Bozena's Notes on Design

We've moved...

2009-10-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

From now on please visit Bozena's Notes on Design on bozenablog.com

Happy reading,
Bozena

Zen Design Inspirations

2009-03-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

When thinking of interior design, one usually sees spaces full of color and pattern, abundant with detail. Popular shelter magazines flood us with beautiful pictures of opulent, highly-decorative rooms, with a lot of decorative elements and furnishings, many layers of luxurious fabrics, and carefully placed objects. On the other side of the spectrum, we have a minimalistic design with simple, clean lines, ascetic spaces, minimal or no ornamentation whatsoever, interplay of textures and materials, and sparse use of color.

Not everyone has the opportunity of working with a designer, and even those who relay on the professional expertise, sometimes choose to replicate those magazine styles to the point. However, we need to keep in mind that in order to produce a personalized interior that is infused with our own style, we have to look beyond the universally given advice. Look for inspiration in other aspects of your life: nature, art, design of everyday objects, even religion and philosophy.

My own inspirations often come from unexpected places. Being interested in the psychology of the space, I realized that many objectives of a great interior design can be accomplished by complying to the aesthetic concepts of Zen philosophy. But this doesn't mean you have to become Buddhist to benefit from it! It only requires approaching each and every space based of the following values:

simplicity - achieve beauty and visual elegance by elimination and omission; try find the balance between "too much" and "too simple"
naturalness - creative restraint in use of elaborate designs
elegance - in the understated sense
unexpectedness - surprise will get more interest
concreteness - eliminating of non-essential objects
emotion - makes your space evoke strong positive feelings
use of negative (empty) space - to gain more focus on the feature element
suggestive rather than descriptive design - introducing to the interior one element at the time to culminate with a focal point (It is called "telling the story". This is my personal favorite, often used in my designs).

To try this stunning new approach, read Living with Zen by Ou Baholyodhin. Return often to this blog; I will relate to the Zen aesthetic concepts in my Deconstructing: Room-by-Room series.

And remember:
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" -Leonardo da Vinci

Dressing Windows

2009-03-04T21:30:00.000-08:00

Window coverings change like a fashion; what you see on the runway will show up shortly in the home decor magazines. The newest fabric designs for the home follow the trends from the best haute couture collections. The accessories (trims) follow the lead. Decorative hardware goes hand-in-hand with the soft treatments, and like the best jewelry creates the signature look.

So here's what is in for this year, as seen at Heimtextil in Frankfurt:

natural look: colors and textures inspired by nature (man-made animal skin, hair, fur and feathers), combined with vintage and recycled fabrics
highly decorative patterns, embellished or embroidered, based on decorative art from deco to nouveau, showing intricate detailing and patina
bold color combinations inspired by energetic '70s and '80s colors (oranges, pinks, yellows with green, blue and black)
combining geometric motives with bold florals
structurally designed fabrics: pleating, padding, layering and folding that create an illusion of mass and bulk
metals, stones, glass, and architectural influences, visible mainly in trims and hardware (tassels, beading, finials etc.)

Layering of window treatments is another trend, this time not only for aesthetic reasons, but also for energy efficiency. Multiple layers provide flexibility in controlling light, privacy and heat loss or gain.

Still, as you see on the picture above, some windows or views are too great to be covered; better leave them uncovered, making sure they're energy-efficient (Low-E).

My First

2008-03-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

It is tough to be a designer.

On one hand you are blessed with working around the world's most beautiful things, while on the other hand you have to deal with the technical aspect of construction, materials, etc.

The interior design process is a constant right brain / left brain battle, or should I say, co-operation. You have to keep your creative thinking challenged all the time, while constantly giving it a "cold shower" with technical data.
As a designer, you are constantly surrounded by a kaleidoscope of shapes, colors and textures, perceived with almost all of your senses (I certainly won't be tasting any samples any time soon!). At the same time, you find yourself deeply immersed into your concept and your space plan, keeping track of all the numbers for necessary clearances, slip resistance factors, yardages and more.

It is a demanding job, always keeping me on my toes. The best ideas often come unexpected: while driving, in the shower, or perusing the latest European fashion magazines.

Yes, it is tough to be a designer...
Would I trade it for a different profession?
Never...