Interior Design For Fireplaces - Unleash Your Creativity

A lot of creative ideas for the interior design for fireplaces can be sourced from books, magazines, and the Internet. The only factors that may limit your creativity are the budget you are allotting for the interior design of your fireplace plus the nature of the room where you plan to put the fireplace in.

If you're embarking on an interior design fireplace project, don't despair if you don't have a lot of money to spend on it. You can construct an economical but expensive-looking fireplace if you take the time poring over magazines and architectural journals for some inexpensive interior design fireplace ideas. You should also try your best to stick to the budget you have set for the interior design of the fireplace.

Always take into account the size of the room where the interior design fireplace project is to be undertaken. If you're working with a small room, the fireplace must be sized accordingly not only because space should be conserved but also because a large fireplace in a small room could be overpowering.

Instead, you can scout for appropriately sized fireplace inserts or compact wood burning stoves that are ideal for interior design fireplaces for small spaces. Moreover, they create a warm and cozy effect that makes the room more comfortable to lounge in.

You can get creative with the interior design of a fireplace by making use of indigenous materials or bricks and stone that are easily accessible within your locality. Not only would this help you save a lot but it would also benefit the local businesses from whom you'll source the materials.

In addition, when the interior design of your fireplace matches its environment, then your home would have a feel of really belonging to its environment.

Interior Design Fireplaces Can Be Highly Creative

Embarking on an interior design fireplaces project may even pave the way in the expression of your creativity. In fact, you have so many materials at your disposal and lots of ideas to choose from. The fireplace can even be your main showpiece in any room you plan to install it.

If you're dealing with the interior design for fireplaces in large rooms, you can situate the fireplace at a central location and use the room for entertaining guests and socializing. A fireplace designed in consideration of the resident's personal tastes is the best and makes for a charming conversation piece.

Contemporary interior designs for fireplaces make use of fireplace inserts for wallboards. Basically, a fireplace insert is installed into an existing fireplace but its operation is dependent on another fuel source. This is a welcome technology in the interior design of fireplaces because it offers the same safety features and conveniences of more traditional fireplaces.

Individuals who prefer the traditional style for their interior design fireplaces, however, use the old dependable stone or brick chimney but to give it an updated look, they could make use of oddly shaped bricks or stones of various shapes, textures, and colors.

One can even play with patterns to give the interior design fireplace a more personalized touch. If you're short on ideas, there are hundreds of photos which you can view on the Internet or you can get various suggestions from friends and family members. Besides, they will be the first ones to share the "warmth" from your interior design fireplace project.

Chinese Interior Design Essentials

Globalization in the 21st century has made it possible for us to become open to fresh and unique concepts in decorating and designing our homes. One of the design themes we have learned to admire is Chinese interior design.

When we look at Oriental homes, we admire them for their opulent and exotic beauty. At first glance, the setup seems easy to reconstruct, but in reality, very few people have a deep understanding of the basics of Chinese interior design.

Dating back thousands of years, Chinese interior design is founded on the principles of energy, simplicity, and nature. They strive to achieve surroundings characterized by tranquility and peace, and since Chinese culture is steeped in tradition, the elements in Chinese interior design should also reflect the values of the people living in the home.

Chinese interior design Fundamentals

One of the most basic principles to be observed in Chinese interior design is simplicity. For them, a room should not be filled with all sorts of common decor. What is important is the proper placement of a few valuable and beautiful objects in a room to achieve optimal effects.

By using just a few focal points, the rooms remain light, roomy, and simple, yet still reflective of the owner's impeccable taste.

Another element commonly used in Chinese interior design is the use of screens. These items are both decorative and functional - they not only enliven a room but also serve to keep one's privacy.

Many years ago, these frames were constructed with light materials, making use of latticework serving as a grid for the sheer fabric or paper. Today, the screens can be made of various materials such as bamboo or expensive wood decorated with delicate ivory inlay.

A dressing screen may also have foldable panels to make it fit in various areas of the home. It's a very inexpensive way to add a touch of Asia to your simple but stylish Chinese interior design. The great thing about screens is that depending on the design, they can also be used for other interior design themes.

What Is Feng Shui?

Most Chinese interior design principles are based on Feng Shui, or the ancient tradition of arrangement of space to create a harmonious environment. It is a spiritual discipline based on guidelines that, upon examination, are actually compatible with the traditional architectural techniques used today.

When Feng Shui is implemented in Chinese interior design, it is believed that the residents will fully benefit from the meticulously arranged furniture and living spaces in terms of wealth, love, health, and happiness.

Due to its increasing popularity, homeowners will now find it easy to locate a Feng Shui expert with whom they can consult prior to tackling a Chinese interior design

project. They can also look for hundreds of resources on the Internet to help them organize their space and determine which arrangements would be best to attract positive "chi" or energy.

Making Use of Chinese interior design Details

You may opt for a total Chinese interior design look or choose a differently themed design using only a sprinkling of Chinese influences. One way to achieve this is by using a handful of valuable, perhaps ornate pieces, to serve as accents in a sparsely furnished room.

You can also make use of the screens which can easily be moved depending on its intended function in a particular area. It is also a wonderful idea to make use of a few pieces of Chinese Decor which could serve as conversation pieces or for adding a splash of color to an otherwise staid room. Chinese pottery or colorful paintings can add an exotic look, and so could richly colored carpets or pillows.

Bedroom Interior Design Basics For The Beginner

People are often confused with the concepts of bedroom interior design and bedroom interior decoration. Not a few believe that these concepts rae one and the same, although in reality, they are two different things - although they may both pertain to changing the look of a bedroom.

In order to better comprehend what each term refers to, we will first examine the elements that play a part in bedroom interior design and how it is related to interior decoration.

More Than Just A Sleeping Area

Times have changed and so have bedroom's purposes. Due to technology and changes in lifestyles, a bedroom often doubles up as a home office or an exercise area. Sometimes a homeowner may even opt to have a settee in one corner of the bedroom where he or she can have tea with a friend or a partner.

In any case, the bedroom interior design will largely depend on what the owner intends to use the space for. The designer may have to do some research on the homeowner's hobbies and activities or whatever goals he has for the outcome of the bedroom.

This is the reason why if the room owner intends to hire a professional to do the bedroom interior design, it is important for them to spend time to discuss their thoughts so that the result would be exactly what the client wants.

Planning the Bedroom Interior Design

Many designers consider this step to be more difficult the the actual work itself. When planning a design for the bedroom, a lot of designers take advantage of user-friendly modeling programs to help them come up with graphic representations of their ideas.

Alternatively, concept sketches could still be used, for as long as they serve the purpose of concretizing the ideas that have been discussed. During this stage, the furniture that will serve well, depending on the planned functions of the bedroom, are selected.

In addition, the color scheme and the window treatments to be used for this particular bedroom interior design are carefully chosen and put together. Finally, the accessories and other decor such as lamps, vases, or paintings are added to the plan.

This means that apart from the bedroom's interior decor, bedroom interior design is also concerned with the room's framework, use of space, and all the furniture needed to serve the intended function of the room.

How It All Comes Together

Working on a bedroom interior design may not be as easy as it's made out to be. In some ways, the project entails recruiting the help of an engineer or sometimes a contractor to bring the concept to fruition.

Unlike a simple paint job or furniture rearrangement, bedroom interior design involves ensuring that all the changes to be made conform to a safe and functional design, no matter how minor the changes may be. In this sense, the interior designer also acts as a "project manager" of sorts.

In summation, while the interior decoration of a bedroom involves altering the space's looks, including wall hangings, carpeting, or paint, bedroom interior design is known to be more comprehensive, as it includes the functional use of space and furniture.

Finally, bedroom interior design should also incorporate the essential elements of aesthetic design. After all, a bedroom that fulfills its occupant's goals in terms of functionality must also serve as his or her haven - and to be one, it must be pleasing to the eyes.

There Is A Lot More To Interior Design Than First Meets The Eye

Interior design is a complicated profession. It is sometimes referred to as interior architecture and often confused with interior decorating. It involves the design, organization and planning of an interior structure rather than just refinishing and furnishing existing interior spaces. It involves managing a business, hopefully meeting the desires of the client and delivering to them an interior environment that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. There is a lot more to interior design than first meets the eye.

The further you go back in history, it can be seen how interior design has blended with artistic societies such as during the Italian Renaissance. It has been shaped by numerous styles, movements, social developments and technological revolutions. It has crossed emotional boundaries, traveled across continents and has publicly revealed much of the lifestyles of societies and their artistic cultures in any marked period in time.

There are different types of interior design. Residential interior design involves dealing with home owners normally on an available budget. Some interior designers specialize in working on bathrooms, kitchens, living areas or even bedrooms. Others work in the larger and lucrative commercial market. In this marketplace, interior designers are spoiled for choice and may select the retail industry, the hospitality business, the commercial building sector or specialize in related business as diverse as creating exhibits for art galleries and trade shows.

Interior design is an exciting and rapidly growing field and it seems that interest in this particular career is increasing in popularity. interior designers are licensed design professionals qualified by education, work experience and time. In the 1960s and 70s independent organizations were established to assess qualifications for these design professionals and their programs. There are now many dedicated individuals in organizations such as CIDA and NCIDQ who presently work diligently to increase public awareness of spacial design while developing the profession to where it is today.

There are ID courses in universities, colleges and even online and an accreditation process that certifies a program will teach the principles necessary to ensure that the students acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to be successful in their future careers. All of this is seen as beneficial to the consumer who can be virtually assured of being led through the design process by someone who is not only creative and educated but also competently trained.

Examine the basic family home. Basically it is a cluster of interconnected rooms each with a primary function such as eating, entertaining, sleeping, washing and possibly even working. The conscious aim of this form of spacial design is to balance the owner's needs with the spaces available. It is rarely straightforward. There are so many external forces that influence the decision making process. The key to this art form is knowing how to make sense out of the relationship between the owner, the home, the family and their lifestyle.

Interior design is a process. This practice often involves the manipulation of texture, proportion and the efficient usage of light in order to achieve symmetry, harmony and a proper equilibrium in overall human life. The fundamental principles of good design are natural and to a large extent innate. When examining the universal properties of light, space, color and materials, the professional looks at the interaction of the natural laws that govern them.

The particular design of a room works not only on the often ignored senses of smell and hearing but also on the emotions. Color schemes are selected to reflect the mood of a room. Understanding how each aspect of a design contributes to an overall look and feel of a room or space constantly takes precise skills and both architects and designers manipulate these to great effect.

Interior design is an expressive form of art. However there is a lot more to this profession than making a household look nice. It is about providing a simple answer to a simple problem in three dimensions by maximizing the good points and concealing the imperfections. It is all about purposely creating a harmonious environment that has the amazing ability to make positive changes in people's lives. There is a lot more to interior design than first meets the eye.

Why Should You Use an Interior Designer?

Every interior designer will tell you that one of the most common questions they are asked is 'why pay a designer when I can design just as well myself?'... Why use an interior designer?

There are many people capable of decorating their homes to their desired effect, but if you want the complete finished home with the real wow factor, call in the experts. The following article explains some of the reasons why and interior designer can be your best friend.

1. An experienced interior designer will have had years of training in his or her desired field, most of them covering all aspects of the design industry. They will have also had many years of practical experience of designing, organising, co-ordinating and project managing it entirely.

2. Experience also brings years of dealing with committed contractors who would advise on lighting schemes, plumbing requirements and if required, necessary building works.

3. Sadly so many builders, plumbers and electricians are not capable of dealing with the jobs they are quoting for. An interior designer has eliminated the bad guys!

4. Probably one of the better reasons for employing a designer, is the fact that they can save you money in the long run. A good interior designer will have access to all the best furniture, carpet, fabric houses, lighting engineers and suppliers in the world.

5. So many people have absolutely no idea of where to buy the furniture they desire and spend days, if not weeks and months searching for it. These boring shopping trips have even been known to cause a few divorces!

6. Designers have a constantly updated library of catalogues. This enables you to choose from the luxury of your own home or the designers office. Also they have the ability to obtain a compromise between partners! Many of these companies give discounts to interior designers, which some are happy to share with their clients.

7. Using an interior designer also gives you the opportunity to have products made exactly to your requirements, an interior designer can assist in having it made completely bespoke in any desired finish and style.

8. Another reason for using a designer is that, unfortunately the average person has a complete lack of special awareness... For instance how many times do you see in homes a sofa the size of one that would fit in the lobby of a London Hotel? Alternatively in a large suite, one that would suit a bedsit. interior designers have the skill to know which size pieces look good and which do not. Knowing the correct size and layout of furniture of any room is vital.

9. A designer will know how to achieve the maximum realisation of value of your property. Far too many homes are de-valued by poor interior design. The tragedy being that this has probably cost the home-owner a lot of money. New home builders always use a designer for the showhome as they know that this will generate sales very quickly. The showhome on a new development usually has a waiting list of potential buyers. Even if a show home is not to your taste, most people will aspire to that complete finished, professional look.

10. A good interior designer will provide you with a complete overview of every room with a Mood Board of the colour palette, furniture style and layout, window treatments and flooring, lighting and wall finishes. They can also supply 3D visuals if you require. This is a virtual picture of every room, so if there is anything you have doubts about it can be addressed immediately. The client will also be informed of the overall costings for room or whole project.

Interior Designers - The Top 2 Misconceptions That Keep Home Owners From Hiring an Interior Designer

As an interior designer in Atlanta, GA for the last eight years, I've noticed a few common threads running through the most popular misconceptions about using interior designers. If you've never used an interior designer, ask yourself why right now.

Go ahead. I'll wait.

...

Wow, that was quick! I bet you have a pretty good answer, too. I also bet your answer falls into one of the following two major categories:

1) COST: "I can't afford one. Using an interior designer is an excessive luxury reserved for the wealthiest of people that live in mansions and drive Bentley's." Or, "I'll save money if I do all the design work myself, which means I can buy more furniture."

2) CREATIVE EXPRESSION: "If I use an interior designer, I'm afraid I'll feel like my home won't be an expression of my unique style and tastes. I have good taste - I can do this on my own."

If your answer for not hiring an interior designer fits into one of these categories, then read on for some answers that might surprise you.

First of all, I want you to know these reactions are completely normal and understandable based on the amount of information that exists in the marketplace about how the client/ designer process works.

So let me respond to each of these arguments in order.

1. COST: Professional interior designers typically are able to purchase furniture at discounted rates from furniture and accessory manufacturers or distributors because of their purchase volume. When you use an interior designer you take advantage of their discounts to purchase furniture through your designer at a cost that is lower than what you would pay on your own. Every designer operates a little differently, but a typical pricing/ fee structure used by a lot of interior designers in Atlanta (where I am based) is "cost plus". This pricing formula is very common among industries that make purchases on behalf of their clients.

The "cost" in this pricing structure is the designers' reduced cost for the items you purchase (furniture, accessories, window treatments, etc). The "plus" is a percentage of that cost added to compensate the designer for their services and their sources. Many designers will even waive any hourly fees for clients purchasing a certain amount of furniture through them. In the end, you pay LESS for your home furnishings using a good designer than you do without one. AND, your budget actually goes further with a designer than without one.

An interior designer can save you money in other ways, too, like:

A designer's "industry-insider" knowledge helps clients achieve the best results through sourcing options not available to the general public.

Soft-costs include time saved and higher likelihood of your satisfaction in the end result (no replacement costs for that sofa that's just too big!)

So, as you can see, using an interior designer actually makes strong financial sense. A professional designer will save you money, save you time, and stretch your budget further than you could on your own.

2. CREATIVE EXPRESSION: A good interior designer listens to what their clients' tastes and styles are and involves them heavily in the selection process. Your style will show through in each selection you make. designers will take you with them to furniture stores. Bring fabric samples to your home to have you review, and involve you in lots of other ways to make sure the final outcome is a reflection of your style - and one that you will bring you great satisfaction in the place where you spend most of your time - your home!

If you don't feel your designer is listening to you carefully enough, let them know. Keeping an honest and open channel of communication is critical to make sure you're happy with the final design of your home.

Using a professional designer who makes his or her living by decorating does have its advantages. Think about the number of times you've painted a room. Have they always turned out just the way you had imagined? And were they coordinated with the furniture and flowed from one room to the next? Or did you find yourself either repainting a room you just painted or, worse yet, think "ugghh" every time you walked into your bathroom?

Think of your designer as just a helping hand whose advice may save you from some expensive and time-consuming design set-backs.

Plus, the little finishing touches that truly make a house a home are the things that only the client can add to a room. I know as an interior designer, I take the responsibility of helping my clients achieve a great living space that they'll love and feel accurately reflects their personality and likes very seriously!

I hope I've helped clear up some of the main reasons I've seen why more people don't take advantage of professional design help when decorating a home or even just a room in a home.

Stay tuned for my next installment in my series where I'll be discussing how to evaluate and hire an interior designer.

Choosing Interior Design Software

Interior design students will use interior design  software that the professionals use in their everyday designing work. A popular program is SmartDraw. With the program you get thousands of ready-made graphics for fixtures for the kitchen, bathroom and for furniture. Other graphics include lighting fixtures, cabinets, landscape elements and office furniture.

The interior design software also includes textures for tiled floors, custom cabinetry and granite countertops. Smartdraw is easy to use software that will help you create fantastic design plans in minutes. It is quite fast and easy.

You will be able to design anything with SmartDraw interior design software such as house and garage plans, offices, kitchen and bathroom plans and even closet plans.

The software is a real time saver for the interior design student and professional. This software is downloadable and ready to use right away.

SmartDraw interior design software offers free tech support and examples from professional interior design plans.

Another interior design software is Microspot Interiors. This software is designed for the Mac and allows the user to visualize their plans in 3D. This software is simple to use for both professionals and do it yourself home designers.

Microspot Interiors is a interior design software that is very popular among Mac users because of it's simplicity and the price tag which is just a fraction of the cost of most professional design software. The power of this software allows the user to come up with unlimited design possibilities. The advanced drawing tools of the software do most of the work. You can design the shape of the room and add virtually anything you want. You can also design the rooms in any particular size you want. Lighting tools are used to add sunlight to a room as well.

Microspot Interiors includes hundreds of furniture items and accessories, many of which were requested by users in the Microspot users' forum.

Interior design software is used extensively in the interior design profession. It allows the designer to virtually look at what their design plan will look like before implementing it.

Many interior design schools will offer online learning as part of their curriculum. The online method is designed so that the student can set their own pace and style of learning according to what really works best for them.

Interior design software is very helpful and useful but it requires a computer with a monitor that has the capacity for a high resolution that works with complex graphics. You will also need a lot of space on your hard drive to save files and to run the program.

It would be a good idea to save your files to a re-writeable CD or DVD as well for backup.
There are many interior design software programs available on the market. If you can get a trial copy then that will give you a chance to test the product before buying.

Interior Design and Interior Decorating - Some Definitions

Interior Decoration and Interior Design, although related disciplines, are different in terms of their application. Interior Decoration is the process of decorating a house with regards to finishes (for example wallpaper and paint, choice of furniture and fittings as well as adding finishing touches and decorations such as paintings and objets d'art. All of this provide a certain "feel" to a house but essentially the underlying structure of the house is not changed.

Interior decoration is normally professionally done by Interior Decorators although recently the trend has been for people to learn about Interior Decorating through various courses or books and then apply the techniques themselves-usually on a shoestring budget. The whole objective of Interior Decorating is to make a house aesthetically pleasing and at the same time, unique, since it should reflect the owner's specific personality and tastes.

Interior design on the other hand is more integrated with the architecture of a building and a professional Interior Designer will work closely with architects and builders to make choices regarding the integral design of the whole house or building. This includes looking at choices with regards to room layout, choice of cabinets and tiles and lots of other design factors. While the Interior Design budget for new developments used to be minimal, it is recognized these days that incorporating Interior Design into the project means the difference between a run-of-the-mill development and one that contributes to the branding and life-style image of the project. The money spent on Interior Design is therefore seen as a worthwhile investment in the whole property development process.

Homeowners are spending more and more to improve their homes. Since it is relatively easy to change the appearance of a house by changing the finishings and fittings a large portion of this money goes into Interior Decorating. The growing popularity in do-it-yourself Interior Decorating has meant that a whole industry around Interior Decorating courses, books and TV Shows have also sprung up, and it has become a popular hobby for married couples. Innovative Interior Decoration ideas, which cost less but at the same time giving the impression of style and class, are in vogue.

Young entrepreneurs have also seen the gap and there is a growing demand for information and courses on how to break into the Interior Design and Interior Decoration Industry. This has also given the home {interior decoration industry a boost.

Although the trend recently is for people to tackle the exciting task of transforming a house themselves, it has to be recognized that this falls more in the area of Interior Decorating. Interior Design still requires study of the context of Interior Design, the theory of good design, knowledge of the technical advances in the engineering industry for both residential as well as commercial buildings and knowledge of the latest trends and advances in the Interior Design industry.

In short, an Interior Design project in which all the elements of design are pulled together is still the ambit of the professional designer who should be able to deliver on projects that extend beyond the boundaries of a hobby pastime.