| The luxury lifestyle does not require a mansion. You | | | | lines of the room?Where are the traffic patterns in |
| don't have to wait until you can afford a huge house | | | | the room?What is the focus in the room?How can I |
| on the beach to live in a beautiful home. Remember | | | | establish the axis of the room?The balance lines are |
| the luxury lifestyle is about quality things and people. | | | | easy to determine. Draw 2 faint lines accross your |
| Small cosy houses can be made luxurious for a small | | | | floorplan dividing the room in half length wise and |
| amount of money through clever interior design. | | | | breadth wise. This will divide your room into 4 |
| Remember the self made wealthy don't spend | | | | quadrants. This is important because you need to |
| money when they don't have to. Living a luxury | | | | have an equal "weight" of furniture in each quadrant |
| lifestyle is not about throwing money away to look | | | | in order for the room to be balanced.Traffic patterns |
| cool, it is simply about raising your standard of living. | | | | are also easy. Leave 36 inches clear in front of each |
| If you can do that inexpensively, so much the | | | | door opening to allow space for the swing of the |
| better.In this article I will introduce you to the basics | | | | door. Also keep 12 inches clear in front of the |
| of interior design which I studied when I was | | | | windows for access. Traffic patterns tell you where |
| renovating houses. The key to a successful | | | | not to put furniture, mark these on your floor |
| renovation is to make cosmetic improvements, not | | | | plan.Now, what about the focus of the room? Is it a |
| structural improvements, to a house. Building new | | | | fireplace? Bay window? Blank wall where the home |
| rooms, adding another level to a structure or moving | | | | theater screen or an artwork will go? Plan your |
| walls around is very expensive and moving walls | | | | furniture layout to take advantage of this |
| especially can weaken the structure. You want to | | | | focus.Establish an axis for the room. You now want |
| improve a houses WOW factor to make an | | | | to draw an imaginery line up the middle of the wall |
| impression. Here are some tips...Painting - A new paint | | | | from floor to ceiling through your focus. Continue this |
| job will do more to improve the look of your home | | | | line across the ceiling and down the opposite wall to |
| than anything. It is a relatively simple job too, so you | | | | the floor. The idea is this, you want the focus |
| can save yourself a fortune by doing it yourself. Give | | | | balanced from floor to ceiling. If your focus is a |
| the surfaces to be painted a good clean up with | | | | fireplace this would mean putting a picture or |
| sugar soap and scrape of any loose stuff. Bog up | | | | something above it to fill the space. You also need to |
| any cracks or any depressions to make the surface | | | | balance both sides of the room. So you would have |
| smooth, then paint. Whether you use an undercoat | | | | to put something on the other wall of equal visual |
| or not depends on what paint you use. Get advice | | | | "weight" along the axis line. Everything is about |
| from a interiors shop. The underlying principle for all | | | | balance.You are now ready to start planning where |
| renovations including painting is KISS, Keep It Simple | | | | your furniture will go in the room. You need to place |
| Stupid. Keep your color schemes simple, use neutral | | | | the furniture in the room so it takes advantage of |
| colors, they reflect light better making rooms look | | | | the focus and so it serves the function of the room. |
| bigger and they look cleaner. Be consistent | | | | Arrange your furniture so that all 4 quadrants have |
| throughout the house.Kitchens - Don't go crazy, | | | | equal visual "weight". This does not mean you need |
| these can eat heaps of cash if you are not careful. If | | | | to have a mirror image of furniture in the quadrants, |
| your kitchen is falling apart then you have no choice | | | | but it simply means you don't want every piece of |
| but to get a new one. If you can avoid it though, | | | | furniture in one quadrant or one half. Visually on your |
| don't get a new one just cosmetically touch up the | | | | floor plan the room should look balanced. Draw |
| one you have. New benchtops, tile splashbacks, door | | | | representitives of your furniture on your floorplan to |
| handles, cupboard handles, tap handles, a paint job | | | | scale. Try various ideas. Decide which one you find |
| and floor job will make a huge difference and won't | | | | most appealing.Lighting plan - Do not try to light the |
| cost the earth.Bathrooms - Another money pit. Light | | | | room. Light objects in the room. Firstly your lighting |
| and bright is the secret here. Just like the kitchen if | | | | must permit people to perform the specific tasks of |
| it's falling apart, you have no choice but to spent the | | | | the room. For example using lamps for reading, |
| big bucks and replace things. If you can get away | | | | playing cards etc. This is called task lighting. You also |
| with it though, change your benchtops, door handles, | | | | need sufficient lighting so people don't bump into |
| cupboard handles, tap handles and floor tiles (wall tiles | | | | things. This is called ambient lighting. You can use |
| can be a huge expensive job, avoid changing if | | | | lighting to influence the mood. Bright lights for an |
| possible) Get a new paint job, a new toilet seat, | | | | upbeat mood, low lighting for a more intimate and |
| toilet roll holder and towel racks. This will transform | | | | romantic mood. As with everything else the different |
| the room and won't cost much.Flooring - Makes a | | | | elements (elements, pardon the pun, I'm so clever) |
| huge difference. New carpet, tiles or linoleum will | | | | of your lighting plan must be harmonious with each |
| transform a room. Also consider, if you have a timber | | | | other. Lighting decorative objects with spot lighting is |
| floor of good enough quality, ripping up the carpet | | | | also a nice touch. Don't forget to take into account |
| and polishing the floorboards. This looks fantastic and | | | | where the electrical outlets are. You want to keep |
| is inexpensive.Doors - Change the door knobs | | | | unsightly electrical cords as short as possible and |
| throughout the home for a classier style and make | | | | hidden if you can.2. FurnitureWhen it comes to |
| sure you stay consistent throughout.Window | | | | choosing furniture there are a few points to |
| treatments - These also transform a room. Make | | | | consider.Is the piece suitable in function and cost?Is it |
| sure they fit in with the rest of the room.Landscaping | | | | suitable in mood and style? Does it have the right |
| - Can cost you a fortune. All you really need to do | | | | look?Is it suitable in quality? Is it similar quality to the |
| (unless your yard is a write off) is rip out all the | | | | other furniture pieces?Does the piece have suitable |
| plants except for the larger established ones. Install | | | | proportions? Are the different parts in pleasing |
| some edging, re lay some turf where necessary (if | | | | harmony with each other?Is the piece the right |
| you have dead spots where grass won't grow, you | | | | scale? Is it harmonious with the size of the objects |
| can pave that area which is expensive or extend the | | | | and space around it?Are the fabrics appropriate? |
| garden over this area and plant shade resistant | | | | Bright, intense colors and bold patterns increase visual |
| plants), replant the garden with colorful plants and | | | | "weight". Muted, neutral tones and solid colors reduce |
| add mulch to your garden beds. Plant tall plants at the | | | | visual "weight".When it comes to arranging furniture |
| back of perimeter gardens or the middle of central | | | | follow these guidelines:The shape of the sides of the |
| gardens and have smaller plants in front. Try to get a | | | | piece of furniture should match the shape of the wall. |
| few different shades of green in the leaves of | | | | Don't put round tables in the corner of rooms.Avoid |
| different plants. Try to plant a range of flowers so | | | | placing rectangular furniture at an angle to straight |
| you have something blooming at most times of the | | | | walls.If the space on the wall is horizontal, a |
| year. Flowers can give your garden a pleasant smell | | | | horizontally shaped piece of furniture will look best |
| as well and attract birds. River pebbles or conrete | | | | there.If the space on the wall is square, a square |
| treads are also an inexpensive alternative to | | | | shaped piece of furniture will look best there. |
| paths.Painting of the exterior - Makes a huge | | | | Vary the heights of the major pieces in the |
| difference to the WOW factor. Probably best to get | | | | room.Spread your colors throughout the room.Here |
| a professional to do it though, they own scaffolding, | | | | are a selection of some of the major furniture styles |
| let them risk their necks.Decking and verandahs - | | | | from throughout history and how to spot them.Early |
| Cheaper than adding rooms to your house but adds | | | | American styles - The lines of this furniture is very |
| square footage to your living space. If you live above | | | | simple. The workmanship is unrefined and rustic. It is |
| the snow line this may not appeal, but for warmer | | | | small in size, has a square frame structure, is usually |
| climates outdoor living spaces are wonderful for | | | | painted and has square shaped legs with simple |
| entertaining. Tile over concrete porches.Fences - If | | | | decorative turnings.Mediterranean styles - This is |
| you have an existing fence, give it a new paint job. | | | | heavy furniture. There is nothing delicate about it. It |
| If you don't have a front fence put in a white picket | | | | is solid, squarish and built to last. It is usually made of |
| fence. Add an attractive letterbox.Get a new front | | | | ornately carved wood. The Spanish Mediterranean |
| door - These really add or detract from the look of | | | | furniture often featured leather that was decorated |
| your home.The bottom line is, you don't need to | | | | with metal nailheads.French styles - Louis XIV style |
| change where you live necesarily, just how it looks. | | | | (1643 - 1715) has massive scale, X shaped stretchers |
| Spend your money on luxurious homewares not on | | | | that support the legs, a bacically square form and the |
| expensive structural changes. Read on now to learn | | | | seat & back were upholstered. This style had |
| about how to layout your home and how to | | | | detailed ornamentation.- Regence style (1700 - 1730) |
| decorate it to raise your standard of living and to add | | | | was a transition between Louis XIV and Louis XV. It |
| to your luxury lifestyle.1. The Basics of Interior | | | | had cabriole legs (curved legs) and a curvature on the |
| DesignThere are 3 basic guidelines for successful | | | | top edge of the seat back.- Louis XV style (1730 - |
| interior design.A successful room is functional.A | | | | 1775) had curved shapes and forms, extensive |
| successful room expresses a mood.A successful | | | | rococo decoration (elaborate decoration incorporating |
| room exhibits a sense of harmony.Function - Ask | | | | a shell mofif), romantic imagery, delicate shape & |
| yourself, what are the intended functions of this | | | | design and no leg stretchers.- Louis XVI (1775 - 1789) |
| room? A room must serve it's intended function. No | | | | had straight slim legs (usually fluted and topped with |
| matter how beautifully you decorate a room, if your | | | | a box shape containing a carved rosette), rectangular |
| scheme can't fulfill all the functions you require the | | | | shapes or mechanically produced curves, classical |
| room to perform, then the room has failed. If a | | | | motifs (such as columns, urns and lyres) and delicate |
| dining room is not convenient to eat in, then it fails. If | | | | construction.- Directoire style (1790 - 1804) had |
| a bedroom is not convenient to sleep in, then it fails. | | | | simple elegant lines, patriotic motifs (including military |
| Does your living room have appropriate lighting for | | | | motifs, agricultural motifs and crossed flags), classical |
| reading, if that is one of the functions of the room? | | | | motifs (inspired by ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece), |
| Are there tables in easy reach of the seating to put | | | | curled chair backs and scrolled sofa arms, outward |
| your drink on? You get the idea.Mood - What is the | | | | curving legs or classic fat straight legs.- Empire style |
| mood you want this room to express? Are you after | | | | (1804 - 1831) had a heavy masculine look, polished |
| a sleek, modern, sophisticated look, or a rustic, | | | | veneers more often than carved wood surfaces, |
| casual, warm mood etc? Every aspect of the room | | | | excessive use of ormolu mounts (often large and |
| you create must maintain the same mood. Mood | | | | badly cast), chairs with wooden backs and |
| refers to the general look or feeling you want the | | | | upholstered seats, inspired by classical Greece |
| room to express. The color schemes, furniture, | | | | (including the boat bed, recamiore day bed and tripod |
| window treatments, floor treatments and lighting | | | | stand), mirror back console table, motifs inspired by |
| styles etc. must all be consistent with this look and | | | | ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece as well as patriotic |
| feeling.Harmony - All the separate elements in a room | | | | and military motifs.English styles - William & Mary |
| must work together in harmony. All elements should | | | | style (1689 - 1702) had hooded tops (tops in the |
| feel appropriate and nothing should feel out of place. | | | | shape of single or double round arches that look like |
| Every element should be harmonious in mood, scale, | | | | dutch roofs), curved X shaped stretchers, inverted |
| quality and color. We have already discussed mood. | | | | cup on straight turned legs, besides these features |
| The scale must also be harmonious, this means all | | | | they had basically straight lines.Queen Anne style |
| elements should be the same scale as each other | | | | (1702 - 1714) had cabriole legs often with shell motif |
| and the same scale of the room itself. No huge chairs | | | | on the knee, fiddle back splats and basically curved |
| in small rooms or small chairs in huge rooms. No huge | | | | lines.Early Georgian style (1714 - 1760) was the same |
| chairs with small chairs etc. The quality also needs to | | | | as the Queen Anne style but with extensive addition |
| be harmonious. If you are using expensive high quality | | | | of carving, particularly eagles, lions, satyrs and |
| furniture then don't use them with cheap looking | | | | cabochons. This carving was made possible by the |
| curtains etc. And lastly the color schemes must be | | | | introduction of mahogany.Late Georgian styles (1760 |
| harmonious. The color schemes in your furniture must | | | | - 1811) was a collection of styles. In this era individual |
| not clash with the color schemes in your rug etc.In | | | | cabinetmakers developed their own styles. Some of |
| every room you design for yourself you must follow | | | | these were:Chippendale - He tried many different |
| these 3 guidelines.Now let's discuss the 4 steps for | | | | things so it is hard to pin down his "style", but look |
| designing a room.Sketching a room.Drawing a floor | | | | for rococo motifs with open carved backs, Chinese |
| plan.Furniture layout.Lighting plan.Sketching a room - | | | | motifs, Gothic motifs and curved open pediment |
| At this stage you just need to do a rough sketch of | | | | tops.Adam Brothers - Had straight legs that were |
| your room and write down accurate measurements | | | | often fluted but with no boxed rosette like you |
| for length of the room, breadth of the room and | | | | would find with the Louis XVI style. Also look for |
| ceiling height. Height of mouldings (the boards along | | | | oval shaped chair backs with spokes, lyres or other |
| the floor and between the walls and ceiling and the | | | | classical motifs like vases and urns.Hepplewhite - Had |
| boards around doors and windows etc.), and the | | | | curved chair backs (featuring shield, interlacing heart |
| dimensions of your doors and windows need to be | | | | and oval), straight legs (but with no fluting like in the |
| measured and noted. Measure how far windows and | | | | Adam style), spade foot and serpentine front on |
| doors are from the corners of the room and from | | | | casepieces.Sheraton - The apostle of the straight line. |
| the ceilings and floor. Are there any features in the | | | | Straight legs (no fluting but frequently reeded), |
| room (air conditioner units, fireplaces etc.)? Measure | | | | lightness and eegance.Regency style (1810 - 1837) |
| these and write it down. Note where the electrical | | | | was similar to French Empire style but used different |
| outlets and switches are. Note where any lighting | | | | symbols.Victorian style (1837 - 1901) was an attempt |
| fixtures are.Conduct a room condition checklist. Write | | | | by the nouveau rich to emulate the luxury of an |
| down what everything is made out of and what | | | | earlier time. It was materialistic and ostentatious. It |
| condition it is in. Everything except the furniture I | | | | ultimately became a caricature of itself. Don't let this |
| mean. Does anything need to be repaired? Note | | | | happen to you.20th Century styles - are often |
| down what the window types are. Are they | | | | produced out of formed wood, metal and plastics. |
| aluminium sliding windows, wooden casement | | | | We see these styles all around us. Four major styles |
| windows etc? Now take photographs of every angle | | | | were and are:Art Nouveau - attempted to reject the |
| of the room for reference.Drawing a floorplan - Buy | | | | machine age with carved wood and lines imitating |
| some graph paper from a stationery supply shop. Re | | | | nature with convoluted curves and shapes. An |
| draw your rough sketch to scale on the graph paper. | | | | example of this is Tiffany lamps.Art Deco - glorified |
| A good scale to use for most rooms is 1/4 inch = 1 | | | | ornamentation. Heavily influenced by the cubist |
| foot. You need an accurate floorplan so you can do a | | | | movement of the day. It had geometric forms and |
| furniture plan later. Show on your floorplan where the | | | | shapes.Bauhaus - embraced the machine age. It |
| doors and windows are, also to scale. Don't show | | | | rejected all ornamentation and elevated function as |
| your measurements on the floorplan it will clutter it | | | | it's ideal. A very minimalist style.Post Modernism - is |
| too much, keep all your measurements on your | | | | more of an architectural style really but makes it's |
| rough sketch. Indicate on your floorplan which way is | | | | presence felt in furniture design as well. Basically this |
| North. This is important as it tells you where the sun | | | | is what is being produced today and it takes many |
| will rise and set in relation to your rooms windows. | | | | different forms being explored by many different |
| How will the sun light your room? Will the setting sun | | | | designers.Dr Gregory Lipke is the CEO of Cyber |
| need to be blocked by heavy drapes? Will you use | | | | Publishing Ltd. He has a Doctorate of Business |
| the morning sun to your advantage to warm the | | | | Administration & a Bachelor of Science as well as |
| room after a cool night?Furniture layout - There are | | | | years of experience in Private Investigation, Personal |
| 4 questions you need to ask yourself when deciding | | | | Protection & Security. He is the author of Your |
| where to put your furniture.What are the balance | | | | Luxury Guide . |