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.

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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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You may have heard of “feng shui,” which is the school of thought that blends spirituality and art. It is believed that color, pattern, space and lighting all have a great impact on our emotions, our productivity and our spiritual nature. By rearranging furniture and redesigning a room, we can feel awakened, enlightened, rejuvenated and at peace. While this was revolutionary design news in its time, the newest trend builds on the principles of “feng shui,” arguing one step further that the human psyche demands a “return to nature” in modern designs.

Green building materials, furniture and interior design services are making design headlines all around the world, but particularly in America, in places like Seattle, Portland, New York and Austin. Last year, green building technology found a friend in the money-conscious consumer who was looking to save on his or her energy costs. Traditionally, sustainable design had been seen as “pricey” and “hardly worth it,” but now prices have dropped and consumers are beginning to see where pennies can be pinched. The LEED standard became the predominant licensing agency and Energy Star appliances became mandatory for government buildings in many states. More than 14% of all US cities have some kind of “green real estate” program in place and insurers agree to protect sustainable houses. These breakthroughs are clearing the way for a more responsible and environmentally-friendly society.

Barack Obama made interior design news in January when he chose Michael S. Smith, professional interior designer of the stars, as his White House decorator. Smith has provided interior design services for the likes of Cindy Crawford, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Murdoch and Steven Spielberg, among others. Additionally, he was Elle Décor’s designer of the year in 2003 and one of Architectural Digest’s top 100 designers in 2002 and 2004. Smith’s style reflects a mastery of “the mix,” says Kansas City interior designer Caroline McCallister. She says Smith weaves traditional and modern, casual and formal, multiple cultural influences, expensive and affordable. He also has a deep understanding of 18th and 19th century decorative arts and modern designs. Currently, he is updating Sasha and Malia’s rooms, choosing from mainstream brand names, as well as a catalogue of stored White House relics and antiques from the past 200 years.

The iPhone is making headlines in design news for 2009. M.O.C. Interior Design recently launched the “Mark On Call” application, which allows iPhone and iTouch users to create and share floor plans. The program lets users create sizes and dimensions based on their actual homes, add and arrange furniture, change fabrics, lay down flooring and select rugs. The program comes with a measuring tool, shopping lists, a note pad and is priced at $5-$10/week. The more buzz that occurs regarding interior design services, the better it will be. With all the $500+ interior design software out there, “Mark On Call” is a reasonably priced way to re-envision home space.

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