Home Interior Design

I remember my days on my college campus fondly. The smell of fall in the air as the first semester of the school year began. It was not long until I was assigned my first design projects of the term. Being over ambitious, of course I wanted to create the most impactful and awe-striking presentation boards. The only problem was that I lived on the opposite corner of campus from the interior design instruction facility…ugh…which meant the bigger the boards, the more “sailing away” would happen during the travels to and from class. If you don’t already know, design boards are heavy, large, awkward and expensive! So the last thing you want to happen is to have your project fly away in the wind, or worse yet, having the large flat object cause you to fly into traffic!

Designers have come a long way in the last 5 years in regards to presentation methods. I think as an industry we have become a little more mobile, streamlined and all around “slimmer.” I am not Read More

Thomas Chippendale didn’t grow up in London (in fact he was born in Leeds in 1718), but he did move to London at the age of 31, after he had already gained recognition as a premiere furniture maker and cabinetry-focused interior designer. His work and styles influenced the London Interior Design community then, and the Chippendale aesthetic continues to extend its impact well beyond London even today.

Chippendale’s fluent, natural and sophisticated style developed after the promotion of his furniture and interior designs in “The Gentleman and the Cabinetmaker’s Director” in 1754. Chippendale continued to make iconic contributions to the field of interior design until 1790. His furniture came to be manufactured as far afield as Philadelphia in the USA.

Chippendale drew on three key interior design inspirations for Read More

“Home is home”- there is no better way to explain what a home means because it’s one thing that people can design and maintain as per their unique taste. Many people look for interior designers that are able to transform their homes. It’s important to choose an interior designer that is able to advice a home owner with their individual choices. Secondly, as a home owner you know you want good service from an interior designer you choose.

The question then is how to go about choosing an interior designer that will give you what you want. Said in another way, the essential characteristics of an interior designer include the ability to be able to plan the interiors of a new home and have renovation ideas. Interior designers require also technical expertise regarding lighting, construction and spatial planning. Their work involves working with carpenters, painters and people of other trades to coordinate detailed planning.

As a home Read More

If you are about to work with an interior designer for the first time, make sure you know what you want.

First off, your interior designer is on your side so fear not! It may sound a bit strange, but some people can be intimidated by what the designer is going to recommend for your space. Thousands of people invest in a designer because they are confident that the designer is adequately qualified and know what they are doing.

You may be a large corporation or a student living in a tiny apartment, it is possible to mix the latest design trends with your own personal style. Second, understand your needs and know what you want.

Are you remodeling your kitchen? Or maybe a bathroom – they are both extremely important areas in the home and both have a high usage rate, and are both potentially quite expensive.. so it is important to know exactly what your requirements are.

Assuming that you had a budget prior to enlisting the services of Read More

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 Read More

Make Your House Your Home – How London Interior Design Companies Work with Lighting

Part I: The Universal Language of Light

The need for light is universal and impacts the entire galaxy. Interior design companies often employ staff who understand this deeply. We are drawn to light like moths to a flame (or to cashmere). In London, we are revitalized by sunny days (too few, too few!) and we feel downcast when we see London’s grey skies of autumn (too many!). Interior design companies often employ lighting design specialists. Some of these individuals will have studied the history of light – and they will know that light even connects us to ancient civilizations. From the Aztecs to the pharaohs, the sun ruled supreme as a light- and life-giving force … and now Interior Design Companies are taking this Read More

Hiring an interior designer or decorator can be outside the box thinking for many people who wish they had professional advice, but think that it is too expensive or too intimidating.

As an interior designer with 22 years experience, I have worked with all types of people on residential projects ranging from the single mother with little money to the professional athelete who has an endless budget. Visit my website at www.barbaraenglishdesigns.com

Most designers offer an initial consultation which may be all you need to get you started. The average cost for this is $100 an hour and a good consultation should last about two hours. From this meeting in your home, you should come away with furniture and color ideas, artwork and style suggestions and a vision of how you can take your project from concept to reality. You should also be able to come away with a realistic budget.

A good designer will get to know you, your Read More