Monday, January 5, 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
teaching an interior design class
Kathy is a special education teacher with a Master’s degree. Colin is an artist specializing in marine life. Irina worked in Russia as a graphic designer. What do they have in common? All wanted to explore the field of interior design and took a continuing education course at Elgin Community College, Elgin, Il.
Residential Decorating is a survey course designed to review the topics covered during the first year of an interior design curriculum. Over 10 weeks, topics such as design principles, color theory, and space planning are introduced with hands on projects.
The teacher, Joyce Kocinski, BA., M.A., has developed this course for students who wish to learn about interior design either for their own homes or to pursue a career in it. She brings in fabric and wood samples for students to help make presentation boards. Students some from varying backgrounds in different careers but all have a passion for interior design.
What has surprised Joyce about her students during the last few years is the hidden talent
some of the students have in the area of drawing, floor plans and elevations. As you can see from the photos, the design boards are as elegant and detailed as any professional designer. She has offered internships and continued working with some of them beyond the class.
Joyce has helped some of the students pursue work in the field, also. For example, one student, after taking Residential Decorating, became motivated to start her own home staging business. Working with a realtor, she currently has a client in Hinsdale and has helped sell a home.
Residential Decorating is offered at Elgin Community College every semester and the next class starts Feb 18, 2009. This is a hands on class and includes most supplies. There are various speakers on topics such as window treatments and faux finishing. Also included is a field trip to a historic home. A certificate is given to students upon completion of the class. For more information or to register, please call (847)622-3036.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Frank Lloyd Wright and Feng Shui
THE PRAIRIE STYLE, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AND FENG SHUI
Frank Lloyd Wright and Feng Shui? Was he aware of this ancient Chinese form of design and placement and did he use it in designing some of his buildings and furniture? You decide after reading this article. The Prairie style of architecture was made popular with the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright and continues to this day.
Frank Lloyd Wright was a self-made architect who had some college training but never graduated. He apprenticed with Louis Sullivan and started developing his style that is still timeless. His use of natural materials and organic shapes helped develop a unique style continued by the architects trained in his schools. His first home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois, is an example of this style of architecture.
Wright used central floor plans in many of the residential buildings and built in furniture when possible. ( think energy flow) Numerous windows let in sunlight and the color patterns imitate shapes in nature. Wright always tried to incorporate landscape elements in his works and make the building part of the environment. ( think balance of elements)If the building’s lot had limited space, he would add large urns for plants on the outside. He believed that a building should be in harmony with the environment. Thus, many of the residences he designed were set into a hill and not on top of it. This way the home made best use of the space with the back of the hill as protection while having the landscape of the hill in the front, a basic Feng Shui concept.
Frank Lloyd Wright studied the culture of Japan when he lived there for over 5 years. He admired the architecture of Japan and its relationship with nature. This harmony of living in balance with nature is at the heart of Feng Shui.
Feng Shui, the art of living in harmony with your environment, is related to many of the concepts Wright used in his architecture. The central idea is to promote positive energy flow in your surroundings and work with the balance of elements, earth, fire, water, metal and wood. W He once stated “the architect is the master of the environments, earth, air, fire, metal and water” He also stated, “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” When you visit some of his architecture, you can feel a balance with nature through the materials he used in his buildings and furniture designs. The open floor plans promote the flow of energy and the use of many windows allow light to fill the space. He often built structures around or near water such as the famous Fallingwater in Pennsylvannia, the residence built over a stream. Notice all the five elements in his works , earth( bricks) , fire( fire place) , water, (ponds, use of art glass), metal ( using steel reinforced concrete) and wood ( the wood frames and built-in furniture).
Wright once said, “I go to nature every day for inspiration…” Views of the landscape were important to him and many of his homes were built to take advantage of those views. Walls of glass wrap around many of the buildings he designed .(Glass is a water symbol in Feng Shui) and Wright use much of it in the window designs in his buildings. In the Dana House in Springfield, Illinois, he used over 450 pieces of art glass throughout the building. Balancing the water is the fire element seen through fireplaces, which were common in many of Wright’s buildings. They were often the focal point of the home and had built-in seating around them.
Look to nature for your inspiration in designing your environment. Trust your instincts and decorate your home with a balance of the elements and you won’t be disappointed.
Frank Lloyd Wright and Feng Shui? Was he aware of this ancient Chinese form of design and placement and did he use it in designing some of his buildings and furniture? You decide after reading this article. The Prairie style of architecture was made popular with the famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright and continues to this day.
Frank Lloyd Wright was a self-made architect who had some college training but never graduated. He apprenticed with Louis Sullivan and started developing his style that is still timeless. His use of natural materials and organic shapes helped develop a unique style continued by the architects trained in his schools. His first home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois, is an example of this style of architecture.
Wright used central floor plans in many of the residential buildings and built in furniture when possible. ( think energy flow) Numerous windows let in sunlight and the color patterns imitate shapes in nature. Wright always tried to incorporate landscape elements in his works and make the building part of the environment. ( think balance of elements)If the building’s lot had limited space, he would add large urns for plants on the outside. He believed that a building should be in harmony with the environment. Thus, many of the residences he designed were set into a hill and not on top of it. This way the home made best use of the space with the back of the hill as protection while having the landscape of the hill in the front, a basic Feng Shui concept.
Frank Lloyd Wright studied the culture of Japan when he lived there for over 5 years. He admired the architecture of Japan and its relationship with nature. This harmony of living in balance with nature is at the heart of Feng Shui.
Feng Shui, the art of living in harmony with your environment, is related to many of the concepts Wright used in his architecture. The central idea is to promote positive energy flow in your surroundings and work with the balance of elements, earth, fire, water, metal and wood. W He once stated “the architect is the master of the environments, earth, air, fire, metal and water” He also stated, “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” When you visit some of his architecture, you can feel a balance with nature through the materials he used in his buildings and furniture designs. The open floor plans promote the flow of energy and the use of many windows allow light to fill the space. He often built structures around or near water such as the famous Fallingwater in Pennsylvannia, the residence built over a stream. Notice all the five elements in his works , earth( bricks) , fire( fire place) , water, (ponds, use of art glass), metal ( using steel reinforced concrete) and wood ( the wood frames and built-in furniture).
Wright once said, “I go to nature every day for inspiration…” Views of the landscape were important to him and many of his homes were built to take advantage of those views. Walls of glass wrap around many of the buildings he designed .(Glass is a water symbol in Feng Shui) and Wright use much of it in the window designs in his buildings. In the Dana House in Springfield, Illinois, he used over 450 pieces of art glass throughout the building. Balancing the water is the fire element seen through fireplaces, which were common in many of Wright’s buildings. They were often the focal point of the home and had built-in seating around them.
Look to nature for your inspiration in designing your environment. Trust your instincts and decorate your home with a balance of the elements and you won’t be disappointed.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Home Staging - Helping You Sell Your Home
Ask for the client’s budget.
Work with their furniture and accessories.
Repaint rooms if necessary.
Have all rooms cleared of clutter.
•Make use of a focal point in the room
•Examples: Fireplaces, picture windows
•Furniture should fit the room and allow for good traffic flow
•Minimum of accessories ( Less is More)
•Balance of color and textures
•Pack up miscellaneous books, papers
•Remove all items from the floor
•Get storage containers or file cabinets
•Organize closets and shelves
•Show your house has adequate storage
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Mission Style Doesn't Go Out of Style
What two furniture styles have elements of simplicity, blend in with modern styles and have lasted for over 100 years? Mission and Shaker style furniture. Mission style, born of the Arts and Crafts movement, has become popular and continues to this day. Characteristics of Mission furniture are the use of oak,( including quarter sawn oak) rectilinear shapes, dovetail joints, and leather upholstery. Some famous craftsmen known for this type of furniture were Gustave Stickley, Charles and Henry Greene, and Elbert Hubbard. Frank Lloyd Wright used some Mission style furniture in the homes he built. Many different furniture manufacturers may call their style Mission but the true evidence is solid wood construction and use of native woods such as oak, cherry, and maple.
Shaker style also has lasted because of it beautiful straight lines, and simple designs.They believed in designing furniture that was functional so ornamental designs were eliminated. The tapered legs are an elegant example of the Shaker style. Consumers may find Amish built Mission and Shaker sofas and chairs available online or locally in the Chicago area. One store that carries both Mission and Shaker furniture made by the Amish is Burress Furniture, located in Elgin, Il. ( http://www.burressoak.com/) For more information, research Amish built furniture or contact the author of this article at www.designinbalance.com
Shaker style also has lasted because of it beautiful straight lines, and simple designs.They believed in designing furniture that was functional so ornamental designs were eliminated. The tapered legs are an elegant example of the Shaker style. Consumers may find Amish built Mission and Shaker sofas and chairs available online or locally in the Chicago area. One store that carries both Mission and Shaker furniture made by the Amish is Burress Furniture, located in Elgin, Il. ( http://www.burressoak.com/) For more information, research Amish built furniture or contact the author of this article at www.designinbalance.com
Sunday, June 15, 2008
"Green Design" What it Really Means
Now the popular design trend is "Green Design" but not everyone is sure what the definition of "Green Design" really entails. Lets start with breaking down some basic categories: flooring, furniture, fabrics and finishes. When you decide to remodel, what areas will you choose to use so-called "Green" products and how will you know what is good for the environment? Also, what is your budget for the project as this will determine some of the choices you make.
Some flooring choices are bamboo, cork, linoleum, engineered and reclaimed wood.When you decide on a product, ask questions about the durablility, maintenance, etc. Bamboo is harder than maple and similar in cost to engineered wood. It can be a good choice and substitute for using wood.It grows quickly and comes in different colors and thicknesses depending on whether you buy strand bamboo or engineered bamboo. Cork is anti-static, anti allergenic and resilient. Cork flooring comes in a variety of colors and textures and can be glued down or installed as a floating floor. Cork is harvested from the bark of the tree and and the cork flooring comes from the recycled product of the cork stopper industry.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Interior Redesign
This living room needed color and a balance of the five elements: earth, fire, water, metal and wood.
When a room feels out of balance, often its lacking one or more of these elements. There is a fireplace opposite the sofas,which brings in the fire element. Do you see examples of the other elements in the room?
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