Light up my breakfast table

Over the past few weeks I have been designing a kitchen for a couple who specifically requested an island to use as a breakfast table, work surface and storage.

If you are thinking of redesigning your kitchen so that it includes an island where you can have a snack here are my three top tips:

1. Make sure the island is the right depth and height. You want to be able to use the surface to work standing up, as well as eat sitting on a stool. Also think about the size of the cabinets and/or shelving.

image via Pinterest

image via Pinterest

2. Choose nice stools, simple wood ones or colourful to match a detail in the tiles or lighting. Make sure you try them out to see if they are comfortable before you buy.

Svelto bar stool, Ercol

Sinnerling stool, Ikea

3. Pay attention to the lighting. Eating in the dark or in dim lighting is not pleasant. Plus you will often use your breakfast table to sit and read the newspaper or a magazine. So make sure you plan the lighting so it is directly above the island. Small pendant lights (25 to 35 cm diameter) are ideal and can add a touch of colour and style to your kitchen.

Browsing around the web I found these simple but elegant lamps by Muuto.

Ambit by TAF architects for Muuto

Unfold, by From us with Love for Muuto

There. This is my first three tips post. It's going to be a monthly feature in my blog so let me know if there is any Interior design topic you'd like me to cover!

Have a great week!

lx

sketching in a café

Had a really nice time sketching this window sill in a café in the mountains.

Designing my workspace

Today I am looking for ideas to style my workspace.

I have a home office that is currently full of boxes and very untidy. My plan is to make it into a beautiful study where it will be a pleasure to work, make art, and even do my accounting! : )

Following a friend's advice, I've decided to treat myself as a client and to give myself a proper consultation... It might sound a bit strange but I think I'll get the job done better this way!

So here is my step by step plan.
1. Define client profile
2. Define client's needs
3. Look for visual references
4. Create a moodboard and choose palette
5. Design space
6. Furnish room
7. Decorate and style

Over the next few months I'll update the blog as I progress towards my dream study (hopefully it won't take too long!).
Anyway. So far I have reached step 3.

Step 1.
CLIENT PROFILE
Woman, 33 years old.
Job: Interior designer and Illustrator who works from home.
Relevant hobbies: sketching, jewellery making
Notes: tends to be untidy, has lots of art supplies and boxes of old cards

Step 2.
NEEDS/DREAMS
A tidy organized workspace.
Desk with space for laptop, lamp and space to draw
Bookcase with books and space for filing
Space for art work and art supplies, jewellery kit, photocamera, printer.
If possible fit in sofa bed or daybed.

Step 3.
VISUAL REFERENCE
I have been keeping an eye out for inspiration in magazines and online. Here is a peek of all the inspiring photos I'm gathering in a Pinterest folder to start getting a feel of my dream study.

SFgirlbybay via Pinterest

Stylemepretty via Pinterest

SFgirlbybay via Pinterest

Decor8 via Pinterest

Bicyclette Boutique via Pinterest

In my next post about my study I'll define the palette and create a moodboard.

So far I have a loose idea of the colour palette: black, white and pink. This choice is based on my personal taste and on a few items I have in my study that I want to keep. My bright pink laptop-stand, a black paint brush holder I received as a gift from a friend, my white desk and bookcase.

If you are also redecorating and styling your workspace you might like to read these articles:
Creating a girly and glam workspace on Stylemepretty

PS: I'll be working on a workspace 'for him' after I've finished my study!

PPS: remember how I like spotting cool design blogs! Well looking for photos for my sudio I found this lovely blog called SFgirlbybay. Worth a visit!

note: Photo credits and links under each photo. All photos via Pinterest.

Interior design and my first renderings

Two years ago I started a masters program at a local school to specialise in designing interiors. Now I'm preparing my final project for the exam in December.
Each student has to redesign a fictitious appartment which needs renovating according to the needs of imaginary clients.
I have been given an imaginary couple as my clients. They are in their forties.
Our teacher spelled out their interests and hobbies. She's a university professor and loves cooking. He has a travel agency and collects artwork.

I have designed the appartment. The clients wanted a master bedroom with on suite bathroom and wellness area. A guest room/study/gym (!). A guest bathroom. A kitchen, dining area and lounge (which in my project are one open space). Lots of space for their books. Their art collection dotted around the house.

Now all I have left to do are the 3D renderings (in Italian they call these 'i render'). These are the perspective drawings of the various rooms created using a 3D model to which you add materials, colours and lighting to create an image which resembles a photograph of what the house will look like.

Renderings take a long time to make and require a lot of expertise if they are to be of high quality. There are professionals who specialise solely in making renderings for other designers. However there are some special computer programs that enable you to make quick renderings, very useful to give your client several options and to make changes along the way. These type of 3d images are used especially in the retail business, for example in shops that sell furniture, kitchens and bathrooms.

A rendering is very useful to give your client a feel of a space. Together with plans, sketches and moodboards you should be able to imagine exactly what the designer is dreaming up.

Over the next few weeks I'll post a few renderings of the appartment. Here is the one I made last night of the 'bagno giorno', the guest bathroom. I use to make renderings when I did my internship in an architects studio, but they had often been set up by other designers and I just had to add bits and bobs, change the colours or materials. This is the first time I do one completely on my own, from the design itself to the 3d model, from the lighting to the materials, so I'm quite proud of myself!

il bagno giorno - rendering

If Tarzan and Jane had stayed in Milan for the Design Week...

... They would have found a mini appartment to stay in just up their Street (metaforically speaking. Of course there are no streets in the jungle).

That is, if Gervasoni and Marie Claire had let them use the showcase rooms that had been prepared in via Durini, at 'Gervasoni Furniture Industry since 1882'.

The installations of the rooms was curated by Marie Claire to show Gervasoni's armchairs 'Ghost Out.'

The whole appartment, covered in exotic wallpaper and fuzzy liane, had a striking effect, evocative of a holiday home of past decades. 

GhostOut in turquoise and tangerine

the corridor with seating area, leading to the bedroom

the bedroom, a jungle in black and white



the en suite

an outdoor/underthesea living area

sun chairs in the sun

All photographs in this post were taken by me.

Fiera del Mobile di Milano 2014

Next up the Fiera del Mobile in Milan.

Keep an eye out for next week's post to read my account and see my photos!


Read more about the Fair:

Living.corriere.it

Fuori Salone