Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
Interior design has always been impacted by fashion trends – both historically and in the modern day. In this article series, “Designing in Style,” I explore the meaning of style for interior designers.
I draw on my experience working alongside many of London’s best-known interior design teams. This second article in my series introduces traditional/period design, with a focus on the Jacobean and Victorian styles.

Traditional design uses materials that reflect the wealth and opulence of historic times. London Interior Designers will often take the best of the features that were available back then and skilfully combine them with elements that are available today. Traditional/period interior design projects tend to focus on elegance, with a look and feel that is comfortable, rich and sumptuous, although sometimes also a little fragile.

The Jacobean theme is popular in London mansions and other residences that have a real sense of history. The Jacobean style focuses on heavy wooden features, with dark-stained oak often used to create panels for walls and floorboards. Oak is also often used for the furniture, and the overall interior design feel is that of robustness, with pleasantly-proportioned pieces to fill the available space. Tapestries are also an important part of the Jacobean look. However, many interior designers recognise that tapestries can be impractical nowadays, and one approach often used by London’s best-known consultancies is to recreate the tapestry appearance on modern upholstered furniture or curtains.

One caveat with Jacobean interior designs is that the style does need plenty of natural light, because otherwise the darker wood stains can seem uninspired. This can be problematic in smaller London residences, but is generally not an issue with more luxurious mansions that often feature huge south-facing windows and substantial grounds.

The Victorian interior design style, by contrast, is considered a more staid approach. Interior designers often focus on small rounded tables, often covered entirely in cloth, and fat, heavily-buttoned chesterfield settees. So much of London became urbanised in Victorian times that the style also came to include nature as a theme for textiles, serving as a counterpoint to accelerating industrialisation. Consequently, Victorian interior design schemes often feature floral elements and birds on both walls and furnishings.

In the next article in my “Designing in Style” interior design series, I will focus on a third and final period style that is particularly important for London residences – the Georgian style.
Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

If watching HGTV leaves you drooling, but you know that kind of massive decorating overhaul isn’t in your budget, don’t despair! There are plenty of ways that you can make your home look great without breaking the bank. By following these tips, you can give your home a designer quality makeover with a budget price.

First, get some inspiration for what you want to do. Look at decorating magazines or online at decorating websites. You’ll save a lot of money by knowing exactly what you want to do with your space before you get started. Take note of what elements of the design inspire you the most. Do you like the colors? The textures? The patterns? Try to mimic these elements in your own space.

Once you’ve planned out how you want to proceed with your design, you can start your smart shopping. Paint can have a dramatic effect on your space. You can get good quality, low budget paints from major home improvement stores. Be sure to read reviews online for the most durable paints. Some cheaper paints skimp on quality and are more trouble than they are worth. Find the best brand for your budget and then look at samples in the store.

A lot can be accomplished with a fresh coat of paint, but if you need furniture for your room makeover you can still keep costs low. Consider getting home-assembly furniture like the type available at IKEA and other department stores. You can get ready to assemble furniture in a variety of different styles so the look of your room doesn’t have to be limited by your budget. As long as you have some patience and a helper to assist you with the project, you can really save a lot of money on your furniture needs.

Wall treatments and curtains can be really expensive, but they don’t have to be. Make sure to look at department store seconds stores, such as TJMaxx or Marshall’s. These stores have surplus items that were passed down from major department stores, so you can really get a lot for your money. Be sure to order in a store made size since special ordering will cost more.

Accessories can be found at a wide variety of places for relatively cheap. Target, Walmart and Kmart all carry designer inspired decorating items that will give your room a professional look. Candle holders, picture frames, planters and even artwork can be found for a bargain. You can also try looking at TJMaxx or Marshall’s for department store seconds. Better yet, why not try making your own decorating accessories by following some simple instructions. The DIY network has a terrific website with dozens of projects that will help give your home a custom look. Best of all, you’ll know that you contributed to the design of your home and you can feel proud of your accomplishments.

When the time comes to change the way your home looks and feels on the inside you should consider decorating your home with pine furniture. Changing the paint on the walls, the color of your carpets, even your drapes can make a difference, but when you add the refreshing look of pine to your home, you can really create a whole new look.

Most people tend to overlook the beauty of pine furniture, considering it to be nothing more than rustic or country style furniture that does not belong in a modern home. Those who feel this way are missing out on furniture that is more naturally unique than any other real wood furniture on the market. Each individual piece will be replete with its very own pattern of knots and marks that only Mother Nature can create. .

As one of the softer woods, pine has never been taken seriously as a wood to be used in serious furniture. However, recent public interest in this relatively inexpensive type of wood has thrust pine furniture into the limelight as more of the upper tier furniture stores are starting to carry anything from a few pieces to complete collections.

Pine furniture can be left natural and finished with a layer of wax if you want to create a light airy look in your kitchen or your dining room. The natural white color of the pine will make the whole room look and feel much bigger than it really is and far more inviting.

If you want to add a touch of luxury to your living room or bedroom, you can stain the pine a warm, dark color. Match this with rich colors like deep reds, purples and create an intimate environment that you will want to spend lots of time relaxing in, far away from the hustle and bustle of the day.

You can use decorate a child’s bedroom with pine furniture and paint it in bright vibrant colors with stencils when the child is young and then paint right over it as they grow up and want their room to be as grown up as they are. There is no end to the ways you can decorate your home with this beautiful furniture. You never know you might just start a new trend in your neighborhood and have all of your neighbors coming to you for decorating advice as they decide to make the switch to pine.