In today’s hectic world, the leisure and the entertainment industry are still going strong. Especially overseas, a lot of new hotel projects are being completed, just breaking grounds or are in the planning phase. It looks as though the population of hard-working and always connected professionals is driving the “relax in style” trend. Guests are looking for not just any style, but luxury, uniqueness and unforgettable experience.
Every designer likes to brag about their recent project or a recent accomplishment.
No matter what industry you are in, if you know your profession well, you will agree that the customers who require the product/service to be delivered with top quality, quickly and inexpensively, are asking for impossible. The triangle of quality, price and time always leaves one out.
Reality shows have taken over the TV programming. Nearly every channel, cable or local, has its most viewed and crazy popular reality show. I remember watching the very first season of HGTV’s Design Star, which drew me in for the obvious reasons. I am an interior designer myself and wanted to see how these want-to-be TV stars reflect the industry I am building my life and career around. Is this show helping to promote the profession or to the contrary, is it suggesting a non-authentic view of who we, designers, are and what we do for a living?
Luxury as defined by a dictionary is “the state of great comfort and extravagant living” or “an inessential, desirable item that is expensive or difficult to obtain”. Have you ever wondered what would happen to the concept of luxury if it became more commonly accessible and ordinary? How will the future change the idea of luxury, and to what extend the NEED will take over the WANT, just as OLD (reused) is taking over NEW with the idea of environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Does a baby care whether its room is decorated in green or yellow? Can it even see color? Where did the trend of “blue for boys/pink for girls” come from and do you have to follow it? When designing a nursery, it is important to understand the color theory as it applies to a newborn eye. (more…)
Various media suggest that the residential real estate market is slowly picking up. It is a much needed change in this depressing economy. What can we do to help it out? We can act…instead of sitting back, coming up with the worst-case scenarios, stuffing mattresses with the left-over 401K funds…we can look into the future and act. (more…)
Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. Depending on the market value, upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom are averaging at 138% return on investment (based on the statistics published in “Home Staging Business”). Why would you not take the necessary steps to renovate one or both of those areas. However, be smart about what areas to invest in more and where to cut corners. Whatever you do, (more…)
The more involved I get in the building, remodel and design industry, the more exposure I get to the various services that fall under “design” and the many terms the public uses to describe what I do. How do I define myself as a professional? Read on to find out. (more…)
3…2…1…Happy New Year!!!! We are all familiar with that process. In Poland, about 6 hours ahead of us, everyone screamed “Szczesliwego Nowego Roku” and a series of fireworks appeared in the sky. I was brought up in a belief that you have to say good-bye to the old year and welcome the new year with a pump and charisma, otherwise….it’s bad luck(?) I can’t stop wondering – if I sleep through the New Year’s countdown (and I did), is there nothing to wake up for? will the universe turn against me and send nothing but worries and troubles my way? (more…)