Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Interior Designers Inspired by Craigslist?
This story perfectly encapsulates the struggle going on between the design-conscious homeowner's unceasing desire for pleasant surroundings and the sorry state of his or her finances in 2009.
Not content with wallowing in self pity and hopelessness, designers are increasingly turning to internet resources where bargains are to be found for aesthetic elements and furnishings, according to the Baltimore Sun:
Interior designers nationwide are increasingly turning to unique, low-cost and unexpected sources -- including Craigslist, estate sales and Target Corp. -- to create high design on a dime and generate business as recession-weary homeowners scale back their decor ambitions. The result: less expensive and eco-friendly rooms that reflect their owners' personalities rather than cloning catalog or magazine pictures.
Call it creative survival.
Don't give up people. Where there's a will for fresh interior design, there's a way!
Full Article:
Craigslist and eBay Become Interior Design Muses (BaltimoreSun)
Labels: Craigslist, Ebay, Interior Design New York, NYC INterior Designers
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
September NYC Design Links
If you're like us, you're getting prepared (at least mentally) for the annual switching of the clothing, taking out the heavier fall and winter stuff whilst organizing and storing the summer stuff. Well if so, you're in luck, because the New York Times just went shopping with Ann Sullivan, a leading New York Closet Organizer, and in the article, she highlights exactly what you'll need to get your home organized and ready for the new season.
Shopping with Ann Sullivan (NYT)
When designing a New York City apartment, one of the most interesting aspects you can play with in terms of shape, color and texture, is the headboard behind your bed. HGTV posted a cool gallery of really out-there headboards for your viewing pleasure.
No Run Of The Mill Headboards Here (HGTV)
Now this is cool...solid wood flooring by Waldilla - with curves! If you're looking for an exciting new style of wood flooring in NY, you could do worse than this product, featured on Apartment Therapy today. This one will really elicit a great response upon your guests' noticing it.
Curved Wood Floor (AT)
Shopping with Ann Sullivan (NYT)
When designing a New York City apartment, one of the most interesting aspects you can play with in terms of shape, color and texture, is the headboard behind your bed. HGTV posted a cool gallery of really out-there headboards for your viewing pleasure.
No Run Of The Mill Headboards Here (HGTV)
Now this is cool...solid wood flooring by Waldilla - with curves! If you're looking for an exciting new style of wood flooring in NY, you could do worse than this product, featured on Apartment Therapy today. This one will really elicit a great response upon your guests' noticing it.
Curved Wood Floor (AT)
Labels: Interior Design New York, New York Closet Organizer, NYC Design, Wood Flooring NYC
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Design Expressions of Long Island Wins Showroom Honors
The Marvin Roundtop Window, Available at Design ExpressionsCongrats to Design Expressions of Oceanside, New York on their recent honors from both the Long Island Building Industry and ProSales Magazine for Showroom Design Excellence.
The Design Expressions showroom is one of the best places consumers in the New York area for consumers to see design options and solutions in a real, interactive setting before they remodel. The 4000 square foot design and selection center was created by Horst Design International and is also home to the Marvin Design Gallery.
For more information, visit Design Expressions on the web:
http://www.design-expressions.com/
Labels: Design Expressions, Interior Design New York, Long Island Showroom, Oceanside
Friday, November 14, 2008
Member Spotlight: Charm & Whimsy
The Garden of Delight, by Charm & Whimsy of New YorkInterior design for children's spaces...think about that for a moment. Many interior designers are talented and well-versed enough to design a playroom, child's bedroom or nursery, but how many of them specialize in it? Well, here's the good news, New York...we found one such interior design company and they have just listed on cityhammer.com, New York's #1 Remodeling Directory.
Charm & Whimsy was founded in 1983 by Esther Sadowsky, an FIT graduate with a background in home furnishings and textile design. Based on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, the company designs spaces that are colorful, imaginative and one-of-a-kind for children and adults. They've done everything from full-floor playspaces to infant nurseries and have been featured on HGTV and CBS, as well as written about in Parents magazine and the Wall Street Journal.
On the Charm & Whimsy website, you can view a portfolio of some of the themed rooms they've created, including Bus Stop, A Cowboy's World, Sail Away, Ali Baba Meets Alice, Calling All Chefs and Clowning Around.
If you're in the market for a home decorator or interior designer who truly gets kids and has an eye for fun, visit the Charm & Whimsy profile page on cityhammer.com for contact information and more: Charm & Whimsy on cityhammer
You can also visit the company online: CharmAndWhimsy.com
Labels: 10016, Designing for Children, Interior Design New York, Kid Friendly Design, Nursery Decoration
Monday, October 20, 2008
Back in the Day: When Men Were the Interior Decorators
Yes, a Victorian Man may have put this together!From the other side of the pond comes a question with about whether or not there was ever a time when men were in charge of decorating the home as opposed to their wives? You may be surprised to learn that in the Victorian era of the mid- to late 1800s, the man of the household was also the decorator and in charge of furnishings, wallpaper patterns and more.
In an article from the Times Online of London, Harry Mount explains that before women were allowed to put forth their own credit or actually own any property, their husbands were picking out chintz patterns and designing "manly" rooms like the study or library with deep red velvets and other classically masculine aesthetic touches.
Not until the 1920's, after the decline of the servant class, who typically visited the stores on behalf of the family, did women get to a point where they were the "purchaser of at least 90% of the furnishings for the home."
The article is filled with examples of prominent Victorian-era men and their involvement with home design. It was written to coincide with an exhibit on this period's decor opening at the Geffrye Museum in London's East End.
Here in New York, one would like to think that both the male and female members of the household have always had equal input during the design process, and that, indeed, there were times when even the most masculine took the time to study chintz patterns!
New York Interior Decorators and Designers
Read the Full Article: Times of London
Labels: Interior Decorators, Interior Design New York, Interiors Decorating NYC, London Decor
Monday, July 28, 2008
Tools of the Trade: New York Interior Designers Use Punch! Software
CAD for the Home by Punch!What is Punch! Software? Very simply, its the top-selling software product for interior design, landscape architecture, cabinetry design and more. With Punch's programs like Home Design Platinum, Architectural Series 5000, and the Super Home Suite, professional designers can draft visual ideas and plans for almost every room in the house.
Punch! was founded in 1998 by a team of software executives who wanted to bring more realism and higher quality graphics to the interior design field in a software product for professionals.
Many professional designers in the New York area use Punch! for creating original designs that conform to the space available in a particular room and incorporate the materials they want to use to create the look they are aiming for.
Each program is different, but in some of the bundled packages, the user can do a "hollywood-style walk or fly-through" as well as design ceilings, try out trims and styles for mantels, see aerial and 3D views of each room, manipulate surface areas, add reflections to objects and floors to add realism, redraw on the fly, and much more.
The next time an interior designer or architect shows you a schematic or proposal for your home improvement project, don't be surprised if they've used Punch! to put it together.
To learn more about the software products and the company that makes 'em, Click Here!
Punch! was founded in 1998 by a team of software executives who wanted to bring more realism and higher quality graphics to the interior design field in a software product for professionals.
Many professional designers in the New York area use Punch! for creating original designs that conform to the space available in a particular room and incorporate the materials they want to use to create the look they are aiming for.
Each program is different, but in some of the bundled packages, the user can do a "hollywood-style walk or fly-through" as well as design ceilings, try out trims and styles for mantels, see aerial and 3D views of each room, manipulate surface areas, add reflections to objects and floors to add realism, redraw on the fly, and much more.
The next time an interior designer or architect shows you a schematic or proposal for your home improvement project, don't be surprised if they've used Punch! to put it together.
To learn more about the software products and the company that makes 'em, Click Here!
Labels: Interior Decor New York, Interior Design New York, Interior Designer NYC, Interior Designers in NYC, NY Architect
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Washington Post on Apartment Therapy
Run, don't walk to read the Washington Post interview with Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, the majordomo of Apartment Therapy. If there is any truth to the saying, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention", then Maxwell is a living embodiment, having turned his first 265 square foot, New York City apartment into a livable one-bedroom largely through his prowess as a designer.
He started out in 2001 as a design business to help others make use of their apartments' living space, and three years later, apartmenttherapy.com was launched to relay his ideas and expertise to an even larger audience. Apartment Therapy now reaches 1.5 million visitors a month in cities from LA to Boston to San Francisco to Miami. There are also two AT books out which are a must-read when embarking on the design or decoration of a new apartment.
The article, written by Terri Sapienza, covers some great topics, such as design blogs and books, the use of color, common mistakes made in small apartments, and temporary design tips for renters.
When asked about his biggest design mistake ever, Maxwell reinforces the importance of taking accurate measurements:
"The worst one was early on and a great lesson for me. I didn't measure the room I was working on closely enough and ordered a few pieces of furniture that ended up being way too big and looking ridiculous when they arrived. Luckily, I called the manufacturer immediately and was able to return the pieces. But ever since then I always measure very carefully before placing a furniture order."
AT also has some interesting stuff lined up for the end of the year, so if you're already a fan like we are, or you want to read more, here's a link: AT in Washington Post
Labels: Apartment Therapy, Design Tips for Renters, Interior Design New York, New York City Apartments
