Monday 28 May 2012

Stairway to......(And you thought I couldn't do math)

       Stairs. Seem pretty simple right? Not so much. I don't know about you, but calculating and placing stairs when space planning is the hardest thing ever. Rise x Run? Rise over run? Rise + run? Tread size, riser size? I get so confused. My confusion aside, stairs can be a really interesting focal element in a home (or any other type of space), they don't just have to be a structural element. Here are some images of some great stair cases and some neat ideas:










Warning: This part here is for interior design nerds only (hehe)
So, after watching a youtube video many *many times to figure this stair calculation thing out.. this is what I have come up with (This example is from the video) here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=531UPCjZTm0

Step 1: Total rise needed (this is the distance/height from the floor your stairs are starting on to the floor up where your stairs are going to): 109.75"(about 9')

For residential stairs risers are about 7" high and the run (tread) depth is about 10"

Step 2: 109.75 divided by 7"= 15.68 stairs, so you will need 15-16 stairs

109.75 divided by 15= 7.32" OR 109.75 divided by 16= 6.86"  To make a fraction (or number that can be measured on a measuring tape) take the .86 and mult. by 16 which= 13.76 rounded up to 14/16th's or 7/8ths

Step 3: SO 6 7/8" rise over a 10" run

What this means:  There will be 16 stairs that are 6 7/8" high and 15 treads that are 10" deep (You always need 1 more riser then you do treads). 


Boring post? I think not :)










Thursday 24 May 2012

Eeeny weenie teeeny weenie skinny little short short..... space.

(If you were a fan of 90's dance music you will enjoy my title)


     Making the most of the space you have- I find this a major design challenge. Because I'm "new" to this whole interior design thing... I sometimes run into the problem of creating floor plans that have little weird spaces at the end that "can't be used". So yes, this is rectified before being approved...or I come up with a way to use the space...but what about those who actually have these awkward tiny spaces in their home? What do you do with space that feels "too small"? Often people with small spaces have to utilize what they have to their best ability. This again goes back to "thinking out of the box" which I'm always talking about. Either way, here are some spaces that have been used in a unique way to make the most of the given space (should I say "space" again?)
*Note, I don't know where I got these images from, they are not mine

Would this be Harry Potters bathroom? (Lame joke only understood by HP fans..like myself)


 Using exposed beams to create shelves for books (love this)


Little nook with pull out drawer bed


 Tiny bedroom space that probably wouldn't feel as cramped as one might think. This is done by using horizontal wood planks (which makes the space appear wider), a light paint colour, and light furniture to not heavy the space. Everything is also proportionate- little lamp, little rug, little bed, little light.... 



Wednesday 23 May 2012

Outdoor spaces (boring title I know)

      With the warm weather finally here... its patio season! One of my favourite things to do is read outside. I can't just read outside in any old spot..it has to be a nice spot. When I own a home, the outdoor space will definitely have a place on the priority list. I think it is important for outdoor spaces to be an extension of what's inside and just as important.  You don't have to go crazy, but I think its important to make a place for yourself to unwind, sit outside and enjoy nature. One of my favourite things is a warm summer evening breeze (with or without a book). Here are some images of lovely outdoor spaces. 












Sunday 20 May 2012

A sigh at the end of the day

      If one's main reason to take a bath is to relax, shouldn't the environment its in be just as relaxing? How does one design a "relaxing" space? What elements have to be considered in order to create this kind of environment? A nice view, lighting, colour selections, finishes, sounds that can be created in the space (or rather sounds blocked out of that space).... I'm not too sure.. those would be my first thoughts.
Here are some images of what I would call relaxing environments:
What makes a relaxing environment for you?


     This picture looks quite to me. I like the window drape, the floors, and the tub itself. The outside view indicates a city but whoever designed this space has done a nice job of creating a simple, relaxing environment. When I look at this space I can see myself opening that window, lining candles along the window sill and just relaxing with a glass of wine while I listen to the city below. 

Cozy, simple, dark, quite, use of natural light
*I don't know where this image came from, it is not mine.


Element of sound, use of natural light, calmness of white, the breeze the view...
*I don't know where this image came from, it is not mine.

Thursday 17 May 2012

Ready kids..its time for a colour lesson

    During some down time at work today I was flipping though one of my interior design books and came across some information on colour. To refresh my memory on the subject (and to refresh yours as well) I am blogging about it. I find it rather interesting to be honest. Here is a little lesson:


Hue: The attribute by which we recognize and describe a colour, such as "red" or "blue". Another word for colour


Value: The degree of lightness or darkness of a colour in relation to white and black
-Pure yellow is lighter in value than pure blue
-The value of a colour can be raised by adding white and lowered by adding black. Lighting a hues normal value by adding white creates a tint of that hue and darkening the hue's value with black creates a shade of that hue. In other words, TINT=addition of white to a hue and SHADE=addition of black to a hue


Saturation: The brilliance or dullness of a colour. This depends on the amount of hue in the colour
-If white, black or a complementary colour is added to a colour to lighten or darken its value, its saturation will be diminished


Analogous hues: Colours that are beside each other on the colour wheel
-yellow, yellow-green, green


Primary hues: Red, yellow, blue


Secondary hues: Orange, green, violet


Tertiary hues: Red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet


Things to keep in mind when selecting colours (such as paint):

  • Warm light accentuates warm colours and neutralizes cool colours
  • Cool light intensifies cool colours and weakens warm colours
  • In some cases colours will look different at the office or at the store then they will where they are going to be applied
  • It is best to choose paint in an environment that has natural light
  • Cool colours, light values, and greyed colours are often used to make a space appear larger in width or height (a red wall at the end of a room will look closer to you then the same wall being painted light grey in another room)
Interesting information about colour:
  • Dark values (see definition above) and saturated colours suggest nearness
  • Warm hues are visually stimulating and active, cool hues have a more calming effect
-All information from "Second Edition- Interior Design Illustrated" by Francis D.K Ching. I took this information and arranged it in this way I did not write it on my own.



Here are some helpful images:




This room would appear larger/more open if that grey wall (which I happen to really like) was white or even light blue

The opposite goes for this space; if the wall was painted dark grey (like in the image above) the room would look smaller and more closed in


Complimentary colours looking lovely with each other (I feel like some people think that this is a no-no...i disagree)

Contrasting colours






Wednesday 16 May 2012

R-r-r-r-r-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrustic

      One of my favourite styles is "rustic". Not like country down home rustic.... but like antique/French/barn/old rustic. IF that even makes sense.          
     One thing I like doing is mixing different styles together to create an interesting space. Not EVERYTHING has to be modern, not EVERYTHING has to be Moroccan, not EVERYTHING has to be elegant and sophisticated. I often like when rustic pieces are thrown into the mix. Lets get a little more interesting here people. 


Here is what I mean:


      *Now although this is not my own PERSONAL style... its a good example because of the mixture of materials; VERY rustic ceiling and windows mixed with nice white sophisticated furniture..yet it works in a weird way. The ceilings add a very strong element of unexpected interest. If you were just looking at the furniture and hadn't looked up yet.. you would not be picturing this kind of ceiling.
*Not sure where this picture is from, however it is not mine.


*Example of the kind of rustic I like


*Another example of "good" rustic. I call this "old rustic"


*That kind of "French rustic" I was talking about


*That little element of rustic that I mentioned. This would be an example of something that you could add to a space as your mix and match piece



Sunday 13 May 2012

What I thought of

       For Mothers Day......... I would like to post a few items that my mum liked...and relate them to interior design. Give your mom an extra hug today.... 

*Blown Glass pendants


*Milk glass. Lovely displayed in a glass cabinet or on open shelving.
*This image is not mine


*Lily inspired fabric



*These origami wall stencils are pretty neat..I kinda want them


*Magnolia Tree Art (Oh there's grey and light blue again)















Saturday 12 May 2012

Threesome.....of colours

    I don't know if I have mentioned this before... but my favourite colour combination right now is grey, mustard, and light blue. They are the perfect colour combination in my opinion. Maybe its the mix of warm and cool...Im not sure. Here are some images:

Fabrics:


 *Although this is not light blue, teal also looks really good with yellow and grey


*Would looove this to be my front entry


*I want this chest, wall colour, chair... everything else in the picture. Even the simple floor.


Friday 11 May 2012

Silk on my walls? Yes siree Bob

      So several posts ago I wrote about silk because I was at my old job (and very bored) and decided to look up something and learn about it. Yestuday, I was clearing out the sample room at the new job and came across a company that makes silk wall coverings; How nice!! I think this type of wall covering would look sooo nice in a dining room (more formal). I thought I would share my neat find!
      The product I came across is called "Tapetex" and its by a company called Rodgers. This product may I also mention is environmentally friendly. From what I understand it comes in a variety of materials not just silk- There is a linen one as well. Like its actually silk...not paper thats made to look like silk. 


Below is the link as well as some images that I scanned from the samples. I like!!

*I would use 62-681, 62-684, 62-687, 62-682



Link to the website if you are interested: http://www.rodgerswall.com/index.html