House Design News

---

• 5 Important Things To Consider When Hanging Artwork In Your Home
• How Do I Become A Commercial Interior Designer?
• 10 Tips To Spruce Up A Bland Modern Stairs Design
• Floating House Design by Vandeventer + Carlander Architects

5 Important Things To Consider When Hanging Artwork In Your Home Posted: 09 Oct 2014 12:34 PM PDT Summary People spend a lot of money on artwork, so I’ve talked about a few ways they can hang them the right way so they look perfect. If you have the right artwork in your home it will look so much more attractive, but hanging art in the right way is more difficult than you think. Get it wrong and it won’t have as much of an impact, so we’re going to look at a few important things you must think about before you hang your art on the wall. Your art can deteriorate You have to be careful if your living room gets a lot of sun because over time it can damage your artwork. I’m sure you don’t want to spend a lot of money on nice art only to see it deteriorate after a few years. This is a lot more common if you hang photographs or paintings done in watercolors. You do have a few options to solve the problem and one involves moving your artwork around every 6 months. Alternatively you could spend extra money on ultraviolet plexiglass when you’re getting them framed. Background color matters The color of your walls will alter the look of your paintings, so you have to take it into consideration before you hang anything. If you don’t have anything up at the moment you can start with a clean slate. White and light grey always look good behind paintings, whereas deep reds and dark blues don’t look so good. If you want to find some inspiration you can check out a few art galleries and ask them what color they use. If your artwork isn’t expensive you might not even feel the need to let it dictate the color of your walls. Switch between large and small Some paintings don’t look amazing when you’re not staring at them up close. They certainly don’t look bad, but unless you’re standing next to them it’s hard to see the small details. There are other paintings that have big features instead of all those little details and you can see them from anywhere. You will find they can easily be used to create a focal point in each room. If you want everything to look right the trick is to mix and match these so you don’t use too many of the one kind. Buy the right frames We’ve already talked about the background color altering the way a painting looks, so the frame it’s sitting in will also make a slight difference. Would you rather have a wooden frame or a metal frame? Do you want something fancy, or would you prefer something that blends into the background so it doesn’t take anything away from the painting? That isn’t a trick questions and the general consensus is that wooden frames with basic profiles are the way forward. Look around before you buy I’m sure you know art is subjective, so one man’s treasure is another man’s junk. When you look around you don’t need to pick something because it’s expensive. If you search high and low you could find some artwork that costs about 1000% less. If you’re sensible you could buy a collection for your home instead of spending all your money on one painting. Look for art by local artists because some of their stuff is amazing and it won’t cost you as much as a painting from someone famous. You can’t go wrong If you follow the tips we’ve spoken about today you can’t go wrong. Try to do your own thing and you might be shooting yourself in the foot. Beautiful paintings and photographs are meant to make you feel great when you look at them, so take your time before you throw anything up on the wall. Leslie Kramer, the author of this post is a freelance blogger, who is currently writing for Bathrooms Are Us, one of the leading names in bathroom renovation industry. Leslie is a movie-buff and likes to go for camping and trekking with her friends and family on weekends.

How Do I Become A Commercial Interior Designer? Posted: 09 Oct 2014 12:54 AM PDT Did you know that interior decorating is generally broken down into two broad realms – commercial and residential? A commercial interior designer might work on spaces like hotels and hospitals; basically, anything that falls outside a private home or office. If this is a profession that you are interested in pursuing, we are sure that you want to know how to proceed. In this article, we have outlined a basic path to becoming a designer. Job Description Commercial interior designers will either work for a specific design firm or be self-employed. In some cases, they may also be employed by a home furnishing store and be responsible for helping customers on design elements. As well as choosing a specific type of space to specialise in (such as schools, stores or airports), you can also choose to specialise in a particular aspect of design (such as kitchens, bathrooms or acoustics).   More often than not, designers will work out of an office (either in the firm's building or at home). They will, however, spend most of their time with clients at their location. People who work for a firm will usually work standard hours (9 to 5) and some travel may be required.   Education In order to become a designer, you will need to undertake post-secondary education, either in the form of a university degree or a TAFE certificate. Most programs will focus on general interior decorating, however, some will offer subjects or modules that are specific to the commercial sphere. If you spend two to three years completing your chosen program, you will often be qualified to start as an assistant; if you spend four years, you may begin an apprenticeship.   Other Skills When applying for jobs, there are a number of additional skills that employers will be looking for. These may include excellent computer skills (as you will be required to use computer-aided design software), engineering and building code knowledge (as each project will need to meet safety and design standards), time management, sales ability and self-motivation. Make sure you include all skills in your resume, as you never know what may get you the job.   Salary For some people, what they will earn is often a catalyst in encouraging them to pursue a particular career or not. Whilst we certainly believe that you should pursue a career based on your passions, we do understand that you need money to live. In 2012, the median annual wage for a designer was $47,600. This figure would be slightly higher in 2014, but many people are surprised at the relatively low earnings. The government sector tends to earn more.   As you can see, becoming a commercial interior designer is no more difficult than becoming qualified for any other job – you will need to complete post-secondary education and will often be mentored for the first few years of your career. When selecting a university degree or TAFE certificate, however, make sure that you thoroughly research all of the programs on offer to ensure that you have chosen one that is most appropriate to your desires.

10 Tips To Spruce Up A Bland Modern Stairs Design Posted: 09 Oct 2014 12:43 AM PDT One of the biggest complaints from homeowners with modern stairs is that they can sometimes look a little bland, especially if they are located in an empty hallway without much else to look at. In this article, we have shared 10 of our favourite ways to "spruce up" your stairs and make them a real feature of your home. Which are you most interested in using? • Ornate Molding – This will instantly add character to your stairs and is a great option for homes that have been decorated in more of a traditional style. The molding will need to be painted to ensure it blends in.   • Op Shopping – You never know what you will pick up in a second hand shop, so why not keep an eye out for something to adorn your modern stairs? A light feature, mounted on the bottom post, is a popular addition.   • Library Space – Does your staircase have a landing or empty space at the top that is otherwise unused? Why not turn it into a makeshift library by installing some low bookcases? These can be built in or removable.   • Remove Carpet – If your stairs have been carpeted, one of the best ways to give them a refresh is to completely remove the carpet. You can paint the treads in a refreshing, modern colour that complements your décor.   • Storage Underneath – A lot of people notice that the space beneath their staircase is wasted, so put it to good use by installing storage. Shelving and cupboards are the most popular way to utilise this space.   • Spiral Stairs – Some homeowners choose to completely replace the staircase in favour of a spiral flight, which takes up less room. This often enables the space to double as a room, such as an office or library.   • Custom Millwork – One of the great things about investing in custom millwork for your stairs is that it will last a lifetime. It will also add an interesting and decorative touch to the flight that wasn't there previously.   • Getaway Nook – Many staircases are known for creating dead space, but these little nooks can be used to create secret getaways. Popular options are a study niche, a reading nook or even a child's guest sleep out.   • Salvage Parts – If you know of a beautiful old building that is going to be demolished, you might be able to salvage some of the components to spruce up your modern stairs (such as newel posts and railings).   • Oak Railings – When it comes to carving intricate designs into your rails, oak is the timber of choice. This is because it is quite easy to work with and will give your home a natural touch that cannot be replicated.   If you have been looking at your modern stairs lately and thinking that they look a little bland, we hope that you find one of the above ideas useful in sprucing the flight up. Whilst not many of the tips we have shared with you will traditionally fit in the 'modern' category, we are sure that they will give your stairs a new lease on life that will continue well into the future.

Floating House Design by Vandeventer + Carlander Architects Posted: 09 Oct 2014 12:34 AM PDT This Floating House was designed by Vandeventer + Carlander Architects. Located in Lake Union, Seattle, Washington. The exterior materials were chosen fr there aesthetic qualities and low maintenance. Aluminum panels complement the storefront windows on the float level, and slat-escape extreme panels blend with the Alaskan Yellow Ceder windows on the second floor. The exterior is direct reflection of the internal development.  Vandeventer + Carlander Architects, [ Via ]

You are subscribed to email updates from Interior Design|Architecture|Furniture|House Design To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610