Conveying Design Ideas

As an interior designer, I'm always coming up with design ideas in my head. When I put together a design for a space, I visualize the whole thing in my mind: where each fabric and finish will go, how colors will balance around the space, how textures will contrast against one another, etc. But how does one get these ideas across to a client or a contractor?

Samples and pictures are essential tools for conveying design ideas, but sometimes more in depth or accurate depictions must be created so that a client can tell how each item relates to one another or for a contractor to realize the design.   I'm currently taking two classes to develop and hone some useful skills that make this possible.

In Marker Rendering, class I've learned how to accurately depict a fabric sample on a piece of furniture, how to draw glass, and other surfaces in order to give the client a concept of what the whole design will look like when complete.

Architectural Drafting has taught me how to read and draw plans in order to communicate a design to a contractor builder. Although most plans are done on the computer these days, this hand drafting class has helped me understand how a structure is built. Like my teacher says, you "draw it like you build it." As a designer, this understanding of a structure will help me to develop design details that can be accurately executed.

There are also many neat computer programs out there that can be used to convey design ideas, but these hand skills are particularly helpful if you need to do a quick on-the-spot sketch to explain something.  Anyway... I'm enjoying learning this stuff.  What'd you think of my work?

Sophistocated Striped Bathrooms

Hey all you renters out there. Today I'm wondering... what would you do if your apartment was your own? Would you paint a wall navy blue? Gut your kitchen? Mount your TV to the wall?

I'd love to do a number of things like this, but the first thing that comes to mind that I would change if my place was my own: I'd paint stripes in one of my bathrooms. Can you tell by my background that I'm loving stripes right now?  I always love them actually... they're classic and add interest to a space without being too busy. Their consistent rhythm can create a sense of calm while increased contrast can produce a more up-beat and fun intensity in a space.  I think they'd be just darling in a powder room or bathroom. (In my case there is no "powder room" in my apartment.)

If I was creating my striped bathroom, it would be a simple painting project due to my budget constraints (probably a sky blue and crisp white combo), but you could also create an awesome striped look with wallpaper or tile. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of work for something I'll have to paint over soon enough.  So instead I'll just dream of stripes and share some examples of what I'm talking about.  Love me some stripes!

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This last one I took with my iPhone in the beautiful Ann Sacks showroom at the Laguna Design Center. Fun right?  Are you loving stripes as much as I am?  What would you love to change about your rental if you could? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Happy Valentine's Day All

Hope everyone's day is filled with love!

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Love is in the Air...

...and in my apartment!  With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I quickly sprinkled a few hearts here and there to "bring back that loooovin' feeeelin'..." Ok, time for me to stop singing.  I'm usually not that into Valentine's Day, but with all the Valentine's stuff floating around blogland, I've been feelin' like I need a little pink in my life. Also, Frank and I decided to decorate cookies together tomorrow so I thought it would be nice to create the appropriate setting for a little Valentine's Day fun.  Here are some photos for ya.  

Like my little heart dish towel? Its from the 99cent Store... Woo hoo! Good deals get me excited!  Have you put up any decorations for Valentine's Day?

Marker Rendering and Wood-lookin' Tile

My apologies for the lack of blog posts recently.  Homework has been totally kicking my blogger butt. Architectural Drafting and Marker Rendering are quite the time consumers.  But check out the chairs I rendered!

On another note... I actually have been fulfilling one of my new year resolutions! Yep, for real, I haven't forgotten about them yet. I went to an ASID trade show last week and guess what!... I won a Macy's gift card from Arizona Tile.  Yay!  Isn't it pretty?!

It even kinda matches my nail polish. Seems like it was just waiting to be in my fingers!  But anyway... here's a snap shot of this awesome tile they had in their showroom that looks like wood.  I'm totally loving it right now. 

I think it would look great in a commercial application.  In my opinion, it doesn't quite have the warmth of actual wood, so I'm not sure I'd want it in a residence. (That's not to say I'd rule it out completely.)  But it would be fab in a restaurant or an office... even on a deck!  It requires little maintenance and has more than 40% recycled conntent.  My dentist's new office actually has something like it that looks really snazzy.  Here's a great photo from their website

Purdy right?  Well I hope ya'll are having a good week. Over and out!

More Handome Bedding and Then Some at Unison Home

So guess what.... my lack ottomans where featured again!  I just wanted to say thank you to Amy at MoMamma for picking my ottomans, and to Pinterest for being awesome and both inspiring me and getting my stuff out there, and to my mom for allowing me to help with her tv room, which without that project, there would be no ottomans at all!

Alrighty, there's my speech... now on to the topic.

After yesterday's post about manly bedding my Dad made an impulse purchase and picked up a handsome grey duvet set from Target.  I think he made a great choice and I suggested that he get some yellow pillow cases to bring out the yellow in his artwork and add a fun pop of color that would be a great contrast against the grey of his new bedding.

Being that I'm a little obsessive when I get inspired, I started looking for some nice modern yellow pillowcases and stumbled upon Unison Home. Not only do they have very handsome modern bedding, but they also have quite classy table linens, sexy throw pillows, sleek home accessories, and a kids line! Here are a few of my picks of their snazzy selection.

Tatami White Duvet

Sailor Regatta Navy Duvet

Regatta Twin Pillowcases

Maritime Large Square Pillow

Rope Square Pillow

Sailor Large Square Pillow

Maritime Gold + Natural Tablecloths

Stitch Oven Mitts

Sailor Black + Natural Pot Holder

Nippon Napkins

Moller Melamine Salad Set

Candle Columns

Chevron Hurricane

Cutaway White Vases

Manly Bedding

A few years back I helped my sister asked me to help her pick out a comforter that wouldn't get shot down by her boyfriend.  She said she had shown him a few options, which he claimed were all too 'girly'.  After poking around the store (I think it was actually Burlington Coat Factory), we found something acceptable: a simple black and gold plaid. This might not be your cup of tea, but there are many other options out there that if paired with interesting furnishings and art, can look quite stylish.  So how does one find such manly bedding for the picky boyfriend or guy friend asking for assistance?  Here are my thoughts (which seemed to work in the case of my sisters boyfriend):

• Avoid all floral prints and anything too swirly lookin'. Curved lines give a feminine feel.
• Steer clear of 'girly' colors (pink, coral, etc.) Although some men might be okay with, or even like, these colors, from what I gather, most men don't want to sleep in a sea of fuschia.
• Look for something geometric. If you're want to add interest with a pattern, but aren't sure how to find a manly pattern, geometric are often a good way to go... perhaps a nice stripe, plaid or triangular pattern would work.
• Stick to something simple. Something solid or nearly solid can be 'dressed up' with an interesting blanked or pillow.
• Speaking of pillows... most men I've meet hate throw pillows. They think function, not form, and don't see the point. So avoid the extra pillows and find other ways to add that pop of color or pattern that you want... maybe interesting sheets, art, or a bench at the foot of the bed.

That being said, my dad asked me to help him find a duvet cover.  (I chuckle when I think of my dads recently expanded vocabulary... "duveT." I don't think he knew they existed, let alone what they  were called.)  So with my manly-bedding radar on, I went on the hunt for something simple, sophisticated, and modern. Here are some choices that I pulled.

You can't go too wrong with something simple in the brown, blue, or grey color palate...

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But, my dad also likes yellow, so I found a few yellow duvet covers that are on the more manly side...

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Or for a man who's really into color...

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Here's some more manly geometrics...

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And here's one more that I love. Isn't the asymmetry great!

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