Interior Design 101

Think grammar school.  Pencils, check. Erasers, check. Graph paper, check.  Tracing paper, check.  Architectural scale, check.  Glue stick, check.  You get the picture!  I finally bit the bullet and enrolled in an interior design class at a local college.  I think this is the first time I have taken a class and really (and I mean really) just enjoyed it.  It felt natural although intimidating because I have no experience, but that is why I am there, right? 

The last 30 minutes of class, our instructor handed out her favorite design shelter magazines and told us to browse them and rip out anything that inspires us.  I was like, for real?  I mean this is what I do for ultimate pleasure and now I get to do in class!!  Love it!!

The instructor, an established interior designer, shared a lot of 'sound' advice and many of her sources or as she calls them her "secrets".  It was fun and I'm looking forward to going back next week. 

For homework, we need to pick a room in our house that we want to re-do and the sky is the limit (in terms of budget).  Do you know how foreign that is to me?  I am so use to sourcing items that are budget friendly, I think I am going to get over-whelmed with all the beautiful and amazing furnishings out there. 

All photos from At Home in Fairfield County

But, hey, I'm not complaining.  This is going to be so fun!!  I picked our dining room!!  Woohoo...

KITCHEN LIGHTING IDEAS

type='html'>In today's big homes, the kitchen has become the center of activity. This is because the modern kitchen is being built much larger than kitchens of yesteryear. Kitchen lighting has become an important consideration knowing that much time will be spent in this room.

Kitchen lighting design does not have to be museum quality but it does have to be thought out carefully. As the kitchen is the busiest room in the house, the lighting needs to be able to accomodate all activities. It needs to be bright enough to cook and to maybe do homework on the kitchen counter and it also needs to be right for gatherings and parties.

Of all the kitchen design ideas, the lighting might be the most important because it sets the mood for your kitchen. You will have to decide whether you want track lighting, flourescent tube lighting, or some other type of lighting to produce the desired effect. In addition, lights may be placed under countertops and over sink areas to make the lighting functional.

The main light source in most kitchens is flourescent lighting but that may not produce the warm feel to your kitchen that you desire. In that case, you may want to replace the flourescent tubes with some sort of track lighting that will look much better and give the kitchen and updated look. LED lighting is becoming popular even though it is more expensive at the outset. Home LED lighting will indeed save you money and the case for LED lights become more compelling as energy prices rise and governments make new laws.

Accent lighting can be used strategically to highlight different parts of the kitchen that you would like to bring attention to. All sources of lighting must work together to create a great kitchen ambience. Proper and creative lighting is one of the kitchen design ideas that you should spend a fair amount of time on to make sure you get it just right.