Log Homes Journal

Professional interior designers are expertly trained in the use of lighting features to create breathtaking results. In this four-part series which I call “Colour Me Brightly: Understanding Light in Interior Design,” I draw on my experience in London’s interior design community to explain this fascinating subject. This fourth article concludes my series.

Linear light patterns can focus on either the horizontal or the vertical metrics of a room. A given wall-light technique can create an immersing halo effect, if the interior designer uses concentrated super-bright light at high level that gradually fades out towards the base. Some London Interior Design consultancies specialise in choosing continuous sources, such as a miniature tungsten rack for a soft light or overlapping fluorescents for a cooler light. This is an effect that works very well in contemporary interior designs, where light can be concealed between the wall and the ceiling in a crevice in order to take the place of the traditional cornice.

The best method of illumination for interior designers to use when creating patterns will depend on the interior, and also on the direction of windows (natural light in London can be very seasonal). A smoothly plastered wall can jump into existence with a dappled arc wave from closed-offset down-lighters but if the interior design feature lies in the texture and in the structure or hue of the wall, then a more uniform spray of light will emphasise the wall’s best perspectives. A splashback tile solution at the rear of a shower or bath is a good interior design choice for the arc wave effect, as is a Venetian blind in a London kitchen. A wood-panelled hall or study is often a compelling interior design feature, and accordingly it would be better lit with an even light that does not detract from the feel of the wood.  Read more... (387 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)

We at G. N. Home Improvements Limited are a small family run business providing a vast range  of home and building services.  We specialise in reconstruction, refurbishments and new build homes.

 We have all fully qualified tradesmen under one roof, (Electricians, Plumbers, Plasterers; Joiners; Bricklayers; Painters and Decorators) so we can offer you a full service across the board  improvements.  We even offer a Landscape Garden Service and fitting kitchens and bathrooms are a speciality.  You name it we’ve got it covered.

 We are UK based and 80% of our clients return for a further service after giving them a 100% job satisfaction.  Our services has taken us to Europe on several occasions to build homes, fit kitchens, bathrooms, supply new windows and doors reconstruct and decorate homes and we are proud of the  Quality of work we give..

 So if you require a UK firm to build you a house, reconstruct or even paint and decorate your home – just give us a call and we will give you our immediate attention and first class service.  Supply us with the jobs you need doing, plans will obviously be of a great help if you have them and we will get back to you as quick as we can with a free no obligation quote.  See our web site which gives a brief explanation of who we are and the services we offer.  Don’t worry if you cannot see the one you want, we will assist you all we can.

Your budget is our budget too !!

 Just ask for Gavin Nunn (Director) or David Sharp. (Company Secretary) Hope to hear from you soon.                                 

If you talk about interior design, it sure is a complicated profession, many people thinks architecture is an interior designing and many confuse it with decorating, but this is something different, interior design courses will provide a profession in which you plan and organize the interior structure rather than furnishing or refinishing available interior space. It involves delivering interior environment that is practical (functional) and pleasing, interior design seems simple but there is lot more in interior design.

In past few years, there is constant increase in popularity of interior designing as a profession. Now there is licensed design professionals who are qualified by degree, experience and work. There are even organizations who are developing awareness of interior design and with their constant dedication, this profession is now at where we see it.

Interior design courses are now offering widely online, in universities and in colleges and they teach the process, principal, necessary understanding, knowledge and experience to be successful as an interior designer. If you view from consumer point of view, this all give benefits to consumer end.

Decision making process is the key in the interior designing, take a example of home designing, we eat, sleep, entertain, wash and work in home, there is no readymade design, people lives differently, so while making decision, designer make sense in relationship between home, family, owner and lifestyle.

The basic principles of good interior design are natural, the more close it will be to the nature, the more it will be practical and pleasant, “examine the universe it will teach you how to live”. Interior Designing is an art, art of making life easier by giving environment, it involve the shaping the space, walls and surface. Dedicated skills when combine with artistic waves of mind, transform “imagination into design”.  Read more... (304 words, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

As a professional London Interior Designer, I meet with clients all the time who simply crave more originality and personality in their interior spaces. It is such a delight for the interior designer to be able to transform a house into a home by judicious use of lighting, stencils, photo frames, rugs and frames, to name just a few. Each of the different classes of accessories allows the professional interior designer to lean into a certain style, emotion or personality framework in order to create stunning results. In this article, I will draw on my experience in London’s design community to suggest a few great options if you’re looking to spruce up your home this winter with some interior designer magic.

LIGHTING. If there are nooks and crannies that just don’t get enough light, interior designers may recommend low-voltage illumination to make your interiors look larger and more welcoming. This can also boost your mood – perfect for the gloomy and overcast London skies that are all too common this time of year. Some professional interior designers will recommend theatrical lighting moods, so that you can flip between settings to choose either relaxed, or atmospheric and edgy, or task-orientated, all according to your needs.

COLOUR. The hue of the lighting system can substantially impact the overall look of a room. Incandescent filaments are now being phased out across the European Union, and London interior designers are having to rely instead on compact fluorescents or halogens to create custom effects.

SCONCES. Wall-mounted sconces slide over lightbulbs to give a gentle fuzzy glow to a room. Interior designers sometimes combine glass outer sheaths with paper diffusers to create unique effects and soften the overall feel.  Read more... (443 words, estimated 1:46 mins reading time)

In their training, student interior designers often learn about the history of their profession. This can be a really important way to give context to their subsequent careers. In this article, I will draw on my experience as an interior designer and educator to discuss the history of this exciting field.

The earliest professional interior designers were based in London – the British had become intrigued by Egyptian techniques of decorating household objects and wanted the same for themselves. London families became desperate to employ an interior designer to create magical spaces and accessorise their interiors. As interior designers came to be recognised as professionals, they increasingly found a need to draw on history to create fabulous results. This was particularly true when creating designs for historic London mansions or listed buildings – they saw historical reflections as a way of preserving the past while also looking to the future.

THE ANCIENT ROMANS

In Ancient Rome, citizens demanded comfort, luxury and wealth. These elements are still important in the work of interior designers across the world today. The lavish decorations, tapestries and iconic stonework today remain as timeless and popular in London as in Tokyo or Sydney. The Ancient Romans adored bespoke furniture and loved quality textiles and expensive fabrics.

MONASTIC TIMES

After the collapse of Roman rule, the church assumed power and largely discouraged the most creative interior designers. Opulent interiors were taken out and interior designers were instructed to install quiet and simple oak panels with dark lines and sharp edges. This influence was felt throughout Europe – from London all the way to Florence.

RENAISSANCE AND REVIVAL  Read more... (386 words, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)