Architectural Wood Turnings

In the nineties, the kitchen became the social center of the home and earned the title of “new living room.” More space was added, paint colors got brighter, the lighting got cozier, bar stools and Barista tables appeared and chopping block islands proliferated. Now this same renaissance is underway for bathroom design. In fact, the new designs for bathrooms have them looking more like spas than mere toilet-rooms. Whirlpool tubs, double sinks and powder rooms are becoming the norm, as the bathroom transcends into “the new living room.”

While on a vacation, one of the most impressive features is usually the bathroom design. Women love that there is a separate vanity area with lighting, mirrors and a sink, where they can put on their makeup, brush their teeth, do their hair and spread out their supplies a little. Additional drawer space reduces clutter, which the men can appreciate. Rather than a shower stall, there is a separate whirlpool-spa tub and an enlarged shower area with space for drying off, which eliminates the need for shower curtains. New designs include heated floors and towel racks, natural halogen lighting and soft paint colors, in addition to multiple sprayers, all of which add luxury hotel caliber ambiance to one’s bathroom.

Looking at dramatic new designs for your bathroom can be exciting, but they should also be practical, experts say. Rather than simply looking at shower fixtures in your bathroom design search, take this opportunity to correct any defects. If you suffer low pressure from small pipes, mixed up hot/cold valves or high energy costs, then spend the money now to reap the benefits later. In the past, whirlpool tubs were everyone’s dream and they are still popular with customizations like lighting, aromatherapy and bath jets. However, Suzie Williford, National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) vice president, says the customized shower is gaining more attention these days. “People have time to use the shower every day, but they don’t really have time to take a bath every day,” Williford explains. Rain bars, steam showers, mosaic tiles, hand-held shower heads and dual-mounted shower heads are just a few of the many enhancements to make your shower more enjoyable.

Color is the starting point for many Americans looking at new designs for their bathrooms. “You need colors you like to make you feel good in any room, and the bathroom, even a small powder room, should not be neglected,” advises professional interior designer Cy Winship of Minneapolis. Since the bathroom is so small, you can get away with brighter color palettes. Choose colors that complement your towels and bath rugs. For instance, chocolate-brown goes well with vintage pastel tiles that so many older bathrooms have. While dark colors may look great, you need to make sure the lighting is bright enough to do your shaving or put on your makeup. Avoid lime green or sickly yellow, which will make you look like a horror show in the morning, Winship cautions.

Tags: bathroom design, interior design services, interior design tips, new designs

Overwhelmed might be the first feeling that sets in after the excitement of deciding to update your home. You have a lot to think about including cost, design and most importantly, who are you going to trust with your design and vision. Once you begin your search for the right person, you will quickly realize there are many people to choose from. The hard part is finding the one person that will listen to you, complete the job on time, and will stay withing the agreed budget. In addition, give you the quality you deserve and the customer satisfaction that is always expected.

To make to process of finding a designer/contractor easier, I have made a list of the three most important things to consider while interviewing potentials.

Experience
First thing first. You don’t want a greenhorn on your dream remodel. The designer/contractor can make or break the vision you have by not having the experiences required to execute a Scottsdale home design. I recommend choosing someone that has been in the business for several years, minimum, and has an extensive portfolio and list of references. One reason this is so important is the seasoned designer usually has a crew they have worked with for several years. This is important because they know exactly what to expect from them and how they work. In addition, you don’t have to worry about having random strangers in your home that have no connection to anyone. If random workers are in your home or are being hired day to day, the quality could seriously be compromised and so could the time and cost of the project.

Common Vision
When interviewing for a Scottsdale Interior design, find out what their specialty is before you tell them what you are wanting. If you are wanting a modern, cutting edge kitchen, don’t waste your time on a designer that only specializes on traditional designs. Additionally, if you get this question out of the way at the beginning, you can avoid spending unnecessary time interviewing someone. Sometimes you may stumble upon a designer that has effectively mastered all the genres, if that is the case, ask to see their portfolio’s so you can review their work.

Additionally, when working with a designer, you want to make sure they are listening to you and what your overall vision is. A truly great designer will take what you want and guide you along the way, not give you a cookie-cutter design that doesn’t fit your vision, personality or flow of the house.

Organization

It doesn’t matter what business you are involved in, organization is key. The last person you want on your job is scatterbrained, unorganized and forgetful. Ask for a list of references from the designers you are interviewing and call them! Ask them how smoothly the job went, if it was completed on time, on budget if the job was done in an organized fashion that made sense. An example of this would be having the tile laid before the foundation was dry or the island was installed. Or that when they called to ask questions, the designer always prepared and knew what stages the project was on.

By covering these three key points, you should feel pretty comfortable in your decision and not be so overwhelmed when thinking of your Scottsdale home remodel. Lastly, choose someone you get along with and relate to. Don’t go with someone that matches all the requirements but annoys you to death. In the end, you will have just as bad of an experience than if you went with someone else.

Tags: az, bathroom design, bathroom remodel, design professional, home remodel, interior design, interior designer, kitchen design, kitchen remodel, office design, scottsdale az, space planning

Those who design interior spaces will tell you, “It is all in the details.” It could be a new piece of furniture or a new coat of paint that livens up a room, or it may take tearing down walls, adding storage space-saver options and revamping the flooring. There are a number of blogs and interior design trends magazines dedicated to showing you the latest and greatest custom designs and projects. To view some of the innovative designs we are about to discuss, visit www.freshome.com.

When you design interior spaces, you sometimes have to work in small areas and find ways of de-cluttering. This is typically the case when you are dealing with interior design kitchen work. Many cooks hate the boxed-in feeling of a crowded kitchen, which is why Elica Om has come up with a sleek black stove hood that sits up on the wall, like a mounted flat-screen TV, for a more open-concept kitchen. You can purchase this amazing piece for £975 at www.johnlewis.com.

Another option is Daniele Lago’s futuristic 36E8, which encases your dishes in a tall, sleek cabinet that doubles as an art-piece. You can find this piece at www.lago.it. Sometimes you need to work around walls and existing features or condense space a little in a large square kitchen. The Pedini round kitchen countertops improve the chi flow of your house, while also putting the stovetop, the sink, the fridge, shelves and cutting boards all within one step of each other. Find these modern designs at www.pedini.it.

Other times you try to create a mood with your design interior work. Color is the chief mood-creator, as is the lighting. One of the more futuristic designs is “Torn Lighting” by designer Billy May, which conceals a small LED light within what looks like a tear in your wall. It is a subtle hint of light that looks like an art illuminator, while also giving the impression that deep within the walls is a world of light. You can find these lights at www.coroflot.com. To create mood with vibrant furniture under-lighting, try LIT, designed by Mark Pohlkamp. You can project a brilliant “passion pink” beneath your sofa or a relaxing “tranquility blue” beneath your bed for $109 (www.gnr8.biz).

If you are considering interior design services to sell a house, you may not know where to begin. Hanley Wood LLC did a recent study on the average cost to design interior renovations. Kitchen renovations recouped 94% of the cost at resale, so an $80,000 kitchen would cost the home owner $20,000 when all was said and done. A mid-level bathroom remodeling job (costing around $10,000) recouped 102% of the original cost, making it one of the most practical upgrades. For a luxury bath, home owners may put in $25,000-$50,000 but will recoup over 90% of their original cost. Decks have a 90% return, as do windows. An attic bedroom addition will bring back 94% and a new roof 85%. Home siding pays for itself by 103%. So is it worth it to hire a professional interior designer? In short, yes!

Tags: bathroom design, design interior, home study interior design, interior design jobs, interior design kitchen, lighting designer, modern designs

To pursue a career in architecture interior design, one must complete a rigorous course of study focusing on architecture, structural systems design, heating and cooling systems, safety standards, sustainable development, professional standards and interior design services. There are many different schools of thought, some focusing on creating a classic, timeless beauty, while others are looking for something more edgy and progressive. At the core of all modern designs is the oh-so-human fear of living in an uninspired cookie-cutter hulk of a house and languishing in our own apathy. A good architect interior designer will find a way to excite the client about their dwelling space again.

When it comes to architecture and interior design, award-winning professional interior designer Russell Versaci says it is all about the “Eight Pillars of Design,” which are: invent within the rules; respect the character of the place; tell a story over time; build for the ages; detail for authenticity; craft with natural materials; create the patina of age; and incorporate modern conveniences. So what does Versaci mean by “follow the rules?” He says that custom designs can often stem from studious tradition, so it is good to use the past as a guideline. You “respect its character” by working with the surrounding land and topography, rather than cutting down all the trees and leveling hills.

To “tell a story,” architects can create a storyboard of past additions to envision what innovative designs made it what it is today. To “build for the ages,” high quality building materials should be used. Molding, roofing, windows and details should follow the old character of the house to “detail for authenticity.” Materials like wood, stone and pine have a vibe that synthetic materials just can’t match, Versaci adds, which is what he means by “natural materials.” To “create the patina of age,” it’s okay to leave some elements of the home old and weathered or vintage-looking; weathered bricks, salvaged mantles or antique door knobs, for instance. Lastly, the home should be outfitted with modern heating, plumbing, air conditioning, computer wiring, hidden control panels and security systems.

This year, AIA award-winning residential architecture interior design spoke volumes about the modern American spirit. A Central Park South apartment designed by architect Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects transformed a loft space into a fresh-lined, minimalist art gallery inspired home. The architecture would act as “a coequal frame for the art, the furniture and the view,” Gwathmey said. He used asymmetrical, sculpted forms following the plumbing and a cubist collage of wood, stainless steel, titanium, stone and plaster. The jury concluded, “The design neither subordinates itself to the art nor competes with it while making its presence felt throughout the project.”

Architecture interior design is an ever-evolving study. Consumers are currently looking for homes that make better use of space, that offer open main floor plans for family interaction but separated by bedroom wings for privacy. Bathroom design is leaning toward creating home spas with whirlpools, dual-head shower stalls, double vanities and saunas. Innovative designs for kitchens almost always add a utilitarian chef’s nook or breakfast bar. Living rooms make use of large windows, high ceilings and unexpected colors. The future points toward innovative designs.

Tags: architecture interior design, bathroom design, contemporary designs, custom designs, innovative designs, interior design company, professional interior designer