Posts Tagged ‘Part’
Insights Into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part Ii: Installing Pictures
When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design.
In this second article in my series on “How Interior Designers Select Wall Hangings,” I will talk in detail about several approaches that I have seen while working alongside many of London’s most successful interior design professionals.
As a general guideline, pictures tend to work well when arranged in squares or rectangles. London is a world fashion centre, and jaunty mismatched shapes can be interesting for certain highly customised interior designs, but in most cases it is best to stick with simple 90-degree angles.
Second, symmetry is important. Often when the interior designer has one central picture and several others in a set, they will choose some sort of symmetrical arrangement.
Third, a popular approach in London’s interior design community is to use the concept of “horizons” against which to align the upper edges of multiple pictures in a group. If an interior designer has an assortment of differently-sized rectangular frames, they may choose to hang an upper row from one “horizon” and the lower row from a different “horizon.”
Fourth, London Interior Design consultancies often talk of “anchoring.” This refers to a technique by which the largest images in a set form the corners of an imaginary rectangle or square, while smaller pictures are used to “fill in” the rest of the available area.
Fifth, to add interest and move away from rectangles, certain interior design professionals love to use the “cross technique” when they have rectangular frames of various sizes. This requires arranging pictures in the shape of a cross, with the larger pictures below the horizontal line and smaller frames above to balance their mass.
Sixth, London interior designers often focus on hanging the largest pictures at the bottom of a group, along a single horizontal line. This can give a stable feel to the broader arrangement. I have worked with some top London interior design teams who always choose to place the tallest image in the centre of this horizon to draw the eye upwards and accentuate features of the presentation.
In the next articles in this series, I will talk about best practices in the use of lighting and mirrors to highlight wall hangings of various types.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting For Mood Part V – Daypart Scene Designs
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part V – Daypart Scene Designs
In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I draw on my experience working with some of London’s top interior design companies to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
In my previous article (Lighting for Mood Part IV), I described the basics of pre-set lighting design. In this article I talk about a new movement, in use today by certain prestigious interior design companies in London: “daypart scene” lighting design.
As mentioned in my previous article, the Interior Design Company will often present the client with a simple switch plate with just four buttons. In daypart scene lighting designs, an interior design company will designate each scene for use during a specific part of the day. Scene one is usually bright, to be used on a dull day to compensate for London’s often-overcast skies. The interior design company will have adjusted most of the lights to full brightness and some of the very discreet effects of feature lighting, which only work when light levels are low, may even be programmed to ‘off’. Early evening often starts at 4pm in London during the winter– and this daypart is ideal for scene two, which features a slightly lower level of light. Interior design companies will select low voltage halogen beams for this scene, to give a crisp and fresh look to a room. Scene two’s task lighting is left slightly higher, so that cooking can still take place in the kitchen, for example – perfect for London, as homeowners and staff often prepare for soiree guests to arrive at this time.
For entertaining, scene three is suitably atmospheric. The interior design company will have pre-programmed a dimmer general light setting and will have raised the level of feature lighting to increase the contrast. This can also be effective when the client’s brief requires the interior design company to create dual-purpose rooms. For example, sometimes the kitchen needs to be transformed into a dining area (often the case in some smaller London flats), and lighting scene three can allow pots and pans to disappear into the background. For special occasions or after dinner, scene four can be more moody still, introducing a sense of cinema. Interior design companies will sometimes double-label scene four as an economy setting, providing night lights in a hallway for example.
This completes my series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood.” I hope these articles have helped you understand how interior design companies in London can tailor lighting effects to suit and enhance our favourite moods.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting For Mood Part III – Dimmable Designs
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part III – Dimmable Designs
Interior Design Companies understand the term “mood” to mean a barely-definable, abstract quality that makes us feel “in tune” with our surroundings. In London, lighting is often a critical part of an interior design company’s toolbox in creating the perfect mood. In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I will draw on my experience working with some of London’s top interior design companies to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
The principle way in which interior design companies will control lighting is by dimming the various levels in relation to each other. General lighting, whether in the form of table lamps, up-lights or down-lights, should be controlled separately from feature lighting – especially in older London residences where there is a danger of overloading electrical circuits. By day, relative contrasts are less marked, especially given London’s rainy weather patterns. When general lighting is at its maximum strength, interior design companies try to make sure it achieves a fairly even light throughout a room. By night, interior design companies will try to create atmosphere and mood by including a feature to dim general lighting to a low level and raise feature lighting. For maximum effect, interior design companies will make sure the contrast between different light sources is high. Alternatively, some London clients request a soft, inviting light, similar to that produced by candlelight; under these circumstances, the interior design company must ensure that the contrast between feature and general lighting is less marked.
Every interior design company knows that mood and atmosphere are very subjective and impact how we feel. After a hectic day in a brightly lit London office, coming home to a softly lit environment can have a very calming effect, helping us to relax and reducing stress. Alternatively, interior design companies may be asked to create an energetic and dynamic atmosphere – perhaps for a new London nightclub or classy restaurant. This requires lighting that is more dramatic, creating positive areas of brightness and darkness. While light is the key to changing mood, professional interior design companies know that the right levels of contrast are the means to success, achieved by controlling each lighting effect individually.
In the next article in this series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood,” I will discuss pre-set scene lighting.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part II – Fine-Tuning
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part II – Fine-Tuning
Interior design companies understand the term “mood” to mean a barely-definable, abstract quality that makes us feel “in tune” with our surroundings. In London, lighting is often a critical part of an interior design company’s toolbox in creating the perfect mood. In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I will draw on my experience working with some of London’s Top Interior Design Companies to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
Mood and atmosphere are the ‘special effects’ of any lighting scheme, but the subtle levels required can only be determined at the fine-tuning stage. Once the various layers of lighting have been selected, interior design companies focus on creating a balance that can produce visual harmony. This is especially important in London, where outdoor gloom can often make indoor spaces appear flat or dull. The approach used by interior design companies is similar to that involved with layering textures and fabrics when decorating. Uplighting may need to be combined with down-lighting, or table light with spotlight, in just the right proportions. Some interior design companies will employ specialist lighting consultants to advise and guide the process.
The requirements will vary from room to room. For a living room, London interior design companies often recommend table lamps for general lighting and to ensure that guests are seen in a soft and flattering light. These can be combined with low-voltage feature lights to illuminate artwork or favourite antiques. In a kitchen, interior design companies realise that lamps are not practical for general lighting. In newer London residences, hygiene and cleanliness are key selling points, and kitchens require non-porous washable surfaces. As a result, interior design companies will generally prefer to select down-lighters, wall-washing the front of the kitchen units, or up-lighters, which provide a soft indirect light. These light sources can be combined with under-cabinet lighting for task light and – particularly popular in London today – perhaps a pin-spot over a kitchen island for added focus.
Interior design companies will often be asked to redesign bathrooms and bedrooms, since these rooms will often confer the most added value in London’s competitive property markets. Bathrooms require flexible lighting that is energizing in the morning and calming at night, with task lights for reading or around a mirror. In a bedroom, where there is less need for overall illumination, interior design companies love to make the bed itself the focus. One technique is to make the bed appear to float on a pool of light by installing rope-lights which can be subtly concealed under the bed platform.
In the next article in this series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood,” I will reveal the secrets of dimmable lighting.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting For Mood Part I – Introduction
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part I – Introduction
Interior design companies understand the term “mood” to mean a barely-definable, abstract quality that makes us feel “in tune” with our surroundings. In London, many interior design companies will focus on lighting, more than any other element, because it allows the design team to manipulate the way rooms look and feel. London has so many lighting boutiques and showrooms that it is often no problem to find exactly the right light fixture or effect to meet any interior design need. In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I will draw on my experience working with some of London’s top interior design companies to describe some best practices in this exciting area of design.
Light is all-important. For example, if an interior design company has a brief to create a room in which guests will feel relaxed, light can achieve this. Alternatively, if the client desires a space that is exciting and stimulating, then light will make it happen. Light reflects the way we choose to live, and professional interior design companies can even use it to change a mood from morning to evening.
Most rooms today have several different functions, and this is especially true in some smaller and more modern London residences, which tend to tighter and more compact. Lighting can enable these types of spaces to meet multiple needs more effectively. For example, an Interior Design Company may be asked to turn a working kitchen, with practical task lighting for cooking, into an intimate super venue. Alternatively, a London client may request that a child-friendly play area be turned into a sophisticated living space by night. Light holds the key to these types of stunning transformations, and professional interior design companies have all sorts of tips and tricks on how to achieve the desired effects.
In the next article in my series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood,” I will go into detail on different types of rooms and I’ll reveal how London’s top designers will fine-tune lighting approaches to achieve stunning results.
Insights Into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part V: Modern/contemporary
Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part V: Modern/Contemporary
Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends – both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, “Designing in Style,” I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London’s best-known interior design teams. This fifth and final article in my series moves on from countryside styles to modern/contemporary – a major focus of the London Interior Design community today.
Modern or contemporary design is all about simplicity. Interior designers tend to focus on fresh, clean lines, together with simple colours and basic shapes like perfect circles and rectangles. But the question I hear again and again from my interior design students in London is, “How to make a contemporary/modern design interesting and unique?” This can be a real challenge – interior designers always want to give their clients something special, but within the constraints of very simple, almost minimalist, design briefs, this can require some serious creativity!
My recommendation to interior design students is always to use extra imagination in the details. In London, wealthy homeowners tend to be very focused on subtle extras. To add interest to a standard modern/contemporary scheme, the interior designer can consider highlights, trims or accents in the colour scheme. Even if one only has a monochrome palette to work with, perhaps a white piece of furniture would look stunning with a beautiful bespoke black throw. Or maybe a hint of pink can be introduced into a grey tone to create a really “interior designer” look for a room? There are all sorts of possibilities, and in London’s most prestigious districts today the most important thing for interior designers to keep in mind is that the label of “modern/contemporary” is just a guideline. If the client has a favourite piece of furniture or artwork that doesn’t quite fit the “modern/contemporary” label, use your interior design creativity to figure out ways to incorporate it into a scheme. You really can’t go wrong if your “modern/contemporary” design is unified and classy – and in London many clients are very sophisticated, with an eye for beauty and detail. If their needs are met, the interior designer has done their job!
Well, that closes out my series on “Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style.” Thank you so much for reading – I hope I have been able to give you some perspective on the many different styles that are and have been popular with London’s interior design community over the decades.