SCHOOL

Dear blog,

Please forgive me!
I have broken my promise to write to you every Sunday... I think I need to renegotiate my pledge.

I now pledge that I will write when I have time during this whole school year.

Well with that aside, I'm BACK!

So SCHOOL! - wow
I am learning so much from my 2nd year interior design program!
Well this is my 1st time experimenting with Rendering.
I must say, I was terrified! After buying a bunch of pretty markers at random.
I was intimidated to make any sort of colour on my page.
Well I've been working through it, focusing on line weights and shading to make my images look real!

So before I head back to continue on my homework train, here are a few of my renderings over the last few weeks.

FYI These aren't all of them! So check back soon to see what's next!

4 F's for the Headboard!

Here are some FUN, FLORAL AND FABULOUS FABRICS!!
Fabrics can be very difficult! They can be expensive and SUPER hard to find, especially when you have one in mind already!

KB has given me a mission to find a large bright floral pattern for her Master Bedroom Headboard.

Having my internship at Gluckstein Design this summer was wonderful. I have had the pleasure of visiting all of the different textile showrooms at Designers Walk.
So I figured I would check their online sites to see what they had available in the style KB wants.
Some of the showrooms I've checked were Lee Jofa, Primavera, Robert Allen, and Kravet to name a few.

So hopefully if my potential client likes one of these fabrics we can possibly get our hands on them! -Phewsh!

Headboard to toe

So I have been given one of my 1st missions! Finding a fun floral fabric for a MASTER BEDROOM HEADBOARD! I'm going to search for appropriate and accessible fabric options as well as fun headboard styles!

There are so many different headboard options! Different shapes, sizes, weights even materials! Headboards are easy to construct as a DIY. Step one in creating your own headboard for your bed would be selecting a style.

Tip 1:Keep in mind the headboard can and most likely will be a focal point in the room.
Make sure your headboard will reinforce your room style. You probably wouldn't use the next image if you wanted a ZEN room. Are ya following?
If you are looking for a modern look, stick to linear headboard options, and dress it with a neutral fabric, or keep it wooden and consider stains. (See the last image in this section! It is a great example of a minimal headboard. It has a darker stain creating a contrast between the lighter walls. BAM! focal point! Your eye goes directly to it! Also there are darker accents in the pillows and bedding that reflect the headboard giving purpose to the dark headboard by creating a rhythm through the room.


Notice the detail on the headboard, they used a nice orange piping highlighting the shape and movement in the headboard. It also helps break up the busy fabric pattern. Nice touch.








WITCH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE?

It's all gotta valance!

Window treatment options for the office.... the quest to find the right valance!

1. An interesting alternative than something structured.
--> Could be cool with nicer fabric, and maybe glamorous knobs!? I'm sure one of those artsy shops in the beaches would have fun knobs, I think AR may have dragged me into a shop like that!




2. <-- A very solid looking valance. The valance isn't that bad actually! It would be easy to construct myself and it would cover the whole window. BONUS! My only reservation is the board... it may be too solid, considering I am using a very linear stripe fabric. As a result there wouldn't be any movement or flow over the window. But perhaps I could soften it with some batting underneath and even add silver studs or attractive covered buttons around the perimeter to add a little interest. yes? no?

Cool, The lime green in the room is actually the colour of the accessories I have for the room!

Tip 1. Notice the placement of the valance, it actually touches the ceiling, giving height to a smaller room by bringing the eye up.




3. This is awesome! I actually have this fabric from Ikea! I like how it is simple and not too fussy. Too bad the image is SO SMALL! But you get the idea.
It is basically a Roman Shade. Except for my room, I don't want it on the interior of the window, I would want it to span over the entire window frame.

Concerns: The window is 8 feet long, will this option cover such a large space!? Probably not.. And will it add height to the room like option #2? Probably not.... :(

Notice the colours in the space, orange seems to jump out at you.
The contrast between the gray and white on the walls and cabinetry and the orange create a beautiful contrast throughout the room.
Just little hints in the stripe and small details around the room deliver a large impact and stimulates the eye! Try it!




Can you believe it? These are the only "acceptable" valances that I've been able to come up with.
I've searched high and low for decent examples! I knew valances weren't the most popular window treatment... But come on!

Perhaps you're wondering why I would even want a valance!? So let me explain that a valance is the only kind of window treatment I can squeeze onto the window wall! There is a bookshelf nudged right against the window, as well as the desk. Tight quarters remember!
A pop of colour is desperately needed on that wall!

Tip 2. Every room should have a focal point that draws your eye to a place in the room. You can create a focal point by using contrast, via colour, movement, and texture.

At this point I'm leaning towards option number 2, only because it would be a great DIY project. Simple to construct and easy to mount. I can spice it up with accessories if needed. As well as elongate the room!

Comments are welcome!

The good news is, if I can't do the valance myself I already have a lady lined up to make it for me. -phewsh!


These are the other valance options.... Perhaps I'll hold off, and use these in another house all together. YIKES!

Heeney Stripe - Wasabi

1st of all, AWESOME name "Heeney Stripe".
I actually fell in love with this Heeney Stripe fabric (By Robert Allen) when I was in my 1st year textiles class. I still have the original piece. (Which was used in a few projects)

This sweet wasabi is going to be my office inspiration!

The office setting has drastically improved from the bright yellow that used to clad the walls, to "Quietude Gray" by Behr.
The room itself is small to begin with, although I love dark gray walls, I felt it would enclose the space -BAD!
But I still wanted a gray palette to work with on the walls, like a canvas!
With these new walls the room feels quite open, bright and modern! -YES!!



My goal with this Heeney Stripe fabric is to add a pop of colour into the space!
Ideally I picture using it as a valance over the window. (The type of valance will come after this entry.... hold tight... One thing at a time!)

I am going to pick up on the green stripes that are in the fabric and use it on small items around the room.
Either the Lime green -an accessible colour to find right now
and/or the turquoise -MY FAVORITE COLOUR! and NOT so easy to find NICE accessories.

I can't spice up the ENTIRE room with green and gray. So we'll see what ends up happening as the project continues.

I have found a few items that are great for office storage (especially for a student!) in lime green. So I am off to a good start!

Tip 1: If you are wanting to add bright colours to your space, try and find less expensive accents, because tastes can change and styles change all the time.
- You don't want to be stuck with a $6,000 LIME GREEN couch sitting in your space if you're sick of it!

Tip 2: Knowing which colours you want to use as accents around the room makes the search for items easier to find. Duh... You can also vary the shades of the particular colour you're looking for. For instance a lighter green and a darker shade of green. These are known as ANALOGOUS colours, as long as they are in the same colour family. (example pics to follow)

All in all I believe I am on the right path to a FABULOUS and FUNCTIONAL workspace! Phewsh
Stay tuned for the valance options! Perhaps someone can give their two cents worth...?!

My 1st blog pledge - INTERIOR DESIGN is the life for me.

Can I have your Attention Please! I have finally decided that my NEW BLOG slogan will be...

"Inspiration is all around me and I intend to blog about it!" -Victoria Leach (that's me!)

Having said that, I pledge to my blog that I will post something new and hopefully interesting every Sunday.

My goal is to create a fun, interesting and colourful blog/online interior design journal. Subjects covering colours, textiles, fads, green design and well...there is no limit!
Hopefully I will come up with more interesting topics in the near future!

I want to be on top of my game! In the know of new trends and keep the hamster on the wheel! Learn and discover new interior design tricks and tips and inspiration for furure design projects.

So wish me luck! Here I go....!!