(Part 4) 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.

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.

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

Lot's of good input, but nobody has said anything about generating a good business plan being the very first step.

How are you going to get paid? Hourly, or as a percentage of the project?

How much overhead will you have, what kind of insurance etc.

If you're going to be handling more in depth projects you'll probably be doing project management as well, i.e paying flooring subs or painters etc.

There is a great book on kindle, it's called "Markup and Profit"

https://www.amazon.com/Markup-Profit-Contractors-Guide-Revisited/dp/1572182717/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=markup+and+profit+stone&qid=1567475083&s=books&sr=1-1

It is geared more towards construction/specialty contracting, but most of it applies to what you're wanting to do as well. I use basically the same methods taught in this book when I do interior projects.

I use the method he describes, calculate my total cost to complete the job, then add my markup to cover overhead and profit.

One word of caution would be on having clients paying subs or paying for things directly. Remember, when there's a problem they're going to call you, not the store or the flooring guy, so marking these things up isn't being greedy or making free money, it's a reflection of the work you put in to bring it all together and the time YOU have to spend when things don't go exactly right.

I also hate working hourly. It's no fun spending 8 hours helping a client pick out a color combo for a epoxy floor and then having them bitch about paying you for 8 hours, but that 8 hours at $75 an hour on 2000 sqft of floor at $12 a foot isn't even noticeable if it's just rolled into the floor cost.

​

Sorry, a bit rambling, but it's late and I'm tired :)

When I was in college (before I went to Interior Design school and got my MIA degree) I splurged on a book called The Magic of Small Spaces. It includes photos and floor plans of a lot of small houses and apartments all over the world, furnished in many different styles. It pretty much inspired me to go to design school, and showed me that you don't have to have a lot of square footage or spend a lot to develop a high-impact design. Other resources: The Domino Book of Decorating and Remodelista. The first is a fun "how-to" for curating/furnishing your own home, the second is by the editors of Remodelista.com. They all definitely include some high-dollar stuff, but also include a lot of IKEA, 2nd hand, and DIY. Hope that helps!

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

Take all the photos off. 1-3 framed photos can work on a bookcase, but you have like 15.

That glass cabinet in the center is made for displaying large objects. You could put books in their in a pinch, but putting framed photos there makes absolutely no sense. It is next to your dining table, so dining related objects make the most sense.

Assuming you could put a little money into objects, I think you could make these area a dining focal point with just a few items. That white pitcher could be moved to the top, you could get a white tiered server like this or this, maybe try the candlesticks in there, etc.

I'd adjust the left and right top shelves so they are more centered. And I'd consider buying some bulk books. Not totally random books, but books you'd consider buying just to have. Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4, Eample 5.

I think you could really improve this space if you spent $100-250. I don't think this space will be fixed by moving stuff in from other rooms.

I find Lauren Liess' book, Habitat, very inspiring and helpful. She breaks down rooms to their basic elements and does a great job of discussing different materials as well.

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.

Make it something related to what she likes related to, but outside of interior design. First thing that comes to mind would be travel and fashion:

Worlds Greatest Trips
Humans of New York
Paris in Color

This is what I recommend to people wanting to learn more about color. Great resource.

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'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

I have this book, and the ideas are great if you're going to build.

https://smile.amazon.com/Make-Your-House-Do-Housework/dp/0937750336

Eames: Beautiful Details


Knoll Design

I doubt it would hold up across the seams between panels without cracking. I think it would likely hold up per sheet if you cleaned it properly with TSP.

I like the 1/4 sheetrock idea as well, but if you're going to do that, just rip the paneling down and put up 1/2 inch. It will give you a chance to address any issues in the bones. Sheetrock is CHEAP. Price out the materials and you can do the work yourself. DVD

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