Articles by Global Interior Design on ArticleSnatch.com

Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part V: Modern/Contemporary

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:06:50 -0500

Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This fifth and final article in my series moves on from countryside styles to modern/contemporary - a major focus of the London Interior Design community today. Modern or contemporary design is all about simplicity. Interior designers tend to focus on fresh, clean lines, together with simple colours and basic shapes like perfect circles and rectangles. But the question I hear again and again from my interior design students in London is, "How to make a contemporary/modern design interesting and unique?" This can be a real challenge - interior designers always want to give their clients something special, but within the constraints of very simple, almost minimalist, design briefs, this can require some serious creativity! My recommendation to interior design students is always to use extra imagination in the details. In London, wealthy homeowners tend to be very focused on subtle extras. **End Summary** Topics: The London Interior Design]]> The London Interior Designing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part V: Modern/Contemporary href=" http://www.globalinteriordesign.com" title="London Interior Design">London Interior Design community today. Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part V: Modern/Contemporary

Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part IV: Country Styles

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:54:41 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This fourth article in my series moves on from historic traditional/period styles to the country style - a timeless interior design classic. The country styles are also sometimes known as the pastoral or rustic styles. The most prominent example is the cottage/farmhouse. Ask most interior designers to imagine being far away from London and they will envision an earthy farmhouse kitchen with rustic tones, wooden enclaves, solid and wholesome meals, and a welcoming brick fireplace. Pastoral styles in interior design contexts are as much practical as they are stylish. The restful comfort and lack of ostentation is appreciated not only by country folk but also by city dwellers. London Interior Design Consultancies often work with clients who have large residences with expansive grounds in need of a rustic feel that harks back to quieter times. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Design Consultancies]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part IV: Country Styles Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This fourth article in my series moves on from historic traditional/period styles to the country style

Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part III: Traditional - Georgian

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:37:53 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This third article in my series continues my discussion of traditional/period design, with a focus on the Georgian style. In terms of dates, the Georgian period is generally considered to have extended from 1714 until 1830. It has since inspired one of the most popular traditional interior design schemes. London design was considered world-class in Georgian times - UK craftspeople were highly skilled and uniquely specialised. The wealthiest classes insisted on the highest quality, with exacting standards in terms of dimensions and proportions. A few designers were particularly famous during the Georgian era. Their names, ideas and concepts live on today in the many homes and residences that feature Georgian-inspired interior designs. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Design Consultancies]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part III: Traditional - Georgian Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This third article in my series continues my discussion of traditional/period design, with a f

Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part II: Traditional - Jacobean and Victorian

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:26:29 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This second article in my series introduces traditional/period design, with a focus on the Jacobean and Victorian styles. Traditional design uses materials that reflect the wealth and opulence of historic times. London Interior Designers will often take the best of the features that were available back then and skilfully combine them with elements that are available today. Traditional/period interior design projects tend to focus on elegance, with a look and feel that is comfortable, rich and sumptuous, although sometimes also a little fragile. The Jacobean theme is popular in London mansions and other residences that have a real sense of history. The Jacobean style focuses on heavy wooden features, with dark-stained oak often used to create panels for walls and floorboards. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Designers]]> London Interior Designing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part II: Traditional - Jacobean and Victorian Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This second article in my series introduces traditional/period design, with a foc

Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part I: Foundations

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:08:28 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This first article in my series outlines some of the basic concepts. One of the first things to note is that we change our interiors much less frequently than we change our clothing. As a result, it is important for the professional interior designer to not design too "fashionable" a room for fear that it might seem completely outdated next year. Certainly it is possible to keep up with furniture fashions - many of which can be seen in London's monthly interior design magazines - but the professional interior designer will generally prefer to focus on furniture fashions that can be easily changed. Examples include cushions, table decorations, rugs and bed linens. London Interior Design trends can be very changeable. For example, in recent decades London saw a movement back towards the traditional. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Design]]> London Interior Designing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: Designing in Style. Part I: Foundations Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends - both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, "Designing in Style," I explore the meaning of style for interior designers. I draw on my experience working alongside many of London's best-known interior design teams. This first article in my series outlines some of the basic concepts. One of the first things to note

Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part III: Lighting and Mirrors

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:47:39 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. In this third and final article in my series on "How Interior Designers Select Wall Hangings," I will discuss some approaches to lighting and mirror installations that I have seen while working alongside many of London's most successful interior design professionals. Lighting is an incredibly important part of the art of interior design when it comes to wall hangings. Sometimes it can be absolutely stunning to include a spotlight effect or underlighting to draw the eye towards a particularly fabulous photograph or painted centrepiece. In London, interior designers will normally include lighting elements at the very first stage of their brief. As with so many parts of interior design, nothing is ever an afterthought - the entire design is comprehensive and perfectly envisioned right from the start. **End Summary** Topics: Interior Designers in London]]> Interior Designing in London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part III: Lighting and Mirrors When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. In this third and final article in my series on "How Interior Designers Select W

Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part II: Installing Pictures

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:05:36 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. In this second article in my series on "How Interior Designers Select Wall Hangings," I will talk in detail about several approaches that I have seen while working alongside many of London's most successful interior design professionals. As a general guideline, pictures tend to work well when arranged in squares or rectangles. London is a world fashion centre, and jaunty mismatched shapes can be interesting for certain highly customised interior designs, but in most cases it is best to stick with simple 90-degree angles. Second, symmetry is important. Often when the interior designer has one central picture and several others in a set, they will choose some sort of symmetrical arrangement. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Design]]> London Interior Designing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part II: Installing Pictures When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. In this second article in my series on "How Interior Designers Select Wall Hanging

Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part I: Choosing Pictures

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:52:40 -0500

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. This can include pictures, photographs, plates, frames, mirrors, sculptures, reliefs and much more besides. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional interior design. One of the most important elements of wall hangings are pictures. Many interior designers know that pictures are the way to "make a house a home." However, poor positioning of pictures can easily detract from an otherwise well-planned interior design. This is especially important in smaller London homes or flats. Your interior designer will be able to outline the key points that need to be kept in mind regardless of whether you are hanging a recent family photo or an ancient heirloom. In London, interior designers have a saying, namely that "all pictures should relate to something else in the room." This means that wall hangings of this type should never look as though they were included by accident. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Designers]]> London Interior DesignING]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Insights into Interior Design: How Designers Select Wall Hangings. Part I: Choosing Pictures When interior designers use the term “wall hangings,” they are commonly referring to anything and everything that one may hang on a wall. This can include pictures, photographs, plates, frames, mirrors, sculptures, reliefs and much more besides. London is a fabulous place to choose wall hangings due to the many active artist communities and the strong tradition of professional

Colour schemes: Psychology of colour

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:15:42 -0400

Colour is of course one of the most important considerations for a London interior designer when contemplating the overall design of a room. An experienced interior designer knows that colour need not be expensive – in fact, it can be as cheap as a can of emulsion paint or a bunch of flowers! Yet above anything else it is colour that can make or break the interior design of a room. This article has been written to give a brief overview of the psychology of colour, with specific regard to colour usage in the world of Interior Design in London. Interior designers, product designers and fashion designers are constantly working with colour. For them, the psychological effect of colour is reality rather than theory. Let us explore some of the links between colour and the subconscious, or more simply, the moods and feelings different colours evoke. Warm colours versus cool colours: Red, yellow, and orange are always thought of as warm; blues, greens, and violets are cool. **End Summary** Topics: Interior Design in London]]> Interior Design Company in London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

Royalty and History: Colour-Focused Residential Interior Design

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:07:26 -0400

Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services. Many top London interior designers have played active roles in what has been called the "true-to-history" colour movement in recent years. In this article I will explain what this means through examples from a few different colour categories that are often used in interior designs. Greens are linked with organic vegetables, good health, and foliage. The ancient UK May Day celebration has historically focused on a May King, who is dressed in late spring garlands of finely-wreathed sprouting green vegetables. The May Queen wears a dress of beautiful white, symbolising vitality, virtue and clarity. In Ancient Egypt, green was used to request fertile soils and good harvests from the gods. Green has strong links with nature, and for interior designers this can be a wonderful colour to use in London flats; green-themed interior designs can take the mind away from the bustle of London's grey city streets and evoke images of rain-swept countryside landscapes. The word "yellow" comes from the Old English geolu or geolo, which in turn relates to the Dutch geel, meaning gold. Historically yellow has been associated with joyful sunshine and gleeful celebration. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Designers]]> London Interior Design]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Royalty and History: Colour-Focused Residential Interior Design Many top London interior designers have played active roles in what has been called the "true-to-history" colour movement in recent years. In this article I will explain what this means through examples from a few different colour categories that are often used in interior designs. Greens are linked with organic vegetables, good health, and foliage. The ancient UK May Day celebration has historicall

Spinning the Colour Wheel: A Lexicon of Colour Symbols and Associations for Interior Designers

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:14:50 -0400

This article draws on interviews with several top Interior Designers in London who appreciate not only the sensory and visual meaning of colour, but also the symbolic links behind certain hues and tones. We will briefly explore just a few of London's trendiest colour fashions and explain their associations in the context of interior design. At the far end of the colour spectrum, black is associated with death and illness, except in certain Asian cultures. Indeed, many top London interior design boutiques are very multicultural and regularly design Asia-inspired residences or office spaces. Black generally does not reflect much light, and as such it can represent melancholy or hopelessness. On the more positive side, the colour black also is associated with masculinity, and its historic usage in combat vehicles and war equipment has only reinforced this sentiment. Interior designers are often careful about using this colour because it can be overwhelming in smaller London residences. The opposite of black is, of course, the colour white. In the interior design world and far beyond, white is associated with freshness, health and radiance. It is often seen at marriages, Christenings, and a multitude of celebratory religious festivals such as Passover. **End Summary** Topics: Interior Designers in London]]> Interior Design in London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Spinning the Colour Wheel: A Lexicon of Colour Symbols and Associations for Interior Designers This article draws on interviews with several top Interior Designers in London who appreciate not only the sensory and visual meaning of colour, but also the symbolic links behind certain hues and tones. We will briefly explore just a few of London's trendiest colour fashions and explai

Emotional Wellbeing and Interior Design â Explaining the Profession

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:00:19 -0400

If you visit a school or library in London and ask people what they think interior design means, they will often talk endlessly about pretty colours and delightful fabrics. But really there is so much more to London interior design. An essential part of the profession is focused on the physical and emotional effects of a person’s surroundings – and the best interior design professionals in London love to take this into account with every project they work on. Just think of how many hours each day you normally spend at home or in the office in London. Everyone deserves to have spaces that they can truly enjoy and delight in, whether alone or with friends. A fantastic interior designer can improve your emotional state and revitalise your mood with just a few simple changes to your life spaces in London, whether residential or commercial. Many interior design London showrooms will focus on magnificent kitchens. Imagine your own kitchen. Many people complain of dingy and cluttered cutlery drawers, a constant inability to find the right cutting knives, or work surfaces that don’t have proper lighting and stovetop burners that heat unevenly. **End Summary** Topics: Interior Design London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while guaranteeing amazing results! Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will ov

Colour schemes: Symbolism of colour

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:07:09 -0400

Colour is of course one of the most important considerations for a interior designer when contemplating the overall design of a room. Designers in London know that colour need not be expensive – in fact, it can be as cheap as a can of paint or a bunch of flowers! Yes it most cases it is colour that can make or break the interior design of a London room. This article has been written to give a brief overview of the history and symbolism of colour, with specific regard to colour usage in the world of interior design in London. Black is almost universally is associated with death (Japan being the exception). So, quite apart from its lack of light reflecting qualities, black in any quantity is seen as gloomy and depressing. Its use in armour and military uniforms also gives a masculine slant to its use. White, at the other extreme, is associated in the interior design world and beyond with purity and light. Note its use in weddings throughout the world and religious celebrations, such as First Holy Communion, Easter celebrations, and the like. Its use in London interior design colour scheming draws on these occasions. **End Summary** Topics: interior designs in London.]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while guaranteeing amazing results! Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will ov

Colour schemes: the Basics

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:51:50 -0400

Colour is of course one of the most important considerations for an interior designer in London when contemplating the overall design of a room. An experienced interior designer knows that colour need not be expensive – in fact, it can be as cheap as a can of emulsion paint or a bunch of flowers! Yet above anything else it is colour that can make or break the interior design of a room. London interior designers know precisely how colour can be used to create a certain atmosphere and mood; but also how colour can be used to highlight or camouflage. The right colours can make you feel good when you walk into the room – or the wrong colours can make you feel depressed. There are numerous types of colour schemes that interior designers can bring to a design: Monochromatic colour schemes are based on one colour, or hue. An interior designer will alter this one colour to bring out its tints and shades, giving the scheme a tonal difference to heighten the overall appeal. **End Summary** Topics: interior design London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while guaranteeing amazing results! Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will ov

Interior Design â Space, Flow and Beautiful Surroundings

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:26:52 -0400

Space planning is a critical component of interior design, especially in London where place is so limited. It includes several elements – interior designers like to think not only about the placement of different furniture items, but also about the “flow” or movement of people within rooms and between rooms in a residence or commercial office in London. Imagine a kitchen. How the dishwasher is positioned in terms of the cutlery drawer might not immediately seem critical - but the interior design professional knows that it is exceedingly important! Alternatively, think of your lounge. The positioning of the coffee tables and TV stand might not spring to mind at once, but a professional from an interior design company in London will always be thinking of things like this. And just imagine how much time you spend each day walking from room to room in your London home or at work! If the space hasn’t been planned correctly, you could be losing valuable time and introducing inefficiency every time you squeeze past that awkward coatstand or wander into the den via the laundry room – London interior designers understand all of this and many have received special training in space planning. **End Summary** Topics: interior design company in London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while guaranteeing amazing results! Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will ov

So what does an interior designer actually bring to the job?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:02:18 -0400

Ask most people about what a London interior designer does, and they will immediately think of popular TV shows or online videos that show interior designers pushing furniture into different corners of the room, taking photographs and choosing fresh colours. In reality, the work of an interior designer is so very complex. An interior designer's job goes well beyond a standard "renovation" effort, which often involves identical finishes and dull, uninspired refits. It is also far more important than just "redecorating," which is often just surface-level and cosmetic in nature, more akin to a "touch-up" than a true "redesign," even though it can include painting, recarpeting or sometimes even plastering. Today's professional interior designer in London can execute and supervise any and every aspect of recreating an interior living space. This can include changing window treatments, replacing floor treatments, redesigning the appearance of walls and ceilings, installing false ceilings, knocking down interior walls to create more open space, or modernising electrical and plumbing equipment. A more detailed explanation and photographic examples can be found at the homepage of one of the top London Interior Design Consultancies. **End Summary** Topics: London Interior Design Consultancies.]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while guaranteeing amazing results! Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will oversee other contractor

Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while gu

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:55:36 -0400

Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will oversee other contractors and proactively make sure that the job gets done. The designer will first receive the client's brief, before presenting some initial plans that can serve as a foundation to further explore different ideas, styles, colour schemes, etc. In collaboration with the client, the designer will modify the basic outline as necessary before incorporating it into a broader plan of execution for the entire project. As explained by one of London's most prestigious interior design boutiques, the interior designer will ordinarily work to a budget that has been previously agreed with the client. As part of executing the project, the designer may supervise sub-contractors or other tradesmen, such as plumbers, tilers, painters and carpenters. A contract commonly exists between the designer and the client that explains how the interior designer assumes ultimate responsibility for achieving the desired outcome. **End Summary** Topics: Interior Design London]]> Interior Designer London]]> Interior Designing London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Interiors the easy way: a no-fuss interior design consultancy can save you time and money, while guaranteeing amazing results! Even if you've never hired a London Interior Designer before, you should know one thing: interior designers are very different from interior decorators. Critically, the interior designer is a manager and project coordinator who will oversee other contractor

Explaining Interior Design â The Art of Space Planning

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:29:29 -0400

**End Summary** Topics: Interior Design London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

Interior Design â The Mood Enhancer of Modern Life in London

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:26:51 -0400

Ask anyone on the streets of London about interior design, and often they will comment on the pretty colours, beautiful fabrics and enchanting flooring. Most people completely miss an essential part of interior design - namely the physical and emotional impacts of one’s interior surroundings. These days, so much time is spent in London at home or at the office. So wouldn’t it be fabulous to fall in love with your local spaces? A stunning interior design - whether for residential or commercial properties - can seriously lift your wellbeing and enhance your mood. One great example is the professionally-designed kitchen. When people think of kitchens they mainly imagine the clutter and complexity of the drawers, cupboards and racks. But a professional interior designer based in London can completely rework your kitchen, turning it into a cook’s dream hideaway. The interior designer will think of everything - from on-the-spot lighting to beautify your workspace and cookware, to appliances, accessories and easy-clean food-safe materials. Just imagine the enhanced productivity and renewed excitement for cooking that could result from a truly interior designed kitchen makeover. **End Summary** Topics: Interior Design London]]> Interior Designer London]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.