http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://freshome.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/interior-designs-2010.jpg&imgrefurl=http://freshome.com/2009/03/16/hot-interior-design-styles-of-2009/&usg=__dxRqNUUvYvcxJyesmdRwnFxd8Gw=&h=388&w=490&sz=28&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=pB3oqqeyvG9WaM:&tbnh=103&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dinterior%2Bdesign%2B2010%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1

Author: Alex Ion

They say that what is cool in fashion changes overnight and while the world of interior design is not that overly dynamic, the trends when it comes to doing your interiors also change with passing time. With each year come there are new hot designing tips, colors that are more relevant, shades that reinvent the space that surrounds you and accessories that add a whole new dimension to your home. So what is hot and happening and what will be the fashion that will hold sway in the months to come? Here are a few hot interior design styles…

#1 Lay emphasis on comfort and the cozy-factor

The latest when it comes to interior designing is to integrate a great looking blueprint with a home that is great to live in and easy to use. Modern architecture and special arrangement looks for a fine balance between cozy interiors and a sleek and sensuous look. Eye-candy homes are no longer the rave. Utility and practical value is the latest mantra.

#2 Mix and match styles and shades

One of the major impacts on the designing styles will be that of the global economic meltdown and how people will think twice before they part with their cash. The trend will be to mix and match the old stuff that is still useful with new accessories that are affordable and add a little something to the space. Excessive and extravagant spending of cash and throwing away everything old as it does not match the new look will be a thing of the past for some time now.

#3 Do not clutter- Let the space look larger than it really is

Going with a simple and stylish look seems to be the way forward as a clutter-free interior is the popular choice among both consumers and designers. This gives the room a more sophisticated and ergonomic look along with saving on the cash. Only keep what’s needed and arrange it with precision.

#4 A minimalist look with contrasting patterns

There is no doubt that the minimalist look is the most popular style that is going around today when it comes to designing either office spaces or homes. The minimalist design saves on space, looks futuristic and with contrasting bright and bold patterns the look just gets accentuated further. If you look around any modern home design today, you are most likely to find something in lines with this fast catching trend.

#5 Think green to reap long-term benefits

Going green with the energy usage in your home is a great way to invest in the future. That pattern is being quickly and silently integrated into the design and structure of most modern homes. The further you go green, the more you will reap its benefits in the longer run. It is not just a healthy initiative that you can take, but something that you can be really proud of.

#6 Bright colors are the flavor of the season

The blacks, whites and grays are always popular and go well with the more modern look, but it is the bright shades such as vibrant oranges, cool blues and exciting yellows that will rule the year. So go all out and paint the interiors in the bold and bright shade that you love. You can be also sure that this will lift your mood when you are a bit down.

The designing styles and trends seem to be following the global recession to an extent and also the sleek and ergonomic look that people seem to taking to heart. It is also nice to see how functionality is again gaining prominence when compared to form.

We found this interesting article and thought it would inspire you all for 2010...

Happy decorating!

Bold colorful natural and textured - and look for wallpaper on ceilings

December 27, 2009|By Anh-Minh Le, Special to The Chronicle

http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-12-27/home-and-garden/17461472_1_interior-designers-trends-rug

Ask a group of interior designers to talk about the latest decorating trends and, chances are, they'll wince just a little. Here's the problem: Trends are often considered the pieces you buy one year and throw out the next, when they're no longer gracing the pages of your favorite shelter magazine.

However, not every trend is fleeting. A few years ago, going green was hailed as one of the hottest trends. Now it is becoming a standard throughout the design industry.

So we asked around and pulled together a list of 10 trends for 2010 that have some staying power.

10. Mix it up

"In general, I see a trend to a carefully edited 'anything goes' approach," said Ayres. "Going forward in 2010, it's all about the mix and how you combine individual, disparate elements. The right classic 19th century piece will mix with certain vintage finds from the '70s and '80s and with pieces designed this year." She added, "Graphic modern print textiles work with traditional chairs and sofas."

9. Palette

Speaking of color, Melanie Coddington is "having a purple moment that will continue into 2010," she noted. "Gray also continues to figure largely as well - in particular purple and gray, yellow and gray, and matte and shiny gray together are great combinations." Fellow interior designer Kimberly Ayres concurred: "Gray is the new beige," she said, adding that she anticipates "rich and unexpected combinations - like gray with teal or magenta or tangerine. It's a very mercurial color."

Texture and natural materials are abundant in West Elm’s spring products available later this week.

Credit: West Elm

8. The well-traveled look

The Sundance Channel series "Man Shops Globe" follows Anthropologie buyer-at-large Keith Johnson as he visits country after country, looking for special pieces and inspiration for the company's 135 stores worldwide. Whether you're scouring the stalls in Paris or browsing shops during a quick weekend getaway, incorporating souvenirs in a space can give it a bit of personality.

7. Artisanal goods

Just as artisanal foods have taken off, expect the same for home furnishings and accessories. "Artisanal work will continue to be strong," said interior designer Benjamin Dhong. "Even modernists want to see natural materials or the hand of the craftsman brought into their homes."

6.  Wallpapered ceilings

We've all seen the wallpapered accent wall. In 2010, look for wallpapered ceilings as an increasingly popular option for creating visual impact in a room. 

5. Old is new again

"Antiques and vintage pieces add soul to any space," explained interior designer Jay Jeffers, "and these types of items are negotiable and plentiful in today's markets, so our clients are able to invest in key pieces for their home." From sites like 1stdibs.com to consignment and thrift stores, there are indeed sources out there for any budget.

4. Bolder design decisions

"In the last year, people were looking to be calmed and comforted by interiors," said Melanie Coddington, right, who was recently named one of House Beautiful's 20 interior designers to watch. "I hope the burgeoning sense of optimism will translate into sparkle, glamour and lots of risk-taking in design. In with color!"

3. Layered flooring

According to Marilyn Incerty, trend director for Cost Plus World Market, layering floor coverings adds richness and warmth. She suggested "overlapping several smaller, lightweight rugs with patterns and colors that are complementary - a striped runner on top of a larger geometric rug - or overlapping multiples of the same rug in a variety of colors." Those with wall-to-wall carpeting can still get in on this trend. Place "a rug over existing carpet for an instant splash of color or pattern," said Incerty. "This is a great trick for avoiding the hassle and expense of ripping out existing carpeting when you want an update."

2. Keeping it real

Forget faux. (No more fake antlers, please!) In 2010, we want to see a movement toward the natural patina of woods, metals and other materials. We don't even mind a water mark or a hint of rust. After all, those imperfections may be the result of generations of wear and come with a good story or two.

1. Texture

If West Elm's spring collection, which launches this week, is any indication, texture will be big in 2010. "We are spending a lot of time researching new natural materials and unusual techniques with a lot of rich, textural interest," said Alex Bates, creative director for the retailer. New products include a woven natural bamboo headboard, a crocheted floor cushion, recycled glass candleholders and storage made of kooboo.

By Clint Calder
http://home-design-software-review.toptenreviews.com/interior-design/top-10-interior-design-mistakes-to-avoid-pg11.html

10 Buying paint before fabrics and furniture

Colour will always be one of the most important decisions in the designing process. Do not rush it. Not only is painting the most time consuming, but it's also the most permanent of all your decisions. A table or couch can easily be moved, but paint is another story. Be sure to pick the furniture and other accessories for the room, and then take pieces of fabric from them to match to the paint that fits the best. You will find it much easier to match the paint to the furniture, rather than the other way around.

9 Bad Lighting

Every project can look good in the dark, but what happens when you turn the lights on? As you design your projects, don’t forget to keep in mind one of the most important features of a room. You will find that lighting makes or breaks a project. The lighting is truly the emotion of the room. You don’t want the room to be so bright you feel like you’re in a lightning bolt, but at the same time too little lighting will cause the room to have a gloomy feel. There is a grand variety of lighting fixtures to choose from, so don’t be afraid of a little research.

8 Colour co-ordination

7 Over-furnishing a room

It has been said that your bedroom reflects your state of mind. A room that is overcrowded with coffee tables, couches, footstools, paper baskets or whatever, can cause the mind to feel the same way. Be sure to leave plenty of walking space. Stay away from the tendency to fill in the empty spaces. Leave some room. It will be much easier for you to relax and kick back.

6 Getting furniture without first checking room dimensions

Oversized furniture takes its toll on rooms. It will make the room appear small and cramped if not handled correctly. There is nothing wrong with large furniture if the room can handle it. Using smaller furniture will open up a room and give it a roomy feel. WARNING! Be sure that your furniture will fit through the door.
5 Not paying attention to acoustics

4 Not involving nature

3 Not allowing enough time for the design process

2 Placing photos too high on the walls

1 Not using mirrors

 Accenting one or more walls in the room with bright, cheerful color is a good way to turn heads and get positive attention.

Though this has all been done before, there's now a better way to punch pizzazz into this theme through custom painted patterns, which leads us to...

Custom paint on walls is hot. 
Wall paper is not.

Though wallpaper is not out altogether, a pattern painted on a wall is certainly gaining momentum over everyday paper.

Unless you're very talented, the service of an artist will be required for these custom walls, but if you find a good artisan the possibilities are endless. Do you love your dog? Paint one wall in the bedroom or a hall wall with 'portraits' of that favored mutt. Does the bedspread have a particularly interesting pattern?

Paint a wall or border the room with that pattern. A variation on this theme is to take the pattern and enlarge it. A plaid pattern from a chair, for example, can be painted on a larger-than-life scale on the wall. The effect is fantastic.

Shutters are hot.
Heavy draperies are not.

The large, tropical, plantation-looking shutters fit in with just about every decor and are just as versatile as they are attractive. They come in several standard colors and are available as well in custom colors to match woodwork, the walls or any accent color.

California, Colorado and Florida seem to have claimed the market on shutters over the years, but now it appears the rest of the country has picked up on this great design idea.

More from Interior Design Magazine http://www.interiordesign.net/photoGallery

With a TriBeCa apartment by Steven Learner, a couple trades suburban grandeur for city swank...

In an apartment by Steven Learner Studio, a custom screen sets off the living area, where an oil on panel by Corinne Wasmuht hangs above a custom fireplace surround in blackened bronze. Photo by Eric Laignel.

 To fabricate the screen, Susan Woods sawed blackened-steel tube into segments, welded them together, and inserted rounds of colored glass. Photo by Eric Laignel.

A terrarium by Paula Hayes and a vintage driftwood lamp share the top of the living area's Paul Frankl console. Photo by Eric Laignel.

A vintage chair by George Nakashima accompanies a custom wool-covered armchair in the center of the living area. Photo by Eric Laignel.

A David Weeks pendant fixture illuminates the kitchen island, while Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's chairs surround Kagan's expandable table in the dining area. The two Jorge Pardo canvases were produced with an ink-jet printer. Photo by Eric Laignel.

 The central hall's teak paneling. Photo by Eric Laignel.

Jeff Zimmerman's chandelier in the living area. Photo by Eric Laignel.

A 1960's Venetian glass chandelier in the master bathroom. Photo by Eric Laignel.

A mirror-collage by Jim Lambie. Photo by Eric Laignel.

INTERIOR DESIGN

from INTERIOR DESIGN magazine USA.

 In the hall of a Brussels duplex by Agence Andrée Putman, a love seat by Satyendra Pakhalé sits near a lamp by Alessandro Mendini. Photo by Eric Laignel.
http://www.interiordesign.net/index.asp?layout=photoGalleryAlbum&galleryid=3199&order=1

An artist, Marcin Sobolev, created the fish etching on the acid-treated glass end wall of the rooftop pool enclosure. 
Photo by Eric Laignel.




Artwork by Jeremy Blake stretches along a hallway. Photo by Eric Laignel.

In the living area, a crystal chandelier descends from the vaulted ceiling above sofas covered in silk and leather and a linen rug.
All are custom. Photo by Eric Laignel.

A ribbon of stainless steel wraps the wengé handrail of the staircase, which leads up to the pool terrace and down to the bedrooms and study. The steps are also wengé. Photo by Eric Laignel.

In a corner on the lower level, a 1966 chair by Eero Aarnio accompanies a giant Murano glass necklace by Jean-Michel Othoniel. Photo by Eric Laignel.

The living area's piano was customized from Andrée Putman's limited-edition Voie Lactée design.
Photo by Eric Laignel.

Martin Szekely designed the dining table and chairs as well as a pedestal that displays a sculpture.
Photo by Eric Laignel.

 


Cecilie Manz's pendant fixtures line up in the kitchen, where two walls are chiseled granite.
Photo by Eric Laignel.
 

Brushed stainless steel frames sliding doors between the marble-floored kitchen and the dining area.
Photo by Eric Laignel.

Ron Arad's chair sits on the teak pool deck. Photo by Eric Laignel.

Andrée Putman's often-used checkerboard motif appears in the form of the entry's oak-and-ebony parquet.
Photo by Eric Laignel.
 

The guest room's furnishings, all custom, include a leather-wrapped pull-down desktop and pull-out ottoman.
Photo by Eric Laignel.

In the dressing area of the master suite, custom furniture includes a pair of lacquered chests and a suede-covered chaise longue. Photo by Eric Laignel.

Garouste & Bonetti designed the geisha lamps. Photo by Eric Laignel.

Darling Point Apartment (Commendation)

Project

Darling Point Apartment
NSW

Design Practice

Darling Point Apartment
Arent & Pyke
T 02 9331 2802

Photography

Anson Smart

31 Blair Road by ONG&ONG

this wonderful information was found at http://www.dezeen.com/2009/10/02/31-blair-road-by-ong-ong/#more-43113


October 2nd, 2009

Architects ONG&ONG have completed the renovation of an open-plan house in Singapore.

The project, called 31 Blair Road, involved redesigning the entrance to the house, the interior, and a roof terrace.

The architects intended to merge the interior and exterior spaces and create an airy, continual living space.

A bamboo garden has been installed at the front of the house, inspired by a bamboo pattern on the existing façade.

A first-floor mezzanine has been added, and the roof altered to allow more natural light to filter through the interior.

Extendable screens throughout the house allow the occupants to divide the roof terrace from the interior, and separate the bedrooms from their en suite bathrooms.

The central staircase is constructed from folded sheet steel, while at the back of the house a steel spiral staircase leads up to the guest bedroom and roof garden.

Photos are by Tim Nolan.

Here’s some text from ONG&ONG:

–

31 Blair Road.
A Contemporary renovation of an Art Deco style terrace house, results in an austere neutral living space.

Concept- Continuity of spaces eliminate the boundary between inside and outside, in order to create multiple relationships between diverse activities that occur in a residential realm. Austere and Minimalistic with a constant analogy to industrial spaces.

The final scheme is an innovative response to the constraints of a conservation building. A traditional façade embraces a contemporary way of living, that has meticulously achieved a delicate balance between the old and the new. This has created a unique and effective house design, the exterior and the modern approach to the interior has been designed in context with the surroundings.

Conservation aspects

The scheme is an innovative response to the constraints of a conservation house. The beauty of the house is that it has a neutral environment that has been designed to appeal to all tastes, due to its future rental focus.

Conservation of properties in Singapore advocate:
Maximum retention
Sensitive restoration
Careful repair

It was necessary that most of the existing elements of the building envelope were retained, this constraint helped shape the project. Inspiration was taken from the smallest detail on the existing façade (the bamboo motifs).  Subtlety this theme was carried  throughout the project.

The five-foot way leading to the double leafed entrance, typical to shop houses in this area has been sensitively restored to its original condition. This particular property features a forecourt that gives spatial and additional green relief to the narrow plot. The decision was made to populate this space with a dense luscious bamboo garden, in response to the ornate bamboo details that feature on the front façade.

Another key constraint was that the height of the second floor was unable to be altered, to ensure that the front elevation did not change. Inventively the ceiling was raised to accommodate additional space in the roof. Creating a mezzanine space on the second floor.To resolve lighting issues within this new space, a jack roof was created to allow large amounts of light in. A new light and airy space had been crafted.

Monochromatic tone selection was used throughout the scheme to accentuate that the project was attuned to the conservation aspects of the site. It is apparent that the colour pallet used in the project creates a clear connection with the heritage of the site. The subtle choice of natural materials does not draw attention away from the historic aspects of the scheme, only compliments them.

On approach the house looks like any other renovated terrace on the street. Past the thick bamboo front garden the initial impression upon entering is the continuous view through the building. It is spacious for this kind of typical long and narrow terrace plot.A fixed furniture wall running the length and height of the house, allows for an open living space. This creates continuity between all social activities at ground level. The designed furniture wall  functionally accommodates all living necessities and extends to all other floors. Each area is  defined by the use of subtle cove lighting and recesses in the walls that suit multiple atmospheres.

An elegant solution

The folded steel-sheet staircase hangs elegantly from a suspended I beam at the top of the house. This sculptural circulation space services the main part of the house. Inspiration is drawn from the bamboo theme creating a key architectural feature in the house. The staircase is a playful addition to the house.

Continuity of space

Each bedroom benefits from an uncluttered en-suite bathroom, that employs sliding doors that tuck away into the walls. This strengthens the continuity of space throughout the house. Materials used like natural teak run throughout the upper two floors encouraging a warm feeling. White terrazzo flooring gives  a spacious ambiance to the ground level and bathroom floors, while white mosaic tiles cover bathroom walls, adding some texture to the spaces. The altered roof allows light to pour through the attic space and to the mezzanine on the first floor. The master bedroom at the top of the house has been designed with a connection with the kids’ room below. This reiterates the concept of continuity between each space, not only horizontally through the house but vertically. Each bedroom has full height window shutters along one wall that are similar to the traditional exterior shutters, this creates a unity in the project and accentuates the concept of continuity and austerity.

A pleasant addition

The rear steel spiral staircase leads up to a guest bedroom and a roof terrace. The BBQ pit could be used to entertain however it is also an ideal space for a quiet evening meal. The contrasting minimal  approach taken on the rear façade complements the ornate decorative front façade. This approach emphasises the detail and craftsmanship of the existing façade. It created an overall unity in the project between the old and new elements. The austere composition of the rear façade is a contrasting solution however maintains the concept of unity and continuity, in creating a neutral residence. By night the roof of the rear stair way acts as a Beacon emitting a warm glow on the roof terrace.

Environmentally thinking

A large internal courtyard bisects the house. This courtyard not only allows for the flexible inside/outside space, which encourages natural ventilation but also allows light to penetrate both sections of the house. This new intervention creates a light and a spacious feeling around the air well.
Potential less energy consumption may be one of the overall ecological benefits owed to the large internal courtyard. This private courtyard is a perfect place to relax outdoors or entertain; the bamboo garden complements the soft tones of the smooth sandalwood stonewall that raises the height of the building.

Unpretentious

The overall scheme is an unpretentious solution to the growing constraints of working with conservation properties. It sensitively promotes attention to the historic façade. The new renovation is a responsive contrast to the original façade resulting in a functional house design that should appeal to any tenant in the future.

Architects: Ong&Ong Pte Ltd
Location: 31 Blair Road, Singapore
Design Team:  Diego Molina and Maria Arango. Camilo Pelaez.
Project Team: Diego Molina and Maria Arango. Camilo Pelaez. Ryan Manuel. Linda Qing
House Area: 306 m2
Project Year: 2009

–

Posted by Sarah Housley