Interior Design For The Home

Any home can be pleasing with the correct application of basic interior design techniques. Some men and women study interior design to be quite good at it but there are individuals who are gifted with an eye for beauty and for interior designing.

A individual who is creative can do some interior designing on his own even without having formal training. Those who have an eye for what is aesthetic can just as simply decorate and design his own home depending on his tastes. Of course, it assists to read books and articles about designing to be updated on the basic and newest design approaches.

Any interior designer can create a particular atmosphere just by putting together numerous pieces and unifying them in a single theme. There are interior designers who have a bias for specific motifs like eclectic, modern or even country style. Some go for basic designs without having the clutter.

Interior design is not only aesthetic but also functional depending on the requirements of the client. An interior designer can make a tiny room spacious and an otherwise cluttered room into an orderly 1. Interior design is utilized just about anywhere from homes, offices to commercial buildings.

The interiors of a room really should usually match the personality of the person who will occupy that room. This is the reason why designers often function closely with their clients so they can make certain that they get a really feel of what their clients want in terms of design style.

Folks have this notion that interior design is costly. However, designers are not only creative people but they are also extremely great in budgeting. Most designers will work on a design that will match or fit the spending budget of their clients. A person can allot a minimal quantity for the interior design of his house or office and still come up with an aesthetic and functional room.

Professional interior designers who are formally trained normally have basic knowledge on architecture, engineering and even accounting. They require these courses to make their design aesthetic, structurally right and cost effective.

The terms Interior design and interior decorating have typically been employed interchangeably. However, the two terms really deal with distinct phases of creating a room or a space aesthetic. Interior design is essentially the method of studying the personality of the occupant of the room being developed in order to maximize and tailor-made the room’s design for that person’s behavior and personality.

Interior decorating on the other hand is the procedure of truly mixing and matching the various design techniques like window remedies, the appropriate wallpaper, wall finish and even the furnishing of a room.

There are a lot of opportunities for those in the interior design and decorating business. An interior designer can go into designing household, corporate or commercial establishments. Others specialize in the design of wellness facilities or even tourism establishments.

The most recent trend now for those in the interior design industry is to be able to incorporate the proper engineering and aesthetic design with sustainable development. Even designers are now a lot more conscious about the state of the environment so they tend to use environmentally friendly materials for their designs.

There are designers who specialize and use Feng Shui in their designs. This demands further study because Feng Shui deals with the Chinese’s ancient approaches of designing a space to make the design function for the owner’s wellness, organization and other life elements.

The Chinese believes that a structure ought to be correctly developed so as to permit positive energy to enter the structure. When the structure has already been built without the aid of a Feng Shui professional, the mistakes can be corrected by way of proper interior design utilizing the Feng Shui methods.

By incorporating Feng Shui in interior design, it is believed that a individual can bring out all the positive energies in a room to make him wealthy, happy and healthy. An interior design employing Feng Shui can also get rid of bad spirits that bring in negative atmosphere in an abode.

Obtaining the services of an interior designer can make a room both aesthetic and functional. Any individual who wants to make his residence livable and functional ought to try finding the services of an interior designer to maximize his space.

Unique Landscape Design

What is a unique landscape?

The definition of a unique landscape would be a landscape that elicits a mental/emotional response that normally would be observed with no notice. From the functional and aesthetic stand point we believe a unique landscape should fulfill and exceed the requirements and dreams of the client, the site and the home. This has to do with great design experience and understanding, knowledge of materials and construction methods as well as experience in the execution and maintenance of landscape gardens.

Context-the relationship of the house to the site

At the heart of a unique landscape would be the homes relationship with the property and the properties relationship to surrounding homes, easements, streets, trees which is termed as the site context. First to consider are spatial relationships. What is the sequence of spaces from inside the home to the outside of the home? What is the walk experience from the street to the front door? Is there a clear distinction of spaces or rooms in the back yard and does the space tell you what its use is? Great architecture tells us, “a building that has signs to tell you were the restrooms are, is poorly designed because the sequence of spaces should be the signs and vocabulary of the architecture. This statement couldn’t be more true for landscape designers creating a unique landscape.

Unique Landscape Materials

The second layer of detail to context is the use of hardscape and landscape materials in articulating space. Materials should be sympathetic to and have a wonderful blend with the architectural materials. Elements of selecting hardscape; patio or deck materials include scale, color and texture. In terms of scale, you need to know if you’re building a patio to accommodate large parties or simply a family of four. Color can be used to either compliment the finishes inherent in the home or contrast with it. For example, in trying to match a multicolored brick choose a dark base color to “ground the brick facade.” Texture is the final detail selection in the hardscape which includes; size of units used, toweled edges or grout selections depending on the material used. Textural details can also relate back to the architecture, use contrasting materials which define spaces and as a finishing touch add warmth and intimacy. In designing the landscape planting we also utilize the same elements of scale, color and texture. Much like a painting, plantings are arranged in groupings and masses with contrasting color and textures. Rather than thinking in terms of shrubs, groundcover, flowers, think in terms of movement, contrast, and large brush strokes of color.

Style-

The landscape style doesn’t have to be an exact replica of the homes architectural style. What is more often the case regardless of the architectural style is creating “space” that reflects modern lifestyles. Often times even a classical landscape design or formal landscape design will have a contemporary approach in terms of how the spaces are utilized. Oftentimes the landscape of a modern home lacks the sleek lines that the architecture of the house has or lacks the quality of spaces or modules of a true modern landscape design. Also a modern home may not take be taking full advantage of sculptural opportunities which are true the home and its style.

Beauty is no accident

A unique landscape is not arrived at by accident. It requires an understanding of architecture, design principles, hardscape materials, landscape materials, their installation and construction methods as well as maintenance. Most importantly is the understanding of site context, the architecture of the home, the client’s wants and needs. The interpretation of these fundamental elements creates the unique landscape.

Two Dublin buildings win major architectural awards

Two contemporary works of architecture in Dublin, the Alto Vetro residential tower on Grand Canal Quay and the Elmpark complex on Merrion Road, have won awards from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design. They are among 97 distinguished projects and major urban schemes worldwide selected for this year’s International Architecture Awards – billed as “the most important barometer for the future direction of new architectural design and thinking today”.



Co-presented by the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies, this year’s award winners were chosen by an all-Finnish architectural jury from hundreds of submissions. The 16-storey Alto Vetro tower was designed for Treasury Holdings by Shay Cleary Architects, while the mixed-use Elmpark scheme is by Bucholz McEvoy Architects. Its client was Radora Developments Ltd, headed by builder-developer Bernard McNamara.

Coincidentally, Merritt Bucholz was born in Chicago; he set up practice with his wife Karen McEvoy and now heads the University of Limerick’s School of Architecture. Their projects include Fingal County Hall and Limerick County Council’s headquarters in Dooradoyle.

Alvar Alto Paimio 1933

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Combining playful forms and experiments with advanced technologies, RON ARAD (1951-) has emerged as one of the most influential designers of our time.

Born in Tel Aviv, he moved to London in 1973 to study architecture and made his name in the early 1980s as a self-taught designer-maker of sculptural furniture.

He now works across both design and architecture. Consistently inventive and challenging, Ron Arad has studiously avoided categorization by curators and critics throughout his career.

Construction World Architect & Builders Awards: 2008 To Be Held on Aug 22

The 3rd Construction World Architect & Builders Awards will be held on August 22 at the ITC Grand Central, Parel. The awards organized by ASAPP Media and supported by the Builders Association of India (BAI) and Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) will be presented to a total of twenty recipients – ten architects and ten builders. His Excellency S.C. Jamir, Governor of Maharashtra, Dr. J.M.Pathak, Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and over three hundred senior professionals from the construction industry across India will be present at the event.

Russell Gilchrist from Skidmore, Owings & Merril, Chicago, designers of Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world will deliver the key note address. Russell, with a history of working on innovative and world-renowned projects, will provide valuable insights on unique trends in architecture and the growth of international high-rise construction in his keynote address.

Constituted by ASAPP Media, the awards recognize exceptional work done by Architects and Builders in various aspects of infrastructure and real estate industry over the years. The selection was based on a survey conducted amongst the professionals from the industry.

“We have used the perception mapping process to select winners. An exhaustive survey was conducted among professionals within the industry. The highlight of CW Architect & Builder Awards 2008 is that it is recognition and admiration by peers. The awards are given by the industry to the industry. The value of the awards is highlighted by the fact that the whole industry is participating in the awards,” says Pratap Padode, Managing Director, ASAPP Media Information Group

Padode, who has been instrumental into getting the awards constituted adds, “Our consistent efforts in documenting success, recognizing talent, addressing pertinent issues, and creating the awakening for a transparent and well-governed industry are bearing fruit in the form of a community that is more forthright about sharing information”

John Portman

“Architecture is not a private affair; even a house must serve a whole family and its friends, and most buildings are used by everybody, people of all walks of life. If a building is to meet the needs of all the people, the architect must look for some common ground of understanding and experience.”



The open lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Living Rooms

Designers Stephen Sills and James Huniford, of Sills Huniford, worked with architectural designer Robert Rich to expand a couple’s 18th-century saltbox in upstate New York into a weekend retreat. The designers retained the living room’s original wood floors and incorporated a soothing palette. “This house is not about moldings,” says Huniford. “It’s about light and comfort.”

Interior designer John D. Lightbody

Interior designer John D. Lightbody describes the aesthetic as “a contemporary interpretation of classic Thai.” In the lobby, a massive carved wood candleholder is supported by three wood elephants. “They represent strength, wealth and longevity,” he says.

Interior Designing

Do you have a habit of scourging furniture shops? Do you always critically look at someone's home decor? Do you keep doing up your home with newer and better knick-knacks? Do you sometimes feel that some homes do not reflect the owner's personality?

If you have said yes to any of the above, you are well on your way to being a good interior designer.

Interior design does not require an introduction. Most of us have come across this speciality sometime in our lives and like all careers, it is boom-time for interior designers too. So, if you are looking at making a career in interior design, here's some helpful information.

What is interior designing?

Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space. So it's not just interior decoration but it also involves aspects of environmental psychology, architecture and product design.

While some would say it is just the art of putting some furniture together, interior designers beg to differ. Experts say that interior design is a creative process that understands the client's need, creates a conceptual design, reviews the design, and produces a final cut design document or plan.
Many a time, an interior designer works closely with the architect to define the finer nuances of a home. However, these are absolutely different branches looking at different aspects of a home. While your architect will tell you the dimensions of your bathroom and even the tiles to be used, your interior designer will tell you the best fittings and how the bathroom will compliment your mood.

Who can become an interior designer?

There is quite a big debate on that front. Everyone agrees that you need to be a creative person if you want to be an interior designer. However, some feel that you need added qualifications.

"You need creativity, financial acumen, interest and knowledge of materials to be a good interior designer," says Parthajeet Sarma, director of iDream Advisory Services Private Limited.
Sarma is actually an architect however he has been involved in interior design with as much success.
He adds, "(Some) One who has an eye for detail and loves solving cryptic puzzles would make a good interior designer. I am not an interior designer but an architect -- however I have been involved in this industry for 12 years now."

The key word then is interest. The rest falls in after that. Create a checklist and tick from interest, creativity, financial knowledge and the willingness to learn about brick and mortar.

What are the career prospects?

Interior designers are in demand. Industry experts say there is a dearth of good interior designers.

"Interior designers are in much demand now due to the retail boom in India," says Shubha Jain who offers interior design courses at the International Institute of Fashion Design (Mumbai). "Career prospects range from starting their own firms and taking up projects, to working as a designer for malls, hotels and design companies. Interior designers are also employed by big architectural firms to cope with project load."

But success will not come instantly. Once you finish your training, you will need to work hard to get some recognition. "Yes, the career prospects are good," says Sarma, "But be prepared to slog it out during the initial years. If you do that and you are intrinsically good at design, you will surely shine. Be warned however that this is not like doing an MBA from an IIM where you join at the top and retire at the top."

This dome is an architectural marvel

No one knows how the Romans made a non-reinforced concrete dome that survived two millennia. Apparently, a dome of this size made from modern concrete would collapse under its own weight.

My Architectural Dreams

Let me first define What is Architecture?

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. A wider definition often includes the design of the total built environment: from the macrolevel of town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the microlevel of construction details and furniture. The term "Architecture" is also used for the profession of providing architectural services.

Architectural design involves the manipulation of mass, space, volume, texture, light, shadow, materials, program, and other elements in order to achieve an end which is aesthetic as well as functional. This distinguishes Architecture from the applied science of engineering which usually concentrates on the structural and feasibility aspects of design.

Architectural works are perceived as cultural and political symbols and works of art. Historical civilizations are often known primarily through their architectural achievements. Such buildings as the pyramids of Egypt and the Roman Colosseum are cultural symbols, and are an important link in public consciousness, even when scholars have discovered much about a past civilization through other means. Cities, regions and cultures continue to identify themselves with and are known by their architectural monuments.