Students honoured with interior design awards

Staff Reporter / 2 June 2012

The competition was organised by Danube in partnership with the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID).

Al Qattami highlighted the importance of interior design in the industry, encouraging students to strive for excellence in their approach. The event also marked the presence of Zarine Khan, Bollywoods favourite interior decorator.

The Danube-APID Student Interior Design Competition was developed as an adjunct to typical course work, in which students could utilise skills learned through their current academic development in the design of an interior environment with far-reaching appeal. The registration process started in March 2012 inviting post-secondary students from the GCC to apply for the competition.

The inaugural competition awarded 12 winners with total prize money of Dh85,000. The winners were chosen from over 280 entries submitted in the two categories, the Reception Lounge Category and the Display Vitrine Category. The grand winning entry, Group Ad.Infinitum, was rewarded with a cash prize of Dh20,000 and the winners in the CEOs category, Group AGU, were awarded with a prize of Dh5,000. The competition recognised five winners in each category with special merit awards. The designs were evaluated on aspects such as functionality, presentation, innovation and usability.

Interior design in the Middle East is developing at a rapid pace. Launching the competition was part of a move to help boost the regions interior design industry and also to discover the talent of emerging interior designers. The success has given us the assurance to lay the groundwork for a more exciting and activity-filled second edition of the competition,said Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman of Danube Group.

Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, president of the APID, said, The overall quality of the submissions was of a high standard. The entrants demonstrated a holistic approach to sustainable design that communicates a forward-thinking approach. Each submission featured a unique solution to the ever-evolving concept of interior designing. news@khaleejtimes.com

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Students honoured with interior design awards

The wife of Jack Kelley, a Tulsa architect and entrepreneur who later made headlines as a globe-trotting undersea explorer, Jean Kelley had an adventurous streak of her own, family members say, and regularly joined him on his expeditions.

Scuba-diving together as they visited the sites of ancient shipwrecks, she was by his side as he became a recognized authority in the field and led wreck recovery efforts.

"There was nothing my grandmother wouldn't try," the couple's granddaughter Whitney White said. "Once, during one expedition, they lived in little huts on the side of a rocky cliff for a few weeks.

"She and my grandfather had a wonderful 61-year marriage. It was definitely an adventure."

Jean Rhodes Kelley died Wednesday in Tulsa. She was 82. A visitation is set for 5-7 p.m. Monday at Ninde Brookside Funeral Home. A service is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Asbury United Methodist Church.

Kelley moved to Tulsa from Texas as a child and graduated in 1948 from Central High School.

It was as a student at the University of Tulsa, where she was the 1951 homecoming queen, that she met her future husband.

The couple eloped before she finished school.

Kelley never returned to complete her degree, but with her gift for interior design, it didn't hold her back. She ran her own business, Designers Inc., for many years in Tulsa.

Dividing her time between that and being a full-time wife and mother, along the way she took up a variety of philanthropic interests.

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Tulsa interior designer and community volunteer Jean Kelley dies at 82

UPDATED at 6:25 p.m.

ST. LOUIS An interior decorator admitted in federal court here Wednesday that she bilked wealthy clients including former St. Louis Cardinal Scott Rolen out of more than $1 million.

Officials said she also cheated the wife of ex-St. Louis Blues player Doug Weight, although she did not plead guilty of that count.

As part of her plea on three mail fraud charges, Kay T. Ottinger, 51, of St. Louis, acknowledged inflating invoices from real companies and creating fake invoices so she could pocket more money for her work.

Ottinger and clients of her company, Well Appointed Inc., had agreed that she would be paid a flat fee and between 15 and 30 percent of the cost of furniture and other items used in the decorating.

A federal search found invoices that had been inflated by tens of thousands of dollars, court documents show, and fake invoices that had been created to inflate and, at least once, to double a real bill.

One of the counts to which Ottinger pleaded guilty involved the creation of a fake invoice for Rolens Florida home from Old World Pavers for $88,970. That invoice was more than $66,000 higher than the $12,000 bill that Ottinger paid, court documents show.

In the indictment, Ottinger was accused of inflating an invoice for services and labor to Weights wife by $20,175.

The investigation began in 2010, when another Ottinger client and an employee approached federal prosecutors with their suspicions.

At sentencing August 27, Ottinger could face 15 to 21 months under federal sentencing guidelines and will be ordered to pay back the money.

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St. Louis interior decorator admits $1 million fraud

To paraphrase a popular movie line, "There's no crying in design," but Bay St. Louis artist and interior decorator Yuki Northington couldn't help but shed a tear when she was the first competitor eliminated in the Season 7 debut of "Design Star," HGTV's talent show for interior designers.

Elimination is never easy when a national television audience is watching, but Northington left with her head held high when the judges informed her the home-and-garden cable channel would not be producing her show.

"I'm happy I had the experience and I'm happy to return to my family and wonderful life," she said.

As she left, she invited the remaining 11 contestants to visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast for Mardi Gras.

In the end, only one of 12 contestants will be rewarded with an HGTV show.

Northington, who owns and operates Social Chair in Bay St. Louis, said she was proud to be chosen to compete.

"The experience has made me a better designer," she said.

The first challenge for contestants was to design their new digs, a Hollywood mansion they would live in during the competition.

Northington was paired with a fellow artist Stanley Palmieri of Pittsburgh and the two were assigned the studio-design space in the mansion. Each contestant brought an item from home and Northington chose a multi-colored fleur-de-lis.

In the end, judge Genevieve Gorder liked Northington's choice of wide-paneled wood flooring, but she was not a fan of her Mardi Gras paint colors on the walls. Judge Vern Yip was equally critical.

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Bay St. Louis designer is first eliminated from 'Design Star'

An interior designer is tasked with creating usable and aesthetically pleasing architectural spaces inside a physical structure. Interior design professionals typically study the behaviors and movements of individuals in the working and living environment in order to create spaces that are both attractive and functional.

Interior designers may also perform the interior decorating work on the spaces they design. An interior decorator, by contrast, does not design the space in which he or she works. Instead, interior decorators focus on the furnishings, wall and floor treatments and artistic touches that provide ambience and atmosphere to the interior space.

Differences Between Hiring A Designer Vs. A Decorator

Most interior design professionals are employed by construction or architectural firms and work in conjunction with builders and architects to design usable spaces for a variety of human activities. In other cases, interior designers may be called upon to create a functional and beautiful set of interior spaces for a private home. Generally, however, interior design experts work for builders and contractors rather than directly for private individuals.

Interior decorators are typically hired by homeowners to improve the aesthetic appeal of an existing space. These interior decor experts usually specialize in commercial or residential spaces and may use lighting, wall treatments, flooring, furnishings and accessories to create a look pleasing to the owner or manager of the space in question.

Benefits Of Hiring A Decorator Or Designer

The services of a qualified interior designer are crucial in order to create usable spaces for working and living. Contractors and builders depend on these professionals to provide advice on a variety of ergonomic and acoustic issues and to help in the design of lighting and traffic flow patterns that make sense in the specific interior environment.

Homeowners can benefit significantly by enlisting the help of an interior decorator when remodeling or revamping their living and working areas. Interior decorators are knowledgeable about the effects of color and the right use of accessories to create an illusion of greater space or to provide a cozy, comfortable environment for everyday living.

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This article originally appeared onAngies List.

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The Benefits Of Hiring An Interior Designer

The actress was spotted furniture shopping at Beverly Hills' exclusive Kreiss showroom on Tuesday (15May12) with in-demand interior decorator Kathryn Ireland and a camera crew - and now reports suggest her spending spree will feature on reality TV show Million Dollar Decorator later this year (12).

An insider tells HollyScoop.com, "The show will air in America this coming fall."

Ireland is not new to celebrity demands - her clients have included Steve Martin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and director/playwright David Mamet.

The website reports Lohan's shopping spree at Kreiss was a big hit and the actress went home with two St. Regis sofas, two St. Regis armchairs, a pair of Venetian table lamps and two cast bronze candlestick lamps and an array of outdoor furniture.

Lohan is currently prepping her new Beverly Hills home after moving out of her former pad in Venice, California, where she spent a period under house arrest last year (11).

More: John Oliver on Lindsay Lohan's Correspondents' Dinner Invite: 'We've All Let America Down' Lindsay Lohan: 'I Know I'm Great' as Liz Taylor Woody Allen: A Pimp inFading GigoloWith Sofia Vergara

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Lindsay Lohan recruits top TV decorator for home revamp

Jessica Simpson and fianc Eric Johnson are the most un-neurotic people, according to their nursery designer Rachel Ashwell.

The interior decorator was asked to help put together baby Maxwells room months before her arrival on May 1.

And Rachel tells People magazine that Jessica had a very clear vision about how she wanted the room to look.

Jessica is very pretty and feminine, but she didnt want this to be over-the-top frilly, Rachel told the publication. The words she used were gypsy and bohemian, so we brought in lavenders and mauves with a bit of pink and aqua.

The nursery is a mixture of luxury furniture from boutiques as well as items picked up from flea markets and vintage stores.

They were probably the most un-neurotic people Ive ever known, Rachel said. Jessica wanted [the nursery] to be cosy and cute, and she was very respectful of Eric, asking, Do you like this? And he was nicely opinionated.

I found being around them very inspiring to think, Wow, [this is] a real collaborative vision. I even wrote them a little note saying, Its been such a privilege to be part of making your home for you, because I know its going to be a house of substance.

Originally posted here:
Jessica Simpson is ‘not neurotic’

Actress Anna Kendrick has landed some star help to decorate her new home - comedienne and passionate interior designer Ellen Degeneres has offered to take charge of the project.

The Twilight star recently moved into a new property in Los Angeles, but she's struggled to find the time to focus on her decor needs and moaned to DeGeneres about the difficulties she has been experiencing when she appeared on the funnywoman's U.S. talk show on Wednesday (09May12).

She explained, "I just moved in a week ago... Right now I have a mattress on the floor and just suitcases, well, cardboard boxes along the wall...

"When you move into a new house it's like every day you discover, 'Oh, this faucet is leaky' or 'This light's out' and it's my responsibility now. It's terrifying."

Kendrick admits she has no idea where to start when it comes to decorating her home, but she hopes to model her place on DeGeneres' Beverly Hills property, which was featured in trade paper Architectural Digest last November (11).

She told the TV presenter, "I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to learn. I'm sort of buying design magazines and stuff and I have your Architectural Digest on my vision board. Your house is on my vision board. Is this creepy, or flattering?"

DeGeneres was delighted to hear Kendrick is using her home as inspiration and when the actress jokingly asked if she'd like to do her house, the comedienne jumped at the chance, insisting, "I would love to. I really would... If that's your vision, I will do your house."

She added, "It's flattering, because it's my passion, I really love doing houses. I love decorating and I love buying houses."

See original here:
Anna Kendrick - Anna Kendrick Lands Ellen Degeneres As Her Interior Decorator

Actress Anna Kendrick has landed some star help to decorate her new home - comedienne and passionate interior designer Ellen Degeneres has offered to take charge of the project.

The Twilight star recently moved into a new property in Los Angeles, but she's struggled to find the time to focus on her decor needs and moaned to DeGeneres about the difficulties she has been experiencing when she appeared on the funnywoman's talk show on Wednesday.

She explained, "I just moved in a week ago... Right now I have a mattress on the floor and just suitcases, well, cardboard boxes along the wall...

"When you move into a new house it's like every day you discover, 'Oh, this faucet is leaky' or 'This light's out' and it's my responsibility now. It's terrifying."

Kendrick admits she has no idea where to start when it comes to decorating her home, but she hopes to model her place on DeGeneres' Beverly Hills property, which was featured in trade paper Architectural Digest last November.

She told the TV presenter, "I don't really know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to learn. I'm sort of buying design magazines and stuff and I have your Architectural Digest on my vision board. Your house is on my vision board. Is this creepy, or flattering?"

DeGeneres was delighted to hear Kendrick is using her home as inspiration and when the actress jokingly asked if she'd like to do her house, the comedienne jumped at the chance, insisting, "I would love to. I really would... If that's your vision, I will do your house."

She added, "It's flattering, because it's my passion, I really love doing houses. I love decorating and I love buying houses."

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Anna Kendrick lands Ellen DeGeneres as her interior decorator

Tara and Chris live in a gorgeous old storybook home with a ton of character. Its crowning glory is a romantic turret that gives the house a royal air. The turret is what first attracted the couple to this home, but they quickly discovered that turning that awkward space into a multipurpose space was a story with a not-so-happy ending.

With only one closet in their entire top floor, storage was virtually nonexistent. Dim lighting and odd angles contributed to a choppy layout that lacked flow and functionality. Creating a new bedroom, office and lounge on the top floor of Tara and Chris' castle was a tall order, but with some ingenuity, the right materials and a royal touch inspired by the turret itself, we got the job done.

To make the most of this space, I created a plan that moved the bed out of the turret and over to a more convenient location beside the bathroom. The TV and media cabinet moved to the wall across from the bed, and in the corner I designed a luxurious lounge area. To expand the precious closet space, we added on to the outside of the existing closet, and installed a comfy reading nook in front of the window. As for the turret, it is the perfect space for a very funky office. It inspires creativity while segregating the work space from the bedroom-and-lounge area.

We found some wonderful vinyl flooring that looks like reclaimed wood, and laid that down throughout the entire space. A subtle-patterned wallpaper was hung on the room's long wall, helping the eye transition from TV and entertainment unit to lounge area. The rest of the space received a fresh coat of delicate green-gray paint.

One of Chris and Tara's biggest complaints about their multipurpose third floor was the lack of lighting. To brighten things up, we chose some classy black-and-gold pendant lights and hung a grouping of them over the lounge area. Floor and table lamps, a ceiling fixture with fan and a couple of bedside table lamps all help banish the shadows, but the piece de resistance is the cylindrical beaded chandelier that hangs in the office. Now that's a light that really means business.

The third floor of this charming old home is accessed by a narrow staircase. That fact really limits the type of furniture you can bring up there, so we had to choose carefully. I was excited to find a lovely modular L-shaped gray sofa for the lounge area that breaks down into separate pieces. We positioned it under the pendant lights, added a throw and some cushions that bring in the colors found in the bedding, and finished it off with an area rug and a round wooden coffee table with intricate carved detailing.

We had some fun incorporating royal touches throughout this space. One of Tara and Chris' existing chairs was recovered and now features a silk-screened crest with the couple's initials. A dresser and the new closet doors were adorned with stick-on vinyl lettering spelling out regal terms like "lord," "lady," "duke"and "duchess." The reading nook in the window beside the closet is built on top of a custom cabinet base, and features a cheery striped cushion with even more throw pillows. This is one window seat that invites you to stop and stay a while.

Finally, we tackled the turret, also known as the office. The beaded chandelier drops down over an elegant, open-legged table desk. Gold draperies and a red patchwork area rug continue our royal theme. Since the turret is not a very large space, I was careful to keep it uncluttered.

When the lord and lady of the manor were permitted to return to the turret, they were amazed at the transformation. The third floor of their elegant old home now feels cozy and comfortable. Decorative and functional lighting helps give the space a lot of character, while the grouping of black-and-gold pendant lights is pure artistry in itself. Immediately, Tara and Chris gravitated to the lounge area, which is the focal point of this space. The new layout is functional, and flows easily from turret to television area.

We were able to make the most of an awkward space, turning it into a welcoming retreat for the king and queen of this lovely old castle.

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The trouble with turrets: A royal pain for interior design