COVERINGS 2010 - Part 1 of 2

COVERINGS 2010

"THE ULTIMATE TILE AND STONE EXPERIENCE"

And what an experience it is. Eye candy is abundant. There are tiles and stones from many parts of the world including the United States, China, Turkey, Spain, Colombia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, India, Hong Kong, Ecuador, Mexico and Italy. From laser printed tiles, antibacterial ceramics, and everything in between, there is much to take in. Below are some images of what I've captured. Enjoy and stay tuned for there's more to come!

MOSAICS

Some love it and some don't. But Stainless Steel is here to stay.

Graffiti Wall Tile - How divine

Don't see too many circle-tile applications, but this is gorgeous.

Stacked stone - See, feel the movement.

Well.....yeah. Your take on this please!

Mosaic floor application. L.O.V.E the colors.

Yes, this image has nothing to do with tile or stone; however, the art is stunning. The shiny domes adds a certain elegance to the texture of the shaved wood creating a dramatic statement.

ALL IMAGES BY MGR.

CAD -HoW I hEaRt ThEe - NOT

AUTO CAD, my former nemesis, not so bad anymore. What a tedious program I thought at first introduction. WHY would anyone want to, well, need to learn this mind-numbing pill of a program. After completing CAD 1, I thought it [CAD] totally sucked. Now I need to take CAD II, III and IV so I can shed more tears (figuratively) and spend countless hours at the computer trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing.

The root causes of my dislike for CAD stemmed from the following issues: my genuine lack of interest in this foreign species which undermined my comprehension. The bottom line was that I needed to re-focus, adjust my attitude and tackle this beast head-on. With my ipod in tow, I began playing with the program more. Low and behold, things began to click: named views, paperspace, model views, sheet sets, annotative scale, etc. - the whole nine yards.

I stumbled on a great tutorial website dedicated to CAD: CADTutor. This amazing website breaks CAD down into laymen's terms. Not only is this site easy to read and follow but also has great pictorial instructions. CADTutor was a real help during my desperation. 

Nevertheless, while I understand CAD and am more comfortable using the program, I still have my issues with [CAD].

Here are a few of my CAD productions:

To all you students out there starting CAD for the first time and thinking....what in the hell is this .....practice, practice, practice. Comprehension comes with persistence and patience. Stop complaining and seek help; your fellow compadre will appreciate this as will you. Read your materials, i.e. books, handouts, etc.

Now, forward I say, on to 3D CAD.

COVERINGS 2010

Well, I am excited.....are you? Have you registered for the Coverings 2010 Show? From April 27th to April 30th in Orlando, FL, the finest tiles and stones from around the world will be on display for us to oooh and aahhh. This will be my first Coverings show and I am looking forward to the adventure. To be quite honest, I'm not really sure what to expect, therefore this is going to be a very short post.

I will be on site with camera in tow snapping away. So if you see me or hear me (laughing loudly that is), please feel free to holla at me!

YELLOW IS A BEAST

A cheerful ferocious beast: YELLOW. Ok, I'll admit that I have never been a big fan of yellow. Why, because it's yellow. At least that's how I felt until I began looking at the color more closely. To all, yellow is associated with the sun; universal symbol of yellow. But did you know that yellow is energetic, a conversation stimulant and an optimistic enchantment; similar to its warm cousins, orange and red. Which yellow do you prefer: Warm or cool? 

Yellow egg chair would make a strong focal point in any space.
(Photo: PhotoBucket) 

Add a dozen (or more) yellow roses for an instant pop of color.
(Photo: PhotoBucket)

Wouldn't you just love to be greeted by this beauty.
(Photo: Florida Design's Miami Home & Decor 2010) 

Vibrant
(Photo: PhotoBucket)

The interjection of yellow is a nice break between the white cabinets.
(Photo: Traditional Home 2010)

Another Vibrant look at yellow
(Photo: PhotoBucket)

My little yellow guy
(Photo: MGR)

What a beautiful View. Yellow is a nice contrast to the dark stairs and black and white tile.
(Photo: Traditional Home 2010)

Claims Adjuster to Interior Designer!?!?!?

Yes, that's me: a former residential construction defect (CD) claims adjuster (to be precise) turned interior design student. Quite a career change you might say. Maybe! ~ If you’re thinking of interior design on a one-dimensional level. Construction defect is very much akin to the interior design industry. How so you might ask?

As a former CD claims adjuster my responsibilities included investigating claims that were filed by homeowners, condominium owners, and HOAs against builders, developers, and subcontractors for construction defects to their dwelling. The carrier I was employed with insured all levels of builders, developers and subcontractors of many disciplines. All claims involved different allegations of property damage resulting from alleged construction defects that stemmed from the work of the builder and/or subcontractor. I have settled claims of up to seven figures because of these alleged defects. The worst form of defects involved windows, concrete, framing, plumbing and electrical issues. Most construction defect issues remain unseen until years after the home has been lived in.

While there are some outstanding builders, developers and subcontractors out there, there are also some wrongdoers. We all know it’s about the bottom line. Builders failing to ensure they secured licensed subcontractors for their specified trade, builders failing to pull the proper permit, or subcontractors skimping on materials or using the wrong materials to cut costs; yes, they are out there.

As a future interior designer, when completing a design project, it is my responsibility to ensure that our selected trades complete a job in the desired manner. How do we know what to look for? You won’t, unless you arm yourself with some knowledge of construction. Aside from load bearing and non-load bearing walls, I believe as interior designers we need to have an arsenal of knowledge about a building’s construction in our tool kits. Doesn’t it make sense that if we re-configure a floor plan or a bathroom, shouldn’t we also have some level of understanding of how the re-design comes together; even the most intricate details. After all, our job is to enhance the function and safety of any space. Guess what, if something goes awry with the design, who’s the point of contact, US! ~ from a liability standpoint, Yes!

Some of my fellow classmates can't seem to grasp the concept that some knowledge of construction will be of use during their interior design careers. I will take my construction defect knowledge with me as I continue on my journey through interior design school.

Just my thoughts.......care to share yours.

Stunningly Beautiful Mosaic

What a stunning focal point. I was flipping through Florida Design Magazine (Miami) and stumbled on this beautiful tile work, which is by MOSAICO BOUTIQUE. Imagine the soft night light bouncing off this wall; captivating! Despite the work that must have went into this project, the result is outstanding.

Enjoy!

THE FINALE

After much research, many trips to the resource room and art supply store, hibernation, no tweeting and no blogging, my residential project is complete. Wow! What a ride. This has been the most fulfilling project thus far of my school career. I've gained an in depth knowledge while pushing myself beyond the boundaries of my perception of what residential design entails. A successful design encompasses so much more than color and furniture selection or even furniture layout. One has to incorporate the end-user throughout the entire design process. In other words, not only must the space be aesthetically pleasing, but it must be functionable, practical and safe. One must constantly think about the client and how the space will be used. It is my solemn belief that if the end-user (in this case the instructor) is satisfied then you've accomplished your goal. I really like the final project. I wish I could move from theory to practicality with this project. What are your thoughts........

Living Room and Dining Room

Second Floor Family Room & Master Bedroom Window Treatment

Re-Designed First Floor

Master Bedroom and Bathroom

More Red

These are some of my own Red items. I love the varying textures and how each item stands out because of its color. 

Hope you enjoyed the color Red as much as I did talking about  it.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. 

I FEEL RED TODAY

While some people are afraid of color, some are even more afraid of the color Red. Red is a vibrant stimulating color. While Red excites the soul and garners energy, it also commands attention; notice the red carpet in Hollywood, Santa Claus' Red suit, China's Red flag, or those lovely Red Roses. 

However, when applying Red to any interior space, careful thought and planning should direct its placement. 

This monochromatic dining room by New York designer, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, uses Red in this dining room to stimulate the appetite. Though, this application of Red may be too much for some.

Interior Designer, Betsy Burnham, injects a splash of energy with the red chair and complimentary red accessories in this modern color scheme. The first piece noticed in this room is the red chair. If you want to draw attention to an item, use an eye-catching contrasting color such as red. Spot light the item, neon sign, bling, etc. ~ ahh, you get the point.

Another dining room setting with splashes of Red. Room by Interior Designer, Wendy Blount. Again, Red is fitting for this room as it stimulates that appetite. Notice the eye-catching chandelier and the red fruit above the fireplace.

This energetic boderline-retro guest room by Interior Designer, Jill Van Tosh, screams glamour and is perfect for a short night's visit.

Interior Designer, Andrew Frank, creates a vivid complimentary color scheme using Red and Green; its opposite on the color wheel. Notice the chairs; a toned-red creatively pulls in the green color via its colorful print.

Overall Red is not an unfriendly color when used appropriately.

ALL images courtesy of Metropolitan Home "GLAMOUR ~ Making IT Modern" by Author, Michael Lassell