As a professional London Interior Designer, I meet with clients all the time who simply crave more originality and personality in their interior spaces. It is such a delight for the interior designer to be able to transform a house into a home by judicious use of lighting, stencils, photo frames, rugs and frames, to name just a few. Each of the different classes of accessories allows the professional interior designer to lean into a certain style, emotion or personality framework in order to create stunning results. In this article, I will draw on my experience in London's design community to suggest a few great options if you're looking to spruce up your home this winter with some interior designer magic.
LIGHTING. If there are nooks and crannies that just don't get enough light, interior designers may recommend low-voltage illumination to make your interiors look larger and more welcoming. This can also boost your mood - perfect for the gloomy and overcast London skies that are all too common this time of year. Some professional interior designers will recommend theatrical lighting moods, so that you can flip between settings to choose either relaxed, or atmospheric and edgy, or task-orientated, all according to your needs.
COLOUR. The hue of the lighting system can substantially impact the overall look of a room. Incandescent filaments are now being phased out across the European Union, and London interior designers are having to rely instead on compact fluorescents or halogens to create custom effects.
SCONCES. Wall-mounted sconces slide over lightbulbs to give a gentle fuzzy glow to a room. Interior designers sometimes combine glass outer sheaths with paper diffusers to create unique effects and soften the overall feel.
ARTWORK. Art is great, but well-lit artwork is even better - and interior designers are often specially-trained in how to perfectly illuminate choice pieces of art. Recessed lighting can be a great solution for both photographs and paintings. For sculptures, some interior designers love to use spotlights or feature lighting for more of a museum showcase feel.
INTERIOR DESIGNERS DO OUTSIDE, TOO! Exterior lighting is a great way to make a fabulous first impression for evening dinner guests or invitees to a luxury London soiree at your designer home. Exterior lighting solutions can even cast light indoors, as well ... some interior designers like to be really creative and hide exterior lights in bushes or under trees to create natural diffusion before the light trickles in through the windows and makes fabulous patterns on the ceiling or wall.
This bring to an end my mini-series on how London interior designers use accessories, styles and history to create astonishing results.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Culture is always changing, and nowhere is that more visible than in cosmopolitan and diverse London
Interior designers should not work to the latest trends or fashions, because the results will end up going out of style too quickly. Instead, interior designers should simply have a good understanding of styles across the ages and incorporate different elements to create magnificent spaces. Culture is always changing, and nowhere is that more visible than in cosmopolitan and diverse London . Interior designers see a true mix of ideas and people in the capital - from native Londoners to Americans to Eastern Europeans. In this context, the work of the interior designer is all about offering the client the maximum in options and expressivity when creating an interior that is both personalised and elegant.
Over the centuries, various styles have evolved and all continue to impact the work of London's top interior designers today. Let me describe just a few:
ART DECO. This style really came into its own in the 1930s, when automation and new manufacturing techniques led to the ability to create sharp, well-defined edges in household items. Factories were opened in London and across the UK to output products that would ultimately replace the Art Nouveau styles that relied so heavily on shapely waves and light-coloured tones. London Interior Designers today often invoke Art Deco styles to create stunning contemporary designs.
ART NOUVEAU. This ornamental, fluent, wavey design style is considered very nature-orientated and fresh. It arose in London during the reign of Queen Victoria and helped break down the walls between professional artists and professional interior designers. Glass items, especially lamps, were characteristic of the Art Nouveau style - together with soft pastel hues and elegant wallpapers.
BAUHAUS. Another style from the 1930s, Bauhaus interior designers focused on colours like silver and cream. To complement these schemes, London residences started to feature Bauhaus-inspired glass, metal and cement-based objects. Interior designers of this age also used vibrant colours like strawberry, but only for accents.
TUDOR. This is most commonly used today by interior designers who design for London pubs or country residences that feature the characteristic exterior white walls and black wooden cross-supports of the Tudor era. Interior designers working in the Tudor style will commonly rely on oak interiors and window treatments that feature velvets, plush fabrics and semi-precious stones.
In my next article, I will explain how interior designers use accessories.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Over the centuries, various styles have evolved and all continue to impact the work of London's top interior designers today. Let me describe just a few:
ART DECO. This style really came into its own in the 1930s, when automation and new manufacturing techniques led to the ability to create sharp, well-defined edges in household items. Factories were opened in London and across the UK to output products that would ultimately replace the Art Nouveau styles that relied so heavily on shapely waves and light-coloured tones. London Interior Designers today often invoke Art Deco styles to create stunning contemporary designs.
ART NOUVEAU. This ornamental, fluent, wavey design style is considered very nature-orientated and fresh. It arose in London during the reign of Queen Victoria and helped break down the walls between professional artists and professional interior designers. Glass items, especially lamps, were characteristic of the Art Nouveau style - together with soft pastel hues and elegant wallpapers.
BAUHAUS. Another style from the 1930s, Bauhaus interior designers focused on colours like silver and cream. To complement these schemes, London residences started to feature Bauhaus-inspired glass, metal and cement-based objects. Interior designers of this age also used vibrant colours like strawberry, but only for accents.
TUDOR. This is most commonly used today by interior designers who design for London pubs or country residences that feature the characteristic exterior white walls and black wooden cross-supports of the Tudor era. Interior designers working in the Tudor style will commonly rely on oak interiors and window treatments that feature velvets, plush fabrics and semi-precious stones.
In my next article, I will explain how interior designers use accessories.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Student Interior Designers Often Learn About The History of Their Profession
In their training, student interior designers often learn about the history of their profession. This can be a really important way to give context to their subsequent careers. In this article, I will draw on my experience as an interior designer and educator to discuss the history of this exciting field.
The earliest professional interior designers were based in London - the British had become intrigued by Egyptian techniques of decorating household objects and wanted the same for themselves. London families became desperate to employ an interior designer to create magical spaces and accessorise their interiors. As interior designers came to be recognised as professionals, they increasingly found a need to draw on history to create fabulous results. This was particularly true when creating designs for historic London mansions or listed buildings - they saw historical reflections as a way of preserving the past while also looking to the future.
THE ANCIENT ROMANS
In Ancient Rome, citizens demanded comfort, luxury and wealth. These elements are still important in the work of interior designers across the world today. The lavish decorations, tapestries and iconic stonework today remain as timeless and popular in London as in Tokyo or Sydney . The Ancient Romans adored bespoke furniture and loved quality textiles and expensive fabrics.
MONASTIC TIMES
After the collapse of Roman rule, the church assumed power and largely discouraged the most creative interior designers. Opulent interiors were taken out and interior designers were instructed to install quiet and simple oak panels with dark lines and sharp edges. This influence was felt throughout Europe - from London all the way to Florence.
RENAISSANCE AND REVIVAL
The Renaissance saw the emergence of professional French or French-inspired interior designers. It was a new age of elegance and sophistication, which saw the rebuilding of the London Interior Designer community and a fresh take on creative and beautiful living spaces. A "palatial" feel was rediscovered, and interior designers began to take advantage of new transport axes going through London to the continent and to the Americas in order to rediscover their profession and herald the next generation of design.
This brings to an end my article on how the work of interior designers has changed over the ages. In my next article, I'll reflect on how interior designers use interior fashions for great effect.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
The earliest professional interior designers were based in London - the British had become intrigued by Egyptian techniques of decorating household objects and wanted the same for themselves. London families became desperate to employ an interior designer to create magical spaces and accessorise their interiors. As interior designers came to be recognised as professionals, they increasingly found a need to draw on history to create fabulous results. This was particularly true when creating designs for historic London mansions or listed buildings - they saw historical reflections as a way of preserving the past while also looking to the future.
THE ANCIENT ROMANS
In Ancient Rome, citizens demanded comfort, luxury and wealth. These elements are still important in the work of interior designers across the world today. The lavish decorations, tapestries and iconic stonework today remain as timeless and popular in London as in Tokyo or Sydney . The Ancient Romans adored bespoke furniture and loved quality textiles and expensive fabrics.
MONASTIC TIMES
After the collapse of Roman rule, the church assumed power and largely discouraged the most creative interior designers. Opulent interiors were taken out and interior designers were instructed to install quiet and simple oak panels with dark lines and sharp edges. This influence was felt throughout Europe - from London all the way to Florence.
RENAISSANCE AND REVIVAL
The Renaissance saw the emergence of professional French or French-inspired interior designers. It was a new age of elegance and sophistication, which saw the rebuilding of the London Interior Designer community and a fresh take on creative and beautiful living spaces. A "palatial" feel was rediscovered, and interior designers began to take advantage of new transport axes going through London to the continent and to the Americas in order to rediscover their profession and herald the next generation of design.
This brings to an end my article on how the work of interior designers has changed over the ages. In my next article, I'll reflect on how interior designers use interior fashions for great effect.
Interior Design London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
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