(Part 2) Top products from r/InteriorDesign

WHAT?!

Is this for real?!

I haven't figured out yet how to tell who gave me these flattering awards. But when I do, I'm going to thank you shamelessly... extravagantly... to the point of embarrassment!

And thanks to everyone who gave me a uv! It's really gratifying to get a tangible response that tells you that you help flip on that mental lightswitch belonging to something that feels good to their brain. It is a pay-forward - someone else opened my eyes to the neuro side of art, design, and architecture. Now I dig it so much that it feels like a win to share it, and know that the share makes the recipient happy. I'll stop now before I gush.

Here are my best answers to the questions y'all asked.

u/dumpy_potato, asking for resources about this. YES! It's actually been kind of having a moment for a few years. You can find articles in all the places where neuroscientists, and neuropsychologists are likely to talk about designers; which are the same places where designer would never in a hundred years see them. Ain't science great like that?!

At the bottom of this comment, u/magneto_ms, I'm sharing some links to excellent books and articles on the fundamental principles of neuro-visual yada yada, and the way the brain instinctively responds to the sight of various lines, shapes, depictions of depty/height/mass, particular specific objects or things that resemble them, color combinations and contrasts, etc. (Spoiler alert: The instinctive brain really really responds to babies, faces, and genitalia including boobies. After that comes water, then food.)

Killer examples of designs that epitomize these principles - ones that make my eyes pop, and my brain feel good - is the work of Alexa Hamilton. For example, this cover on her book, The Language of Interior Design. Is that not an eye magnet?! Read her brilliant intro, about how good design makes they viewer's eye travel a particular path around the room. (I'm not a fan of her traditional, ornate style. But her composition is bomb.)

The Neuroscience of Design, Psychology Today

Design on the brain: Combining neuroscience and architecture

Evidence Based Design: When Neuroscience, Psychology, and Interior Design Meet

The Integration of Interior Design and Neuroscience: Towards a Methodology to Apply Neuroscience in Interior Spaces (pdf)

This one particularly rocks!
Picture This: How Pictures Work

Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design

I hope some of these deliver on what you're looking for. HMU anytime if I can offer more.

Emily Henderson blogs about design. Her photos are gorgeous, plenty of backlog, and she's very descriptive and generous with talking about WHY and HOW she makes the design decisions she does. She's got 1 book out (Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves https://www.amazon.com/dp/0804186278/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BslBCb624AN26) and another forthcoming. Also, if you can find episodes of her show Secrets from a Stylist, it's a gem of exactly the sort I think you're seeking.

Someone mentioned The Great Interior Design Challenge on Netflix. One of the hosts, Sophie Robinson, also co-hosts a podcast called The Great Indoors which I've recently found and love. I think they have an episode about interior design books they're digging. Color theory features highly.

Now defunct podcast (they're still blogging however) Chris Loves Julia has a wealth of good discussion, as well as the ever-entertaining Young House Love Has A Podcast. Both of these couples talk us through their own home renovations; the ups, the downs, the decisions, and the lessons learned along the way. I know you specifically asked for books, but...Style Matters is yet another podcast I enjoy. Look for the episode with one of my favorite home design bloggers, Ashley Goldman of The Gold Hive--and then check out her blog for more informative and beautiful goodness!

Definitely look into bussiness management books as well. if you are going down this road, there is a chance you will want to start doing it on your own and having proper business skills will help tremendously in securing work, and balancing costs, and making money doing it! I am sure some people on this sub can recommend some great books on this topic as well.

Here are a couple books,

https://www.amazon.ca/Business-Model-Generation-Visionaries-Challengers/dp/0470876417/ref=sr_1_1?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5MLrBRClARIsAPG0WGxuwhyo-18J3-xPOVP8bXeTJ4zbGZHkpO4GqIGKlz-WCRxt3aUroqQaApECEALw_wcB&hvadid=229992601126&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9000745&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4412519744533501821&hvtargid=aud-748919244907%3Akwd-297504215686&hydadcr=16960_10238137&keywords=business+model+generation&qid=1567691052&s=gateway&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.ca/Lean-Startup-Entrepreneurs-Continuous-Innovation/dp/0307887898/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3/141-1005106-2495725?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0307887898&pd_rd_r=3ef234c3-168a-4156-bb6b-32f1e4f1ecca&pd_rd_w=PEqJa&pd_rd_wg=P882W&pf_rd_p=a62e2918-d998-4bbb-8337-35aac776e851&pf_rd_r=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H&psc=1&refRID=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H

https://www.amazon.ca/Startup-Owners-Manual-Step-Step/dp/0984999302/ref=pd_sbs_14_3/141-1005106-2495725?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0984999302&pd_rd_r=3ef234c3-168a-4156-bb6b-32f1e4f1ecca&pd_rd_w=Oruqz&pd_rd_wg=P882W&pf_rd_p=f7748194-d8e0-4460-84c0-2789668108bc&pf_rd_r=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H&psc=1&refRID=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H

https://www.amazon.ca/Business-Model-You-One-Page-Reinventing/dp/1118156315/ref=pd_sbs_14_4/141-1005106-2495725?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1118156315&pd_rd_r=3ef234c3-168a-4156-bb6b-32f1e4f1ecca&pd_rd_w=Oruqz&pd_rd_wg=P882W&pf_rd_p=f7748194-d8e0-4460-84c0-2789668108bc&pf_rd_r=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H&psc=1&refRID=RMAX7VQZE9TKPTQ2SM8H

Duvet cover + flat and fitted sheet to prevent having to wash the duvet cover constantly. Make sure to have a second set of sheets and extra sets of pillowcases that way you never have to wait to change the sheets and will cut down on wear and tear( sorry if this is obvious to you i didn't want to take anything for granted) pay close attention to the care instructions for any bedding you get and make sure you can properly care for them with your current laundry routine. It would be a good time to replace sleeping pillows too.


Give some thought to a heated mattress pad depending on the climate. It is lovely to "preheat" the bed in the winter


I find a quilt and duvet gives us options in changing weather.

Are you buying curtains to match?


And as an aside if you want to know how to clean and maintain almost everything in your home check out Martha's home keeping handbook

A mix of styles looks fresher than a period look, and you're less likely to tire of it.

For ideas, check out the "eclectic" tags on Houzz. You can definitely make the styles you like work.

And around the internet:
//www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/room-for-two-traditional-meets-midcentury-modern-design

Old & New by Katherine Sorrell is also a good read (though it's also antiques in modern houses).

I also have this one: https://www.amazon.com/New-Classic-Style-Traditional-Gardens/dp/0696214032/

(See your library if you don't want a stack of too many decor books like mine!)

Would love to see some pics!

The Silver Bible is a good place to start, you will use this book more times than you can count in school and professionally.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0071346163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486475773&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=time+saver+standards+for+interior+design+and+space+planning&dpPl=1&dpID=51VYzAQ-amL&ref=plSrch

Explore the possibilities of the profession, also look for your local trade group and join as a student. The connections you make in school and during this time will help you out later, don't depend on your school to do all the work when it comes to job placement--you will have a bad time if you do.

This is the best resource I have found for looking up trade groups for ID/IA: http://www.ifiworld.org/#Member_Directory

It looks like Design Institute of Australia would be your best resource for professional/ student development.
http://www.design.org.au

The New Munsell Student Color Set

We used the 3rd edition when I was in school. Teaches you about the interactions between different colors and color and light, comes with color chips to help you understand the lessons hands-on.

I would buy it new so you know you're getting all the chips and none of the lessons have been completed yet (with glued-on chips sometimes)

There's also Joseph Albers' Interaction of Color. This was recommended to me for the purpose of having a better understand of color and color interactions, though tbh I haven't started reading it yet.

The RHS have a really good book that combines the essentials of care and light of a plant and it's use and purpose within interior design. You can find it on Amazon in the UK, and probably in the US too.

Yeah, it's cool. I just did it to my TV. Adds a nice indirect glow. These are the ones I used if you're interested.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Read-Buildings-Course-Architectural/dp/0847831124

That one is a good one on how to read buildings. Not necessary interior specific but good knowledge to have.

Another vote for Frank Ching books. I have the Building Construction Illustrated one and refer to it often.

I agree with not putting the tv over the mantle. It would be too high.

As for what could go there instead of a mirror, a large picture or wall sculpture would be nice. I agree with others that something colorful would look great. Keep the mantle simple, like a few plants, or even just leave it bare.

it's hard to get a judge of how the room is laid out from this one photo...but maybe you could keep the television where it's at, but place it catty corner. If you get a second sofa you could put the two sofas into an L shape (keep the one sofa and coffee table facing the fire place wall and place another sofa facing the right most wall).

I think a large rug would also help fill the space.

If the space still feels empty, throw a plant stand, floor lamp or end table somewhere in there.

Edit: [This book] (https://www.amazon.com/Decorating-Good-Step-Step-Rearranging/dp/0609803719/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1503239019&sr=8-13&keywords=furniture+layout+book) helped a lot when we first moved into our house.

I'm an interior design graduate, and i personally would love to have this book...

http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Furniture-Classics-Sourcebook-Manufacturers/dp/0823029697/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323753377&sr=1-11

Eames: Beautiful Details


Knoll Design

This one isn't specifically interior design, but it is stellar reading material for any subsect of design as an industry.

The Design of Everyday Things - Don Norman

You could always check out A Pattern Language: http://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Language-Buildings-Construction-Environmental/dp/0195019199 or a Timeless Way of Building : http://www.amazon.com/The-Timeless-Building-Christopher-Alexander/dp/0195024028

The book It's All Too Much addresses this subject to some extent. For example, he describes how people unpack in a new house. Tired and overwhelmed, they jam stuff in the first place they see, just to be unpacked. Then they spend the next 10 years living with those hasty decisions.