Interior design is a practice concerned with anything that is found inside a

space - walls, windows, doors, finishes, textures, light, furnishings and

furniture. All of these elements are used by interior designers to develop
the most functional space for a building's users

What is interior design?

Many factors come into play in formulating the design solution.

The space itself - its dimensions and construction - with its

potential and its limitations.
The way the space will be used - for relaxing or entertaining,
work or play.
The meaning of the space, what it signifies, be it security,
achievement, playfulness or serenity.
The practical considerations, like ease of access, amount of
light, acoustics, seating and places to store or set things
down.
The health and safety considerations, attention to special
needs, and more.
The elements of design range from the visual (colour, lighting,
form), to the tactile (surface, shape, texture), to the auditory
(noise, echo). The designer must have an aesthetic, practical and
technical appreciation for these elements. He or she must
understand how people use and respond to these elements, not
just individually but as the elements interact with one another.

Designers must also be knowledgeable about the many types and

characteristics of furnishings, accessories and ornaments used in
creating interiors. Furniture, lighting, carpeting and floor
covering, paint and wall covering, glass, wrought metal, fixtures,
art and artifacts are just some of the many items and materials
from which designers can select. In addition, they must be
familiar with the various styles of design, art and architecture.

Freedom Interiors offer a service to advise you in creating a

functional and quality interior environment. Qualified through
education and experience, Freedom Interiors can identify,
research and creatively resolve problems and suggest ideas to
provide a healthy, safe and comfortable physical environment.

Initial consultation, to help

0 Determine project goals and objectives
1 Generate ideas for the functional and aesthetic
possibilities of the space
Planning your project
0 Allocating, organizing and arranging a space to suit its
function
1 Creating illustrations and plans
2 Selecting and specifying fixtures, lighting, furnishings,
products, materials and colours
Coordinating your project
0 Monitoring and managing construction and installation of
design
Rental refresh.
0 Overseeing your investment by formulating plans to
enable you to raise the calibre of your rental clients.
Homes Sales Consultation, to help you

Realise your home's financial potential.

Interior designers are trained in space planning. Whilst both

designers and decorators are concerned with aesthetics, style
and mood, interior designers have comprehensive training and
command skills that may include an understanding of:

space planning
ergonomics
lighting quality and quantity
A decorator works only with surface decoration - paint, paper,
fabric, furnishings, lighting and other materials.

Interior designers understand how colours, shapes and styles can

enhance your sense of wellbeing. They bring to your home a balance
between its many elements: function and aesthetics, your needs and
the space available. But where would we be without the warmth, the
passion and the uniqueness that only the Designer’s work can bring?

What is the interior designer’s role during construction?

During construction, the interior designer will function as your agent. They
will purchase materials on your behalf, award contracts with your approval,
and perform regular inspections of the premises to ensure that your project
is developing according to plan.
What does an interior designer do?
An interior designer is responsible for preparing and implementing the plans
for building interiors, including the physical structure as well as furniture,
surfaces and finishes. They differ from interior decorators in that they have
more extensive technical knowledge, and are involved in the construction
and modification of building interiors as well as their decoration.

When should I consider hiring an interior designer?

Interior designers are used by people who are building, renovating or
decorating. You might want to consider employing an interior designer for a
number of reasons:

Interior designers can help to manage more difficult projects, by making

the best use of available space.
Interior designers can help if you want or need a specific ‘look’, but feel
unsure of how to go about achieving it.
Interior designers have access to discounts and exclusive ‘industry only’
products.
Interior designers can also help if you do not have enough time to design
or develop your interior yourself, or if you simply lack the skills or
confidence to do so.
Note that if you are considering major structural changes to your building,
you might also choose to hire an architect.

Should I choose an interior designer or an interior decorator?

This will depend upon the project that you have in mind. An interior designer
can draw plans, remodel and supervise contractors, as well as decorating
interiors. If you want to make significant changes to your interior, an interior
designer will be a better option. Interior decorators deal primarily with
aesthetic decisions like finishes and furnishings.

At what stage in the process should I consider hiring an interior

designer?
You can hire a designer at any stage, but the earlier you hire them, the
easier it will be, for a number of reasons. Hiring them early in the process
will give you more flexibility as you will not yet be committed to any firm
outcomes. It will therefore allow your designer to respond more effectively to
your needs.

An interior designer is responsible for the interior design, decoration,

and functionality of a client’s space, whether the space is commercial,
industrial, or residential. Interior designers work closely with architects
and clients to determine the structure of a space, the needs of the
occupants, and the style that best suits both.
. Interior designers have to be good with more than color, fabric, and
furniture; interior designers must know materials, have budgeting
skills, communicate well, and oversee the ordering, installation, and
maintenance of all objects that define a space. They also have to know
about electrical capacity, safety, and construction. This broader range
of required knowledge distinguishes them from interior decorators.
Interior designers have to be able to work with contractors and clients
alike, planning and implementing all aesthetic and functional decisions,
from faucet handles to miles of carpeting —and all this usually must be
done within a fixed budget. Interior designers are hired for their
expertise in a variety of styles and approaches, not merely their own
personal vision. Therefore, they have to be able to balance their own
tastes and their clients’ tastes—and be willing to put their clients’
tastes first. This requirement can be frustrating at first for many who
enter the profession. Interior designers are often asked to begin their
planning before construction of a space is finished; this means that
they must be good at scheduling and comfortable reading blueprints.
This element of the job comes as a surprise to many new interior
designers, who expect to have less of an administrative and technical
role and more of a role in influencing the overall feel and appearance
of a space. Those who thrive in the industry say this ability to balance
the practical with the aesthetic is crucial to being a successful interior
designer.

Interior decoration or decor is the art of decorating a room so that it is

attractive, easy to use, and functions well with the existing architecture.
The goal of interior decoration is to provide a certain "feel" for the room; it
encompasses applying wallpaper, wall decals, painting walls and other
surfaces, choosing furniture and fittings, such as light fixtures, floorplans
and providing other decorations for the area such as paintings, sculptures
and carpets.

Modern interior decorators began with Lenygon and Morant in London,

Charles Alavoine and Jeanselme in Paris, and Herter Brothers (from 1864)
and Elsie De Wolfe and Ogden Codman in New York.

Although the terms interior decorating and interior design are sometimes
used interchangeably, each discipline exhibits a distinct difference in its
scope. Interior decorating is generally focused on the selection and
presentation of interior items within a space, such as furniture,
accessories, finishes and room layout. Interior design, on the other hand,
involves manipulating the architectural integrity of the interior space.
. An interior designer is a person who designs interiors as part of their
job. Interior design is a creative practice that analyzes programmatic
information, establishes a conceptual direction, refines the design
direction, and produces graphic communication and construction
documents.

What is the value of the interior design industry?

Interior designers are naturally the focus of much attention from potential
suppliers as the value of the products they specify in the UK alone is
estimated at £15 billion per annum. There is as yet no national body
representing interior designers although it is estimated that there are 5000
design practices across the UK.

There is a wide range of disciplines within the career of interior design.

Some of the disciplines include: structure, function, specialized
performance, special group needs, discipline needed for business,
computer technology, presentation skills, craft skills, social disciplines,
promotional disciplines, professional disciplines, aesthetic disciplines, and
disciplines with cultural implications
Interior designers can specialize in a particular interior design discipline,
such as residential and commercial design, with some developing
expertise within a niche design area such as hospitality, health care and
institutional design.
Design Process
Regardless of the building-type the process is identical. The first step is
determining the client's objectives, timescale and budget. This is called
taking a Brief. The objective is nearly always to improve revenue for the
client - even householders will be considering the resale value of their
home. The designer will then provide a Fee Proposal which outlines their
design input and the cost for this.
. Working drawings are required prior to any design work, these are
detailed survey drawings of the existing space. The very first step once
commissioned on the project will be creating these drawings if none
already exist.

Today, designers use computer-aided design (CAD) although hand

sketches are still valued for their "personality". CAD is a programme used
to communicate design solutions in realistic views at various angles. This
programme eliminates long hours of hand-drawing and sketching

LIGHTING
Lighting is a very important part of any interior design project and its
contribution to a design scheme should not be underestimated. Lighting can
be used to create some dramatic effects and programmable settings enable
strong bright lights to be replaced by softer, warmer tones whenever
required

Our recommendations are based on space planning. For example, in an

informal setting where furniture is frequently moved to suit varying situations
or the purpose of the room can change, the lighting scheme needs to be
flexible and adaptable

In kitchen interior design, light focused on essential areas can

make a very big difference.

http://interior-decorating-trends.blogspot.com/2008/02/home-
furnishings-to-liven-your-home.html

Choose Living Room Lamp

How To Choose The Perfect Living Room Lamp With so many options
to choose from, you may be left confused about which lamp is right for
your living room. There are some factors you need to consider first to
properly assess the advantages and effects of the pieces you're eyeing
on. Here are a few simple tips on how to choose the perfect living
room lamp that fits your savvy, style and budget.First, check the size
of the lamp. If you are planning to place it on a table, check if it will fit
the surface or that the size is proportional to the table. Very huge
lamps set on rather small tables will distort the appearance. Lamp
shades that extend beyond the total area of the table are also not
recommended. The same goes for very small lamps and big tables.
Next, check the weight of the lamp base. You need to check that the
lamp will not easily be toppled over. The base should be proportional
to the overall size of the lamp in order to provide ample support and
stability. Cheap lamps usually have light bases. You can add stones or
sand or fix it on the floor for standalone models to make it heavier and
stable.Check the wattage of the lamp. How many bulbs does the lamp
have? If you're planning to add other light sources in the room, a 25 to
60 watt bulb will usually provide enough light for an area of the living
room. However, if you're only using the single lamp to light up the
entire room, you may want to invest in a 100 to 150 watt bulb or a 3-
way bulb. This gives sufficient light for reading or security purposes.
Check the style of the lamp. If you're following a certain theme, you
may need to choose the material and design carefully to match the
color and accents of the room. The material used should also
compliment the main theme. A basic rule is that the lamp base should
match the finish well. The color of the base should also blend well or
create a nice contrast with the lamp shade.

http://interior-decorating-trends.blogspot.com/

Interior Designer Tips for Selecting a New Paint

Color

1. Find a starting place. Pull your color inspiration from something

already in the room such as an area rug or painting. If you are
planning to replace the furnishings in a room as well as fresh
paint, start by finding the new items for the room. Finding a
paint color to match a rug you love is infinitely easier than trying
 to find a rug you like to work with the color of your walls.2.
Think about what you like, and what colors you like to wear. If
you don't look good in yellow, do not paint your Master
Bathroom yellow or you will be unhappy with yourself every time
you look in the mirror. You might be seeing a lot of blues and
browns in home furnishings lately, but if you don't love blue do
not paint your room blue just to keep up with the trends.3. Get
inspired! Mother Nature is the world's best colorist and she pulls
together the most incredible palettes. Look around outside for
color combinations you might have never considered.4. Start
small and take baby steps. If you want to try a bold color for the
first time, start in a small and manageable space such as a
Powder Room. The small space will allow you to live with you
new bold color in a small amount, plus you will need very few
accessories to pull the look together.5. Ignore all "rules" you
may have heard such as dark colors making a room look small.
Do not be guided by what you have been told is right or wrong
when selecting colors. Yes, some of these rules do have some
amount of truth but the world is not black and white, and nor
should your home be

Color Trends For Your Home Decoration Furniture

Bedroom

Decorating your home does not need to be trendy, but it should be

current, comfortable, and totally you! Some color choices work for one
person, while others capture someone else's fancy. Forecasting color is
really a trend that follows the fashion world. Colors that look good on
people are generally easy to incorporate into your home's décor. Many
are experiencing an economic downturn and therefore we are trying to
make home improvements without breaking the bank! Paint and color
choice is the perfect way to create a mood and update. As with
anything else, take these ideas loosely and work with what you have
and what you like! Strong colors. Remember back a couple of years
when you could not walk into a house and not see a red dining room.
Everyone embraced this color in the dining room for a number of
reasons. It is very bold, and you did not live in your dining room- only
visited it- so the color was not too overwhelming. Red was supposed to
make you hungry, so the dining room was a natural choice. All of the
other colors were soft in comparison- flooring, woodwork, fabrics, and
therefore did not fight with the bold red. This strong color movement
has moved out of the dining area and into the powder room. Again, a
room that is not "lived "in, and can be shut off. Generally there is a lot
of white fixtures here, so be bold with that color! Eggplant purple,
chocolate brown, deep greens and blues all work in this tiny space. It's
daring, but really current and attractive!Soothing colors. The soothing
colors of surf and sand (blues and browns) are still going very strong.
Soft blues paired with stronger browns are used in bedrooms, living
areas, and bathrooms. Soft blues can be incorporated even into the
ceiling color, thus evoking the feeling of a sky. These colors tend to
slow us down, so use them in rooms where you want to relax and
unwind. They are harder to use in kitchen/dining areas, but a strong
blue and yellow scheme is still attractive in this area.Natural colors.
Take a step outside and enjoy the landscape. Look around and find
inspiration in what you see in your garden, neighboring park, and
forests. The mixture of greens, browns, and vibrant flower tones work
well together. Bring that look into your house. The fresh green of a
blade of spring grass paired with the browns of a tree trunk and the
golds of yellow twig dogwood are very striking and easy to live with.
Use natural fibers and organic items in this décor. It's a perfect mix for
a great room or family area. In fact, most of your accessorizing can be
found right outside your door! This color combination lends itself to
changing seasonally, so if you want to change your look often, start
with the natural tones of greens, browns, and golds. Use these color
combinations to inspire your next project. Try a bold color in a closet if
a large space is too extreme. Take a trendy turn in a guest bedroom
where you can enjoy it on a limited basis. Or go all out, and re-do your
living space-after all, its just paint!

Colour
Colour can drastically affect your mood, so it is important to
always bear this in mind when embarking on interior design
projects. I am sure you will already have a favourite colour or
group of colours, so build these into your overall scheme. Using
colours that you know lift your spirits will make your colour choice
work for you.

There are no hard and fast rules about choosing colours. Create
your own sense of harmony by creating your own colour
spectrum. It really is not wise to go for a colour purely because it
is in vogue at the moment - you will soon live to regret it!

Where to begin

Begin by considering the colour of all the elements in the room,

not just the flat surfaces. It may well be that you already have
many items of furniture, accessories or soft furnishings that you
will have to incorporate into the scheme, so these will have to
form the bones of your plan. If you are starting totally from
scratch, then so much the better, you have a clean palette to
start with!

When using a large expanse of colour, remember that it will

always appear darker and stronger than you imagine from having
seen just a small fabric swatch or colour sample. This is
particularly true of paint colours or wallpapers.

TIP: Buy a small sample pot and paint a large section on a piece
of scrap plasterboard or something similar. Move it around the
room and look at it at different times of the day. You will be
amazed at how different the colour will appear in natural and
artificial light. The depth of colour will also vary depending on the
surface to which is applied and the amount of light it receives. If
in doubt, always go for a shade lighter.

If you want more than one paint colour on the walls, then its is
best not to go for a contrast, stick with the same colour but in a
different shade, making it lighter or darker. A slightly ‘muddy’
look in paint colours is particularly popular at the moment.
Farrow & Ball, Sanderson and The Paint Library offer a really
unusual and comprehensive selection.

TIP: A trick that many decorators use is to chose one colour and
paint the ceiling in the lightest shade, the walls in the next shade
darker, the dado darker still and the woodwork in the darkest
shade using a flat oil based paint for the greatest effect.

Curtains, floor and wall coverings

If you choose a dark colour for your curtains and are thinking of
placing them against a pale wall, you will need to be aware that
they will make a very strong statement. I feel that it is far better
to tone down the colour of the curtains or deepen the colour on
the walls slightly to avoid too strong a contrast.

When looking for floor coverings, there are lots of different

options to choose from. Sisal and its modern day derivatives will
always be popular, although they do not give the comfort and
luxurious feel of a woollen carpet. The colour continuity and
harmony you get from using the same coloured carpet
throughout the whole house is well worth considering but you
would be well advised to choose a neutral tone that is easy to live
with! It also allows for greater flexibility in choosing the individual
colour schemes for each room.

TIP: If you decide on carpeting, request a large sample piece

from your supplier rather than the 10 cms square usually
provided by the manufacturer. The same rule applies with
carpets as with fabric and paint, too strong a shade will be
overpowering when seen ‘en mass’, so go a shade lighter.

TIP: If you are re-furbishing an entire room and have the luxury
of starting from scratch, then leave the paint colour or wallpaper
design until last. This tends to make the fundamental choices of
fabric, floor covering and accessories a lot easier.

Pattern and colour in the textiles you use, or perhaps in one very
special article like a piece of ceramic or a painting, could form the
bones of the colour scheme with wall colour used to tone down
the overall palette.

Strong colours

It is best to steer clear of strong colours on the walls in rooms

that you use very frequently. Go for paler tones, creams, grey-
greens, blue-greys and ivories. Hall and staircases however are
often neglected in terms of interesting colour schemes, but they
are important as they make a first impression on entering the
house and they serve the purpose of linking individual rooms
creating an overall feel to the house. As we spend little time in
them, merely passing through, then they can take a stronger
shade. Hallways and staircases always get a lot of traffic and can
quickly become shabby if you have not thought long-term of how
your floor and wall coverings are going to stand up to a lot of
wear and tear.

TIP: If you would like to experiment with using dark colours on

walls, you would be well advised to restrict their use to rooms
that are only used after dark.

Dining rooms in particular, can benefit from a darker colour

scheme. To have a formal dining room that is rarely used is a
luxury today. How about turning your little used dining room into
a dining room come library. If you have the room, you could fit in
a small sofa or comfy armchair. Your darker colour scheme could
well include dark green, navy blue and deep red, colours that we
typically associate with libraries. Blue is usually accepted as a
cold colour, but the rich, dark blue shown in the example at the
top of the page has been teamed with cream and the resulting
affect, used in a master bedroom, is anything but cold. The two-
tone tasselled trimming and cord bring the two colours together.

This very
traditional
drawing room
has dark oak
furniture. The
owner chose a
variety of
different
textures and
patterns on the
fabrics and fitted
a deep velvet
pile woollen
carpet to match.
It is a room that
is predominantly
used in the
evening, as it
faces east and
gets little
natural sunlight,
other than first
thing in the
morning. The
lighting consists
of central
chandeliers,
matching wall
lights, a picture
light over the
fireplace and
various table
lamps.

Uplifting

TIP: A trick that many interior designers use is to insert one red
article in a room, no matter how small to serve as a focal point.

However, beware of using red as the dominating colour in a

room. It is a very strong, aggressive colour and therefore difficult
to live with, but one small and imposing red object, be it a chair
or a vase of flowers, can give the room an amazing ‘lift’.

Steps to Turning Inspiration into Reality

Beautiful rooms begin with an idea or inspiration which leads to a
preferred design style or theme.
Decide on your color palette, the fabrics, and the furniture pieces.
Then, treat the walls and ceilings with a paint color, decorative finish,
or wallpaper that embodies the design style you’ve chosen.
Now make sure your flooring fits with the design or install new
carpeting, wood, tile, or area rugs.
Bring in furniture that not only functions well, but also defines the
room’s chosen design style.
Add the finishing touches—window treatments, accessories, and
lighting.
The Elements of Design
In order to successfully know how to design great rooms, one must
understand the elements of great design. These include:
Color - The combination and use of colors can be explored more by
studying color theory or the Basics of Color Design. Don’t be
afraid of color! It’s all around us everyday. Just look at your front
garden, your wardrobe, or even your dinner plate.
Light - Whether it originates from a sunny window or a floor lamp,
light has a big effect on a room’s colors and vibe.
Space - All rooms have positive and negative space. They can be
made more efficient and comfortable with smart space planning.
Shape and Mass - Shape is an outline, while mass is three-
dimensional. For example, the shape of a box is square but its
mass is a cube.
Line - The use of horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and curved lines
establish direction and movement in a room.
Texture - All surfaces have texture that is glossy/dull, smooth/rough,
or soft/firm. Some surfaces have several textures, such as a
marble countertop that is both firm and glossy.
Pattern - Visual patterns are formed by a room’s structural design,
furniture shape and upholstery, and the surface decorations
found in the space.

The Principles of Design

The elements of design, described above, are used to implement these
principles of design:

Balance - The use of symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance

produces a pleasing order in a room.
Emphasis - Each room needs an emphasis, or a focal point, to
establish its function and style.
Rhythm - Using patterns of gradation, transition, and repetition and
will create rhythm in a room.
Scale and Proportion - The size of furniture and objects as they relate
 to each other and to the space around them involves an
awareness of scale and proportion.
Harmony - When a room’s overall theme or style effectively uses the
elements and principles of design, harmony is created.

Types of Contemporary Art in Interior Design

The streamlined, sleek interiors of modern designs often leave room

for a nice collection of artwork. Eclectic rooms can also benefit from
eye-catching contemporary art pieces. In addition, transitional rooms
often feature modern art as this design bridges traditional and
contemporary elements.

Concepts in contemporary art are wide-ranging and involve everything

from abstract compositions to pop art creations. Famous abstract
artists include the works of Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, who
expressed colors and patterns with amorphous subject matter. Pop art
takes inspiration from mass media imagery like advertising, comics, or
cinema. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are notable pop artists who
took familiar images from popular culture and crafted them into
cultural statements.

Contemporary art in interior design includes the display of:

Canvas paintings
Photographs (especially black and white motifs)
Art prints
Mixed media paintings or montages
Sculptures
Metal art
Glass art
Mosaics
Found objects, musical instruments, tools, or industrial elements
Pottery or ceramics
Mobiles or kinetic sculptures
Art lamps or chandeliers
 Rugs
Mirrors
Art clocks

Design Basics Moderation & Balance

It seems as though the eternal battle in the family dwelling is not

between siblings or spouses, but rather between Design &
Functionality. We all desire a space to be visually appealing, but at
what cost? Can a Minimalist dwelling be adequate for 4 children who
own every Spongebob Squarepants toy on the market? Can a French
Country kitchen provide the storage space needed for a master chef
moving about like a whirlwind? Where does style confront substance
and is there a point where the two of them unite to face the challenges
of the home?The solution Moderation & Balance - Moderation -
Anything, including design, can be deadly if not taken in moderation. If
you love cupcakes, go ahead and eat one...maybe two...pushing it on
three. Twenty or thirty though, and you will most likely end up flat on
your back on a gurney (en route to the hospital) or doubled over in
pain in the restroom! An overly designed space puts too much focus on
how things look and not how they function. It is all well and good to
have a beautiful space but when it doesn't meet the needs of the
person living in the space what good is it? . We long for the handsome
white marble countertops not thinking about our four kids who would
give it "patina" as soon as the installers walked out the door or a
gleaming hardwood floor that our dogs are giving "character" to with
their chasing games. It is important to make design choices that fit not
only our lives but our personalities as well. For example a feature or
fixture that requires constant maintenance is best suited to a type A
personality who has the diligence to make it what it ought to be. They
may be able to pull off spaces that the rest of us can only drool over in
a magazine. And a comfortably "lived in" design would only drive that
personality type bananas.We have to truthfully analyze not only the
way we live but also what we actually want to gain from the space. If
you want a tranquil oasis from a hectic life, don't fill up your space
with "stuff", instead de-clutter for a serene feeling. On the other hand,
if you want to achieve a comfortable put-your-feet-on-the-table sort of
atmosphere you might leave a few purpose driven accessories to
enhance the feel.