• De clutter – It sounds simple but it is amazing what a difference this can make. Clutter can quickly accumulate over time, but by simply de cluttering your room can instantly free up more space .

• Use intelligent storage such as wheeled boxes that store neatly under the bed or storage that organises your CD’s, books and magazines appropriately. Intelligent furniture such as beds, chairs or tables can also offer additional hidden storage without taking up extra space.

www.thestoragebed.co.uk

• Mirrors – Most of us know that mirrors can help reflect light into the room but by facing a mirror towards a window or glass patio doors can help bring in the illusion of extra natural light.

• Lighting – by adding extra lighting to a room such as task lighting for reading or lighting under wall kitchen cabinets can open up dark spaces or corners.

•  Keep the majority of your room finished in lighter colours, but at the same time don’t be afraid to use small amounts of bright colours. For example paint one wall in a bolder or different colour, or use colour in accessories like cushions, throws or pictures.

By applying these simple steps can help make any small room seem larger.

Loop pile – Level loop pile carpets, the fibres are formed in loops of equal height, creating a flat, textured surface. The loops help keep dirt on the surface, making it easier to maintain if they are vacuumed often. However, the loops can also to hold the dirt in if it does manage to seep through the fibres. This type of carpet is perfect for commercial environments such as offices and some retail areas.

Berber Loop Pile – Longer, higher, thicker loops make this type of pile softer, but it is more prone to snagging and unravelling. Good for both domestic and some commercial environments.

Saxony Cut Pile – Where the loops are cut at the top, making individual carpet strands. It has a softer feel and finish to loop pile but not as hard wearing. Best used in domestic areas such as living rooms or in formal commercial environments such as such as meeting rooms or rest rooms.

Plush or Velvet Cut Pile – Very similar to the Saxony cut pile, but a richer looking pile with little or no twist to the yarn, creating a deep and luxurious smooth finish. Used in domestic environments or in high-end commercial environments.

Cut and loop pile – A mixed combination of loop and cut yarns to create a wide variety of patterns and textures, including sculptured effects. Often uses multi coloured yarns, which can help make imperfections less noticeable. Slightly more durable than pure cut piles and often used in rugs or in commercial formal/ feature areas such as boardrooms.

Shag pile – A high yarn with little density exposing the sides of the yarn rather than the tips, to give a random casual effect. Used typically in rugs for domestic use.

However, you shouldn’t dismiss wallpaper too lightly either. With a vast range of different, colours, patterns and textures on the market, wallpaper can add another depth of warmth, character and beauty. From textures like leather, flock, beading and glass you are spoilt for choice. Although it maybe a bit more expensive than paint, it can last much longer for up to 10-15 years and can pay for itself in the long run compared to paint.

So the next time you’re thinking about decorating room, think about adding a new dimension to your room with some funky, elegant or stylish wallpaper.

Osborne and Little – Jersey Lily

It is incredibly important to choose the right chair for yourself and your staff.

A good quality chair will:

• Have the right fixtures and fittings to fit within your needs and comfort.

• Will help keep your posture healthy and reduce the cause of back pain.

• Will last much longer than a cheaper chair.

• Are designed to look better, especially if you work in front of clients on a daily basis.

There are thousands of office chairs on the market and choosing the right chair or piece of furniture can be confusing. Here are only a few of the best office chairs on the market today.

Click here to download this image

If you currently have some concerns about your staff, seating and lower back problems, check out this down loadable report from Herman Miller on ‘Body Support in the Office: Sitting, Seating and Low Back Pain’, which you will find about half down the page under Health Risks and Prevention. You will also see many other interesting reports by Herman Miller on the office environment and ergonomics.

http://www.hermanmiller.co.uk/our-business/white-papers/

If you’re business is looking to up-grade your office environment and furniture I can help you choose the right furniture for your business needs and requirements.

* From Herman Miller – ‘Body Support in the Office: Sitting, Seating and Low Back Pain’ – 2002.

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Links:

http://www.hermanmiller.co.uk/

http://www.steelcase.com/uk/

http://www.knoll.com/knoll_home.jsp

http://www.vitra.com/

• Utilise your existing environment to the maximum, saving you money in the long run.

• Enhance the performance of your staff.

• Enhance communication between client, staff and merchandise, creating more sales.

• Make it easy for staff and clients can find their way around and use a building more easily.

• A good space planner should know how to maximise the space and still make it accessible to everyone as much as possible.

What does colour say about your business? Just for a bit of fun, I have built up this colour table to give you an idea of how colour can be associated with different business and the psychological appearance it can have. There is no hard set rules to this, but it can be used as a guide if you wish!

Click Here To Download Your Copy

How colour, materials and textures are brought together can have an effect on how a room is used by everyone. This includes furniture, signage, graphics, flooring, wall finishes and layout. Bringing all these things together can be a tricky balance to achieving a functional and easy to use environment without the compromise to the design, look and brand.

Here are a few small examples especially focused with wheelchair users in mind, but it also touches on other areas making easier for different users.

Clinton Devon – Reception desk made from locally sourced material. The timber cantilever reception top makes it easy for wheelchair users.

The Bank of New York – This reception desk also makes it relatively easy for wheelchair user to approach the desk. The sign-in tap is great for clients standing up to sign in. The receptionist can pass the sign-pad onto wheelchair users.

Royal & Sun Alliance – Post and Copy Point. The area at the far end is for wheelchair users to organise and collect their post. The decorative carpet and bold orange highlights the copy areas and can be easily seen. Perfect for those who may be partially sighted.

Easynet – Copy and Fax Area. A lower section for wheelchair users or for those who prefer to sit whilst organising their papers.

]]> http://www.rawbydesignblog.co.uk/2009/11/designing-interiors-for-all-users/feed/ 0 http://www.rawbydesignblog.co.uk/2009/10/philippe-starck/ http://www.rawbydesignblog.co.uk/2009/10/philippe-starck/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:53:47 +0000 Susanna http://www.rawbydesignblog.co.uk/?p=97112870 I have been watching a brilliant series from the BBC called ‘Design for Life’ where world famous French product designer, Philippe Starck invites 12 hopefuls to his school of design in Paris in effort to find new British talent in design.

Philippe Starck - Design For Life

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mx9y1

It was great to watch Philippe Starck in a different light and get a small insight his thought process and approach to design, describing himself as “type of new bottle opener… “. The applicants are given the chance to demonstrate their abilities by working on real design projects. Starck gradually whittled down the class based on their performance, until the winner, Ilsa Parry, is rewarded with the opportunity of a work on a 6 month placement with him. Philippe gives the impression of a mad French man but his comic approach has an underlining message. It certainly gave me food for thought in the direction I am taking in Interior Design.

This was a great series and would love to see more of this sort of thing. Throughout watching this series, a growing feeling of nostalgia was building up from my student days at Kingston University.

Philippe Stark has recently brought out a kitchen range by Warendorfer Küchen GmbH in four different kitchens types:

Library Kitchen

The Library kitchen – with book shelf which is to reinforce the connection between culture and food in domestic life.

Primary Kitchen

The Primary kitchen – that brings neo-baroque design into the kitchen made up of bright yellow, mirrored glass fronts, etched decorative flourishes and pretty wall accessories.

Duality Kitchen

The Duality kitchen, which can be accessed from two sides.

Tower Kitchen

The Tower kitchen – with its striking towers, which can be rotated through 340° and which offers a completely new approach to kitchen design.

All four kitchens are complemented by equally striking functional tables supported by spectacular trumpet shaped feet in polished chrome.

Even though I have not seen these products in reality, I’m interested to find out what other kind of intelligent details these kitchens hold that changes the way we work around and use the kitchen. This also brings me to the ebook I am currently writing infusing raw food and kitchen design together, which I hope to be out soon next year.

I have come back to the UK extremely excited and charged up about where I am going with my business and more sharply focused on what I will be offering to you soon. I’m seeing my business in a new light and am now set on a new journey that will give more interior design service and assistance both in the home and commercially.

Whilst I was over in LA I had to take a few days off for a whirlwind mini tour around with my Platinum colleagues Carmen, Linda and Ellen. Where we took a journey to Hollywood, walked the walk of fame, down Sunset Boulevard, past Beverly Hills, cycled along Venice Beach and shopped in Santa Monica. Phew not bad for 1 and half days.

On top of that I met up with Karen Knowler at the retreat where she is a Diamond member. It is great to see her super business mind in action and get a sneak peek at her thought processes.

I’ve only been away a week and I’ve noticed a difference in our weather. Our days are much shorter and there is a chill in the air. Autumn is on its way.

Susanna, Melissa, Linda and Carmen

Ali Brown, Susanna and James Roche

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