Saturday, November 22, 2014

TREEFROG VENEER SNAGS DUO IIDA FASHION REMIX AWARDS


Photo by Preston Norris.

http://www.interiordesign.net/articles/detail/36522-treefrog-veneer-snags-duo-iida-fashion-remix-awards/

A spectacular gown made of Treefrog wood veneer and Chemetal metal laminate won two awards at IIDA Fashion Remix in Salt Lake City. Twenty teams of randomly paired interior design firms and product manufactures competed in the architectural design fashion show, an IIDA Intermountain Chapter event.

The challenge: creating a one-of-a-kind ensemble using using products familiar to design professionals everywhere. The winner of “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice”: EDA Architects.

Created by a team of four designers—Nelson Hansen, Jessica Sluder, Rachel Bergeson, Amanda Jones—from EDA Architects and Megan Fisher, a Treefrog/Chemetal Rep from Midwest Floor Coverings, the winning gown took just under 400 hours (sleep? Who needs it?) to create.

“We were excited to use natural, raw materials especially after researching Chemetal/Treefrog,” says Rachel Bergeson, Interior Designer. “The veneers are harvested from rapidly renewable trees and then recreated to imitate many different beautiful and exotic species. We found these themes of biomimicry and imitation appealing as starting points for our design inspiration.”

Using hard materials to design a formfitting dress was not an easy task. The team laser cut the wood and used a water jet to cut the metal laminates into small repeating patterns which were then adhered in a fashion that imitated fabric and provided malleability.

The gown is currently on display at EDA’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, and may be touring local universities and other companies soon.

A portion of IIDA Fashion Remix proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Answers to Common Interior Design Questions


http://www.restonnow.com/2014/10/31/answers-to-common-interior-design-questions/

This is a sponsored column by Cindy Beyer, ASID,NCIDQ. Beyer is a Reston-based interior designer and Reston Now Best Reston Business Award winner. Find her online at www.CindyLBeyer.com.

Many people ask me questions about various design subjects. Here are some of the most common:

What size chandelier should you use?
Size of chandeliers: A good guide for sizing the chandelier is half the size of the tabletop. For instance, if your table width is 48″, then the diameter of the chandelier should be 24″. If you have a 60″ diameter table, then the diameter should be 30″. Remember, this is just a general rule of thumb.

How high do you mount your chandelier?
A good rule is 2-1/2″ -3″ for each foot. If your ceiling height is 8 feet, then the height of your fixture should be about 24″.  For a 10′ ceiling, your fixture should be about 25-30″.  Mounting over the table is also a question I am often asked. I like to tell my clients that 30″from the table top is perfect.

What is the proper rug size to use in a room?
How far should area rugs be away from the wall? If you want to cover most of the room to create a larger sitting area, then place the area rugs from 6 inches to 2 feet from the wall. I like to place all of the furniture on the run with the back edges of the legs touching the edge of the carpet.  This way I do not have half of the legs on and half off.

However, if you are using an existing carpet and have a larger sitting area, then make sure you build up under the leg of the furniture on the floor to equal the height of the carpet and pad. I very often will custom size my rug to fit the space.

What size rug do I use under the dining room table?
I use a general rule of thumb to have the carpet extend at least 24-36″ from the edge of the table.  This way your dining chairs will stay on the carpet.

Can I paint my ceiling a color?
Many clients ask me if it is proper to paint the ceilings anything other color than white. I say, never paint it white.

If you must paint it light, I suggest Benjamin Moore’s Linen White. If you are using a wall color from a color card and want to stay in the same family, I suggest either going up the card or down the card for the ceiling color.

Some of my favorite ceiling colors are: Benjamin Moore’ North Shore Green, Woodland White, Sand Dunes and Healing Aloe in the blue and green family.

I also do not mind a faux painted sky in a bedroom. Don’t be afraid of also using a darker color on the ceiling. Think outside of the box, and you will be pleasantly surprised. I just finished having my family room ceiling painted Benjamin Moore’s Baked Pretzel. It turned out fantastic. Always make sure you use a flat finish on your ceilings, unless you are doing something special like Venetian Plaster or a high gloss for a trendy effect.

Please visit my website at www.cindylbeyer.com If you have any design questions, please feel free to email me at: cindylbeyerdesign@gmail.com.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Yu Wen Chiu wins Golden A' Design Award in Interior Design with Restaurant Design



http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/11/prweb12293547.htm

Restaurant interior design project Lohas by Yu Wen Chiu has been honored with the coveted Golden A' Design Award in Interior Design.

Como, Italy (PRWEB) October 31, 2014

A' Design Award and Competition is pleased to announce that the restaurant interior design project Lohas by Yu Wen Chiu has been granted the Golden A' Design Award in Interior Design Competition.

Winner Interior Design: Lohas
Yu Wen Chiu, the lead creator of the awarded interior design work Lohas said, "The restaurant is located in a busy traffic intersection. The overall spatial plan aims to create a feeling of calm pace for slow dining experience. The open space is divided to different functional areas through small changes in decoration. For the interior design, classical yet modern wooden furniture is used to create a cozy feeling to the space." Learn more at: http://www.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=29726

The Golden A' Design Award
The Golden A' Design Award is a prestigious award given to top 3% percentile designs that has delivered an exemplary level of greatness in design. The designs are judged by a 50-person jury panel composed of academic, professional and media members. Entries to the A' Interior Design Awards are peer reviewed and anonymously voted to ensure fair judging. Laureates of the interior design accolade are given a series of PR, marketing and publicity tools to celebrate the status of winning the design accolades. Award winners are able to access and use platforms such as Salone del Designer or the Design Mediators to reach new audiences and clients. Award winning works are exhibited internationally in multiple cities across the globe. Laureates are invited to the black-tie award ceremony in Italy to collect their design award trophies, yearbooks and certificates.

About A' Design Award and Competition
A' Design Award and Competition aims to highlight the excellent qualifications of best designs, design concepts and design oriented products from all creative disciplines from all countries. A' Design Award and Competition is organized and awarded annually and internationally in multiple categories to create a global awareness for good design practices and principles, the ultimate aim of the design competition is to push designers and brands worldwide to create better products that improve the quality of life. Learn more about the A' Design Awards at: http://www.whatisadesignaward.com

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Primocasa Interiors Wins Golden A' Design Award in Interior Design



A' Design Award and Competition is pleased to announce that the interior design project Spring Seaview Terrace by Primocasa became winner of the coveted Golden A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Competition.

Regarding Spring Seaview Terrace
Primocasa Interiors Limited, the creative team behind the award winning project Spring Seaview Terrace said "This is a 2,700 square ft. unit with balcony designed mainly for a family of four members. The theme of this unit is a modern contemporary style that utilizes design to integrate the home with its beautiful sea view. Using luxurious classic furniture with modern design elements, the styles and pieces used strips down the classic forms into clean and modern lines. The theme of this unit is accentuated by integrating unique design materials such as customized glass, leather and marble as key design elements."

Learn more about the award winning design: http://www.adesignaward.com/design.php?ID=29657

Project Members for Spring Seaview Terrace
Spring Seaview Terrace was conceived by Andy Wong and Alex Kwok.

About The Golden A' Design Award
The Golden A' Design Award is a prestigious award given to top 3% percentile designs that has attained an exemplary level of quality in design. Entries to the A' Design Awards are peer reviewed and anonymously voted by an expert jury panel of established design professionals, scholars and media members. Laureates of the design competition are granted a series of PR and publicity tools to celebrate the status of winning the design accolades. Award winning works are exhibited at MOOD Museum of Design, and the exhibition is moved to several countries each year. 2013-2014 winner works will be exhibited in Italy, China, Holland and Dublin, Ireland - the World Design Hub.

About A' Design Award and Competitions
The A' Design Award & Competition was established to create a global awareness for good design practices and principles by highlighting the very best design work from all countries in all creative disciplines. The ultimate aim of the competition is to push designers, architects, product manufacturers and service providers worldwide to create superior products that benefit society. To learn more about the A' Design Award & Competition visit: http://www.whatisadesignaward.com

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/11/prweb12293319.htm

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Top 10 tips for being a successful interior designer



http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29616848

Sophie Conran, the award-winning English interior designer, is the daughter of designer and restaurateur Sir Terence Conran and the sister of fashion designer Jasper Conran.

She says it sometimes feels like design has become part of her DNA.

Here are her top 10 tips for being an interior designer.

1. Start young and see what excites you

I had a dolls' house as a child. I decorated it, furnished it and even put wallpaper up, so I sort of started interior design at quite a young age for some small, inanimate clients!

We moved home when I was about eight years old. My parents bought a dilapidated old school and then spent the next few years doing it up. We basically lived on a building site, and I got to see the whole thing stripped back to the bare bones. I found it really exciting and I think that experience probably sparked my initial interest in interior design.

2. Believe in yourself

I left school after my O-levels, and then I did a year of retakes because I did so badly. It is so important to believe in yourself, and tell yourself that it is going to be ok.

I failed at school and not going to university meant that I wasn't particularly confident when I started out and I didn't feel great about myself then. I was quite badly dyslexic and everything was a bit of a struggle, apart from the arts. Reading, writing and spelling were all a bit tricky.

I always loved designing things. With anything in life that you want to do, if it interests you and you spend enough time doing it, you will learn it. You just have to care enough about it to try.

3. Practise your maths, it's not all choosing lovely curtains

I think it is very competitive now. I would always encourage people to stay in education for as long as they can, really. I think it shows staying power, demonstrates a certain seriousness about things and allows you to get your thoughts in order. Even though I didn't do it, I do think it's a good thing.

Getting some sort of grounding in architectural interior design is a very good thing to do. You need to learn to do things like scale drawings and maths is very important too. It's not all choosing lovely curtains and fabrics!

4. Consider an internship

When I left school, I became an apprentice milliner - I really wanted to make hats at the time. Looking back, it was a great thing to do because it is so important to learn a skill, to work with a team and to understand seasonality.

I would totally encourage people to go for internships. They give you an experience of the industry that you want to be in and allow you to find out if it is the right one for you. It means that you start from the bottom and you get access to amazing talent in the real world.

I'm very lucky to work in a field that I really enjoy, but I wouldn't take on a job that I felt was going to be unpleasant or difficult. I think it's important to work with people that you get on with and that you can see eye to eye with.

5. Don't blow the budget

You don't need to spend a lot of money to make a room look and feel good. Time frames and budget constraints are probably the most difficult thing to manage about the job. People don't want to spend too much money and if you go over budget, then people understandably get upset.

I'll make suggestions and put together a mood board using images from books and magazines. Try and get all your ideas in one place visually, from bits of fabric to tiles to floor finishes, put all the bits you might want to use together and see if they work together on paper, that is always a good place to start.

6. Be brave

A long time ago, when I first had my flat in London, I painted my sitting room yellow and blue. I thought it would be a good idea, but it wasn't and it was hideous! I was 20 years old, I was brave and I thought this could work, this could be fabulous.

It didn't and it wasn't, but some of the other things I tried did - and I think it's important to be brave. When you're spending someone else's money steer clear of something you think might be a mistake, but do try and be brave. Otherwise we'd all live in a very grey world, wouldn't we!

7. Don't aim for perfection

Things don't have to be perfect to be beautiful. If you go into a room and it's all perfect, you don't feel comfortable. A home interior is not an abstract thing, it is about people, it's about the way you feel, the way you interact. It's about family and friends, it's the backdrop to your life.

We used to drive down to France every summer when we were kids and my Mum would stop off in Limoges, which is famous for porcelain. She would always insist on buying seconds from the factory shop. They were all wobbly and bent because they had been misfired, but to me they were beautiful and filled with character.

That was a big part of what inspired me to create the Portmeirion collection. If things are too perfect then it is without character, it's not good to be too precious about something. The more you strive for perfection, the more it disappears. Don't aim for perfection, try to create a relaxed environment, that's what I think is important.

8. Look for inspiration in everything and get to know your clients

I get my inspiration from all over the place; books, magazines, the internet, shops and my relatives of course! It is like being in a family of doctors sometimes, we spend a lot of time together and are inspired by similar things so we do talk about our work with each other.

Our enthusiasm can be slightly contagious I think, and it sometimes feels like design has sort of become part of our DNA, but everyone in the family has been incredibly supportive of me and encouraging and it's lovely.

Thinking about how a room is going to make you feel is essential. That is what good interior design does. It's about creating an atmosphere. You absolutely have to know something about the people you are designing a space for. You need to find out about the way they lead their life, which rooms they use the most and you must always consider form and function.

9. Take your time with colour and lighting

When it comes to making decisions about colour, my advice is to do it slowly. Try colours on a small area of the walls you want to paint and look at them at different times of day. It's about instinct and how it makes you feel again. Always try things before you make any final decisions.

Lighting is also essential because it's all to do with mood. I like to have lots of different light sources, low level lighting as well as ceiling lights and I like to have quite a lot of control over them as well, with lots of different switches and dimmers.

The functionality and the atmosphere are the most important things to get right. The fabrics, the floor coverings, the furniture the lighting are the tools that you use to create that. Don't make rushed decisions if you can help it, apply a process of elimination approach if you can. The more you do it, the more confident you will become in your decision making.

10. Be empathetic and think about how a room makes you feel

You've got to be able to empathise with your client. Being an interior designer can mean lots of things, there's a little bit of being a nanny in there, a little bit of psychology and lots of empathy.

When you have designed a space or an object or anything really and the client loves it, that is why I do what I do. That is the best feeling and the best thing about the job. If you create something and you put it out there and you know that somebody else is genuinely thrilled with it, then that is your reward and there is no better feeling!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Manhattan’s most-celebrated architects and interior designers go large-scale



http://nypost.com/2014/10/15/manhattans-most-celebrated-architects-and-interior-designers-go-large-scale/

The latest crop of luxury residential developments is breaking ground in a whole new way: by hiring interior designers and architects better known for their work in hotels, restaurants and product design — along with swanky private homes.
Previously lauded for their smaller-scale commissions, these talents bring a fine eye for architectural and design detail to their first-ever large-scale residential developments.  Along the way, they’re imbuing these projects with bespoke features that come from very personal visions.

“Who knows how to better craft homes than interior architects?” says Barbara van Beuren, managing director of Anbau Enterprises, which hired Andrew Sheinman of Pembrooke & Ives for a new Upper East Side development. “They have a deeper understanding of lifestyles and needs, and that translates into the design.”

“People want beautiful design rather than a brand name just for the sake of the name,” says Shaun Osher, CEO of Core, which marketed 141 Fifth Ave., one the city’s first bespoke developments, in 2008. “Something that feels customized to the buyer and feels unique is what they’ll put the value on.”

Citing the high stakes and high costs of today’s market, Jonathan Miller, president and CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, sees this new trend driven by economics.

“There’s an extra cost associated with a brand that might not translate into additional returns,” he says. Bringing in “people who have been successful in their own right [versus a ‘starchitect’] but that don’t have the brand recognition [is] a cost-effective alternative.”

On the Upper East Side, developers are placing a value on reinterpreting history, selecting interior designers who can straddle tradition and trends, and respect the neighborhood context.

Such is the case at 155 E. 79th St., a 14-story building of seven duplexes that broke ground last October. Units range from $8.95 million for a 3,291-square-foot maisonette to $12 million for the remaining duplex. Developer Anbau Enterprises chose Andrew Sheinman, founder of Pembrooke & Ives, an interior design firm known for its private residential work. The choice was driven by Anbau managing director Barbara van Beuren, who grew up a couple of doors down at No. 151, and who envisioned homes that would be as equally personal to buyers.

“There’s a client you’re designing for and … they wouldn’t go to Philippe Starck. They’d go to an interior designer who would invest the time to understand who they are and design a residence that’s very personal and specific,” van Beuren says. “We wanted someone who was going to produce something new and fresh, but not trendy and gimmicky.”

For 155 E. 79th St., Sheinman created a psychographic of who might live there and designed around that: “It was someone who understands high-quality materials and details looking to be in an environment that’s extremely comfortable … [someone] who doesn’t have to prove anything.”

Envisioning they’d likely be collectors, he created spaces to serve as backdrops for art.

Other museum-like finishes echo throughout Sheinman’s design: stone moldings and archways, marble floors inlaid with brushed brass, an elegant procession of rooms. His design approach has worked; contracts are in or pending on four of the 4,292-square-foot duplexes.

Noting his firm’s “extremely low profile,” Sheinman — who’s completed projects such as the East Hampton Golf Club — says the development work was a way to enhance the brand. “It’s a business decision as well as a personal and intellectual one.”

Another tony project tapped the expertise of native Upper East Sider Peter Pennoyer of Peter Pennoyer Architects for a 16-story building at 151 E. 78th St. Launched in March, 11 of the 14 units, ranging from 3,300 to 6,975 square feet, sold at prices between $10 and $27.5 million. Two penthouses remain.

Pennoyer — whose experience includes designing apartments, country houses and commercial work such as The Mark Hotel — says the project was an opportunity to reinterpret the classic prewar building.

“We gave it a traditional character that could be a background for a more modern interior and design,” he says. “In a new building like this you don’t want to make the architecture too specific because you want each owner to have their own thing.”

Pennoyer utilized some visual tricks to create the perception of space: double-hung mullioned windows (“looking at the city through a grid makes the rooms seem much bigger,” he says) and moldings tailored to each room. He melded the old and new by featuring an open kitchen by Smallbone of Devizes along with traditional details like coffered ceilings and custom hardware.

Ten blocks south, Madeline Hult Elghanayan, the Douglas Elliman agent representing the Marquand condo conversion, says HFZ Capital Group chose Shelton, Mindel & Associates because the developer “wanted an architect who understands the time period.”
The project’s intentionally clubby atmosphere evokes old New York while “understanding … the way people want to live now,” says Lee Mindel, co-founder of Shelton, Mindel & Associates, which has also designed Ralph Lauren’s New York headquarters and the London home of Sting and Trudie Styler. In the century-old landmarked Marquand, on East 68th Street between Madison and Fifth avenues, Mindel created custom touches such as window grating that echoed the building’s escutcheon (heraldic shield), wood-paneled doors and onyx bathrooms.

“We’re not slaves to tradition, but there is a history to that building … we found things that gave clues of its character that brought the centuries forward,” he explains. “We didn’t want it to look like a building in drag.”
Buyers paid upwards of $14 million for the four- to six-bedroom units, ranging from 3,800 to 4,600 square feet. A 6,758-square-foot triplex penthouse comes online at the end of the month for $46.5 million.

Sometimes the choice of interior designer is all about whom you know.

Because of his prior work for the Kushner family, designing city and beach homes for Jared and his father, Charles, architect Jose Ramirez was chosen to reimagine the six Puck Penthouses in the landmarked building on Lafayette Street — his first such development project.

Ramirez respected the building’s historic envelope, keeping the brick-vaulted ceilings and using European references on the interiors, such as glazed, ceramic-tiled kitchens inspired by Parisian bistros.

“It’s not what we do and we might not do one again, but this was so special. There are very few projects with this level of detail,” Ramirez says. The apartments, ranging from 4,895 to 7,000-plus square feet, start at $22 million and include brushed nickel doors and full-slab marble bathrooms.

Also a developer’s darling: Daniel Romualdez of Daniel Romualdez Architects, the interior architect for 252 E. 57th St., a 93-unit building designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Romualdez was picked by development firm World Wide Group for work he did on the home of the firm’s president, Jim Stanton.

“We thought his track record in private homes spoke for itself,” says Julia Hodgson, World Wide’s director of development. “We did open a wide net … and we ended up with Daniel in large part because he had not worked for a development company, and we thought he could bring a direct and fresh approach.”

The 65-story Italian-glass tower features condo residences and amenities starting on the 34th floor; the floors below are luxury rentals. There are 18 different two- to five-bedroom layouts with custom kitchens and floor plans ranging from 1,742 to 5,242 square feet. Prices begin at $4.5 million; the 8,139-square-foot penthouse lists at $37.5 million.
Romualdez, a classically trained architect who’s completed projects for brewing heiress Daphne Guinness, brought “very classic Upper East Side proportions and concepts” to the project, Hodgson notes. He included finishes of his own design: gleaming white quartz kitchen counters juxtaposed against untreated horizontal grain walnut, a theme echoed in the bathrooms’ walnut vanities and white Nanoglass walls and floors.

Increasingly, developers who historically have sat on the sidelines of the design process are becoming more involved, selecting interior experts who can deliver lifestyle, comfort and customization.

“There’s a different kind of developer out here,” says Brian Meier of Douglas Elliman. “It used to be an IKEA-style project manager, but now it’s more hands-on and the developers are showing up, feeling the wood and sitting in on design meetings.”

When the Rudin Family sought a designer for the Greenwich Lane, a West Village complex that’s a mix of new and prewar buildings, they already formulated a vision thanks to Aero, a store and design studio founded by Thomas O’Brien.
Samantha Rudin, who oversees the project on behalf of the Rudin Family, where she is vice president, notes the personality of O’Brien’s store provided “visual comfort” in his ability to create distinct identities for each of the buildings, while envisioning it as a whole. “He gave them allegory and all these layers that unraveled like a beautiful story,” she says. The project is co-developed with Global Holdings.

“The biggest challenge was coming up with a language,” says O’Brien, who designs for Waterworks, Williams-Sonoma and its affiliate brands, West Elm and Pottery Barn. His references for the Greenwich Lane included a Connecticut farmhouse, a West Village loft and a Fifth Avenue residence reimagined for downtown.

The Greenwich Lane’s 200 units range from 1,000 to more than 7,000 square feet, listing from $2 million to more than $30 million. Launched last October, the project is nearly 70 percent sold.

The lobbies mix antique and Art Deco-like finishes. Fourteen kinds of marble help set off the residences from each other and still provide a unifying element, as do the custom-paneled interior doors with Nanz hardware.

Throughout the buildings, O’Brien blended traditional and modern details, incorporating his own designs for lighting, custom millwork and cabinetry, and plumbing fixtures.

“For the more traditional person it’s a way to feel young and new, and for the modern person, it’s giving them the confidence for a bit of detail,” the designer explains.

Details are most significant in the kitchen and bathroom, and for that reason, 1 West End Ave. tapped Jeffrey Beers, founder of Jeffrey Beers International, a veteran designer for the hospitality sector who has designed more than 100 restaurants and bars, including kitchens for Daniel Boulud and Michael White. (Anna Wintour is also a fan.)

“The attention to detail is much greater,” Beers says of 1 West End Ave.’s kitchens, noting most designers don’t work with concepts like sauté stations. And with food-obsessed New Yorkers spending more time at home, he considers the kitchen “very much the heart and soul of the residence.”

Sales have not yet begun for the 246 condos in the  Lincoln Square building, but the one- to four-bedroom units will be market rate, according to reports.

It’s not just in New York City that interior designers are working on such developments for the first time: Elsewhere, in glittery ocean-fronting projects, developers hope to capture an international market by offering both known entities and fresh takes.

The Howard Hughes Corp. hired New York designer Tony Ingrao, co-partner of Ingrao Inc., for Honolulu’s Ward Village, a 60-acre planned community. The first phase includes the 36-story Waiea tower with interiors by Ingrao. Waiea broke ground last June and 84 percent of 171 units have sold, according to Nick Vanderboom, senior vice president at Howard Hughes. The bulk of the buyers are from Hawaii, Asia and the West Coast.

Vanderboom says Ingrao, who designed Baccarat Hotel & Residences in New York, a palace in Saudi Arabia and private residences for ad-man Danny Deutsch and former GE honcho Jack Welch, was chosen for his “tremendous range. Having worked internationally he understands the buyer’s mentality. We have a significant amount of buyers from Japan, and want to [be] responsive to that market.”

Ingrao notes that Ward Village, his first Hawaiian project, is an opportunity to design for a well-traveled audience that doesn’t necessarily have a sense of Hawaiian design.

“Everyone’s interpretation of what Hawaii is will be a little different,” he says. Buyers will have a range of finish options created by Ingrao, a first for the company, says Vanderboom.

Developers for Miami’s historic Surf Club conversion hired a design team using Richard Meier as the building architect for both the 150 condominiums and 77 Four Seasons hotel rooms. Lee  Mindel will design the interiors of 122 of the private residences, which will be branded under Richard Meier Signature Homes. The remaining 28 hotel condominiums will be designed by Joseph Dirand.

Also in Miami, Terra Group commissioned architect Rene Gonzalez for Glass, an 18-story residential tower, after his private home on Indian Creek Island sold for a Dade County record: $47 million in 2012.

“I think they’re looking to use design as a differentiator, and definitely looking at innovative architects and designers,” Gonzalez says.

Glass, designed inside and out by Gonzalez, does just that. On the southern tip of Miami Beach, his ethereal tower seems to connect ocean and sky. He incorporated fritted glass on the railings — vertical patterning that mimics the water.
With units starting at $7 million, the 10-unit tower has almost sold out, including the $30 million penthouse, attracting buyers from Europe and New York.

“The trend is to dig in deep and understand what you’re trying to create,” says Terra Group President David Martin. “And that doesn’t mean it has to be a Pritzker Prize winner.”

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

I want to be an interior designer. What will my salary be?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/career-advice/life-at-work/i-want-to-be-an-interior-designer-what-will-my-salary-be/article20847071/

Job: Interior designer

The role: Interior designers help their clients to create functional and attractive interior spaces that enhance the quality of life for the occupants, says Susan Wiggins, chief executive officer of Interior Designers of Canada (IDC), the professional association for interior designers in Canada.


Interior designers have a much broader role than interior decorators, Ms. Wiggins says. Designers are involved in planning a space from the start, including design analysis and working with building codes and materials.

“They work on the strategic side of the original decision for the space,” she says. “It’s about the movement within the space and working with the company to make sure the investment in the space is used the right way.”

An interior decorator deals more with the finishing touches, such as paint colours and picking furniture. An interior design can do both jobs, Ms. Wiggins says.

Interior designers can work with homeowners, as well as large and small businesses, institutions and governments.

Salary: Starts at about $35,000 to $50,000 annually for someone just entering the market and can increase to about $65,000 to $80,000 for those with more experience. Interior designers who own their own company or are partners in one can earn more than $100,000 annually.

Education: It can take seven to 10 years to become an interior designer, starting with a postsecondary education, followed by on-the-job training and a set of industry exams. The industry refers to it as the three E’s: education, experience and examination.

Although some schools offer interior design diplomas, the industry is moving to a degree requirement in 2015, Ms. Wiggins says. After they have completed their studies, promising designers need to work in a “supervised internship” for about two or three years. That’s followed by a North American qualifying exam. “It’s a significant commitment of time and money,” Ms. Wiggins says.

By the numbers: There are about 23,000 interior designers and interior decorators in Canada, according to the 2011 National Household Survey. Ms. Wiggins says her association, which represents only interior designers, has about 3,500 members across Canada.

Job prospects: Good, especially now that Canada is back in building mode after the recent recession and homeowners continue to renovate their homes. Many people and businesses are using interior designers to help them make better use of their space.

Ms. Wiggins says designers can work at different types of organizations, such as interior design companies, architecture and engineering firms, or for governments and corporations. A number of major retailers, for instance, have interior designers on staff.

Challenges: Keeping clients happy, while also ensuring the project remains on budget and adheres to all building codes and restrictions, is among the challenges for interior designers. Ms. Wiggins says it can also be difficult to try to explain the value of the work to prospective clients, including how they can save them money at the end. “Trying to convince clients of the advantages of including [interior designers] early on in the process as a strategic partner is important,” she says.

Why they do it: It’s a creative industry. Some people are drawn to that. Others enjoy the more technical aspects of the job. “Studying interior design is math. It’s complex computer programs,” Ms. Wiggins says.

Misconceptions: Interior designers aren’t just decorators. Also, not all design projects can or should be done on the cheap.

“We thank HGTV and we curse them,” Ms. Higgins says. “They’ve done a great job of educating the public about the world of interior design … but they’ve also taught the consumer you can create a new space overnight for $1,000. That’s not necessarily the case.”

She says the process is often much more complicated that what’s seen on TV.

Give us the scoop: Are you an interior designer? Write a note in the comments area of this story or e-mail your comment to careerquestion@globeandmail.com and let us know what you would tell others who are interested in the profession.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Interior design goes exterior



Stacey Wiedower - http://www.commercialappeal.com/lifestyle/home-and-garden/interior-design-goes-exterior_06107976

We’re moving from the heat of summer into fall’s cooling down period, which means barbecues and tailgates, fall parties and porch sunsets. In my house, our favorite way to say goodbye to summer is brunch on the back patio.

The South has always had a grand tradition of outdoor entertaining, but today it seems like more people are taking the concept to a new level — meaning “interior design” isn’t limited to a room’s four walls.

Often these days when skimming through magazines and checking out houses in person, I’m noticing backyard oases that look a lot like indoor spaces. That’s due in part to the burgeoning world of outdoor fabrics; today’s consumers have easy access to rugs, pillows, curtains and cushions that are fade-resistant, waterproof and generally built to last.

Not only do these materials withstand the elements better than in decades past, they’re available in a wide range of patterns, colors and textures. A “velvet” sofa on the patio? It’s not unheard of with today’s resources. No matter your style, you can probably find products that can carry your look from your living room to your backyard.

That’s good news for anybody who’s feeling cramped in their home’s square footage. It’s also easier on the budget to expand a patio or decorate an outdoor space than it is to add on or build up.

I’ve heard more homeowners, too, say that being in their outdoor rooms feels “like being on vacation” or at a resort. This makes sense, since the touchy economy in recent years has caused many people to cut back on actual travel. It’s another reason we’re doing more entertaining at home.

“Southern hospitality is coming back,” said Melinda Keyte, a designer and sales representative with Jack Wills Outdoor Living in Cordova. “People are doing a lot more outdoor entertaining, and something really big right now is outdoor kitchen spaces.”

Instead of cooking the side dishes indoors and hauling them out to the patio to join what ever is coming off the grill, people want to do the prep work outside. It mimics an indoor trend, if you think about it — kitchens are now open to a home’s living spaces, so the cook doesn’t have to feel cut off from the activity of the house.

Not everybody has the time, desire or budget to install a full-fledged second kitchen in the backyard, but even small touches can go a long way toward turning an outdoor space into a comfy room to hang out in. Here are Keyte’s tips for enjoying your own little plot of the great outdoors:

Buy furniture that will last. Keyte said well-made outdoor furniture can last as long as 25 years. Though the upfront cost of these pieces is high, their durability offers savings in the long run. “If you look at the bigger picture instead of the immediate here and now, you’re saving probably thousands of dollars down the line because you’re not having to invest in the same thing over and over again.”

On that note, avoid trends when buying big items. Keyte advised going with neutral colors and patterns on bigger pieces like outdoor sofas and chairs. “Then really spruce it up season to season by pillows,” she said. Besides, these days neutrals are stylish themselves. “Gray, beige, cream — those colors are very popular right now, very trendy,” Keyte said.

If you build a kitchen outside, think function. If you want to prepare and enjoy full meals outdoors, a few key elements are needed to keep you from constantly trekking from patio to house. Keyte recommends a grill, refrigerator, side burner and trash and storage centers. “A sink is optional,” she added. “It’s good to have, but it’s a splurge because you have to run a water line.”

Consider a gas fire pit. Built-in, gas-burning fire pits are becoming more popular among homeowners who are tired of cleaning up ashes and soot. Keyte said outdoor furnishings have expanded to include tables with fire pits built right in. “They double as a table, a fire pit, a footstool,” she said.

Now that’s backyard luxury. Who’s ready for some cooler temps?

Stacey Wiedower is a Memphis-based freelance interior design writer. Contact her at stacey.wiedower@gmail.com.

Copyright 2014 Memphis Commercial Appeal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Nike Helps Design Airplane Interior Focused on Athlete-Specific Needs



- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2192671-nike-helps-design-airplane-interior-focused-on-athlete-specific-needs

As fun as being a professional athlete may be, the traveling aspect of the job can be tough on the body. That's why Nike has helped design a plane that would make traveling a little bit easier on athletes.

We've seen time and again, particularly in the NFL, that teams struggle in games played on the opposite coast. If there was a plane that met the specific needs of athletes, there may not be as big of an effect on the players when they make cross-country trips.

Nike and Seattle design firm Teague teamed up to create an airplane cabin that is specifically designed for a sports team.

The point of this plane would be to utilize the cabin space in the most efficient way possible. That means there will be fewer seats than a typical plane, but there will be other things added to the interior of the plane.

Here's how Teague described the different areas of the plane's interior (h/t NikeBlog.com):
Recovery: equalizing the negative effects of air travel on the mind and body, and bringing the training room to 40,000 feet through in-flight biometrics and analysis to accelerate injury diagnosis and treatment.

Circulation: fostering natural mobility and building in equipment that ensures optimal circulation and promotes healing.

Sleep: designing ideal sleeping conditions for individuals and sleep strategies for entire teams to maximize physical readiness.

Thinking: creating spaces for key mental activities, especially film study—enabling in-transit film review both before and after games.
Check out some pictures of what the interior of the plane could look like:

That's the type of plane that could make cross-country trips much easier on athletes.

The Teague x Nike Sports Aircraft is just a concept right now. If this idea does come to fruition, it could help visiting teams when it comes time to play games.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

How Interior Design Is Making You Fat (Okay, Eat More)



By Gabriella Vigoreaux https://www.yahoo.com/health/how-interior-design-is-making-you-fat-okay-eat-more-94096161174.html
We make thousands of food decisions every single day: What to eat for lunch? How full do we feel? Should we stop eating now?

What so many of us don’t realize is how much design in our environment affects each and every one of our food decisions. Imagine: if, by tweaking the decor of your office or home, you could somehow influence the foods you eat — eventually eating healthily could become a mindless act.

In his new book, Slim By Design (out September 23rd), Cornell Professor Brian Wansink argues that the key to being naturally slim lies in changing the structure and design of places where we consume most of our calories — namely local restaurants and grocery stories.

For example: If you sit at a table that faces away from the buffet at a restaurant, you’ll be less likely to go back for seconds. If the entrance to the supermarket is through its bakery, you’ll be more likely to stock up with sugary carbs — like cookies and muffins. And if you store your chips in the front of your pantry, you’ll naturally reach for those first.

SEE MORE: The New Super Food Replacing Quinoa?

At home:

1. “You can roughly predict a person’s weight by the food they have sitting out,” Wansink writes. That means: put those tempting foods in a place where they won’t stare you down when you’re hungry. Keep a bowl of fresh fruits and healthy snacks on the counter for easy snacking.

2. Make it easier to cook. Keep you kitchen tidy and organized with plenty of open space for food prep.

3. The more time you spend in your kitchen the more you will eat. Make your kitchen less lounge-y and more efficient by eliminating comfy chairs, TVs, iPads, or anything that would tempt you to linger around all that food.

At restaurants:

1. Practice the “Rule of Two,” which allows you to order any reasonable entree you like plus only two additional items. You could choose a cocktail and a dessert, an appetizer and a piece of bread, or maybe two pieces of bread if that’s what you feel like eating.

2. Be a pro at reading menus. Dish descriptions are very telling of how caloric a meal is going to be. Look for words like seasoned, roasted, marinated, fresh, and boiled. Avoid anything creamed, crispy, smothered, fried, or loaded.

3. Menus should be designed to indicate which options are healthier, but they usually aren’t. Dont be afraid to ask your server what the lightest entrees are or if something can be served in a half-sized portion.

SEE MORE: 3 Surprising Healthy Ingredient Swaps

At the supermarket:

1. Try dividing your cart, either mentally or with an object, like your purse or scarf. Are you trying to eat more fruits and vegetables? Place them in the front half of the cart and all other food items in the back. If you’re forced to ask yourself whether something belongs in the front or the back, you’re more likely to want to fill up the front.

2. Hit up the produce section first while your cart is empty and browse the entire selection. You are more likely to to put fruits and vegetables in your cart if it’s empty. Once your cart is full of healthy produce, hit up other healthy aisles, like canned foods or frozen fruits and vegetables, before going to the chip or candy aisle.

3. Supermarkets should highlight in-season produce with proper signage, healthy facts, and even tear-off recipe cards with ideas for how to cook the items.

At the office:

1. Pack your lunch whenever possible. You usually assemble brown bag lunches the night before or the morning of, when you’re already full, so it’s easier to pack healthy items. If your work has a cafeteria, ditch the tray. You’re less likely to to overeat if you can’t carry all that food back to your table.

2. Talk to your boss about encouraging walking meetings, when the weather permits or setting up a fitness room with occasional programs mid day.

3. Most office break rooms look like something out of a prison movie. Making them visually appealing with posters, pictures, and plants can encourage workers to eat a lunch in there instead of eating junk food at their desks or going out. Additionally, break rooms should be well-stocked with free healthy snacks.

SEE MORE: 5 Foods That Can Help Reduce Stress

In the lunchroom:

1. Schools can give vegetables creative or descriptive names to make them sound more appealing.

2. Move snack foods, like chips and cookies, behind the counter and offer them only if requested.

3. Feature healthy entrees by making them the most prominent in the lunch line and displaying the name on a menu board outside the cafeteria

Want to know if your food radius is slim by design? Wansink includes a score card at the end of each chapter so you can see just how much work needs to be done in your kitchens, offices, favorite restaurants, schools, and supermarkets.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

2014 Taiwan Interior Design Award 9月起報名



〔記者林美芬/台北報導〕http://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/1079298

Taiwan Interior Design Award ; TID Award | CHINESE SOCIETY OF INTERIOR

台灣最具國際代表性競賽「2014台灣室內設計大獎」開始啟動了,2014年9月1日收件開始到10月30日收件截止! 象徵台灣室內設計界最高榮譽「2014台灣室內設計大獎TID Award」預定今年底公佈評審結果,2015年04月公佈複審結果,但決審結果則在頒獎典禮上公佈。

相關作品及報名可以上網中華民國室內設計協會(CSID) www.csid.org。

中華民國室內設計協會(Chinese Society of Interior Designers,簡稱CSID)理事長王玉麟表示,「台灣室內設計大獎」(Taiwan Interior Design Award,簡稱TID Award),自2007年由前任理事長姚政仲先生帶領的團隊創立,擴展至今,成為涵蓋華人區域的兩岸三地新秀、老將的同台較勁,展開競技大道,已成為華人地區室內設計專業最高的專業成就獎。

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

5 Unique Interior Design Features Of The Bentley Mulsanne



http://hauteliving.com/2014/08/5-unique-interior-design-features-of-the-bentley-mulsanne/515527/

Bentley Motors Interior Design director Darren Dey gives us a first-hand look at 5 unique interior features from the Bentley Mulsanne.

1. What is your daily role as Head of Interior Design for Bentley Motors? I’m responsible for all the surfaces and all the shapes you see inside the car – the total design. I work with a team of about 14 designers and we all develop every surface of the interior. I’ll be at Bentley now for 20 years.

Inside the Bentley Mulsanne Photo courtesy of Bentley MotorsInside the Bentley Mulsanne Photo courtesy of Bentley Motors

2. Can you take us inside the process of interior design? When it comes to Bentley, we’re all about authenticity and honesty and the very natural materials we work with. So I’m looking to create very beautiful and pure surfaces with charm and attention to detail, which really make the materials shout. So when you sit and the car and look around, you say “wow, these materials are amazing.” If we make them pure and super clean, super precise, they really sing.

3. What are the unique interior design elements of a Bentley? There are many iconic elements; one of the main ones are these facilities - they are real, solid metal. They are very iconic and set up on the dash board on the four round vents. There are many other iconic elements, too. If you look inside the door handle release, you’ll feel the texture, which is also on the organ stops that push in and out and make the vents work. The knurling is a lovely finish you get that allows you to get good purchase on pieces that move. There are certain features that we like to make very strong. Also, in the Mulsanne, the wood runs all the way around the car, even behind you. It gives you this wonderful feeling of being enveloped in this material finish. Of course, the leather work is another strong element in our DNA – the way the seats are piped and fluted – these are all very strong features that makes our car very unique. We spend ages just tweeking things so that the overall car feels just naturally right.

4. How long does the interior design process take from start to finish? We spend about two years developing the design as a clay model. We start with a sketch of the [Mulsanne] interior – this is a hand-drawn sheet of details. We spend a lot of time hand-drawing and sketching ideas out based on either historical references, or we look at influences such as watches, buildings, or all sorts of things which could be in fashion. But ultimately, we create fashion; so, we’re looking for inspiration to create the next big thing. We like to also pick up on details that have some historical reference and meaning. We’ve got such a rich history that it’s worth doing that.

5. What are your sources of inspiration? When we were designing our SUV, we did a concept car and looked at a lot of equine and polo and different sports that customers might enjoy. So we might be looking at, say, hunting jackets, or guns or the knurling on the guns. Or we might look at the different boots that people might be wearing and look at how the leather works. We do draw inspiration from all sorts of sources. For instance, we have a little iPod drawer that is in the front of the Mulsanne. We were looking at the way that, when you go inside a jewelry shop, you open a little drawer with awesome beautiful rings or watches. We were trying to create that ambiance. Some elements we do come up with from previous Bentleys of the past. But there are all sorts of different inspiration.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Home Decoration Happy Valley Blue Pool Road

Happy Valley Blue Pool Road Residence Interior Decoration

The 129 air-conditioned guestrooms at Residence Inn by Marriott Phoenix North/Happy Valley include coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. 32-inch flat-screen TVs are equipped with premium cable channels and pay movies. All accommodations provide desks and phones; free local calls are offered (restrictions may apply). Bathrooms offer shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries. All units have kitchens with stovetops, full-sized refrigerators/freezers, microwaves, and dishwashers. Housekeeping is offered daily.


JL Interior Decoration | Home Decoration

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Roomstyler 3D Room Planner | free interior design application

Official Site : http://roomstyler.com | roomstyler.com/3dplanner

  • 3D Home Planner http://mydeco.com/3d-planner

Roomstyler (formerly Mydeco) 3D Room Planner is a free online room design application that let's you use thousands of objects to create a custom room in a matter of minutes.

Roomstyler 3D Room Planner is easy to use and has a unique camera view that lets you view your room from any angle and render a photo of it.

Roomstyler 3D Room Planner is very easy to use - you'll be creating your online room in minutes The camera view allows you to point the camera inside your house from any angle and view it The furniture and accessories you can choose are actual items that can be purchased online Undo and redo buttons help to quickly fix any mistakes

The 3D view in Roomstyler 3D Room Planner isn't great looking and doesn't add much to the program

You have the choice of starting your room design at Roomstyler 3D Room Planner with a room from scratch or one that's already started for you A video tutorial is there to help you if you need it There's a gallery where you can view other's Roomstyler 3D Room Planner room creations and post your own

The easiest way to draw in 3D
You love what you do. Now love how you do it.


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

‘Do your own thing’: Designers on creating inspired interiors



http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/370317/lifestyle/design/do-your-own-thing-designers-on-creating-inspired-interiors

In a gathering that invited attendees to “join the design conversation,” Elle Decoration hosted their second run of Deco Talks earlier this month in partnership with Avida Land.

Centered on the idea of “creating inspired interiors,” even in a relatively small space such as a typical 23-square-meter studio unit, the talk offered some useful insights into interior decoration and styling one’s personal space.

Three seasoned visual art and design professionals sat down for the discussion: key interior designer Eric Paras, the quirky and cheerful architect Lara Fernandez-Barrios, and dapper art consultant Miguel Rosales.

Facilitating the discussion was Elle Decoration associate publisher Tom Castañeda, who kicked off the event with a brief interview about Avida Land’s latest development in Makati City, the Avida Towers Asten.

The rise of condo living

"Location-wise, you're near a lot of things that you need," said Jojo Fabricante, head of the Innovation and Design Group at Avida, as he explained that condos nowadays are built at convenient locations usually within walking distance from offices and schools, supermarkets, shopping malls, and parks.

The cramped space does tend to put people off though, and many who are used to living in a two-storey house will find the adjustment difficult. However, said Fabricante, "once you've planned your unit in an efficient and well master-planned way, you find out that there are techniques for you to be able to live still comfortably and conveniently."

He suggested going for a place that gets enough sunlight and that doesn’t have too many units per floor. Interior design can also make a big difference.

"To address the feel of crampiness, some employ the use of mirrors," he said, adding that multiple-use furniture such as sofa beds and crate-box coffee tables can also help make efficient use of one’s space.

The collector, the designer, and the architect

The mix of panelists at Deco Talks made for a pleasantly varied set of ideas—in spite of the fact that, coincidentally, all of them earned their degrees from the same university (“we ended up with an entire UP panel here today… I don’t know how that happened,” exclaimed Castañeda).

Barrios shared her experience building a new office for advertising agency Havas Media Ortega, which basically started with the one-word peg, “fun.” The result involved a Mondrian-esque play on bold primary colors, a skating track surrounding the work area and a roof deck bar. The design decisions made were all based on observations she was able to make about her client.

“It’s very important to get to know them better,” she said, explaining that since the client is the one who would be using the space, they should be able to tell you how they want it made.

Paras made a similar point when he shared what makes an inspired interior for him. “Space or size is not an issue. It’s really how you feel about the space,” he said.

Takeaways from the masters

Everything each of the panelists said can be summed up in three major nuggets of wisdom:

1. Explore and learn. "Here, especially in Manila, there are a lot of places where you can find things that are part of your inspiration," said Paras.

A visit to his personal “3-D calling card,” Artelano 11 in Pasay City, would definitely be rewarding for those seeking visual excitement. It is an enclave of beautiful things that serves as the perfect example of an inspired space.

Paras also pointed out “flea markets… Evangelista, outlet stores in Clark, [and] surplus stores from Japan” as good places one can go.

"Just do your own thing... source around," he added.

“There are so many galleries now... it's almost impossible not to find something you'll like," said Paras as he enumerated some of his favorites, from Cubao Ex and 10a Alabama to Blanc Gallery on Katipunan Extension.

He was reluctant to make any specific recommendations about art. Instead he advised everyone to "buy what you like. Buy with your eyes and not with your ears."

He also pointed out the importance of loving your own and educating oneself.

"Know more about your country's art,” he said. “The Philippines has so much amazing art out there that you really have to go around and explore... even the museums. They're there. Use them."

2. Decide what you like and work around it. "Figure out what your interest is... and you can draw from that to create your room,” said Barrios.

"Get the best bed you can afford, for a good night's rest. And I would suggest also a really comfy chair," she said when asked what every bedroom really needs.

Paras had similar splurge-vs.-save advice. "Choose or decide first which is your... piece de resistance," he started.

"If you want to spend on a bed or a cabinet, then decide on that first. Then [go for] those make-do solutions that can also be elegant... tasteful. Like repurpose a furniture piece, learn how to do carpentry, paint. It's being resourceful."

3. Edit. Barrios also advised getting rid of clutter and narrowing things down to what’s really important. "So stuff that don't really mean anything to you... when you get rid of that, your room will feel bigger and then you can kind of get a picture of how to fix it the way you want it to be done," she said.

“Don’t be afraid to edit,” said Rosales. “Part of the collecting process is… living only with stuff that you really love [and] getting rid of the stuff that you don’t really want.”

Clientele of the 21st century

The three panelists have been in the business for quite some time (design veteran Paras has 25 years of professional experience under his belt). As such, they have been able to observe a major shift in client behavior.

“Clients are more open-minded, adventurous,” said Rosales, while Paras pointed out that “access to information” has definitely made it easier to communicate visual ideas.

“There’s a certain sophistication that has developed over time,” said Barrios.

"Nowadays there's so much inspiration... you can look online, there are all these local magazines now and even in the department stores... the taste has improved a lot."

"You can find little things that help create a space and they don't have to be expensive,” she continued.

If there’s anything you need to invest in, it’s time.

"For a budget, it's not really an issue. It's how you put [your space] together. It's not an overnight thing. In time, you can achieve your inspired space," said Paras. — BM, GMA News

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Interior Design with an Equine Twist



One of the potentially exciting but often exhausting facts that comes with being a young professional is the need to move every few years. I’ve moved from Kentucky to Texas, from a suburb to the city, and now from one Houston location to another.

One thing that makes me smile, despite the annoying realities of packing, padding and stuffing boxes, is that I get to decorate a new space. While I definitely am not one to go out and buy a bunch of new things, I do enjoy deciding how I want to make my new house (or apartment) feel like home.

I have been pony-crazy since I was in kindergarten, but I realize that not everyone who comes to my home will share my affinity for horses. I want to have horses in my living space, but I don’t want my house to seem like a page out of The Saddle Club. (I have to remind myself – I am an adult.)

I keep seeing equestrian-inspired pieces in common culture. Beyond the fashion fad of riding boots and tight pants (meant to resemble breeches of course, minus the suede knee patches), store windows and magazine covers have hints of horsey inspiration.

I asked a friend of mine, Stacy Andell, about how to decorate with a sophisticated horsey flair. Stacy and her business partner Jill Egan have their own interior design company in Houston, Texas, Luxe Living Interiors.

"When I think of equestrian design or an equestrian-inspired space, I think classic, chic, sophisticated,” Stacy told me. "Horses are elegant.”

Stacy suggested displaying a simple pair of riding boots or a vintage saddle.

Alerts went off in my brain: I already do that! Except my boots are muddy and my saddle is on a metal saddle stand that doesn’t match anything else in my home.

I asked Stacy for a bit more guidance. My muddy tall boots and industrial saddle stand really qualify as clutter in my home right now, not equestrian décor.

"To set a saddle, I would find either a minimal side table or a pedestal that you might use to display a sculpture,” Stacy explained. "You want to make it prominent. Like a sculpture, it’s a piece of art.”

As we chatted, she brought up Ralph Lauren. I love Ralph Lauren. I played polo at Texas Tech for one year, and I remember being so excited to buy a Ralph Lauren button-down shirt with the polo emblem because I was actually playing the sport!

Of course, Ralph Lauren markets to an audience that is not required to play polo. Similarly, Ralph Lauren makes décor that brings in equestrian elements.

"I recently saw a Ralph Lauren polished nickel stirrup lamp,” Stacy mentioned. "It’s a clean, contemporary design but it lends itself to the spirit of a horse.”

Click here for one of the many websites that sells the lamp.

Stacy also had great ideas for decorating the walls with an equestrian vision. She suggested I hang old horse show ribbons in a shadow box or mount them on the wall in an interesting way.

As a nostalgic horse show girl, I do love to look at my ribbons. I like the shadow box idea. It will require me to pick a few specific ribbons rather than an entire string of them, but I think I can make the selections.

One of Stacy’s personal favorite ideas is to frame a scarf with an equestrian print. For example, Hermès, which does makes actual equestrian supplies, also makes jewelry, scarves and more.

Hermès has several different scarf patterns. Even from this page on their website, I can’t decide which one I would want.

I can definitely see Stacy’s idea being a really neat reality. A framed, equestrian-inspired scarf is a much more refined wall accessory than my favorite picture from last year’s horse calendar that is currently taped to the wall.

Sometimes I open an interior design magazine and feel completely overwhelmed. There’s a reason I’m not an interior designer. Stacy’s simple suggestions give me hope that I can bring in horsey elements into my home décor in a way that is unique to me.

I move in a couple months, and my brain has countless ideas for new ways to decorate using some of the things I already have. Maybe I’ll pick up a couple new things to change things up a bit. I’ll start with a different saddle stand.

Learn more about Stacy’s work at www.luxelivinginteriors.com.

Interior Decoration : http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-news/2014/07/11-interior-design-with-an-equine-twist.aspx

Monday, July 7, 2014

GIMP | Free Graphics software

The world’s most-loved free Photoshop alternative!
http://www.gimp.org

GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition and image authoring.

It has many capabilities. It can be used as a simple paint program, an expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc.

GIMP is expandable and extensible. It is designed to be augmented with plug-ins and extensions to do just about anything. The advanced scripting interface allows everything from the simplest task to the most complex image manipulation procedures to be easily scripted.

GIMP is written and developed under X11 on UNIX platforms. But basically the same code also runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Floorplanner - Free Interior Design Software



Floorplanning the easy way
http://www.floorplanner.com/

Floor plan interior design software. Design your house, home, room, apartment, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, office or classroom online for free

Floorplanner is the easiest and best-looking way to create and share interactive floorplans online.

Do I need to download anything to start using Floorplanner?
Absolutely not! Floorplanner is an online service and works in your web browser.

What web browsers work with Floorplanner?
Floorplanner works in all major browsers, like Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. For the best user experience, we recommend using Google Chrome.

A free account is free
Our mission is to let everyone in the world make better use of their space. Therefore we offer a free Basic account. With a free account you can draw one floor plan. If you need more floor plans or more and better features, please consider upgrading to our Plus or Pro accounts.


Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/Floorplanner/

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Home Decoration Prince Edward Road | Hong Kong Kowloon



Home Decoration Prince Edward Road | Hong Kong Kowloon
Residence Interior Decoration - Interior Design Complete Date : 2012

If you're looking for a home thats ready to move into then don't overlook this one! Having low maintenance gardens and ample off street parking, this semi detached home has been extended & improved giving a good size kitchen, refitted bathroom suite (with 'P' bath), 2 double bedrooms (both with fitted wardrobes), lounge & dining room with patio doors giving access to the rear. Offered with no upward chain, internal viewing comes highly recommended in order to fully appreciate.
JL Interior Decoration | Home Decoration

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Tear Off Wallpaper by ZNAK


http://www.officedesignblog.com/tears-off-wallpaper-znak/698/

Wall treatments are one of the best ways to add style to your home office, but applying them can be some serious work, not to mention expensive. Luckily though, the “Tears Off” modular wallpaper created by the Latvian design company ZNAK is a relatively quick and easy way to give your office a fresh new look, all while allowing you to exercise your creative side.

Made up of specially designed perforated pieces which were inspired by the “transformation process of snakes”, the “Tears Off” wallpaper lets you create your own custom design by tearing off patterned strips of the wallpaper sheet in different formations to reveal the original wall color beneath. The non-woven wallpaper comes in 11 different colors, and can be purchased for 10.00 EUR per sheet.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Autodesk Homestyler - Online Free Home Decoration Application



Autodesk Homestyler offers users a unique way to plan out their living space. The system is very easy to master, utilizing a drag and drop system that users of all skill levels can manage. Autodesk Homestyler allows users to build replicas of interior and exterior areas in and around their home. These can be altered three dimensional images of real products and objects to see how planned renovations will look when complete. The application is very helpful for anyone who is planning a project. Visualizing doesn’t come easy for everyone. Autodesk Homestyler makes it easy for users to see their finished projects even before they have taken the first steps in starting them.

- http://autodesk-homestyler.appappeal.com/

Create New Design with Autodesk Homestyler

Design your dream home in 3D

Express your creativity, find inspiration and make smarter home design choices, faster.

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Sweet Home 3D | free interior design application

Sweet Home 3D is a free architectural design / interior design / home decoration software application that helps users place furniture on a house 2D plan, with a 3D preview. In Sweet Home 3D, furniture can be imported and arranged to create a virtual environment. It can also be used for designing blueprints of houses.

Download Sweet Home 3D | Use Sweet Home 3D Online

  • Developer(s) eTeks
  • Initial release November 16, 2006; 7 years ago
  • Stable release 4.3 / January 14, 2014; 4 months ago
  • Written in Java
  • Operating system Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris and Windows
  • Size 33.1 Mb Windows
    15.9 Mb Mac OS X
    52.7 Mb Linux (32 bits)
    46.7 Mb Linux (64 bits)
  • Available in Multilingual
  • Type CAD, CAM, CAE
  • License GNU General Public License
  • Website www.sweethome3d.com/

Design for Asia Award 2013

http://www.dfaaward.com/2014/page/en/winners/2013.php

10 DFA Grand Award winners, 1 DFA Special Award for Culture winner, 1 DFA Special Award for Technology winner, 1 DFA Special Award for Sustainability winner, 11 DFA Gold Award winners, 25 DFA Silver Award winners, 35 DFA Bronze Award winners, 35 DFA Merit Award winners were selected.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Office Interior Design

Office Interior Decoration | From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An office is generally a room or other area where administrative work is done, but may also denote a position within an organization with specific duties attached to it (see officer, office-holder, official); the latter is in fact an earlier usage, office as place originally referring to the location of one's duty. When used as an adjective, the term "office" may refer to business-related tasks. In legal writing, a company or organization has offices in any place that it has an official presence, even if that presence consists of, for example, a storage silo rather than an office.

An office is an architectural and design phenomenon; whether it is a small office such as a bench in the corner of a small business of extremely small size (see small office/home office), through entire floors of buildings, up to and including massive buildings dedicated entirely to one company. In modern terms an office usually refers to the location where white-collar workers are employed.

Office spaces

The main purpose of an office environment is to support its occupants in performing their job—preferably at minimum cost and to maximum satisfaction. With different people performing different tasks and activities, however, it is not always easy to select the right office spaces. To aid decision-making in workplace and office design, one can distinguish three different types of office spaces: work spaces, meeting spaces and support spaces. For new, or developing businesses, remote satellite offices and project rooms, Serviced Offices can provide a simple solution and provide all of the former types of space.

Work spaces

Work spaces in an office are typically used for conventional office activities such as reading, writing and computer work. There are nine generic types of work space, each supporting different activities.

Private office: An enclosed work space for one person, suitable for activities which are confidential, demand a lot of concentration or include many small meetings

Shared office: An enclosed work space for two or three people, suitable for semi-concentrated work and collaborative work in small groups

Team room: An enclosed work space for four to ten people; suitable for teamwork which may be confidential and demands frequent internal communication

Study booth: An enclosed work space for one person; suitable for short-term activities which demand concentration or confidentiality

Work lounge: A lounge-like work space for two to six people; suitable for short-term activities which demand collaboration and/or allow impromptu interaction

Touch down: An open work space for one person; suitable for short-term activities which require little concentration and low interaction

Meeting spaces

Meeting spaces in an office are typically used interactive processes, be it quick conversations or intensive brainstorms. There are six generic types of meeting space, each supporting different activities.

Small meeting room: An enclosed meeting space for two to four persons, suitable for both formal and informal interaction

Large meeting room: An enclosed meeting space for five to twelve people, suitable for formal interaction

Small meeting space: An open or semi-open meeting space for two to four persons; suitable for short, informal interaction

Large meeting space: An open or semi-open meeting space for five to twelve people; suitable for short, informal interaction

Brainstorm room: An enclosed meeting space for five to twelve people; suitable for brainstorming sessions and workshops

Meeting point: An open meeting point for two to four persons; suitable for ad hoc, informal meetings

Support spaces

Support spaces in an office are typically used for secondary activities such as filing documents or taking a break. There are twelve generic types of support space, each supporting different activities.

Filing space: An open or enclosed support space for the storage of frequently used files and documents

Storage space: An open or enclosed support space for the storage of commonly used office supplies

Print and copy area: An open or enclosed support space with facilities for printing, scanning and copying

Mail area: An open or semi-open support space where employees can pick up or deliver their personal mail

Pantry area: An open or enclosed support space where people can get coffee and tea as well as soft drinks and snacks

Break area: A semi-open or enclosed support space where employees can take a break from their work

Locker area: An open or semi-open support space where employees can store their personal belongings

Smoking room: An enclosed support space where employees can smoke a cigarette

Library: A semi-open or enclosed support space for reading of books, journals and magazines

Games room: An enclosed support space where employees can play games (e.g. computer games, pool, darts)

Waiting area: An open or semi-open support space where visitors can be received and can wait for their appointment

Circulation space: Support space which is required for circulation on office floors, linking all major functions

Monday, May 26, 2014

Interior Decoration : Shenzhen Hongshuwan


Interior Decoration Location : Shenzhen Hongshuwan
Design Complete Date : 2013

Introduction :
Hongshuwan Station (Chinese: 红树湾站; pinyin: Hóngshùwān Zhàn) is a Metro station of Shenzhen Metro Shekou Line. It was opened at December 28, 2010.
JL Interior Decoration | Home Decoration

Sunday, May 18, 2014

No, Not The White House — This is a Chinese Toilet


http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/16/no-not-the-white-house-this-is-a-chinese-toilet/

But if recent headlines are any guide, a lesser-sung dream also has a powerful pull on psyches here: the “Toilet Dream.”

Take, for example, news that emerged this week that a city in eastern Anhui province had built a 418-square-meter toilet that looks like a mash-up of the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building. According to the official China Daily, the toilet cost a local liquor company $144,000 to construct, and promptly sparked a flurry of commentary, with some condemning such an expenditure as, well, a waste.

Attempts to reach the company for comment weren’t successful. The newspaper quoted the liquor company as saying the toilet was built to accommodate its staff of 4,000 as well as the thousands of customers who visit the premises.

It’s not the first time a so-called luxury toilet has made headlines here. Previous public toilets have been built in the style of a European clock tower, a villa or with soaring eaves. Last year, the city of Linfen in Shanxi province was reported in state media to have spent more than $8 million to build 160 public toilets, among them 40 “five-star toilets,” some of which were designed to look like landmarks including the Olympic Bird’s Nest.

For a country that has issued exacting standards to grade and dictate toilet quality—including the requirement that no more than three flies per square meter appear in public bathrooms—perhaps it’s no surprise that residents seem to feel a particular fascination with toilets. (They’re not alone: for many years, some of the chief tales Westerners liked to bring back home from visits to China were regarding the stench and sub-standard quality of the country’s toilets, an image that’s persisted, even as they’ve improved in many cities.)

Given the by turns outlandish and creative imaginations behind some of the country’s toilets, it’s no surprise, either, that some have become tourist attractions in their own right.

A 24-karat gold bathroom in Hong Kong (including a chandelier, 6,200 inlaid pearls and golden paneling, along with a 24-karat gold toilet with a functioning flush) used to attract scores of mainland tourist groups per day before it was largely dismantled. The world’s so-called “longest connected bathroom” in Chongqing is also a tourist attraction, one that includes urinals in the shape of alligator heads and faucets shaped like elephants, albeit a slightly woebegone-looking one worse for the wear.

After all, while China’s fancy toilets may pack a lot of flash, in the end, it’s just about the flush.

“We wanted to make the building a little special in appearance, but more important, we emphasize its function as a toilet, so the interior decoration is not so luxurious as some people imagine,” an executive with Anhui Golden Seed Winery Co., the company that commissioned the White House-style toilet, told China Daily.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Interior Designers Turn to Renaissance London for Beautiful Victorian Fireplaces

- http://www.prweb.com/releases/antique-fireplaces/victorian-fireplaces/prweb11793671.htm

As Victorian properties and period features remain in high demand, Renaissance London reveal the business has seen a huge increase of enquiries from interior designers from across the US, Europe and United Kingdom for their authentic Victorian furnishings.

Following their recent article, 'Demand for Antique Fireplaces Growing in Britain," (published on 14 April 2014 by Journalism.co.uk) owner Owen Pacey of Renaissance London claims the number of enquires from interior designers regarding their authentic and beautifully detailed Victorian pieces has risen dramatically. Renaissance London claims more people are opting for Victorian style period homes for their high ceilings, ornate cornices, huge bay windows and the all-important elegant fireplace. The Victorian interior decoration design style dates from 1837 to 1901 and was an era of great change for property. The introduction of mass production meant that items could be easily reproduced, and no longer restricted to just the wealthy members of society. A range of styles from the Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movement, which took off in England in 1810, along with strong influences from Europe all contributed to the luxurious and opulent feel of Victorian features.

About Renaissance London: http://www.renaissancelondon.com/about-us

From commercial homes in the city to country manor houses, the distinctive style adopted by Victorians remains very popular among interior designers. London is filled with historic houses, palaces and stately homes, including Leighton House which offers a permanent display of Victorian décor along with the William Morris Gallery; a public gallery of former designer and craftsman William Morris who was one of the founders of the arts and crafts movement in Victorian Britain. With more Victorian properties being restored each year, finding the right fixtures and findings isn't always easy. With lavish and luxurious being high on the priority list, Renaissance Fireplaces in London is dubbed the go-to fireplace emporium for Victorian pieces by interior designers.

The dealer’s incredible showroom is located in an iconic old pub in trendy Shoreditch where Owen Pacey and his renowned team have built a unique reputation as one of the foremost dealers, restorers and experts in antique fireplaces. All stock is carefully sourced from around Europe and is not limited to the Victorian era. Anything from the 16th Century to present day contemporary pieces can be found in the form of fireplaces, lighting and mirrors. They also offer a complete restoration and fitting service making them an interior designer’s dream resource.

To date, Renaissance London have been sourced by luxury designers, celebrities and figures of the elite British high society to help locate specific period fireplaces. ‘We supply fireplaces to such a wide variety of individuals and vendors. Everything from period home owners in North London to beautifully restored hotels and restaurants throughout Europe and North America,’ says Owen Pacey who has been selling antique fireplaces and other salvaged artefacts from his shop, for nearly 20 years. For an introduction to what Renaissance London can offer visit their website at http://www.renaissancelondon.com/.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Jun Long Interior Decoration and Home Decoration

Jun Long Interior Decoration and Home Decoration

http://www.junlong.com.hk

Website Theme : Interior Design, Interior Decoration, Home Decoration

Introduction

Jun Long Interior Decoration & Home Decotation : Founded in 1999. Jun Long Interior Decoration has more than 30 professional engineers and experienced interior designer. Jun Long Interior Decoration is responsible for commercial buildings, residential buildings, single buildings or independent villas.

24-Hour Home Decoration Service Hotline : 5611 7666

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室內裝修設計家居設計 辦公室設計

私人住宅室內設計
駿隆室內設計專責尊案的設計 : 私人住宅家居設計 , 辦公室設計 , 裝修設計
獨立屋室內設計
駿隆室內設計專責尊案的設計 : 獨立屋家居設計 , 辦公室設計 , 裝修設計
辦公室設計
駿隆室內設計專責尊案的設計 : 辦公室設計, 室內設計裝修