Home Building - Interior Home Lighting

Home lighting is probably the most important element in home interior decorating, because it is instrumental in setting the mood of any room. It can affect performance, mood, morale, safety and security. When deciding what lighting to use in your new home it’s important to consider how each room will be used, what fixtures are appropriate, energy efficiency and cost. To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, you first need to understand the four basic types of home lighting.

Ambient or general lighting illuminates the whole room. It is a good idea to install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the flexibility to adjust the brightness. Examples of ambient lighting are recessed downlights, cove lighting, soffit lighting, valance lighting, wall washers, sconces, surface-mounted lights, pendant lights, track lights, chandeliers, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Task lighting provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, for example reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free and it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes. Examples of task lighting are valance lighting, pendant lights, under-cabinet lights and portable fixtures.

Accent lighting is focused lighting that is used to illuminate an object in your home like a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting. Example of accent lighting are wall washers, sconces, track lights and under-cabinet lights.

Natural lighting comes through windows, doors, and skylights and depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.

Types of Lighting Fixtures

Once you've considered what types of activities will be taking place in a room and what type of lighting is needed, you’ll need to decide what fixture will work best in each room in your new home and don’t be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting. In fact, mixing and matching different light fixtures can help create a dramatic look and aesthetically pleasing room. The type of lighting you choose can also help make a room look larger or smaller.

Be prepared: Walking into any light fixture store can be overwhelming, so be sure to have a list of the types of fixtures your considering and how many you will need in each room. Before purchasing any fixtures, make sure you ask your builder if there are any restrictions on the types of fixtures that can be used in any specific room, because sometimes things such as ductwork, insulation or ceiling height can affect whether or not a fixture can be installed properly in a room.

Tip: Your local American Lighting Association (ALA) showroom is the best place to view the many different styles, sizes and shapes of lighting fixtures that are available to deliver the ambient/general, task, and accent light you need. Below is a list of the different types of lighting fixtures.

Hall/Foyer Fixtures can create a harmonious atmosphere, while providing you with the general lighting you need to greet guests and move safely from room to room. Use ceiling, chain-hung, or close-to-ceiling fixtures in hallways, stairways, and entranceways.

Chandeliers can add sparkle and style to your dining room while giving you the ambient/general lighting you need for dining and entertaining. They are also used in large bedrooms, foyers, or over a living room grouping or a grand piano. Some are designed with downlights to provide task lighting for homework or table games. Chandeliers are available in both incandescent and tungsten-halogen. The addition of a dimmer control lets you alter the intensity of light to suit the mood and activity going on in your room.

Pendants can provide both task and ambient/general lighting. Equipped with shades or globes to avoid glare, they are usually found hanging from the ceiling over dinette tables, game tables, kitchen counters, or other work areas. When used over end or night tables, they free up the space occupied by table lamps. For added flexibility use a dimmer control.

Ceiling Fixtures usually provide general lighting and are very practical in busy areas such as foyers, hallways, bedrooms, kitchens, baths, laundry rooms, playrooms, and dens. They are available with incandescent, fluorescent, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Wall-Mounted Fixtures can provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting. Many are designed to match and supplement dining room chandeliers, or to provide hallway, bedroom, or living room lighting. Wall brackets are often used for task lighting at the bathroom mirror. They are available with a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Bath/Vanity Lighting Strips provide task lighting, while supplementing the general lighting provided by ceiling fixtures. Similar to the lighting in theater dressing rooms, these soft glowing strips of globe-shaped incandescent bulbs provide excellent lighting for grooming.

Portable Lamps provide ambient/general, task, and accent lighting and give you the added flexibility of moving the light whenever you want. Table lamps, floor lamps, and torchiers are available in a variety of styles to complement your decor. Small specialty lamps, such as clip-on lights, uplight cans, adjustable task lights, mini-reflector spotlights, desk and piano lamps fill a variety of task and accent light needs. These lamps are available with incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.

Track Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting all at once in one flexible lighting system. You can move, swivel, rotate, and aim the individual fixtures in any direction along the track, giving you the versatility to change your lighting scheme whenever you want. You can also hang chandeliers and pendants from the track. Track fixtures are available in standard or low-voltage current, and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescent light sources.

Recessed Lighting can provide ambient/general, task, or accent lighting inconspicuously. Installed in the ceiling with only the trim showing, recessed fixtures can be used anywhere in the home. They are ideal for low-ceiling areas, and with a special adapter they can also be used in cathedral ceilings. They are available as downlights, adjustable accent lights, and wall washers in both standard and low-voltage current and a choice of incandescent, tungsten-halogen, and energy-efficient compact fluorescents.

Undercabinet/ Undershelf Fixtures provide both task and accent lighting. Under kitchen cabinets they light a countertop. In a display cabinet they show off special collections. They include slim, energy-efficient fluorescents, miniature track lighting, and strips of low-voltage mini-lights.

What About the Bulbs?

Certain fixtures are designed for a specific type of bulb, such as a two- or four-pin fluorescent bulb. Others can accommodate the more common screw-in type. When choosing fixtures, be sure to note what type of bulb it requires, so that you won't be surprised to find the bulb you bought isn't the right one.

Incandescent bulbs are the most heavily used in homes. Unfortunately, these bulbs are inefficient and expensive to operate. Fluorescent bulbs have come a long way from the humming, glaring office lights we've all been exposed to. Today's fluorescent bulbs don't hum, and they provide light that is almost identical to incandescent bulbs. The best part is that fluorescent bulbs have significantly longer life than incandescent bulbs (almost 10 times as long), use less energy and are affordably priced for use in your home. Halogen and LED bulbs are also available for the home market. Both are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but are more expensive than fluorescent lights.

Room-By-Room Home Lighting Ideas

When you start shopping for lighting fixtures, you’ll find that there are literally hundreds of home lighting options, so think of lighting from two perspectives - function and aesthetics. Functionally, your home lighting needs to provide the right type of light in sufficient quantity for your intended purpose. Aesthetically, you can configure your lighting to create the desired mood through its intensity, style and color.

Below are some ideas for lighting the various rooms in your home.

Living Rooms

- Place a lamp about 42 inches above the floor in areas where you plan to do reading.

- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.

- Use accent lights to illuminate bookcases or display shelves.

- Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to accent beautiful wall textures, but be sure your lighting comes with a dimmer.

- Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays.

Kitchens

- A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting and flexibility.
- Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and cooking areas.
- Place halogen pendant lights over bars and countertops.
- Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting.

Dining Rooms

- A chandelier with a dimmer over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting.
- Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light.
- Install halogen strip lighting inside your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles.
- If don’t care for a chandelier and you have a long table, try using a trio of pendant lights.

Bedrooms

- Place table lamps on your bedside tables, but avoid halogen lamps in children’s rooms because they can get very hot.
- Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright.
- If space is limited you should consider recessed lights or pendant lights.
- If you want to create a romantic setting, place candles around the room.

Bathrooms

- Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming.
- To avoid shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead.
- It’s always a good idea to install a night light.

The House Designers award winning residential house plans, architectural home designs, floor plans, blueprints and house plans will make your dream home a reality!

http://www.thehousedesigners.com

2007 Home Decorating Trends

With 2006 behind us, it's time to start looking forward to what the New Year will bring. For me, the New Year isn't just about making resolutions; it's about keeping design current with the very latest trends. Read on to find out what's going to be popular in 2007.

Colors
A few key color trends are emerging that mark some significant departures from what has been popular in the recent past. Browns, oranges, and other warm colors are resurfacing after a long period of absence in home decorating. You can also plan to see greys, blacks, and other darker, more mineral-like tones. Deep hues of teal, navy, and green are also making a comeback and offer a fresh, new look for homes everywhere.

Mother Nature, Interior Designer
Anything that reflects elements of nature, such as wood, bamboo, and other "earthy" textures is going to be very popular. Earth-inspired fabric collections that are designed to mimic the feel of woven woods are seen more and more in everything from window shades to rugs to lampshades and other accessories, reflecting this trend.

The Cozy Cottage Design Style
Even the most metropolitan of homes are incorporating more charm and comfort into their interior design. This reflects what is called the casual, or cottage designing style, which is making a comeback. Characterized by mixed-and-matched design accessories, light, airy, and informal décor, this re-emerging design style adds a vacation feel to any living space. Sheer window shadings, and soft draperies are going to be seen in more homes as a way of maintaining a light, carefree atmosphere.

Be a Creature of Comfort
For those of you who have always opted for comfort over style: you're on to something. This year, a comfortable living area is a stylish living area. Your home environment should encourage relaxation and be a haven from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Stiff, formal sitting rooms are out.

Shades of 2007
I couldn't write this article without talking about the exciting new trends in window treatments, many of which follow the overall trends of the season. Simple shades, like roller shades or flat-panel Roman shades, have taken over. Shades in textural fabrics, like suede and cotton are especially popular this year.

Your window treatments can also reflect the comfort-focused trend that is so stylish now: you can use them to control visibility, and the increasingly popular motorized shades allow you to control visibility with the simple flip of a switch. Of course, energy-efficient shades can save you energy, which will always be in style.

Good News for Do-it-Yourselfers
Anything homemade or handcrafted is in! From handmade blankets and pillows to craft projects like picture frames and other accessories, the project ideas that this trend inspires are endless. And they will add a personal touch to your home.

Go Global
Another big theme for 2007 is home design with an ethnic flavor. So don’t be afraid to venture outside of what you currently have. Spruce up your décor with furniture inspired by the styles and culture of other countries. Not ready to make a drastic change? Home décor accessories like lamps, pillows and rugs offer ways to infuse your home with smaller tastes of culture.

It’s clear that 2007 promises to be an exciting year in home design. These tips will help you welcome the new year with style, whether you’re planning a decorating makeover or just some small updates to refresh your home’s look.

Stacey Wiktorek is a member of the in-house professional home design team at BlindCrafter.com, where she provides expert decorating and design advice for anyone looking to beautify their home. For tips and home design ideas, or to receive their monthly Customer Club newsletter with trends, advice, and exclusive coupons, visit their website at http://www.blindcrafter.com/kristinasdesignstudio.cfm

Home Interior Design Tips on Decorating your Space with Wall Art

How to Decorate your Space with Wall Pictures

If a room in your house lacks character, by simply placing some fine art prints on the walls can actually make quite an impact. Wall pictures are a necessary accessory in your home and are great to tie in with the room's style and color accent. Before you go off to buy some new pictures for your walls there are a few things you need to plan and decide upon. Here is a home interior design guide on how to decorate your space with wall art.

Shop for Wall Art by Room

The kind of home you have and the mood, ambience and style of decor you create, should be perfectly designed to suit your lifestyle. Deciding on a style for your room should be determined by the lifestyle you choose and not by what's the latest home interior design trend.

Whichever room you are wanting to decorate, whether it be your bedroom, living area, kitchen or office space, you need to decide what you want to get out of that space. For example:

• do you want to hold dinner parties or entertain?
• do you want a quiet retreat to get away from the hustle and bustle?
• Is this an area for the kids to play in?
• Is this a room for your hobby?

Once you have decided what you want to use the room for, you can now choose a color theme to suit the function of the room. For example, mellow greens and neutrals for your 'quiet retreat room', lively yellow for the kids room, or pale tranquil blue for your office space.

So far we have established the function and color of the room in question, this then gives us the basis on choosing the right art prints for the area.

For example:

• bright colorful cartoon pictures for the kids room
• mellow pastel floral pictures for your quiet retreat area, or
• tranquil landscape and scenic pictures for your office space

Choose your Style

Like paint color, artwork can immediately establish or change a room's mood. Not only can it pull the room together, but you can use it to create a style uniquely your own.

• traditional & classic
• modern
• contemporary
• fun & entertaining
• casual
• romantic

The style of the room is totally dependent on your own personal taste and this is the time when you can inject your own personality into the room through artwork and textured accessories.

Suggested art picture styles:

Fun & Entertaining: Pictures can include bright colors both in the print and on the frame. Fun and entertaining pictures can include kittens and puppies, or comedian actors such as the Three Stooges or Laurel & Hardy.

Modern: With the strong black accents in the framed iron-work and the tapestries, striking black and white photos are a natural choice for a modern and sophisticated look.

Calm Retreat: To reinforce the mood of a nestled, cozy retreat, use artwork with neutral, earthy colors and a horizontal landscape subject.

You can even mix and match different styles to create a unique style of your own. For example, frame traditional black and white photo prints in a modern black iron frame.

Arranging and Hanging your Pictures

In order to get the maximum effect of your wall pictures in terms of adding character and a focal point to the room, you need to decide where and how you want to hang them.

Here are some suggestions to help you decide how to get the best effects from your pictures:-

Modern Gallery Look: To create a modern art gallery feel, particularly nice in hallways, lobbies and stairwells, give each piece ample breathing room. Stand at the center of the first piece and take one swift, or two small steps along the wall. This is a good center for the next piece.

Above a Sofa: When placing art above furniture such as a sofa, you need to hang the picture about six to nine inches above the sofa, or at eye level.

Cluster Arrangements: Tightly group an even number of pictures together to give a statement or a focal point. This works on either large or small wall spaces, depending on the look you want.

In a row: By placing an odd number of pictures in a horizontal line to each other gives balance and the sense of space. This works well in hallways or stairwells.

By deciding where and how to hang your pictures, whether it be a tight cluster or a single print above a sofa, you can then determine the size and shape of the pictures you need to buy.

When you have decided on the room's function, color and style, you are in a much better position to go shopping for wall pictures that fit in with the overall theme.

Summary

Wall pictures are an underestimated home interior design accessory. This is probably because most people do not know what to do with their pictures in order to get the maximum effect in a room. Before you go hanging up your pictures make sure you plan ahead what you want to get out of that room. Decide on the function, style and color of the room first before you buy your artwork. By doing this you are in a much better position to buy the right type of art picture to fit in with the theme and color accent of your room.

Claire Bowes is a successful freelance writer and owner of Online Home Improvement Ideas.

Interior Design Simply Means Personalizing Your Interior Environment

Interior Design today is all about customizing your built environment with conceptual planning, aesthetic sense and technical solutions applied to achieve the desired result. It goes beyond just the visual or ambient enhancement of an interior space, it seeks to optimize and harmonize the uses to which the built environment will be put. Between you and me, this jargon simply means dressing up your closed spaces to make them look their best. And just as you would dress for the occasion, your interiors need to be "dressed up" for a specific intended purpose or use. And that is where technical expertise really helps.

Interior Designs should reflect your needs.

Each space is unique with its own dimensions, construction, design potential and, of course, - limitations. Are you going to use that space for work or leisure, entertainment or learning, worship or healing? Can you create the ambience that you wish to convey – be it power, authority, wisdom, and achievement, a sense of security, playfulness or serenity, as required by that space?

Consider the practical aspects. Is access easy, lighting adequate, acoustics soothing, and seating comfortable? And have you worked out strategies for wise storage space without forgetting special needs – especially health and safety? Sounds a wee-bit difficult, isn’t it? Despair not! You as user are the only one who can come up with all the right answers. Look for interior design ideas – they are available aplenty. It’s just this small matter of putting things together judiciously. Who knows? There could well be a Le Corbusier hiding somewhere in your persona!

About The Author

Mike Yeager
Publisher
http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/
mjy610@hotmail.com

Interior Decorating and Home Decor With Inuit Art from the Arctic North

In order to help give a room a classier touch, interior decorators have used sculptures to bring in a mansion or even museum-like feel to a home. This is particularly true for the interior decorating of living rooms, dens, home offices and hallways. When many people consider sculptures as home decor, the thought comes to ancient Roman or Greek mythological characters like Apollo, Venus or Zeus. Others think about abstract contemporary fine art sculptures that are sometimes difficult to interpret. Since there has been a trend in recent years towards a more natural look with more earthy color tones for interior decorating, Inuit art from the Canadian Arctic north can fit in nicely as part of home decor.

Most subjects used in Inuit art tend to be focused on the observations that the Inuit people (formerly referred to as Eskimos in Canada) make of their Arctic surroundings whether the pieces are soapstone sculptures or prints of drawings. We often see Inuit art depicting Arctic wildlife including polar bears, seals, whales and walruses as well as lifestyle scenes involving family or hunting. The Inuit have been carving stone sculptures for thousands of years but it was only introduced as fine art to the modern world on a significant scale during the 1950s. Today, Inuit art has gained international recognition as a valid form of contemporary fine art.

Colors of Inuit sculptures tend to be polished shades of blacks, grays, browns, greens and whites. Inuit artists also tend to utilize relatively neutral colors for their art prints which work well with all color ranges of today's more natural styles of interior decorating. Adding an Inuit sculpture on an end table, mantle or shelf gives a living room or office that gallery touch. An Inuit art print on the wall of a hallway or corridor also works the same way. Since the majority of people especially outside Canada have never seen Inuit art before, such artwork in a home will often end up as conversational pieces with guests.

There are Inuit stone sculptures to suit almost every price range and budget at about $100 to several thousand dollars for large, intricate pieces. Most can be purchased at galleries located in major Canadian cities but there are now a few galleries located in the USA and Europe that specialize in this form of art. Not surprisingly, the latest retail source of Inuit art is on the internet. This development is especially useful for those who are not located near an Inuit art gallery. Check out some examples of Inuit art either in a gallery or online and imagine how a piece or two can be part of your home's interior decorating.

About The Author

Clint Leung is owner of Free Spirit Gallery (http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca) , an online gallery specializing in Inuit Eskimo and Northwest Native American art including carvings, sculpture and prints. Free Spirit Gallery has numerous information resource articles with photos of authentic Inuit and Native Indian art as well as free eCards.

The Two Pillars Of A Successful Interior Design Project!

Dear Friends,

Whenever I think of any design, be it interior design or product design, a few things very naturally come up in my mind. These are in the form of questions.

The best part is, answers to these questions can give rise to a very successful design in itself. Let's see how.

If I am planning to design a piece of furniture, let's say a double bed, immediate I start relating to what I already know about double beds, some picture/image I have already seen, something I have seen in some furniture shop, etc... Then I start thinking about what material I should think about, the budget, dimensions, age group of people who are going to use it, etc... If you answer these questions one by one on a paper, you will get a blueprint of the design process, so that you can convert in into technical drawings, with all the joinery details and finally the product.

Amongst above mentioned questions some are directly related to function of the double bed as a piece of furniture.

What does this mean?

When I ask myself, what should be the dimensions of a double bed? I have very little freedom to decide the dimensions of the bed, because there are certain norms to be followed in order to serve it's basic function and that's comfort.

But what if I say that I will keep the overall surface area of the bed same , but make it round in plan. Will it be ok..

Now here I am trying to achieve both function and aesthetics, without sacrificing the comfort of the person who will use it. So during any design process there will be times when the designer need to take some decisions where he has to keep aside his wildest ideas and pay attention to function first.

That's why the true success of an interior design project is a good balance between function and aesthetics.

Expressing this kind of balance through design is not an easy task, because function is universally accepted, but aesthetics, not always.

What does this mean?

Beauty is always relative. A washbasin has a common universal function of an appliance to be used for washing hands, but it's beauty is relative. What is beautiful for me, might not hold true for you.

So a design expression can have a unique style of the designer himself. It is possible that the designer is more comfortable with certain kinds of materials/finishes/color schemes, etc.. which can reflect in his designs.

In spite of these personal touches a good designs always caters the needs of the user first. A good designer has a certain kind of convincing power in his/her style which he uses to expresses in the design without sacrificing the likes/dislikes of the user.

There are designers who are more comfortable in designing only a certain kind space such as bathrooms, bedrooms, living rooms, public spaces such as restaurants, clubs, gymnasiums.

Of course this is entirely of a personal choice, but there is this same message in their designs, shell out your ego and design for the best parameters with worst possibilities taken into considerations. This is what gives birth to a great design.

I hope this article was helpful.

Copyright 2005 Shrinivas Vaidya

About The Author

Shrinivas Vaidya

For more powerful and in-depth concept level knowledge of bedroom design visit Bedroom-Design-And-decorating-Ideas.com. You will find some good tips on designing various kinds of bedrooms.

Romantic Interiors for Valentine’s Day!

With Valentine’s day just around the corner, thoughts turn to romance. To set the right mood throughout the year, here are some simple decorating tips and a handful of extra special touches to dress your house. So whether you are planning a Valentine’s Day bash or some intimate time for two, check out these romantic ideas.

For lighting, that mood maker extraordinaire, consider changing your white light bulbs to pink (available in most grocery stores and 3-way too.) These cast a softer, gentle glow and will be sure to bring complements from those nearby. In fact, my favorite tale is from a client who mentioned that her husband commented almost daily for a week on how great she looked, and she never let him in on the secret of pink bulbs!

A collection of whimsical or more traditionally elegant angels, cherubs, and cupids can be delightfully fun to create. Consider printed pillows, woven throws, porcelain figurines, classic framed prints and the like. These can be gathered and dedicated in one room or creatively displayed throughout your home. They have a way of lifting one’s heart during a potentially dreary time of year, and reminding us of those closest to us.

Treat yourself to flowers. And, yes, do go beyond the grocery store! There are not only florists, but great sources on-line and in catalogues for a wealth of pretty posies. Top picks include Calyx and Corolla, 1-800-Flowers, Gardener’s Eden, Pick of the Crop in Alpharetta, and Meme’s in Roswell. While roses are the original symbol of romance, tulips in white, red, and pink or even a bouquet of carnations can brighten any room. Paperwhites and other bulbs will bring a welcome touch of Spring, as well. Consider using paper or silk flowers if live aren’t your bag.

For those with a sweet tooth there is always a treat for holiday munching. Consider well placed candy dishes, heart-shaped of course, in crystal, silver, or ceramic. Whether filled with chocolate kisses, or pastel melts, it adds a sense of festivity and sweetness to the season. Get the kids involved with baking special Valentine’s sugar cookies, heart shapes with pink and red sugar sprinkle topping to share with family and friends.

Honor those close to your heart. Choose favorite pictures of your children, spouse, significant other, or friends and group them in heart shaped frames. Or create a collage on cork board of the same pictures, in a heart shape with a ribbon border. You can even make your own frames by cutting out hearts from construction paper (red, of course) and taping or gluing pictures to each. These can be put on the refrigerator with magnets, or pinned to a bulletin board. They can even be strung on decorative yarn and hung on the mantel.

Stairrails, mantels, mirrors and more can all be festooned with ribbon in white, pink, and red, reflecting the heart of the holiday! Papier mache cupids and angels are now available in a variety of sizes and finishes (gold, silver, or unfinished) and can be perched strategically on newell posts, mantel corners, the top of cabinets and such.

If red, pink, and white aren’t your favorite colors, go with gold or silver, but do promote the sense of romance with sparkle and elegance. What makes you feel romantic?? These days the opportunities are endless, take advantage of the day and make it special.

2006 Melissa Galt

About The Author

Melissa Galt, Lifestyle Designer, Speaker, & Author, is the owner of Melissa Galt, Inc., a full service interior design firm based in Atlanta. She has been decorating clients’ homes all over the Southeast for more than a decade, making their interior visions come true. She speaks to audiences nationally , on how to use design as the catalyst for “creating the life you’ve always dreamed of”. Melissa is the creator of Design Destinations, a free monthly guide to designing your signature life. To sign up for her FREE monthly newsletter, visit http://www.melissagalt.com/.

The Truth About Interior Design

Have you ever wondered how you can make your home look like the place of the affluent people? Or would you just like to create an impression of classic beauty with an air of sophistication?

All of these things can be made through the use of interior designs.

Basically, interior design refers to the art of manipulating and forming the inner space of a house, an office, or a room, through the management of surface healing and “spatial volume.”

Interior designs are generally used to bring in the features of architecture, furniture designs, environmental psychology, and product design. All of these are combined to create an artistic projection of the area in project.

The Style

The interior designer should know and take into consideration the different parts of “design styles.” These are the proportion, function of design, concept, and balance. All of these parts are important in creating the total “look and feel” of the room.

For instance, in creating the “look and feel” of the room, the interior design could enhance the “graphical user interface” of the design buy using the right combination of colors, layout, shapes, etc.

Included in the aspect of styles are the seven elements of design that an interior designer must always take into account. These are the shape, form, line, texture, color, pattern, and mass. All of these things, when incorporated in a project will bring out the best results.

However, good interior designers must also take into account the aspects of beauty in terms of its function and aesthetics. A good balance between the two will instigate proper coordination of all the elements of design.

The reason behind this argument is based on the fact that the concept of beauty is always comparative and qualified. As the old adage goes, “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”

Hence, there are instances that one design might be beautiful for one person but may look unsightly with others. That is why when the function of interior design serves its purpose as far as enhancing the total outlook of the space is considered as universal, the comparativeness of its beauty will vary from one person to another.

For this reason, the design used by the interior designer may be relative to his or her own aspect of beauty but may be taken differently by his or her viewers. Nevertheless, it is still the interior designer who will know the appropriate use of the different elements of design associated with the utilization of the various kinds of materials that he or she will use.

Consequently, the interior designer must still consider the insights and taste of the user or the customer. After all, the interior designer is being paid to enhance the space according to the taste of the one who will use that space.

At this point, it is now based on the “sales talks” or the persuasive power of the designer to convince his or her client the best style, patterned to his or her style. In this way, the designer will not be in trouble of deviating from the interests of the client. Otherwise, the designer may no longer find future works from this particular client.

Indeed, interior designing is not just a matter of good taste and spatial enhancement. It is also a conglomeration of the application of the different elements of design along with the personal interest of the client.

It is a work of art with the value of ethical standards constituted in one art form.

About The Author

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides interior design resources on http://www.just-interior-design.info.

Interior House Painting Preparation Steps

One of the biggest parts of interior house painting is the preparation. If these steps aren't followed properly, mishaps will occur. Professional painters learn early that the key to a successful paint job is the interior preparation. Properly preparing a room for painting allows for easy clean up and a more professional look in the end. Follow these steps for the best results.

First, empty the room out as much as possible. Take out large furniture and make sure nothing can obstruct the preparation and painting process.

Second, clear the walls and ceiling of decorations such as paintings and posters. Also remove nails, tacks, tape and other kinds of hangers. Patch the holes if they are not needed later with light weight spackle.

Step three is to make sure that every inch of the floor and what ever you do not wish to paint is completely covered. This will help with avoiding getting paint in places you don't want it. Paint can be sneaky and get to places you could not imagine. Make sure everything is securely covered to avoid messes later. Cover floors with drop clothes and furniture with plastic.

Step four is making sure all the walls are clean before painting. If walls are excessively dirty, paint will not stick as well and it can cause the paint to look messy. Try using a mild house hold cleaner for moderate cleaning or trisodium phosphate for heavy grease deposits. When cleaning entire walls is necessary use a sponge mop to make the work easier and faster. Rinse well with fresh water and allow to dry.

Step five is removing any and all electrical covers and light fixtures. Reinsert the screws so they won't become lost and they are easier to find later. If the light fixtures are not removed they should be wrapped with tape and paper in order to be protected from paint splatter and make cutting-in easier.

The last thing you will need to do is protect all windowsills, trim and doors from excess paint. You can do this with blue painter's tape, which is especially good if you are leaving the tape on for more than one day. You can also use masking paper or plastic. More you do to protect these areas in which you do not wish to paint, the less time you will spent for the clean up. Remember that at least 75% of the work involved with interior house painting is in the preparation of each room.

About The Author

Karl Crowder has been a professional house painter for over 20 years and writes for http://www.house-painting-info.com, your house painting guide. Visit http://www.house-painting-info.com/interior-preparation for all the interior preparation techniques needed for a successful paint job.

5 Great Ideas For Fans Of Victorian Interiors!

If you've found that Victorian interiors are your cup of tea, and you would enjoy making over your room(s) in this style, there are ways you can make it happen without breaking the bank!

What you'll have to do is some extra browsing to find the right deals, as well as a little creative thinking.

To start with, you should examine pictures of various Victorian interiors. Also check out other items and decorations that were popular during the time period that occurred in 19th century England.

The images you gather will give you insights into what to look for while you are surfing the Web for deals online, or in thrift or consignment stores.

Following are some ideas of how you can transform your room(s) with this elaborate style and save some cash at the same time:

Idea 1 - Even if you aren't able to afford the heavy draperies that are often found in Victorian interiors, you can still add a charming touch by using a white simple roller shade to cover the window for privacy. Then use curtains made of lace.

All you need to do is purchase the desired color of lace you would like from a fabric store, as well as curtain rod, and find simple instructions on how you can make curtains.

Idea 2 - Once you have measured your space you can then proceed with painting the room to capture the perfect Victorian interiors look. The beauty of painting your walls is that it is not costly, and the color of the walls is one of the most important parts of Victorian interiors, because it is the colors which capture the mood of the room.

Idea 3 - You should carefully examine the rooms that you plan on fashioning with Victorian interiors, Before you begin your transformation. The space will matter, because it will tell you how much you will be able to put in the room without it being too cramped, or too empty.

Idea 4 - When you are looking for Victorian interiors accessories to decorate the room, you can always create pillows with all the trimmings, add paintings of maidens or flowers in wood frames, or paint the frame gold.

Colors you will want to choose include dark shades of green, pink, and purple, while other specific color tones are burgundy, ruby and mauve. Select two or three different colors and make them the focus of your room.

Other great accessories include dried flowers in a crystal or porcelain vase, porcelain dolls, and candles in gold or crystal candle holders. In addition, use doilies to place under decorations that are on tables.

Idea 5 - As far as furniture goes, the most affordable type that goes with the authenticity of your Victorian interiors would be wicker. If you can’t afford new furniture, you can always cover tables with skirt covers made of rich or embroidered fabrics such as brocades and velvet.

You can then add lace trimmings to the skirt to dress it up.

It really isn’t difficult to work with any budget, even when designing Victorian interiors. Keep your eyes open for deals, and don’t be afraid to purchase items at thrift and consignment stores, because it is often there where you will find a variety of the authentic looking items you need to create the look.

Have fun decorating, and let your creativity and imagination guide you success.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home.

Hard to Fix Interior Damage

There are some things that don't happen often, but when they do, it is hard to think of ways around them. We are going to talk about some of these problems in this article. Hopefully they won't happen to you, but if they do, here's how you solve them:

Rubber and Vinyl

There is a lot of rubber and vinyl in our cars. Just about every area has one of these types of surfaces. Both rubber and vinyl are extremely susceptible to sun-provoked deterioration and UV damage. Evidence of this is dry, brittle, fading, cracking and peeling surfaces. So keep them conditioned and use dash covers, and sun shields as often as you can.

High quality reflective sun shields not only protect the dash and fabrics from direct sun bleaching and damage, but lower the temperature of a closed car up to 50 degrees. When the temperatures can easily reach 120 to 150 degrees, this can make a huge difference in the longevity of your interior rubber and vinyl areas.

Scratches

Sometimes no matter what you do, the scratch happens. Maybe it was the dog (or cat), maybe the kids, maybe it was you, but its there now.

Getting a scratch out of vinyl is a bit of a process, but most folks can handle it. First we need a good hair dryer, something that kicks out a good deal of heat, without putting direct heat on the vinyl.

Heat up the surface around the scratch real good, then use a gloved hand to gently press the scratch area, pushing enough to rub the area smooth again.

If the scratch is deep, then use a filler, such as a wax source that is the same color as your vinyl. Crayons, believe it or not, work well. Heat the area up, rub in the wax filler, then (as before) use a gloved hand to rub the area smooth.

Polish the area with a good vinyl cleaner and inspect.

If the dash is cracking or very brittle, you can put on fitted molded dash covers, which basically replace the entire dash with a new one.

How to get rid of musty smell from the air conditioner

If you experience that unpleasant musty smell from the vents when the air conditioner is turned on, you can try one of the odor treatments you can buy in your local auto accessories store. They kill bacteria and remove mildew smells. Simply spray into outside air intake vent (check directions on your can).

Clogged air conditioner drain tube and accumulation of leaves and other debris under the cowl cover also may cause damp mildew smell. Ask the mechanic to check it when you do your next oil change.

Rust stains

You don't see these often, but they do happen. Rubber cargo liners save you from most of the sources, but if you got surprised and have the rust stain now, here is what you do.

To remove those stains, get a fresh lemon or two from the grocery store. Roll the lemon then slice it lengthwise. Squeegee the juice onto the rust spot and sprinkle it with salt. Keep the area damp with the lemon juice for several hours. The next day use a damp cloth and blot to remove.

Salt Stains

If you have gone through a winter in the salt belt, you'll find salt embedded in your carpeting. Good floor mats are a life saver here, but none the less, let's get the carpet clean now, and get the mats after.

"Salt" stains are usually caused by calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, not sodium chloride, according to the Carpet and Rug Institute. Rock salt has small amounts of both of these salts imbedded in it. The problem comes with solubility. Patience and lots of rinse cycles are the key and sometimes calcium carbonate forms and this is fairly insoluble. Try to vacuum most of the dry residue off before using cool to warm water and a very small amount of carpet shampoo. Once the cleaning solution has been applied, allow time for it to dissolve the deposit. Blot, do not scrub, the spot. Sodium chloride is more soluble at lower temps than at higher ones. Then rinse with clear lukewarm water, blotting up the excess moisture and follow with another water rinse and blot dry. This should work. If not, try a cleaning mixture of 1/2 white vinegar to 1/2 lukewarm water, allow to stand 15 minutes and rinse with clear water.

Tree Sap

The hardest thing to get off a car's finish is tree sap. I suggest that you avoid it altogether by avoiding parking underneath trees, and using a good car cover.

Since you already have it however, here's what you do.

To remove the tree sap from your vehicle's surface, you can use finger nail polish remover on a cotton ball. After the sap is removed, make a paste of water and baking soda to wash the affected area, then apply wax.

Another method to remove the sap is to use mineral sprits (it will also remove tar). Use a soft, terry towel, or wash cloth dampened with mineral sprits. After removal, wash the car and apply wax to the affected area.

Tree sap can also be removed by using a water-soluble paint brush cleaner. A common household solution is bacon grease or lard. Just rub it on, and off comes the sap. To get tree sap off of your hands, simply rub mayonnaise on them and wash it off. To remove tree sap and other substances, you can use common solvents like lighter fluid, rubbing alcohol, WD-40 or even Skin-So-Soft bath oil.

The way to use those materials is to let them do their work of dissolving (in the case of alcohol) or softening (in the case of oils), enough to rub off the remaining sap. If you use the oil, wash the car afterwards to remove it.

You can also use commercial wax and grease-removing products available at auto supply stores. Be sure to wash and dry the car before applying the wax and grease remover. Then dampen a clean cloth with the solvent and rub the affected area. It may require several attempts if the sap is very thick or extremely hard. The surface may appear hazy after the solvent evaporates, but a good wax application will eliminate the haze and complete the job.

Removing tree sap from a car's finish is a bit more difficult than tar, as hardened sap can scratch your paint. I've found that by hand-rubbing the sap spots with mineral spirits or denatured alcohol, I'm able to easily remove the sap without damaging the finish. Mineral spirits and denatured alcohol acts as a solvent to break up and dissolve the sap.

If there is a large amount of sap on the car, or if the sap has been left on the finish for an extended period of time, it can be a lot of work to remove. For these cases, you can try hitting the affected areas with a light-duty buffing compound to remove the hardened surface on the sap spots. Then you can use mineral spirits or a similar solvent to remove it. The light duty buffing compound softens the sap so the solvent can do its job. The goal is to use the least pressure possible to reduce the risk of scratching the paint. After removing heavy sap, always buff the treated areas with a good polish to clean up any marks created during hand-rubbing with solvent. The treated area must also be re-waxed.

Insect Honeydew

Parking under large trees can result in unwanted deposits of a sticky substance on the car. Most people assume this is tree sap, but the real culprit is far more likely to be insect honeydew, excreted by aphids or scale insects that infest the leaves and branches.

Composed of sugars and other waste products that pass undigested through the insects' bodies, honeydew becomes harder to remove the longer it's left on the car.

If you remove the honeydew and park under the tree again, you'll just end up with more sticky stuff dripping down on your vehicle. You may be able to dislodge and reduce the numbers of offending aphids in the tree by blasting overhanging branches with a forceful stream of water from a hose. Unfortunately, a hard stream of water does not help much if the source of honeydew is scale insects.

Spraying with insecticides is rarely needed to protect the health of the tree.

About The Author
Elena Maria
http://www.caraccessories.com

View their website at: http://www.caraccessories.com/interior_damage.html.

The Right Writing Desk Will Show Off Your Sense Of Interior Design

Writing desks have been a center of decor in the home for many many years. Both decorative and functional, writing desks are some of the more versatile furnishings and an ideal enhancement to the home decor and living room furniture. Quality contemporary writing desks, however, are also functional but tend to be more artistic than their predecessors. Special glass, marble, and even complex materials are fairly familiar on the writing desk tops of high quality modern writing desks. These specialized building materials are sturdy, very versatile, and modern. Standard building materials used to construct the legs and bases of contemporary writing desks are aluminum, chrome, and copper. Great for everything your friends or family might use it for.

A few present designers like to replace a quality writing desk for a similar arrangement. Rather than give up choice real estate in the middle of room, it has become a bit of a trend to fill up the place. Alternatively, try out a writing desk. At best, many attempt to find alternatives for a high quality writing desk. At worst, the essential decorative outcome is disorganized and messy and no clear focal point materializes in the room. A writing desk, however, is designed to help bring together the space surrounding the room and give the room a natural spot to focus on. Both modern and traditional writing desks are now available using online shopping, allowing consumers a fantastic channel for finding the very best writing desk for their home's style.

As we can all see, the bulk of homes are put together leaving little space for the unconventionally shaped piece of furniture. More often than not, people are forced to work on the dining table or couch. However, a secretary desk seems to perform very nicely to rectify that problem. In little places, a writing desk eradicates the boundaries to effectiveness created by heavy modern furniture, providing necessary constructive space that can squeeze in and out of tighter areas. This added space is cherished, in particular when kids are around since they love to help you with just about anything.

When you take the time to truly consider the range extensive of compelling writing desks in furniture outlets now days, you could be tempted to conclude that you have walked onto a set of a Stanley Kubrick movie. Some of these contemporary writing desks are made entirely from glass and still others feature an interesting marriage of metal and other various complex materials. What you're probably not going to get, whether you are shopping on the Internet or in a conventional furniture store, is the typical old drab writing desk from your parent's living room!

About The Author
Jennifer Akre, owner of numerous sites specializing in Writing Desks, Secretary Desks, and home decor, makes it easy to find a contemporary or modern http://www.onlytables.com/writing-tables.html or the perfect Secretary Desk. Learn how to decorate your living room and den in style-Click Today: http://www.Onlytables.com/.