Sunday, February 10, 2013
A Misunderstood Profession: Interior Design
Define your career. If you are a doctor, you diagnose and treat peoples' ailments. If you are a hairdresser, you cut, colour, perm, and style hair. If you are a police officer, you uphold the law, investigate crimes, and in general protect the citizens of the district in which you work. Most careers can be at least briefly described by almost anyone. If you have one of those careers, you are very lucky.
Before I entered the work force and opened my own design firm, I never would have imagined that I would be getting calls to mend curtains, remove stains from carpets, find out why one bulb in a chandelier will not work... I am an interior designer -- I design interiors; but I can recommend a seamstress, carpet cleaning company, electrician... Then the dreaded question comes, "What do you mean you design interiors?"
Once-upon-a-time-ago I thought that to be an easy question to answer. Somehow, I now find it easier to explain to a child why the grass is green.
Rather than trying to define interior design, I have taken to explaining the process of designing an interior.
I analyze, ask questions, draw, review the budget, draw some more while asking more questions. Slowly, what started off as sketches develop into floor plans and other technical drawings. Some of the drawings get coloured in. I help my clients make informed decisions regarding the use of space, materials, products, colour, lighting, layout, construction methods, other professionals... The drawings/plans then go to contractors and specialty contractors. I review the submitted process with my clients -- one submission is higher, but that is not necessarily bad because the others are each missing things. A contractor is selected, the contract signed and the work begins; I'll be there routinely while the work is in progress. I basically act as a representative on my clients' behalf, as well as a protector to my own design. Time schedules are reviewed frequently, problems that arise are handled in such a way that my clients may later know the solution but not the headache involved to understand and work out the problem. The work is wrapping up, only the finishing touches are left but I am already preparing a list of things that have to be finished, repaired or touched-up.
What had been a noisy, dirty, smelly construction site has now fallen quiet and already been cleaned. I walk around looking at and examining the full-size, real thing of all the drawings I had done weeks, if not months, ago. Back at the office, I edit the deficiency list started a few days before and send it to the contractor and clients. The job is soon completely finished, but my work is still not done.
My clients call, happy with the finished space. There are some last minute questions concerning maintenance of some of the new items, where to find certain decorative things and accessories that suddenly have importance, placement of these things, and so on.
About two months later those clients are likely to call again. The voice on the other end sounds either a bit annoyed or even slightly panicked. The tile grout is crack in one area on one wall. It's probably just because everything has had the time to settle; I'll come by to see it, then contact the contractor.
Define my career. I am an interior designer. I am an analyst, an artist, an educator, an interrogator, a project manager, a site supervisor, a purchaser, a space planner, a specifier, a decorator, a technician, a draftsperson, a troubleshooter...
But can I help a client plan an outdoor project? Can I design a cabana or gazebo for a client's yard? Can I design custom furniture or lighting? Work with other professionals to provide technical drawings for things that do not fall into the scope of work of an interior designer? Work with clients and their real estate agent to help in the selection of the perfect home or commercial space to meet their needs? Provide consultation services to do-it-yourselfers? Handle the enlargement of a building? Work on new constructions as well as renovations? Plan the enlargement or relocation of a kitchen or washroom? Do I know the building code? Can I help obtain renovation permits from the municipality? Design spaces for use by people with physical disabilities?... Yes, and more.
In a rush, I sometimes describe interior design as the career that fills the gap between architect and decorator, but the accuracy in that statement is something even I have debated. So I am still left without a solid definition of my own career.
Karen S. Weiner is the owner and principal interior designer of Idealspace Design in Montreal, Quebec (Canada), since 1997. Karen has had many articles on design and decor published both in print and on-line. http://www.idealspacedesign.com
Reinventing the Color Wheel Interior Design
You may wonder what color wheel interior design means when you think about redecorating or decorating your house or someone else's home. When decorating an interior, it is important to understand how to use this wheel while considering color codes and schemes for the interior. In any part of the house, one of the biggest segments of decoration is painting of the house, which may not seem like a very big deal, but is!
Use colors correctly:
In a color based interior design, all you are doing is using a palette of various colors, which need to be used in the right proportion. Color wheel decorating is just like placing decorations within the room. It can be used in different ways. To pull the look of the room together you can used different shades of a color or use various different color combos. As you come towards the end of the project you will see that everything blends nicely, even if you use such vastly varying hues for different things.
If you don't know how it can be a big factor of decoration, research on how the color based interior design goes hand in hand with the rest of the interior designing endeavor and you will automatically understand the essentials of color wheel decoration. When you don't want to do too much, don't want to be overwhelming or want to decorate the room without taking too much of space, then the color wheel interior design suits you great. By this technique, you can be overwhelmed though, but in a more sophisticated way. It becomes important to consider the type of colors and how many colors you intend using.
Shouldn't be too much for the room:
By just using the color based interior design it is possible to have a large amount of decoration in the room and yet give it a spacious air. The difference between using this design and the solid paint color will certainly amaze you. One thing that should be kept in mind is that it should not be too much for the room. Make sure it fits well within the existent decoration of the room.
Without doing too much, it is a great way to include complex decorations in your home. The importance of color and paint can be played upon by including the wheel of color in your home. Without becoming garish, you can have a color wheel interior design that is quite elaborate, and without using too much of space, this can be a great choice for interior decorating. A room decorated with such a design can look more decorated and more complex than other contemporary options.
You may not always get what you want, but you can find what you need on color wheel interior design, be sure to read my reviews at Home-Decorating-Reviews.com
What To Expect When You Hire An Interior Designer
Despite the common assumption that using the services of a professional interior designer is unaffordable to most of us, choosing this option can offer savings in the long run. But have you ever wondered what's involved in the entire process of house interior design?
Phase one involves gathering and analyzing information and making all the necessary preparations before starting the actual design job. You must formulate a detailed home interior design program that will be customized towards your individual needs and objectives, as well as the size and relationship between spaces and a host of other considerations that will affect how you live in your home. If you hire an interior designer for the job, he or she will analyze your home and determine the best positioning of the furniture and spaces within to capture views and sunlight. During this first phase, the budget and schedule will also be estimated.
The second phase goes under the sign of conceptual brainstorming and exploration. It starts with the creation of a concept diagram of the house interior and several rough design sketches. During this period, designers (hired by you) will come up with the general layout, form and overall appearance of the house's interior. When the layout, size and character of the house are refined, designers focus on the different interior elements such as stairs, fireplaces, cabinetry, and built-in furniture. To help describe some of the important technical details, different drawings will be prepared. Once this stage is finished, 70 to 80 percent of the actual house interior design work will be finished.
The next phase is called Construction Documentation and during this period, the house interior design is translated into a technical language used by the contractor. Working Drawings and specifications are made that outline in detail all of the materials that will be used, where they will be positioned and how they will be installed. Despite the fact that this stage is mostly intended for working out the technical aspects of the project, some design work also takes place. Furthermore, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, and finish materials such as carpet, paint colors and tile are also selected.
In the Bidding and Negotiation phase, you will receive bids from different contractors that will do the actual work. The designers you work with have a list of contractors for hire. You will be able to review their bids and negotiate the different proposals.
The last phase of the house interior design process is the actual making (construction). During this stage, interior designers will answer questions, review submittals and shop drawings and review monthly certificates of payment that are submitted by the contractor. The very final selections of fixtures and finishes are also done here. Once this stage is completed, the entire house will be thoroughly inspected to guarantee that everything is done as it should.
Richard Mitchell owns and operates [http://www.interiordesignessentials.com] Interior Design [http://www.interiordesignessentials.com] where you can learn more about the basics of interior design.
Kitchen Interior Design - What to Consider
Changing the Cabinets
One of the features that can improve the interior design of your kitchen is the way the cabinets are designed and also the way that they are used. If your cabinets are too small for adequate storage for your kitchen implements, causing pile-ups of pots and pans, then a redesign may be imminent. For instance, when planning the interior design of your kitchen, you may want to choose the use of deep drawers in which to store pots and pans. This allows for easy access as opposed to having to hunker down and peer inside those dark spaces of the cabinets.
Is The Lighting Adequate?
Do you enjoy cooking, but find yourself frustrated because you end up straining your eyes in the kitchen? Then the interior design of your kitchen should include a drastic change in the area of lighting. By identifying areas where your kitchen is too dim, you can then decide where to place task lighting to brighten your kitchen chores. A little light to shine on you will make a big difference in your mood while cooking a meal or even simply while cleaning up the dishes.
The Kitchen Layout
For those who are especially motivated, you may want to review the interior design of your kitchen and launch into a total change of the layout. For instance, perhaps your galley-style kitchen may be space-efficient, but it's lacking in space if you want to have multiple cooks in the kitchen. In this case, changing the interior design of your kitchen might incorporate finding a way to increase the space in the room by upgrading to a more open area that will accommodate more people.
Little Touches
While the study interior design of your kitchen should entail your need for ample space, sometimes it's only the appearance that needs attention. For instance, if you decide to stay with your smaller kitchen, the use of lighter colors will make the area appear brighter and more open than say, a wallpaper pattern using dark colors.
Interior design of kitchens will certainly take into account the psychological aspects such as the effects of colors. And this can lead you to make a number of changes in the decoration of your kitchen. No matter if you make large changes or small ones, review the interior design of your kitchen and if you're not happy with it, and take steps towards a more comfortable space. You deserve to feel comfortable in this most-used room in your house.
You can also find more info on corporate interior design [http://interiordesignbliss.com/interior-design/corporate-interior-design-what-matters]. Interiordesignbliss.com is a comprehensive resource which provide information about interior designs.
Library Interior Design Planning
Library interior design or architecture requires detailed planning before plans are drawn. Interior designers can facilitate the planning process if they are skilled in communication and knowledge of the function of a library. The needs of the library patrons must be adhered to when planning the design.
It is important for designers involved in library interior design to be aware of the ambience that the library must convey to its visitors. Many bookstores feature nice comfortable chairs and coffee service enticing visitors to stay longer. In the past, libraries were very sterile and uninviting for many people, especially the younger crowd. How does the modern library compete with the bookstore? The interior designer must use their knowledge of construction and design along with their marketing skills to design a library that can bring in all ages and compete with the modern bookstore/coffee shop.
Some areas the designer may focus on are lighting, acoustics and signage. Library interior design involves designing for different age groups, people who are there for study or research purposes and people who just want to relax with friends and read the paper. Everyone must easily access all products and services offered by the library. Work areas for staff must be ergonomic and functional. Areas for children should include hands on play areas and quiet reading areas for parents and children. The entire facility should be modern and fun. The designer will need to include areas for computer use as well.
An important aspect of library interior design involves the selection of furniture. The furniture must be durable and comfortable. If the library has a set budget, the designer will need to pay close attention to it when selecting furniture. The interior designer will need call on all their supplier contacts to source out the best possible deal for the library in order to stay under budget. There are also commercial manufacturers that design furniture specifically for libraries and other commercial buildings. Interior designers or architects can select standard furniture and then add a custom feature to it to fit the needs of the library design project. Commercial furniture is manufactured to withstand heavy use.
Another aspect of library interior design is a theft detection system must be installed in a strategic location. Staff should have the ability to easily exit from their desk if the theft alarm sounds as well. Other factors involved in the design of the library are related to the specific procedures and policies in place by the library. This is when the interior designer must use their communication skills to plan the design. It can be quite costly to correct mistakes.
Interior designers involved in a library interior design plan, should interview staff members of the library to gain insight into the needs of the staff plus the design of the staff work areas and furniture such as a staff desk. Once the designer has obtained information from the staff, they should then prepare some drawings for staff to review. If the project is quite large then perhaps a mock desk or model could be made for staff to review. Library interior design is one of the many niche areas of designers come across in their professional careers.
Thinking of a career in Interior Design? Use our site as a valuable reference point for niche interior design ideas such as Library Interior Design by T.D. Houser