(Part 3) Top products from r/InteriorDesign

Yeah, but those small details aren't about leaving stuff laying around, unkempt. Those details are whatever makes a place look not just like a home, but instead, like your home. They're things you enjoy and clues about who you are. When someone walks into your home for the first time, what do they see and what do those things tell them about you?

Is your art just stuff to hang on the walls, or is it art you chose for some specific reason?

My home is an open loft, and it's kind of sparse, but I'm a minimalist so simplicity pleases me. The art on my walls is all black & white photography, and I have a few interesting items on shelves and my coffee table to add a pop of color and visual interest, and people always end up commenting on them (3 small sculptures of See No Evil/Hear No Evil/Speak No Evil monkeys, a metal chess set, some really cool painted wooden blocks, and books).

Books are a biggie! People always browse through a collection of books, but if you're into music and you have room for a turntable, a collection of vinyl LPs would be pretty awesome too - if it fits who you are, of course. That's what it's all about. I'd start with books if you're single. Books score points with dates, even if the books aren't novels. I have a huge design book on the coffee table behind my couch along with a copy of This I Believe and a collection of short stories.

So... the question is: Who are you? What details in your home give a visitor clues about who you are and what you're passionate about? And, perhaps most importantly, what makes your home feel like a place you're passionate about? It's not about buying expensive stuff. The most expensive thing I own is probably a $900 couch, so it's not like my place is high end, but it's nice and it's "me." And it's a place I'm always excited to bring a guest to - especially a date. And maybe that's the most important point of all: your home should be a place where you feel comfortable - a place that feels like you belong.

Good luck! Don't forget to have fun with it all.

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!

1. Check out this link for some career ideas -- http://www.disd.edu/careers-interior-design.php
   
   
2. Search google for design firms in your area
   
   
3. Send out email inquiring about internships
   
   
4. Learn how to network. If you're not on the phone all the time, you're doing it wrong.
   
   
5. Get business cards and hand them out to everyone you meet
   
   
6. Read this book and this book for inspiration
   
   
   
   Build your email around this:
   
   >I'm currently a junior at a college that doesn't offer any classes in interior design and only recently had an epiphany that design is what I truly love. I'm currently following a route that's not really design or artsy (I'm taking media production) but I'm happy that I realized this now before it was really too late.
   
   PASSION -- use this word a lot, and mean it. You've got to be passionate about design, it's not a 9-5 job
   
   Don't mention middle school or high school.

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!

Weird, I asked this the other day to a sub. I just have a list and do certain things once a week. This book was helpful as well; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1501158791/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With four pets, I am always trying to find ways to make my home easier to clean. The most important thing is to have less stuff.

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.