I remember my days on my college campus fondly. The smell of fall in the air as the first semester of the school year began. It was not long until I was assigned my first design projects of the term. Being over ambitious, of course I wanted to create the most impactful and awe-striking presentation boards. The only problem was that I lived on the opposite corner of campus from the interior design instruction facility…ugh…which meant the bigger the boards, the more “sailing away” would happen during the travels to and from class. If you don’t already know, design boards are heavy, large, awkward and expensive! So the last thing you want to happen is to have your project fly away in the wind, or worse yet, having the large flat object cause you to fly into traffic!
Designers have come a long way in the last 5 years in regards to presentation methods. I think as an industry we have become a little more mobile, streamlined and all around “slimmer.” I am not saying a good ol’ fashioned presentation board isn’t ever called for – I have just experienced less and less requests for them. They cannot be altered as easily and quickly as digital presentations, not to mention they can take more time to fabricate, as well as to be shipped or delivered. So, as we become more tech-savvy and digital as an industry do you think we are losing something?
The “green” side of my brain says no, but the side of me that enjoys classical music and board games says yes! In regards to designers being more environmentally conscience, I think by creating more digital presentations, we are drastically reducing the amount of embodied energy we put into developing end results (this does not mean we skimp on brain power and the wonderful intangible parts of design work). The amount of shipping that takes place to get samples and then the amount of mounting materials it takes to create presentation boards can be substantial…not to mention that the more digital we go, the less chance there is to experience accidents with Exacto knifes and hot glue guns! I bet you did not know being an interior designer could be so dangerous.
In the end, I still think making work more portable through online meetings, graphic presentations and research via the internet is inevitable in order to keep up with the pace of business today. But it is still nice to see a well crafted presentation board on display and think…yeah , I could still do that!
Archive for the ‘Interior Design’ Category
Interior Design On The Go: Making Work Portable
Monday, February 28th, 2011Thomas Chippendale – Work And Styles Influenced The London Interior Design Community
Thursday, January 27th, 2011Thomas Chippendale didnâ??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.
Chippendaleâ??s fluent, natural and sophisticated style developed after the promotion of his furniture and interior designs in â??The Gentleman and the Cabinetmakerâ??s Directorâ? 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 â?? namely French, Asian and Goth. In the USA, Chippendaleâ??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 Chippendaleâ??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 hoursâ?? 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 Chippendaleâ??s ideals throughout and showcases his focus on both form and function.
Today, London̢??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 Рmany interior designers will use some of the more extravagant Chippendale pieces to offset some of the more frosty and unforgiving modern furniture elements.
Feng Shui Interior Design – Color And Layout Design Tips For Your Home
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010Feng shui interior design describes using design elements to improve the ‘qi’ or energy of the home. Each room of the home serves a specific purpose and the interior design of the individual rooms will perform that purpose with the help of feng shui. In this respect, different principles and techniques must be applied to the different rooms. One size doesn’t fit all in this case. Make the most out of every individual room by using totally unique cures and remedies.The aim of the bedroom is usually to be the room inside the house that promotes rest, relaxation and romance. This is meant for being an area that brings out calmness and tranquility. As a way to do that, colors play a necessary role. Loud colors are the very last thing we wish to use, because they are too much of a distraction and actually promotes restlessness. Furniture placement is also a key factor. The bed should be the main feature of a room and has to be displayed at a commanding position, which is diagonal with the door. There are many other techniques you should utilize to optimize the bedroom, many of which are associated with love. The love corner is another central part of a bedroom, make good use of this area to attract love or maintain good relationships.The purpose of the living room is to be the room in the house for get togethers. It is usually meant for family gatherings and entertaining guests. Because of this, the living room must be an area that promotes conversation and should be optimized for family bonding. To be able to do this, the main focus is on how the seating of this room is arranged. Sofas and chairs are supposed to be placed in a semi circular shape to accomplish this purpose. Family photographs also needs to be a feature of this room. Other great additions include artwork and live plants.The aim of the kitchen is to feed and nourish the entire family. It really is considered one of the primary rooms of the house, because it symbolizes growth and prosperity for each of the members of the family. The stove is the primary focus of the kitchen and its burners actually represent wealth. A stove situated within an island often is the ideal position, since the cook should manage to have a good view of the entire kitchen. It’s always important that one can see who comes through the door. If the stove is constructed against a wall, a very good feng shui remedy is always to add mirrors behind the stove so anything in back is still visible.The aim of a home office is to be the part of the home that work is completed, it must be optimized in a way that promotes productivity and will help guarantee success. In this case the desk is the most important piece of furniture inside the room and has to be located in a commanding position with a clear view of the door. Using a map bagua, locate the wealth and career corners for further feng shui design. The home office is an ideal room to utilize live plants such as the money tree or lucky bamboo, both of which are used to attract wealth.As you are able to see, there are many different feng shui interior design techniques for every room of a home. Creating the best balance between all these rooms is what makes everything come together. The different areas of your life is actually harmonized as a result of making this great balance within your home. With the bedroom working towards love, the living room promoting your relationships, the kitchen helping to generate wealth and the home office building success for your business, all these different areas of your life begins to fall in place.
Breathtaking Interior Designs Are Always the Goal
Sunday, October 3rd, 2010Interior designers are often asked about the origins of the profession – especially in the context of quality of life versus product. Has our modern quality of life driven our craving for high-quality design, or has design really been more of a primary impactor in defining how we enjoy wellness? In this article, I will draw on my experience in London’s prestigious interior design community to reflect on how the design process works from this perspective.
When interior designers begin engaging with a potential client, they will often ask about function. What is the desired purpose and use of the room or residence? The answer to this question has a profound impact on everything we do. If a client is desperate for luxury high-end London extravagance in the form of a damask settee, we may recommend a synthetic damask fabric instead of cotton or satin for a household that includes young kids and a pet dog. Breathtaking interior designs are always the goal, but only in the context of compatibility with our clients’ unique London lifestyles.
Interior designers will work hard to understand client requirements from the outset. Some professional London Interior Design consultancies will even have a series of highly structured interview questions that they routinely use. The interior designer will offer a free consultation at the client’s home – whether inside or outside London – to discover exactly what the client loves and hates about their current residence. Budget should be a conversation point from the very beginning. It is important to clarify whether the client prefers to be given fifteen different interior design options from which to choose, or just two or three.
One area that can be really challenging for the interior designer is when a husband and wife have different ideas about the desired outcome. This can happen regardless of whether the individuals are happily married or considering an impending separation. The interior designer sometimes gets “caught in the middle,†which can cause real tension.
In recent years, the London interior design community has seen a real upwelling in terms of social media and internet-enabled design opportunities. One of the most positive results is that would-be clients are now much better informed regarding interior design themes and concepts. Londoners read articles just like this one and start to get a sense of the interior design process even before we reach their front door or exchange our first set of emails!
7 house interior design tips from the expert
Sunday, September 19th, 2010Some innovative and easy house interior design tips can help you create more space and make your small living area look gorgeous. Don’t be disheartened if you have a small living space. They too have great potential in home decorating ideas.
Hoping these tips help you make a move with interior designing. And should you have any questions on the way, an expert is just a call away!