Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This third article in my series continues my discussion of traditional/period design, with a focus on the Georgian style.
In terms of dates, the Georgian period is generally considered to have extended from 1714 until 1830. It has since inspired one of the most popular traditional interior design schemes.
London interior design was considered world-class in Georgian times - UK craftspeople were highly skilled and uniquely specialised. The wealthiest classes insisted on the highest quality, with exacting standards in terms of dimensions and proportions.
A few designers were particularly famous during the Georgian era. Their names, ideas and concepts live on today in the many homes and residences that feature Georgian-inspired interior designs.
William Kent lived from 1684 until 1748 and was an architect/interior designer who is best known for his tables and chairs which featured extravagant gilt decorations and strong connections to Greek and Roman insignia. Today these traditional designs continue to be used by many London interior design consultancies that specialise in the Georgian style.
Thomas Chippendale is a name famous to many discerning Londoners. This cabinet-maker lived from 1718 until 1779 and designed furniture that was less ostentatious than that of William Kent, consistent with British (and London) tastes at the time, and yet exceedingly graceful and refined. Interior designers today will adopt either Chippendale's original designs or re-envisionments/replicas of his originals.
Finally, Robert Adam was an architect and interior designer who dominated the 1770s with his vivacious use of Roman and Greek motifs, including urns, tripods, and mythological iconography.
Today, London interior design consultancies tend to be cautious with Georgian designs, recognising that this style can look pretentious if too pronounced. Larger, more spacious London mansions with tall ceilings are best suited to the Georgian style of interior design.
The next article in my series "Designing in Style" moves away from historic traditions and focuses in on a timeless interior design classic - the rural countryside.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Showing posts with label Interior Design London. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interior Design London. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style - Foundations
Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This first article in my series outlines some of the basic concepts.
One of the first things to note is that we change our interiors much less frequently than we change our clothing. As a result, it is important for the professional interior designer to not design too "fashionable" a room for fear that it might seem completely outdated next year. Certainly it is possible to keep up with furniture fashions - many of which can be seen in London's monthly interior design magazines - but the professional interior designer will generally prefer to focus on furniture fashions that can be easily changed. Examples include cushions, table decorations, rugs and bed linens.
London interior design trends can be very changeable. For example, in recent decades London saw a movement back towards the traditional. The Georgian-style Adam fireplace has seen a major revival, as have other old-fashioned features. Mouldings are very much in style today, and interior designers will commonly include them - whether in plaster or in wood.
Interestingly, the return of the dado (even in some of the smaller London residences) has also seen a re-envisioning of the two-tone wall colour scheme. In keeping with tradition, London interior design professionals will often choose a heavier, darker colour below the dado rail and a lighter colour above.
Fabric coordination is very much in vogue. With the increased availability of bespoke fabric centres in and around London, interior designers will often nowadays choose fabrics that are manufactured to match papers, borders, carpets, ceramics and even porcelain.
Finally, style should always be understood in the context of the available interior design space. No two rooms are identical, and every room has both strong points and weak points. The most experienced interior designers will choose styles that can showcase a room's strengths while hiding its weaknesses. Examples of weaknesses in a room might include some structural re-engineering made by a previous owner, or perhaps an awkward architectural design fault that cannot be remedied today.
In the next article in this series on how interior designers "design in style," I will introduce you to two of London's most timeless design styles - Georgian and Victorian.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
One of the first things to note is that we change our interiors much less frequently than we change our clothing. As a result, it is important for the professional interior designer to not design too "fashionable" a room for fear that it might seem completely outdated next year. Certainly it is possible to keep up with furniture fashions - many of which can be seen in London's monthly interior design magazines - but the professional interior designer will generally prefer to focus on furniture fashions that can be easily changed. Examples include cushions, table decorations, rugs and bed linens.
London interior design trends can be very changeable. For example, in recent decades London saw a movement back towards the traditional. The Georgian-style Adam fireplace has seen a major revival, as have other old-fashioned features. Mouldings are very much in style today, and interior designers will commonly include them - whether in plaster or in wood.
Interestingly, the return of the dado (even in some of the smaller London residences) has also seen a re-envisioning of the two-tone wall colour scheme. In keeping with tradition, London interior design professionals will often choose a heavier, darker colour below the dado rail and a lighter colour above.
Fabric coordination is very much in vogue. With the increased availability of bespoke fabric centres in and around London, interior designers will often nowadays choose fabrics that are manufactured to match papers, borders, carpets, ceramics and even porcelain.
Finally, style should always be understood in the context of the available interior design space. No two rooms are identical, and every room has both strong points and weak points. The most experienced interior designers will choose styles that can showcase a room's strengths while hiding its weaknesses. Examples of weaknesses in a room might include some structural re-engineering made by a previous owner, or perhaps an awkward architectural design fault that cannot be remedied today.
In the next article in this series on how interior designers "design in style," I will introduce you to two of London's most timeless design styles - Georgian and Victorian.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings - Lighting and Mirrors
When interior designers use the term "wall hangings," they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. In this third and final article in my series on "How Interior Designers Select Wall Hangings," I will discuss some approaches to lighting and mirror installations that I have seen while working alongside many of London's most successful interior design professionals.
Lighting is an incredibly important part of the art of interior design when it comes to wall hangings. Sometimes it can be absolutely stunning to include a spotlight effect or underlighting to draw the eye towards a particularly fabulous photograph or painted centrepiece. In London, interior designers will normally include lighting elements at the very first stage of their brief. As with so many parts of interior design, nothing is ever an afterthought - the entire design is comprehensive and perfectly envisioned right from the start. For example, professional interior designers will anticipate a need for any wall-hung picture lights and will make sure this is included in the electrical drawings for the electrical contractors to fit a socket at the appropriate height during the early preparation phase of your project. (In most London residences, such sockets heights are non-standard.)
Mirrors can be appropriate for an interior design because they make a room appear larger and can help the resident to better visualise artwork or other wall hangings from many perspectives. This is particularly important for certain smaller London residences which may feature awkward spaces or difficult corners. The professional interior designer will make sure to think hard about appropriate placement of mirrors - whether they are being included for practical or decorative purposes. If a mirror is framed, the interior designer will make sure that the frame is matched or coordinated with other frames or materials in the room.
When using a mirror decoratively, the professional interior designer will always pay attention to make sure that it reflects something of interest. I have seen less experienced interior designers in London occasionally hang a mirror in a place where the reflections can cause annoyance or distraction to someone sitting at a table or on a settee. Fortunately mirrors can be easily re-hung elsewhere, but the most prestigious London interior design consultancies will always take this into account and get it right the first time.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Lighting is an incredibly important part of the art of interior design when it comes to wall hangings. Sometimes it can be absolutely stunning to include a spotlight effect or underlighting to draw the eye towards a particularly fabulous photograph or painted centrepiece. In London, interior designers will normally include lighting elements at the very first stage of their brief. As with so many parts of interior design, nothing is ever an afterthought - the entire design is comprehensive and perfectly envisioned right from the start. For example, professional interior designers will anticipate a need for any wall-hung picture lights and will make sure this is included in the electrical drawings for the electrical contractors to fit a socket at the appropriate height during the early preparation phase of your project. (In most London residences, such sockets heights are non-standard.)
Mirrors can be appropriate for an interior design because they make a room appear larger and can help the resident to better visualise artwork or other wall hangings from many perspectives. This is particularly important for certain smaller London residences which may feature awkward spaces or difficult corners. The professional interior designer will make sure to think hard about appropriate placement of mirrors - whether they are being included for practical or decorative purposes. If a mirror is framed, the interior designer will make sure that the frame is matched or coordinated with other frames or materials in the room.
When using a mirror decoratively, the professional interior designer will always pay attention to make sure that it reflects something of interest. I have seen less experienced interior designers in London occasionally hang a mirror in a place where the reflections can cause annoyance or distraction to someone sitting at a table or on a settee. Fortunately mirrors can be easily re-hung elsewhere, but the most prestigious London interior design consultancies will always take this into account and get it right the first time.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Interior Design in London Goes Exterior! - Specialist Garden Lighting
The work of interior designers professionals doesn't stop at the back door - increasingly, interior design teams are expanding to offer specific garden design expertise. In this four-part collection of articles, "Interior Design Goes Exterior," I rely on my years of know-how gleaned from collaborating with London's finest interior design teams to explore the latest in garden design. This article discusses where and how to implement general, task and feature lighting - whether for a compact central London urban garden or for the luxurious and expansive grounds of a grand mansion outside London.
Your interior design consultancy should allow exterior lighting to be controlled using a simple switch. Often the system will be attached to a daylight detector to deactivate everything during daytime hours. Your interior design team will also specify a timer to make certain that the lights go out at, say, 2am (neighbours in some London boroughs can be sensitive about light pollution). If your interior design consultancy implements a more theatrical and expansive illumination scheme, they might alternatively specify a dimmer system to allow for fine-tuning.
Most London Interior Design consultancies will first need to decide which approaches to select for general, task and feature lighting, before specifying products that match the look and feel of the garden. Your interior designer will select a suitable mounting location and will determine whether or not you need extra electrical outlets on the patio (they may also need to consult with your London borough's local electricity supplier). Remember that a garden is seen from inside the house, as well as from outside - both from your own garden and from the properties of your London neighbours! If your residence features a conservatory (or actually any garden-facing feature windows), your interior design consultancy should notify you of the importance of properly illuminating the garden right from the outset.
After dusk, windows generally look very black and will function almost as mirrors, creating bright reflections and sometimes giving residents the feeling of being slightly overexposed. In the next article in this collection which I call "Interior Design Goes Exterior," I will focus on exactly this issue to reveal how top London interior designers create lighting schemes that bridge both inside and outside via a conservatory.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Your interior design consultancy should allow exterior lighting to be controlled using a simple switch. Often the system will be attached to a daylight detector to deactivate everything during daytime hours. Your interior design team will also specify a timer to make certain that the lights go out at, say, 2am (neighbours in some London boroughs can be sensitive about light pollution). If your interior design consultancy implements a more theatrical and expansive illumination scheme, they might alternatively specify a dimmer system to allow for fine-tuning.
Most London Interior Design consultancies will first need to decide which approaches to select for general, task and feature lighting, before specifying products that match the look and feel of the garden. Your interior designer will select a suitable mounting location and will determine whether or not you need extra electrical outlets on the patio (they may also need to consult with your London borough's local electricity supplier). Remember that a garden is seen from inside the house, as well as from outside - both from your own garden and from the properties of your London neighbours! If your residence features a conservatory (or actually any garden-facing feature windows), your interior design consultancy should notify you of the importance of properly illuminating the garden right from the outset.
After dusk, windows generally look very black and will function almost as mirrors, creating bright reflections and sometimes giving residents the feeling of being slightly overexposed. In the next article in this collection which I call "Interior Design Goes Exterior," I will focus on exactly this issue to reveal how top London interior designers create lighting schemes that bridge both inside and outside via a conservatory.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Interior Design in London Goes Exterior! - Installing Garden Lights
The work of interior designers professionals doesn't stop at the back door - increasingly, interior design teams are expanding to include specific garden design expertise. In this four-part collection of articles, "Interior Design Goes Exterior," I rely on my years of know-how gleaned from collaborating with London's finest interior design teams to explore the latest in garden design. This article discusses the practicalities of installing light fixtures in a garden.
Installing exterior lighting is often more expensive than installing interior illumination. If your interior design team is completely redesigning your garden, then it is best to install lights at the earliest possible time, as some earth-moving may be necessary. A cable that carries electricity to the illuminators should be protected or housed within a special waterproof channel - let's avoid London's rainy weather ruining our electrics! All cables must be at a sufficient depth to make sure there is no risk of them being dug up during regular gardening work. Interior designers will recommend sealed connectors, with additional fuses or circuit breakers to guard against electrocution if there is a flooded channel. All wiring should be performed by a qualified technician - call the electricity provider for your local London borough for more information.
If your garden is already well-grown, your interior design team may recommend installing cabling in the autumn or spring. This minimises damage to greenery and other wildlife. Many London Interior Design teams prefer to attach trunking boxes and transformers to perimeter fencing close to the ground, where they can be readily concealed by shrubs or bushes. Low-voltage illuminator terminals can be distant from the transformers - just use a set of long cables for this to work. If your interior design team follows this approach, contractors will often be able to "work around" the existing vegetation without wrecking your favourite flowers, shrubs or bushes. This can be really important even for smaller urban-style gardens in central London. Occasionally London contractors can be a little heavy-footed, and the last thing you want is a year-long garden growback period after your interior design team has long since departed. Your interior designer will want your garden to look as fabulous as your residence itself on presentation day!
In the next article in this collection which I call "Interior Design Goes Exterior," I will talk about how to sketch out a garden lighting scheme.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Installing exterior lighting is often more expensive than installing interior illumination. If your interior design team is completely redesigning your garden, then it is best to install lights at the earliest possible time, as some earth-moving may be necessary. A cable that carries electricity to the illuminators should be protected or housed within a special waterproof channel - let's avoid London's rainy weather ruining our electrics! All cables must be at a sufficient depth to make sure there is no risk of them being dug up during regular gardening work. Interior designers will recommend sealed connectors, with additional fuses or circuit breakers to guard against electrocution if there is a flooded channel. All wiring should be performed by a qualified technician - call the electricity provider for your local London borough for more information.
If your garden is already well-grown, your interior design team may recommend installing cabling in the autumn or spring. This minimises damage to greenery and other wildlife. Many London Interior Design teams prefer to attach trunking boxes and transformers to perimeter fencing close to the ground, where they can be readily concealed by shrubs or bushes. Low-voltage illuminator terminals can be distant from the transformers - just use a set of long cables for this to work. If your interior design team follows this approach, contractors will often be able to "work around" the existing vegetation without wrecking your favourite flowers, shrubs or bushes. This can be really important even for smaller urban-style gardens in central London. Occasionally London contractors can be a little heavy-footed, and the last thing you want is a year-long garden growback period after your interior design team has long since departed. Your interior designer will want your garden to look as fabulous as your residence itself on presentation day!
In the next article in this collection which I call "Interior Design Goes Exterior," I will talk about how to sketch out a garden lighting scheme.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Lighting Design: How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting - Part III
Clients will often employ Interior Design Consultancies because they crave a touch of flair, and because they need some professional help with style and coordination. In this three-part series which I call "How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top lighting design experts to explain how feature lighting may be a critical part of giving clients the results they desire.
Three-dimensional objects, such as flower displays or glassware, have unique lighting requirements. Interior design consultancies will choose to make these backlit, silhouetted or thrown into relief. Other options include lighting from one direction for surface texture or cross-lighting for a truly three-dimensional effect. When lighting a bowl of flowers or a decorative object or sculpture, interior design consultancies rely on the same principles as for picture lighting. Spotlights may be appropriate for all three, but certain sculptures may require the light to be directed at special angles. Interior design consultancies will often employ lighting specialists to focus specifically on this part of the design effort.
Glassware is beautifully responsive to illumination. Interior design consultancies are sometimes asked to showcase frosted glass objects, in which case downlighting will make the ornament look as if it is capturing the light as if illuminated from within. Some of the most progressive London interior design consultancies will recommend fibre optic sources from below, for eye-catching splendour and real visual impact.
To build mood, interior design consultancies will sometimes use backlighting to make an object look silhouetted. Some high-end London clients have their own collections of bronze pieces or sculptures that feature clean-cut shapes. The result is vibrant and engaging, as the backlighting showcases the two-dimensional within the three-dimensional whole.
With fabulous lighting, interior design consultancies can allow alcoves or bespoke shelving to take on a ornamental charm, as a focal point alongside the objects on display. Shelf lighting is important everywhere - even in a London kitchen or cloakroom, a touch of designer light can make even a prosaic set of glass bottles or shimmering stones into an engaging feature.
That brings to an end this series of articles called "How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting." Thank you for joining me to learn about how some of London 's top interior design consultancies think about illumination in their designs!
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Three-dimensional objects, such as flower displays or glassware, have unique lighting requirements. Interior design consultancies will choose to make these backlit, silhouetted or thrown into relief. Other options include lighting from one direction for surface texture or cross-lighting for a truly three-dimensional effect. When lighting a bowl of flowers or a decorative object or sculpture, interior design consultancies rely on the same principles as for picture lighting. Spotlights may be appropriate for all three, but certain sculptures may require the light to be directed at special angles. Interior design consultancies will often employ lighting specialists to focus specifically on this part of the design effort.
Glassware is beautifully responsive to illumination. Interior design consultancies are sometimes asked to showcase frosted glass objects, in which case downlighting will make the ornament look as if it is capturing the light as if illuminated from within. Some of the most progressive London interior design consultancies will recommend fibre optic sources from below, for eye-catching splendour and real visual impact.
To build mood, interior design consultancies will sometimes use backlighting to make an object look silhouetted. Some high-end London clients have their own collections of bronze pieces or sculptures that feature clean-cut shapes. The result is vibrant and engaging, as the backlighting showcases the two-dimensional within the three-dimensional whole.
With fabulous lighting, interior design consultancies can allow alcoves or bespoke shelving to take on a ornamental charm, as a focal point alongside the objects on display. Shelf lighting is important everywhere - even in a London kitchen or cloakroom, a touch of designer light can make even a prosaic set of glass bottles or shimmering stones into an engaging feature.
That brings to an end this series of articles called "How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting." Thank you for joining me to learn about how some of London 's top interior design consultancies think about illumination in their designs!
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Lighting Design: How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting - Part II
Clients will often employ Interior Design Consultancies because they crave a touch of flair, and because they need some professional help with style and coordination. In this three-part series which I call "How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top lighting design experts to explain how feature lighting may be a critical part of giving clients the results they desire.
Interior design consultancies rely on three types of spotlight - surface-mounted, track-mounted or fully recessed into the ceiling. Spotlights ordinarily cast a narrow cone of light, but they can be muted or relaxed through the use of lenses. Interior design consultancies will specify speciality UV-blocker lenses to protect old paintings, valuable pictures or prized artwork purchased from London's top auction houses. Some of London's best interior design consultancies will deliberately use spotlights on thicker paintings that feature substantial texturing in order to make them look more dramatic. Any reflections from a glazed frame will be minimized when the interior design consultancy uses the spotlight specifically as an uplighter.
In some luxurious London residences, it may be appropriate for the interior design consultancy to recommend the most sophisticated type of feature lighting, namely the framing projector. This can be used to spectacular effect when illuminating paintings, prints and photographs. It can also be ideal for sculptures, especially in cases when direct lighting may be too aggressive due to its sharp shadows. The interior design consultancy will install the framing projector so as to focus only on the object itself, with no shadow appearing on the wall behind and no spill of light beyond the object. London interior design consultancies will employ a framing projector to create an effect whereby a picture seems to be illuminated as if by magic from within. Sculptures will appear suspended theatrically in thin air. One note of caution: the interior design consultancy must select a suitably skilled master craftsman who will cut the copper shield that masks the light to exactly the correct shape. Some of London's top interior design consultancies have even been known to use this type of system in garden designs, with the projector housed in a waterproof securement.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Interior design consultancies rely on three types of spotlight - surface-mounted, track-mounted or fully recessed into the ceiling. Spotlights ordinarily cast a narrow cone of light, but they can be muted or relaxed through the use of lenses. Interior design consultancies will specify speciality UV-blocker lenses to protect old paintings, valuable pictures or prized artwork purchased from London's top auction houses. Some of London's best interior design consultancies will deliberately use spotlights on thicker paintings that feature substantial texturing in order to make them look more dramatic. Any reflections from a glazed frame will be minimized when the interior design consultancy uses the spotlight specifically as an uplighter.
In some luxurious London residences, it may be appropriate for the interior design consultancy to recommend the most sophisticated type of feature lighting, namely the framing projector. This can be used to spectacular effect when illuminating paintings, prints and photographs. It can also be ideal for sculptures, especially in cases when direct lighting may be too aggressive due to its sharp shadows. The interior design consultancy will install the framing projector so as to focus only on the object itself, with no shadow appearing on the wall behind and no spill of light beyond the object. London interior design consultancies will employ a framing projector to create an effect whereby a picture seems to be illuminated as if by magic from within. Sculptures will appear suspended theatrically in thin air. One note of caution: the interior design consultancy must select a suitably skilled master craftsman who will cut the copper shield that masks the light to exactly the correct shape. Some of London's top interior design consultancies have even been known to use this type of system in garden designs, with the projector housed in a waterproof securement.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Lighting Design: How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting - Part I
Clients will often employ Interior Design Consultancies because they crave a touch of flair, and because they need some professional help with style and coordination. In this three-part series which I call "How Interior Design Consultancies Use Feature Lighting," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top lighting design experts to explain how feature lighting may be a critical part of giving clients the results they desire.
Feature lighting is truly breathtaking when interior design consultancies use this type of illumination to bring focus to valuable or attractive possessions. Many London homeowners have a variety of these types of objects - including trophies, ornamental glassware, sculptures and ceramics. The interior design consultancy will work with the client to decide whether to showcase these objects alone or in groups, perhaps in bespoke glass cabinetry.
Feature lighting needs to be fine-tuned by the interior design consultancy in accordance with the object to be illuminated. Pictures, photos or paintings commonly require a "picture light." London interior design consultancies will often choose low-voltage halogen options with remote slimline transformers as a fashionable and versatile solution. Their sleek profile is a major benefit in smaller London residences. Interior design consultancies rely on halogen illumination because it is snow-coloured, avoiding the yellow tinge that is associated with tungsten alternatives. This results in improved colour temperature consistency. For best results, the interior design consultancy needs to choose a picture light that offers a good throw of illumination. This is directly impacted by the dimensions of the picture light arm. Professional interior design consultancies know that a beautiful London-designed short-armed picture light which is ultraslim and sophisticated will only be suitable for the smallest picture.
Interior design consultancies will specify that picture lights should be secured right next to the frame, or even onto the frame itself. In low-ceilinged London residences, wall-mounted lights can be a little impractical. Accordingly, interior design consultancies will conduct initial dimensional studies to make sure that the light will illuminate the picture, rather than the adjacent wall.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Feature lighting is truly breathtaking when interior design consultancies use this type of illumination to bring focus to valuable or attractive possessions. Many London homeowners have a variety of these types of objects - including trophies, ornamental glassware, sculptures and ceramics. The interior design consultancy will work with the client to decide whether to showcase these objects alone or in groups, perhaps in bespoke glass cabinetry.
Feature lighting needs to be fine-tuned by the interior design consultancy in accordance with the object to be illuminated. Pictures, photos or paintings commonly require a "picture light." London interior design consultancies will often choose low-voltage halogen options with remote slimline transformers as a fashionable and versatile solution. Their sleek profile is a major benefit in smaller London residences. Interior design consultancies rely on halogen illumination because it is snow-coloured, avoiding the yellow tinge that is associated with tungsten alternatives. This results in improved colour temperature consistency. For best results, the interior design consultancy needs to choose a picture light that offers a good throw of illumination. This is directly impacted by the dimensions of the picture light arm. Professional interior design consultancies know that a beautiful London-designed short-armed picture light which is ultraslim and sophisticated will only be suitable for the smallest picture.
Interior design consultancies will specify that picture lights should be secured right next to the frame, or even onto the frame itself. In low-ceilinged London residences, wall-mounted lights can be a little impractical. Accordingly, interior design consultancies will conduct initial dimensional studies to make sure that the light will illuminate the picture, rather than the adjacent wall.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Let's FOCUS on Interior Design: Lighting for Drama - Part III
Interior design professionals are accomplished at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this three-part series which I call "Let's FOCUS on Interior Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top interior design experts to explain how to create focus, balance and drama through the use of lighting.
As explained in my previous articles, Interior Design Professionals rely on focus lighting to showcase favourite features of a room. However, focus lighting can also draw out the intimacy of a London dinner party. Some interior design professionals will incorporate just a single downlighter over the dinner table, attracting guests like moths to cashmere. I have known some famous interior design teams to add a dash of candlelight to evoke a wink and a glitter on glasses and chinaware. It is important for the interior design professional to also provide a low level of general light for infill, beautifying the faces of London guests and smoothing out any wrinkles or blemishes.
Focus tends to be less important in non-primary areas such as passageways, cloakrooms and conservatories, where the interior design professional will more often think mainly about function. However, in my experience the very best London interior design teams treat these "transitory" spaces with just as much energy, because of their atmospheric, mood-giving qualities. A London mansion design just won't make sense if the rooms are beautifully and dramatically illuminated but a dull, flat hallway outside lacks inspiration.
London passageways, basements and staircases are often structurally intriguing, featuring unfamiliar frames of reference, level shifts, and historic interest such as bell-curved walls or pointed archways. Subtle lighting effects are the ideal interior design choice here. Too many inexperienced interior design teams make the mistake of including just one central illuminator, missing a great opportunity to articulate qualities or structures that may enlarge the visual space or add interest. The result is often disappointing - either too washed-out or too shadowy.
If the interior design team sees a cove or niche, it can be backlit for silhouetted intrigue. Floorsprayed lighting on stairs can be another interesting interior design option, with high-visibility but muted illumination emphasising each step while simultaneously meeting health and safety guidelines.
Thank you for reading my series on how London interior designers create focus and drama with light!
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
As explained in my previous articles, Interior Design Professionals rely on focus lighting to showcase favourite features of a room. However, focus lighting can also draw out the intimacy of a London dinner party. Some interior design professionals will incorporate just a single downlighter over the dinner table, attracting guests like moths to cashmere. I have known some famous interior design teams to add a dash of candlelight to evoke a wink and a glitter on glasses and chinaware. It is important for the interior design professional to also provide a low level of general light for infill, beautifying the faces of London guests and smoothing out any wrinkles or blemishes.
Focus tends to be less important in non-primary areas such as passageways, cloakrooms and conservatories, where the interior design professional will more often think mainly about function. However, in my experience the very best London interior design teams treat these "transitory" spaces with just as much energy, because of their atmospheric, mood-giving qualities. A London mansion design just won't make sense if the rooms are beautifully and dramatically illuminated but a dull, flat hallway outside lacks inspiration.
London passageways, basements and staircases are often structurally intriguing, featuring unfamiliar frames of reference, level shifts, and historic interest such as bell-curved walls or pointed archways. Subtle lighting effects are the ideal interior design choice here. Too many inexperienced interior design teams make the mistake of including just one central illuminator, missing a great opportunity to articulate qualities or structures that may enlarge the visual space or add interest. The result is often disappointing - either too washed-out or too shadowy.
If the interior design team sees a cove or niche, it can be backlit for silhouetted intrigue. Floorsprayed lighting on stairs can be another interesting interior design option, with high-visibility but muted illumination emphasising each step while simultaneously meeting health and safety guidelines.
Thank you for reading my series on how London interior designers create focus and drama with light!
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Let's FOCUS on Interior Design: Lighting for Drama - Part II
Interior design professionals are accomplished at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this three-part series which I call "Let's FOCUS on Interior Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top interior design experts to explain how to create focus, balance and drama through the use of lighting.
Deciding when to use contrast is critical for top-notch interior design results. At nighttime, feature lighting can be wonderful - think of a dusky London back garden that suddenly gets illuminated from under the flower bushes! By daybreak, however, interior design professionals know that clients crave a more even brightness. This will be less wearisome for one's eyesight than constantly gazing from a super-bright illuminator, such as a desk lamp, to an environment that is often shrouded in shadow. Top London interior design professionals always bear this in mind when planning home office spaces.
Having said all that, the secret to creating focus really is all about feature lighting. This type of illumination must be crisp, accurate and controllable using different settings than the rest of the light sources. Often the London Interior Design Professional will be asked to focus on a structural feature or a treasured sculpture. In such cases, the interior design team should use muted lighting, gently shifting the guests' attention onto the chosen object instead of causing diversions. The interior design professional is only allowed to make the illuminator centre-stage if it really is a solo feature - like an historic chandelier in an opulent London mansion, for example. Most interior design boutiques will employ dimmer circuitry to modulate the balance between general and feature illumination. The results can be theatrical and exciting - giving the client complete control of the atmosphere and mood.
Many London interior design professionals love to re-imagine living and dining rooms - places where we unwind and receive guests. Decorative accessories are often a contemplative focus for welcomed guests, and some of London's top interior design teams will rely on bespoke light sources to realise this. A fabulous vase will look mystical and historic, maybe as if illuminated from the interior, when the interior design professional paints it pastel pink using a narrow-beam downlight. A prize photograph can act as a foil when showcased by multi-view up/downlighters on either side. Interior design professionals will similarly give the focus treatment to plants and flower arrangements, as light brings out the texture as well as the hues of petals and buds.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Deciding when to use contrast is critical for top-notch interior design results. At nighttime, feature lighting can be wonderful - think of a dusky London back garden that suddenly gets illuminated from under the flower bushes! By daybreak, however, interior design professionals know that clients crave a more even brightness. This will be less wearisome for one's eyesight than constantly gazing from a super-bright illuminator, such as a desk lamp, to an environment that is often shrouded in shadow. Top London interior design professionals always bear this in mind when planning home office spaces.
Having said all that, the secret to creating focus really is all about feature lighting. This type of illumination must be crisp, accurate and controllable using different settings than the rest of the light sources. Often the London Interior Design Professional will be asked to focus on a structural feature or a treasured sculpture. In such cases, the interior design team should use muted lighting, gently shifting the guests' attention onto the chosen object instead of causing diversions. The interior design professional is only allowed to make the illuminator centre-stage if it really is a solo feature - like an historic chandelier in an opulent London mansion, for example. Most interior design boutiques will employ dimmer circuitry to modulate the balance between general and feature illumination. The results can be theatrical and exciting - giving the client complete control of the atmosphere and mood.
Many London interior design professionals love to re-imagine living and dining rooms - places where we unwind and receive guests. Decorative accessories are often a contemplative focus for welcomed guests, and some of London's top interior design teams will rely on bespoke light sources to realise this. A fabulous vase will look mystical and historic, maybe as if illuminated from the interior, when the interior design professional paints it pastel pink using a narrow-beam downlight. A prize photograph can act as a foil when showcased by multi-view up/downlighters on either side. Interior design professionals will similarly give the focus treatment to plants and flower arrangements, as light brings out the texture as well as the hues of petals and buds.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Let's FOCUS on Interior Design: Lighting for Drama - Part I
Interior design professionals are accomplished at merging both function and form to create breathtaking results. In this three-part series which I call "Let's FOCUS on Interior Design," I draw on my experience working with some of London's top interior design experts to explain how to create focus, balance and drama through the use of lighting.
The London Interior Design Professional is adroit at creating balance by fine-tuning the various lighting levels in a scheme and reducing global brightness. This process is critical in building mood and drama. Away from the field of interior design, think of how natural light works. Imagine the sleek freshness of a shaft of London sunshine through a skylight, which causes the gloomiest room to brighten up vivaciously. London's interior design professionals often use the word "emphasis" to describe the resulting contrast between brightness and shade.
For example, in a given interior design concept, the client will often ask for a favourite ornament or table to be highlighted. In such cases, the interior design professional may decide to wash the area around the highlight with low-level general lighting. A graphic artist or web designer uses the same approach to incorporate both bright-lights and contrasting dimmed-lights in a painting. Achieving proper emphasis is critical to any lighting scheme, whether in an interior design setting or not.
London's inclement weather can pose a challenge for those who work extensively with light. For example, many London photographers need to take special classes to learn how to use a light meter in order to measure intensities and guarantee the proper illuminative balance. The interior design professional doesn't need such fancy equipment and mainly relies on her eyes and ears. Instead, interior design professionals learn about reflectivity in their colour and lighting classes. Matt and gloss metrics, together with saturation quotients, all determine the reflectance value. An object that is highly reflective is difficult to photograph, but easy for the eye to make out. The interior design expert knows this, and understands how to use infill lighting to mellow out the contrast values and thereby create more cohesive and melodious interior design concepts.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
The London Interior Design Professional is adroit at creating balance by fine-tuning the various lighting levels in a scheme and reducing global brightness. This process is critical in building mood and drama. Away from the field of interior design, think of how natural light works. Imagine the sleek freshness of a shaft of London sunshine through a skylight, which causes the gloomiest room to brighten up vivaciously. London's interior design professionals often use the word "emphasis" to describe the resulting contrast between brightness and shade.
For example, in a given interior design concept, the client will often ask for a favourite ornament or table to be highlighted. In such cases, the interior design professional may decide to wash the area around the highlight with low-level general lighting. A graphic artist or web designer uses the same approach to incorporate both bright-lights and contrasting dimmed-lights in a painting. Achieving proper emphasis is critical to any lighting scheme, whether in an interior design setting or not.
London's inclement weather can pose a challenge for those who work extensively with light. For example, many London photographers need to take special classes to learn how to use a light meter in order to measure intensities and guarantee the proper illuminative balance. The interior design professional doesn't need such fancy equipment and mainly relies on her eyes and ears. Instead, interior design professionals learn about reflectivity in their colour and lighting classes. Matt and gloss metrics, together with saturation quotients, all determine the reflectance value. An object that is highly reflective is difficult to photograph, but easy for the eye to make out. The interior design expert knows this, and understands how to use infill lighting to mellow out the contrast values and thereby create more cohesive and melodious interior design concepts.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
A Top London Interior Designer, What Do You Feel?
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.
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.
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.
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