IO, Author at Decor Isabelle

June 30, 2016 By IO

Behind the Scenes of Home Interior Design

The various components of a successful interior decoration scheme are like the gears of a Swiss clock moving in a mysterious, meticulously choreographed dance; an unfathomably complex mechanism yet one that produces a final product so clear and easy to appreciate. While the end result of a beautifully considered and executed home interior design gets its fair share of attention and praise (as it should) all the work that goes into planning it, into determining just how those gears and wheels will work together, often goes overlooked.

The Many Hours That Go Into Successful Home Interior Design

Interior decoration is often thought of as being leisurely strolls through exotic markets and long afternoons deciding between various sumptuous fabrics. While there is certainly an element of glamour involved in interior decoration there are also many hours of painstaking work that go into being able to select the right vase from that exotic market or the right sumptuous fabric to fulfil the client’s need. In fact, successful home interior design and decoration involves countless hours of:

Searching for inspiration: Sometimes a brilliant idea simply comes to you. Other times you have to search for it like a diamond on a beach. There’s no telling how and when a truly inspired idea may take root so a dedicated interior decorator needs to keep herself immersed in the work and open to that lightbulb moment, whenever it comes.
Studying the latest trends: The most successful interior decorators never rest on their laurels. They’re constantly searching through magazines, books and websites to stay up on emerging trends and to expand and refine their design vocabulary. There are no shortcuts to knowledge and certainly no substitute for the experience gained from putting that knowledge to work.
Creating presentations: When the decorator shows up at a Burlington or Hamilton home with her fabric swatches, furniture recommendations and ideas about colours and textures it’s the result of time and effort that went into determining exactly which colours, textures and fabrics would go with what furniture and which accessories to fulfil the client’s vision.
Networking: Experienced interior decorators know that they’re only as good as the network they build around them. Not all suppliers are created equal and knowing which ones have the inside track on emerging trends and the most exciting craftspeople can only come about by attending trade shows, exchanging phone numbers and keeping your eyes and ears open.
Building trust: The relationship between the interior decorator and the client is one that relies heavily on trust and trust is one of those things that is rarely granted; it has to be earned. Decorators invest a lot of time and effort into cultivating their client relationships and then work just as hard making sure that the trust the client has extended to them is justified.

Creativity, including home interior design and decoration, is not an event, it’s a process. Sometimes a long arduous process that takes place out of the spotlight and is dependent on the level of drive, determination and commitment the decorator brings to her craft. The next time you find yourself wondering what the decorator might be doing at any given time there’s a pretty dependable answer: she’s working, hard.

If it’s time to redecorate your Toronto, Hamilton or Burlington home don’t settle for anything less than the best: Decor Isabelle. With more than 20 years’ experience assisting clients in the realization of their decorative vision no decorator in the GTA is more qualified to deliver the home interior design results you’re after than Isabelle Tremblay of Decor Isabelle. Call her today and find out more.

June 23, 2016 By IO

Hallmarks of Good Home Interior Design

While interior design and interior decoration are two distinct fields the lines between them can sometimes become blurred. Design can have a profound influence on decoration and decoration can be used to bring out aspects of the design that might otherwise go unnoticed or unappreciated. A great interior decorator must have both an intuitive as well as professional understanding of interior design and use her knowledge and intuition to generate interior experiences that delight and impress. In this post we’ll look at some of the hallmarks of good home interior design that lay the foundation the decorator builds upon.

7 Tenets of Home Interior Design

Great interior design is often the result of challenging preconceived ideas about form and function. It requires stepping outside that comfort zone we know so well and looking at things from a different perspective. Regardless of your personal viewpoint however, all good interior design should embody the following 7 qualities.

1. Harmony – Harmony is essential in any type of design work, whether it be the layout of a magazine cover or the design of your Burlington or Hamilton home interior. Harmony is the coming together of the various components of the design into a pleasing whole where each part of the design plays a key role in the overall effect.

2. Symmetry – We’re not talking about the unforgiving symmetry of the Bauhaus but rather a more subtle type of symmetry derived from a respect for balance in a design. Certainly symmetry will often mean echoing objects from one side of a space to another, but it can also mean echoing volumes or shapes rather than exact objects.

3. Rhythm – Good interior design is never static. Instead it guides you on a journey through its conceptual underpinnings through motion embedded directly into the design. That motion is generated by rhythm; the organized, deliberate recurrence of patterns, shapes, colours, lines and more within the design that lead the eye from one component to another.

4. Contrast – Contrast is more than simply black and white. Contrast can be created through the use of texture, materials, shapes and even colour temperature. Good home interior design will embrace contrast as a means of engaging the eye and sparking the imagination.

5. Luxury – A truly great home interior design is not afraid to be a bit special. A reclaimed hardwood floor can become a luxurious touch when given the proper accompaniment as can exposed masonry. Wainscoting and other types of trim can transform an everyday space into one with a luxurious feel.

6. Confidence – A design that lacks confidence can be a nightmare for even the most talented interior decorator. A poor design cannot be disguised under layers of expensive fabric and quality wallpapers. It can’t be retrofitted or even embraced in a sort of ironic way. All good interior design believes in itself and that belief is apparent the minute you walk in the room.

7. Joy – Even the most classically formal interior should express some degree of joy; be it in the embrace of geometry for expressive purposes or in the directing of the eye toward a stunning focal point. Other less formal interior designs can express joy through the introduction of whimsical touches in the woodwork or windows (stained glass) or by revelling in the sheer beauty of natural materials.

Good home interior design is an exploration of space and its possibilities. Once the interior designer has established some basic parameters the interior decorator then takes up the challenge and continues the exploration using the art of embellishment.

Whether you’re in Burlington, Hamilton or anywhere else in the Greater Toronto Area call Decor Isabelle for all your interior decoration needs.

June 17, 2016 By IO

Interior Designer or Interior Decorator? Is There a Difference?

When the time comes to overhaul the look and feel of your interior you’ll need to reach out and enlist the help of a professional interior designer. Or is that interior decorator? Confusion has long reigned when it comes to understanding what, if any, difference there is between the two. This confusion is only compounded by the fact that the two terms are often used interchangeably both by members of the public and the media. The truth is that interior design and interior decoration are two distinct professions that encompass different education requirements, different skillsets and different experience.

The Interior Designer

Interior design has been an important element of civilization since the ancient Greeks first wrestled with the notions of balance, beauty and proportion. Visiting the Parthenon today you can see how feverishly they worked to control your experience of the structure and how much effort they put into the transition between exterior and interior space. It wasn’t until the 19th century however, that interior design officially became a recognized trade related to, but separate from, architecture.

Interior designers today wear many different hats and are sometimes involved in a building project from its inception. Ultimately they’re tasked with creating an interior space that fulfils the practical goals of the homeowner while also generating visual interest and a foundation that is fertile ground for the imagination and skill of the decorator. In general the designer determines:

The overall relationship between interior spaces.
The major traffic lanes throughout the house.
Foundation materials like hardwood flooring.
The basic lighting scheme.

Interior designers then are not quite architects and not quite decorators. Their goal is to bring purpose and even meaning to a space whether it be a multi-storey townhouse atop a highrise on Lake Ontario or a bungalow in Hamilton or Burlington.

The Interior Decorator

People have been decorating their living spaces since those living spaces consisted of little more than partially finished cave dwellings. Certainly the visual record is clear that the Romans took a great interest in decorating their interior spaces and so we do today. Like interior design, interior decorating first achieved formal recognition as a trade/craft back in the mid-19th century. In the wake of the industrial revolution the new middle class were looking for ways to tastefully display their newfound wealth and status and interior decoration was a perfect vehicle.

The job of the interior decorator can be just as daunting and involved as that of the interior designer and for the same reason: both are charged with carving interest and engagement out of the physical spaces of your home. No small task that. As such an interior decorator will also wind up wearing many hats during the course of performing her duties which typically include:

Determining the colour scheme of the space.
Selecting pillows, throw rugs, tables and more.
Making furniture design and sourcing recommendations.
Selecting fabrics, artwork, wall coverings, window treatments and more.
Coordinating her efforts with those of various trades (painters, flooring specialists etc.)
Making sure everything works together to generate the desired look and feel.

Choosing a Decorator or Designer

In short, consider hiring an interior designer when there are potential building code issues involved and/or when your renovation project will encompass changes to the physical structure itself. Hire an interior decorator when your goal is to embellish the space you have.

If you have any questions regarding the difference between the two vocations or simply wish to discuss a decoration project you have in mind for your home or office in Hamilton, Burlington or anywhere else in the GTA call Decor Isabelle on (416) 573-2301.

May 20, 2016 By IO

What to Expect from a Colour Consultation

There is no denying colour is one of the most effective and affordable ways to change the look and feel of a space. But with so many thousands of colours available today selecting the right ones can be a daunting task. A professional colour consultant will analyze the way colours in your home interact with one another and create colour solutions that significantly enhance your interior decor.

What Does a Colour Consultation Involve?

If you’re planning on redecorating your Toronto home hiring a colour consultant is a great idea. Many people though are unaware of what to expect from the process. Colour consultation as practiced by Isabelle Tremblay of Decor Isabelle is actually a straightforward process that begins with your scheduling an appointment and proceeds from there.

On the day of the appointment Isabelle will arrive at your home and discuss your hopes for the upcoming redecoration. She’ll analyze your current colour scheme, including furniture, flooring and all other elements that impact the overall colour experience of your home.
Based on that analysis and your stated goals she’ll devise a list of major colours you may want to use as well as secondary colours to use on things like the trim. She’ll advise you on how furniture colours interact with and influence other colours in the room as well as whether or not you may want to consider altering your lighting scheme.
During the process Isabelle may advise you on various wall treatments that could enhance the overall effectiveness of your colour scheme as well as window treatments and other elements. She’ll advise you on colours and materials in your current interior design you may want to keep and others you may want to consider changing in the service of visual harmony.
When Isabelle is finished you’ll have a comprehensive guide to the colours that will help you achieve your interior design goals as well as other steps you can take to make your interior design shine the way you want it to.

Colour: The Convergence of Art and Science

A swatch of paint in a paint store or magazine photo may look like the perfect colour but the particulars of light, furniture and other elements in your Hamilton or Burlington home may in fact render it ineffectual or worse once on your walls. It’s important to consult with someone like Isabelle Tremblay who knows the complex science of colour inside and out.

If you are considering repainting or papering your walls, purchasing new furniture, installing new window treatments or undertaking a major renovation or redecoration of your home you’ll want to secure the services of a qualified colour consultant to help bring the disparate elements together. You’ll want Decor Isabelle on your side. Call us on (416) 573-2301 to set up an appointment for a comprehensive colour consultation.

Remember: The goal of a colour consultation is to simplify the decoration process and set your mind at ease. A consultation by Decor Isabelle can help you avoid costly decorating mistakes and provide a clear center around which you can create a complete interior design scheme.