Style WARS! Episode 2: Attack of the Trend Clones

Continuing on from Episode 1: The Signature Style Menace, we move our attention to the 2nd of the 3 design company types - The Trend Clones...

You may remember that these were the design companies which are heavily influenced by the current design trends and fashions available.. In not only the design world, but society in general - fashion is a key influential element of our day-today lives.. Many of us shop for the latest clothes, search for the newest gadgets and culturally spend our time in the new trendy bars, clubs or restaurants in the cool parts of town. It's just a way of life so why shouldn't the way we decorate our homes or style our stores be any different?? 

First of all, I have to admit that fashion is also a key element to my life too.. Interior design is an image based industry and so, looking the part and having the latest tools available to do my job is important - but so is authenticity... I think this is where the companies might need to adjust their design choices...

Sticking with the trends or latest products is fine, but don't be too regimental with the choices - you need to inject the character of the space, the personality of it's occupants and the authenticity of the design needs of the client into the palette too.. I think this is the only way to run a successful design studio that's influenced in this way.. If you were to stick to the boundaries of the trends, your designs might appear to be too regimented, too straight or strict so to speak - you know what I mean??? They'd have no character or individuality - and that is IMPORTANT!!!

I may go on to add that although I feel the inclination to just stick within the design trends is a bad idea (design trends change and therefore become dated quite quickly), some of the latest products of their time - such as the Eames Chairs, are still available today and continue to sit well within a wide variety of interior styles... So fashions or trends do have a part to play in the design field of today, but it certainly shouldn't be your only influence... A box is to be opened, a door is to be walked through and a light is to be switched on - do the same with your designs and you shall enjoy the fruits of your labor - leaving the box closed, waiting at the door and indeed designing in the dark will only lead to design disaster after design disaster....

Don't be a Trend Clone - be you, yourself, your own...

Watch out for Part 3 - Revenge of the Undefinable's...

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Style WARS - Episode 1: The Signature Style Menace

Within the ranks of today's interior design business, a designers "style" has become their calling card - their "signature" so to speak, but is this for the better? 

Some would argue that having a specific design style is how they attract business, being well known for that style, be it contemporary, minimalist, eclectic or even classical - lovers of those styles are actively seeking out their respective design guru's... 

Interior design companies are usually split into 3 categories:

1. The companies that have a "signature" style/look that they do extremely well and have become well known in the industry for "that" style...
2. You have the companies that are heavily influenced by the current design trends or fashions - often sitting on the fence-line of proclaiming to be "boutique" studios...
3. And finally you have the companies that have an even shakier foundation - claiming to have an "evolving" style that lends itself to being versatile...

Today we're going to talk a little bit about number 1 - the Signature Style Menace...

Let me begin by saying that having a "Signature Style" does have it's benefits:

• They have a simplified marketing requirement - their target market has already been defined... 
• Signature stylists can take advantage of relaxed product sourcing and design library population needs...
• Defined design brief parameters in terms of speedy design brief analysis...
• And most of all - a predetermined audience that's actively seeking that particular "style" of designer...

Sounds good doesn't it - well what about the flaws???

Now I know what you're thinking - HOW can there be flaws, it seems like such a simple yet rewarding set-up.. Okay yes, having these defined market boundaries is quite simple, but isn't "boundaries" the operative word here?? Why would you want to be bound in any way?? Isn't interior design a creative industry?? Sure, even if you are bound by your own style, there's still room for creativity in your work as each and every client - and indeed their space is quite unique, but there's still a limit to what you can achieve..

I personally think that industry training has some part to play in the signature style trend within design companies, and this is why.. When I did my training at the Regent Academy in London, we were taught about the history of interiors and heavily driven to apply this history to our work. It was these design style classics that shaped the interiors of today and even now (with the current retro/reclamation themed trends) these historical giants (such as shabby chic, rococo, baroque and many others) are reflected in our choices...

The design educators of today do "touch" on the subject of interior design history, but the content and degree of training in these areas is (in my opinion) far less detailed than the training I (and indeed some of my colleagues) undertook many years ago...

To sum up today's blog, I guess the question here is.... Should a Professional Interior Designer be defined (and indeed bound) by a "signature style", or should designers (and design educators) be open to the fact that diversity in what they do - is actually a GOOD thing???

Need some design inspiration?

  

The Great Wallpaper Debacle...

Love it or hate it - Wallpaper has been around for quite some time and with the creation of new styles, vibrant colour ranges, fashionable textures and new levels of customisation being achieved - Wallpaper is here to stay!!

So what's all the fuss about??

Wallpaper has a lot going for it - it's relatively easy to apply, creates an instant "WOW" factor or feature in almost any space, the range is endless and to be honest it's not as expensive as you might think.. Along with colour, pattern can serve many functions in your home or commercial space -  it can be a focal point or a backdrop, it can attract attention, create a mood and even alter the apparent dimensions of a room. Patterned wall coverings can soften angles and are more effective than plain surfaces for disguising an odd-shaped room or uneven walls.

Here are some examples of how Wallpaper can impact your space:

As you can see with these examples, large, bold patterns – like deep, rich colours – are intense and active; they work best as focal points in large living areas or commercial spaces. This is because bright colours and busy patterns slap you in the face when you come across them, it's as if they advance towards you, demanding your attention and drawing you in:

Other styles tend to do the opposite, like with these examples - subtle patterns and pale, neutral colours are not so aggressive and offer a less challenging backdrop. This is because they give off a sense of space and light whilst encouraging passive moods - these styles tend to drop away form the eye and create a calming, balanced and restful spaces to enjoy:

What about "Digital Art" wallpapers?? These are FANTASTIC for creating a statement, and the possibilities are endless... Used a lot on commercial spaces, wall-art or "murals" as they were once known are becoming more and more popular as public awareness and style customisation reaches new heights.. Just have a look at these exmples:

As you can see, the possibilities are endless and now that we have new application technologies (such easy peel and paste the wall), there really isn't a valid reason to not consider WALLPAPER when looking to improve the look of your home or commercial interiors...

Are you looking to introduce Wallpaper into your space?? Why don't you give us a call on: 1300 30 20 74 to see how we can help you!!

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