Posts Tagged ‘interior design’

For many home owners, it is important to make sure to have the right rugs that will both complement and accentuate the homes overall décor. And for many of those home owners, there is a general misconception that in order to have a quality rug that will go well with your décor, you must be willing to spend a fair amount of money. This is not true. You can find great deals on rugs that not only come at great prices, but also come in such a wide variety that you will be sure to find exactly what you need to spruce up the décor in any room.

It is important that people understand that in these very rough economic times the general philosophy of “more money = quality” isn’t necessarily something to live by in every case. While it is true that if you choose to spend a horrendous amount of money those classic or very expensive Persian rugs, and the like, that you will undoubtedly get the best rugs out there. Designer rug brands such as Karastan, Capel, Courison and others are of the highest quality and – to some – are worth the investment.  However, these people likely don’t have young children or pets constantly running around the house. The point, however, is that in these tough times there is absolutely no need to spend more than necessary when there are an abundance of high quality discount area rugs that you can find easily online or in your area.

Another simple misconception that many new homeowners have, is that they must choose their style and color of carpet before doing any other decorating in the home. Many arrive at this conclusion from past experience where trying to find a carpet to match and accentuate your homes décor was overly difficult. {This way of thinking is now an obsolete`This is simply no longer a valid belief}. Thousands of discount area rugs available online or in your local discount carpet stores. With that kind of selection, you are sure to find a inexpensive area rugs to go with your décor.

In conclusion, discount rugs are far more than many people give them credit for. With everyone attempting to save money, these rugs are an ideal solution for any homeowner that wants to spice up their décor. Not only that, but you no longer need to start decorating from the area rug up, with an abundance of options. There is no substitute for having such a wide variety of affordable, durable area rugs that will last for years to come!

Library Interior Design is a project that doesn’t focus as much on creativity as a residential interior design project. The majority of libraries are done in contemporary styles, so the creativity is in the layout, color scheme and sound proofing.

Serenity

The focus on all Library Interior Design is serenity. Making the area conducive to studying and reading is first and foremost in Library Interior Design. Comfort is a consideration, but you do not want to make someone so comfortable that they want to camp out in a library. Plus, if they are too comfortable, they might just fall asleep. Unfortunately, sleepy patrons frequent libraries much too often so bright color schemes and good lighting will help eliminate some of the exhausted patrons. But in general, the focus on Library Interior Design is on the gentle atmosphere.

Library Elements

First of all when designing a library interior, the designer must speak to the staff to determine the needs of the library and any specific elements which must take into consideration. For instance, is it a study library, a reading library, a children’s library or a combination? The designer must always find out the needs and wants of the client before beginning a design project. Researching the history of the library, people flow and percentage of ethniticity is also a good idea.

Library Interior Designers, as all designers today, are required to make every design they execute handicap accessible. A color scheme and layout is the next element that should be devised. After these have been decided, then furniture, fabric, carpet, lighting and accessory manufacturers can be chosen. Key furniture and accessory elements in Library Interior Design include moveable shelving, reading tables, case goods, computer furniture, book stacks, seating, four-post shelving and book detection systems.

If a certain atmosphere is to be intertwined with the library interior design, then the colors, case goods, carpeting, lighting and some of the custom made furniture should be incorporated into the overall design of the library interior. Of course, if the library interior design that you are creating is in a home, your overall concept will be noticeably different than a public, or a corporate private library. And it is always very helpful for any Interior Designer to be able to design a library interior from scratch with an empty, brand new library, then it is to refurbish a used library. However, any good Interior Designer will find Library Interior Design stimulating in whatever form their project begins.

In addition to enhancing your home with fine furnishings and exquisite accessories, there are many places that you can add architectural style with ornamental corbels. Corbels were originally incorporated into stately buildings to support ledges and balconies. Today, corbels are being used in quite a few interior areas of the home.

Following are some examples of areas in your home to include ornamental corbels. Since most modern corbels are made of wood, they are easily fastened using screws, nails and/or glue.  Some decorative are made of urethane foam but we will not discuss those here.

Archways

If there is an archway in your home, consider adding decorative corbels to either side of the archway.  Your arch will have to have a flat for the top of the corbel to fit against.   A fine way to do this is to add an arched casing which terminates at the corbel top. The corbels will face each other in this particular application.  When selecting your corbels, measure the thickness of your wall at the archway to ensure the corbel will be the same size, or smaller than, the widthe of the wall.

Mantle Supports

Fireplaces, at one time, were the focal point of every family room displaying splendid mantles built with ornamental columns and pilasters. You can bring back that same grace with a couple of ornamental corbels.  There is a difference between a fireplace mantel surround and a mantel shelf.  A mantel “surround” wraps around the top and sides of the fireplace.  The mantel shelf sits atop the fireplace only.  Corbels can be used in either application.  Corbels can be utilized to support the mantel shelf or they can be fastened to the columns or legs of the mantel surround.  Care should be taken to make certain the corbels are comparable to the size of the mantel surround or shelf.  If all the mantel components are to be stained, then it is a good idea to match the wood species of the corbel to the rest of the mantel.

Kitchen Island Overhangs

A common place to install ornate is the overhang of a kitchen island or bar.  Granite counters as well as other types of counter tops need support when they extend over the counter.  A one foot extension is fairly common for islands and bars.  The overhang permits chairs and stools (and knees) to rest under the overhang.  Decorative corbels are a good way to add needed support as well as improve your kitchen.   

There are other areas corbels can be used in your residence.  Stand alone wall shelves, for example, lend themselves to their use.  Range hoods have been embellished with decorative corbels.

Many Interior Designers specialize in the area of modern interior design as it is a very popular genre of interior design that is making waves today.  Modern interior design is very popular in commercial and residential facilities in large cities. Many hotels in large cities are now being designed in modern interior design whereas most rural and suburban homes are still done in the traditional style of design.

Offices are big fans of modern interior design because they want to show their clients they are up to date in the latest technological advances. It is a very clean look and does not require a lot of custom made furniture. If a designer is not very experienced in modern interior design, they can border on the boring or sterile version of contemporary design.

The Concept

The basic concept of modern interior design is straight lines, geometrics shapes, single colors, shiny surfaces and the lack of ‘stuff’.  Sometimes a room will be monochromatic, or that monochromatic color is accented with a single bold, contrasting color or a deeper version of the monochromatic color. All of the colors of the spectrum are used in modern interior design, but you seldom see any prints unless they are geometric shapes or patterns. Generally, the patterns or shapes will be in accent pillows.

For example, you may have a peach sofa with large solid, bold orange and teal pillows. There might be a high backed upholstered chair in the same peach fabric with a small accent pillow with orange and teal stripes. The coffee table and end tables will be out of a peach laminate with maybe a piece of contemporary chocolate brown pottery sitting on the coffee table. The lamp can be a shiny chrome floor lamp with a chrome lampshade, and a stark brown bookshelf with books and a few knick-knacks may sit against a wall. This may be all that is in the room.

The furniture in modern interior design uses a lot of low back sectional sofas and straight lined chairs and tables. There are a lot of straight lines used in the chairs that are used in modern interior design. There are very few rounded arm upholstered chairs and the lamps are usually high tech looking and very shiny.  Window treatments are usually blinds or a hard treatment of some sort and many are left uncovered. Flooring, in many cases, consists of a natural material; grasses, bamboos and jute are very popular.  Walls are either left white or painted, wallpaper is rarely used in modern interior design. The artwork is always modern and usually the entire room is built around the artwork.

In commercial modern interior design projects, there are a lot of shiny surfaces and monochromatic colors. A client gets his first impression of the company when he first walks through the door, therefore, the business wants to show that it is updated and organized. It sounds like a simple form of interior design, but actually it takes knowledge and skill to achieve the exact specified look. To achieve any style of interior design, hiring a good Interior Designer is always your best option.

One of the most exciting places to design is the office.  Office interior design yields many chances for creativity that may be out of place in other rooms.Whether decorating a home office or one at work, there are many different options for office interior design.

Decorating an office in a corporate environment calls for a review of the company’s goals and objectives.  It is also important to bear in mind the client that the company hopes to draw in.  Remember, the look and feel of the office will be an influencing factor in making a clients mind. 

When contemplating the office interior design that is right for the individual company, the most commonly seen theme is a modernistic one.  A modernistic theme works well for the office environment because it presents a feel of moving toward the future, a vision many companies claim as their own.Modernistic themes also work well in an office because of the relatively clean look that accompanies the theme.  Basic colors with stark contrasts make for an appealing look that is sure to draw in the consumer’s eye. 

Ideas for Home Office Interior Designer

Decorating a home office means there is much more room to be creative than when decorating a corporate office.  In many traditional American homes, the office is one room where a man normally gets to have a small say in the decorating, whereas much of the rest of the home is decorated by a woman.  For the home office to adopt a masculine feel is very common. 

When decorating a home office, it is important not to make the environment too vibrant.Incorporating the use of calm colors may be a nice alternative to bold prints.  An office is a place of work and it is important not to make the décor distracting.Having one focal wall painted in a calm color such as a cool green or radiant blue will give the room color without making it feel too small or overwhelming. 

The custom made furniture placed in a home office is also very important.  An efficient work desk is needed.Many individuals find it accommodating to have plenty of shelves for easy viewing of study materials.   A comfortable work chair is a needed item as well.  Many people suffer from easily avoidable discomfort because of sitting too long in an uncomfortable chair.

Office interior design is an excellent way to bring expression into the workplace.  For those decorating at home or in a corporate environment the interior design of the workplace is a great way to feel at home while working.Any individual is sure to enjoy office interior design because of the wide scope it provides for creativity.

Patchwork fabrics are becoming more common these days specially with the launch of TV shows concentrating on quilting.  They have reached an extensive audience and have continued to motivate other people to see the fun and art of patchworking.  Patchworks are intended for quilts, curtains, pillow cases, wall hanging and other items.  Are you aware that they have a rich history coming from the time of the Pharaohs of olden Egypt?

Quilting relics have been discovered in the unearthed tombs of pharaohs dated around 3,400 BC.  Immigrants from Europe shared their quilting practices to America.  All over the world, people and countries have their own distinct patchwork fabrics, from Amish to Hawaii to Pakistan and to Bangladesh.  Patch work or piece work is a creative way for people, mostly women, to collect and seam together various fabrics and produce a patchwork quilt.  Smaller portions of fabric materials are pieced together to create a bigger material at a lesser time.  It also displays the numerous patchwork skills by those involved in the complete process. 

You will see various styles and patterns of patchworking in a single piece of fabric.  An example of patchwork fabric material usually originate from two processes namely patchwork and quilting.  As discussed beforehand, patchworking is the putting together of leftovers of fabric materials to craft the top of the quilt.  After this comes a sheet of filling which has a layer of fabric at the back and so creating a “sandwich” for quilting.  The layers are then quilted together to lock the padding and provide a covering for decoration for quilting stitches.  These patterns can vary to a great extent, from the very plain design to the most elaborate and intricate patterns. 

Amish patterns are strikingly minimal with more attention on hues as opposed to complex motifs.  Bangladeshi quilts or patchwork, also called Kantha, have two or three cloths sewed together for depth and this is mostly made prior to winter.  Hawaiian patchworks, however, are one piece cloths and not patchworks.  The designs are generally inspired by local Hawaiian animals and the most prevailing color is red.

The extensive history of patchwork and quilts are examples of creativeness and the representation of the various cultures all over the world.  As a matter of fact, patchworking has developed into an art form with a lot of artists and fanatics excited to reveal their creativeness to the community.  There is another form of patchworking which has been used in these modern times.  Known as water color quilts or art quilting, this is more similar to painting rather than the conventional way of patchworking.  Patchworks have found their use as a background on walls, pillow cases and bedspreads, but more so as curtain fabrics.  These supplement a classic effect to your curtains and draperies.

If you are relocating into a new home or you are renovating your home then you might also be contemplating on changing the curtains to go with the new style.  New curtains will surely achieve the look for your home.  To aid you with this, there are a few things you ought to consider so that you get the value for your money.  Your major point when deciding on the curtain for your home is the type of fabric you will apply.  There are many curtain fabrics to choose from but getting hold of the best one that suits your preference and the design of your home is indeed demanding.

One of the factors you must keep in mind is the flammability of the curtain material.  Fires are easily spread when you use curtain which are highly flammable.  There are likewise synthetic materials which give off poisonous vapors when burned.  Buy a fabric which is flame-retardant for your protection and peace of mind.  Another thing is the color retention, meaning it will not lose its color gradually.

Choosing your curtains is an investment and hence you should choose simply the best so that your cash will not be wasted.  There high quality materials which can go on for three or four years.  Moreover keep in mind that there are certain fabrics which tend to shrink or get bigger so when obtaining fabric, take note of this fabric feature and buy sufficient fabric for the design you want. 

Another thing, natural fiber fabrics like wool and cotton are more susceptible to UV damage than synthetic such as rayon and acetate.  Likewise, if you like to be able to get the best deal then you must take into account your curtain design.  You should be able to choose which kind of fabric really matches the style you have in mind.  There are materials which can be used to replace for a more expensive type but still provide you very similar effect you want your drapes and curtains to possess.  And that of course requires keeping in mind the funds you maintain.  You can purchase lovely curtains even when on a limited budget.  Simply bear in mind your finances and what you truly want and then work around that.

Selecting the right fabrics for your curtains can spell the distinction between a home makeover and a home catastrophe.  Therefore be careful.  However, it doesn’t mean that if you are avoiding an interior design tragedy, you can have limitless control on the type of fabric you will utilize.  Beauty doesn’t connote expense, try searching for patchwork fabrics, you’ll be quite thrilled at the potentials they provide.  Determine what you want, your limitations, and pick out the proper curtain fabric without too much strain on your pocket.

Are you one of those people who are fond of old things? If you love old things, you might want to turn a room in the house into a showcase of old world interior design. The good thing about the old world interior design is that you get to recreate the romance of the past.  Since old world interior design directly contrasts with modern living, you get to create something that is truly unique and refreshing in your ultra modern home.

Basement Finds

The first thing that you need to do to create a fabulous old world interior design is to rummage through your basement and your closet for some classic pieces of custom made furniture, trinkets and other materials. There is bound to be something that you can use from there. If your grandparents lived nearby, you can pay them a visit and ask if you can go through their pile of unused furniture and stuff. You will be surprised at the amount of antiques you can find in your grandparents house and they usually come for free. In fact, your grandparents will be happy to get rid of some of the clutter in their house so go over there and start hunting.

Deep Colors

When hunting for materials that you can use for your old world interior design project, you might want to get a few of those huge antique jars, those wrought iron works, that big wooden table with stains on it and those old books that you can put in a wooden shelf. Use fabrics with small floral designs to give your room that love feminine look that was famous in the olden times. For the window, try to find one of those heavy curtains in deep shades or purple or forest green. Purple gives the room that regal atmosphere and forest green can be very refreshing. For a multi-layered look, you might want to make use of fringe, tassels and beaded trim. You may also want to make use of laces and embroideries.

Once you find a few nice pieces that you can use for your old world interior designer project, you can now start decorating your room. According to some experts, it is better to plan things according to what you already have at the moment especially if you are on a budget. By using everything that you already have for you already have, you get to save a lot of money on your interior decoration.