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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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。

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.

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.

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JL Interior Decoration | Home Decoration