President Trump incited outrage this week after it was reported that he allegedly told a group of members at his New Jersey golf club that the reason he visited so often was because that White House is a real dump, according toGolf.com.Trump has since tweeted that the report is totally untrue.

Michael S. Smith, the Obamas White House decorator, is speaking out about the presidents statement and his own feelings about Americas most famous home.

RELATED:7 Photos That Show the White House Is Definitely Not a Dump

I had the great privilege of working in the White House for eight years, and everyone I know who visited was filled with a sense of awe and patriotism from the moment they walked into that storied structure, Smith tells PEOPLE exclusively. The designer, who has decorated homes for countless high-profile clients and been honored as a member of Architectural Digests AD100, outfitted the Obama familys private quarters including their dining and sitting rooms, the Treaty Room, the Yellow Oval Room, the master suite, as well as bedrooms for Malia, Sasha, and Michelles mother, Marian.

He notes of his time at the White House, I was always deeply aware of the extraordinary events that had taken place within those walls over the yearsevents that defined our countryand how every decision by any former president, and the actions of his family, become an essential part of the living history of our nation.

Before beginning the decorating project, he told AD, he read every letter and note from Abigail Adams,Jacqueline Kennedy, Sister Parish, Stphane Boudin, Kaki Hockersmithanyone who had ever contributed to the history of this building.He even had calls withNancy Reagan and a lunch withLee Radziwill, Jackie Kennedys sister.

Of course the first familys residence is much more than a home. Smith adds, The White House itself is part office, part museum, part residence and its gloriously emblematic of the best of American style. It is beautifully cared for by a remarkable staff, and its rooms are filled with the treasures of presidents past.

This sentiment was shared by many who reacted to Trumps reported dig on social media. Former White House photographer Pete Souza,shared a photoof the famous faade on Instagram, writing, What a shameful thing to sayIt belittles the honorable men and women who make the White House the exemplary historical place it is. And Chelsea Clintontweeteda message of gratitude to the White House staff for all you do every day.

RELATED:Inside the Obamas Private Quarters at the White House: It Has Truly Felt Like a Home for Our Family

Smith allows that, Each successive president and his family have left their own historic imprint on the White House, just as President Trump and his family will. Melania Trump reportedly hired decoratorTham Kannalikham to bring a seamless integration of elegance and comfort into where the president, the first lady, and Barron will be spending their family time, a senior advisor to the first lady told WWD.

Smiths takeaway is one likely shared by each previous White House decorator: Im extremely proud of the warmth and inclusiveness that defined the White House during the years in which I was involved, he says.

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The Obamas' Interior Designer Responds After President Trump Allegedly Called White House 'a Dump' - PEOPLE.com

Beautiful Decay watercolor. Image courtesy of Eskayel.

Shanan Campanaro, founder and creative director of Brooklyn-based textile brandEskayel, is an avid surfer. Campanaro regularly explores the worlds beaches, which inspire watercolor paintings that she creates with fluid, aqueous inks. She then prints these abstractions onto eco-friendly fabrics, wall coverings, rugs, accessories, and home furnishingsthat have established Eskayel in the design world.

Now, the brand is launching its inaugural collection of murals. Called Beautiful Decay, the collection replicates patinated exteriors of timeworn coastal buildings that Campanaro has encountered in her travels through Morocco, Croatia, and Italy. Ive always been captivated by weathered buildings, says Campanaro, who we recentlynamed as amust-follow female designer on Instagram. Different patterns and shading emerge from the layers of paint peeling off exteriors.

Five custom engineered-textile murals from Beautiful Decay are debuting atThe New Work Project, a members-only creative workspace in Brooklyn by interior design firmThe New Design Project. Husband and wife co-founders Fanny Abbes and James Davison initially approached Eskayel to help scout a local artist, but a lightbulb moment ensued.

They sent a few inspiration pictures and I immediately thought of watercolors I completed for Eskayels new Jamaa series, coming out early next year, recalls Campanaro. I had discarded these paintings, but they were exactly what Fanny and James were looking for, so I recolored them to match the projects palette. Having a tonal direction makes the collection feel really cohesive. She further notes that despite being a creative departure in terms of scale,Beautiful Decaymaintains Eskayels laid-back look and feel.

Available on a per project basis, Beautiful Decay can be printed on fabric grounds such as oyster linen, organic denim, and a 50/50 linen cotton blend. The collection will be unveiled on August 10 at The New Work Project in Brooklyn.

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Eskayel's Inaugural Mural Collection Channels Decaying Coastal Architecture - Interior Design

What could possibly be more luxurious than a stay at the legendary Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes? Leave it to Kris Jenner to figure it out. After kicking off her vacation in the South of France by staying at the celeb-favorite 147-year-old hotel (where Jenner enjoyed spa treatments at Spa Eden-Roc Sisley), she boarded fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger's yacht, Flag, for a Mediterranean holiday. Also aboard: Hilfiger's wife, Dee Ocleppo, and the favorite designer of the Jenner and Kardashian clan, Martyn Lawrence Bullard. (Bullard has been enlisted by the family on countless occasions: Besides Jenner's home, he has outfitted Khlo's and Kourtney's, and is designing Kylie's glam room).

Jenner wasn't shy about showing off her toned body lying around Hilfigers yacht; she Instagrammed a photo of herself with the simple caption #naptime.. Other stunning images included Jenner enjoying the sun with Hilfiger, Ocleppo, Bullard, and another traveling partner, as well as one of Jenner solo perching on the end of a diving board that extends off the impressive yacht with the appropriate caption: Living life on the edge. Jenners daughter Khlo Kardashian, despite not being on the vacation with her mother, cheekily shared a photo of Jenner showing off her figure in a bikini. Kris Jenner looking like a snack! I see you mommy! #6KidsAndBad! Kardashian proudly captioned the image of her mother.

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Tommy Hilfiger Hosted Kris Jenner and Her Interior Designer on His Yacht in the South of France - Architectural Digest

6sqfts ongoing series My sqft checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Want to see your home featured here?Get in touch!

This apartment has basically become my yard, says Alessandro Pasquale, an Italian designer, artist, and collector of incredible and one-of-a-kind pieces. Im an interior designer, so I love details. The little things catch my attention, he adds.

These statements find considerable weight when you scan Alessandros Bed-Stuy home, a 900-square-foot space filled with hundreds of objects hes arranged so that any angle of the apartment can be photographed. But while you may be thinking this guy is either incredibly wealthy or a bit of a shopaholic given his lot, its worth noting that Alessandro isnt raising a paddle at Christies procure these rare items. Rather, since moving to NYC hes become something of a scavenger, plucking obscure items that have been abandoned curbside or trashed in dumpsters, then finding a place for them in his home.

Ahead take a tour of Alessandros apartment,where hundreds of tiny details create one big and beautiful space for him to rest his head.

Where are you originally from?

I am from Padova near Venice but studied architecture and interior design in Rome. I later moved to Milan where a did masters degree at Politecnico in exhibit design. Then I moved to NYC in 2011 with sponsorship from an architectural office.

How did you find this apartment and why did you pick Bed-Stuy?

I had a hard time finding a place because Im Italian and at the time didnt have a credit history. My friend who is now living on the third floor of my building one day called me and told me that the second floor was available. I took it right away because at that point had a lot of money in hand for adeposit but not even a room.

As for the neighborhood: Bed-Stuy for me is still real and not super commercial like Williamsburg. I like the mix of people and especially how nice they areits like a big family here and you know everybody on these blocks. In the past two years that Ive been here, Ive seen some amazing changes in terms of restaurants, coffee shops, wine stores, bars, and the cleanliness of the streets. With that said, I love the neighborhood as it is, but thereality is that in two or three years it will be closer and closer to whats happened to Williamsburg.

How did you go about decorating this apartment?

A lot of things you see in the apartment I found on the street. This apartment has basically become my yard. A lot of my friends ask me how Im able to find all of this stuff, but its crazy because things just come to me.

Once I was searching for a very specific table on eBay and I stepped out in front of my apartment when I was living in Midtown and the doorman had the exact table I wanted. He sold it to me for $5. Another time, I was searching for mirrors and when I was wrapping up a job one day, I spotted several outside in the garbage.

I like to create moods in my home, so theres an idea being carried throughout that any angle of the apartment can be photographed. I try to pull the character out of objects by arranging them particular ways. Theres no TV here because I feel like it is distracting and hinders creativity.

The next step for me is to have a big open space with high ceilings so that I place all these pieces I found on the street on the wall and create an installation with these things.

Where have you found your best stuff?

Because of the projects Im working on, I find myself in Nolita, Soho, and Greenwich Village very often. But most of the thingsthe most quality thingsIve found in Greenwich Village and the West Village. Renovations I work on also reveal some really great pieces. If theyre not reincorporated into the design, Ill take them with me and try to find another use for them.

A lot of people dont know what they have. They throw these beautiful things out and Im shocked. I cant leave these things on the street, so I bring them home and I try to make them work in my space.

How do you feel American style stands up against Italian style?

Theyre truly opposite to me. In Italy, what people have in their homes is pure quality. Italians really love the U.S. and especially New York City, but when we speak about design in Italy, it doesnt have anything to do with America. In the U.S. its all about whats new and design is very business oriented a lot of the time. Things are treated as disposable items even if they have amazing value to themand thats because people just dont know what they have. Theres not this sensibility to preserve things. In Italy, we are exposed to amazing things from childhood so I think our brains develop in such a way that they become driven by beauty.

How would you describe your style?

Madness with a method. You can see there are a lot of little things here but everything has a place. If someone moves something, I know it. Im an interior designer, so I love details. The little things catch my attention. When I step inside a spaceany spaceI close in on the details and details are the most important thing to me. They speak to me a lot: in my work, in my life, everything.

Where do you shop when you do shop?

I dont like to buy things from IKEA. Id rather have less and invest in good piecesat least with respect to what I dont find. I also construct a lot of things myself. Im kind of picky; Not in the sense I need to have super expensive things, but I want the objects I have to communicate something to me. If I can do something myself, its better.

I love to search for things, so online is great for meeBay and 1st Dibs for example. I also got to flea markets, Brimfield. I dont like new things. Contemporary architecture and contemporary design, I dont like. If you spend a lot of money, you can have great things, sure. But I always seek things out from back in the day because with these you can see the process, you can see details in the materials; theyre not just sleek and modern.

For more practical, smaller things Ill go to CB2 and Restoration Hardware, but Im not crazy about going to big retailers and buying new, mass-produced things. I like things that have character.

Where do you find inspiration in the city?

The energy of NYC is my constant inspiration to do better and better. Creativity speaking I get inspired by many things.It can come from a beautiful flower or the worst looking thing. From my photography, you can see how I look at the world, and like I said, I am attracted to details and shadow. The book In Praise of Shadows by Junichir Tanizaki is exactly how I think when I design.

All images taken by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

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Neighborhoods : Bedford-Stuyvesant

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My 900sqft: An interior designer fills his Bed-Stuy home with rare ... - 6Sqft (blog)

When Kristen Dees and Mercedes Curran made high school visits on behalf of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles to speak with adolescent students, many of the pupils seemed unsure about pursuing a future in the industry.

It was almost too late, like they were too scared to know if this was something they wanted to do for the rest of their lives, Dees said. Some parents wanted tutoring and mentoring geared toward the college-bound kids. But what about the age before that?

Dees and Curran decided to create Designer Camp, a Los Angeles-based company that held its first Orange County camp last month for students ages 11 to 17.

The weeklong Designer Camp 101 at SOCO in Costa Mesa exposed its participants to the elements of design, color theory, personal branding, trend hunting, sketching and draping.

On top of those building blocks, the camp aimed to teach the students life skills such as teamwork, public speaking and setting deadlines for projects, said the camps Orange County directors Anne-Marie Lockmyer and Rhonda McCaughey.

The 15 students took part in workshops with professionals in business, photography and fashion and interior design.

The designers are real with them, Dees said. Theyll talk about how hard it is, like how you need to know math for measurements and science so you know what materials wash well, what fades in the sun or what works well with ironing.

Kevin Chang / TimesOC

Carly Tawney, 13, left, and Milla Machuca, 17, work together to create an upscale, red-carpet look during Designer Camp 101 at Drifter SoCo in Costa Mesa.

Carly Tawney, 13, left, and Milla Machuca, 17, work together to create an upscale, red-carpet look during Designer Camp 101 at Drifter SoCo in Costa Mesa. (Kevin Chang / TimesOC)

During the weeklong camp, the students broke into different teams to create their own benefit corporation, also known as b corp.

We highlighted b corp, a brand that is for profit but gives back to a social good, Dees said. The whole goal is for them to come up with a company that gives back to a social good and to have them brand that company.

The campers came up with ideas such as selling long socks to help donate pairs to families in colder countries like Mongolia and designing special water bottles to help install clean water pumps to third world countries.

The first Designer Camp 101 took place in Los Angeles in 2015. Since then, the programs in L.A. have grown to include three more camps focused on fashion and styling, interior design and photography.

Dees said she hopes more extended camps will be able to take place at SOCO in the future.

A lot of students [in the L.A. camp] were driving up from Orange County, Dees said. Different brands and companies were also encouraging us to expand.

A cozy nook within the Drifter storefront at SOCO served as the Orange County camp site for the week, where the students could find colored pencils on the table and fabrics hanging on a rack.

Fashion is what really interests me because of how you can express yourself through the clothing, said Jacob Aguilar, 15, a student in the camp who draws inspiration from designers like Jeremy Scott and Charles Jeffrey. I really want to pursue that in the future.

Carly Tawney, 13, attended the Fashion & Styling Camp in L.A. the week before she came to Designer Camp 101 in Orange County.

I would love to work in editorial or be a stylist for a magazine, said Carly. Meeting the different designers has really helped because its shown me that you can go from styling to being a buyer to then marketing. You dont have to narrow down your career to one specific thing in life.

Alexandra.Chan@latimes.com

Twitter: @AlexandraChan10

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At Designer Camp's first OC session, students get a taste of fashion 101 - Los Angeles Times

A proposed sales tax in Ohio, introduced in the state budget bill (HB49) in January 2017, sought to tax interior design and decoration services. The International Interior Design Association (IIDA), together with the American Society for Interior Designers (ASID), mobilized a grassroots advocacy campaign and successfully defeated the proposed tax. Governor John Kasich signed the budget on Friday, June 30.

"This tax provision would have put Ohio's interior designers at a distinct competitive disadvantage in relation to interior designers in neighboring states, as well as other design professionals whose services are not taxed," commented Emily Kluczynski, director of advocacy, public policy, and legislative affairs at IIDA. "The combined efforts of IIDA and ASID have protected the profession of interior design in Ohio."

IIDA and ASID, with the help of local chapters IIDA Ohio/Kentucky, ASID Ohio North, and ASID Ohio South and Kentucky, advocated against this measure with members of the associations testifying to the House Ways and Means and House Finance committees. Due to their efforts, the budget was amended to exclude the sales tax provisions.

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Interior Designer Advocates Defeat Proposed Sales Tax in Ohio Budget - Dexigner

Kara Mann, an interior designer with offices in New York and Chicago, describes herself as a punk-rock classicist. Two years ago, she launched a furniture collection with Baker/Milling Road, and recently completed the renovation of Chicagos Talbott Hotel. Shes also currently working on two properties in Californiaa single-family home in Napa and one in Palm Springs, as well as a traditional estate on the lake in Winnetka, a suburb of Chicago.

Ms. Mann has also recently been named interior designer and interior architect for 1000M, an upcoming 350-unit skyscraper coming to Chicago.

She started her career first as a fine artist and then as a fashion and interiors stylist, opening her interiors firm in Chicago in 2005 at the request of several clients.

More:Beautiful Homes Pop Up in Some of the Most Unexpected Places, Says Daniel Libeskind

We caught up with Ms. Mann to discuss her happy real estate accident, her go-to advice for others looking for their dream homes and much more.

Mansion Global: Describe your dream property.

Kara Mann: It would definitely be a beautiful, old historic house with great proportions and great views. Thered be integrity to start and then I could maybe make modifications if needed. Im kind of a nomad so I could live many places. I cant narrow it down to one dream spot.

MG: Do you have a real estate property that got away?

KM: I walked away from a deal in Chicago on closing, because there was a problem with the seller. But I took a walk and happened upon a place thats been my home now for 10 years. Im happy that one got away.

More:Miami-Based Architect Is Not Afraid to Build on Stilts

MG: What does luxury mean to you?

KM: For me, its not necessarily about a palatial house, but a home thats built with interest, integrity, restraint and a strong sense of design. Something with soul. It has to have the necessities of life in a well edited way and a beautiful way.

MG: Where are the best luxury homes in the world and why?

KM: Anywhere thats connected to a really vibrant city, and people will always want to live there. Or reversely, somewhere thats completely remote with access to great amenities. Those are two extremes that fit the bill.

MG: Whats your favorite part of your home?

KM: I love my apartment. Its unique architecturally. Its in a 1920s building, and was like a jewel box. There was so much architectural integrity when I bought it, and then I made minor changes that were thoughtful. Its very unique, and almost feels castle-like.

More:Architect Helmut Jahn on the Need for Innovation and Boldness

MG: What best describes the theme to your home and why?

KM: Simple elegance. Its not over designed. I like a simplicity of life and thats how I live.

MG: Whats the most valuable thing in your home?

KM: Ive started a great art collectiona chair by Rick Owens; a collection of rugs. And I cant forget my clothes, of course. But honestly, the most valuable things are the moments I have there with my family and friends. Everything else are just objects.

MG: Whats the most valuable amenity to have in a home right now?

KM: An amazing location or a really killer view. Thats the first step to get you into a space.

More:Click to Read More Luxury Real Estate Professionals Share Their Insights

MG: Whats your best piece of real estate advice?

KM: Follow your gut. Environments evoke emotions. Listen to what your gut is telling you. When you walk into a space and you just know it, tune into that. Its always worth a stretch, even.

MG: If you had a choice of living in a new development or a prime resale property, which would you choose and why?

KM: Im a sucker for old and historic spaces, so thats what I would tend to gravitate toward. But you need to be willing to make changes. You need both time and money for that.

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Chicago-Based Interior Designer Says Nothing Beats a 'Killer View' - Mansion Global

By Gabrielle SavoieDomaine

Some myths never die, especially when decorating is concerned. In the world of design, small spaces are a beast all their own and they require their own set of decorating rules. That said, the rules that people think apply to tiny spaces aren't always the right ones. Case in point: White walls don't always make your space look bigger.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, big is not always better," Shannon Vos of Vos Creative tells Inside Out. "And with housing options shrinking by the second, that's a good thing. But this means we need to be clever with our design choices." Ahead, he explains the top three decorating mistakes he always sees in small spaces and how to avoid them:

Dollhouse furniture

"We often make the mistake of creating miniature versions of the bigger rooms we really want," says Vos. Instead of picking mini rugs and sofas, dare to make a few risky statements: Pick an oversize sofa, go for a large bold rug or push your furniture away from the walls. Give your room less but use more impactful pieces.

Poor lighting

"Almost nothing has the power to transform a room like good lighting can," Vos claims. By the same token, bad lighting can quickly ruin a room. The designer recommends using as much natural light as possible and steering clear of downlights. Instead, a good variety of sconces, table, and floor lamps arranged around the room cast a much more flattering glow and contribute to making the space feel more intimate and comfortable.

The white myth

"Sure, painting a room white is safe but it's also boring," says the designer. "While the general rule is that lighter walls and floors give the illusion of more space, our aim is to create depth and to do this we need to layer tones and textures." Instead of painting everything white, he recommends creating subtle tonal disparities with surfaces like whitewashed floors and pale fabrics. As for small rooms that have very little natural light: going dark is the best option.

Original post:
3 small-space mistakes that secretly make interior designers cringe - The Providence Journal

Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interiors, sometimes including the exterior, of a space or building, to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the end user. An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such projects. Interior design is a multifaceted profession that includes conceptual development, space planning, site inspections, programming, research, communicating with the stakeholders of a project, construction management, and execution of the design.

Interior design is the process of shaping the experience of interior space, through the manipulation of spatial volume as well as surface treatment for the betterment of human functionality.

In the past, interiors were put together instinctively as a part of the process of building.[1] The profession of interior design has been a consequence of the development of society and the complex architecture that has resulted from the development of industrial processes. The pursuit of effective use of space, user well-being and functional design has contributed to the development of the contemporary interior design profession.[2] The profession of interior design is separate and distinct from the role of Interior Decorator, a term commonly used in the US. The term is less common in the UK where the profession of interior design is still unregulated and therefore, strictly speaking, not yet officially a profession.

In ancient India, architects used to work as interior designers. This can be seen from the references of Vishwakarma the architect - one of the gods in Indian mythology. Additionally, the sculptures depicting ancient texts and events are seen in palaces built in 17th century India.

In ancient Egypt, "soul houses" or models of houses were placed in tombs as receptacles for food offerings. From these, it is possible to discern details about the interior design of different residences throughout the different Egyptian dynasties, such as changes in ventilation, porticoes, columns, loggias, windows, and doors.[3]

Throughout the 17th and 18th century and into the early 19th century, interior decoration was the concern of the homemaker, or an employed upholsterer or craftsman who would advise on the artistic style for an interior space. Architects would also employ craftsmen or artisans to complete interior design for their buildings.

In the mid-to-late 19th century, interior design services expanded greatly, as the middle class in industrial countries grew in size and prosperity and began to desire the domestic trappings of wealth to cement their new status. Large furniture firms began to branch out into general interior design and management, offering full house furnishings in a variety of styles. This business model flourished from the mid-century to 1914, when this role was increasingly usurped by independent, often amateur, designers. This paved the way for the emergence of the professional interior design in the mid-20th century.[4]

In the 1950s and 1960s, upholsterers began to expand their business remits. They framed their business more broadly and in artistic terms and began to advertise their furnishings to the public. To meet the growing demand for contract interior work on projects such as offices, hotels, and public buildings, these businesses became much larger and more complex, employing builders, joiners, plasterers, textile designers, artists, and furniture designers, as well as engineers and technicians to fulfil the job. Firms began to publish and circulate catalogs with prints for different lavish styles to attract the attention of expanding middle classes.[4]

As department stores increased in number and size, retail spaces within shops were furnished in different styles as examples for customers. One particularly effective advertising tool was to set up model rooms at national and international exhibitions in showrooms for the public to see. Some of the pioneering firms in this regard were Waring & Gillow, James Shoolbred, Mintons, and Holland & Sons. These traditional high-quality furniture making firms began to play an important role as advisers to unsure middle class customers on taste and style, and began taking out contracts to design and furnish the interiors of many important buildings in Britain.[5]

This type of firm emerged in America after the Civil War. The Herter Brothers, founded by two German emigre brothers, began as an upholstery warehouse and became one of the first firms of furniture makers and interior decorators. With their own design office and cabinet-making and upholstery workshops, Herter Brothers were prepared to accomplish every aspect of interior furnishing including decorative paneling and mantels, wall and ceiling decoration, patterned floors, and carpets and draperies.[6]

A pivotal figure in popularizing theories of interior design to the middle class was the architect Owen Jones, one of the most influential design theorists of the nineteenth century.[7] Jones' first project was his most importantin 1851 he was responsible for not only the decoration of Joseph Paxtons gigantic Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition, but also for the arrangement of the exhibits within. He chose a controversial palette of red, yellow, and blue for the interior ironwork and, despite initial negative publicity in the newspapers, was eventually unveiled by Queen Victoria to much critical acclaim. His most significant publication was The Grammar of Ornament (1856),[8] in which Jones formulated 37 key principles of interior design and decoration.

Jones was employed by some of the leading interior design firms of the day; in the 1860s he worked in collaboration with the London firm Jackson & Graham to produce furniture and other fittings for high-profile clients including art collector Alfred Morrison and the Khedive of Egypt, Ismail Pasha.

In 1882, the London Directory of the Post Office listed 80 interior decorators. Some of the most distinguished companies of the period were Crace, Waring & Gillow and Holland & Sons; famous decorators employed by these firms included Thomas Edward Collcutt, Edward William Godwin, Charles Barry, Gottfried Semper, and George Edmund Street.[9]

By the turn of the 20th century, amateur advisors and publications were increasingly challenging the monopoly that the large retail companies had on interior design. English feminist author Mary Haweis wrote a series of widely read essays in the 1880s in which she derided the eagerness with which aspiring middle-class people furnished their houses according to the rigid models offered to them by the retailers.[10] She advocated the individual adoption of a particular style, tailor made to the individual needs and preferences of the customer:

The move towards decoration as a separate artistic profession unrelated to the manufacturers and retailers, received an impetus with the 1899 formation of the Institute of British Decorators; with John Dibblee Crace as its president it represented almost 200 decorators around the country.[11] By 1915, the London Directory listed 127 individuals trading as interior decorators, of which 10 were women. Rhoda and Agnes Garrett were the first women to train professionally as home decorators in 1874. The importance of their work on design was regarded at the time as on a par with that of William Morris. In 1876, their work - Suggestions for House Decoration in Painting, Woodwork and Furniture - spread their ideas on artistic interior design to a wide middle-class audience.[12]

By 1900, the situation was described by The Illustrated Carpenter and Builder:

In America, Candace Wheeler was one of the first woman interior designers and helped encourage a new style of American design. She was instrumental in the development of art courses for women in a number of major American cities and was considered a national authority on homedesign. An important influence on the new profession was The Decoration of Houses, a manual of interior design written by Edith Wharton with architect Ogden Codman in 1897 in America. In the book, the authors denounced Victorian-style interior decoration and interior design, especially those rooms that were decorated with heavy window curtains, Victorian bric-a-brac and overstuffed furniture. They argued that such rooms emphasized upholstery at the expense of proper space planning and architectural design and were, therefore, uncomfortable and rarely used. The book is considered a seminal work and its success led to the emergence of professional decorators working in the manner advocated by its authors, most notably Elsie de Wolfe.[14]

Elsie De Wolfe was one of the first female interior designers. Rejecting the Victorian style she grew up with, she chose a more vibrant scheme, along with more comfortable furniture in the home. Her designs were light, with fresh colors and delicate Chinoiserie furnishings, as opposed to the Victorian preference of heavy, red drapes and upholstery, dark wood and intensely patterned wallpapers. Her designs were also more practical;[15] she eliminated the clutter that occupied the Victorian home, enabling people to entertain more guests comfortably. In 1905, de Wolfe was commissioned for the interior design of the Colony Club on Madison Avenue; its interiors garnered her recognition almost over night.[16][17] She compiled her ideas into her widely read 1913 book, The House in Good Taste.[18]

In England, Syrie Maugham became a legendary interior designer credited with designing the first all-white room. Starting her career in the early 1910s, her international reputation soon grew; she later expanded her business to New York City and Chicago.[19] Born during the Victorian Era, a time characterized by dark colors and small spaces, she instead designed rooms filled with light and furnished in multiple shades of white and mirrored screens. In addition to mirrored screens, her trademark pieces included: books covered in white vellum, cutlery with white porcelain handles, console tables with plaster palm-frond, shell, or dolphin bases, upholstered and fringed sleigh beds, fur carpets, dining chairs covered in white leather, and lamps of graduated glass balls, and wreaths.[20]

The interior design profession became more established after World War II. From the 1950s onwards, spending on the home increased. Interior design courses were established, requiring the publication of textbooks and reference sources. Historical accounts of interior designers and firms distinct from the decorative arts specialists were made available. Organisations to regulate education, qualifications, standards and practices, etc. were established for the profession.[18]

Interior design was previously seen as playing a secondary role to architecture. It also has many connections to other design disciplines, involving the work of architects, industrial designers, engineers, builders, craftsmen, etc. For these reasons, the government of interior design standards and qualifications was often incorporated into other professional organisations that involved design.[18] Organisations such as the Chartered Society of Designers, established in the UK in 1986, and the American Designers Institute, founded in 1938, governed various areas of design.

It was not until later that specific representation for the interior design profession was developed. The US National Society of Interior Designers was established in 1957, while in the UK the Interior Decorators and Designers Association was established in 1966. Across Europe, other organisations such as The Finnish Association of Interior Architects (1949) were being established and in 1994 the International Interior Design Association was founded.[18]

Ellen Mazur Thomson, author of Origins of Graphic Design in America (1997), determined that professional status is achieved through education, self-imposed standards and professional gate-keeping organizations.[18] Having achieved this, interior design became an accepted profession.

Interior design is the art and science of understanding people's behavior to create functional spaces within a building. Decoration is the furnishing or adorning of a space with fashionable or beautiful things. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design.

Interior designer implies that there is more of an emphasis on planning, functional design and the effective use of space, as compared to interior decorating. An interior designer can undertake projects that include arranging the basic layout of spaces within a building as well as projects that require an understanding of technical issues such as window and door positioning, acoustics, and lighting.[1] Although an interior designer may create the layout of a space, they may not alter load-bearing walls without having their designs stamped for approval by a structural engineer. Interior designers often work directly with architects, engineers and contractors.

Interior designers must be highly skilled in order to create interior environments that are functional, safe, and adhere to building codes, regulations and ADA requirements. They go beyond the selection of color palettes and furnishings and apply their knowledge to the development of construction documents, occupancy loads, healthcare regulations and sustainable design principles, as well as the management and coordination of professional services including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safetyall to ensure that people can live, learn or work in an innocuous environment that is also aesthetically pleasing.

Someone may wish to specialize and develop technical knowledge specific to one area or type of interior design, such as residential design, commercial design, hospitality design, healthcare design, universal design, exhibition design, furniture design, and spatial branding. Interior design is a creative profession that is relatively new, constantly evolving, and often confusing to the public. It is not an artistic pursuit and relies on research from many fields to provide a well-trained understanding of how people are influenced by their environments.

Color is a powerful design tool in decorating, and interior design which is the art of composition, and coordinates colors together to create stylish scheme.[21] Interior designers have knowledge about colors to understand psychological effects, and meaning of each color to create suitable combinations for each place.[22]Combining Color also gives a certain state of mind, and has positive and negative effects. It makes a room feel more calm, cheerful, comfortable or dramatic. It also makes a tiny room seem larger or smaller.[23] So it is the Interior designer profession to choose appropriate colors for a place in a way people want to look and feel in the space.[22]

Residential design is the design of the interior of private residences. As this type design is very specific for individual situations, the needs and wants of the individual are paramount in this area of interior design. The interior designer may work on the project from the initial planning stage or may work on the remodelling of an existing structure. It is often a very involved process that takes months to fine-tune and create a space with the vision of the client.[24] Fine examples of contemporary designers include Kelly Hoppen and David Collins who in keeping with current trends have both a strong media presence and successful independent business.

Commercial design encompasses a wide range of sub specialties.

Other areas of specialization include amusement and theme park design, museum and exhibition design, exhibit design, event design (including ceremonies, weddings, baby and bridal showers, parties, conventions, and concerts), interior and prop styling, craft styling, food styling, product styling, tablescape design, theatre and performance design, stage and set design, scenic design, and production design for film and television. Beyond those, interior designers, particularly those with graduate education, can specialize in healthcare design, gerontological design, educational facility design, and other areas that require specialized knowledge. Some university programs offer graduate studies in theses and other areas. For example, both Cornell University and the University of Florida offer interior design graduate programs in environment and behavior studies. Within this program at the University of Florida, students may choose a specific focus such as retirement community design (under Dr. Nichole Campbell) co-housing (Dr. Maruja Torres) or theft prevention by design (Prof. Candy Carmel-Gilfilen) (Campbell, 2012, Personal Communication).

There are various paths that one can take to become a professional interior designer. All of these paths involve some form of training. Working with a successful professional designer is an informal method of training and has previously been the most common method of education. In many states, however, this path alone cannot lead to licensing as a professional interior designer. Training through an institution such as a college, art or design school or university is a more formal route to professional practice.

In the UK and the U.S, several university degree courses are now available, including those on interior architecture, taking three or four years to complete.

A formal education program, particularly one accredited by or developed with a professional organization of interior designers, can provide training that meets a minimum standard of excellence and therefore gives a student an education of a high standard. There are also university graduate and Ph.d. programs available for those seeking further training in a specific design specialization (i.e. gerontological or healthcare design) or those wishing to teach interior design at the university level.

In China, seldom does university offer Interior Design as a major, instead of offering one or two elective classes. As a result of losing official government supports education in Interior Design, requires people to take some tutoring classes from some private institutions, if they are interested in this area and want to study. However, the educational quality is poor. On the other side, the certification test of interior design in China is different from US, because China only requires basic skills and knowledge.

There are a wide range of working conditions and employment opportunities within interior design. Large and tiny corporations often hire interior designers as employees on regular working hours. Designers for smaller firms usually work on a contract or per-job basis. Self-employed designers, which make up 26% of interior designers,[25] usually work the most hours. Interior designers often work under stress to meet deadlines, stay on budget, and meet clients' needs.

In some cases, licensed professionals review the work and sign it before submitting the design for approval by clients or construction permisioning. The need for licensed review and signature varies by locality, relevant legislation, and scope of work. Their work can involve significant travel to visit different locations. However, with technology development, the process of contacting clients and communicating design alternatives has become easier and requires less travel.[26] They also renovate a space to satisfy the specific taste for a client.

The Art Deco style began in Europe in the early years of the 20th century, with the waning of Art Nouveau. The term "Art Deco" was taken from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, a worlds fair held in Paris in 1925.[27] Art Deco rejected many traditional classical influences in favour of more streamlined geometric forms and metallic color. The Art Deco style influenced all areas of design, especially interior design, because it was the first style of interior decoration to spotlight new technologies and materials.[28]

Art Deco style is mainly based on geometric shapes, streamlining, and clean lines.[29][30] The style offered a sharp, cool look of mechanized living utterly at odds with anything that came before.[31]

Art Deco rejected traditional materials of decoration and interior design, opting instead to use more unusual materials such as chrome, glass, stainless steel, shiny fabrics, mirrors, aluminium, lacquer, inlaid wood, sharkskin, and zebra skin.[28] The use of harder, metallic materials was chosen to celebrate the machine age. These materials reflected the dawning modern age that was ushered in after the end of the First World War. The innovative combinations of these materials created contrasts that were very popular at the time - for example the mixing together of highly polished wood and black lacquer with satin and furs.[32] The barber shop in the Austin Reed store in London was designed by P. J. Westwood. It was soon regarded as the trendiest barber shop in Britain due to its use of metallic materials.[31]

The color themes of Art Deco consisted of metallic color, neutral color, bright color, and black and white. In interior design, cool metallic colors including silver, gold, metallic blue, charcoal grey, and platinum tended to predominate.[29][33]Serge Chermayeff, a Russian-born British designer made extensive use of cool metallic colors and luxurious surfaces in his room schemes. His 1930 showroom design for a British dressmaking firm had a silver-grey background and black mirrored-glass wall panels.[31][34]

Black and white was also a very popular color scheme during the 1920s and 1930s. Black and white checkerboard tiles, floors and wallpapers were very trendy at the time.[35] As the style developed, bright vibrant colors became popular as well.[36]

Art Deco furnishings and lighting fixtures had a glossy, luxurious appearance with the use of inlaid wood and reflective finishes. The furniture pieces often had curved edges, geometric shapes, and clean lines.[27][31] Art Deco lighting fixtures tended to make use of stacked geometric patterns.[37]

"Modern design grew out of the decorative arts, mostly from the Art Deco, in the early 20th century."[38] One of the first to introduce this style was Frank Lloyd Wright, who hadn't become hugely popularized until completing the house called Fallingwater in the 1930s. "Modern art reached its peak in the 1950s and 60s which is why designers and decorators today may refer to modern design as being "mid-century."[38] Modern Art does not refer to the era or age of design. "Modern art is not the same as contemporary design, which is a term that interior designers apply to a shifting group of recent styles and trends."[38] Modern designs is defined by its own trends which has gone unchanged for decades.

Majlis painting, also called nagash painting, is the decoration of the majlis or front parlor of traditional Arabic homes in the Asir province of Saudi Arabia and adjoining parts of Yemen These wall paintings, an arabesque form of mural or fresco, show various geometric designs in bright colors: Called 'nagash' in Arabic, the wall paintings were a mark of pride for a woman in her house.[39]

The geometric designs and heavy lines seem to be adapted from the areas textile and weaving patterns. In contrast with the sobriety of architecture and decoration in the rest of Arabia, exuberant color and ornamentation characterize those of 'Asir. The painting extends into the house over the walls and doors, up the staircases, and onto the furniture itself. When a house is being painted, women from the community help each other finish the job. The building then displays their shared taste and knowledge. Mothers pass these on to their daughters. This artwork is based on a geometry of straight lines and suggests the patterns common to textile weaving, with solid bands of different colors. Certain motifs reappear, such as the triangular mihrab or 'niche' and the palmette. In the past, paint was produced from mineral and vegetable pigments. Cloves and alfalfa yielded green. Blue came from the indigo plant. Red came from pomegranates and a certain mud. Paintbrushes were created from the tough hair found in a goat's tail. Today, however, women use modern manufactured paint to create new looks, which have become an indicator of social and economic change.[40]

Women in the Asir province often complete the decoration and painting of the house interior. You could tell a familys wealth by the paintings, Um Abdullah says: If they didnt have much money, the wife could only paint the motholath, the basic straight, simple lines, in patterns of three to six repetitions in red, green, yellow and brown. When women did not want to paint the walls themselves, they could barter with other women who would do the work. Several Saudi women have become famous as majlis painters, such as Fatima Abou Gahas.[39]

The interior walls of the home are brightly painted by the women, who work in defined patterns with lines, triangles, squares, diagonals and tree-like patterns. Some of the large triangles represent mountains. Zigzag lines stand for water and also for lightning. Small triangles, especially when the widest area is at the top, are found in pre-Islamic representations of female figures. That the small triangles found in the wall paintings in Asir are called banat may be a cultural remnant of a long-forgotten past.[39]

"Courtyards and upper pillared porticoes are principal features of the best Nadjdi architecture, in addition to the fine incised plaster wood (jiss) and painted window shutters, which decorate the reception rooms. Good examples of plasterwork can often be seen in the gaping ruins of torn-down buildings- the effect is light, delicate and airy. It is usually around the majlis, around the coffee hearth and along the walls above where guests sat on rugs, against cushions. Doughty wondered if this "parquetting of jis", this "gypsum fretwork... all adorning and unenclosed" originated from India. However, the Najd fretwork seems very different from that seen in the Eastern Province and Oman, which are linked to Indian traditions, and rather resembles the motifs and patterns found in ancient Mesopotamia. The rosette, the star, the triangle and the stepped pinnacle pattern of dadoes are all ancient patterns, and can be found all over the Middle East of antiquity. Al-Qassim Province seems to be the home of this art, and there it is normally worked in hard white plaster (though what you see is usually begrimed by the smoke of the coffee hearth). In Riyadh, examples can be seen in unadorned clay.[41]

Interior design has become the subject of television shows. In the United Kingdom (UK), popular interior design and decorating programs include 60 Minute Makeover (ITV), Changing Rooms (BBC), and Selling Houses (Channel 4). Famous interior designers whose work is featured in these programs include Linda Barker and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. In the United States, the TLC Network aired a popular program called Trading Spaces, a show based on the UK program Changing Rooms. In addition, both Home & Garden Television (HGTV) and the Discovery Home networks also televise many programs about interior design and decorating, featuring the works of a variety of interior designers, decorators and home improvement experts in a myriad of projects.

Fictional interior decorators include the Sugarbaker sisters on Designing Women and Grace Adler on Will & Grace. There is also another show called Home MADE. There are two teams and two houses and whoever has the designed and made the worst room, according to the judges, is eliminated. Another show on the Style Network, hosted by Niecy Nash, is Clean House where they re-do messy homes into themed rooms that the clients would like. Other shows include Design on a Dime, Designed to Sell, and The Decorating Adventures of Ambrose Price. The show called Design Star has become more popular through the 5 seasons that have already aired. The winners of this show end up getting their own TV shows, of which are Color Splash hosted by David Bromstad, Myles of Style hosted by Kim Myles, Paint-Over! hosted by Jennifer Bertrand, The Antonio Treatment hosted by Antonio Ballatore, and finally Secrets from a Stylist hosted by Emily Henderson. Bravo also has a variety of shows that explore the lives of interior designers. These include Flipping Out, which explores the life of Jeff Lewis and his team of designers; Million Dollar Decorators explores the lives of interior designers Nathan Turner, Jeffrey Alan Marks, Mary McDonald, Kathryn Ireland, and Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

Interior design has also become the subject of radio shows. In the U.S., popular interior design & lifestyle shows include Martha Stewart Living and Living Large featuring Karen Mills. Famous interior designers whose work is featured on these programs include Bunny Williams, Barbara Barry, and Kathy Ireland, among others.

Many interior design magazines exist to offer advice regarding color palette, furniture, art, and other elements that fall under the umbrella of interior design. These magazine often focus on related subjects to draw a more specific audience. For instance, architecture as a primary aspect of Dwell, while Veranda is well known as a luxury living magazine. Lonny Magazine and the newly relaunched, Domino Magazine, cater to a young, hip, metropolitan audience, and emphasize accessibility and a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to interior design.

Other early interior decorators:

Many of the most famous designers and decorators during the 20th century had no formal training. Some examples include Sister Parish, Robert Denning and Vincent Fourcade, Kerry Joyce, Kelly Wearstler, Stphane Boudin, Georges Geffroy, Emilio Terry, Carlos de Beistegui, Nina Petronzio, Lorenzo Mongiardino, and David Nightingale Hicks.

Notable interior designers in the world today include Jonathan Adler, Michael S. Smith, Martin Brudnizki, Kelly Hoppen, Kelly Wearstler, Andrew Martin International, Nina Campbell, David Collins, Nate Berkus, Sandra Espinet, Jo Hamilton, Premdas krishna and Nicky Haslam.

Link:
Interior design - Wikipedia

Are you always receiving compliments on your interior design taste? Do you love decorating rooms and arranging furniture? If you answered yes to these questions, then maybe a career in interior design is right for you.

Before you make a life-altering career choice, there are some things you should know about the design world. Interior designers face challenges every day; some of these may not appeal to you, while others may excite you and open doors to a career that you never thoughtwas possible.

Read on to learn the10things you should know before becoming an interior designer.

Whats thedifference between interior decorators and interior designers?Inone word: education.

Literally anyone can become an interior decorator. Someone who loves playing with colors, fabrics and textiles can become a decorator by simply printing business cards and promoting themselves to clients. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but educational background is also important.

On the other hand, an interior designer must have an accredited education; an associate or bachelors degree is a requisite for working in theinterior design field. Do you want to pursue an education, or jump immediately into the decorating world? Keepreading to see if interior design could be the right fit for you.

It may seem obvious, but in order to become an interior designer, you need to have an innate flair for color, spatial arrangements, architecture and textiles.Doyou enjoy decorating your home and getlots of compliments on your decor? That doesnt necessarily meanyou should be aninterior designer, but its certainly a good sign.

The first step to a successful career is to follow your passion. After all, doing something you love will never feel like work. Take this fun quiz to see which field you should consider majoring in. Is a career in interior design in your future?

While fabrics, furniture and color may play a large role in interior design, there are plenty of other tasks that are required of interior designers many of whichmay seem less like fun and more like work.

Interior designers need to be educated in the history of design, the structural integrity of buildings, building codes, ergonomics, spatial concepts, ethics, psychology, computer-aided drawing (CAD) and much more.

It might seem that interior designers are expected to be Jacks (or Jills) of all trades, doesnt it? This broad range of skills isrequired because designers work with not only homeowners, but alsobuilders, architects, government agenciesand business owners. To become a successful interior designer, one needs to be educated and well-rounded.

Show me the money! After all, shouldnt someone with such a vast education get paid well? It depends. Statistics show that the mediansalary of an entry-level interior designerin the U.S. is$42,380 per year.

Of course, this depends on a lot of factors, such as education, location, work experience and size of the firm/company. An interior designer ata furniture company will most likely make less than a designer whoworks for a high-end architectural firm.

Essentially, you can dictate your rate of pay by gaining as much exposure and experience as possible. Someone with education in the fields of architecture, building codes/laws and structural design will more likely become financially successful.

Ask interior designers to share their experiences, and they will surely relatesome horror stories of past clients. People are finicky, especially when it comes to their homes.While some clients have clear goals in mind, others may think they know what they want only to discover that they hate the final product and are dissatisfied with your work.

A successful interior designer is a people pleaser and a mitigator (and sometimes a mind reader) someone who cansteer clients toward a favorable outcome while making them feel they are in full control of the design choices. Interior designers are constantly balancingtheir design decisions and their clients desires. Its not a cakewalk, to say the least.

A picture says athousand words, and this is definitely true when it comes to an interior designers portfolio. You can talk all day long about colors and textiles, but unless you have an outstanding portfolio that showcases your designs and projects, your successes will be few and far between.

If you are just coming out of school and are newto the job market, it may be necessary to offer your services for free or at a reduced rate. This is probablythe best way to get a portfolio started; its also a great way to get to know local merchandisers and suppliers, and develop a rapport for future projects.

Everybody starts at the bottom. With some effort, experience and proper marketing, you can become a successful force in the interior design field.

Competition is fierce in the design world, so you need to stay on top of all the trends. Image Source: Brizo

Interior design is a competitive business. The key to success is getting yourself noticed. As mentioned above, an amazing designer portfolio will certainly help you land jobs.

Another important factor isacquiring an extensive education. The more you know, the better off you will be. Consider looking toward future trends such as population growth, designing for the elderly, modern architecture and green design; education within these specific fields of design will give you the upper hand in the job market.

It is also a good idea to stay abreast of design trendsbyreading design publications and websites such as Freshome, communicating with fellow designers and following a mentor. When competition is high, you need to work hard in order to get noticed and rise to the top.

When people hire an interior designer, they may not realize that they can actually hire from anywhere in the world. Yes, designers can telecommute, too! Thanks to technological innovations such as Skype and design software, designers are discovering a whole new world of virtual design.

Although severalfree online virtual room design tools available to the general public, interior designers have an edge on this competition thanks to their exclusive relationships with elite design lines.Severalhigh-end textile companies offer discounts to designers working in the trade, thereby allowing themto get their clientsthe best prices.

This is where would-be designers may opt to avoid the education and become decorators, thereby avoiding some of the doldrum of learning building codes and local laws.

Some of the detailscan certainly be boring, but they are required knowledge for interior designers. Learning about plumbing codes, electricity and load-bearing walls may not excite you, but it is required.Staying abreast of such thingsgives interior designers an advantage and marketability that decorators simply do not have.

While designers can offer their clients a wide range of design styles to choose from, it is important to remember that it is up to the clients to choose what style suits them best.

Just because designers are educated and have good taste does not make their choices superior to their clients. The interior designers job is to offer a variety of styles and direct the client toward the right design choice while allowing the client to feel in charge.

For example, you may work as an interior designer for years and never design a house that suits your personal tastes. It is all about the clients style and you must put your own aside.

After reading all the pros and cons of becoming aninterior designer, do you think its oneyoud like to pursue?If youre considering interior design as a career, then remember all 10 of thethings mentioned above. The fieldmay be competitive, but with a little hard work and a stellar portfolio, you can become a successful interior designer.

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