interiordesignlondon-blog

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Interior Designer - How an Interior Design Company Really Works

A Philosophy of Service We think of our London interior design company's services as being a "considered purchase" for luxury-orientated homeowners worldwide. In my opinion, the number one priority for any interior design company should be "understanding the client's needs". At Global Interior Design in London, we use a specialised and proprietary matrix process to achieve optimal results for each and every project - our goal is to outfit "luxury homes of the world" and we think long and hard about how to customise our service offerings to meet the unique needs of every client with an effort level of 100% or more! Hello World, It's Me London When I started my London-based interior design company, Global Interior Design, I always knew that we would end up catering to clients all across the world. From the very beginning, I have understood that value that international clients will derive from the designer flair of our professional London team. Today, as we move towards serving every corner of the globe, we have a tight quality control process through which all of our designs are approved to the highest quality and finalised with oversight from our interior design company's head office in central London. Whether a client is requesting "cool luxury" or "warm luxury" styles, we guarantee a no-fuss and hassle-free service - whether we are sourcing cabinetry and panelling from the Cotswolds or antique furniture with gold leaf detailing from Paris! Eco-Friendly Interior Design We must learn to use energy more efficiently, and for most people there is no better way to do that than to start right at home. Several years ago, our London-based interior design company started to focus on so-called "green design" for our most discerning and future-thinking high-end clients. Since then, we have supported countless homeowners and office redevelopers both in London and worldwide through their efforts to maximise energy efficiency. This spirit of innovation truly reflects the essence of how an interior design company should work - showcasing a collaborative relationship with our clients, and uncovering new ways to customise our designs to help build a better reality for our environment and for future generations. Unique Value Comes From Experience A great interior design company can only be built on experience. With every new project come new learnings and fresh perspectives. One of the questions asked most often by clients of our London-based interior design company is "what should I spend extra on to beautify this design?" This question can only be answered effectively by a highly experienced interior design company. As with so many things in interior design, it is all about the end client. We might encourage a family to spend a bit extra on a high-end living room entertainment system. By contrast, we might recommend that a wealthy single businessperson with a showcase luxury home spend extra on a wonderful set of antique furniture items from Italy. Interior Designer - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

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Interior Designer - In Love With Design! London’s No-Fuss Interior Design Company - Foliage and Functionality

In this last article (part three in my series "In Love With Design!") we continue with our commentary on the magnificent redesign of the Peugeot family's Kenya Lamu residence, as envisioned and implemented by the prestigious Modola interior design company. The foliage and vegetation is simply adorable, with clusters of mangrove (a swamplike plant) that climb up out of the earth and envelop palm fronds and an array of white and yellow desert flowers, which look a little like the yellow buttercups that one often sees in London's royal parks. The Modola interior design company installed the pool in an el evated position, fully 10 metres above the beachfront below. The poolside pergola is where the Peugeots and their closest friends assemble for informal lunches and light dinners prior to the evening's entertainment. London's best-apportioned residences are often characterised by the traditional English conservatory. The equivalent in Kenyan culture is an architectural feature known as the baraza - a snug, sheltered outdoor private space that is covered with a thatched roof and features beautiful outdoor-safe upholstered couches and recliners. The Modola interior design company installed multiple of these units. One can snack on treats or enjoy social time with friends in these nice little spaces while luxuriating in the refreshing sea breezes. The cushions and throws help the Peugeot family to rest and relax while enjoying a meal or afternoon tea. Accessories have been installed by the Modola interior design company to evoke memories of the beach next door - shells, pebbles, rounded beach rocks, and precious gems adorn the foot of each seating area. In the poolside pergola, one note of dashing colour reflects the overall philosophy of this interior design company's work in beautiful Kenya . The intense red tablecloth contrasts with the green tint of the dishware and orange highlights in the glasses. In London , such colours may risk feeling overbearing - but on the island of Lamu , with its gorgeous blue skies and rich gold colours of the beach, intense relaxation is the net effect. As the founder of a London-based interior design company myself, I commend the Modola team for their amazing work on what must surely be one of the world's top luxury homes! Interior Designer - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

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Interior Designer - In Love With Design! London’s No-Fuss Interior Design Company - The Social Scene

The true core of the residence is the kitchen, and this is where the Modola Interior Design Company decided to place a new door that opens directly onto the village green for easy business or social access! As with many grander London residences, all of the seating/entertainment areas are upstairs. The house features a beautiful social zone where the Peugeots can luxuriate with family and guests from London or Paris in one of two crescent-shaped seating areas. The Modola interior design company elected to install opulent couches that are covered in enchantingly bright coloured pillows, placed around a fabulous extended oak table from a local artisanal interior design company. On the same upper level, Claudio's interior design company installed a narrow railing-guarded balcony to enhance the feeling of connectedness with the rest of the village. The Peugeot family loves to stand out here at night to enjoy the still air and chat with neighbours - for me this is refreshingly different from most London residences which tend to be so much more secluded! The Modola interior design company subcontracted a star garden/landscaping design team to further enhance the social functions of the residence. The London-based garden interior design company Hobson & Co. created two enchanting walled-in "secret gardens" that create fresh, shady relaxation spaces - amply secluded from the everyday hubbub of village life. A waterfall and a sophisticated palm jungle surrounding a private seating area make for a simply breathtaking effect. For a touch of Mediterranean class, the interior design company installed a pool and a delightful pergola adjacent to it. The swimming pool is almost a perfect triangle, but the Modola interior design company chose an unusual shape that reminds the viewer of the famed London Eye ferris wheel on the South Bank. Just steps beyond is the ocean itself, and the aquamarine pool water looks simply fabulous alongside the deeper blue of the water beyond. Interior Designer - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

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Interior Designer - In Love With Design! London’s No-Fuss Interior Design Company - Introduction

Recently I was reading an article about the celebrated London/Italy/Africa-based interior design company Claudio Modola & Co., and their amazing efforts to renovate a breathtaking residence on the island of Lamu, off the coast of Kenya, owned by famed French automobile magnate and fashionista Domitilla Peugeot. It's been a few years since I last visited Kenya on behalf of my interior design company, so I know first-hand that one of the most astonishing things about this fabulous country is the vibrancy of its diverse people-groups. Indeed, I have quite a number of Kenyan friends who live here in London, and they are truly some of the most friendly and beautiful people in the world. Lamu is an interesting place, and certainly one where you wouldn't expect to find interior design companies around every corner. It's not a conventional tourist destination like London - there are few cars, no public transport options, and plenty of donkeys and power failures. Hence the need for Italy's famous interior design company E. Claudio Modola & Co. to assist Domitilla Peugeot and her famous husband. The couple craved an escape from the bustle of Paris and London, and a true relaxation space in which to luxuriate while on holidays. The goal for Claudio's interior design company was to embrace the Swahili architectural language by including indoor balconies - what a concept! - to echo the traditional street-corner Kenyan village hut. Furthermore, his interior design company was asked to incorporate a crescent moon motif as a core thematic element in the design - as I know from my Kenyan friends in London, this idiom is commonly used to signify good luck in the local culture. As for furniture, Claudio's interior design company strove for authenticity by selecting a range of beautiful artisan-made pieces from local Swahili designers. Charming hand-crafted wooden beds are a centrepiece of every bedroom, while the Modola team selected rich purple cotton daythrows to offset the bright white cotton sheets from London and the deep blues of the ocean, which are constantly visible from many of the residence's windows. The interior design company recognised that focusing on the upper levels would be key - not just for the gorgeous views, but also to benefit from the constant flow of sea breezes that can make all the difference between a delightful dinner/music soiree and a stiflingly hot evening indoors. Interior Designer - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

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Interior Designer - Splashing About: Swimming Pool Design in London - from Global Interior Design, the No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios

Today's rising stars of London's executive jetset desire the highest quality in design that allows them to luxuriate and recharge following an intense day in the boardroom. On many occasions, our in-house bathroom design teamhas had to go for gold to meet the latest demands for spa-style extravagance and high-tech luxury. One of the most often-requested features is an outdoor swimming pool, which our high-end London clients will request for either a garden or a stunning cityview roof terrace, or even for the upper deck of a prized houseboat. Join me in this series of blogs as I explain how we achieve amazing results! Splashing About: Swimming Pool Design in London - from Global Interior Design, the No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios - Part II When invited to create an outdoor swimming pool, our bathroom design team will normally rely on ocean-inspired colours and textures that evoke the core mindset of fresh aqua harmony. Often, this means plenty of deep navy or indigo illumination, perhaps with underwater fibre optics that throw a burst of light onto the surface and create a stunning glow in the fresh London nighttime air. Our team of clever bathroom designerswill use all their indoor-inspired talent for this outdoor scenario, incorporating easy-clean tiling, luxurious side-decks, and a bespoke blend of lighting fixtures that is both eye-catching and safety-aware. Splashing About: Swimming Pool Design in London - from Global Interior Design, the No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios - Part III Some outdoor pools in London are only intended for seasonal usage, thanks to our occasionally inclement weather in autumn and winter. For this purpose, our London bathroom design team may encourage clients to select lighting hardware that slides seamlessly into the tilework, creating a flush surface that can be more easily drained and that is more robust to frost during the off-season. We love to use cross-throw illumination patterns that artfully link high-intensity and more shadowy areas to build the sense of mystique and majesty. Splashing About: Swimming Pool Design in London - from Global Interior Design, the No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios - Part IV High-efficiency halogen illuminators are readily available from London lighting wholesalers, and these - together with fibre optic lights - are normally sold in slimline packages that can be embedded into pool walls or floors. As a professional London bathroom designer, I will routinely encourage clients to explore more dynamic colour ecosystems. For example, I love the concept of a wireless colour pad that can be installed next to the illuminator junction. Clients can use a remote control device to choose the desired colour any time, and our bathroom design team can also incorporate an "auto-cycle" option, which dynamically shifts through the entire spectrum of hues over the course of an evening. Splashing About: Swimming Pool Design in London - from Global Interior Design, the No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios - Part V This is the final blog posting in my series on outdoor swimming pool design, from the perspective of our London-based bathroom designconsultancy. Pools can be great places to enjoy a fabulous summer garden party or enchanting soiree. It is important to include ample privacy-aware changing facilities for guests, together with dry zones and wet zones to avoid slip hazards and ensure compliance with all relevant safety regulations. Our bathroom designers will also try to make the pool accessible to the elderly or those who are less mobile, perhaps by incorporating an easy-lower deck option and a shallower zone with warm bubble jets where older guests can relax in comfort and gaze out over the London skyline. Interior Designer - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

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Interior Designer - Making an Impact: Thoughts on Historical Influences, from the Desk of London's No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios

No matter your age or mood, you almost certainly love to luxuriate under a hot shower jet, or perhaps in a home whirlpool tub to which you can add your favourite rejuvenating lotions and aromatic cleansers? London's top bathroom design teams understand that sophisticated residences demand opulent and sumptuous spa-like bathroom designs. But all too many Londoners are totally in the dark when it comes to the history of bathroom design! In this short series of blog postings I'd like to tell you all about how and why bathroom designs came to be the way they are today. Making an Impact: Thoughts on Historical Influences, from the Desk of London's No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios - Part II If you ask a young child to imagine a bathroom, they will begin to tell you about the smooth, cold whiteness of porcelain and plastic, and the crisp, clean feel of sanitised tiles. Astonishingly, these bathroom design elements became commonplace only in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s. And it wasn't until the thirties that bathroom designers were finally introduced to new accessories and ornamentation from London's up-and-coming bathroom hardware factories. London's bathroom design mavens eagerly incorporated these new items, using them to great effect to build flair and sophistication for their most discerning clients. Making an Impact: Thoughts on Historical Influences, from the Desk of London's No-Fuss Bathroom Design Studios - Part III From the 1920s onwards, things just got better and better for London's bathroom designer communities. Forward-thinking design stars started to encourage clients to choose luxury vanity units with built-in lighting, they created bespoke cabinetry for favourite aromatherapy oils or household medications, and they began to incorporate spa-like elements such as mud, shell and hot-stone treatment zones. London's bathroom designindustry had come alive with creativity and dynamism in a way that would change the interior design community forever. Interior Designer - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.

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Property Renovation London - Choices with High Return on Investment

When property owners in London speak of property renovation projects, often return on investment is mentioned at the same time. This is an interesting thought to many property owners who had previously never considered that property renovations done correctly can add huge value to a home. In addition, there are also many renovation projects that pay for themselves in a surprisingly short time. This article aims to highlight certain property renovation projects that increase energy efficiency. Heating Thermostat Upgrades No matter how your London property is heated, it is more often than not possible to increase the efficiency of these systems. Going from the basic replacing traditional valves for wet radiators to thermostatically controlled valves that actually measure the temperature in the room, to incorporating digital 7-day programmable thermostats into your property renovation to constantly regulate the temperature of each room of your London home. These thermostats can be programmed to switch off at the time you leave your home in the morning, and then switch back on to heat the required space back to ideal temperature by the time of your return. The ability to control separate zones individually, and pick ideal temperatures for each zone can lead to massive energy savings over a period of a few years. Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems Modern, well insulated London homes can suffer air pollution up to ten times worse than pollution found outside the home. Current building regulations in the UK require extraction and ventilation systems be installed in many areas of the property and trickle vents be installed in windows. As such, a vast amount of heat is lost through these traditional ventilation systems. Installing a ventilation system as part of your property renovation in London that is able to extract the majority of the heat from the outgoing air and transfer it to fresh incoming air can offer a very high return of investment over time. In addition, these heat recovery ventilation systems can be installed with pollution, pollen, and electrostatic filters to improve the air quality inside your home as part of a health conscious property renovation in London . Energy Efficient Appliances Nowadays, manufacturers of household appliances are making increasingly energy efficient models. Incorporating more energy efficient appliances in your property renovation can lead to a huge reduction of running costs and energy wastage. Should you be a London property owner and wish to learn more about how to incorporate energy saving installations into a complete property renovation, you should speak to a company for property renovation in London that has experience with installing energy efficient systems, such as Global Interior Design. Property Renovation London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for Property Renovation and interior design.

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Property Renovation London - Hardwood Floors

Installed correctly, wood floors can be both aesthetically pleasing as well as add substantial value to your London home when the time comes to sell. Many types of wood flooring can be refinished by sanding down and re-lacquering, so the purchaser of your home can have a practically new floor for a fraction of the expense of removing and installing a new flooring - which can potentially add up to a large fraction of any property renovation in London. There are three main types of wood flooring installations that would need to be considered as part of a property renovation in London . Parquet floors create an expensive, stylish look that could be more suited for an overall traditional design. A more standard option would be to install strip wood flooring, which consists of narrow strips of wood installed in a linear fashion and is the most commonly used wood flooring type for property renovations in London today. The third choice commonly used in property renovations is plank flooring, which is again linear but uses planks of wood much wider than the strip wood option. Once a choice has been made for process of installation, it is time to make a choice on the type of wood. The available wood types can vary based on time and location, so here are a few examples of commonly used materials in property renovation in London at the moment. Oak: Oak is the most comment type of flooring used in London property renovation. There are two types to choose from; red oak and white oak. Red oak tends to have a deeper grain, and takes colour stains well because of its increased porosity over white oak. Oak surfaces are perfect for highly trafficked areas of your property as it is one of the more durable wood flooring options. Maple: Maple is one of the most durable wooden floor treatments available in London for your property renovation - bowling alleys and other commercial premises often use maple flooring for increased longevity over the other options of wood flooring in London. Birch: Using birch flooring as part of a property renovation appeals to some London homeowners because of the unique grain patterns, which generally have a lot more character than other wood choices. The birch colour range is also very wide, and this surface is durable enough to be installed in areas of high traffic. Bamboo: Bamboo provides an alternative option for those homeowners looking to use sustainable products in their London property renovation. Bamboo grows extremely quickly so the harvesting process doesn't impact the environment anywhere near as much as other wood options. Cork : Another sustainable option for use in property renovation is cork flooring. Cork can be continually harvested from the same tree for hundreds of years, with minimal impact on the environment; no trees are felled in obtaining this product. Cork itself is a natural sound and thermal insulator, and with the right coatings can also be used in wet areas such as bathrooms. Property Renovation London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for Property Renovation and interior design.

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Property Renovation London - Home Gyms

Maintaining a healthy body is more than maintaining a healthy weight by establishing prudent eating habits; healthy living needs to include regular exercise. Many people in London will cite time restraints as a reason for not being able to frequent a gym on a regular basis, and are inclined to install a home gym as part of their property renovation. Obviously, incorporated health spas and the plethora of workout equipment available, today's gyms offer many benefits. In addition, many people in London feel they benefit from group workouts, which can be very motivational and competitive at times. However, there are also disadvantages to gym memberships: Memberships to London gyms can be expensive; many people want to go directly home after a long work day; it can be challenging to make time for both the workout and travel time to and from the gym; and some would prefer to workout in the privacy of their own property. Including your own family gym as part of your next property renovation could be a good investment over time, saving a considerable amount of money each month on London gym memberships for your family and allow infinitely flexible workout scheduling. This would increase the chance of achieving your fitness goals, since the gym location is convenient, at home, requiring no travel time. To determine whether a London home gym is the right choice to add to your next property renovation, consider the following questions: - How many other family members would benefit for a home gym installation? - Would the home gym take the place entirely of a public gym, or would you like the flexibility of being able to work out at a public gym also. - Would the one-time expense of including a London home gym in your property renovation, and adding to the value of your property, be more convenient than paying monthly for a gym membership - How committed are you to achieving your health and fitness goals - will you find the motivation to work out individually, without access to the group classes? - How much would you be able to budget for a home gym as part of your property renovation in London ? Investing in a home gym can have many positive benefits, but the choice of equipment and room design are just as important as your motivation and a regular workout routine Should you wish to learn more about the options for installing a home gym as part of your property renovation in London, you should speak to a renovation company in London that has experience with installing home gyms, such as Global Interior Design. Property Renovation London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for Property Renovation and interior design.

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Property Renovation London - Tips and Techniques

Building design and planning are not static careers: techniques change, knowledge increases, challenges catapult. This article discusses how these ideas apply to a Property renovation in London . Global Interior Design has years of experience with complete property renovations - let us share with you our knowledge. In London, there are many experienced professionals conducting complete property renovations every day - from the master decorator working single-handed to inspired designers managing a range of branch divisions both within and outside London . This article focuses on some of our best techniques for property renovations. One of our favorite approaches is to rely on history for definitive property renovation themes that act as springboards for the London professional's poetic modern taste. Global Interior Design is tenacious and adventurous for these kinds of projects. In these types of property renovations, we introduce design elements that intelligently reinvent the time-tested for the present. In one of our recent projects of property renovation in London, we included an oversize armchair with Renaissance-inspired presence and bronze sconces weighed with teardrops of crystal. Our property renovations - from serenely French-inspired to adeptly trendy - are attractive and inspirational. Particularly stimulating are expert installations that combine multiple Global Interior Design leitmotifs: antique London furniture, Italian accessories, contemporary artwork, and sumptuous fabrics. Dependability is the hallmark of our London-based property renovations team. Our firm's exciting residential and commercial projects - among them a London houseboat, a Cote d'Azur mansion with a Tuscan countenance, and a peach-toned apartment with a discerning European feel - showcase the adaptability of our dedicated property renovations professionals. Global Interior Design's complete property renovations practice also demonstrates an awareness of location. Our designs are securely anchored in their geographical context and are appropriate to their settings. Every property renovation is significant rather than superficial. With clients from North African and Middle Eastern aristocracy to European and Asian executives, our property renovation practice creates outstandingly pleasing residences from our London headquarters. An invigorating array of our appealing designs, such as seashore-inspired beachfront creativity and undemanding minimalist flair, appears on our website. Our expert property renovations team also has relationships with traditional master craftspeople and London-based artists - invaluable for recreating authentic period designs. Property Renovation London - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for Property Renovation and interior design.

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Property Renovation London - Global Interior Design London

Building design and planning are not static careers: techniques change, knowledge increases, challenges catapult. This article discusses how these ideas apply to a Property Renovation in London. Global Interior Design has years of experience with complete property renovations - let us share with you our knowledge. In London, there are many experienced professionals conducting complete property renovations every day - from the master decorator working single-handed to inspired designers managing a range of branch divisions both within and outside London. This article focuses on some of our best techniques for property renovations. One of our favorite approaches is to rely on history for definitive property renovations themes that act as springboards for the London professional's poetic modern taste. Global Interior Design is tenacious and adventurous for these kinds of projects. In these types of property renovations, we introduce design elements that intelligently reinvent the time-tested for the present. In one of our recent property renovations projects in London, we included an oversize armchair with Renaissance-inspired presence and bronze sconces weighed with teardrops of crystal. Our property renovations - from serenely French-inspired to adeptly trendy - are attractive and inspirational. Particularly stimulating are expert installations that combine multiple Global Interior Design leitmotifs: antique London furniture, Italian accessories, contemporary artwork, and sumptuous fabrics. Dependability is the hallmark of our London-based property renovations team. Our firm's exciting residential and commercial projects - among them a London houseboat, a Cote d'Azur mansion with a Tuscan countenance, and a peach-toned apartment with a discerning European feel - showcase the adaptability of our dedicated property renovations professionals. Global Interior Design's complete property renovations practice also demonstrates an awareness of location. Our designs are securely anchored in their geographical context and are appropriate to their settings. Every property renovation is significant rather than superficial. With clients from North African and Middle Eastern aristocracy to European and Asian executives, our property renovation practice creates outstandingly pleasing residences from our London headquarters. An invigorating array of our appealing designs, such as seashore-inspired beachfront creativity and undemanding minimalist flair, appears on our website. Our expert property renovations team also has relationships with traditional master craftspeople and London-based artists - invaluable for recreating authentic period designs. London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.

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London Renovation Company - London's No-Fuss Interior Design Consultancy, Global Interior Design

Boosting Your Efficiency - I My fourth tip for employees at my London-based interior design consultancy is simple: Make your clients your top priority. Personally I will always tell my interior design clients the number of my mobile phone - that demonstrates my commitment to excellence and communication. Furthermore, I love the latest technologies and I update this blog very regularly because I know that's the best way for me to share my latest thoughts with the international interior design community and with my present and former clients. My London-based assistant keeps our internet presence current, and I make sure to use SMS, email, phonecalls, and facebook to stay in touch 24/7. My portfolio of quality clients includes international businesspeople who travel extensively - sometimes our interior design consultancy goes for a month or longer only connecting with a certain client via email! Boosting Your Efficiency - II Point of advice number five for my interior design consultancy is much easier said than done, especially for those who are new to interior design: Never bite off more than you can chew! Sometimes it pays to be selective. Our interior design consultancy is known for its focus on client satisfaction, outstanding results and on-time completions. We receive inquiries and requests for engagements from all over the globe, and although I am based in London I often have to travel to offer consultations or industry thought leadership abroad. But critically, I refuse to let my busy calendar of pressing work engagements and opportunities deprioritise my goal of 110% satisfaction for every client of our interior design consultancy! Boosting Your Efficiency - III I feel that it is important for my interior design consultancy to maintain an active presence on the web. That's how we interact with the community and engage potential customers and collaborators. So my sixth top tip for boosting your efficiency is as follows: Keep your blog regularly updated. At Global Interior Design, my London-based interior design consultancy, I have a wide range of topics that I enjoy covering on this blog. I love to share information about challenges that we have overcome and the great solutions that my team of clever assistants regularly thinks up. Boosting Your Efficiency - VI Well that brings me to the end of this series of blog postings on how to boost efficiency at your interior design consultancy. And I will end with a seventh tip - which has nothing to do with efficiency but is nonetheless extremely important! Keep having fun! There are several reasons we call ourselves London's "fun fast fabulous" interior design consultancy - it was important to include "fun" in our headline because we just love the work we do and have a great time doing it! "Fast" speaks to our hands-on attitude and our efficiency-driven headset. And finally, "fabulous" describes our ability to create the magical and magnificent dream designs that our clients crave. Thank you so much for reading my blog! London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.

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London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design London

Boosting Your Efficiency - I Sometimes I will chat to trainee interns or junior employees at our London-based interior design consultancy and they will insist that there is just so much work to do and they don't have the hours in the day to complete all of their assigned tasks! Now certainly everyone at our interior design consultancy works extremely hard, and we are known for being one of London's most diligent design studios and project management teams. But my response to our junior team members when they complain of overwork is that creating a fabulous interior design consultancy absolutely requires being responsive to our customers, meeting target milestones, and remaining motivated all the time. In these next few blog posts I will share my secrets for how to get everything done, efficiently and seemingly effortlessly! Boosting Your Efficiency - II As outlined in my previous blog posting, today's busy interior designer consultancy needs top-notch planning and time-scheduling systems. At Global Interior Design, the London-based interior design consultancy that I founded, I have many time-tested tips for how I stay on the ball all the time. The first is as follows: Rely on your diary. This may seem rather trivial, but to be honest it is all too easy to get distracted and fail to take good notes. Writing up the details is key to being efficient at our interior design consultancy. Many systems are available to help .... spiral-bound schedulers are great, but so too are the e-calendar apps on the latest smartphones and laptops. I love high-tech gadgets! Boosting Your Efficiency - III My second tip for how our interior design consultancy stays on the ball is: Keep a great work-life balance. I adore the work I do at Global Interior Design, but I also know that it is important for me and my London-based employees to occasionally take a step back and relax away from the job! I prefer to use my iPhone calendaring solution for all things related to our interior design consultancy, but I also have another completely separate paper diary devoted to family, lifestyle, travel, culture, fashion and entertainment! Boosting Your Efficiency - VI My third tip for employees at our London-based interior design consultancy is simple: Don't lose focus by allowing the distractions of London to tug you away from your work obligations! I am well aware that London is one of the world centres of entertainment, fashion and nightlife! My less experienced employees sometimes get a little overwhelmed by all the opportunities, especially if they are new arrivals at our interior design consultancy and if they are not so familiar with life in the big city. Side-projects and hobbies are great, and I have nothing against the lively clubs, bars, dancehalls and restaurants that are all over central London. But sometimes I have to good-naturedly remind my work-placement students that to be a fabulous interior design consultancy in London requires that everyone works as a team and consistently exceeds expectations! London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.

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London Renovation Company - Lessons from a London Interior Designer

 Lessons from a London Interior Designer Multicultural and Cosmopolitan Designs Whenever I travel, I love meeting interior designers abroad to understand how their cultural heritage influences their work. Over the past decade, I have observed a real boost in Indian/Chinese/Japanese design influences in London's wealthiest neighbourhoods. Many interior designers in London are using international themes to create aesthetically pleasing and original work that can be breathtaking. I also see African elements in many of the upholstery and wallpaper styles that are available from London's best-known designer homecare boutiques today. There is always so much to see and learn, and this discovery process is really what I like best about my job. Designing with Technology New technologies keep popping up all over the place! The modern London interior designer needs to know about the wide range of high-technology electronics and accessories that is available. But it goes well beyond the living room. I love to modernise homes and offices by installing futuristic fibre optic lighting arrays, bathroom warming lamps, touch-control showers and computerised security and air conditioning networks. Interior designers are increasingly expected to recommend home entertainment systems as well. Just the other day I had to update my knowledge of high-end living room luxury - from video-on-demand systems to Sky dishes, iPads and surround sound systems! I am as excited as ever to learn how the biggest technology trends will continue to impact London's top interior designers. Starting a Blog about Interior Design Not so long ago I was asked to reflect on what makes an effective interior designer blog. With this posting, I would like to reveal why I love to blog and why it might be good for you as well! A top suggestion for any London interior designer who is considering starting their own blog: don't be shy, just do it! Of course, you won't suddenly be a thought leader with your first posting - it takes time - but anyone can put forward great ideas and provide inspiration for others. Probably the best way to start is to just put down a few comments on designs that you have already completed. If you work in London, try to attend an interior designer conference and blog about key points from the lectures or celebrated speakers. How to Blog about Interior Design My other hint for bloggers is to focus on areas of interior design that you consider engaging or interesting. For me, that means blogging about my role as an interior designer at Global Interior Design, my London-based interior design firm. I also enjoy sharing about difficulties that we come across and creative solutions that my team uses to guarantee fabulous results. Just looking at a few recent blogs of mine, I see postings on spa design, garden lighting, luxury bathrooms and outdoor swimming pools. One last point: please do be certain to respond to reader comments on your blog. I'm always honoured to win compliments from my readers who enjoy my interior designer blog and feel inspired to beautify their own residences as a result. Occasionally, my readers will even use the comments fields to suggest fabulous ideas for subjects that I might wish to discuss in future postings! London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.

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London Renovation Company - Lessons from a London Interior Designer

Lessons from a London Interior Designer Contracting Out Those who are starting out as interior designers in London today are often startled to learn how difficult it is to identify and recruit a highly-qualified workforce of tradespeople. London is full of interior designers - together with career carpenters, labourers, furniture movers, plumbers and electricians. How then to select the perfect individual for a given task? In the next two blog entries, I will reflect on my experience as the founder of Global Interior Design - London's premier no-fuss consultancy - to offer a selection of helpful hints and tips on how best to manage contracting. Contractors, the Internet and Employment Law My first tip is: "just becomes someone is listed online doesn't mean they are any good!" Interior designers should ideally only employ tradespeople who are personally known by them or who have outstanding references from other London-based interior designers or decorators. Second (but just as important) is the reality that you must check that all tradespeople have the right paperwork to be employed in England. London's interior designer community is responsible for a lot of contracting, and sadly there are always unscrupulous contractors out there who are illegal aliens or who lack European Union work authorisation. Don't take shortcuts. Contracting with such people has serious implications for your insurance status, your reputation as an interior designer, and your ability to obtain legal support in the event of a workplace accident. Contractors and Communications Third, it is best to get a guarantee from your tradesperson that they will be able to devote the hours needed to your project. Some contract workers will accept several jobs from multiple London-based interior designers to fill their available time over any given period. You need to get right to the point with your contractor and make sure you and he are on the same page in terms of time availability. Finally, communicating well with your tradespeople is imperative. World-class results only become a reality if there is continuous and accurate communication between the interior designer and your contractors. All the more so if the contractor has English as a second language! With the hints in this and the previous blog postings, I truly believe that talented interior designers can make amazing projects come together with minimal hassle. Home and Away Not so long ago I was sitting in my interior design studio and reflecting on how London continues to change. London is a major world metropolis, which means that new interior designers are always coming over from the continent and from across the globe. Furthermore, new students are starting their certificates and degree programmes every year - they can't wait to become interior design professionals in London as well. Often, interior designers who arrive in London to make a career for themselves will carry their own heritage and ancestry in a way that impacts their careers and outlook. Similarly, some international interior designers start working in London but then go abroad. In the next blog posting, I will discuss how I have seen these international themes develop in recent years. London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.

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London Renovation Company - Hassle-Free Design Team: International Inspirations

I was recently leafing through blog postings and was delighted to see an interview with a celebrated San Francisco interior design maven. She and I have never met, but I am sure that we would get on extremely well! Undoubtedly, her being Californian and I being a Londoner, we would have slightly different design perspectives, but I have to say that I absolutely adore her tailored and crisp interior design concepts. I love her bold colour splashes and her ability to combine the traditional with the very modern - it's just the sort of thing we might see over here in an interior design concept for the reopening of a celebrated London restaurant! The interior designer also talks about her "signature" design style, which incorporates classic white orchids and beautiful lambswool and angora throws. Personally, I feel that each of these provides additional visual interest that really punchlines fabulous interior design concepts, drawing the eye inwards and adding designer flair to the work. Of course, Californian interior designers don't have to deal with the sometimes-dreary London weather in their designs, and so they can afford to include really daring styles of orchid container or throws in pure, vibrant colours that set off the California sunshine that so many clients enjoy. Regardless of where interior designers practice, it is important to be able to notice the inspiration all around us, and we work hard to stay abreast of the latest trends while still preserving our signature interior design styles. Whether it be reading our favourite design magazines, or focussing on the many exciting interior design blogs that are available online. Also, practicing interior design in London gives me access to all sorts of new and exciting interior design concepts that come over from the continent. By contrast, I am sure Californian interior designers see all sorts of Asia-inspired themes thanks to being so much closer to countries like China, Japan and Malaysia. London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.

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London Renovation Company - Hassle-Free Design Team: Kitchen Design Options

Recently I was reading an article by an online interior design team regarding kitchen islands, and I thought I would like to respond to a few of their points. They explain, first of all, that interior design firms often use an island to make a kitchen seem more spacious - they mention the extra countertop area, the way that it can create a separator between preparation areas and entertaining areas, and how it can even incorporate extra appliances if necessary. This is all absolutely true, but they are based in America, where homes are often much larger and kitchens in particular are more spacious than in London. I would point out that London's interior design mavens are often too space-constrained to be able to install an island. To be honest there is nothing worse than creating a near-unusable kitchen by forcing a plump island into an already-cramped space. I will sometimes encourage my London interior design clients to think more broadly if they initially request an island. Maybe consider a retractable breakfast bar, or a seating area that can be situated away from the kitchen. In response, they counter that companies offer versatile island options such as a "small table". I would disagree - a small table is a table, not an island, and really the two are quite different! Interior design experts in London would rarely use a table in this way, simply because most kitchens in our nation's capital need to be optimised for both aesthetics and functionality. In my opinion, installing a table right in the middle of an open kitchen space will only increase the clutter and add to a chef's frustration as they work to prepare a meal. As an interior design professional, my priority is to enhance the wellbeing of my clients, and that means creating interiors that "work" as well as making them look beautiful! Finally, dimensional needs when you install an island are pointed out. They are absolutely right that interior design teams should allow for at least three feet (one metre) of space on all sides, together with extra space to accommodate oven or washing machine doors that may swing open. I would note, however, that these days interior designers can source modern slimline options from many of London's excellent appliance showrooms. Consider sliding doors instead of the traditional swing-out variety to optimise the feeling of comfort and openness. London Renovation Company - Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design and renovation services.