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Interior design is a multi-faceted profession where creative and technical solutions are applied within a definite structure to achieve a built interior environment. The process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology such as research, analysis, and the integration of knowledge into the creative process where the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce the space that fulfills the project’s goal. With the advent of home improvement shows, a lot of number of people seeks the services of interior designers to do the necessary improvements of their homes. Some take years to finish because the specific elements of the project must be met to achieve completeness.

There are a wide range of working conditions and employment opportunities within the scale of the interior design jobs. Small and large companies often hire interior designers as employees on regular working hours. While some work freelance, they do not have regular clients and workloads are given by the client’s word of mouth or by referrals. Besides, they usually work long hours. Interior design jobs entail a lot of stress because deadlines have to met, client’s budget must be considered, and of course, the clients themselves. Their work tends to involve a great deal of traveling to visit different locations, studios, or client’s home and offices.

With the aid of the recent technology, the process of contracting clients and communicating design alternatives has become easier and requires less travel. The customers are quite happy with these developments because the design process became more interactive and exciting, in a relatively technological but labor-intensive environment. Architecture jobs, on the other hand, is the art and science of designing and erecting buildings and other physical structures. While the architect’s job is to design the physical components of the house or building, what the interior designer do is put some aesthetic values to that design down to the minutest details like flowers and vases.

An architecture job shop not only involved technical pens and drafting papers. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to manipulate their designs in different dimensions. A wider definition may comprise all design activity from the macro level like urban or landscape architecture, to the micro-level like construction details and furniture.

Architecture jobs involves the process of product planning, designing, and constructing form, space and ambiance that reflect functional, technical, social and aesthetic considerations. It also requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow. Architectural jobs also encompass the pragmatic aspects of realizing building and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating, and construction administration.

The documentation produced by the architects are typically drawings, plans and technical specification and they define the structure and behavior of the building or homes that is to be or has been constructed. Interior design jobs, meanwhile, involves looking for materials that fit together to make the specific look specified by the architectural design come to life.

Architectural works are often perceived as the cultural and political symbols of a certain nation as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

The job of painting is interesting but it can be daunting too. Many times, it happens that people are not able to choose the right kind of interior paints for their homes. As a result, the task of painting home becomes difficult and ineffective too. Thus, if you want to make house painting to have a long life then choosing the suitable paint is the foremost thing.

Different kinds of paint finishes are available in the market when you move out to choose interior paints. Some of the finishes include eggshell, enamel, flat, matte finish, semi gloss and a few more. In addition, some kinds of paints are available in the market that is not only shiny but cleanable as well. It is always wise to invest in paints that can be cleaned with ease. House painting shops offer some paints that are best suitable for high traffic areas in your home like kid’s bedrooms, stairways and a few others.

Now before you move out to painting store to buy house paints spend some time at home thinking about which type of paint should be bought for which corner of your home. As mentioned above, different paint finishes are available in the market and you can decide which of them is suitable for which room. If you have, some other painting ideas of your own then note them down, before you forget them. Many people tend to forget that lightning in a room plays an important role in choice of paint. If you have not considered lightning as a factor yet then think again on your choice of it.

Other important thing that should be considered is whether to use primer on interior walls or not. Well if you or someone in your family smokes then it would be better to apply a coat of primer before applying the actual paint. This is because nicotine stains can easily damage the wall paint if primer has not been applied.

Before starting any interior design or remodeling project, you need to think about the three biggest areas. Do you know what they are? You’ll find out below along with some interior design tips on how to handle them

What To Do With The Walls?

This is perhaps the biggest question and the area that can make the most difference in the outcome of your interior design. Wall color can set the tone of the room, but many people are afraid to paint their walls with anything but white. One way to get around this is to buy small samples of paint that you think you may want on the walls and paint it on a section of the wall. You don’t have to paint the whole wall – just a 1 foot square section. Live with it for a day and see how it looks in all different kinds of light. Be advised, however that many colors – especially darker ones – attain their true beauty from the look of the entire wall after being layered with several coats of paint.

Don’t be afraid to go ahead and paint the walls – paint is cheap. If you don’t like the way it looks you can always paint over it!

What To Do With The Furniture?

Should you buy new furniture? What if your old stuff is still good, should you have it re-upholstered? While budgetary concerns may dictate, you should evaluate the furniture for style and value versus the cost of the re-upholstering. If you are looking for a sleek modern style living room and your old sofa is a country style, you should probably consider buying new. If expense is a problem, take a trip to your local consignment store. You can buy like new furniture for a fraction of the cost and if your old stuff is still in good condition you can consign it and get some money for it to help pay for your new one.

What To Do With The Floors?

Decisions about floor designs should be based on your personal taste as well as your budget. Some flooring is extremely expensive and, although it may be the type that will look best with your design it may not be affordable, or even practical. When replacing flooring, you should always consider the use of the room and if the flooring will hold up well. A wood floor might be a bad choice for a kids playroom and will soon show the marks and wear of toys being slid across it. Carpeting might go well in the family room, but if you tend to eat in front of the TV you’ll want to be sure to get a stain resistant type.

Despite what you may think famous interior designers are not thin on the ground, and there are a great many of them gracing the halls of celebrity today. Another words, there are plenty of them who are making an excellent living at designing. We just haven’t heard of them and may never hear of them. They might not be as well known or as prolific as some artists and fashion designers are, but they do exist nevertheless. The reason for this almost unheard of fame can be solely attributed to the fact that interior design didn’t truly take off until the latter half of the 20th century.

In fact until the 20th century there weren’t necessarily any famous interior designers per se. Yes, there were famous interior designers for dissimilar era’s but fame as we infer it didn’t come until very newly when there was a flock of interest in all things DIY. And for those of us to don’t know what DIY is – it is short for Do It Yourself. And specifically refers to the TV Network. Hence, since interior decorating and some of its off shoots, can be reasoned to DIY that’s when the world really became aware of interior decorating. And it wasn’t until a few years after that that dissimilar interior designers started to make a name for themselves amongst the ecumenical public. Just like many things in our society it takes a while before it hits main stream. Things of this nature usually start with the rich and wealthy and then move on from there.

For the most part these famous interior designers gained their fame through the usual means of achieving fame, through the TV. They appeared in numerous Television home improvement programs, and they held numerous, televised DIY (Do It Yourself) programs and fundamentally got their face well recognized to the public. And that’s how famous interior designers of the last decade of the twentieth c achieved more than a meek fame.

There are of course more famous interior designers than the ones you see on TV. Others who might be television camera timid. And could very often be just as good as or even better at what they do than the more media savvy interior decorators. As I said earlier, there are sure to be a bundle in this category and we will never know about them. Ones who decorate the famous, such as George Clooney, Jerry Rice and the like.

Then there are the famous interior designers who have been about for what seems like forever and a day and who have made a family name for themselves through their relentless efforts. Yes, it isn’t all play, many times it is long hours to get to that place of fame.These interior decorators are much lauded in their world and are the pundits from whom the new generation of interior decorators learn their craft. Many of these “Old School” decorators if you will are now teaching their trade.

So as you look for the names of famous interior designers you need to understand and accept that you won’t be able to find all of them just because you look through interior magazines. Sometimes these famous interior designers like to keep their celebrity under raps. Working behind the scenes, so to speak, and enjoying life without all the paparazzi.

Famous interior designers aren’t host, but there are a sizable number of them, and they all have gifts of talent and one thing in common. They have a good eye for design and decorating and they can put together a room to make the very best out of all its features. Ok, so that was two things they all have in common! Just remember, you could one day walk right past a famous interior designer and not even know it

The color scheme which you choose to employ on your next interior design project can make all of the difference in the world in the way the room ends up feeling. Designers are often attracted to very mono-toned colors because it presents the eye with a very direct image. Using these big blocks of color, one can often set up a great mood of contrast that makes a room interesting and dramatic. Something to keep in mind, however, is that a room also has to be comfortable enough to spend time in. Making a room too dramatic will often make this quality harder to deal with.

Wood finishing can often give a great palate for anyone who is looking to set up color contrasts. The wood will often provide a deep and rich color whether it is of a dark or light grain. Finding colors to soften and balance this wood out can work well, through the use of lighter creams and whites. This can provide a nice balance to the richness of the wood and allow for one to feel as if a room is opening and welcoming to them.

Textures can be another great way to balance out the color scheme in a room. A texture can give the eye more to dwell on and it won’t let one focus on the often stark contrasts which can take place. This will help the room to soften up some and become more inviting to any guest who may enter it. Making guests feel welcome and comfortable is an important part of any design job and using this type of textured contrast will aid in this.

Plants are yet another way to bring more softness and comfort to any room. The color schemes in a room way work well even if they are too dramatic. Involving a number of plants, from fresh flowers, ferns, and even small trees can help to open up the space in a room. It will breathe some life into a room so even the most dramatic of spaces can feel as if it is more alive than a starkly contrasted room.

Using rugs in the space may help anyone to open up the floor in a way that can unite the rest of the room. The color of the area rugs which you may choose to use can either provide the contrast that you need to give the room vibrant energy or it can be a uniting factor between two contrasting colors, helping to bring the color into a harmonious union. Knowing how to use your color palate can help when you are setting up the drama of a room.

Taking the time to test out a color palate before determining exactly what colors you are going to go for can help you before you make a mistake. Instead of immediately buying pieces of furniture that you like, taking the time to examine the colors and contrasts in action can make you decide whether your initial design will actually work.

Interior Design Tips – How To Make Sure You Don’t Get It Really Wrong!

Discover the easy way to get an interior design scheme that actually works!

It is so difficult making sure that all the different aspects of your interior design scheme go well together… but don’t worry, you are not alone in this! Even professional interior designers can find it challenging to look at all the different parts of their design separately, and just ‘know’ that they will all look good together. That is why they always make sure they produce a ‘Sample Board’ – an excellent way of putting all your interior design ideas and samples together in one place. Then it is actually really easy to see whether all the colors, textures and styles look good together.

Whether or not your sample board is just for yourself at home, for a friend, family member, or even a professional client, you want to be sure your sample board is of a good professional standard. A neat, clear, well thought-out board will make your life easier, and will also help any tradesmen or contractors that you use for your project.

Create your sample board on a quality, sturdy piece of card. ‘A3′ is a good size, but do choose any size that seems right for your samples. It is nice to give them a little space around the edges, (at least 1cm all the way round) so that they don’t look too crammed in. I don’t know if A3 is a recognised paper size internationally, so it is approximately 30cmx 42cm in size. You can use it either ‘portrait’ or ‘landscape’. I find ‘portrait’ usually works best for my samples.

Using a paint color you wish to use in the room scheme, paint a background color on the card.

A sample board should show all of the chosen fabrics, paints, wallpapers and other finishes, to show them all together, as they would look in the finished room.

Cut the samples out neatly – ‘pinking shears’ or sharp dress-making scissors are a good idea.

Each sample should be a proportionate size, compared to how it will look in the room itself. Make the top left quarter of the board a wallpaper sample, (if using wallpaper), and the top right corner a curtain or blind sample. If you are choosing a new flooring, use about the bottom third of the board for the sample.

Then cut rectangles out of the sofa and chair fabric samples, for the center of the board. You can position smaller, square, cushion samples on top. Position them diagonally to look more like mini cushions.

You can use the small paint swatches off color cards to show your paint choices for walls and woodwork, and position these in an appropriate place on the board too.

Take a little time to get everything straight and very neat before gluing it down – spray adhesive is a good choice for paper samples. Use double-sided sticky tape for fabric samples.

It is a really good idea to label each of the samples clearly. Start with the flooring, and move around the board in a clockwise direction, for the numbering. I find small numbered stickers work well here. Then include a ‘key’ – usually in the bottom right hand corner (it can cover over some of the flooring sample, don’t worry). Create this on a small piece of white card and glue it on to your board.

On your key include the following information for a really professional finish:

Client name : (example) John Smith

Project: (example) Master Bedroom

Date: (example) 13 November 2007

Designer: Your name

Then include the ‘key’ part, which will identify each sample as ‘carpet’, ‘wallpaper for north wall’, ‘curtains’ etc.

1. Carpet

2. Sofa fabric.

3. Cushions.

4. Wallpaper for north wall.

5. Paint for skirting boards and door frames

…etc

If you have decided to create a few design choices or color schemes to choose from, create a separate sample board for each one.

Don’t worry if the samples for your room don’t fit the above guidelines exactly. They are only guidelines, and it is not an exact science. Just keep it all very neat and clear, and label everything. It will all be self explanatory anyone who looks at it.

I hope this has helped you create a stunning sample board for your planned interior design project. Don’t forget to view your sample board in the room for which it is intended, and under different lighting conditions, to get a realistic idea of how all your colors and samples will look in your room.

One of the most important decisions in your life is going to be the purchasing of a house that is going to be either just a house or a home. If your finances are extremely sound and you have the capacity to procure a well furnished house of your liking, well and good. Or maybe you would prefer to purchase a house and do all the interior decoration yourself. Again, well and good. But then you will have to choose an Interior Decorator to do the job for you, unless of course you know all the techniques of interior decorating and also have the capacity to do-it-yourself.

Now, unless you choose a really good Interior Decorator, you are going to find yourself in some difficult situations due to time and /or cost overruns. And these overruns can lead to a lot of stress, physical and/or mental. So to avoid such difficulties here are a few tips that you might try following before you finally decide on an Interior Decorator.

First Know What You Want

If you are going to lay out a substantial amount of money in interior decorating then it is best that you know just what you want. And the Internet is the best way to get this information. You could also get some good magazines or books. Check out your likes and dislikes and try not to deviate from them at a later date. Decide on the amount of money that you are prepared to spend and the amount of cost overrun that you can afford before you embark on your project. Another important factor is that of the time required to complete the project and the possible time overrun. These are very important decisions to be taken before setting out on your interior decorating job.

Discuss With A Number Of Decorators

Do not blindly hire an Interior Decorator just because he is highly rated nor just because he has been recommended by a relative or a close friend or acquaintance. Go through the samples of their work, they almost always have pictures of the work that they have done to show to you. But you may not like their work. Sometimes a small time Decorator might just have turned out the kind of decorating that you like. So interview a number of Interior Decorators before deciding on one.

Sit across the table and tell him your likes and dislikes that you did in the first place so that the Decorator understands your needs. Do not think that the Decorator is there to sell you something he has. Designing and decorating you house which is going to be your home is a great responsibility and also fun. It is one large creative work that you are going to execute in your life. Positive discussions with your Decorator will result in a positive decoration which will in turn give your home a positive atmosphere. If not it will just turn out that you have a house and not a home.

Also try as much as possible to have one person in the family talk directly to the Decorator.

The Decorator Is Not Responsible For Everything

You have to remember that the Decorator is not responsible for everything. Based on your ideas and the discussions that you have with him, the Interior Decorator prepares the drawings and once you have finalized them, the Decorator appoints the Contractors who are going to do the actual work and does the supervision and sees that the work is being done to the design. But if the Contractors are late or there is some delay in the delivery of materials, the Interior Decorator is not wholly responsible. You can ask him to contact the Contractor(s) responsible and sort out the bottleneck.

Try to follow the above general guide lines and you may get your interior decorating completed in a hassle free manner.

Interior Decorating Styles – Part Four – The Mid 19th and Late 19th Century

Obtaining information on your preferred decorating style will allow you to know why you like what you like. If you’ve ever gone furniture shopping and had difficulty expressing to the salesperson what style of sofa, bed, or whatever you wanted, the information gleaned in this series will help you.

In part four we will continue to look at a few of the decorative styles that became popular in the Mid 19th and Late 19th Century. This five part series on interior decorating styles will give you a good working knowledge of the contributions offered to the decorating industry.

In the Mid 19th Century the Eclectic style became vogue. The eclectic styles of the Mid 19th Century were rivals of popular styles from previous centuries that were talked about in the first three parts of the series. During the Mid 19th Century it was common to see different decorating styles in different rooms of the same house. And, that’s probably how your house is today. For example, I love 18th century furniture because I am very traditional at heart. Traditional is my preferred decorating style although, as a professional interior decorator, I definitely appreciate the beauty in all decorating styles. My master bedroom is decorated in the traditional style, but my living room is French inspired or French Provincial and that’s my favorite place to have a cup of coffee on a early Saturday morning. However, today, meaning in the 21st century, the eclectic style has come to mean showcasing different styles in the same room or space as opposed to different rooms in the same home. That is perfectly fine because style is essentially about creating a space that is uniquely yours and fits how you live.

During the Late 19th Century, it was still popular to use different historical or period styles of decorating in different rooms of the same house. In the late 19th century, eclectic meant, for instance, having a Medieval dining room, a Louis XV study, and maybe a Roccoco style parlor. In the late 1860s designers began to want to re-introduce a more streamline decorative style. They wanted to reduce the clutter of Victorian interiors. The two styles that were prevalent to this reaction to the Eclectic style were the Aesthetic and the Arts and Crafts styles. These were movements that arose to combat the cluttered look of the Eclectic style. Both of these styles, Aesthetic and Arts & Crafts, were primarily dependant on color and pattern rather than any particular architectural style. These styles could be applied to different types of homes because the shell of the house or architecture of the house was not as important.

The motifs and imagery on Aesthetic and Arts & Crafts style wall paper, tiles, and furniture were taken from Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, and Chinese influences, to name a few. The Aesthetic and Arts & Crafts style was identified by good craftsmanship. In the 1890s, Art Nouveau emerged in Europe and Britian. It peaked in popularity around the turn of the century, but by 1910 was not so popular anymore. Two new style paths were taken. One was based on very elegant, elongated, linear forms with tight, precise floral ornament. The other was composed of wild, flowing, curvy elements characterized by splashes of lines. So, they were very much on opposite ends of the spectrum. During this time stenciled decoration was used again. The colors chosen were olive, sage green and mustard, including browns, lilacs, violets, and muted purples. Window treatments were simple with curtains made of plain or multi-patterned fabrics or sometimes window treatments were not used at all.

In the fifth and final part of this series on interior decorating styles we will briefly discuss the 20th and 21st Century.

©Rena Bullard 2010This article may be reprinted, in its entirety, with copyright information.

The temperature is sizzling and what better time to bring the cool beach breeze into your home décor. If you love the beach but can’t get there as often as you like, then bring the beach to your own home.

What color do you think of when you think of the beach? If you said blue, you are right. Blue is the color of the deep ocean, blue is the color of the perfect sky and blue is a color that will make you feel cool regardless of the temperature. Consider painting this beachy color on your living room, bedroom or bathroom walls. Colors that will work well are, Ebb tide, Open Seas and Vast Sky, by Sherwin Williams, the names alone will tell you what inspires them.

Cool down your home this summer with shades and textures that create a vista of calm. Feel as though you are on vacation all year long. You don’t have to pack your bags and drive several hundred miles to reach your vacation spot, simply create it in your own home with simple, easy and affordable quick changes. You will be surprised what you can accomplish in a weekend.

Changing out your fabrics will evoke a day at the beach. Consider slip covering your sofa and chairs in a sandy beige. Toss in some throw pillows in a fabric with a shell motif.

Nothing looks fresher in the summer than a light fabric at the windows. Choose a white or sandy beige fabric. Tab top panels also work well, many will have a button at the tab, consider gluing a shell on top of the button. The result is quite fresh and very easy to do. Shells can be found at most craft stores or simply stroll down the beach if you are lucky enough to live by the sea. Strands of small shells can also be used to create a valance effect on a simple panel. The result is the unexpected.

Switch out your art for oceanscapes or fish motif prints. Create your own wall décor with large star fish, ceramic fish and large shells.

Create an inexpensive coffee table. Purchase two large garden urns, fill with sand, place shells in the sand and top with a piece of glass. This is a very fast and affordable answer for a very unique look.

Going on vacation to the beach is a very relaxing getaway, but vacations come to an end, so why not create that vacation feeling everyday in your own home. Our homes are the place where we should be able to find peace and solace. I invite you to create that place in your own home.

If you are looking for your look and your style for your interior design project you should read this article. It will define a few of the basic styles of interior design and possibly give you some ideas about what style is for you.

One style of design is Modern design. With Modern design sleekness and straight lines are emphasized. Furniture, doors, etc are basic without unnecessary decorations and adornments. Another style of decorating is called Traditional. With Traditional design the style is much more elegant with rich wood finishes and more intricate wood work. Country style is a third type of design style which has simple design with distressed woods or lightly stained woods. The style is very friendly without any fancy or flashy decoration. Yet another design style is called Southwest. With this style you often have stucco or even adobe walls on the home with tile roofs. You often also see unfinished wood log type furniture and native Indian upholstery prints. This just scratches the surface of the different design styles available for more information do an internet search on interior design styles. You will see that there are more styles than you might think. The actual list of all the available styles goes on and on.

Determining the style of decoration that suits you best is the most important thing to do before beginning a design project. Do some research and look at examples so you can find what you like the best. You can then go forward with your design project.