Interior designers sometimes get asked about the hottest colour trends. And this season, we have a confession to make: white is the new black! White interior designs are hip and trendy once again, and in particular those sterile white kitchens are now all the rage. This is particularly true in London, where the dull and gloomy skies can make clients cry out for a touch of bright white interior design freshness.
When you walk into a beautiful white kitchen designed by a top London Interior Designer, what do you feel? Many of us are overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions. We feel carefree and almost as if we are floating on air. The pervasive whiteness brings to mind age-old simplicity, sanitary freshness, contemporary impact, and a roomy, playful outlook. The interior designer will use the white kitchen as a philosophy to evoke a sentiment of purity for food preparation and to empower boundless chef-inspired inspiration.
Many interior design consultancies use white as a fabulous background for the presentation of magical colours and textures. For example, one top trend today is to use deeply varnished wooden joists to contrast with sharply-defined white architectural surrounds. Colourful interior design accents really "pop out" in this context. Alternatively, the quiet pastels of a London autumn can make for a classic and sophisticated interior design scheme.
The newest London kitchens may be white today, but the true home of the white kitchen has got to be Sweden. Just like London, Stockholm has short days and long nights for much of the year. Homeowners naturally crave interior designs that maximise the amount of reflected internal light in these climates. Swedish interior designers will create themes that are inspired by the widespread use of wintertime candles and sconces.
Returning to less northern cities like London, a simple white kitchen works well with dramatic black accents. A very dark or bold interior design element, used rhythmically in the kitchen, creates balance and interest. Contrast in tone and color is the underpinning of what might otherwise be experienced as a "simple' or "flat' kitchen.
Is a white kitchen "classic' in the sense that it can "fit' into any interior design? Certainly not! Understanding design context, and especially the architecture of all the elements, the proportions of color and tone, and a true balance with the surrounding interior spaces, are essential for the presentation of a visual logic, a "whole'. Top London interior designers recognise this, and their efforts have made the white kitchen philosophy a real winner today.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Breathtaking Interior Designs Are Always the Goal
Interior designers are often asked about the origins of the profession - especially in the context of quality of life versus product. Has our modern quality of life driven our craving for high-quality design, or has design really been more of a primary impactor in defining how we enjoy wellness? In this article, I will draw on my experience in London's prestigious interior design community to reflect on how the design process works from this perspective.
When interior designers begin engaging with a potential client, they will often ask about function. What is the desired purpose and use of the room or residence? The answer to this question has a profound impact on everything we do. If a client is desperate for luxury high-end London extravagance in the form of a damask settee, we may recommend a synthetic damask fabric instead of cotton or satin for a household that includes young kids and a pet dog. Breathtaking interior designs are always the goal, but only in the context of compatibility with our clients' unique London lifestyles.
Interior designers will work hard to understand client requirements from the outset. Some professional London Interior Design consultancies will even have a series of highly structured interview questions that they routinely use. The interior designer will offer a free consultation at the client's home - whether inside or outside London - to discover exactly what the client loves and hates about their current residence. Budget should be a conversation point from the very beginning. It is important to clarify whether the client prefers to be given fifteen different interior design options from which to choose, or just two or three.
One area that can be really challenging for the interior designer is when a husband and wife have different ideas about the desired outcome. This can happen regardless of whether the individuals are happily married or considering an impending separation. The interior designer sometimes gets "caught in the middle," which can cause real tension.
In recent years, the London interior design community has seen a real upwelling in terms of social media and internet-enabled design opportunities. One of the most positive results is that would-be clients are now much better informed regarding interior design themes and concepts. Londoners read articles just like this one and start to get a sense of the interior design process even before we reach their front door or exchange our first set of emails!
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
When interior designers begin engaging with a potential client, they will often ask about function. What is the desired purpose and use of the room or residence? The answer to this question has a profound impact on everything we do. If a client is desperate for luxury high-end London extravagance in the form of a damask settee, we may recommend a synthetic damask fabric instead of cotton or satin for a household that includes young kids and a pet dog. Breathtaking interior designs are always the goal, but only in the context of compatibility with our clients' unique London lifestyles.
Interior designers will work hard to understand client requirements from the outset. Some professional London Interior Design consultancies will even have a series of highly structured interview questions that they routinely use. The interior designer will offer a free consultation at the client's home - whether inside or outside London - to discover exactly what the client loves and hates about their current residence. Budget should be a conversation point from the very beginning. It is important to clarify whether the client prefers to be given fifteen different interior design options from which to choose, or just two or three.
One area that can be really challenging for the interior designer is when a husband and wife have different ideas about the desired outcome. This can happen regardless of whether the individuals are happily married or considering an impending separation. The interior designer sometimes gets "caught in the middle," which can cause real tension.
In recent years, the London interior design community has seen a real upwelling in terms of social media and internet-enabled design opportunities. One of the most positive results is that would-be clients are now much better informed regarding interior design themes and concepts. Londoners read articles just like this one and start to get a sense of the interior design process even before we reach their front door or exchange our first set of emails!
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Thomas Chippendale - Work And Styles Influenced The London Interior Design Community
Thomas Chippendale didn't grow up in London (in fact he was born in Leeds in 1718), but he did move to London at the age of 31, after he had already gained recognition as a premiere furniture maker and cabinetry-focused interior designer. His work and styles influenced the London Interior Design community then, and the Chippendale aesthetic continues to extend its impact well beyond London even today.
Chippendale's fluent, natural and sophisticated style developed after the promotion of his furniture and interior designs in "The Gentleman and the Cabinetmaker's Director" in 1754. Chippendale continued to make iconic contributions to the field of interior design until 1790. His furniture came to be manufactured as far afield as Philadelphia in the USA.
Chippendale drew on three key interior design inspirations for this work - namely French, Asian and Goth. In the USA, Chippendale's work was interpreted as a re-envisionment of the Queen Anne interior design style. His furniture was often heavily ornamentalised on the feet and uppers, with beautiful heritage-inspired scroll tops on taller units. Yellow Birch and Mahogany were often used, undersupport was rarely employed, and the rears of seated furniture were covered with plush fabric or otherwise left as shaped wood, perhaps as tessellated piecework with ornamental sculpting and Asia-inspired cross-strips. To round out his own personal interior design style, Chippendale would also include delightful finials and varnished shellac features.
Enthusiasts and professionals alike were very taken with Chippendale's work, lauding him as a master London cabinetmaker and a household name of eighteenth-century furniture-focused interior design.
Harewood House is a popular Leeds tourist attraction, located about 4 hours' drive from Central London. The famous building features a magnificent collection of Chippendale library furniture that was originally ordered during the 1760s. The interior design style reflects Chippendale's ideals throughout and showcases his focus on both form and function.
Today, London's interior designers are often called to reconstruct period rooms in traditional mansions or luxury residences. Often Chippendale furniture will play a major role in such interior design concepts. Chippendale-inspired furniture designs such as those of Henrietta Spencer-Churchill may also be ideal for certain settings. However, the fresh lines of many Chippendale pieces also lend themselves to contemporary interior design concepts - many interior designers will use some of the more extravagant Chippendale pieces to offset some of the more frosty and unforgiving modern furniture elements.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Chippendale's fluent, natural and sophisticated style developed after the promotion of his furniture and interior designs in "The Gentleman and the Cabinetmaker's Director" in 1754. Chippendale continued to make iconic contributions to the field of interior design until 1790. His furniture came to be manufactured as far afield as Philadelphia in the USA.
Chippendale drew on three key interior design inspirations for this work - namely French, Asian and Goth. In the USA, Chippendale's work was interpreted as a re-envisionment of the Queen Anne interior design style. His furniture was often heavily ornamentalised on the feet and uppers, with beautiful heritage-inspired scroll tops on taller units. Yellow Birch and Mahogany were often used, undersupport was rarely employed, and the rears of seated furniture were covered with plush fabric or otherwise left as shaped wood, perhaps as tessellated piecework with ornamental sculpting and Asia-inspired cross-strips. To round out his own personal interior design style, Chippendale would also include delightful finials and varnished shellac features.
Enthusiasts and professionals alike were very taken with Chippendale's work, lauding him as a master London cabinetmaker and a household name of eighteenth-century furniture-focused interior design.
Harewood House is a popular Leeds tourist attraction, located about 4 hours' drive from Central London. The famous building features a magnificent collection of Chippendale library furniture that was originally ordered during the 1760s. The interior design style reflects Chippendale's ideals throughout and showcases his focus on both form and function.
Today, London's interior designers are often called to reconstruct period rooms in traditional mansions or luxury residences. Often Chippendale furniture will play a major role in such interior design concepts. Chippendale-inspired furniture designs such as those of Henrietta Spencer-Churchill may also be ideal for certain settings. However, the fresh lines of many Chippendale pieces also lend themselves to contemporary interior design concepts - many interior designers will use some of the more extravagant Chippendale pieces to offset some of the more frosty and unforgiving modern furniture elements.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
The London Interior Design Aesthetic Has Evolved Over Generations
The London Interior Design aesthetic has evolved over generations and has expanded in a multitude of ways over the centuries. Today, a new brand of interior designers from London and from across Europe are starting to approach their profession from a new stance - the "sculptural" aesthetic. The broader supporting industry for interior designers has started in recent years to develop fascinatingly imaginative and perceptually thrilling sculptural furniture pieces, illuminators and embellishments. Devolving away from age-old approaches, interior designers are increasingly choosing new textures, new fabrication processes and focusing on the "feel" of design rather than just the "look."
Nowhere is this more apparent than in some of the most innovative commercial interiors. London is a world heritage city for interior design, and recently the UK government invested substantial sums of money in the brand new Terminal 5 at London's flagship Heathrow International Airport. The architecture is breathtaking thanks to its apparently effortless design. The wave-inspired interior overhangs, accessorised with bowstring arches, serve to create a perceptually gentle wavy sculpture, shored up by spoke-style pointed structures. The designer talks of this design as "branched" - two different types of ceiling window (circles and egg shapes) allow natural light in from the London sky, tastefully illuminating the interior design schemes below.
London's Heathrow Terminal 5 used bridge construction techniques to create a massive, open-plan structure that truly is an interior designer's dream come true. The pure-wave effect is made possible by the use of twenty-two steel box rafters, supported along each side by eleven pairs of massive steel support abutments. The same astonishing 'strand-jacking' technique was used to lift the London Eye from horizontal to vertical and to erect the famous arch of Wembley Stadium. Key interior design elements visually carry the eye from the exterior features to the inner details, initially giving a sense of overwhelming openness and then landing on subtle touches and accessories.
London Heathrow's Terminal 5 is just one example of how architecture and interior design are deeply intertwined in modern buildings. It is an expression of today's modern interior design aesthetic, and the positive emotional response is a real boon to busy travelers and their families.
Today's new generation of interior designers continues to forge ahead, seeking a creative spark while at the same time sparking the imaginations of the public we serve. As a member of London's professional interior design community, I pause to reflect that it is all about living well - design has the power to transform what we believe, to open our eyes, and to lift our mental energy.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in some of the most innovative commercial interiors. London is a world heritage city for interior design, and recently the UK government invested substantial sums of money in the brand new Terminal 5 at London's flagship Heathrow International Airport. The architecture is breathtaking thanks to its apparently effortless design. The wave-inspired interior overhangs, accessorised with bowstring arches, serve to create a perceptually gentle wavy sculpture, shored up by spoke-style pointed structures. The designer talks of this design as "branched" - two different types of ceiling window (circles and egg shapes) allow natural light in from the London sky, tastefully illuminating the interior design schemes below.
London's Heathrow Terminal 5 used bridge construction techniques to create a massive, open-plan structure that truly is an interior designer's dream come true. The pure-wave effect is made possible by the use of twenty-two steel box rafters, supported along each side by eleven pairs of massive steel support abutments. The same astonishing 'strand-jacking' technique was used to lift the London Eye from horizontal to vertical and to erect the famous arch of Wembley Stadium. Key interior design elements visually carry the eye from the exterior features to the inner details, initially giving a sense of overwhelming openness and then landing on subtle touches and accessories.
London Heathrow's Terminal 5 is just one example of how architecture and interior design are deeply intertwined in modern buildings. It is an expression of today's modern interior design aesthetic, and the positive emotional response is a real boon to busy travelers and their families.
Today's new generation of interior designers continues to forge ahead, seeking a creative spark while at the same time sparking the imaginations of the public we serve. As a member of London's professional interior design community, I pause to reflect that it is all about living well - design has the power to transform what we believe, to open our eyes, and to lift our mental energy.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Understanding Bathroom Design - Designing for Happiness
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This final article talks about the psychology of design.
It can be really interesting to talk with professional London bathroom designers and learn how they see the psychology of their role. Many designers talk of the way in which a fabulous bathroom design starts with a stroke of imagination. They will mention the captivating enchantment of a well-designed room, with unconventional or thoughtful small touches making the house really feel like a home.
One of the really big questions in designing for happiness is whether to select painted walls or wallpaper or tiles for new bathroom design projects. Colour is the number one consideration. It can be used to frame and showcase certain interesting features of the bathroom dimensions, attractive London-designed sanitaryware, or favourite pieces of washroom artwork. Mood is an important bathroom design consideration in this regard – how does the client want to achieve that feeling of happiness by luxuriating in the space of their new bathroom?
Professional bathroom designers in London often refer to the "scale challenge" – by which they mean the problem of smaller London bathrooms sometimes being rather cramped and awkwardly-shaped. The designer may choose to respond by focusing on a small number of larger sanitaryware items to make the space seem more extravagant. In such cases, a bathroom design may benefit from deeper, smoother colours to provide atmosphere while simultaneously softening any dividing lines or contours.
The final aim of any bathroom design project should be simple but ambitious – namely to make our interior universe a happier space. Fabulous interiors that meet our needs and that support our wellbeing have a real and meaningful significance that goes well beyond the bathroom design itself. London is home to over 7.5 million people, many of whom have bathrooms at home that could benefit from a refresh. Happier individuals serve as more helpful acquaintances and neighbours, they are more energetic at work, and they are generally more involved members of London society.
That brings to an end my eight-part series called "Understanding Bathroom Design." Thank you for reading.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
It can be really interesting to talk with professional London bathroom designers and learn how they see the psychology of their role. Many designers talk of the way in which a fabulous bathroom design starts with a stroke of imagination. They will mention the captivating enchantment of a well-designed room, with unconventional or thoughtful small touches making the house really feel like a home.
One of the really big questions in designing for happiness is whether to select painted walls or wallpaper or tiles for new bathroom design projects. Colour is the number one consideration. It can be used to frame and showcase certain interesting features of the bathroom dimensions, attractive London-designed sanitaryware, or favourite pieces of washroom artwork. Mood is an important bathroom design consideration in this regard – how does the client want to achieve that feeling of happiness by luxuriating in the space of their new bathroom?
Professional bathroom designers in London often refer to the "scale challenge" – by which they mean the problem of smaller London bathrooms sometimes being rather cramped and awkwardly-shaped. The designer may choose to respond by focusing on a small number of larger sanitaryware items to make the space seem more extravagant. In such cases, a bathroom design may benefit from deeper, smoother colours to provide atmosphere while simultaneously softening any dividing lines or contours.
The final aim of any bathroom design project should be simple but ambitious – namely to make our interior universe a happier space. Fabulous interiors that meet our needs and that support our wellbeing have a real and meaningful significance that goes well beyond the bathroom design itself. London is home to over 7.5 million people, many of whom have bathrooms at home that could benefit from a refresh. Happier individuals serve as more helpful acquaintances and neighbours, they are more energetic at work, and they are generally more involved members of London society.
That brings to an end my eight-part series called "Understanding Bathroom Design." Thank you for reading.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Understanding Bathroom Design - Eco-friendly Design
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This seventh article returns to eco-friendly design.
The use of recycled or recyclable materials is a real trend with some of London's best-known bathroom designers today. Recycled options such as glass or rubber can be a great alternative to non-renewables. Another important element of eco-friendly bathroom design involves wise positioning of windows. Installing windows in exactly the right places can help control bills by allowing sunshine to wash into the bathroom during the day or encouraging fresh breezes during the night. Bathroom designers know that pleated curtains made from recycled materials can help with seasonal variations – especially in a city like London where summer temperatures can warm up unexpectedly and rapidly.
Did you know that London's Heathrow Airport has the worst air pollution in the UK? Eco-friendly bathroom designs always use paints that are low in volatile organics. This helps reduce indoor pollution – after all, if London's outside air is polluted enough, why should you want your indoor air anything less than the cleanest it can be? Along with low-emissions paints, many modern bathroom designers will focus on fluorescent or LED lighting options. These are much more energy-efficient than filament-based alternatives, and have the additional benefit of guaranteeing a much longer operating life.
The last part of eco-friendly bathroom design is mostly about what people do in the finished bathroom itself. I recommend the use of ecologically sensitive cleaning products like vinegar, salt and sodium bicarbonate – all of which are available at any of London's many small corner shops or convenience stores. These products break down naturally once they are flushed down the toilet, and are therefore environmentally very benign. A green bathroom design can only go so far – ultimately it's up to the consumer to make sure they fix dripping taps, recycle lavatory paper and other recyclables, and only flush when absolutely necessary.
In the next and final article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll finish with a summary of the psychology of London bathroom design today – "Designing for Happiness."
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
The use of recycled or recyclable materials is a real trend with some of London's best-known bathroom designers today. Recycled options such as glass or rubber can be a great alternative to non-renewables. Another important element of eco-friendly bathroom design involves wise positioning of windows. Installing windows in exactly the right places can help control bills by allowing sunshine to wash into the bathroom during the day or encouraging fresh breezes during the night. Bathroom designers know that pleated curtains made from recycled materials can help with seasonal variations – especially in a city like London where summer temperatures can warm up unexpectedly and rapidly.
Did you know that London's Heathrow Airport has the worst air pollution in the UK? Eco-friendly bathroom designs always use paints that are low in volatile organics. This helps reduce indoor pollution – after all, if London's outside air is polluted enough, why should you want your indoor air anything less than the cleanest it can be? Along with low-emissions paints, many modern bathroom designers will focus on fluorescent or LED lighting options. These are much more energy-efficient than filament-based alternatives, and have the additional benefit of guaranteeing a much longer operating life.
The last part of eco-friendly bathroom design is mostly about what people do in the finished bathroom itself. I recommend the use of ecologically sensitive cleaning products like vinegar, salt and sodium bicarbonate – all of which are available at any of London's many small corner shops or convenience stores. These products break down naturally once they are flushed down the toilet, and are therefore environmentally very benign. A green bathroom design can only go so far – ultimately it's up to the consumer to make sure they fix dripping taps, recycle lavatory paper and other recyclables, and only flush when absolutely necessary.
In the next and final article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll finish with a summary of the psychology of London bathroom design today – "Designing for Happiness."
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Understanding Bathroom Design - Vessel Style Washbasins
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This sixth article focuses on the vessel-style washbasin – a true designer delight!
The vessel-style washbasin has been around for many centuries. It originated not in London but in Ancient China, before the existence of piped water or water treatment facilities, when people simply needed a vessel in which to hold water that had been drawn from the local well. But in the context of bathroom design, today's vessel-style basin is free-standing and sits directly atop a bathroom counter or similar furniture unit. The London interior designer can source all sorts of different styles, dimensions and appearances, to match almost any bathroom design imaginable. One can select from a wide array of standard materials, including metal, glass, and semiprecious stone, or – for super-luxury bathroom designs – one may turn to gemstone-embedded or jewelled models.
What are the advantages of a vessel-style washbasin over a more traditional model? These basins aren't constrained to slide into a regular-sized hole within a standard counter. Accordingly, London's top bathroom designers can benefit from much more creative designs and shapes, with non-symmetric detailing and unusual footprints adding visual interest. Many vessel-style basins are taller in the back than in the front – a big boost for a smaller London bathroom design that needs a "touch of flair" but that has no space for a rear splashback.
Clients often tell me they have fallen in love with a standalone basin but just can't figure out where it should go, perhaps because it doesn't quite fit in their existing bathroom design. In such cases I may recommend the basin be installed in a London powder room, where it will serve mainly for handwashing - instead of shaving, brushing one's teeth and giving the household chihuahua a bath.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll return to eco-friendly bathroom designs in London and discuss how to clean and maintain your bathroom in a way that helps protect the environment.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
The vessel-style washbasin has been around for many centuries. It originated not in London but in Ancient China, before the existence of piped water or water treatment facilities, when people simply needed a vessel in which to hold water that had been drawn from the local well. But in the context of bathroom design, today's vessel-style basin is free-standing and sits directly atop a bathroom counter or similar furniture unit. The London interior designer can source all sorts of different styles, dimensions and appearances, to match almost any bathroom design imaginable. One can select from a wide array of standard materials, including metal, glass, and semiprecious stone, or – for super-luxury bathroom designs – one may turn to gemstone-embedded or jewelled models.
What are the advantages of a vessel-style washbasin over a more traditional model? These basins aren't constrained to slide into a regular-sized hole within a standard counter. Accordingly, London's top bathroom designers can benefit from much more creative designs and shapes, with non-symmetric detailing and unusual footprints adding visual interest. Many vessel-style basins are taller in the back than in the front – a big boost for a smaller London bathroom design that needs a "touch of flair" but that has no space for a rear splashback.
Clients often tell me they have fallen in love with a standalone basin but just can't figure out where it should go, perhaps because it doesn't quite fit in their existing bathroom design. In such cases I may recommend the basin be installed in a London powder room, where it will serve mainly for handwashing - instead of shaving, brushing one's teeth and giving the household chihuahua a bath.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll return to eco-friendly bathroom designs in London and discuss how to clean and maintain your bathroom in a way that helps protect the environment.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Understanding Bathroom Design - Environmentally Friendly Design
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This fifth article focuses on eco-design.
I often say that the hottest colour in London bathroom design today is "green" – and by that I mean enviro-friendly design! Excitingly, it is also a great way to save money, perfect for today's challenging economic situation. Did you know that an environmentally-friendly bathroom design reduce water, heating and consumables costs?
Many top bathroom designers will recommend the use of special low-flow showers, taps or lavatories in order to save water. London bath emporiums will often stock new designs that perfectly combine efficiency with style. A recent hotel-inspired trend is to include urinals in bathroom designs - a perfect way to use less flushing water.
Floor coverings are a critical part of environmentally-compatible bathroom design choices. I try to buy local London-made floor coverings whenever possible. Natural linoleum is often fabricated using oils, cork and limestone, with eco-friendly waterproofing thanks to a plant-derived wax surface coating. For bathroom designs that require wooden flooring, I recommend bamboo, because this fast-growing woody grass quickly regenerates in the wild and therefore has a small eco-footprint.
Although the London cabinetry centres of old have long since moved outside the city, bathroom designers can still source local-made cupboards from not far outside London. But to reduce air pollution, I recommend eliminating any products that contain formaldehyde from the list of options.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll focus on a true designer's highlight that has recently become a huge hit in London bathroom designs – the standalone vessel-style washbasin.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
I often say that the hottest colour in London bathroom design today is "green" – and by that I mean enviro-friendly design! Excitingly, it is also a great way to save money, perfect for today's challenging economic situation. Did you know that an environmentally-friendly bathroom design reduce water, heating and consumables costs?
Many top bathroom designers will recommend the use of special low-flow showers, taps or lavatories in order to save water. London bath emporiums will often stock new designs that perfectly combine efficiency with style. A recent hotel-inspired trend is to include urinals in bathroom designs - a perfect way to use less flushing water.
Floor coverings are a critical part of environmentally-compatible bathroom design choices. I try to buy local London-made floor coverings whenever possible. Natural linoleum is often fabricated using oils, cork and limestone, with eco-friendly waterproofing thanks to a plant-derived wax surface coating. For bathroom designs that require wooden flooring, I recommend bamboo, because this fast-growing woody grass quickly regenerates in the wild and therefore has a small eco-footprint.
Although the London cabinetry centres of old have long since moved outside the city, bathroom designers can still source local-made cupboards from not far outside London. But to reduce air pollution, I recommend eliminating any products that contain formaldehyde from the list of options.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll focus on a true designer's highlight that has recently become a huge hit in London bathroom designs – the standalone vessel-style washbasin.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Understanding Bathroom Design - Design for the Elderly and Disabled
Understanding Bathroom Design - Design for the Elderly and Disabled
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This fourth article focuses on designing for older individuals.
Are you getting older and finding it harder to move around your home? I've worked a great deal with the elderly or disabled in London, and I love to help homeowners make their familiar spaces into wheelchair-accessible dream bathroom designs by decluttering, restyling and helping do away with any troublesome stairs. I love to see the residents' reactions to their new bathroom designs. Even if your budget isn't big, the payoff definitely can be when you re-envision your London bathroom from drab to fab - the wheelchair way. A fresh new bathroom design can be a critical component of the modern, disabled-friendly home.
Even a cosmopolitan, youth-orientated world city like London has more than its fair share of older individuals. With the UK's aging population, bathroom designers are being called on more than ever to create inspired bathrooms for the elderly or disabled. The perfect bathroom design for an elderly couple or individual will promote accessibility while also preserving a great sense of style. Many elderly people luxuriate in the morning by enjoying a relaxing bathing hour, a delicious cup of tea, and watching the morning soap operas on TV. For this purpose, the ideal bathroom design for the elderly could include sparkling glass toilets, chic lighted countertops, and high-gloss cabinets to house a kettle and home entertainment centre.
Aching joints can be a problem for many old age pensioners. Bathroom designers can choose to incorporate speciality baths that feature massage jets and low-rise tubs that are easy to access. In larger London residences, a bathside deck can be a great benefit - allowing the elderly to sit down and gently lower themselves into the hot bathwater.
For the wheelchair-bound, a roomy roll-in shower often serves as a highly sought-after bathroom design feature. The convenience of a hand-held shower head together with on-wall in-shower seating allows for a great washroom experience that rivals the most luxurious London spas.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll focus on London's latest trends in environmentally-friendly design.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This fourth article focuses on designing for older individuals.
Are you getting older and finding it harder to move around your home? I've worked a great deal with the elderly or disabled in London, and I love to help homeowners make their familiar spaces into wheelchair-accessible dream bathroom designs by decluttering, restyling and helping do away with any troublesome stairs. I love to see the residents' reactions to their new bathroom designs. Even if your budget isn't big, the payoff definitely can be when you re-envision your London bathroom from drab to fab - the wheelchair way. A fresh new bathroom design can be a critical component of the modern, disabled-friendly home.
Even a cosmopolitan, youth-orientated world city like London has more than its fair share of older individuals. With the UK's aging population, bathroom designers are being called on more than ever to create inspired bathrooms for the elderly or disabled. The perfect bathroom design for an elderly couple or individual will promote accessibility while also preserving a great sense of style. Many elderly people luxuriate in the morning by enjoying a relaxing bathing hour, a delicious cup of tea, and watching the morning soap operas on TV. For this purpose, the ideal bathroom design for the elderly could include sparkling glass toilets, chic lighted countertops, and high-gloss cabinets to house a kettle and home entertainment centre.
Aching joints can be a problem for many old age pensioners. Bathroom designers can choose to incorporate speciality baths that feature massage jets and low-rise tubs that are easy to access. In larger London residences, a bathside deck can be a great benefit - allowing the elderly to sit down and gently lower themselves into the hot bathwater.
For the wheelchair-bound, a roomy roll-in shower often serves as a highly sought-after bathroom design feature. The convenience of a hand-held shower head together with on-wall in-shower seating allows for a great washroom experience that rivals the most luxurious London spas.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll focus on London's latest trends in environmentally-friendly design.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Understanding Bathroom Design - Child Ready Design
Understanding Bathroom Design - Child Ready Design
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This third article focuses on designing for young families.
Do you remember what it was like to be little? Bathroom designs that are child-friendly can be a big challenge. But with London's ever-growing population, young families are increasingly asking about child-ready design options. The biggest issue is always how to create a bathroom design that children won't quickly outgrow? We all realise that what seems fab to a 8-year-old at a London primary school could well seem drab by the time he/she turns 11 and enters the local secondary.
Children love colours, but London's best bathroom designers know when enough is enough. A great technique is to maintain a neutral shell by choosing cream or caramel for the walls and floors. Dashes of colour can be incorporated in the form of rugs, tiles and ornamentation. Some famous London bathroom designers love to rely on asparagus, lemon, blueberry or aubergine for a child's bath - and importantly these colours are much less overbearing and forward than (say) salmon or carrot.
The biggest bathroom design requirement for younger children is that there is sufficient space to move around. This can be quite a challenge in some smaller London residences. Some designers will include a mini-stool that children can step up onto to reach the washbasin. It can quickly slide out of sight when not needed. Touchfree taps reduce the amount of reaching for small hands, and the bathroom design team can even pre-set the temperature to make sure children won't get burnt.
Finally, a great idea is to personalise the bathroom design by pinning children's art or craftwork onto the walls. I have seen London family homes where the children painted a special tile underneath the washbasin, or the bathroom designer maybe allowed them to colour a mirror frame. This can add to the sense of fun and child-like delight.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll turn to designs for the elderly.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This third article focuses on designing for young families.
Do you remember what it was like to be little? Bathroom designs that are child-friendly can be a big challenge. But with London's ever-growing population, young families are increasingly asking about child-ready design options. The biggest issue is always how to create a bathroom design that children won't quickly outgrow? We all realise that what seems fab to a 8-year-old at a London primary school could well seem drab by the time he/she turns 11 and enters the local secondary.
Children love colours, but London's best bathroom designers know when enough is enough. A great technique is to maintain a neutral shell by choosing cream or caramel for the walls and floors. Dashes of colour can be incorporated in the form of rugs, tiles and ornamentation. Some famous London bathroom designers love to rely on asparagus, lemon, blueberry or aubergine for a child's bath - and importantly these colours are much less overbearing and forward than (say) salmon or carrot.
The biggest bathroom design requirement for younger children is that there is sufficient space to move around. This can be quite a challenge in some smaller London residences. Some designers will include a mini-stool that children can step up onto to reach the washbasin. It can quickly slide out of sight when not needed. Touchfree taps reduce the amount of reaching for small hands, and the bathroom design team can even pre-set the temperature to make sure children won't get burnt.
Finally, a great idea is to personalise the bathroom design by pinning children's art or craftwork onto the walls. I have seen London family homes where the children painted a special tile underneath the washbasin, or the bathroom designer maybe allowed them to colour a mirror frame. This can add to the sense of fun and child-like delight.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll turn to designs for the elderly.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Understanding Bathroom Design - Colour
Understanding Bathroom Design - Colour
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This second article reveals the secrets of bathroom colour schemes.
In crafting a new color scheme, most London bathroom design professionals start by pulling out their colour wheel. The wheel can help choose tuneful combinations of colours, regardless of whether the palette is subdued and relaxed or exciting and dynamic. For example, some larger London bathrooms might be great candidates for a high-contrast complimentary look. This will normally pull in two colours from opposite sides of the wheel, maybe combining a yellow base with navy trim for high impact. However, smaller London shower closets would not be compatible with this bathroom design scheme because it might be too overwhelming. In such cases, a monochromatic approach that focuses on a single colour but uses various hues for interest could be perfect. Imagine the same bathroom design as previously discussed, but with powder blue in place of the yellow ... exactly the same dimensions and accessories, but an entirely transformed atmosphere. Perfect perhaps for a North London flat or a West London studio loft.
Sophisticated Londoners can be desperate for that spa sensation which is so popular these days. Bathroom designers can make that happen by using cool, restful colours that include blues and greens. These often combine fabulously with the cream and two-tone brushed metal fixtures that are commonly found in spas and salons.
For centuries, the fashionable ladies of London have used makeup to bring out the beauty of their features while also covering up the tiniest imperfections. Similarly, colour can bring a bathroom design to the next level - perhaps by showcasing interesting architraves, cornices or other features.
In the olden days, bathroom design instructors in London used to teach that painting a small bathroom a darker hue will make it seem cramped. However, today's top bathroom designers know how false that can be. Using different shades of a deep colour in a smaller room can in reality make the bathroom seem more spacious. Adding texturing detail to the paintwork can add extra dimensions and bathroom designer flair.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll focus on child-friendly approaches.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This second article reveals the secrets of bathroom colour schemes.
In crafting a new color scheme, most London bathroom design professionals start by pulling out their colour wheel. The wheel can help choose tuneful combinations of colours, regardless of whether the palette is subdued and relaxed or exciting and dynamic. For example, some larger London bathrooms might be great candidates for a high-contrast complimentary look. This will normally pull in two colours from opposite sides of the wheel, maybe combining a yellow base with navy trim for high impact. However, smaller London shower closets would not be compatible with this bathroom design scheme because it might be too overwhelming. In such cases, a monochromatic approach that focuses on a single colour but uses various hues for interest could be perfect. Imagine the same bathroom design as previously discussed, but with powder blue in place of the yellow ... exactly the same dimensions and accessories, but an entirely transformed atmosphere. Perfect perhaps for a North London flat or a West London studio loft.
Sophisticated Londoners can be desperate for that spa sensation which is so popular these days. Bathroom designers can make that happen by using cool, restful colours that include blues and greens. These often combine fabulously with the cream and two-tone brushed metal fixtures that are commonly found in spas and salons.
For centuries, the fashionable ladies of London have used makeup to bring out the beauty of their features while also covering up the tiniest imperfections. Similarly, colour can bring a bathroom design to the next level - perhaps by showcasing interesting architraves, cornices or other features.
In the olden days, bathroom design instructors in London used to teach that painting a small bathroom a darker hue will make it seem cramped. However, today's top bathroom designers know how false that can be. Using different shades of a deep colour in a smaller room can in reality make the bathroom seem more spacious. Adding texturing detail to the paintwork can add extra dimensions and bathroom designer flair.
In the next article in my series "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll focus on child-friendly approaches.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Understanding Bathroom Design - Imagination
Understanding Bathroom Design - Imagination
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This first article focuses on imagining all the possibilities.
Back in the day, the most extravagant thing about a London bathroom was a newspaper, an oil lamp and a bathtub filled with soapy hot water. But thanks to the field of professional bathroom design, that has long since changed. Today, with Londoners packing more work hours into every week, the bathroom is quickly becoming a sanctuary. Increasingly, people are hiring bathroom designers to add special, high-end extras that give a touch of class to the standard look.
The professional bathroom designer starts with plenty of imagination. Today's designs can mean so many different things - in London, the spa bathroom, the retreat bathroom, and the multimedia bathroom (complete with plasma TVs and surround audio!) are some of the most popular concepts. And each of these requires special bathroom design accessories, from whirlpool tubs to underfloor heating to warming drawers for towels. Even the sanitaryware has become astonishingly varied and sophisticated. Think of bathroom designs that incorporate steam showers, shower jet panels and air baths. Also, think of hotel-inspired bathroom design. There is a movement afoot to do away with standard mass-produced vanity cabinets and toiletry cupboards. Instead, London bathroom design today is evolving toward chic watercraft basins and fabric-covered poufs. Hotel-style coffee machines and micro-fridges are even being designed right into bathroom walls or cabinetry!
In addition, home entertainment technology is bringing a completely new dimension to London bathrooms. Complete home audiovisual systems with flat-screen TVs and surround sound are becoming standard. Some bathroom designers love to tuck a DVD player / TV system discreetly away into a cupboard under the washbasin. Perfect to catch up with the Tokyo stock exchange on CNN as you get dressed in the morning!
In my next article in this series called "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll explore the role of colour in the London bathroom design community.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Professional bathroom designers are masterful at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this eight-part series which I call "Understanding Bathroom Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top bathroom designers to explain this exciting field. This first article focuses on imagining all the possibilities.
Back in the day, the most extravagant thing about a London bathroom was a newspaper, an oil lamp and a bathtub filled with soapy hot water. But thanks to the field of professional bathroom design, that has long since changed. Today, with Londoners packing more work hours into every week, the bathroom is quickly becoming a sanctuary. Increasingly, people are hiring bathroom designers to add special, high-end extras that give a touch of class to the standard look.
The professional bathroom designer starts with plenty of imagination. Today's designs can mean so many different things - in London, the spa bathroom, the retreat bathroom, and the multimedia bathroom (complete with plasma TVs and surround audio!) are some of the most popular concepts. And each of these requires special bathroom design accessories, from whirlpool tubs to underfloor heating to warming drawers for towels. Even the sanitaryware has become astonishingly varied and sophisticated. Think of bathroom designs that incorporate steam showers, shower jet panels and air baths. Also, think of hotel-inspired bathroom design. There is a movement afoot to do away with standard mass-produced vanity cabinets and toiletry cupboards. Instead, London bathroom design today is evolving toward chic watercraft basins and fabric-covered poufs. Hotel-style coffee machines and micro-fridges are even being designed right into bathroom walls or cabinetry!
In addition, home entertainment technology is bringing a completely new dimension to London bathrooms. Complete home audiovisual systems with flat-screen TVs and surround sound are becoming standard. Some bathroom designers love to tuck a DVD player / TV system discreetly away into a cupboard under the washbasin. Perfect to catch up with the Tokyo stock exchange on CNN as you get dressed in the morning!
In my next article in this series called "Understanding Bathroom Design," I'll explore the role of colour in the London bathroom design community.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
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