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Interior Design

Lighting your Miami Condo the right way

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Along with choosing a perfect color palette for your interiors, lighting probably plays the most important part in your Interior Design strategy. Of all the components of the Interior Design, like Wall decoration, Furniture, etc.

Lighting accentuates the role of other components. When the various lighting components like side lamps, table top lamps etc. are selected and placed properly, the overall beauty of your room increases multifold. In this article,  MsME Interior Design, a leading Interior Design firm in Miami shares with us some important tips on how one can effectively transform the Interior.

Always go for Variety of lighting in each room

One of the biggest mistakes many designers and individuals make is that they are too afraid of playing with light. As a matter of fact, the general rule of thumb for all interior lighting should be that you should have a mixture of lighting at multiple levels.

Not just in one single room, but throughout every room in your home. For example, imagine a kitchen with lighting units above your island, and task lighting underneath your cabinetry.

Similarly, for a living room you can go for ceiling units also you can also go with table top lamps around the perimeter. Even for washrooms, one can opt for combination of lighting. Mirror top, mirror side and ceiling lamps can be effectively used to accentuate the looks. This combination of lighting will make all the rooms more functional.

Keep bulb lighting colors the same.

This is one of the most neglected aspects of lighting. You might wonder: “Don’t all the bulbs give off white light?” Not necessarily.

It is possible that, the bulbs you choose will give off different shades of white light across a spectrum – typically from a light bluish white to a yellow white.

When selecting bulbs, one should look at the bulb’s Kelvin Color Temperature, and choose bulbs with a similar rating. This will give uniform lighting. The difference in shade becomes very apparent when the bulbs are placed in such a manner that it gives a cluster look.

 Lighting placement

Most of the individuals and designers are very confident about the placement of various lighting units. However, this could easily go wron. The decision about placing a light should be based on various factors.

When you are selecting lighting for your rooms think about the basic role of the room and the main points in that room. For example, if you are planning about light placement in your living room, consider Installing more indirect lighting so that the space seems more relaxed. Also, you can allow for table top lamps next to a sofa or armchair.

This is a pretty conventional thing, but is still regarded as one of the best ways of decorating your living room with lights. Alsom, if you have high ceilings, you can combine lighting on the ceiling and walls to help give the room a more cosy and comfortable feel, By this, the visitors will not feel lost in a big open space.

For your dining space, consider installing lighting, over the top or through lamps, so that your dining room table is the brightest spot in the room. This will create the table as the focal point of your room, which it should be. A hanging light just above the centre of the table will do the work for you.

Similarly, for your hallway or entry way, you can opt for either ceiling lights or wall lights. Most of the people prefer ceiling light for hallways or passageways.

You can also combine architectural lighting or a trendy ceiling light depending on the length, shape and design of your entryway. It has to be also kept in mind that the lighting should merge with the actual room and it should not give an appearacne that there is an abrupt ending to it.

For example, your mudroom lighting design may be more industrial in nature, where lighting is more of requirement rather than a design element.  But in your formal entryway or passageway, you may consider using your lighting as a focal point of the design.

Prefer exposing  the Lighting Elements rather than the details in low ceiling rooms

Just as the heading implies, one should prefer a lighting unit who’s structure or architectural details is hidden. The purpose should be to only benefit from the light itself without exposing the architectural details.

This is very important if you are looking for clean, modern interiors for aesthetic reasons. The importance of this grows manifold if your home has low ceilings and hanging lighting units could potentially present a problem.

Therefore, if you want recessed lighting in your rooms, you want to make that decision during the design phase itself since it will affect your builder and electrician’s work.

For lamps, consider positioning them at a helpful height.

According to various experts, the bottom of a pendant light should be around 30 to 35 inches above a kitchen island.

Similarly, the bottom of a chandelier should be 66 inches from the floor in a dining room, and when you’re sitting next to a table lamp, the bottom of the shade should be at shoulder height. If the lamp is too tall, you’ll be blinded by the bulb. This requires meticulous planning on the part of designers and even the furniture experts. An important design aspect, this should also be thought of during the design phase itself.

Conclusion

According to MsME Interior Design firm, as experts in this field are few, many a time, Condo owners in Miami are conned by novice designers. The end result is that they hire designers to re do the entire work. One should be very careful in selecting your Interior Designer as most of the light fittings once done, can only be changed after a lot of work which might entail huge cost.

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Interior Design

5 Golden Rules of Designing Your Commercial Building’s Interior

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Designing Your Commercial Building's Interior

Interior design can help to make or break a business but business owners often fail to recognize this basic fact. They focus on customer service, product selection, and pricing with the assumption that excelling in these areas is enough to make their venture a success. However, when a person walks into a business that doesn’t feel welcoming they won’t stay long. Furthermore, they are less likely to return. Keep this in mind and make interior design a priority at all times. Following are five golden rules any business owner should follow when designing their commercial building’s interior.

Plan the Space

Start by planning how the space will be used. For example, a bedroom serves a much different purpose than a living room in a home. The same is true of different areas of commercial space. Knowing what will go in a specific area makes it easier to block out the spatial areas, define circulation patterns, and plan for the placement of equipment.

Determine if there are functional deficiencies that must be addressed, as this needs to be done before the process moves forward. Efficiency must always be the priority when evaluating a space, as simple solutions are often the best. By taking into account the organization of a space, a business owner finds they can do more with less and save money in the process.

Help may be needed at this stage. Companies should begin by looking for a civil engineer, someone who can look at the area with a different viewpoint. When multiple people look at the same space, they see different things. This can be of great help in determining how to make the best use of any given area.

Details

Don’t overlook the details when putting together commercial space. While a customer will notice the overall look and feel of an area when they first enter, the details are what will draw the eye as they remain in this space. For this reason, every element in the room must be considered to ensure it fits in with the overall picture. This includes everything from the width of a stile on a cabinet door to the knobs on the cabinet. If one thing looks out of place, the customer may begin looking to see what else is off.

Small things can also truly pull a look together. For instance, when choosing throw pillows for a sofa in the office, pay attention to the stitching on these pillows. Although this may not seem to be of importance, it truly is. When an area appears complete in terms of its overall design, look around the room and see how it can be enhanced with a few added touches. Start with one or two items. When you see how they do make a difference in the atmosphere of the space, you’ll want to move on and add more. However, make certain these details don’t clash with other elements.

Material Selection

Although money must be factored into any interior design project, the materials used in the commercial space need to be of good quality. Visitors to the business will pick up on the atmosphere and form an opinion of the company based on nothing more in many cases. Try to choose natural materials, such as silk, linen, and wool. Furnishings made from solid wood are always a good choice and the same is true of antiques.

Take care though when choosing items and never base a decision on price alone. People often assume an item is of good quality because it is expensive when nothing is further from the truth. Look for materials that hold up with time and can withstand customers. One can never know how the items will be treated by the people who come in. Good items can be found at lower price points if one knows where to look.

It never hurts to add one or two items that show the company’s identity even if they don’t blend in with other elements. For instance, a distinct item that inspired the business can be set out in a room as a conversation piece. A modern office that has an old-fashioned clock in it is a good example. The clock may be a reminder of the founder’s grandparents who inspired him to work hard and achieve his dreams. People will notice this clock and comment on it, which is a good way to share more about the business and what it values.

Identity

The interior of any business needs to reflect the brand while showing how it differs from competitors. This may be a signature color or it could be the logo prominently displayed on the wall. One way to do so is to use contrasting elements. A great way to do this is to choose one item that will be used to symbolize the business and work around it. Use contrasting elements to make this item stand out in the workplace. Say the logo is an image contained in a circle. To allow the logo to stand out, use square and rectangular elements throughout the room. Doing so makes the circular shape catch a visitor’s eye to ensure it gets noticed. People often strive for uniformity but this is one instance where standing out is a wise move.

Rhythm

Find a rhythm for the space. This may be done in a variety of ways. For instance, certain elements can be repeated in the area or they can be alternated. It depends on the visual weight of the different elements. Progression is an alternative technique that may be used by placing items from smallest to largest to draw the eye through the entire collection. Experiment with all three options to see which works in the given space. One area may benefit from progression while another allows for the best presentation when items are repeated. With trial and error, a business owner can find what works for any given portion of the business.

Interior design is of great importance when it comes to a commercial space. However, many business owners focus solely on functionality at this time. Although it is important for consumers to find what they want and need quickly, they should be able to do so in an environment that is welcoming. If help is needed in achieving this goal, don’t hesitate to bring in a professional designer. It’s important to get this right.

 

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Interior Design

Have an Interior Design Firm? These tips from this Brickell Avenue Interior Design firm will help you grow

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tips for interior designers

Interior designers understand human psychology really well, especially when it relates to how people react with a specific interpretation of interior design and physical space. Typically, an interior design firm works on many different types of environments that can be created inside a building. For examples office spaces, hotels, homes, museums, etc. it has been seen that, designers specialize in either commercial or residential interior design, though some firms do both. But not everyone who works as an Interior Designer knows the key aspects of this trade. MsME Interior Design, a top Brickell Avenue Interior Designer has come up with some tips for Interior Designers.

Always get the Contracts in writing

For any business, Contracts are important as they protect all parties involved. Always draw up a contract in writing so that your client can see all the services you are providing. It is advisable to ask some percentage of the pay up front, when the contract is signed. This ensures both the parties are interested in a project. When you are professional from the onset, you will be valued for your time and business sense. Also, keep receipts and all your finances in order because if a client audits you, you will have to provide all the detailed paperwork.

Hire a professional photographer to show off your project.

Your previous work is going to be displayed by its photography. You can’t expect people to take you seriously if your works aren’t displayed in a professional manner. Don’t showcase the images of your previous work taken from a regular phone camera. A professional photographer will take pictures in such a way that the impact of important elements of a room are accentuated.

Never rely on shooting it yourself unless you are super confident in this area. A professional photographer will know all of the ‘on trend’ angles so that they shoot it magazine style.

When looking for a professional photographer to capture your company’s interior design work, LinkedIn can be a great resource. You can use the site’s search feature to find photographers in your area who have the skills and experience you need. Once you’ve found a few promising candidates, you can use an email finder tool to get their email addresses. This will allow you to reach out to them directly and discuss the opportunity. By using LinkedIn and email finder tools, you can easily connect with talented professionals who can help you showcase your interior design work.

Of course, your photographer should know what you will be using the photos for.

You should have multiple skills

The people who work as interior designers need to have an in-depth understanding of color usage, textures, furniture styles, artwork, lighting, fashion trends, eco-materials, indoor plants, and a whole range of other things that can be used as design elements for interior spaces. Moreover, they need to be very good at dealing with people, including clients that can be quite difficult and workers that make mistakes on occasion. You need to be really calm.  Their main talent is aligning their own view of what the interior space will be made to look like with the client’s preferences, so that both are very satisfied with the results.

How much should you charge?

Though there is no fixed way of charging the clients and it depends on the individual projects, according to the American Society of Interior Designers, the most common ways to charge for interior design services are: Flat or fixed fee , Time-based fee and Project percentage fee. Among other methods, in Retainer with balance method, the amount is paid upon completion in which an initial deposit is paid by the client, which is a portion of the interior designer’s fee that is agreed by signed written contract. The balance of this fee is paid upon successful completion of the project. In the Cost plus method, the interior designer buys things at wholesale for the project and then charges the client the retail price or a slightly discounted price from regular retail. Similarly in the Cost per square foot method, the fee for the interior designer is calculated based on the total square footage involved in the project.

How to present to clients

Whether you are meeting with potential clients in their homes or your office, you will prepare storyboards for their projects. Storyboards are visual and tactile records of the room or rooms you will be recreating. They allow you to make sure that all aspects of your interior design work together. You should offer your clients as much detailed presentation as you can as it is this level of attention to detail that will allow your business to prosper quickly.

Once you have established your name, how to grow your business?.

In this day of social media, more and more people are relying on the power of positive feedback and word of mouth. The first thing you should do is to grow your circle. Get out there and connect with as many people as you can. Join social networks. Develop personal relationships first, these will then evolve into working relationships. Start a blog or website or both to showcase your projects and style. Give future clients a sneak peek into what you can actually do for them. Social media can be a very powerful tool in this. Social media will help writers and influential bloggers find and promote your work as well. These things will help grow your business and your brand.

As far as having a website your own is concerned,  find a great web designer or learn as much as you can about creating a great site yourself. Growing your business is all about spreading your name as far as possible. Apart from having your own website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram can be of great help. Moreover, on these platforms, you can also search for prospective clients in your area.

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Interior Design

Modern Interior Design concepts

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Modern Interior Design concepts

Modern design has a lot of different incarnations. In its simplest terms, modern interior design refers to the reflection of the modern art movement on the interiors of the home. There is a range of central characteristics and design themes seen throughout a modern design.

Modern design refers to what is popular or used right now. Modern design can be very peculiar for that reason, because it can borrow pieces and styles from all different eras. It doesn’t have to be something that is “designed” right now.

Right now a modern home can incorporate large windows, unique or odd shapes, open plan and harmony with the surrounding landscape. Moreover, the finishes would use a lot of natural elements such as fir or cedar and stone. The finishing details and furniture are in-ornate and use clean lines. Comfort and sustainability are key values that are important in a modern home.

In this post from Brickell Avenue Interior design firm, MsME Interior Design, we go through some important components of  Modern Interior Designs.

Use natural material for both interior & exterior

Natural materials need not be reserved for just wood furniture. Your modern home can make use of natural and organic materials in decking outside, leather furniture for your interiors and simple decorative elements displayed throughout your home. In many modern designs, one can witness a new sense of using organic materials such as wood, rock, slate, teak, cotton, wool, and other gorgeous textiles in furnishings and not just reserved to traditional home uses.

Color Concepts

Modern design is typically offset by neutral colors. When painting your walls you’ll want to choose shades of brown, taupe, cream or pure white. You can also spice up your room by painting one wall with an accent color, adding a bold colored sofa and choosing small, yet vivid decorative accessories, like pillows, area rugs, lighting fixtures and artwork. However, it must be remembered that you should not clutter your space because the key to modern design is simplicity.

Metal Concepts

Metals like stainless steel, nickel and chrome are very popular in modern design, as they provide a sleek finish and clean look. One can easily accent a home by choosing stainless steel appliances for your kitchen. Also, when it comes to your kitchen and bathroom faucets, there are various metal finishes to choose from. For home accents consider using metal for furniture pieces, lamps, shelves and artwork so that the style looks consistent from room to room.

Technology in modern homes

One of the areas of modern home design that everyone adores is the “hidden details”. The details of wireless and remote access controls for controlling electronics, heating/cooling systems, lighting, security etc. are all hidden behind the beautiful details.One should try bringing innovative controls into home lifestyle and see how much modern home will feel. Technology has become the defacto luxury details to add to modern homes.

Bring light into interiors

Modern and Post Modern design periods began to emerge in the 1920’s-1960’s . A break was observed from the traditional dark interiors with closed –off rooms and small windows. Light and airy rooms replaced the small ones and these details can be adopted in a modern home. Opt for choosing the right floor plan that let in natural light through floor to glass windows, skylights, solar tubes and use translucent glass for privacy areas.

Use of fabrics

Try to add texture and create a more natural and inviting setting use fabrics such as silk, crushed velvet, linen or wool. Accents like fabric window treatments, furniture upholstery, over-stuffed pillows, area rugs and linen wallpaper are a great way to offset the clean, smooth lines of the metal accents. When choosing fabrics, stay away from elaborate patterns as they will distort the clean, contemporary look you are trying to get.

Open floor plan for Interior

Modern homes have a sense of uniting all of the interior spaces into one grand experience. The term “great room” is used by various designers to signify a blurring of the distinct walls and boundaries of living spaces with the kitchen, family room, etc. Moreover, an open floor plan is ideal and is iconic in modern homes and creates a unified design aesthetic throughout your home.

Lighting Up Your Design

Lighting is very important in any modern design, because it is the key to illuminating the room’s design. There are many lighting choices available to provide interesting, clean lines to accent your modern design. Popular fixtures include track lighting, pendants and floor lamps.

Wood Tones to modernize your home

When it comes to choosing wood surfaces, modern designs usually feature very light or very dark tones. With a huge range of woods, finishes, designs and stains to choose from, you can easily create a unique floor design. Your only limitation could be your imagination and budget. Another way to incorporate wood into your interior design is to use large wooden flowerpots, shelves, picture frames, end tables and floor lighting. The key to an effective modern design is to be consistent with your accents and not to clutter your living space.

Traditional spaces tend to be full, both visually and physically. Modern spaces, on the other hand, embrace simplicity in adornment. Modern interiors are clean and fresh, perhaps with a hint or two of color added.

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