As an interior designer of homes for high net worth clients, I have seen increased requests to have kitchens and some baths enlarged to meet the requirements for many hi tech appliances and gadgets. It seems that my recent clients are not alone in their needs.
A recent published article from the American Institute of Architects describes this recent trend as the economy has begun to improve. As they note, I too am seeing more space needed for ports and electronic devices in the kitchen, bath and morning bars off master baths, and media/family room centers. Everyone has at least 2 iPads, iPhones and a gambit of items to plug into a power source.
In a recent interview a national reporter wanted to know if there was truth to the trend that the master bath jaccusi style tub was being replaced by a large shower. My answer is-- absolutely! Everyone wants the mutiple body sprays, overhead rain showers, double shower heads and a TV with sound systems. Big is back and this is now the luxury location.
Please see the link below to the AIA article for your review. I'll forward my interview next when it is published.
http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB088157">http://www.aia.org/practicing/AIAB088157
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Interior/ Exterior Lighting for a Home
Recently interviewed by an AP writer for USA Today , I realized how pertinent this article may be to you when looking at the exterior lighting design in your home. As a National Spokesperson for the American Society of Interior Designers, I thought you may like to read the article and the quotes from me that were used.
Please go to the site and click to read, or just see below.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/your-look/story/2011/03/If-it-glows-indoors-you-can-find-it-outdoors-too/44345182/1
"We have seen outdoor lights absolutely replicating indoor designs," said Anne Robert of theoutdoorstylist.com, a website that focuses on home trends.
"Outdoor lighting is a mood setter. It can make or break a design just like it can indoors."
The abundance of products lets you make outdoor spaces more functional, said Rich Young of Outdoor Living Brands in Richmond, Va. "It allows families to extend the square footage of their home," he said. "With the right light, you can extend the evening for dining or reading or other activities outdoors."
When choosing fixtures for outdoor entertaining areas, consider how much light is necessary, said Alene Workman, a spokeswoman for the American Society of Interior Designers. A table needs to have sufficient light so diners can eat, whereas a conversation area may need only soft mood lighting.
Be creative with table lighting, recommends Krissa Rossbund, a senior style editor at Traditional Home Magazine.
"Gone are the days when people hang a chandelier over a table and call it lit," she said.
She suggests hanging two small chandeliers instead of one large one, or buying a chandelier at a flea market and painting it a bright color.
Outdoor chandeliers come in a variety of styles, from mission to modern. Manufacturers also offer many candle chandeliers for outdoor areas that don't have electricity.
For seating areas, choose a weighted outdoor floor lamp, said Workman, who owns an interior design firm in Hollywood, Fla. "There are wonderful new outdoor lights that are almost art pieces themselves," she said.
Colored lights, illuminated furniture and subtle fixtures designed to blend with nature will be popular this year, according to design professionals.
Workman expects to see the use of color increase, and "I don't mean Christmas lights," she said. Landscapers are starting to incorporate subtle red, blue and pink lights into their work, she said.
Color is particularly appropriate if you are planning a party, Rossbund added. It's "a fun way to change things up," she said.
Some homeowners are adding a bright pop of color with light-up patio furniture, Robert said. The battery-powered chairs and tables are available in a variety of colors.
International designers like Modoluce and Neoz have created lines of plastic tables and chairs that are lit from within.
Avanzini has a line of wood furniture made with glowing light strips. It helps create a lounge look that Robert thinks will be popular this summer.
"With the rise of staycations, we will see a lot of designs adopting a real bar-type lounge attitude, with perhaps more extravagant and festive pieces," she said.
Moonlight USA sells decorative outdoor illuminated globes, which can glow white like the moon or cast light in a rainbow of colors. The company also makes a tabletop for the globes. The clear acrylic disc has a cut-out center that allows it to rest on top of the globe so it can function as a table.
"The color is very robust," said owner Anke Kondek. "It's a wow effect."
Homeowners wanting to light a more natural setting may go for a softer, more layered look, said Beth Webb, an interior designer in Atlanta. She favors the custom copper-and-wood pieces made by The Outdoor Lights in Cumming, Ga.
Company president Chris Wakefield has created lights that cast a warm glow around fire pits, dining areas or outdoor living rooms. Some of his more popular items include punctured copper cylinders that create a firefly effect, stamped copper lanterns and illuminated, artificial birdhouses. The lanterns can hang from a shepherd's hook or a tree branch.
Before buying lights for reading, lounging or dining, the professionals recommend making sure that pathways and steps are properly lit for safety.
"You want light to help you navigate spaces near or around steps," said Jeff Dross, director of education and industry trends for Kichler Lighting.
He and the other experts warned against making outdoor spaces too bright. They suggest using subtle light that is aimed towards the ground wherever possible.
"For most tasks you only need low light," Dross said. "Avoid that glare. Glare forces you to think you need more light than you do."
Please go to the site and click to read, or just see below.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/your-look/story/2011/03/If-it-glows-indoors-you-can-find-it-outdoors-too/44345182/1
"We have seen outdoor lights absolutely replicating indoor designs," said Anne Robert of theoutdoorstylist.com, a website that focuses on home trends.
"Outdoor lighting is a mood setter. It can make or break a design just like it can indoors."
The abundance of products lets you make outdoor spaces more functional, said Rich Young of Outdoor Living Brands in Richmond, Va. "It allows families to extend the square footage of their home," he said. "With the right light, you can extend the evening for dining or reading or other activities outdoors."
When choosing fixtures for outdoor entertaining areas, consider how much light is necessary, said Alene Workman, a spokeswoman for the American Society of Interior Designers. A table needs to have sufficient light so diners can eat, whereas a conversation area may need only soft mood lighting.
Be creative with table lighting, recommends Krissa Rossbund, a senior style editor at Traditional Home Magazine.
"Gone are the days when people hang a chandelier over a table and call it lit," she said.
She suggests hanging two small chandeliers instead of one large one, or buying a chandelier at a flea market and painting it a bright color.
Outdoor chandeliers come in a variety of styles, from mission to modern. Manufacturers also offer many candle chandeliers for outdoor areas that don't have electricity.
For seating areas, choose a weighted outdoor floor lamp, said Workman, who owns an interior design firm in Hollywood, Fla. "There are wonderful new outdoor lights that are almost art pieces themselves," she said.
Colored lights, illuminated furniture and subtle fixtures designed to blend with nature will be popular this year, according to design professionals.
Workman expects to see the use of color increase, and "I don't mean Christmas lights," she said. Landscapers are starting to incorporate subtle red, blue and pink lights into their work, she said.
Color is particularly appropriate if you are planning a party, Rossbund added. It's "a fun way to change things up," she said.
Some homeowners are adding a bright pop of color with light-up patio furniture, Robert said. The battery-powered chairs and tables are available in a variety of colors.
International designers like Modoluce and Neoz have created lines of plastic tables and chairs that are lit from within.
Avanzini has a line of wood furniture made with glowing light strips. It helps create a lounge look that Robert thinks will be popular this summer.
"With the rise of staycations, we will see a lot of designs adopting a real bar-type lounge attitude, with perhaps more extravagant and festive pieces," she said.
Moonlight USA sells decorative outdoor illuminated globes, which can glow white like the moon or cast light in a rainbow of colors. The company also makes a tabletop for the globes. The clear acrylic disc has a cut-out center that allows it to rest on top of the globe so it can function as a table.
"The color is very robust," said owner Anke Kondek. "It's a wow effect."
Homeowners wanting to light a more natural setting may go for a softer, more layered look, said Beth Webb, an interior designer in Atlanta. She favors the custom copper-and-wood pieces made by The Outdoor Lights in Cumming, Ga.
Company president Chris Wakefield has created lights that cast a warm glow around fire pits, dining areas or outdoor living rooms. Some of his more popular items include punctured copper cylinders that create a firefly effect, stamped copper lanterns and illuminated, artificial birdhouses. The lanterns can hang from a shepherd's hook or a tree branch.
Before buying lights for reading, lounging or dining, the professionals recommend making sure that pathways and steps are properly lit for safety.
"You want light to help you navigate spaces near or around steps," said Jeff Dross, director of education and industry trends for Kichler Lighting.
He and the other experts warned against making outdoor spaces too bright. They suggest using subtle light that is aimed towards the ground wherever possible.
"For most tasks you only need low light," Dross said. "Avoid that glare. Glare forces you to think you need more light than you do."
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
What I Can Do For You
We create the interior back bones of a space before any finishing materials are selected. This often includes the floor plan layout , furniture plans,lighting plans, electrical plans, multi layered ceiling designs with up (indirect) and down lighting( direct), wall elevation design, staircases and railing design, custom interior doors, moldings and door casings.
We act as the team leader for all the other design professionals hired by the client. This typically includes the architect, builder/GC, landscape architect, lighting designer, audio visual company, engineers, etc. Most often we do drawings for all team participants so they understand the requirements of the project, even if they end up doing their own final drawings for permits.
We oversee all design elements during construction and act on the clients behalf throughout the process including administration and orchestrating our installaions. Even though many sub trades work for the builder or GC, my team does the detailed drawings so that the work can be completed per our master design. (In Florida, an interior designer cannot act as a general contractor unless we have that license).
Being the last out the door on our design projects requires an enormous amount of problem solving and coordination. I’d say I am more like the captain of a very large ship. Ahoy!
Thanks for reading this since it is my mantra. I’m a big communicator and like to have my role understood. Most people come to a design firm expecting a decorator. We do that too but that is only a small part of the game. That’s why our clients love what we do. We make a daunting process fun for everyone.
The Sketch
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