| The luxury lifestyle does not require a | | | | axis of the room?The balance lines are easy |
| mansion. You don't have to wait until you | | | | to determine. Draw 2 faint lines accross |
| can afford a huge house on the beach to live | | | | your floorplan dividing the room in half |
| in a beautiful home. Remember the luxury | | | | length wise and breadth wise. This will |
| lifestyle is about quality things and people. | | | | divide your room into 4 quadrants. This is |
| Small cosy houses can be made luxurious for | | | | important because you need to have an equal |
| a small amount of money through clever | | | | "weight" of furniture in each quadrant in |
| interior design. Remember the self made | | | | order for the room to be balanced.Traffic |
| wealthy don't spend money when they don't | | | | patterns are also easy. Leave 36 inches |
| have to. Living a luxury lifestyle is not | | | | clear in front of each door opening to allow |
| about throwing money away to look cool, it is | | | | space for the swing of the door. Also keep |
| simply about raising your standard of living. | | | | 12 inches clear in front of the windows for |
| If you can do that inexpensively, so much | | | | access. Traffic patterns tell you where not |
| the better.In this article I will introduce | | | | to put furniture, mark these on your floor |
| you to the basics of interior design which I | | | | plan.Now, what about the focus of the room? |
| studied when I was renovating houses. The | | | | Is it a fireplace? Bay window? Blank wall |
| key to a successful renovation is to make | | | | where the home theater screen or an artwork |
| cosmetic improvements, not structural | | | | will go? Plan your furniture layout to take |
| improvements, to a house. Building new | | | | advantage of this focus.Establish an axis for |
| rooms, adding another level to a structure or | | | | the room. You now want to draw an imaginery |
| moving walls around is very expensive and | | | | line up the middle of the wall from floor to |
| moving walls especially can weaken the | | | | ceiling through your focus. Continue this |
| structure. You want to improve a houses WOW | | | | line across the ceiling and down the opposite |
| factor to make an impression. Here are some | | | | wall to the floor. The idea is this, you |
| tips...Painting - A new paint job will do | | | | want the focus balanced from floor to |
| more to improve the look of your home than | | | | ceiling. If your focus is a fireplace this |
| anything. It is a relatively simple job too, | | | | would mean putting a picture or something |
| so you can save yourself a fortune by doing | | | | above it to fill the space. You also need to |
| it yourself. Give the surfaces to be painted | | | | balance both sides of the room. So you would |
| a good clean up with sugar soap and scrape of | | | | have to put something on the other wall of |
| any loose stuff. Bog up any cracks or any | | | | equal visual "weight" along the axis line. |
| depressions to make the surface smooth, then | | | | Everything is about balance.You are now ready |
| paint. Whether you use an undercoat or not | | | | to start planning where your furniture will |
| depends on what paint you use. Get advice | | | | go in the room. You need to place the |
| from a interiors shop. The underlying | | | | furniture in the room so it takes advantage |
| principle for all renovations including | | | | of the focus and so it serves the function of |
| painting is KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid. | | | | the room. Arrange your furniture so that all |
| Keep your color schemes simple, use neutral | | | | 4 quadrants have equal visual "weight". This |
| colors, they reflect light better making | | | | does not mean you need to have a mirror image |
| rooms look bigger and they look cleaner. Be | | | | of furniture in the quadrants, but it simply |
| consistent throughout the house.Kitchens - | | | | means you don't want every piece of furniture |
| Don't go crazy, these can eat heaps of cash | | | | in one quadrant or one half. Visually on |
| if you are not careful. If your kitchen is | | | | your floor plan the room should look |
| falling apart then you have no choice but to | | | | balanced. Draw representitives of your |
| get a new one. If you can avoid it though, | | | | furniture on your floorplan to scale. Try |
| don't get a new one just cosmetically touch | | | | various ideas. Decide which one you find |
| up the one you have. New benchtops, tile | | | | most appealing.Lighting plan - Do not try to |
| splashbacks, door handles, cupboard handles, | | | | light the room. Light objects in the room. |
| tap handles, a paint job and floor job will | | | | Firstly your lighting must permit people to |
| make a huge difference and won't cost the | | | | perform the specific tasks of the room. For |
| earth.Bathrooms - Another money pit. Light | | | | example using lamps for reading, playing |
| and bright is the secret here. Just like the | | | | cards etc. This is called task lighting. |
| kitchen if it's falling apart, you have no | | | | You also need sufficient lighting so people |
| choice but to spent the big bucks and replace | | | | don't bump into things. This is called |
| things. If you can get away with it though, | | | | ambient lighting. You can use lighting to |
| change your benchtops, door handles, cupboard | | | | influence the mood. Bright lights for an |
| handles, tap handles and floor tiles (wall | | | | upbeat mood, low lighting for a more intimate |
| tiles can be a huge expensive job, avoid | | | | and romantic mood. As with everything else |
| changing if possible) Get a new paint job, a | | | | the different elements (elements, pardon the |
| new toilet seat, toilet roll holder and towel | | | | pun, I'm so clever) of your lighting plan |
| racks. This will transform the room and | | | | must be harmonious with each other. Lighting |
| won't cost much.Flooring - Makes a huge | | | | decorative objects with spot lighting is also |
| difference. New carpet, tiles or linoleum | | | | a nice touch. Don't forget to take into |
| will transform a room. Also consider, if you | | | | account where the electrical outlets are. |
| have a timber floor of good enough quality, | | | | You want to keep unsightly electrical cords |
| ripping up the carpet and polishing the | | | | as short as possible and hidden if you can.2. |
| floorboards. This looks fantastic and is | | | | FurnitureWhen it comes to choosing furniture |
| inexpensive.Doors - Change the door knobs | | | | there are a few points to consider.Is the |
| throughout the home for a classier style and | | | | piece suitable in function and cost?Is it |
| make sure you stay consistent | | | | suitable in mood and style? Does it have the |
| throughout.Window treatments - These also | | | | right look?Is it suitable in quality? Is it |
| transform a room. Make sure they fit in with | | | | similar quality to the other furniture |
| the rest of the room.Landscaping - Can cost | | | | pieces?Does the piece have suitable |
| you a fortune. All you really need to do | | | | proportions? Are the different parts in |
| (unless your yard is a write off) is rip out | | | | pleasing harmony with each other?Is the piece |
| all the plants except for the larger | | | | the right scale? Is it harmonious with the |
| established ones. Install some edging, re | | | | size of the objects and space around it?Are |
| lay some turf where necessary (if you have | | | | the fabrics appropriate? Bright, intense |
| dead spots where grass won't grow, you can | | | | colors and bold patterns increase visual |
| pave that area which is expensive or extend | | | | "weight". Muted, neutral tones and solid |
| the garden over this area and plant shade | | | | colors reduce visual "weight".When it comes |
| resistant plants), replant the garden with | | | | to arranging furniture follow these |
| colorful plants and add mulch to your garden | | | | guidelines:The shape of the sides of the |
| beds. Plant tall plants at the back of | | | | piece of furniture should match the shape of |
| perimeter gardens or the middle of central | | | | the wall. Don't put round tables in the |
| gardens and have smaller plants in front. | | | | corner of rooms.Avoid placing rectangular |
| Try to get a few different shades of green in | | | | furniture at an angle to straight walls.If |
| the leaves of different plants. Try to plant | | | | the space on the wall is horizontal, a |
| a range of flowers so you have something | | | | horizontally shaped piece of furniture will |
| blooming at most times of the year. Flowers | | | | look best there.If the space on the wall is |
| can give your garden a pleasant smell as well | | | | square, a square shaped piece of furniture |
| and attract birds. River pebbles or conrete | | | | will look best there. |
| treads are also an inexpensive alternative to | | | | |
| paths.Painting of the exterior - Makes a | | | | Vary the heights of the major pieces in the |
| huge difference to the WOW factor. Probably | | | | room.Spread your colors throughout the |
| best to get a professional to do it though, | | | | room.Here are a selection of some of the |
| they own scaffolding, let them risk their | | | | major furniture styles from throughout |
| necks.Decking and verandahs - Cheaper than | | | | history and how to spot them.Early American |
| adding rooms to your house but adds square | | | | styles - The lines of this furniture is very |
| footage to your living space. If you live | | | | simple. The workmanship is unrefined and |
| above the snow line this may not appeal, but | | | | rustic. It is small in size, has a square |
| for warmer climates outdoor living spaces are | | | | frame structure, is usually painted and has |
| wonderful for entertaining. Tile over | | | | square shaped legs with simple decorative |
| concrete porches.Fences - If you have an | | | | turnings.Mediterranean styles - This is heavy |
| existing fence, give it a new paint job. If | | | | furniture. There is nothing delicate about |
| you don't have a front fence put in a white | | | | it. It is solid, squarish and built to last. |
| picket fence. Add an attractive | | | | It is usually made of ornately carved wood. |
| letterbox.Get a new front door - These really | | | | The Spanish Mediterranean furniture often |
| add or detract from the look of your home.The | | | | featured leather that was decorated with |
| bottom line is, you don't need to change | | | | metal nailheads.French styles - Louis XIV |
| where you live necesarily, just how it looks. | | | | style (1643 - 1715) has massive scale, X |
| Spend your money on luxurious homewares not | | | | shaped stretchers that support the legs, a |
| on expensive structural changes. Read on now | | | | bacically square form and the seat & back |
| to learn about how to layout your home and | | | | were upholstered. This style had detailed |
| how to decorate it to raise your standard of | | | | ornamentation.- Regence style (1700 - 1730) |
| living and to add to your luxury lifestyle.1. | | | | was a transition between Louis XIV and Louis |
| The Basics of Interior DesignThere are 3 | | | | XV. It had cabriole legs (curved legs) and a |
| basic guidelines for successful interior | | | | curvature on the top edge of the seat back.- |
| design.A successful room is functional.A | | | | Louis XV style (1730 - 1775) had curved |
| successful room expresses a mood.A successful | | | | shapes and forms, extensive rococo decoration |
| room exhibits a sense of harmony.Function - | | | | (elaborate decoration incorporating a shell |
| Ask yourself, what are the intended functions | | | | mofif), romantic imagery, delicate shape & |
| of this room? A room must serve it's | | | | design and no leg stretchers.- Louis XVI |
| intended function. No matter how beautifully | | | | (1775 - 1789) had straight slim legs (usually |
| you decorate a room, if your scheme can't | | | | fluted and topped with a box shape containing |
| fulfill all the functions you require the | | | | a carved rosette), rectangular shapes or |
| room to perform, then the room has failed. | | | | mechanically produced curves, classical |
| If a dining room is not convenient to eat in, | | | | motifs (such as columns, urns and lyres) and |
| then it fails. If a bedroom is not | | | | delicate construction.- Directoire style |
| convenient to sleep in, then it fails. Does | | | | (1790 - 1804) had simple elegant lines, |
| your living room have appropriate lighting | | | | patriotic motifs (including military motifs, |
| for reading, if that is one of the functions | | | | agricultural motifs and crossed flags), |
| of the room? Are there tables in easy reach | | | | classical motifs (inspired by ancient Egypt, |
| of the seating to put your drink on? You get | | | | Rome and Greece), curled chair backs and |
| the idea.Mood - What is the mood you want | | | | scrolled sofa arms, outward curving legs or |
| this room to express? Are you after a sleek, | | | | classic fat straight legs.- Empire style |
| modern, sophisticated look, or a rustic, | | | | (1804 - 1831) had a heavy masculine look, |
| casual, warm mood etc? Every aspect of the | | | | polished veneers more often than carved wood |
| room you create must maintain the same mood. | | | | surfaces, excessive use of ormolu mounts |
| Mood refers to the general look or feeling | | | | (often large and badly cast), chairs with |
| you want the room to express. The color | | | | wooden backs and upholstered seats, inspired |
| schemes, furniture, window treatments, floor | | | | by classical Greece (including the boat bed, |
| treatments and lighting styles etc. must all | | | | recamiore day bed and tripod stand), mirror |
| be consistent with this look and | | | | back console table, motifs inspired by |
| feeling.Harmony - All the separate elements | | | | ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece as well as |
| in a room must work together in harmony. All | | | | patriotic and military motifs.English styles |
| elements should feel appropriate and nothing | | | | - William & Mary style (1689 - 1702) had |
| should feel out of place. Every element | | | | hooded tops (tops in the shape of single or |
| should be harmonious in mood, scale, quality | | | | double round arches that look like dutch |
| and color. We have already discussed mood. | | | | roofs), curved X shaped stretchers, inverted |
| The scale must also be harmonious, this means | | | | cup on straight turned legs, besides these |
| all elements should be the same scale as each | | | | features they had basically straight |
| other and the same scale of the room itself. | | | | lines.Queen Anne style (1702 - 1714) had |
| No huge chairs in small rooms or small chairs | | | | cabriole legs often with shell motif on the |
| in huge rooms. No huge chairs with small | | | | knee, fiddle back splats and basically curved |
| chairs etc. The quality also needs to be | | | | lines.Early Georgian style (1714 - 1760) was |
| harmonious. If you are using expensive high | | | | the same as the Queen Anne style but with |
| quality furniture then don't use them with | | | | extensive addition of carving, particularly |
| cheap looking curtains etc. And lastly the | | | | eagles, lions, satyrs and cabochons. This |
| color schemes must be harmonious. The color | | | | carving was made possible by the introduction |
| schemes in your furniture must not clash with | | | | of mahogany.Late Georgian styles (1760 - |
| the color schemes in your rug etc.In every | | | | 1811) was a collection of styles. In this |
| room you design for yourself you must follow | | | | era individual cabinetmakers developed their |
| these 3 guidelines.Now let's discuss the 4 | | | | own styles. Some of these were:Chippendale - |
| steps for designing a room.Sketching a | | | | He tried many different things so it is hard |
| room.Drawing a floor plan.Furniture | | | | to pin down his "style", but look for rococo |
| layout.Lighting plan.Sketching a room - At | | | | motifs with open carved backs, Chinese |
| this stage you just need to do a rough sketch | | | | motifs, Gothic motifs and curved open |
| of your room and write down accurate | | | | pediment tops.Adam Brothers - Had straight |
| measurements for length of the room, breadth | | | | legs that were often fluted but with no boxed |
| of the room and ceiling height. Height of | | | | rosette like you would find with the Louis |
| mouldings (the boards along the floor and | | | | XVI style. Also look for oval shaped chair |
| between the walls and ceiling and the boards | | | | backs with spokes, lyres or other classical |
| around doors and windows etc.), and the | | | | motifs like vases and urns.Hepplewhite - Had |
| dimensions of your doors and windows need to | | | | curved chair backs (featuring shield, |
| be measured and noted. Measure how far | | | | interlacing heart and oval), straight legs |
| windows and doors are from the corners of the | | | | (but with no fluting like in the Adam style), |
| room and from the ceilings and floor. Are | | | | spade foot and serpentine front on |
| there any features in the room (air | | | | casepieces.Sheraton - The apostle of the |
| conditioner units, fireplaces etc.)? Measure | | | | straight line. Straight legs (no fluting but |
| these and write it down. Note where the | | | | frequently reeded), lightness and |
| electrical outlets and switches are. Note | | | | eegance.Regency style (1810 - 1837) was |
| where any lighting fixtures are.Conduct a | | | | similar to French Empire style but used |
| room condition checklist. Write down what | | | | different symbols.Victorian style (1837 - |
| everything is made out of and what condition | | | | 1901) was an attempt by the nouveau rich to |
| it is in. Everything except the furniture I | | | | emulate the luxury of an earlier time. It |
| mean. Does anything need to be repaired? | | | | was materialistic and ostentatious. It |
| Note down what the window types are. Are | | | | ultimately became a caricature of itself. |
| they aluminium sliding windows, wooden | | | | Don't let this happen to you.20th Century |
| casement windows etc? Now take photographs | | | | styles - are often produced out of formed |
| of every angle of the room for | | | | wood, metal and plastics. We see these |
| reference.Drawing a floorplan - Buy some | | | | styles all around us. Four major styles were |
| graph paper from a stationery supply shop. | | | | and are:Art Nouveau - attempted to reject the |
| Re draw your rough sketch to scale on the | | | | machine age with carved wood and lines |
| graph paper. A good scale to use for most | | | | imitating nature with convoluted curves and |
| rooms is 1/4 inch = 1 foot. You need an | | | | shapes. An example of this is Tiffany |
| accurate floorplan so you can do a furniture | | | | lamps.Art Deco - glorified ornamentation. |
| plan later. Show on your floorplan where the | | | | Heavily influenced by the cubist movement of |
| doors and windows are, also to scale. Don't | | | | the day. It had geometric forms and |
| show your measurements on the floorplan it | | | | shapes.Bauhaus - embraced the machine age. |
| will clutter it too much, keep all your | | | | It rejected all ornamentation and elevated |
| measurements on your rough sketch. Indicate | | | | function as it's ideal. A very minimalist |
| on your floorplan which way is North. This | | | | style.Post Modernism - is more of an |
| is important as it tells you where the sun | | | | architectural style really but makes it's |
| will rise and set in relation to your rooms | | | | presence felt in furniture design as well. |
| windows. How will the sun light your room? | | | | Basically this is what is being produced |
| Will the setting sun need to be blocked by | | | | today and it takes many different forms being |
| heavy drapes? Will you use the morning sun | | | | explored by many different designers.Dr |
| to your advantage to warm the room after a | | | | Gregory Lipke is the CEO of Cyber Publishing |
| cool night?Furniture layout - There are 4 | | | | Ltd. He has a Doctorate of Business |
| questions you need to ask yourself when | | | | Administration & a Bachelor of Science as |
| deciding where to put your furniture.What are | | | | well as years of experience in Private |
| the balance lines of the room?Where are the | | | | Investigation, Personal Protection & |
| traffic patterns in the room?What is the | | | | Security. He is the author of Your Luxury |
| focus in the room?How can I establish the | | | | Guide . |