Igloo Design

Designers understand how colors can affect a person’s mood. Some clients want to be surrounded by a soothing palette while others prefer vibrant high-energy colors. And still others prefer to let the room dictate – bathrooms tend to call forth neutral, soothing tones while a dining room inspires brighter colors to encourage conversation.

But there are some places, where colors can make all the difference… to one’s health!

Hospitals team up with Medical Design firms because they want to help influence the healing process any way possible. And because colors can inspire different moods in a person, it is important that a hospital invoke a mood that bespeaks calm, safety and comfort.

An interior design firm that works within a medical setting appreciates and fully understands the function of this environment. A designer looks at all aspects of the area from the front desk, the waiting rooms to the patient rooms. It all must come together in one cohesive unit.

Color can truly help a person’s psychological and emotional health by eliminating stress and anxiety. And this doesn’t just apply to the patients, hospital staff and volunteer staff also benefit from an environment that is pleasing and calming. And it doesn’t just include colors. Water features are often added for their peaceful quality and greenery inspires tranquility.

Colors and other calming design features help to foster a sedated feeling, which has been proven to promote healing and this is exactly what a hospital or other medical facilities truly want for their patients.

Today’s new corporate offices are designed with more flexibility and an open concept in mind… plus a little touch of green.

Corporate Design for offices are gradually getting away from the rows upon rows of cubicles that one used to see upon entering any office building. These cubicles would separate everyone from everything. The new corporate office calls for an open floor plan, which is designed to increase employee interaction with one another. It also calls for smaller workstations with some being used as shared workstations.

Many employees don’t have to be present in the office at all to put in a full day. With the vast array of technological improvements at their disposal many employees telecommute and use teleconferencing software for meetings. This allows them to stay connected whether they work across town or across the globe. Sales people have been doing this for years; however, regular employees are now creating their own schedule. Designers recognize this wasted space and have created the shared workspace for those who come into the office at different times and don’t need their own dedicated workstation.

The open, flexible concept of the new office also helps folks work together. Increased social communication with a mixing of generations fosters deeper friendships and connections. This helps with employee job satisfaction and loyalty.

Another trend in Corporate Design centers around corporate sustainability. Companies have their own green initiative and designers are always willing to put forth some great ideas to improve a company’s carbon footprint.

The open floor plan uses more natural light. This not only helps people feel better and increases employee moral, it also cuts down on electricity costs. There are many eco-conscious designs and green products that can help improve sustainability. The job of the designer is to find the right balance of eco-friendly products, fabrics and recycled materials while remaining cost-effective. This is all part of the new Corporate Design initiative.

Your home should be filled will all the good things that make you and your family comfortable and happy.  It should become part of your aesthetic; an extension of who you are and how you want to live your life. Once a house is designed and built it is an empty canvas waiting for the family to breathe life and personality into its standing four walls.

Regardless of whether your tastes are more understated or eclectic, your home can support your lifestyle. Perhaps you like to hang at home with your family and a few chosen friends and host the occasional dinner party. Your family room can be filled with lots of comfortable seating areas and the dining room with plenty of room at the table. A table that is overflowing with colorful bowls and dishes that really match your style. This is a room that begs for long delicious meals and stimulating conversation.

Or, maybe you love to throw one amazing party during the year. You may find that you want less furniture and more space. A beautiful bar area is complete with gorgeous bar accessories in a basement that can be turned into a dance room or filled with overstuffed chairs and a wine cellar. These are the designs you looked for in the architecture of your house and how you decorate the inside can reinforce how you want to live each day and how you socialize with those important to you.

The furniture you choose should be pieces that not only fit your lifestyle but also offer a respite for body and mind after a long day.  Artwork should be such that it inspires you and pulls the room together with complementing colours, textures and designs. Photographs can be placed around your home to make you smile and punctuate this life well lived in a home well crafted.

A contemporary decorating style is one of simplicity and clean lines. If you are considering decorating a room with a contemporary flair, there are a few “rules of thumb” you’ll definitely want to follow.

The room should be designed such that space is the focus. It is a sophisticated look, one which is not overly cluttered. The few items that are displayed are carefully picked and arranged. Larger objects work well in a contemporary room rather than many smaller ones.

The contemporary palette incorporates the use of neutral tones with bright fun accent pieces offering splashes of colour. These colours are coordinated so the room has a comfortable, warm feel.

The furniture design has clean lines and is simple in design. There is not a lot of detail in the wood of a contemporary room. And any fabrics used should be textured, natural and inviting, such as wool, cotton, silk and linen. It’s okay to be bold but eliminate any fringe, floral or carved details.

Walls are typically reserved for one or two special  contemporary art pieces. The “white noise” offered from bare walls puts the emphasis on the accent pieces or prized collectibles displayed on furniture. Spot lighting is a lovely touch to show off one well-chosen piece of art. Recessed and track lighting is also very contemporary looking and work well to offer you a simple approach to lighting.

Side tables and coffee tables can be used at the decorator’s discretion. Since they can be very functional this may override form, but they can also be a place where unwanted clutter can build up.

Dimmer switches are wonderful no matter what your style. It is always nice to be able to adjust the amount of light at any given time of the day. Window treatments are typically avoided in contemporary designs as the use of natural light is with a view of the outside is preferable to bulky window treatments. However, if you find a pair of simple neutral drapes that hang and do not obscure much of the view, that can work well, too.

Consider an accent wall. If your room has some architectural interest, highlight these. Bricks or even exposed pipes can look like art. You’ll want to showcase these not hide them.

A contemporary style does not have to be cold minimalist looking (unless that is your desired attempt). With warm tones, clean lines and a few special pieces, which are highlighted, the room you decorate will certainly be very inviting and very comfortable.

For centuries, artists and designers have continually struggled with the tension between modernity and nature.  The same can be true in the world of interior design, where impulses to embrace new trends that reflect our increasingly modern society are met with the urge to withdraw back to simpler, more naturalistic environments.  For what it’s worth, the general consensus among followers of the interior design world is that the pendulum has swung back towards nature new minimalism, as it is called, is hip.  This development, as with most artistic movements, is contextual and acts as a mirror of our times. Specifically, this move towards sparse, authentic, and simple interiors is a kind of backlash against the excess and decadence of the early 2000s that culminated in the Great Recession of 2008. Ultimately, artists and designers are re-examining their role in the world and, in turn, viewing their priorities and values through a new lens. As a result, they’re-embracing that exotic concept called simplicity.