Survivorlink Home

It doesn’t matter what part of the country you live in, or in the world, for that matter. The latest interior design trend is to bring nature and natural elements inside the home to create a relaxing and soothing environment.

At first, you might think of muted colors of green like you’d see in the forest, or pale blue like the sky on a perfect summer day. Or perhaps when you think of a room that’s inspired by nature, you think of flowery fabrics and zen-type fountains.

While thoughts and opinions can vary as to what could be considered nature-inspired design, a vast array of products, furniture and decorations are springing up that shout out bold, bright, and fun. It could be a grouping of pillows softly tossed on a sofa that resembles birch bark, or a wall mural with tall, green bamboo trees. However you imagine it, and whatever your sense of the outdoors is, the trend is moving toward spicing up dark decors of years past.

Here are a few more design ideas that will allow you to bring nature’s brighter side into the peaceful place you call home.

Logs are the latest “in” accent for walls, tables, and decorations. You don’t have to live in a log home to bring the powerful presence of natural wood into your living space. And guess what? Logs don’t require painting, which means you’ll save money on the room’s maintenance.

Clear glass is being used for tabletops everywhere these days. In the most creative settings, you might see a round or oblong piece of heavy glass gently perched on top of a natural wooden branch base. Also, glass and mirrored shelving is being used alongside wood for holding natural lighting decorations, candles, and silver buffed picture frames.

Certainly, if your budget is limited, you can combine expensive pieces in a room with trendy and timeless elements of the outside world. Saunter through the woods, and look for those earthy elements that would enhance your living space. Bring them home and maybe tie a ribbon around a group of twigs, or place a piece of driftwood that you found along the shore onto a shelf or a fireplace mantle.

Accents from nature are as unlimited as your imagination. When was the last time you and your partner, a friend, or another family member strolled aimlessly through nature?

Thinking of making improvements to your house interior? Although there are thousands of options for you to choose from, planning the perfect home dcor will take a lot of time and effort. Here’s a quick and easy guide to make sure that you are able to make the most out of your house interior design!

One of the first things that you should consider is the space of your room. Your house interior design should not only look good, you should also be able to maximize your living space so that it appears larger and more organized. Did you know that moving several things around can create the illusion of a bigger room? Make sure that you use shelves and other storage spaces instead of putting it all on the floor. Installing large mirrors to your walls will also create the same effect to your house interior.

How about the windows? Windows are typically one of the most overlooked aspects of your room and house interior design. The right type of windows does not only allow for more space, it can also complement your room beautifully. You can choose from different kinds of window types to suit the theme of your home dcor. You can add curtains in different shades to top off the look.

The color of your walls can automatically transform the look of your room. Although white and beige has always been a classic color choice for house interior design, you can exercise your creativity by choosing practically any hue! You can even combine complementing shades for a unique touch to your room. The color of the walls will also determine the mood of the room, so make sure that you choose one that will be pleasing and relaxing to the eyes.

House interior design will not be complete without the proper lighting fixtures. You should be able to combine both natural and artificial lighting to brighten up your room.

Smaller rooms should have enough light so that it won’t feel cramped. There are bulbs and lamps that range from bright white light to a more rosy glow. Make sure that you test the lighting first before purchasing any for your home.

The accessories that are used for house interior design may seem like just an add on, but you will see how much of a difference it makes! You can opt to buy plants or flowers for your centerpiece. Adding different kinds of home dcor and accessories will make your room visually pleasing. The right kind of fabrics and textures will surely make the most impact.

If you are still unsure on how to go about house interior decorating, you can try searching online for apartment and home inspirations. These sites are able to categorize it for different types of rooms: bedrooms, living rooms and bathrooms would all have different styles and themes to choose from. You can try to find the best deals by shopping around. Make sure that you choose those that will beautify your home!

One of the professions out there that are tied directly to making your house look good is the interior designer, and this article will be talking all about some of the characteristics of a good interior designer, especially if you are interested in remaking your house. Do not make the mistake of confusing an interior designer with a remodeler, because they essentially do two different things. The remodeler is someone who just does work on the infrastructure of the house, without much look into design and creative elements that make up the personality of the house.

The first thing that you need to look out for is someone who actually listens to you. Most of the time, with bad interior designer, you will get people who will just try to thrust their ideas on you. In the end of the day, the house is yours and so is the vision for the creativity. The job of the interior designer is to listen to you, and work around your own ideas to give you something that you want. While its not to say that they should not contribute anything at all, you need to understand that they must be able to combine two and two together and create something.

Another thing that you should look out for is communication. The important thing is for you to feel comfortable around them, and they should actually walk around your apartment or house and give recommendations. There is no such thing as an effective interior designer who works remotely, they need to be able to feel and see your house for a more hands on consultative experience. The much better interior designers should be able to create ideas and design your house right down to the smallest element based on looking at your home.

Also, the important thing is that the interior designer should be able to recommend to you the best deal to get all the external elements. The thing is, their work is basically conceptualisation, most of the time, they will be working with external vendors to achieve the look and feel of the theme of your place. So, they should be getting stuff and working with people with quality, who would be able to not only understand your needs but also give you a competitive price. It should not be dirt cheap, but it should not be extremely expensive either.

These are some of the elements of a good interior designer, and you should have this checklist once you are going out to a firm to get your house re made. There are plenty of interior design companies out there, and in fact, they can number in the hundreds, and choosing them might be difficult. Once they attach someone to your case, you should be able to spot the good and find some distance from the bad. With this, you would be able to get to what you want, and the journey to bringing the casa of your dreams should be a smooth one.

Bar is the hub for many people to come and relax on the weekends. Everyone wants to enter it that welcomes them and makes them feel comfortable. Young people are very selective of which bar they go to, they often look out for the nicest one with great interior designs and great ambience. This is one important reason for the interior designers to furbish their ideas and create a beautiful place that has mix of beauty with the charm and the warmness.

Bar has to bring an ebullient attitude to the interiors; this work can only be done by professional interior designers who have expertise in this area.

Process of designing

Bar interior designers have to organize a plan like any other process, they are responsible in meeting with the owner to decide on what color, what material is needed to polish the entire place. The interior designers then sit with their team members and discuss the plan that is being passed by the owner of the Bar.

The interior designing process can take a long time depending on the expectations of the owner. The interior designers some times go through stress of organizing the whole process of designing, because designing a bar takes lot of concentration and dedication in giving the customer or the client what they want.

Bars interior designing usually can really be stressful, it is very demanding, especially because interior designing is the most important aspect . The interior designers are perfectionist modelers when it comes to designing and modeling the bar. Interior designing process itself takes many days before the interior designers finalize the entire project.

Bar designing ideas

There are many interior designers that go through millions of ideas before refurbishing their ideas and centralizing them to one concept. These ideas usually depend on whether it is going to be built as a home bar. With home bars there are many varieties as kegger bar, bar back, portable party bar, L-shaped wet bar and the straight wet bar. Most times the home built bars have storage areas, adjustable shelves of glasses and liquor bottles and cabinets.

The interior designers are specific on the designs, usually bar tops are made of high pressure surfaces that are heat resistant and water proof. Some of them also have refrigerator systems and built in sinks to keep the drinks and kegs cold.

The interior designers also have lots to think in terms of decorating bars. Some bars have common design elements as the neon sign. Neon signs come in various colors and designs and are very affordable. There are other signs that are included in bars which are basketball, racing, football and other sport signs, some times novelty signs and liquor signs as well.

Martini shaker, shot glasses, cocktail glasses, mixers, blender and bar tools are the most needed accessories , which are designed accordingly to make the bars look attractive, I think without which the bars are incomplete.

Famous Interior Designers and Their Styles in Interior Design – Part 1

Introduction

This series of 4 articles takes a brief but informative look at 21 of the most famous and Interior Designers, from the earliest pioneers right through to the most celebrated modern day designers.

The Pioneers of Interior Design

Jean-Henri Jansen (1854-1928)

Dutch designer, Jean-Henri Jansen, launched one of the first ever international interior design companies ‘Maison Jansen’ (House of Jansen) in 1880, which became renowned for designing and creating exceptionally beautiful and high quality furniture which would be utilized in a multitude of interior decoration projects. House of Jansen opened branches in 8 of the major cities of the world. Jansen worked closely with the talented interior designer Stephane Boudin whom he made director of the company. The clients of House of Jansen included Royalty and the rich and famous.

Elsie de Wolfe (1865-1950)

The first lady of interior decoration, Elsie de Wolfe considered herself an ‘ugly child’. This Victorian stage actress was a rebel of her times and was credited by many to be the inventor of the modern profession of interior design, even though there were already established interior designers in her time. Elsie disliked Victorian tastes altogether, her designs were therefore generally made up of light and bright colors, contrary to the drab and gloomy Victorian dcor coupled with unnecessary excesses such as heavy velvet draperies. This was a pioneering departure from the contemporary designs of the time. Elsie’s influence continues to be felt in the modern world of interior design.

Ogden Codman (1863-1951)

American interior decorator and architect, Ogden Codman spent his childhood in his birthplace of Boston before heading to France in his youth for a period of time. Codman had two uncles who influenced him tremendously – architect John Hubbard and decorator Richard Ogden. Some of Ogden Codman’s works include Edith Wharton’s Newport home, Land’s End, the Rockefeller family estate of New York client John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the Newport summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Along with novelist Edith Wharton, Codman co-authored a guidepost of American interior design, ‘The Decoration of Houses’ in 1897.

Frances Elkins (1888-1953)

Born in Milwaukee, Frances Adler Elkins was one of the most prominent interior decorator and designer of the previous century. Sister of the famed Chicago architect David Adler, Elkins was known for her futuristic designs that brought together different styles and elements from various periods. They included country French styles, chinoiserie and art deco. The furnishings featured in her designs included designers such as Jean-Michel Frank and Alberto Giacometti. The career of Elkins that spanned over three decades is glittered with many high profile commissions in Hawaii, the Midwest and northern and southern California, none more interesting than the restoration of the 1830s structure, Casa Amesti in Monterrey, California.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)

Frank Lloyd Wright was an interior designer and architect whose career included more than 1000 projects, 500 of them that have been complete. Wright was known for his promotion of organic architecture, an example of which is Fallingwater. The Robie House is an example of Wright’s leadership of the Prairie School architectural movement, while the Rosenbaum House depicts Wright’s Usonian home concept. Wright also had refreshing ideas for every kind of building, be it church, office, school, hotel or museum. Along with excellent architectural renderings, Wright also designed much of the interiors of his buildings including the Dcor, layout and furniture.

Globalization in the 21st century has made it possible for us to become open to fresh and unique concepts in decorating and designing our homes. One of the design themes we have learned to admire is Chinese interior design.

When we look at Oriental homes, we admire them for their opulent and exotic beauty. At first glance, the setup seems easy to reconstruct, but in reality, very few people have a deep understanding of the basics of Chinese interior design.

Dating back thousands of years, Chinese interior design is founded on the principles of energy, simplicity, and nature. They strive to achieve surroundings characterized by tranquility and peace, and since Chinese culture is steeped in tradition, the elements in Chinese interior design should also reflect the values of the people living in the home.

Chinese Interior Design Fundamentals

One of the most basic principles to be observed in Chinese interior design is simplicity. For them, a room should not be filled with all sorts of common decor. What is important is the proper placement of a few valuable and beautiful objects in a room to achieve optimal effects.

By using just a few focal points, the rooms remain light, roomy, and simple, yet still reflective of the owner’s impeccable taste.

Another element commonly used in Chinese interior design is the use of screens. These items are both decorative and functional – they not only enliven a room but also serve to keep one’s privacy.

Many years ago, these frames were constructed with light materials, making use of latticework serving as a grid for the sheer fabric or paper. Today, the screens can be made of various materials such as bamboo or expensive wood decorated with delicate ivory inlay.

A dressing screen may also have foldable panels to make it fit in various areas of the home. It’s a very inexpensive way to add a touch of Asia to your simple but stylish Chinese interior design. The great thing about screens is that depending on the design, they can also be used for other interior design themes.

What Is Feng Shui?

Most Chinese interior design principles are based on Feng Shui, or the ancient tradition of arrangement of space to create a harmonious environment. It is a spiritual discipline based on guidelines that, upon examination, are actually compatible with the traditional architectural techniques used today.

When Feng Shui is implemented in Chinese interior design, it is believed that the residents will fully benefit from the meticulously arranged furniture and living spaces in terms of wealth, love, health, and happiness.

Due to its increasing popularity, homeowners will now find it easy to locate a Feng Shui expert with whom they can consult prior to tackling a Chinese interior design

project. They can also look for hundreds of resources on the Internet to help them organize their space and determine which arrangements would be best to attract positive “chi” or energy.

Making Use of Chinese Interior Design Details

You may opt for a total Chinese interior design look or choose a differently themed design using only a sprinkling of Chinese influences. One way to achieve this is by using a handful of valuable, perhaps ornate pieces, to serve as accents in a sparsely furnished room.

You can also make use of the screens which can easily be moved depending on its intended function in a particular area. It is also a wonderful idea to make use of a few pieces of Chinese decor which could serve as conversation pieces or for adding a splash of color to an otherwise staid room. Chinese pottery or colorful paintings can add an exotic look, and so could richly colored carpets or pillows.

Going for Chinese interior design when decorating a room could be very challenging. However, it can also be very rewarding when you finally see all the elements come together harmoniously in a room you can call your very own.

Interior Architecture is a bridge between architecture and interior design. It provides professionals with the proper knowledge regarding the building of structures and the importance and understanding of load bearing walls. The fields of Interior Architecture and Interior Design are quite similar. Some people refer to the two fields as one and call it Interior Architecture Design.

Interior architectural design professionals in the United States cannot call himself or herself an Interior Architect unless they have completed the educational requirements to become a fully licensed architect. The actual definition of Interior Architecture is a program that prepares people to apply the architectural principles in the design of structural interiors for living, recreational and for business purposes so as to function as a professional interior architect. This includes instruction in the architecture of heating and cooling systems, occupational and safety standards, interior design, specific end-use applications, structural systems design and professional responsibilities and standards.

If interested in a career in the interior architecture design field there are plenty of options available to the aspiring designer whether they wish to attend a college or university or take classes online. These courses explore the links and similarities between interior design and architecture. Interior Design programs will challenge you to explore creative ideas for using space and re-inventing how buildings are designed. Some areas of study include the conceptual creativity of design and the philosophy and theory behind design plus the latest technology used for interior design.

Individuals pursuing an education in interior design or interior architecture can expect to develop a wide range of skills including the use of CAD (Computer Aided Drawing) software, video and photography. Other skills will be developed in the studio such as the use of models and how to construct the models.

Interior Design programs prepare the interior architectural design student for technological, cultural and environmental issues. Students who attend a studio classroom are taught in workshops, lectures and seminars.

Here are some basic courses the interior architecture design student will study in their first year:

oDesign Visual Thinking

oMaterials and Construction

oHistory and Theory of Design

oIntroduction to Interior Architecture and Design

oDesign Making Ideas

oDesign, Spatial Investigations

oDesign, Context and Process

oStructures, Environment and Sustainability

In the second year of studying interior architecture design, the student will study the following modules:

oCommunication and Participation

oDesign Exploration

oDesign Proposition

oInterior Environments

oModern Architecture

oInterior Environments

oTectonics and Realization

These are very in depth courses to help prepare the interior architecture design student for real world situations. In the third year of study, students can expect to learn the following:

oDesign Research and Proposition

oHistory Dissertation

oDesign Resolution

oPlacement

Work placement can be in any Interior Architecture Design field that takes on entry-level designers. Professional work placement is an excellent opportunity that can pave the way to a rewarding career in interior design. As work placement is considered the bridge from study to professional employment.

It is unfortunate, but many people automatically think of only a certain look or style when they think of wall mounted fountains. For instance, many people envision the gorgeous stone fountains so often found in Italian villas, and others think of the contemporary styles that appear in many types of businesses and storefronts.

It is interesting to note, however, that a mounted wall fountain can feature into almost any type of design style or interior space thanks to the enormous array of styles and designs available.

When choosing to use such fountains in the design scheme it is important to understand how this sort of feature is going to fit into the plans. Will it be a focal point of the room? Will it simply serve as a charming fixture that provides soothing sound or a nice amount of added humidity? Is it going to fall under the wall art or sculpture category? Is it something to serve as a nice approach to welcoming customers? Clearly, this large assortment of questions and possible answers means that wall mounted fountains are available to suit almost any need.

For example, a modern consumer can find a mounted wall fountain made from slate, metal, acrylic, or resin. The fountain can have the appearance of a wall of water or provide a traditional stream or spray into the basin below. They can have special lighting elements, sculptural figures, plants, and even paintings included in their designs as well.

So, what does all of this mean to the person who is hoping to use some wall mounted fountains in their interior design? It means that step one is to understand the “statement” that will be made by the fountain. The next thing to consider is its location, and once this is accomplished there may be the need to address additional support to the wall or a new electrical outlet. Why is that? Some fountains can be made from heavier materials, and all will need to be supported by the wall studs behind the fixture – a mounted wall fountain must never be suspended merely from the sheet rock or paneling.

Additionally, many fountain owners decide to keep the electrical cord entirely concealed behind the fixture rather than hanging down from behind it, and to do this they will have to have a properly installed electrical outlet in the ideal location.

Once the overall purpose of the fountain is determined, and its location prepared, the owner is also going to have to consider the surrounding area and the ease with which it allows them to maintain the fountain. While a fountain can be a relatively low-maintenance item, it will require a regular cleaning, and allowing ample working space is always a wise idea.

There is no fix cost when it comes to interior design work. Interior design firms charge based on a combination of methods and the extent of the services. A basic cost structure of the service is as followed:

1.Initial consultation fee. The first meeting with the interior designer is to allow her to understand your project scope and see if it fits her capacity and service. The firm may or may not charge an initial consultation fee. Therefore, you should clarify with them before arranging for an initial meeting.

2.Fee based. The designer will evaluate the project scope and estimate the total number of hours that need to be committed into the project. There are also other methods that they use to determine the project fee. So check with them before you commit.

3.Square foot price. In this method, the price depends on the square footage of the space. The bigger your space is, the more you are going to pay for the interior design work.

4.Hourly fee. If the designer is only needed when she is called upon, she will charge you an hourly basis. Different designer has different hourly rate, depending on experience, expertise and demand.

5.Retainer fee. Some design firms will ask for a retainer fee as soon as an agreement has been reached. The designer will charge a fee that she thinks is justifiable for her time, or her employees’ time, to plan the project.

6.Retail commission or profit sharing. This is more applicable to retail interior design work. In this method, the design firm earns a commission or profit based on the volume of products sold.

There are many interior design firms today. With so many options, it is important that you take your time to do a research and hire the right firm for your project. The best place to look for interior design firms is the Internet. Simply do a search on Google and check out their websites. Another way is to browse through your local directory like Yellow Pages.

Before you hire a particular design firm, make sure that you request for portfolio. Look at their past work to determine whether you like their design or not. Do not rush to hire a firm. Spend your time to research and find the right firm for your project. Hiring a interior design firm can save you a lot of time and headache.

Hi and welcome back to “What Interior House Paint goes where and why” for your interior house painting in particular when painting trim and woodwork! If you’re reading this entry that means you’re interested in getting the right interior house paint on your trims or woodwork. So let’s get right to it. Firstly, it’s so very important to prepare and have woodwork ready for finish coats.

It’s not the interior painting of top coats that make woodwork or for that matter any surface look good. It’s the prep that you have to get right, but I’m here to talk about finish or top coats. There are a couple of good choices when it comes to trims and woodwork.

There are acrylic finishes which are water borne or water based which are very good for the environment and ozone friendly too . Years ago acrylic glosses or interior glosses just couldn’t cut it. Their formulas were very thick and didn’t have the gutsy coverage that was needed to get the job done.

But these days they not only saw the need to go green and easy on the environment but put thought and technology into their formulas. The result is they have produced a real high quality interior gloss that can match or is equivalent to its counterpart gloss enamel or oil based interior house paint.

Now oil based glosses or enamels have their good points also and some of these points is why I enjoy using this product over the water based one. Such as when using or applying oils, depending whether or not the surface has been prepared properly, can get a beautiful glossy mirror finish that you could brush your hair in or put your make up on with, in which case can give you a very rewarding finish.

Myself, I prefer the oil type especially when it comes to doors and trims because they tend to get knocked around a bit and enamels tend to take the hard knocks that little bit better. They are a little trickier to apply but practice makes perfect right!

Now if both of these types of paints are applied properly you can get a very tough, durable and impressive finish that has good cleaning properties and will last a long time. It’s your call really, will you go water based or oil, whatever choice you make can be a good one. Good luck with your interior painting and I’m sure you’ll make the right one. So stick around and I’ll teach you what interior house paint to apply for your kitchen and wet areas in your home…

And happy painting… Wayne the painter