This week, we are speaking to a group of interior design students at MATC Milwaukee.

It truly is an international show. The ICFF hosts representatives from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland (secretly psyched about this one), Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, and U.S.

Why am I going?

• 1. To see what’s happening in design world-wide
• 2. To connect with a few specific individuals. Yes, the internet gives you a chance to get connect, but there is no better way to start a professional relationship than face-to-face
• 3. To feed my hunger of travel and the excitement of a big city (a real big city, sorry Milwaukee).

So, that being said, are you coming with?

WHAT: ICFF 2012

WHERE: NEW YORK CITY

WHEN: May 19th-22nd, 2012

www.icff.com

Having grown up in a small town in Southern Poland, I had very little opportunity to discover the capital of Poland in my youth. Now when I visit, I explore the city like any other tourist…one little piece at a time.

Opened in 1913, Polonia Palace Hotel was the epitome of luxury at the time. Such amenities as cold AND hot water, central heating and access to a dial phone were not only unusual but unheard of. It survived the World War II and other political crises. Located vis-a-vis The Palace of Culture and Science, it is one of the most stunning architectural marvels in Warsaw.

During and after the war, Polonia Palace has been used as a stage for political and diplomatic activities. It is said that General Eisenhower is hotel’s most well-known guest.

When it comes to the interior, the lobby, which resembles a courtyard of an old palace, is grandiose and well preserved.

I would have like to see the non-european palm trees disappear, as they are providing nothing less than confusion. I sense that the purpose is to create privacy and visually fill the void, but the result is less than appealing. Additionally, though the custom Italian floor light fixture are simple and beautiful, they don’t seem to match the history and profile of the interior.

Off the lobby, I stumbled upon the Strauss Restaurant, which apparently serves some spectacular dishes under a careful directive of Chef Grzegorz Golen.

We didn’t get a chance to try their cusine. Maybe next time. I did appreciate the white linen settings, traditional brass chandeliers as well as numerous original photographs from the decades ago. But oh no, more palm trees.

Whether it’s your style or not, Polonia Palace is not just a hotel. It is a place where history took place, and it is worth visiting, if not staying at.

So here I was, checking into a Hyatt Place late in the evening after a long day of work. Exhausted and hungry, I was welcomed by a friendly staff, exciting and comfortable looking lobby. Right there, at the front is where life happens.

You can select from many different seating styles and functions (lounge, table/booth, private conversation area, community table, bar). You can grab breakfast, lunch or dinner, or even a snack and Starbucks coffee 24/7.

From a design perspective, the space is broken down cleverly, with nooks and niches, which create privacy when needed, while keeping visual access to the entire space. I love the multiple resin panel applications like in the screen suspended over the bar, and a focal element over fireplace. The large, drum-shaped light fixtures help define seating areas as well. And most importantly, the light layering has been applied very successfully, bringing additional dimension to the space.

Lastly, the guest room was specious and clean. With a TV console positioned between the bedroom and the living space, one could easily manipulate the angle of the screen to get the best view from either of the areas. The usage of the semi-transparent room partition also deserve a notice. It divides the two spaces enough without full enclosure.

The tone-on-tone color scheme makes you feel cozy and at home. Bathroom did not impress me, but I guess, you can’t have it all.

Hyatt Place has worked hard on developing a brand that resonates with young and health-driven professionals. By creating a space where guests want to hang out at and providing access to quality food, drink and service, it’s hard not to win your guests over.

Located on Delaware Place just a block east from Magnificent Mile, Raffaello offers luxurious amenities and convenience all in one.

In a small but quaint lobby, guests are introduced to the comfort, yet luxury and architectural detailing right from the get-go.

And if you look up, you will notice the grandiose chandelier and the arched windows. Beauty is in the details.

The guests rooms, though done on a budget, offer a clean and contemporary stay.

Large closets are a bonus. Some space inefficiencies could be taken advantage of, like a little unused nook by the bathroom, and a strangely positioned “side vanity” in the bathroom.

The bathroom was accented by the walnut-textured high pressure laminate used as wall backdrop. A large, floor to ceiling tile walk-in shower with a large shower head and glass partition creates a perception of luxury.

I suggest you request a room higher than the 2nd floor. Despite the noisy mechanical units right outside our window and close proximity to the lobby/restaurant and stairs, we slept pretty soundly.

As I mentioned, I planned this weekend for my husband. Unfortunately, both of my surprises were cancelled due to weather (go figure). That only means that we are going to be planning another weekend in Chicago to give it another try…in spring, and who knows, maybe we will stay at Raffaello again.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can design around things you love. The things you love can vary. It can be a favorite color, pattern, a beautiful photo or even a certain style or piece of furniture.

Color and pattern can be fun to work. Everyone has a color they love, right? If you really think about it, you typically gravitate towards a certain color palette. For me it’s green, but since this Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, let’s look at red. Red can definitely make a statement if you want it to or just add a splash of color to the space.

This kitchen definitely makes a statement but make a beautiful backdrop for your dinnerware.

If you would prefer a less permanent option, go with slip covers on your dining room chairs or even a few fun pillows on your sofa!

Beautiful photos are another option to place something you love in your home. Below is a photo I took this fall in northern Wisconsin.

The contemporary area rug would compliment this photo and the entire color scheme can be pulled from the two. Soft gray walls, with chocolate leather sofa and love seat, paired with crisp white window treatments. Can you envision it, too?

Sometimes love is simplicity and when selecting chairs for my dining room I selected a Shaker style chair with clean simple line. They are one of my favorite things in my home!

Another great example is taking a piece of fabric you love but applying it to a piece of furniture that is dated or you may even dislike. Transform it into something you love. A great example of a wonderful transformation, is a turning a tired, midcentury chair into a contemporary side chair anyone would love! It is called Curbside Pickups, as seen on the Nate Berkus Show.

Remember, your home is a place, where you spend most of your time, so why not surround yourself with items that you love! Until next time, continue to make those connections!

Color Connections, by Gina

Gina Younk has practiced interior design for over 18 years. What she loves most about design is   working with   color and helping others with their spaces. Design has always been a part of her life. Learn from Gina, as she embarks on a new journey with Color Connections, a monthly blog post series. Gina lives and work in West Bend, WI. She is the owner and a sole designer of Red Chair Design.

1. Get a Digital Portfolio

Establish a digital portfolio of your school work, inspirational images, travel photos and other images that define your design methodology and style. This will allow your potential employer or a recruiter to start creating an impression of you even before they meet you in person.

• SlideShare – let’s you upload PowerPoint, Keynote or pdf format presentations
• FolioLink – website designs and services for creative professionals to showcase and sell their work online
• Prezi – let’s you create interactive presentations online
• Flickr – is an online image database, where you can create folders and organize your images that way

2. Get a Digital Resume

Like with the digital portfolio, a digital resume is yet another way to give access to the interested parties to your study and work experience. The more information you can provide, the better you chances of being found. Focus on key content. Edit your resume to include key words pertaining to the interior design industry. Review job postings for key words that are being stressed and include them in your resume.

• Visual CV - is a great platform that allows you to tell you story with text, graphs, video, audio and image files

3. Focus your attention on LinkedIn

Over 80% of recruiters use LinedIn as their main talent search tool. Give yourself a chance to be found. Before I get to specific tips that will help you see LinkedIn in a new light, I want to make sure we get my LinkedIn pet peeves out of the way. In my experience, these “what not to dos” are very important, especially if you are new coming to the game.

• Improve your current position - don’t just put “Interior Design student at XYZ”. This type of description does not set you apart from hundreds of other students. To the contrary, it makes you look exactly like the rest. Give a little more information on your area of interest within interior design, or a recent accomplishment, or even your one character trade that you thing is your biggest strength. This is your one chance to entice someone to read more about you.
• Complete your profile – when you log into your profile, a bar depicting a level of profile completion will show up in the top right corner. Naturally, you want to get as close to 100% as possible. To accomplish this, you must not only fill out information pertaining to your education and work experience, but also grow your network by connecting to people you have met, or asking for introductions to those you wish to build relationships with. Additionally, to complete your profile you will need recommendations, for which you can also ask via the system. When you send a request, be sure to specify what kind of recommendation you are after, what trades of yours you wish the person to talk about. The more specific you are, the easier it is for someone to write a few words. Finally, you will be able to approve and publish the recommendation. Don’t worry, nothing will be posted without your approval.
• Join groups – The next step in building your credibility online is joining groups and participating in discussions. Search for groups that speak to both your study topic and geographic location and become a member. Some groups I find interesting are: 1. Interior Design related: ASID WI Chapter, Architecture & Interiors, Hospitality, Interior Design, 2. Milwaukee Business and Networking related: MMAC, Milwaukee B2B Networking Group, Link Up Milwaukee.
• Participate in discussions – Once you join some groups, watch carefully for discussions and start your own. Ask for feedback, give your own advice, provide value. Slowly, people will notice you as a source of information on the topic you are promoting. Try it.
• Keep it current – Just like Facebook, LinkedIn has a status bar, where you can post current information. Your status posts show up in all your connections feed, giving you a chance to get noticed. Make sure yoi post interesting, relevant content that your network will appreciate. Keep it professional.

4. Leave comments

I’m sure you find time in your busy study schedule to browse the net for hottest design trends, looking up design blogs such as Design Milk, Mocoloco, Inhabitat and maybe my blog (shameless promotion). While you are doing that, leave lasting imprints by commenting on posts that interest you. Why? Your name becomes tied to yet another industry related entry, helping you being found by job creators or recruiters. What do you say? You can thank the author for sharing their thoughts, ask questions, leave recommendations, or add your two cents to the topic. Keep it genuine and professional.

5. Be consistent

Establishing an effective online presence takes time. You have to put in a lot of thought, try things out, fail a few times before you start seeing rewards. 20-30 minutes a day maintaining your online presence should be the minimum commitment. With today’s technology, it gets much easier to accomplish this. Smart phones and tablets give us access to the online world whenever and wherever you are. So, use it.