Sunday, June 17, 2012
Monday, March 9, 2009
Why illustration matters?
Try to picture this in your head, a kitchen with the theme black, white and silver. What are the different combination that you can come up with?
Some points you would have to consider is the color of floor tiles, walls (or wall tiles), cabinet, table worktop, glass backing, fridge, washer, windows grills, panes and frame etc.
~Black table top with white cabinets and a gray glass backing against white walls and gray floor tiles?
~Black table top with light gray cabinets and a white glass backing against gray walls and white floor tiles?
~White table top with dark gray cabinets and a black glass backing against white walls and white floor tiles?
- How about a combination of darker cabinets below and lighter cabinets above?
Wouldn't it be much easier if you get to see those endless combination in print?
(No self respecting ID would say no to that, I amateurishly drew these within minutes using Google SketchUp)
White laminates, should they be glossy or matt? Will the laminates turn yellow?
How about darker floors, at least it forms a better contrast with the white cabinets?
Or perhaps dark gray cabinets?
Or even a different color for the top/bottom cabinets?
You might even abandon your initial idea and opt for something totally different all together. Quite effortlessly done with a program like this.
All that above was just colors alone, a competent ID will also suggest matching handles and accessories to make the design stand out. We have yet to talk about choice of materials, laminates, surface texture, ease of maintenance in a kitchen environment. Don't you just wish you had someone competent and experienced to handle that headache for you?
Some points you would have to consider is the color of floor tiles, walls (or wall tiles), cabinet, table worktop, glass backing, fridge, washer, windows grills, panes and frame etc.
~Black table top with white cabinets and a gray glass backing against white walls and gray floor tiles?
~Black table top with light gray cabinets and a white glass backing against gray walls and white floor tiles?
~White table top with dark gray cabinets and a black glass backing against white walls and white floor tiles?
- How about a combination of darker cabinets below and lighter cabinets above?
Wouldn't it be much easier if you get to see those endless combination in print?
(No self respecting ID would say no to that, I amateurishly drew these within minutes using Google SketchUp)
White laminates, should they be glossy or matt? Will the laminates turn yellow?
How about darker floors, at least it forms a better contrast with the white cabinets?
Or perhaps dark gray cabinets?
Or even a different color for the top/bottom cabinets?
You might even abandon your initial idea and opt for something totally different all together. Quite effortlessly done with a program like this.
All that above was just colors alone, a competent ID will also suggest matching handles and accessories to make the design stand out. We have yet to talk about choice of materials, laminates, surface texture, ease of maintenance in a kitchen environment. Don't you just wish you had someone competent and experienced to handle that headache for you?
ID-hunting
I had a very vague and basic idea of what I wanted for my renovation, simply "Modern Contemporary" with various shades of silver, gray, black and white. I was hoping to find someone experienced in renovation work whom I could trust with not just the coordination but also the overall theme, design and details, choice of colors, laminates types, matching handles, additional materials, (mirrors, metal strips) & such.
This person (ID, coordinator, contractor) you chose to work with for the next 2 to 3 months, determines the success of your renovation. Get the wrong person, you can almost guarantee that things will go wrong and you will be forced to relent or make do. It was probably my mistake that I settled for the cheapest of the lot due to a budget constrain. What I got back in return was less than ordinary ideas, shabby work (carpentry) and gross disappointment.
If I could do it all over again, I would have scrutinized all the shortlisted IDs on every field before I make my decision.
This person (ID, coordinator, contractor) you chose to work with for the next 2 to 3 months, determines the success of your renovation. Get the wrong person, you can almost guarantee that things will go wrong and you will be forced to relent or make do. It was probably my mistake that I settled for the cheapest of the lot due to a budget constrain. What I got back in return was less than ordinary ideas, shabby work (carpentry) and gross disappointment.
If I could do it all over again, I would have scrutinized all the shortlisted IDs on every field before I make my decision.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Interior Designers?
Aesthetics or plain functionality?
A door, if all it matters to you is -so long the door opens and closes without a glitch-, then you are better off getting a contractor, save yourself some money. Chances are, your decent looking door with a nice handle will work and that's all you need. And if you know what you want, the style, the theme, the colors, a contractor will do.
On the other hand, you are concerned if Pentalite Mistral shade of blue wall matches your white door frame and your dark gray door, matt or glossy paint on the door matters, door knob or door lever handle bothers you, gun polished bronze, shiny chrome or matt silver makes a difference. Then you should engage an ID (with taste) to discuss the possibilities.
Please do not be mistaken that I'm advocating the use of IDs here, they will be expensive, and yet not all them can create your "Home & Decor" worthy house.
What I am more concerned here is getting your money worth.
There's a good difference between a contractor firm and an interior design firm. Seriously, there should be some regulation on how such companies name themselves. All of them unabashedly call themselves interior design firms, charge similarly high prices and yet all they do is coordinate the renovation and they know nuts about interior design, color matching and style.
Grill your shortlisted IDs (& self proclaimed IDs) with your concerns, move on to the others if you get less than satisfactory generic answers. Ordinary answers is gonna get you recycled ideas and run of the mill end results, you really don't want to spend an amount that's worth an entire year's salary on that.
Ps. Well, I did unfortunately, I learn it the hard way, and I'm here to share.
A door, if all it matters to you is -so long the door opens and closes without a glitch-, then you are better off getting a contractor, save yourself some money. Chances are, your decent looking door with a nice handle will work and that's all you need. And if you know what you want, the style, the theme, the colors, a contractor will do.
On the other hand, you are concerned if Pentalite Mistral shade of blue wall matches your white door frame and your dark gray door, matt or glossy paint on the door matters, door knob or door lever handle bothers you, gun polished bronze, shiny chrome or matt silver makes a difference. Then you should engage an ID (with taste) to discuss the possibilities.
Please do not be mistaken that I'm advocating the use of IDs here, they will be expensive, and yet not all them can create your "Home & Decor" worthy house.
What I am more concerned here is getting your money worth.
There's a good difference between a contractor firm and an interior design firm. Seriously, there should be some regulation on how such companies name themselves. All of them unabashedly call themselves interior design firms, charge similarly high prices and yet all they do is coordinate the renovation and they know nuts about interior design, color matching and style.
Grill your shortlisted IDs (& self proclaimed IDs) with your concerns, move on to the others if you get less than satisfactory generic answers. Ordinary answers is gonna get you recycled ideas and run of the mill end results, you really don't want to spend an amount that's worth an entire year's salary on that.
Ps. Well, I did unfortunately, I learn it the hard way, and I'm here to share.
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