Interior Design Styles

In most design projects, a great deal of planning takes place before the selection of furnishings. Designers consider the function of the space, the personalities and life-style of the occupants of the residence, the architectural characteristics of the dwelling, the lighting, color preferences and colors adjacent to the space-both indoors and out, the 'givens' of the space, including the materials used on the exterior and the interior of the building and, of course, the budget parameters. As the planning develops, furniture is considered only in a generalized way. Designers often use generic templates to space plan. What determines the style of furniture to be used? How will you know which styles to mix and how to do so with confidence, cleverness, and originality? Will you develop a single style, French country, classic modern, Asian, West Indies, neo-classical or will you enjoy working with a variety of styles?

The observation of historical development in architecture, interior design and furniture will often help you tap into a style that pleases you. None of these three elements can be studied separately, so this is a large topic, particularly for people who have little historical background or design experience in one style only. Have you heard it said that to break the rules you must know the rules? This is true in design. Unless you know the various architectural characteristics of different historical times and how interiors were designed to function in a way that complemented those interiors, you will never be able to fully appreciate how designers use their knowledge of style and history for inspiration, going beyond direct imitation with clever or respectful references to the past, while being innovative and original. Make it a point to visit historic buildings and interiors, museums and homes to learn about the historical development of design. The story of furniture is inextricably linked with the story of civilization, in our case western civilization primarily, since it was the Europeans who came to the U.S. first, bringing with them their belongings, memories and skills. The further back you go in history, the less you can know about residential interiors, since only buildings made of stone or items carefully hidden from the elements survived to give us insight into a way of life. When we look at historical artifacts, we are typically seeing what once belonged to the governing elites or the aristocracy-unless of course we look at public buildings designed for use by everyone-civic buildings, temples, churches, even baths. We only know about more modest dwellings of very recent times.

Developments in furniture styles are stimulated by the following: political or economic change, discoveries (such as the archaeological excavations of Pompeii and King Tut's tomb); contact with faraway places-seeing something new; changes in technology and production techniques and the keen creative power of gifted designers working to meet the needs of their era for both function and beauty. Each historic style period has unique influences and particular style characteristics. As an informed designer, you want to be able to recognize and identify the various eras of design style and the characteristics of the various historic styles. Hopefully you will enjoy the exploration of style that you encounter in this section, acknowledging and appreciating the power of human adaptability and creativity in creating functional, aesthetically pleasing designs.

Interior Design

Interior design is basically the practice that deal with the placement and design of furnishings and other elements inside a space like windows, walls, doors, textures, finishes, light, and furniture is called interior deign. All of the said elements are manipulated by an interior designer in order to make the most functional space.

Interior designers may plan on various space like offices, homes, airport terminals, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, schools, and hospitals. One should not confuse interior design with interior decoration as the latter is focused on the selection of color palettes to go with complimentary furniture, window coverings, flooring, lighting, and artwork. Today most interior decorators need to be familiar with architectural detailing like home renovations, floor plans, and construction codes. 

Interior designers may specialize in a distinct discipline like residential and commercial design, health care, hospitality and institutional design. In areas where profession is government-regulated the designer must have particular qualifications. The designer should also show competency not just in his or her specialty but in the entire profession. 

Specialty areas involving interior designers are continuously growing and evolving. With an aging population in most countries the focus has been on developing solutions that improve the environment especially for the elderly. 

There are many disciplines involved in interior design like function, structure, special group needs, specialized performance, discipline for business, presentation skills, computer technology, craft skills, and aesthetic disciplines, among others. The many disciplines that are involved in interior designing shows how encompassing interior designing is. The field of interior designing also requires an interior designer to be adept in science and technology, and be creative as well. 

The process of providing interior designing services is identical regardless of the type of building. First the interior designer will determine the objectives, time frame and budget of the client. This is referred to as taking a brief. The aim is always to improve the revenue potential of the clients, since even homeowners need to consider the value of their property. Then the designer will outline a cost estimate for the project including the design output and corresponding expenses. Drawings are also required prior to commencing design work. 

Computer-aided design is normally used by designers these days although hand sketches still remain valuable for their personality. Also called CAD, this is a program that is used to communicate the design in realistic views and various angles. CAD eliminates the need to work on long hours for hand drawing and sketching. 

After the survey and provision of the working drawing the client will be given an initial concept for approval. Once this is approved the floor plans, alternations, finishing, and furnishings follow. Most probably doors, walls, and windows will be repositioned as well. 

Employment of interior designers may vary like any other profession. Interior designers may take on regular day jobs with large corporations. Others may take on a project basis. There are designers who need to adjust their working hours in order to suit the needs of the client, meaning they have to work for a lot of hours. Those who are self employed however have a lot of pressure to get clients in order to get themselves adequate income. 

Interior designers usually travel from one place to another, visiting the offices or homes of their clients. Interior designers’ earnings likewise differ based on their employer, years of experience, and their reputation. 

If you are looking into changing the interior design of a room in your house, your entire house or your office, try to look up the Asheville builders and the Asheville construction company. They would surely be able to provide you with the best service and with exactly what you are looking for.