Interior Design, Design News and Architecture Trends

Blog

How to Pick an Architect

No matter what sort of work you are planning on doing – whether it’s a simple bedroom extension over the garage or you have a glorious spectacle of titanium architectural genius in mind – it is more than likely that you should employ the trained mind of an architect to help you out.

Sometimes, it can seem like employing an architect might be an expensive waste of your money, especially in these current times of economic difficulties. Other people believe that the process of hiring one might be confusing, and are put off trying it for this reason.

However, you really should get the help of an architect if you’re planning some big changes to your house, especially if you’re not 100% sure of what you’re doing. In fact, sometimes an architect might even be able to save you money! There are, however, some things you should keep in mind.

Do You Need an Architect?

If you are genuinely wondering whether or not you should hire an architect, the answer is almost definitely a yes. Take this as your rule of thumb: if it is anything other than a small project which needs no planning permission whatsoever, you should get an architect onside.

Why? Well, an architect can aid you in your project in myriads ways, from helping you to understand what materials you need to drawing up blueprints, from filing the planning permission application to overseeing the build to the finish.

How Do You Choose?

Before doing anything, ask around your friends and family and find out if any of them recently had any architectural work done – if they have, ask whether they’d recommend them or not. If they would, great! You already have an architect and can go on with the job.

If they’ve not had anything done, or the architect did an awful job, you should visit a few local architecture firms. A good quality architect shouldn’t be too difficult to find – use www.yell.com or search the internet yourself, or simply browse the phone book and make enquiries!

If you’re not sure about their accreditation, you can check on the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) website, or ask whether they’re on the ARB (Architects’ Registration Board). To be safe, if you’re suspicious, don’t hire them!

How Much Will You Pay?

Normally, an architect’s fee would be based on a fixed percentage of the overall construction costs, but it could also depend upon how much time the architect spent working on the job. You may even be able to secure a lump sum fee from the outset of the job, so speak to the architect beforehand to discuss payment options. The initial meeting shouldn’t cost you a penny, so use it wisely.

If you want a concrete hourly fee, we’d say somewhere around £80. Of course, this might vary wildly depending on which firm you visit, so the only way to find out for sure is by asking around yourself.

December 6, 2013
Why School Furniture Is So Important

Education is important – you know that, we know that, everyone knows that. After leaving school, the rest of your life begins, and where you end up in that life is directly linked to your time spent in education and how you did. It has a greater effect on your life than pretty much anything else.

The quality of the education you receive has the potential to wildly vary depending on some surprisingly mundane factors. Some of the more obvious ones include the skills and competence of the teachers you find yourself with, how many disruptive children are in your class, and how well you personally pay attention.

There are, however, more contributing factors than you have probably realised. Some of the more unusual ones include the acoustics of the classroom (yes, really), as well as the lighting, and even the furniture you sit on and write on!

What’s Changed?

Just think back to all the changes to schools we’ve had in the last decade or two – teaching styles have been completely revamped, the curriculum itself has been overhauled, and the notorious canteen food has been upgraded courtesy of Mr Oliver. But has anything been done about the furniture?

The answer to that question is a no. School furniture is pretty much the same as it was back in the ‘50s, with the only major change being made in the construction materials: they’re now made from plastic instead of wood, as it’s cheaper.

Current education failure, if scaled up and made to adhere to work furniture regulations, would fail on a number of different fronts – it’s high time we changed this.

How Can Furniture Affect Performance?

Classroom furniture can affect a child’s educational performance in a number of different manners. This makes it of crucial importance that we ensure that we give the very best furniture to our children – we don’t want their education to suffer!

The modern methods of teaching incorporate numerous different styles, so we need furniture that can adapt to each of these. Schools can no longer afford to build separate rooms for science or for ICT, so we have to ensure that the furniture we use can do it all.

Children should have furniture which is both ergonomic and comfortable – take a look at Innova Design for some examples – as this will allow them to work to their full potential.

Why Should Furniture Be Replaced?

We’re not suggesting all schools should go and replace every last bit of furniture on a whim. That’s expensive. Instead, if a school is already undergoing a redesign or renovation, that’s when changing the furnishings should be taken into serious consideration.

If the furniture in the class doesn’t fit the kids well, it can cause back and neck pain that could eventually end up doing permanent damage. A lack of comfort also makes it hard to concentrate, thus directly having a negative impact on education. If we want the younger generation to do well, we need to ensure that we give them the best furniture.

December 6, 2013
How to Spruce Up Your Dining Room

Whether you’re planning a dinner party or just bored with your layout and furniture, sprucing up your dining room is easier than you think. A few simple changes can do wonders to the overall atmosphere of the dining room so your family will enjoy spending time there.

Before you start overhauling the room, remember that its primary function is for eating, and that should not be affected at any cost. And while minimal is always best, it doesn’t mean that design ideas are limited. Here are a few simple tips for a fabulous dining room.

Make Your Dining Room Table Shine

If your table is looking a little scruffy, or even if you think it’s time for a change, there are numerous styles of dining tables to choose from; visit sites like Made for more ideas.

From extending tables, to wooden tops and adjustable height tables, choose a piece that will set the tone for the room. Remember that the table should be the main feature in the room, so start there and build your design outwards.

Invest in a solid but attractive table that you’ll be happy to showcase for a few years.

Soft Lighting is Your Friend

Whether you want to have your family dinners surrounded by mood light or want to hide the imperfections in your freshly baked bread, soft lighting is your friend in the dining room.

Candles and chandeliers are the most obvious ways to create soft light during dinner. The size of the dining room and dining table will dictate whether or not you get a chandelier. For instance, a grand chandelier will not be appropriate if the dining room and the table are small. Instead, you can resort to a small pendant light or a 5-light pendant depending on the size of the table.

Apart from soft lights, you should outfit the dining room with task lighting and accent lighting on the walls. All fixtures and finishes must complement the overall theme of the room.

Add a Splash of Color

You can add a pop of color just as effectively as style gurus. A bright but complementary color might be just what you need to rejuvenate and update this very social room.

A metallic blue or bright green adds a burst of color and interest to an otherwise pale room. Fortunately, there are many simple ways to include color without overpowering the room. Choose one item to carry the color in the room: Paint the chairs, add a bright rug, paint one wall, or add vibrant curtains.

Another option is the add cushions to the dining room chairs and use the bright colors in a pattern or neutral form.

Paint or wallpaper, new furniture, area rugs, and clever decorations are your ally when it comes to adding pizzazz to your dining room.

Use decorations in moderation and change them according to the season. Remember to keep it minimalistic on the dining table. Remember that an attractive dining room starts with a great dining room table- get that right and everything else should fall into place.

Amy Grimshaw is an interior designer. She loves writing about decor on home design blogs.

November 20, 2013
Bathroom Disasters to Avoid

If there is one thing we’ve learned from a quarter-century of attendance on this revolving ball of rock we call earth it’s that you should never underestimate the stupidity of some people. Perhaps we’re being a little harsh here, as we all make mistakes at some time or other…

Yes, nobody is immune, and we’re afraid that includes you and other designers when it comes to putting together a bathroom suite. Whether these are for public or private use, bathrooms are – first and foremost – a functional space, and thus require technical thought to assure they are as practical as possible. As we’ll see from the below examples though, this is not always the case – learn from their mistakes.

Get Your Measurements Right

You could be forgiven for feeling a little bit exposed, here. We can’t tell if this is a mismatch of measurements or merely the maladroit locating of hinges, but either way it’s a disaster. Be sure to measure up components and plan properly when researching your bathroom, as this kind of thing can happen. Actually, while we’re here, just get a professional to fit it – the extra expense would be worth it to avoid a catastrophe.

Make the Most of Available Space

In some ways you have to admire this person, who has not allowed the fact that this room isn’t big enough to swing a gnat, never mind a cat, to put him off. Only a gymnast would be able to use this toilet. The lesson here is to be flexible in smaller bathrooms. Fit storage cupboards to a wall to create floor space, for instance, or install a small cloakroom basin in the corner as opposed to stuck obstructively in the middle of the wall. Also, to make this plain, do not wedge your toilet into a corner where nobody can access it, as the object has not so much been defeated there as trounced. Similarly, do ensure your solid metal shower heads go in the shower enclosure…

Don’t Confuse Functions

This isn’t as gross as it sounds, honest. We mean room functions, not – ahem – never mind. The example above is a good exemplification of designing at cross-purposes. Those chairs and that table are for sitting out on the veranda, perhaps sipping a glass of chilled white wine with a book in your lap, the sun gently warming your face. Instead, the setup here seems to be for the exhibitionist, who simply cannot visit the toilet without a rapt (though comfortable) audience. There are plenty of other rooms of the home, so don’t try and ram all sorts in the bathroom.

Think Carefully About the Look

We admit to tiptoeing slightly here, as there is nothing more invidious than making strident opinions about something as subjective as taste. However, we urge you to think long and hard about what you want to put in your bathroom. Granted, a putrid pink wall with a dazzling array of green stars on it might look modish (to you) now, but in five years are you going to want to tear it all out – at the expense of money and time – when you are being laughed at by all and sundry and the design is making you want to hold your head under when in the bath. We bet the person who installed the bathroom in that photo thought the mucus-hued ceramics and explosion-in-a-baked-bean-factory walls were wacky and unique, but I’m afraid they were just badly, badly wrong. This isn’t anything cool LED shower heads or a set of trendy vertical radiators can even rescue. Future-proof your design, for the sake of your wallet and sanity.

November 20, 2013
Shower Kits – The Essentials

No modern bathroom would be complete without the effortless convenience of a shower. Baths are all well and good, and definitely have their place, but I would always trade extra time in bed in the morning against a warm bath!

The best – and most value for money – way to get yourself a quality shower is to invest in a full shower kit, which is provided by almost every bathroom retailer worth its salt. Below is a quick run over the important things you will have to consider when you opt for a shower kit for your bathroom.

Valves

You will not get too far without a shower valve. This is the essential central component, which works to provide your shower head (and other fittings) with the water from the system. The main decision to make here is whether you go with a thermostatic valve or not. A thermostatic valve will automatically keep your flow at a temperature of your choosing, precluding the need for that frustrating balancing act with the taps you might be familiar with from mixer shower taps or standard shower valves!

Stylistically, you must also decide on whether you want a concealed or exposed set. This is really down to your personal taste, though do bear in mind that concealed valves will require certain access and clearance in your bathroom walls to be installed and operated properly.

Enclosure or Glass

This is perhaps a decision that might be taken out of your hands, depending on the size and layout of your bathroom. An enclosure is always a good way to go, as it sets aside a discrete part of your room for the shower; alcove, quadrant and corner models are available with a variety of doors, including sliding, bi-fold and standard hinged units.

Shower Heads

Another absolute essential are shower heads. What was once a fairly standard decision – shape and size – has been complicated here by a range of exciting shower head innovations. These range from rainfall effect head to the dazzling LED shower heads, which use the pressure of the water going through the head to activate an array of lights studded in to the head unit.

Add-Ons

The last thing to consider is the additional, fairly non-essential things that you can use to accessorise your shower. These include luxury items, such as body jets, or more practical items such as a hand held shower head. Do be aware that if you want to attach extra fittings like this you will need at the very least two- or three-way shower mixer valve.

October 31, 2013
Outstanding Bathtub Design for an Inevitable Relaxing Bath Experience

Since nowadays the bathroom space has been elevated to an oasis of relaxation and tranquility, it’s essential to find a bathtub that suits your demands in terms of functionality and aesthetics. KNIEF & CO. GmbH, specialists with an extensive collection of acrylic bathtubs, were our inspiration for today’s post. Looking their amazing new catalog, we found this gorgeous bathtub and we wanted to share with you, in case you’re looking for something out of the ordinary. Make statements in quality and elegance and get your individual style to your bathroom with LOOK, a bathtub with special and unique freestanding design.

Its striking shape is a pure power of attraction. LOOK is a modern interpretation of the traditional bathtub that best fits large spaces designed in modern minimalist style. The creative, clean design persuades through the interesting combination of materials; its sides are made of transparent glass, which transforms it into an eye catcher for your bathroom. Besides the fact that it ensures a relaxing, luxury bathing, optimal comfort and radiates a medidative peace, it does also enhance your bathroom interior design. It is produced exclusively in Europe, being guaranteed its highest material and processing quality. Below are some inspiring photos with LOOK to see how it can be framed.

Photos © Knief

October 15, 2013
Contemporary Apartment Renovation in the Gothic Quarter, Barcelona

Barcelona based architectural design company YLAB, founded by Tobias Laarmann and Yolanda Yuste, manages to accomplish spectacular results each time it gets to a new project. Specialized in modern design, YLAB Arquitectos creates striking designs for a wide range of clients, both with commercial and private needs.

In this post, we want to share with you one of their gorgeous renovations that we liked very much. Situated in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, Spain, this 130 m2 apartment showed in these images is defined by contemporary design style. The architects had a strong intervention creating identity for each one of the different spaces, however respecting the original structure. They reinterpreted the existing spatial composition and redefined the allocated functions and uses with the aim of designing new spatial and visual connections where modern elements to predominate instead of the traditional ones.

The young owner of the apartment wanted to have a peaceful environment that combines in an intelligent way both privacy (bedroom and work space) and social places (for parties and meals). All rooms are modern and stylish, dressed in a neutral color scheme that induce a feeling of warmth,elegance and cleanness thourghout. We cannot decide which of the rooms is the most beautiful; they all look amazing and each one of them have something special to share with the owner. Even that kitchen-dining room is superb. Very spacious, elegant too, with modern minimalist furniture, it recalls the old clubs and cafes. The overall design makes it unique, but the ceiling that continues with the longitudinal wall is definitely something creative and give this space a whole new dimension. Beginning in the entrance vestibule, the ceiling and longitudinal wall are paneled with tinted pine woods slats, assembled by hand. How do you think this kitchen-dining area look like?

Photos © 1-9: Jordi Canosa /© 10: Ciro Frank Schiappa

October 7, 2013
Table and Drawer Unit Impresses with Fluid Sculptural Form

Istanbul-based architectural and design studio, Nuvist, has an amazing portofolio with awesome creations showcasing modern design correlated with futuristic approaches. Their unique organic and dynamic form language is just impressive and manages to stand out no matter the setting. Simplicity, functionality and elegance that characterize Nuvist’s products, also meet in one of their new project, entitled Nuvska.

Designed as a table and drawer unit, Nuvska reflects smooth curvilinear lines, which come together in a sculptural continuous three dimensional form that draw attention right away. The creative design can be used for all angles of 360 degrees for all contemporary indoor spaces. By using this interesting design technique, the result is stunning: an unusual furniture object with personality which improves functionality and energy of the spaces through its futuristic, dynamic shape.

Endless fluid visual effects are created through the simple continuous loop lines, so Nuvska reveals unexpected sides of the project. It can be used as a multi-functional furniture piece (table, reception or office desk), its daring colors make it easy to combine with a variety of modern chairs and decors- futuristic ideas being encouraged. See below some photos with this unconventional concept and share with us your opinion.

Photos © Nuvist

October 4, 2013