Design, Design, Design

Since entering the field of Interior Design, I am now constantly looking at interior spaces and seeing how I could change them. I am becoming so much more aware of what I like and don't like and I really feel that I have a strong style. I love a unique color combination and natural materials. Neutrals paired with a bold accent color always draws me in. I am completely obsessed with everything vintage... I love the charm of classic 1950's style. I feel that during the little time I have spent here at RCC I have learned more that I ever thought I would and I know there is so much more to still discover! The design field is always changing and that makes my future career that much more exciting.

Design Inspiration from Charleston, SC

During my recent spring break, I took a trip to Charleston, SC with my cousin. While visiting, I found inspiration from multiple sources and fell even deeper in love with Interior Design. Walking along King Street and visiting the many boutiques was fun and also gave me an idea as to what different types of design boutiques can offer. I really loved how Urban Outfitters combined the ornate details with the utilitarian look of exposed pipes. I even found myself critiquing decor in restaurants such as Husk and our hotel in North Charleston, Aloft. I am now able to tell when good design is in use. Charleston is full of design inspiration. I can't even begin to name where I became the most inspired. Even the Visitor's Center (which we frequented!) was lovely. I loved the wide plank hardwood floors and the exterior of the side of the building. The architecture of the numerous churches was exquisite. Most of the buildings in Charleston have an old-world feel and the architectural trims are something you never see in buildings today. I love the style of architecture used in the houses. It is unique to Charleston and has a distinctive and beautiful look.  I am in love with everything old and vintage when it comes to design and Charleston was able to showcase that style. Charleston is beautiful and literally everything I came across inspired me in some way. This city is a Designer's Dream!

Proximity Hotel & Green Design

   On Tuesday, March 8th, the Intro to Interior Design class went to Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. During our time there we ate a delicious lunch in Print Works Bistro and went on a tour of the hotel with our tour guide, Stephen Doyle. He was very informative and I learned so much about this beautiful establishment.
   They do not sacrifice luxury while being sustainable... they still wish to maintain satisfaction from guests. (Carrie Underwood and Usher have stayed there!) It was interesting to me that Proximity uses furniture that has been purchased from the High Point Furniture Market. One way they can be "green" is by purchasing locally and by not having to ship furniture from other parts of the world. Another thing I learned is that not all aspects of the hotel are considered eco-friendly, yet they remain the greenest hotel in America. An example of this is the limestone in the lobby. Although this is not a typical sustainable material, it is one that will last for many years to come and will not have to be replaced.
   We also learned about the unique elevators that do not operate on typical cables and run solely on 
North America's first Regenerative Drive model of the Otis' Gen2 elevator. It reduces net energy usage by capturing the system’s energy and feeds it back into the building’s internal electrical grid.
   The windows throughout the hotel contain no window tinting which creates a direct line of sight to the outdoors.The building uses 41% less energy than a conventional hotel/restaurant by using ultra efficient materials and the latest construction technology. The sun’s energy heats hot water with 100 solar panels covering the rooftop.
   The bistro bar is constructed from salvaged, solid walnut trees that came down through sickness or storm.  The hotel consists of  recycled building materials such 100% recycled drywall, and concrete containing 4% fly ash which is the the mineral residue left over after the combustion of coal that is diverted from landfills.Local artists work fills the hotel and creates a beautiful harmony between each different room. Drapery is also an element of the design that unifies the hotel. Bicycles are also available for guests to ride on the nearby five-mile greenway.
   The tour was fantastic and a great day was had by all!

CAD Drawings

 

This is a window we drew in CAD class. It was one of our first drawings we did. It is drawn by using a series of many different commands such as divide, offset, line, and rectangle. CAD is not my strongest subject and I feel grateful to have completed a number of drawings in class. I believe I am one of the few people in my generation who is not very skilled with computers! AutoCAD is a work in progress for me and I am learning new information daily. (just takes a little time, practice, and help!)

Inspiration Station

Inspiration to me can come from multiple sources. I love to look at various magazines such as Elle Decor, House Beautiful, and even fashion magazines such as InStyle. When looking at these publications, I am able to evaluate and determine the styles I like and don't like.

I also really love looking at others homes and in clothing stores and boutiques and seeing what works and what doesn't. Inspiration is everywhere... it can be a sunny day, a beautiful art gallery, colors in the sky, textures in clothing, the list goes on and on.

It is difficult for me to pinpoint one single source of where my inspiration comes from. Since becoming a designer, I am continually growing more and more aware of my surroundings. I am on a constant quest to find what I love and how that one thing can be translated into an interior space.

Trend Alert: Wallpaper

A current trend we are seeing everywhere is wallpaper. This trend is much more sophisticated than you may think. We are used to seeing wallpapers only in powder rooms, on an accent wall, or on half walls. Now, we can expect to see them on more walls or even in entire rooms. I'm loving the bold, graphic patterns and also the unique textures. (I've even seen cork wallpaper!) Paint-able, tone-on-tone, hand-painted, and fabric and wallpaper combinations are some of the wallpaper trends we are seeing for 2011.Rich colors and metallics differentiate these trendy wallpapers from what you know and expect of wallpapers. Below i have shown examples of hand-painted, screen-printed, tone-on-tone, and metallic wallpapers.

Come on in!

Hey! I'm Chelsea and this is my very first posting in my Interior Design blog. I am currently a student at RCC and loving every minute of it. Thanks for checking out my blog and I hope that I can provide some inspiration to you in my future posts. Each week i will add a new post that will be based on my feelings and inspirations on design.

Thanks for following!