Interior Design Scottsdale, AZ by S Interior Design

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Plants, Hard Scape and LIGHTING!

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Below is a guest posting on you guessed it….OUTDOOR LIGHTING. Just like the interior of your home, a well thought out lighting plan for the exterior of your home is very important to successful design. I like to take cues for fun outside lighting ideas from restaurant patios and hotel/resort outside spaces. S Interior Design will often work with their clients to design the patio areas of their homes which essentially are extended living and entertaining spaces. Colors and even material selections are chosen to create visual flow from inside to outside. Here in Scottsdale, Arizona we want to use our outdoor ‘rooms’ year round.

All layers of lighting should be considered.

Functional – light the walk ways to the front door, light the address at the front of your home, the garage entry.

Accent lights- up lighting on trees and planting areas, lighting to define a specific area of the yard, wall sconces on back patio areas.

Fun design lighting elements such as the string lights shown below.

Outdoor table and floor lamps powered by solar and batteries also can be used when designing an outdoor living space.

Cool Outdoor DIY Lighting Tips and Ideas

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Ever cruised or walked through a well-lit neighborhood at night and saw how outdoor lighting adds beauty to homes? 

With outdoor lighting, you can create and enjoy a relaxed, well-lit space, which is especially handy when summer rolls in. Think barbecues with friends, star-gazing with your kids or significant other, backyard events. Night-time outdoor events create fond and lasting memories, especially when your outdoors is well illuminated.

DIY lighting tips

While it appears to be a daunting task, outdoor lighting can be done without any specialized knowledge or experience. You only need some ideas and creativity. So, here are some tips, advice, and ideas to get you going..

1. Use solar lights

Unless you don’t mind spending a significant amount of your monthly income on electricity bills, consider installing solar powered lights. Besides, they are easier to install and are good for the planet.

Solar lighting systems convert sunlight into energy that is stored in batteries for use at night. However, you need to consider your geographic location before installing outdoor solar lights – without enough sunlight, there won’t be energy to light up the bulbs at night.

2. Balance security and aesthetics

Whatever your reasons for outdoor lighting, they all revolve around security and aesthetics.

It is possible to achieve a balance between the two; lights that look good and provide enough illumination.

For starters, take a flashlight and take a walk around your home at night. Identify the dark areas that need to be illuminated for security reasons. Think about the type of lighting you need. Consider the types of light and the specific areas to place the light, such as pathways, patios, garage doors, among others.

3. Consider your neighbors

Like any good neighbor, there are two things you need to consider when placing outdoor lighting at your home.

First, the position of the lighting is essential. Please do not put the lights facing directly into your neighbor’s windows as this may create too much light at night, making it difficult to sleep.

Secondly, the brightness of the light should be taken into account. No one wants blazing spotlights facing their home. Fear not, there are some solutions. For example, installing  epoxy flooring on your deck removes the need for high wattage lights as it is shiny and thus reflects light.

Remember, very bright lights consume a lot of energy, which only adds to your electricity bills.

4. Consider longevity

It will be costly to replace your outdoor lights every now and then. Don’t just go to the market and pick any bulb, no. Check the quality. Even if it costs more, you will save in the long run.

Go for outdoor lighting systems that require little or no maintenance – solar lights score high on this.

Outdoor lighting is exposed to harsh climatic conditions like rain, snow and harsh sunlight. So, look for solutions that are weather resistant. Alternatively, you can shield your lights using various materials.

What’s more, the bulbs can be stolen or destroyed by someone at night while you are asleep. Ensure that the lights are secured and protected against such conditions.

5. Color, style, and size

The color, size, and style of your lights come into play, especially if you are looking to decorate your home with outdoor lighting.

You can choose a single color or mix the colors to make your home more attractive. If you plan on using only a few bulbs, go for the larger ones. And again, the size will depend on the use of the light.

You can create different patterns or styles in different parts of your home. You can use outdoor lighting to direct your visitors/guests within your compound.

Best outdoor lighting ideas

Spotlights

These are lights that only point in one direction. If you want to illuminate your plants, patios, driveway, and statues, this is the best outdoor lighting solution for you. They come with an iris and a manual device, enabling you to change the intensity of the light and also adjust the angle of the beam.

Floodlights

Floodlights are very bright and can be used to illuminate a larger area. They are mostly placed above facing downwards to light up your patios, driveway, among other essential places in your home. These are great when you have a larger event happening in your backyard to lit up all corners.

Step lights

Tired of guessing which step to make on your deck? Step lights are usually placed on the sides of each step to help you traverse safely.

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String lights

String lights are pretty, especially when you are hosting a party or wedding at night. They are easy to install and are placed on poles or trees to create a picturesque scene. Most of them are weather-proof and can serve you for quite some time.

Bottomline

The above tips and ideas will help you light up your outdoors based on your needs. Whether you want to enhance the security of your home or to add some decor to your home, outdoor lighting makes it possible. And with the many variations of lighting solutions, there is no excuse to stay in the dark.

 

Lifestyle Changes Seen Resulting in Key New Design Trends

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Below is a re-post of an article I received that I felt was worth sharing. Our COVID-19 lifestyles have most definitely impacted the way we want to live in our homes. The article outlines lifestyle changes that are impacting the interior design choices being made. Connected, Simplified, Healthy are some of the key design objectives being considered.

5 Trends in the Interior That Are Relevant in 2020

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Here is an article / guest post about design trends for 2020. I know it is now 6 months into the year, but S Interior Design chose to publish it to allow readers to relate to the trends written about especially the Biophilic & Multi-functional Spaces sections. As we spend more and more time in our homes these areas are particularly relevant for our lives.

What comes to your mind when you think of trendy interior designs? Is it the exquisite beauty and class or is it the flashy colors and signature designer brands and furniture? It’s quite evident that trends could change overnight and soon become forgotten. What makes them stand the test of time in the hall of trends? Interior design trends 2020have proved that anything goes when it comes to mixing creative juices for a perfect and unique outlook.

As much as style is essential and crucial in home décor, individuality and perspectives always have the upper hand. As some would prefer minimalist interior trends, some will go out with no expenses spared on luxe interior trends and designs. The level of work rate involved will depend on the individual’s preferences. They could be into DIY plans, commissioning custom pieces, or into the craft and arty designs.

Relevant Interior Trends

So what are the latest trends in interior design? It’s interesting to see craft unfolding in visual ways that express our personalities or characters. Below are some of the best trends in interior design in 2020.

1. Biophilic Design

Biophilic Design is an interior trend that is soon gaining popularity for green interior trends in 2020. This design incorporates a natural element that provides an outdoor experience, but this time inside a roof and confined between walls. Designers fuse material, vegetation and regulate light intensity into modern built environments to add more definition and life in a setting.

Also, setting experts have come to the understanding that natural element in the interior plays a significant role in balancing blood pressures and heart rates, reducing stress and anxiety management. With green as its primary color representing life and productivity, it is evident that designing your home in such a manner could improve your well-being. It keeps your creative juices flowing all round the clock through the nourishment obtained from the leafy and natural interior trend.

Ways of Enhancing the Biophilic Design

If you enjoy experiencing nature directly, you should:

  • Incorporate indoor plants, indoor gardens and live walls
  • Addition of fountains
  • Use of natural light

Designing your house more naturally enhances your environment’s sustainability and promotes wellness as you naturally integrate yourself into nature.

2. Multi-functional Spaces

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In 2020 people are resorting to turning their home spaces into a working environment. It is brought about by the convenience of technology on options of working from home. It could be the tone set by your furniture or color combination that attracts a certain work ethic that motivates you. Multi-functional spaces have become one of the most admired designs where one can have a workplace, learning area, and a home all under one roof.

Every section of the house is in a pre-existing manner that could serve more than its original purpose. A good example would be kitchens with island counters where they could be as dining areas, for meal preparations, and even as a work station; this kind of trend cuts out the options of needing extra rooms for the said activities, which all could happen at the same place with convenience.

Another perfect example would be incorporating your gym in your garage. By this, you’ll be getting the convenience of having your own secluded time of workouts and meditation and still have a place for some of the best tools to own or work on your vehicle.

3. Eclectic Glamour

In 2020, this is the standard setting of a luxurious home. The luxe interior trend oozes refinement, confidence, and boldness far above the norm. To some, these settings might seem a bit “extra”, but to the owner, the finer details play a crucial part in the elegance of the home. It’s considered a high-end set up of the classical thirties fused with modern-day opulence.

Glamour is present in every bit of furniture from the state-of-the-art wall paintings to rounded furniture with distinct and interior trend colors 2020. Rich tones of bold colors and an exquisite taste of rich sexy aroma fill the atmosphere once you set foot past the door.

4. Floral Wallpapers

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There are nature lovers who could be allergic to plants yet are dying to have them in their homes. Floral wallpaper is the perfect go-to design that provides that gaze-worth contemporary style to it. With vibrancy and appeal as its primary objective, floral designs have been nicknamed “attention seekers” for how effortless they visually allure and enchant.

Floral wallpaper thrives well in any room in your house from bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, hallways to even your bedroom where intense roses paired with the perfect choice of furniture could always set a mood. Flowers brighten homes and still shed light on the vibrancy of life. There are many adhesive options to pick from, and all depend on your preferences as a floral enthusiast.

5. Two-Tone Setups

Monochromatic setups are gaining popularity among the less sophisticated and laid back individuals. Two-tone structures involve two bold colors that add depth in a room, complement each other, and reflect a firm and authentic ambiance. Revitalizing your home or rather rooms with specific colors will ease pressure on the type of furniture to get because it will always be something resonating with your home’s design.

Setting up proper color combinations requires an expert’s touch to it for advice on some of the interior paint trends in 2020. Exploring rare colors could be a new trend as well as you don’t have to rely on past used or commonly use monochromatic setups.

Conclusion

We should buckle up for a mad stylistic ride on ideas and interior design trends in 2020. With a lot to pick from, it boils down to your personality, individual preferences, and personal budget. Styles are continually getting redefined and complemented with few tweaks and experimental aspects to it to stand out and turn out as a perfect reference point and trademark of beauty and creativity.

If you’ve liked the interior trends or have some awesome interior ideas, please feel free to share.

Author Bio

Leslie Simpson is an interior designer with 15 years of experience. She is fond of literature and likes sharing her professional experience in her blog. In her spare time, Leslie likes walking with her dog.

Time To Paint Your Walls?

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S Interior Design has often said one of the quickest and least costly ways to get a big change to the look and feel of your home is to paint the walls.

As we all spend more and more time literally ‘staring at our walls’, you may be entertaining thoughts of painting them. Seems easy enough right? If you haven’t painted the interiors of your home before you may want to know the best way to proceed.

Below is a guest post on the pros and cons of using a paint roller or a paint spray gun when painting.

Should You Paint Your Walls With A Roller or a Spray Gun

If you plan on painting your walls, just know that at the bare minimum a brush is needed. There’s still no way around using a brush for cutting in near ceilings, baseboard, and around window/door trim. The next question to approach though is whether to use a roller or spray gun for the rest of the job.

It might seem like a slam dunk that using an airless paint sprayer would be the obvious preferable choice for your DIY painting job. Sprayers definitely get the actual painting task done much faster, but there are still situations where a roller is preferred. Here’s what you definitively need to know when deciding to paint with a roller or sprayer: 

Cost: Sprayers vs. Rollers 

If you have a sprayer, it would be a no-brainer to use it for your DIY paint job. For the majority of homeowners however an airless paint sprayer simply isn’t a part of the average tool arsenal. 

Paint sprayers start off around $50 at secondary markets and can range up to $400 or more for high end models. Of course tool rental companies will often have paint sprayers available but they also charge by the day, meaning time would be a concern. Comparatively, a bundle of a paint roller, roller covers, a tray, and multiple tray liners could be had for $40 or less. 

Another thing to factor in about cost is paint waste. A lot of the atomized paint drifts away when using a sprayer but rollers get nearly 100% of the paint on the surface. 

Time: Sprayers vs. Rollers

Using an airless paint sprayer hands down get the painting job done quicker, right? Yes…and no. Once you get set up, using an air sprayer is a breeze but it’s getting to that point that pushes the timeline between a sprayer and a roller nearly even. 

The whole room must be masked off to prevent paint damage from overspray when using a sprayer. Trim, baseboards, and molding still must be taped off when rolling – but also when using a sprayer. 

There are some applications where the time saving of using a sprayer is obvious though. This includes when painting a door that has grooves or when doing the exterior of a home where not as much masking off needs to be done. Using a sprayer is also a much faster way to apply a textured paint. 

Another thing to consider when comparing the time of a sprayer and a paint roller is the cleanup. After using a sprayer it must be cleaned extensively to prevent jams and clogging in the future. Roller covers and tray liners can simply be thrown away and the frame rinsed. 

Convenience: Sprayers vs. Rollers 

Simply put, using a paint roller can be a physically demanding undertaking, especially on ceilings and in high areas. That being said, it is much more convenient to simply tape trim and baseboards when using a roller instead of masking off an entire room. Skilled painters don’t even have to tape when cutting which means you can grab a roller and go. 

Rollers are more convenient for smaller rooms and for wall sections with shorter widths like near doors and windows. A sprayer on the other hand is very convenient for new home builds and remodels where overspray damage is not an issue. 

The actual equipment needed when rolling is also very minimal. Grabbing a roller, roller cover, tray, liner, and paint is a very easy setup. A pneumatic sprayer needs an air compressor and dragging that hose around especially in a smaller room. Airless sprayers do give a bit of a convenience edge in this regard. 

Quality / Technique : Sprayers vs. Rollers 

Another important thing to note about sprayers vs. rollers is that paint does attach a bit better with a roller. This is key when painting on a dirty wall as there’s more leeway with the initial coat from a roller. What many professional painters do is spray first for speed and then do a back roll for coverage. 

It is easier to get streaks and lumps when using a roller, especially if the painter is on the inexperienced side. That being said, there is a technique involved with using a sprayer. Holding the sprayer close gives a heavier application but a narrower spray pattern. Moving the nozzle back widens the spray pattern but with a thinner coat. “Mastering” this process does take a bit of time. 

So, Should I Use a Sprayer or a Roller? 

For the exterior of your home and in remodelling situations a sprayer is the preferred option. On the interior, using a sprayer for ceilings would be more convenient than a roller On interior walls however or when painting on a budget it may be better to go with a roller. Then again, you could always use both as well! 


BIO

Daniel has been scrubbing down walls, cutting in lines and perfecting wall painting for many years through DIY techniques, since he first started working on fixing up his old family home. Home improvement has become a passion of his and he aims to share some tips and techniques to others. He is a blog writer for PaintAccess online paint shop.

Empty to Fabulous!

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S Interior Design was hired to furnish an entire home including all of the finishing touches. We created a unique, contemporary , elegant, comfortable and easy to care for home that reflects the homeowners life stage and lifestyle. They love to entertain family and friends and the multiple seating and dining areas both inside and outside allow them to do that with ease. A neutral palette of colors combine with pops of blue through out the home. Mixed metals were incorporated in the light fixtures and accessories. Organic inspired design features include petrified wood , marble, concrete and more. The original abstract art work was sourced from local artists.

Here are some photos of the completed design project by
S Interior Design . Enjoy!

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