Architectural Wood Turnings

An interior designer draws upon knowledge from psychology, environmentalism, art, architecture and sometimes religion to create harmony within an interior space. Colors, textures, furniture, lighting and open space should all come together to present a psychologically enjoyable, safe and functional environment. While it may sound strange that a whole industry is devoted to something that seems to boil down to “personal taste,” a good interior design can boost sales, productivity, increase employee satisfaction, command a higher purchase price or expand the size of the area.

When a professional interior designer gets started, he or she begins by assessing the client’s wants and needs. They examine budgets, look at lifestyle, scrutinize the home for wasted space, seek color or style preferences and identify pros and cons of the current interior space. Next, the designer will estimate the costs and create a design image with computer-aided interior design software. After presenting the proposal, the client will either approve or deny the sketches. Then it is either time to implement the project or “go back to the old drawing board,” as they say.

Demand for interior design services is expected to grow over the coming years. The health care industry is looking for ways to make their facilities less austere and more inviting for patients. Offices are looking to make productivity-enhancing designs. Restaurants and hotels are looking at interior design as a way of capturing a lion’s share of the tourism industry. Home designs that incorporate personal movie theaters, libraries, offices, wine cellars, indoor gardens and home spas are drawing many designers into the luxury homes market as well. The demand for sustainable green building design is expected to be the next wave of interior design trends.

The interior design work environment is varied. Often interior designers will run between the field and the office, working with clients half the time and on their computers/design studios the other half. As can be expected, architectural firms and interior design company offices are some of the most relaxed, aesthetically pleasing environments to work in. However, some designers are self-employed and work from home, while others work at furniture stores. Often a designer will shuttle to conventions, exhibitions, manufacturing centers and design showrooms.

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Some of the most popular exteriors in America are Modern, Art Deco, Victorian and Colonial Revival. Logically, many of these home owners would choose to complement the home interior design by using unified elements. If the exterior is an Arts and Craft bungalow, for instance, you may want neutral tone walls, stained glass lights and mission oak furniture. However, if you have a Cape Cod, then a country theme might be more appropriate for your interior. You can gain insight and custom designs from a trained professional to help you make the best choices.

Art Deco first gained popularity in the 1920s. While the glitz, glamour and gaudiness diminished following the Great Depression, there is still a soft spot in the American heart for the lost innocence of this classic time period. In the twenties and thirties, the professional interior designer saw Art Deco as both elegant and ultra-modern. Combining aspects of airplane design and Futurism with Old World mosaic patterns and Cubism, the end result was something very interesting that spoke to the aristocracy who wanted nothing bland or boring.

Borrowing from austere stainless steel but also exotic zebra skin and saturated modern colors, Art Deco interior design trends offer the homeowner a museum-type vibe with an array of conversation pieces. Curved mirrors, Tiffany lamps, lacquered furniture, velvet drapes, silk lamp shades, small furniture, thick carpeting and symmetrical geometric shape patterns can all add a hint of Deco to a room. “It’s about glamour and getting a glimpse of those bygone days where TV was less important and it was about cocktail hour and company,” furniture designer Barclay Butera tells HGTV.

The Arts and Crafts home interior design style took America and Great Britain by storm from 1850 through to 1920. Following the advent of mass production and rampant industrialism, artists like John Ruskin and William Morris called for a return to rustic craftsmanship. Simplicity meets high quality with clean, elegant furniture that is as practical as it is beautiful. William Morris said in 1882, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Other influential Arts and Crafts designers include Frank Lloyd Wright, Gustav Stickley, Henry Greene and Elbert Hubbard. Durable, dark-stained “mission style” oak furniture, stained glass, painted tiles, floral fabrics, Mica shade lighting, neutral tone walls and deep green or sapphire blue accent colors are all part of Arts and Crafts custom designs.

In addition to the aforementioned styles, you may notice interior design services featuring “Feng Shui.” Feng Shui home interior design is based on the principle that the arrangement of objects, the choice of color and the manipulation of space can help you feel better and achieve your goals. Often Feng Shui involves clearing out clutter, adding plants and rearranging furniture to maximize space. No matter which custom designs you choose, feeling at peace and completely comfortable in your own space is the end goal.

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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.

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