Redesigning a space can be an overwhelming project. There are so many choices out there from fabrics, to furniture, to carpeting, to paint colors and more. You may be interested in hiring an interior designer, but you may not know the process or where to start.
It all begins with the floor plan. A floor plan is a scaled-down drawing of the room. By having a floor plan you will have a clear idea of where everything will be placed and exactly what sizes will fit. Usually there are a few different ways to layout furniture in a room. You should discuss all of the options with the designer and come up with a plan that works for both of you.
You will know what size area rug and how many fabrics you will need based on the floor plan. Are there two sofas and one chair? If so, will you need a square or rectangular rug? Will the sofas be the same fabric and a different fabric on the chairs? What about leather?
Are there 4 or 5 chairs arranged in a circular way around a large ottoman? If that is the case you could use a round area rug which limits your choices. All of the chairs could be a different fabric for a contemporary look. If it's a bedroom, what size bed will you need? Can you fit a dresser? Will you use an area rug or wall to wall carpeting? So you can see, the floor plan is crucial and will help you make these important decisions.
So let's forget furniture for a moment. The next step is to think about the overall look/ feel you want in the space. Is it formal, casual, contemporary, traditional? A light look or a dramatic feel? What colors do you envision for the space? Usually a good place to start to get your color scheme going is by selecting the area rug or the main fabric being used. The reason behind this is because fabrics and ready made area rugs have predetermined patterns and colors in them. (If you are having a custom area rug made, that's another story.. we'll get into that in a minute).
Let's say you find a great fabric you love and want to use it somewhere in the space- whether it's for a sofa, window treatment, or just pillows. The main color for the walls and also the colors of the other fabrics in the room can all be taken from that fabric. The same idea works if you start with the area rug.
If you are having trouble matching your fabric to a patterned rug, you still have options. You can do a more solid or tone-on-tone pattern for the main part of the rug (the field) and use one or two of the colors in the fabric as a border around it.
The other option is to have a custom rug made. Some companies offer standard designs and your designer can specify the colors. Sort of like those old paint by numbers puzzles.. The beauty of this is you can have the exact blue, green or yellow that is in your fabric, in the rug so you are sure to have a coordinated look.
Of course you can always have a totally custom rug specifically designed just for you- not using a standard design. This can be especially nice if you have wall to wall carpeting. You can have a border around the whole room following every angle and add some decorative elements within the field. Custom carpeting almost always has to be done on curved staircases and angled hallways.
If you are having a house built it's important to get the interior designer on board as soon as possible. It can be as early as the preliminary floor plans. A designer can make suggestions on where walls can be placed or taken out, and where wall and floor outlets and lighting can be placed. These issues are important to discuss before the house gets built because they can be costly mistakes to fix if done incorrectly.
Interior designers have a different eye than architects. Sometimes a designer will notice things that an architect might not necessarily see. Such as, where windows are placed in relation to the interior space. It can look great from the outside, but you may not be able to fit a bed in the room because there are windows and doors breaking up every wall. Also maybe the designer will have different suggestions on the configuration of closets and bathrooms based on how you use the spaces. Maybe you don't need that extra powder room on the first floor- let's make it a pantry for the kitchen, or a closet, or take it out completely and add some square footage to the room.
Once the plans are approved and building starts, you can be working with your designer in the meantime on floor plans and ordering furniture. This way, by the time it takes for the house to be done, most of the furniture can be ready to be delivered.
Another situation that people get into when they are having a house built without consulting a designer is picking paint colors. Sometimes you get so caught up in the process of building the home and all the issues that come up, that you get stuck at the end when the builder is ready to paint and they are asking you for the colors.
Most people think paint is the first step to decorating when actually it is one of the last things selected! But if your contractor is really after you for those colors and you have not started working with a designer, you can't go wrong if you stick to neutrals like light taupes, beiges, whites and camels. This way you will have an easier time matching them when you are ready to decorate later on. These neutrals can also make nice base colors to faux paint on top of later on.
If you are planning on taking some of your previous furniture to the new home, you can bring a pillow or arm sleeve from a sofa (any fabrics from the room) to your designer to help you select a color for that room.
So let's say you don't have a blank slate to work with. You have a few pieces already and just need some "finishing touches"- a few end tables, some artwork, a mirror, window treatments, lamps, etc.. The best place to start is with the floor plan and color scheme as mentioned before and everything else will follow that. If a sofa and chair are mismatched you can think about reupholstering either one or both of them instead of buying new.
The important thing to remember is that your designer is there to guide you. They will weed out the wrong choices for the room and only show you what works. If you follow these tips you'll be well on your way to making a beautiful and functional space!
5/30/07
5/22/07
Window Treatments Defined
Without a window treatment, a room looks unfinished- like it's missing something. A window treatment does wonders for warming up a space and giving the rest of your decor that beautiful finishing touch it's crying out for.
Some things to consider when selecting a window treatment are the overall feeling a room has and the look you want to convey. Is the room style formal or casual? Contemporary, traditional or somewhere in between? Another thing to think about is, at night the glass itself on the window looks "black" which can give a cold feeling to the room- check it out tonight. Also, if you have neighbors close by, chances are they can see right into your home when your interior lights are on. You might not be able to see them if it's dark out, but they can see you!
A window treatment has 2 parts: the part that gives you privacy and light control, and the decorative part. Let's first start by talking about privacy and light control.
It's totally up to you whether you think you need this part and if you do, to what degree. Furniture fading may not be an issue to you. You may be comfortable with the bare glass showing. Maybe you have great architectural details on the molding that you don't want to hide. Maybe you have a great view. Maybe you don't have any neighbors nearby. Maybe you don't mind the "black" glass at night. It's all up to you- you're the one living there!
Blinds and shades have come a long way so there are many options in this category. If you want some privacy, but you still want day light to come through the window, you could install a sheer or semi-sheer drapery or a honeycomb or pleated shade.
Some things to consider when selecting a window treatment are the overall feeling a room has and the look you want to convey. Is the room style formal or casual? Contemporary, traditional or somewhere in between? Another thing to think about is, at night the glass itself on the window looks "black" which can give a cold feeling to the room- check it out tonight. Also, if you have neighbors close by, chances are they can see right into your home when your interior lights are on. You might not be able to see them if it's dark out, but they can see you!
A window treatment has 2 parts: the part that gives you privacy and light control, and the decorative part. Let's first start by talking about privacy and light control.
It's totally up to you whether you think you need this part and if you do, to what degree. Furniture fading may not be an issue to you. You may be comfortable with the bare glass showing. Maybe you have great architectural details on the molding that you don't want to hide. Maybe you have a great view. Maybe you don't have any neighbors nearby. Maybe you don't mind the "black" glass at night. It's all up to you- you're the one living there!
Blinds and shades have come a long way so there are many options in this category. If you want some privacy, but you still want day light to come through the window, you could install a sheer or semi-sheer drapery or a honeycomb or pleated shade.
Sheers give you a diffused view of the outside- depending on the opacity of the fabric. With honeycomb or pleated shades, they are either up or down. If you want to see outside, you have to pull the shade up.
Some shades have a sheer material over them. They work like standard blinds in that you can close the vanes for privacy, but when they are in the open position, there is a sheer fabric in front. The advantage to this shade is that there will always be some type of covering on the window in the down and open position.
Relatively new are horizontal blinds made out of a fabric-like material. They open and close as wood or metal blinds do, but the material the vanes are made out of allows light to pass through in the closed position. The advantage to this type of shade is, when it's closed you get a soft diffused light coming through the material (as opposed to a more opaque look that a wood blind, shutter or horizontal blind would give you) and when it's open, you can see right outside eliminating the need to have to pull it up.
There are different levels of light control with each type of shade. Some offer room darkening as an option. Be careful though- room darkening is different from total blackout. With a room darkening shade, you will still see some light peeking through the vanes when they are closed. Wood blinds, metal blinds, shutters and others will do this.
For someone who needs it to be hotel-room dark for them to sleep, this would not be the way to go. If total darkness is what you need, you must specify that you want a blackout lining.
Now we'll discuss the decorative part. Again there are many options here!
Some window treatments combine both the privacy/ light control component and the decorative part. For example:
balloon shades, roman shades,
woven materials, draw draperies and more.
The shades can be pulled up and down to give you privacy and block the light when you need to. Draperies or vertical blinds can be pulled to one side, or open from the middle of the window. The decorative part is the shade itself, or the drapery itself- the fabrics and trims used are what make these treatments not only functional but beautiful.
A lot of clients have the concern that a decorative valance (top treatment) will block too much of their window, covering up the glass. That doesn't have to be the case. As long as the bottom of the valance hides the top rail of the shade or sheer curtain, you should be fine.
In other words, as long as you have enough room above the window to the ceiling, you could hang a valance 10" or more above the molding, blocking only a small amount of the window.
Shown below are just a few of the many styles of valances there are out there. They are: swags and jabots, a cornice with roman shade underneath, and a kingston valance over sheers.
Swags and jabots tend to be more formal and traditional- depending on the fabrics used. A cornice is a cleaner more contemporary look. A kingston valance can be casual or formal depending again on the fabrics.
I hope this was a helpful guide for you the next time you're in need of a window treatment!
5/18/07
Design shows- good or evil?
I guess people are getting more of a sense of the profession of interior design by the media.
There are so many do it yourself, re-design, makeover and real estate shows out there now that are really making everyone more aware of design. They are good in that way, but there are some not so good things about them.
1. It's so easy to do- anyone can do it!
I realize it's not rocket science but there's a lot more to interior design than putting this pillow here and that fake plant there. Even if you're on a budget, getting an interior designer's help is worth every penny- even if it's just for a consultation.
A designer can help you avoid costly mistakes for one thing (buying furniture that's too big for the room, painting the wrong color, putting the wrong type of carpeting on steps...). They have access to resources a consumer might not necessarily have (furniture manufacturers, lighting companies, accessories, flooring, custom furniture makers, antiques, art consultants...). They have a unique eye for things such as rearranging a floor plan, what type of window treatment would help finish off the space, what architectural details would enhance the feel of the home, etc..
2. The quick fix- you have 2 days (or less) to makeover 2 rooms!! Let's see what we can come up with for under $500!
Hey, that's great- I'm not saying anything bad about having budgets or time constraints. If the design is a good one you can spend a little in a short amount of time and make it look like a million bucks. But the outcome on some of these shows are just so ridiculous!
Do you ever notice the paint job itself? Even the roller they're using? The window treatments are skimpy, if even there at all.. Not only that- I've seen a few hosts of these shows take stuff out of the peoples backyards (trash cans, flower pots) to use as end tables etc.. I mean, come on! I realize a budget is a budget but how far do you want to go to save a few bucks?? and don't even get me started on Hildi and Doug from Trading Spaces!!!
My problem with those types of shows is it's not reality (what reality show is though?). They do outrageous things for ratings- I get that, but more importantly, they are sacrificing good design. In that way they make interior design seem like a joke.
I do like some of the design shows out there, I admit. The following are closer to how interior designers really work- not totally, but pretty close:
Designers Challenge- good for showing the design process, interesting to see 3 designers perspectives of the same room
Designing for the Sexes- good show about compromise, which designers deal with a lot- not just between husbands and wives, but between designer and client. Also with materials selection, window treatment styles, space planning etc...
Trading Spaces (only Laurie's work. The end result of her work looks so much more sophisticated and finished than the other designers', and she has the same time restraints and budget.. go figure. Vern is OK too. I don't even know if they are on the show anymore. I haven't watched it in years...)
Hidden Potential- shows how redesigning a space can make it more functional and attractive to potential home buyers
Designed to Sell- shows what a difference the details make when you are trying to sell your home
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Design shows have their benefits but they also don't always depict the true nature of what an interior designer can do for you.
People should watch them for their entertainment value (which I think most people do) and maybe get some ideas from them, and then go out and hire a professional Interior Designer!!
There are so many do it yourself, re-design, makeover and real estate shows out there now that are really making everyone more aware of design. They are good in that way, but there are some not so good things about them.
1. It's so easy to do- anyone can do it!
I realize it's not rocket science but there's a lot more to interior design than putting this pillow here and that fake plant there. Even if you're on a budget, getting an interior designer's help is worth every penny- even if it's just for a consultation.
A designer can help you avoid costly mistakes for one thing (buying furniture that's too big for the room, painting the wrong color, putting the wrong type of carpeting on steps...). They have access to resources a consumer might not necessarily have (furniture manufacturers, lighting companies, accessories, flooring, custom furniture makers, antiques, art consultants...). They have a unique eye for things such as rearranging a floor plan, what type of window treatment would help finish off the space, what architectural details would enhance the feel of the home, etc..
2. The quick fix- you have 2 days (or less) to makeover 2 rooms!! Let's see what we can come up with for under $500!
Hey, that's great- I'm not saying anything bad about having budgets or time constraints. If the design is a good one you can spend a little in a short amount of time and make it look like a million bucks. But the outcome on some of these shows are just so ridiculous!
Do you ever notice the paint job itself? Even the roller they're using? The window treatments are skimpy, if even there at all.. Not only that- I've seen a few hosts of these shows take stuff out of the peoples backyards (trash cans, flower pots) to use as end tables etc.. I mean, come on! I realize a budget is a budget but how far do you want to go to save a few bucks?? and don't even get me started on Hildi and Doug from Trading Spaces!!!
My problem with those types of shows is it's not reality (what reality show is though?). They do outrageous things for ratings- I get that, but more importantly, they are sacrificing good design. In that way they make interior design seem like a joke.
I do like some of the design shows out there, I admit. The following are closer to how interior designers really work- not totally, but pretty close:
Designers Challenge- good for showing the design process, interesting to see 3 designers perspectives of the same room
Designing for the Sexes- good show about compromise, which designers deal with a lot- not just between husbands and wives, but between designer and client. Also with materials selection, window treatment styles, space planning etc...
Trading Spaces (only Laurie's work. The end result of her work looks so much more sophisticated and finished than the other designers', and she has the same time restraints and budget.. go figure. Vern is OK too. I don't even know if they are on the show anymore. I haven't watched it in years...)
Hidden Potential- shows how redesigning a space can make it more functional and attractive to potential home buyers
Designed to Sell- shows what a difference the details make when you are trying to sell your home
I guess what I'm trying to say is that Design shows have their benefits but they also don't always depict the true nature of what an interior designer can do for you.
People should watch them for their entertainment value (which I think most people do) and maybe get some ideas from them, and then go out and hire a professional Interior Designer!!
5/16/07
I ask you, what is interior design??
Recently I saw an article on my MSN homepage that was titled "10 things your interior designer won't tell you". http://obiakpere.blogspot.com/2007/04/10-things-your-interior-designer-wont.html
As I'm reading it I'm thinking "oh my god, I might be out of a career!" If people actually believed what they read there it was sure to happen.
(Basically this is what made me want to write about interior design. It may sound stupid that an article like that would make me want to start a blog of my own, but it's true).
So I thought... I want to write a letter!! (yes, I'm one of those.) So when I finally had time to sit down and actually figure out that I wanted to do this blog thing, I did a search- see above- and I found the article!!! Now I could respond! and I did of course, but as I said, I wanted to start an article of my own.
Being an interior designer, it's a little bit difficult to take myself away from the world of art/ design/ creativity and think about how others see this field.
So I ask everyone what I've been wondering... what do you think of when you hear the word interior designer?
Speaking of residential designers (designing peoples homes as opposed to restaurants, hotels, commercial offices etc..):
I think of someone who could help rearrange a room, make it more organized, efficient, functional, while at the same time, asthetically pleasing.
Someone with the knowledge/ background that is qualified to make suggestions on space planning, color, lighting, fabric, furniture, carpet, tile, wall covering etc.
Someone who will take into consideration-a client's personal taste/ style, the use of the space, the functionality of everything used in the space , the end user (is there a pet? a drooling 1 year old? a teenager?), the flow from 1 room to the other (even if only designing one room at the moment).
Is that what everyone else thinks? Not neccesarily..
I think most people think all interior designers are out for your money. That they'll design your room in thier personal style not yours, and it will cost a fortune. That they can do the same or better on thier own without any help.
But maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.
In my next blogs I'll name some interior design myths and explain the reality.. In the mean time I'd like to ask again, what do you think of when you hear the word interior designer?
As I'm reading it I'm thinking "oh my god, I might be out of a career!" If people actually believed what they read there it was sure to happen.
(Basically this is what made me want to write about interior design. It may sound stupid that an article like that would make me want to start a blog of my own, but it's true).
So I thought... I want to write a letter!! (yes, I'm one of those.) So when I finally had time to sit down and actually figure out that I wanted to do this blog thing, I did a search- see above- and I found the article!!! Now I could respond! and I did of course, but as I said, I wanted to start an article of my own.
Being an interior designer, it's a little bit difficult to take myself away from the world of art/ design/ creativity and think about how others see this field.
So I ask everyone what I've been wondering... what do you think of when you hear the word interior designer?
Speaking of residential designers (designing peoples homes as opposed to restaurants, hotels, commercial offices etc..):
I think of someone who could help rearrange a room, make it more organized, efficient, functional, while at the same time, asthetically pleasing.
Someone with the knowledge/ background that is qualified to make suggestions on space planning, color, lighting, fabric, furniture, carpet, tile, wall covering etc.
Someone who will take into consideration-a client's personal taste/ style, the use of the space, the functionality of everything used in the space , the end user (is there a pet? a drooling 1 year old? a teenager?), the flow from 1 room to the other (even if only designing one room at the moment).
Is that what everyone else thinks? Not neccesarily..
I think most people think all interior designers are out for your money. That they'll design your room in thier personal style not yours, and it will cost a fortune. That they can do the same or better on thier own without any help.
But maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong.
In my next blogs I'll name some interior design myths and explain the reality.. In the mean time I'd like to ask again, what do you think of when you hear the word interior designer?
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