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!
