Interior Designers Make Homes Beautiful To Live In
The professionalism of an interior designer would reflect in the handiwork. Regardless of whether a home has ten bedrooms, or an eight hundred square...
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If advice is sought on a gamut of aspects of interior decoration from how a space can be used effectively or whether rearranging pieces of existing furniture should suffice or how the interior of a new home needs to be decorated to what type of furnishings and decor would be suitable, professional home designers and decorators are adept at providing the perfect solution and therefore should be consulted.
Good home decorators would be able to sharpen a particular motif or style to a point which would reflect the essence, while choosing a layout that works and looks and feels natural. Interior design companies are flexible in terms of their involvement in client projects as they are guided by what the client needs. Most clients hiring an interior decorator, those who remodel in particular, know what type of products to use to make a room visually appealing.
More often than not clients would urge that interior designers use in-house products. The exception to the norm would be when the home is bought or built recently. The designer would then need to begin fresh. An interior designer would know the exact needs of the client including rooms that need to be arranged, lay tiles, choose carpet and colors, and being able to locate furniture complementing all of it.
Occasionally that would mean recruiting other interior decorators that would assist in creating the ultimate look after renovation. Professionals who complement what the interior designer does include architects and building designers, general contractors, home builders, custom-design firms and last but not the least, photographers.
Thorough research should be conducted prior to meeting an interior decorator. Optimum and effective utilization of space should be of prime consideration. Three things need to be ascertained. Firstly, the extent of assistance, guidance, suggestion or advice needed from interior decorators. Secondly, the aspects of interior decoration that is mandatory and finally, the scope of interior decoration that can actually be achieved with a limited budget. With all these factors taken into consideration, services of an interior designer could add up in no time.
Therefore it would be prudent to being frank and honest with a prospective design firm or a freelancer at the outset. An interior decorator ought to be chosen that would conform to a particular style. Browsing portfolios of various interior decorator firms would be of help in deciding as to whether or not one would want to live in a similar house. If a house looks beautiful in a picture does not necessarily mean that one would be comfortable living in a similar house. Hence as they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
First, in our case, was a long search for suitable, interesting and practical lighting for the recent expansion of my client's laundry/service porch in the little house in Pasadena. One of the problems we had to overcome was the long pathway from the backyard and garage through the service porch, anticipating the carrying of ladders or other utility objects through the space; and the height of any type of lighting other than recessed, had to be considered. The original light in the service porch was a typical bulb covered by a glass globe of the 1930s, which hung down about six to eight inches from the ceiling. With the new addition, the contractor installed a recessed light, so the inner workings of the two ceiling lights were quite different. This was not a problem for an electrician or a handy husband.
The proper adaptations for the "find" of the day a few months ago at the Rose Bowl, were two old, and a bit rusted, fluted funnel cake pans. These old pans would be a nod to the age of the house in the new space, so it would not feel so brand new. The cake pans cost three dollars apiece, and we were notably thrilled with the idea and cost. Unknown to us until just recently, the very same idea at the HD Buttercup showroom on the west side of Los Angeles. The price was significantly more-to the tune of $175 each! While we were a bit disappointed to find "our" idea used, we were delighted in the "savings".
The light above the kitchen sink was constructed out of a an ordinary kitchen colander, cute, easy and not particularly original, but it feels right in the space.
The next special find, came from an estate sale, where we located three large chess pieces; of the three my daughter wanted the knight, so handsome with his curly mane; next was the king who was particularly handsome, and we decided he would stand tall on a fireplace mantle or hearth. The third and final piece was the rook. I immediately identified him as a perfect lamp base. I knew my clever husband would have no problem drilling a hole in the top and out the side to run a cord, but it was up to me to find all the various pieces-and I did. The lamp is the best of all three pieces, starting off as the most plain and unassuming, it has taken its place of honor on the night stand, no pun intended.
A light can be fashioned out of practically any vessel or container, depending on how much light is needed. The pendant lighting in the back yard has been a terrific hit and so practical, since the shades do not have to be brought in in inclement weather. The next outdoor project will be to cover some very modest and uninteresting jelly jar lights on the exterior of the house. The plan is to fashion covers over the jelly jars to mask their utility and add some interest with more of the punched tin that was used in the outdoor pendant lighting over the patio. While we searched for something suitable, we settled on the modest jelly jars so we could satisfy the city and get a final inspection completed. We knew we could always change them, and they were less than ten dollars each. Adding the covers will disguise them sufficiently and add to the outdoor theme.
Let Lighting Be Interesting
Lighting is a necessity, but there is no reason it can't be beautiful or unusual or interesting, depending on the setting. Here are some interesting...
Classic Wood Plantation Shutters
Many homeowners prefer real wood plantation shutters due to their classic look and all-natural construction. Real timber brings warmth to a home and can be easily matched with a home's existing decor. Timber is also very versatile and can be shaped and sized to fit nearly any window opening. True hardwoods are considered the best design option as they provide unsurpassed energy efficiency, durability, and charm.
There are numerous material options for homeowners to choose from. Some of the most popular include solid basswood, maple, mahogany, cherry, knotty pine, alder, walnut, as well as more unique choices like teak and bubinga. Nearly any type of timber that furniture can be made of can also be used to manufacture these window treatments.
Homeowners have the opportunity to completely customize the way their window treatments look when wood is used. Raw timber can be stained a wide range of colors and tints to blend effortlessly with your home's decor. It can also be painted or left natural for an authentic look.
Modern Vinyl Plantation Shutters
Vinyl plantation shutters are constructed of various poly-resin materials designed with durability and resilience in mind. Due to the sleek, plastic-like material, vinyl is low-maintenance and easy to clean. Problems like cracking, fading, or the peeling of paint are generally not an issue when this modern material is used. High-quality materials are also less likely to deteriorate over time.
Most vinyl products are noticeably less expensive than real wood, making them more economically friendly. Because it is a more stable material, vinyl is also often a wiser investment. As the material is flame retardant and resistant to moisture, it can be used in nearly any room of a home, including bathrooms and kitchens. While most commonly used inside the home, these window treatments can also be installed outside.
There are several types of vinyl shutter styles to choose from. Hollow selections are idea for moist environments, such as on a window next to a shower stall. Other types of vinyl can be made to look exactly like real wood, giving you the best of both worlds. This material generally comes pre-colored or tinted directly from the manufacturer to ensure that the color does not fade over time.
Choosing Between Wood and Vinyl Plantation Shutters
Plantation shutters have a vast history and were used to protect windows long before glass panes. These window treatments have a basic design consisting...
But what do these colours mean to your well-being and state of mind? Whole books have been written about colour psychology so before you go splashing around with a paint brush we've compiled a few of the basics you need to know.
LIGHT YELLOW
This is a popular paint choice for many home interiors as it is a subtle undertone and unobtrusive. The first and most obvious feeling that comes to mind when thinking of the colour yellow is happiness. Yes, yellow is the colour of happiness and as it's the most closely associated colour of the sun evokes feelings of warmth and cheer.
The sun throws out ultraviolet rays which help release endorphins into our bodies resulting in bursts of euphoria and energy. Similarly, light yellow which induces the same psychological feelings as actual sunlight, can create the same feelings.
LIGHT GREEN
Simulating the quiet of a forest interior or outstretched glade is the type of environment you'll be creating when painting your walls pale green. This earthy colour is good for creating a calm, quiet home. An easy way to bring a pop of colour back into the home to balance the subdued nature of this colour is by introducing bright furnishings like art and cushions.
However, if you're the type that likes a soothing and relaxing home environment you might play on this colour choice further by choosing wooden furniture, earth tones for your home wares and landscape feature art to tie it all in.
SKY BLUE
Blue is a good colour for bedroom interiors being that it encourages a calming, tranquil vibe - perfect for a good nights sleep. Another calming colour, Sky Blue is also noted for its ability to create an environment of trust and safety making it a great colour for babies or children's bedrooms.
Sky Blue is a quite a bright colour and shouldn't be used throughout the whole house but a feature wall or accent colours placed throughout the room will illuminate its beneficial properties.
DEEP RED
A rich and robust colour, deep red exudes elegance and a cultivated taste rather like the palate of a good wine. You'd often find this kind of colour used in an old English residence. Today it should be used sparingly but can create a sumptuous feature wall in the dining room or lounge to give a bit of 'old world' class creating an 'expensive' look with the right furnishings.
Some colours can create negative emotions as well so be sure to choose the right red. Some reds might evoke feelings of anger or danger such as a bright red. Only larger, well-lit rooms would do well with this colour as darker colours can make small rooms appear even smaller.
BLACK
Black is very on trend right now but can be difficult to work with as it is an incredibly powerful shade that can convey the positive emotions of elegance and sophistication but can also represent loss and oppression. The best way to work with black is bring out its positive aspects so everything associated it with it must be bold, classic and expensive looking to play on black's best features.
Black works incredibly well with white as white gives off a pure, pristine vibe that offsets any negative components of its opposite shade black. Earth tones also work well with black but be careful with bright accents as these can look tacky.
Colour Psychology For Interior Design
Often people overlook the importance of the colour choices they make in their home. Some people choose by what is on trend, others choose anything...
1. Paint the Walls a New Color
This is one of the least expensive home improvement projects you can take on that can truly make a huge difference in the look of your home. The wall color of a room sets the mood for the room, and a fresh coat of paint on the walls gives a room a feeling of newness even if it is a very old house. You can go bold by picking a strong color like a green or a deep red, or a safe bet is to choose a color that is a couple of shades either lighter or darker than the original wall color for a big difference with not much work at all.
2. Add a Large Area Rug
In terms of home improvement, adding a large area rug to a living area requires the least heavy-lifting of all types of home improvements since there are pretty much no structural changes involved, and no tools and equipment to worry about. However, the visual impact of adding a great large area rug to a living room or dining room area packs a huge punch style-wise, because it gives the room warmth and elegance (depending on the color and style you choose). Just remember to keep the style in line with the overall room colors and design, and remember to keep it clean for the best impact.
3. Changing the Light Fixtures
Changing the light fixtures in any number of rooms in your house is yet another low-cost, low-stress home improvement projects that you can do that can make a big difference to the overall look of your home. Whether it is changing out overhead light fixtures in the living room and kitchen, the table lamps in the bedroom, or the chandelier in the dining room, updating light fixtures is something anyone can do with not much more than a small step ladder and a screwdriver. If you are a complete newbie to changing light fixtures, no need to worry; a quick search online, or a visit to your local home improvement store will be of great help.
4. De-clutter and Rearrange the Floor plan
This is one of the most overlooked home design tactics that many homeowners do not ever think about because it sounds so simple, but honestly, getting rid of all the extra knickknacks and junk that has cluttered up various areas of your home makes an unbelievable difference and it costs nothing. To take it even a step further, after de-cluttering, take another look at the furniture layout in any of your rooms and see if there could be a new way to position all of the pieces to create a better flow. By simply cleaning up and rearranging the floor plan of perhaps your living room or bedroom, you can make a big difference on the look of your home without spending a dime.
5. Add a New Flowerbed For Curb Appeal
Many homeowners make the unfortunate mistake of neglecting the exterior of their home, letting the landscaping go unkempt and pretty much giving a bad first impression about the home to outsiders. A great way to make a big difference on both the look and the value of a home and also preventing this bad first impression is to improve the curb appeal, and you can either hire someone to do this or do it yourself. You have the option to make it a dramatic yard makeover (takes more time and effort), but for a simpler but still effective change, just mow your lawn and plant a few colorful flowerbeds around main the entryway of your house to make a big impact.
Small Changes in Your Home That Make a BIG Difference
A house is one of the single largest and most important assets you can own, not only because of its cost, but also because it gives you and your family...
