Working for a long time client is always a pleasure. They let you explore new ideas…and in this case, we have provided interior design services for more than 15 years for their existing residences here in south Florida as well as Long Island, NY. In this iteration of this family room, they asked Ann Huff, ASID to give them color. And she did!! With a new sectional seating group and reupholstery on Arnie’s club chair and ottoman, the room didn’t begin to show its potential until the area rug was delivered and furnishings positioned. The lesson here is: it is important to create a complete design, first on paper to explore all the options. But its also important to view the space when it is fully complete. While there will be a couple of more items to come into the room, the hand crafted rug that Ann designed anchored the upholstered items and added the drama that the clients were looking for.
#10 Does The Work Ever End? With many people working from home, even if its just a place to pay the electric bill or check the emails, a home office is more than a luxury. For some its even a necessity. As more people choose to work from home, operate a second business or continue with some type of employment after retirement, a home office has become an important element in design of residential environments. With computers, paper files to keep and books to read, creating a unique and special location that not only provides some privacy, increases the level of concentration and productivity but can provide storage and security of personal documents and records.
In the opinion of this designer, probably the single worst place for a true home office is in the kitchen. But that is often just the location that builders and kitchen planners will attempt to locate one. Despite the lack of privacy and storage, just the functionality of being shoved off to a corner of a kitchen doesn’t say much about the important work that might happen there. Often limited by space and conflict of tasks, try to place a computer, keyboard, printer and fax machine on a desk top that wasn’t made for much more than just a phone, notepad and two cook books.
So if there is no room for a dedicated office space, consider all the other locations where a home office might be placed:
–> a large walk-in closet is perfect for a one-person workspace, just maybe not for two people;
–> clear out that second bedroom that only gets used three times a year,…a much better use of the space, even getting rid of the bed, using a sleeper sofa, perhaps a wall bed for those times when guests stay over;
–> if a more serious space is required, consider converting carving out a space in the garage for a home office;
–> since the dining room is one of the most underused areas in a home, the dining table can be used to stretch out personal papers, set up a lap top with wireless internet activity, perhaps even using the buffet as a place to store + file the paperwork. And after all, how many times do you actually use a formal dining room more than 10 days a year? Making the dining room serve double duty provides a better return on that investment of space.
Next… so now that you have considered options for a potential space,… here are the important considerations to make sure the space becomes an effective space.
• Make sure that you plan for plenty of storage that is close by, perhaps in an adjacent closet.
• Provide for adequate task lighting to match the level of activity.
• Electrical outlets will need to be plentiful since we have to plug in so many things including cellphones and iPods along with everything else.
• Make provisions to file and lock up important papers from prying eyes and nosey visitors.
• When outfitting your workspace, buy the best when it comes to an office chair. After all, one may be spending a good deal of time working from home and the proper chair will provide much needed support.
• And finally, remember the IRS rules for home offices. If you use a portion of your home for business purposes, you may be able to take a home office deduction whether you are self-employed or an employee. Expenses that you may be able to deduct for business use of the home may include the business portion of real estate taxes, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, insurance, depreciation, painting and repairs.
For more information about the IRS’s rules for home offices, go HERE.
So there you have it, the Top Ten Design Tips. Hope you enjoyed the series. Did we miss any? Your comments welcomed.
#9 Do You Really Need A Designer? When some people think about re-doing their interior, its often about colors, fabrics, window, wall + floor coverings. It might also include reupholstery on chairs or a new sofa. So who do you turn to avoid a costly mistake with one choice of color or wrong fabric selection? Its easy. Retail furnishing showrooms, specialty decorating shops and even those in the window fashion or flooring business can be one place to start. These types of businesses will often have design-oriented sales staff or interior decorators that can coordinate selections.
But what if there is more involved beyond furniture, fabrics or finishes? Perhaps its a remodeling project that involves the exact location of the building’s mechanical components to ensure adequate electrical lighting next to that new sofa. Maybe there is a desire to create a “spa” type shower, one that incorporates a steam unit, full height glass doors, ventilation, a heated, slip resistant floor and a curbless entry for a barrier-free environment. When planning a suite of professional offices, design considerations might include employee productivity, energy conservation, adherence to local building codes for egress and of course, the bottom line. Then the services and skills sets of an interior designer may be required.
Interior designers are those who by their experience, education and examination are qualified to understand and develop solutions that not only encompass a building’s structure, mechanical components and how such elements influence its intended use but then extend to the “decor” of the space. In certain states such as Florida, New Jersey and Alabama, their boards of professions view interior design as profession affecting the health, safety and welfare of the public and therefore regulate by licensing those individuals who meet state-mandated standards…. standards which are similar in nature to other professions like architecture and home construction are governed.
Interior designers develop solutions in terms of relationships when designing a project. In other words, how the building structure may affect interior accessibility. It might be the specification of appropriate non-toxic materials for the interior finishes in the event the owner or end-user has respiratory or other related health issues. And those relationships not only extend to the spatial use of the environment but also to lighting + electrical, heating, ventilation + air conditioning.
When it comes time to turn to the decor and aesthetics of an interior, designers will use their skills in the selection of colors, fabrics, and furnishings but also look at the built environment in its three dimensions to ensure the scale of furnishings, fixtures and equipment are appropriate to the architecture.
The choice of interior decorator or interior designer should be easy based on the criteria of the project but as important to the project success, find someone who will take the time to fully understand the job objectives, has the skills ( and license ) to develop great solutions and implement a comprehensive plan that will provide the best return on your investment of time and money. Their skills will be time and money well spent to get the most out of the work.
#8 Good Design Is Always Classic. Shelter magazines are filled with the newest this or that and often the only value is pretty pictures of pretty rooms showcasing cluttered niches, overflowing plant shelves with artificial plants and sofas and chairs loaded with more than one too many pillows.
What’s the deal? Well, its usually not good design no matter the “deal.”
So whether starting from scratch or remodeling the old, the time tested value of classic design remains the best investment. Design trends + decorating fashion statements are fleeting at best and at the worst are a waste of your dollars, and only serve those in the business of selling “stuff.”
Good design comes from thoughtful planning, often identifying how you wish to work and live in a space. Good design comes from buying furnishings and fixtures that are quality and ones that will last a long time. And finally good design comes with realistic expectations. For example, you can’t turn a 50’s ranch style home into a the style of a European palace so don’t try. Doing so means creating an environment out of scale and balance, but also out of context.
But what if time and dollars don’t permit a complete makeover? Here are some considerations:
≈ If the there is a need to update, consider painting walls a different color. So much impact can be made with paint and a few dollars. Painting contractors are hungry and looking for small and large jobs.
≈ If there is a desire for a new look because family is coming, re-hang art and rearrange accessories in tighter groups leaving wider open spaces on shelves and in cabinetry as “subtracted contrast.”
≈ If there is a need to make a room work better for its intended purposes, don’t buy another piece until you have culled out all the items that are no longer useful nor functional….then move the rest around in unexpected arrangements, perhaps moving pieces from one room to the other.
≈ Now with money and efforts saved, purchase something that has timeless value and echos the style and statement you wish to make. Replacing trendy purchases repeatedly adds up to big dollars that might have well spent on updating built-in cabinetry or new window or wall coverings, or replacing items that have seen better days.
#7 Green Design Sustains Life. At least two decades ago, a good friend and interior designer, Bernadette Upton, ASID, LEED spoke about the importance of creating sustainable environments. Today green design is becoming more popular but also more important to the world. With only a limited amount of available resources on the planet and more and more people on the earth, choosing building products, furnishings and fixtures that meet a standard of excellence and performance as well as the ability to incorporate recycled materials or be recycled when their life cycle is over suggests responsible decisions that will leave the planet with adequate resources to continue to sustain life.
So when planning for the future, choices are simple and costs are becoming competitive to other “non-green” products. Consider natural fibers for fabrics, wall and floor coverings. Choose manufactured products that are domestically made since it takes a lot of oil to ship goods from places a long distance like China. And make a commitment with your design team to select and purchase items that can be recycled and made into something else when they are ready to be replaced.
One of the new products is a commercial wallcovering that is not only flame resistant but made from recycled paper and newsprint. Great for residential purposes too, the papers feature no volatile organic compounds released into the interior environment once installed… an important consideration for people with lung disease or asthma. Selecting lighting that is energy efficient will not only save on the light bills but will reduce the American consumption of oil and gas. For more information about building your work or home environments with goods and services that will be healthy and safe for a life time of use and enjoyments, click HERE to go to the U.D Green Building Council’s website.
#6 Build Your Team Early One of the ongoing issues we see clients face is the decision to find an interior designer sometime after the project has begun rolling. Then it happens. Some issue comes up that the builder, architect or subcontractors involved on the job can’t answer or provide a sound solution. So then the hunt begins for a design professional that will listen to the problems and provide an appropriate answer that fits the needs of the client. Other decisions critical to the project’s advancement might even be put on hold. For the chosen designer it can mean quickly spending time to understand what criteria was on the mind of the client when the project was initiated and how decisions have evolved from there. Valuable time is not only lost but often design solutions and opportunities are left to chance.
So before you put your team together, start with a few important steps. Make a list of the important objectives you want to achieve. Then review that list during interviews with two or three prospective design professionals. Once you have decided on one, assemble the team together so that you can see just how they will work together. Look for clues as they interact. The best teams are made up of part chemistry, part skill and experience and part vision. Some give and take is to be expected and encouraged. Then with a clear understanding of their roles, secure your team and let them create the design solutions on paper that will provide the answers you seek. They might even take you to places you hadn’t anticipated. That’s part of the role of a good designer,… listening and then putting skill and experience to work. Effective design teams can do that together, maximize the results and watch the dollars. And with an early start, the time frame to complete the work will be shorter as decisions will be made in concert with one another and not in a piecemeal fashion. Look for more design tips in the days to come.
#5 Design For Accessibility Believe it or not, everyone gets older. Yup, its true. But no matter the age most everyone faces some physical disability of some sort during a lifetime. It can be as simple as the need for glasses to read a book or drive a car. Sometimes accidents can result in a temporary need for crutches or a walker. But that doesn’t mean that your home or work environment should be a road block to recovery. That is where “universal design” comes in. It means creating spaces that have the broadest use by the largest number of people no matter the disability. It can be as simple as wider doors or halls. It might be a bathroom with a bath on the first floor. Consider how easy it would be to use a shower without the customary threshold that many stumble over getting in and out of the entry. For some it can be important to have at least one entry way without a tall threshold. So think about these important factors in the design of your space so as to have the greatest accessibility, adaptability + flexibility that will span a lifetime.
#4 Have One Focal Point Every room needs a focal point,…something that when you walk into the space grabs your eye and attention before anything else. It can be a fireplace or a set of windows. It can be the striking design of a cabinet or a large unique piece of art. Ideally it will be tall, moving your eye toward the ceiling and back to the floor. Furnishings, especially seating groups should face or frame the focal point by arrangement and position. But what if a room has all of these things? A few rooms are lucky to have such character but to be successful, there should be one most important focal point, one that everything else from there flows about the environment.
#3 Style Is Not A Trend Develop a clear idea of style. Style is the statement about the space, how you feel when in the interior + for some what it represents to others about you. Perhaps you are a person into comfort and easy maintenance, or perhaps you are a creative individual who would loves to entertain. Maybe its a clean, parred down space with minimal numbers of pieces. Whatever your personality, begin now by narrowing down the specific style you will be comfortable living with for the long haul. Style has less to do with trend and more about the character of furnishings, architectural appointments, lighting, and accessories. Remember, being specific is the key here for its not a trend for the week, the month or year. Make a list of qualities, draw a picture, cut pictures out of magazines do whatever you can to get as specific a picture as you can. Find elements that not only define you but that inspire you. What’s your style?
#2 Color Creates Mood. The most affordable thing that one can do to freshen up a space is with color. It can create unexpected impact, make a space larger, cozy up a retreat or facelift a boring environment. Keep in mind a few important details about color.
• Active colors include yellow, orange and red. These hues work well in social and entertaining rooms. They make a positive, inspiring statement with their energetic and upbeat attitude. Reds and oranges excite and invigorate. Lemon and golden yellows spark creativity and are excellent choices for home offices and kitchens. Our very favorite colors for sun drenched backgrounds are: Benjamin Moore: Oklahoma Wheat and also Kansas Grain.
• Passive colors are from the cool side of the color wheel. Blue, green and purple stay quietly in the background to calm and restore. Use them in rooms primarily designed for resting and rejuvenating—bathrooms and bedrooms, for example. Also consider the direction of the light that is coming into the space. Cooler tones work especially well when a room’s orientation is due west.
• Neutral colors are the diplomats of decorating. They blend, combine and incorporate, bridging together different rooms and colors. Darker neutrals tone down other colors while crisp white intensifies them. “Neutral” neutrals, those mid-town colors that are hard to name without two or more words to describe them are quite effective when used with very flat, very matt finishes as opposed to satin or shiney ones.
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