippendale aesthetic continues to extend its impact well beyond London even today.
Chippendale’s fluent, natural and sophisticated style developed after the promotion of his furniture and interior designs in “The Gentleman and the Cabinetmaker’s Director” in 1754. Chippendale continued to make iconic contributions to the field of interior design until 1790. His furniture came to be manufactured as far afield as Philadelphia in the USA.
Chippendale drew on three key interior design inspirations for this work – namely French, Asian and Goth. In the USA, Chippendale’s work was interpreted as a re-envisionment of the Queen Anne interior design style. His furniture was often heavily ornamentalised on the feet and uppers, with beautiful heritage-inspired scroll tops on taller units. Yellow Birch and Mahogany were often used, undersupport was rarely employed, and the rears of seated furniture were covered with plush fabric or otherwise left as shaped wood, perhaps as tessellated piecework with ornamental sculpting and Asia-inspired cross-strips. To round out his own personal interior design style, Chippendale would also include delightful finials and varnished shellac features.
Enthusiasts and professionals alike were very taken with Chippendale’s work, lauding him as a master London cabinetmaker and a household name of eighteenth-century furniture-focused interior design.
Harewood House is a popular Leeds tourist attraction, located about 4 hours’ drive from Central London. The famous building features a magnificent collection of Chippendale library furniture that was originally ordered during the 1760s. The interior design style reflects Chippendale’s ideals throughout and showcases his focus on both form and function.
Today, London’s interior designers are often called to reconstruct period rooms in traditional mansions or luxury residences. Often Chippendale furniture will play a major role in such interior design concepts. Chippendale-inspired furniture designs such as those of Henrietta Spencer-Churchill may also be ideal for certain settings. However, the fresh lines of many Chippendale pieces also lend themselves to contemporary interior design concepts – many interior designers will use some of the more extravagant Chippendale pieces to offset some of the more frosty and unforgiving modern furniture elements.
Related Interior Design Articles
Posted in Interior Design | Tags: Chippendale, Community, Design, Influenced, Interior, London, Styles, Thomas, work | No Comments »