At idi we believe eco-friendly design is an important part of interior design. Our “Environmental Design” class offers students an in depth study of sustainable environments, quality of life issues and the “smart house”-use of computers and electronics in buildings.
Project/Photo Credit: The Cunningham Group from inhabitat.com
Lighting is important in green design; choose fluorescent, LED and CFL.
Story/Photo credit: Tiffany Brooks at hgtv.com smart home
Smart home automation can control temperature, lighting and irrigation.
Photo/Story Source: Technews24H.com
Green furniture and materials are an important part of eco-friendly design.
Almost all of us have had a piece of wicker in their lifetime. It is so versatile and can be incorporated with all styles of design and décor. idi students learn about sustainable environments in our Environmental Design class.
Photo source: Amazon
Sometimes synthetic fibers are used, especially in outdoor furniture, but traditionally wicker is made of a plant material such as bamboo, willow, rattan or reed.
Photo source: Listly
Wicker is a style of weave dating back to ancient Egypt and It adds an organic, natural feel.
Photo source: Givdo
Rattan is very popular and can add interest and texture to any space.
idi students show off one of their projects from our “Textiles” class
idi students gained hands-on experience while exploring the world of fabrics and fibers. This week students created exciting tie dye projects by dying their own textiles.
One of our favorite days at idi is when the students bring in their custom designed lighting projects for our Design Thinking Class. The designs must be made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials and illuminate when plugged in.
This is one of the many exciting projects at idi where students can use their innovative creativity!
Today we welcome Erica Bryen – Principal Designer and Owner of Erica Bryen Design. In this episode Erica shares her passion for interior design and her long time role as buyer for one of Orange County’s premiere “to the trade” showrooms.
We also talk about the reality of client relations, how she leverages her association with a showroom to streamline her design business, and her “real world” advice to design professionals about knowing your value and standing your ground.
With the expansive reach of technology, creativity inspiration sources have become endless. Traveling to exotic destinations, bustling urban environments, nature’s wonders, and cultural heritage sites, is readily available at your fingertips though your computer screen. But incorporating diversity in design is about a lot more than just sourcing visual inspiration from around the world. It is about understanding how people in different cultures communicate, how they interact, what they value, where their comfort zones are, and how they experience the world. Taking the best of these worlds to create a unique and desirable experience for clients is how we truly enrich and elevate design.
Diversity has become a big plus when it comes to the hiring and selection of employees at the top design firms. The mix of experiences brought to the table by candidates with a global background in a variety of industries, segments and levels is so unique, that it can’t be easily replicated by competitors. It also creates a culture that continually evolves and morphs with new recruits, producing a dynamic work environment that never becomes stale or stagnant. Working in cross-functional and cross-cultural teams not only to brings together best-practice leaders, but it enhances the diversity of the design solutions. These power teams are pushing the boundaries of creativity and bringing a whole new dimension to their designs though the cross- pollination of ideas.
The search for inspiration across seemingly unrelated vertical markets is also a big contributor to design diversity. With the trend towards experience-based interiors, experts are engaging in new creative thinking techniques to promote innovation. The healthcare industry is pulling from the hospitality industry for inspiration, corporate and retail segments are taking elements from the entertainment and leisure industries. Spaces are no longer unidimensional, they go beyond just being functional and aesthetically pleasing to become fun and engaging hubs for social interaction and collaboration, enticing people to stay longer and come back for more.
Technology is also re-shaping the future of design. Some may argue that technology has granted access to so much information that it has made it harder to create truly original designs. But when access to these resources is used to stimulate creativity rather than to copy, the possibilities are infinite. Technology may be considered disruptive in the development of social connections, distancing us from those closest to
us, but it has also brought those furthest away from us much closer, facilitating the exchange of ideas and strengthening bonds with colleagues and business partners across the globe. As more design tools become available to the design community, not only can we easily capture, store, and disseminate knowledge, but we can use that knowledge and combine it with artificial intelligence to generate innovative new spaces.
Those at the leading edge of architectural and interior design are taking advantage of technology advances, artificial intelligence, employee diversity, and segment cross-pollination to get ahead of the pack, rewrite the norms and reshape the future of design.
“Megan Stone’s specialty is designing marijuana dispensaries, like this Royal Highness store in Palm Desert, Calif. Credit…Laura Austin for The New York Times.”
A disrupter, innovator and entrepreneur, Megan Stone is the grand dame of dispensary design. Since founding The High Road Design Studio in 2013, she has provided interior design and brand identity services to cannabis retailers and brands across the US, for both recreational and medical markets. Her unprecedented retail designs have helped usher the cannabis industry onto Main Street and into the mainstream, and have forever changed the international conversation about the retailing of “vice.” Her work has been lauded for altering thoughts, feelings and behaviors worldwide, blazing a trail and earning awards and commendations for design excellence along the way.
The High Road Design Studio worked through brand development to conceive a logo and identity program that truly communicates the essence of Maitri and its owners. The brand story was then infused into their historic building with its prominent Main Street location. From a carefully considered space plan, to the locally inspired Frank Lloyd Wright palette used in a color blocking technique, from the custom millwork collection to the unique art installations, every detail builds on the local history and brand story to provide a welcoming and memorable dispensary experience.
Today we welcome Megan Stone of The High Road Design Studio. Megan specializes in the cannabis consumer experience through professional retail design. In this episode we discuss her multi faceted approach to design in this new and rapidly growing retail market. We also touch on the value of establishing a niche in design and sticking to it as well as the importance of being an authority not only in her field of design but also in her specialty market.
IDI student, Soon-Young Kwon and her team, won first place at the recent IIDA Student Design Charette. IIDA Student members from around the country compete in this live, onsite annual design competition. Students have less than six hours to determine a design solution, develop a presentation, and pitch their concept to a panel of esteemed judges.
Rona has been in the Interior design community for eleven years and specializes in residential new construction and major re-models. During our conversation we talk about the business of design on every level. From staying ahead of the curve to her approach to qualifying the perfect clients, Rona lets us in on the the things that drive her business and her success.
To learn more about, Interior Designers Institute Graduate, Rona Graf of Grace Blu Designs listen to the informative pod cast from Design Biz Survival Guide.
When it comes to decorating with neutral colors, there are two sides: Those who are obsessed with them, and those who consider them a snooze. If you resonate with the former, you’ll be glad to know that some of this year’s fall decor trends follow a muted palette; and if you’re a fan of punchy colors, these subtle surroundings make a perfect backdrop for a bold pop. (A win-win, if you will.)
Love ’em or hate ’em, neutrals are timeless, versatile, and allow for you to change the vibe of your home from season to season (which is especially important when it comes to decorating for the shortest season of all). So whether you’re a minimalist, a maximalist, or you can’t wait to deck the halls for the holidays, these go-with-anything colors mean your style can transition for months and years to come. Better yet, they pair seamlessly with another autumnal trend for 2019: a handful of splashy shades that are unexpected, to say the least.
Ahead, designers weigh in on this year’s in-demand neutrals and offer tips on incorporating them into your space. Whether you’re overhauling your decor for a remodel or you’re looking for less-comital ways to stay current, these expert ideas prove that muted colors don’t have to be dull.
This Fall’s Neutral Color Trends
Matte Black: “Matte black has been the most popular of all trends in recent months, and when it comes to decor, the options don’t fall short,” says Lauren O’Donnell, in-house interior designer forBuild.com. “The colorway is definitely trending because it seems to complement almost anything.”
Further, she assures there are plenty of non-permanent ways to get in on the trend. Picking up small matte black accents, like vases, lamps, picture frames, and fixtures — even pillows and throw rugs — can make a big impact, she says.
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Natural Woods: Weaving hints of nature into your home is a welcoming way to bring the outside in. “Everyone loves the natural beauty, texture, and warmth that utilizing natural wood brings to a space,” says O’Donnell. “It can be as simple as a rustic beam over a fireplace, floating shelving out of white oak, or a full kitchen of warm wood with a clear coat or light wash finish.”
Looking for something a little more temporary? “For commitment-phobes, try filling a big wooden bowl full of pumpkins and gourds on your island or table for fall, stack a few wooden cutting boards on your counter, or use a wooden tray to organize your counter clutter for a warm, unique, and refined look,” she says.
Benjamin Moore Warm Gray Pallette
Taupes and Greiges: “They. Are. Back!” O’Donnell says, explaining that cooler neutrals are on their way out. “Less grays and warmer, earthy tones are on the rise [and] the natural feel of these homey tones on kitchen cabinets, as well as upholstery and walls, is perfect for autumn. And don’t think for a second this is geared only toward the traditional aesthetic; it can complement a range of styles of and looks.”
The designer adds that she gravitates toward neutrals in her own home, since they’re timeless and provide a clean background for seasonal updates including holiday decor.
Unconventional Neutrals: The word “neutral” may bring earth tones to mind, but Mélanie Berliet, general manager of home lifestyle website The Spruce, suggests thinking outside the box. “Don’t just stick with the go-to beige or tan. Lightish grays, blues, and yellows can work as neutrals, too.” For instance, “Lilac Sand and Sundream from The Spruce’s Best Home paint collection come to mind as examples of beautiful, less typical neutrals that we love.”
