INSTUDIO Directs Design at MISSION PICTURES
The unassuming vine covered building at 1500 Seventeenth Street on the northwest corner of Arkansas looks plain on the outside but it is the home to three creative businesses. Buddy Rhodes is an artist and the innovative design force for concrete products. INSTUDIO Design Directors/Artists develop their ideas for art and interior design projects. MISSION [...]
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
San Francisco Design Directors Samuel Lewis and Stephen Kladder of INSTUDIO while visiting Grand Rapids, Michigan over the holiday break spent an afternoon at the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Recognized as one of the finest sculpture parks in the country and named one of the top 30 must-see museums in the world by [...]
Create Gold and Silver Glittered Pinecones
Nature provides perfect holiday decorations from majestic pine trees. Natural pine cones remind us of the season and add sculptural beauty to any style of interior design and décor. While the Design Directors of INSTUDIO think that “gilding the lily” would be a bad idea, they think that glittering the pinecone might be a good [...]
The Art of a Graphic Recycled Wrap
INSTUDIO interior Design Directors give a holiday good wrap! They do this by creatively recycling tissue paper, kraft or brown bag paper and white copy paper. Within a few hours you too can create a personal bold holiday warp with an assortment of recycled papers, Elmer’s glue, a paint brush and a hair dryer. Make [...]
Charlie Brown Trees Get Holiday Bling
The Design Directors of INSTUDIO give a new look to holiday décor. Relying on their artistic nature, they recycle craft and style fallen tree branches into surprising Charlie Brown style trees. Gold and silver are foundation colors that can accent the design of any room. The golden tree is a branch that is first spray [...]
Ask INSTUDIO Interior Design Directors
With the changing light and climate we plan to spend more time at home during the fall season. The winter holidays are rapidly approaching and often thoughts are geared towards entertaining family and friends. This brings to mind starting a few decorating and design projects to make ourselves and our homes a bit more inviting, [...]
What’s Your Type of Decorative Accessory?
If yesterday’s communications technology is trash to someone, can it be a decorative treasure to another? Interior Design Director Samuel Fleming Lewis was on an errand in San Francisco’s South of Market when he spotted a shiny, black, stamped metal plate nestled in the weeds not far from a new construction site. With interest his curiosity piqued, he decided [...]
Looking for an Unusual Ottoman? Have a Ball!
INSTUDIO interior Design Directors always keep an eye out for interesting shapes, forms, styles, materials or construction while searching for everyday furniture items like ottomans. When an unusual item is included in a design project it adds visual interest and takes on the quality of a functional work of art. A ball shaped tufted leather [...]
The Continuing Legacy of Italian Design
Everyone knows the Renaissance began in Florence, Italy. Europe emerged from the Dark Ages on the impetus of Italian innovation in the arts, architecture and design. The Italian legacy in design still continues and one of the leaders much liked by the Design Directors of INSTUDIO is Flexform. Establishing itself during the innovative era of [...]
I Saw it in the Window and Just Had to Have It!
Remember the iconic Carol Burnett episode with Carol as Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind turning the window drapery into a formal gown? We can take our cue from Carol: reuse and re-purpose when designing your interiors. Like Carol, think outside the box. You may have a piece of furniture, for instance, a bureau [...]
You’ve Got Style!
The Design Directors of INSTUDIO often hear from clients when we ask them what their style is that they have no style. Not true! Everyone has their own style; they simply may not know how to translate it into their interior spaces. Everyone dresses themselves in a manner that suits them (their style). We all [...]
INTERIOR DESIGN QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Design Plus Consignment Gallery & the Interior Design Directors of INSTUDIO come together to present a free public discussion and demonstration of creative interior design solutions for the home. Design Plus offers a plethora of gently used home furnishings, art and accessories. Match your design style whatever it is with items from Design Plus and [...]
Get off the Chair & Design your Room
October already and before you know it the holidays will be here. Family and friends will soon be knocking at your door. Now is the time to spiff up your interiors with a little paint, some wallpaper, a new rug, hardwood floors, tile, crown molding, a new furniture arrangement, new window treatments, and maybe some [...]
CULTURE, COMPOSITION, COLOR & COMFORT
Why does Buddha seem so serene? Is it secrets of relaxation and meditation? Is it the placement on a dark polished wood chest? Is it the warm glow of the lighting? Or does the juxtaposition of the abstract art beyond Buddha create a calming vignette that pleases the eye? These questions and many more will [...]
Contemplating New Interior Design?
Interior Design is more than just moving your furniture into a room and expecting it to reflect how you live and your personal style. How the furniture is arranged determines not only how the room is used but how we interact with family friends and pets. This is where a good furniture plan overrides design [...]
Be a Design Rebel with a Cause
Developing personal interior design style can be a rebellious act in that it takes strength of character to ignore design trends to create rooms that reflect who you are. Finding your style requires looking at furniture, art, lighting & accessories from various sources. While the internet and established furniture stores can provide foundation furnishings what [...]
Going Minimal
Made popular by Joseph D’Urso of New York City minimalist interiors made a statement in the 1970′s, and continues to be a noted interior design solution. Minimalism works great for lofts, small spaces and when you don’t have (or want) a lot of stuff. It keeps the look clean, and if done right, very interesting. [...]
It’s Abstract
Abstract art gives you glimpses. It frees the viewer to imagine, ponder and wonder. The black & white painting titled “Floppy Remorse” by artist Stephen Kladder is just such an abstract work of art. One can discern some text: but what does it say? Images can also be discerned, but what are they exactly? It [...]
7 Floral Designs from a Bountiful Bouquet
Supermarkets, organic grocery stores and farmers markets offer flower bouquets which combine a bounty of seasonal greenery and flowers. For a reasonable price a large vase can be filled with leafy greens and flowers to add color to a room. Seven different floral arrangements were composed by the design directors of INSTUDIO using one $15.00 [...]
Design Enhanced by Color, Art & Accessories
A high-rise Condominium can be a blank slate of crisp white walls and beautiful new hardwood floors. The space is personalized by a thoughtful furniture plan that reflects how the homeowner intends to use the rooms. After the plan and furniture selection, color, art & accessories give the room personal style. INSTUDIO Design Directors thoughtfully [...]
Is More Really More?
Deciding when enough is enough is a choice determined by personal style and taste. A room enhanced with abundant layers of interesting extraordinary furniture, art, textiles, collections and colors can be a waking dream for someone who loves every piece used to compose the room. The same room can be a daytime nightmare to someone [...]
DESIGN PLUS CONSIGNMENT GALLERY
What happens to beautiful stylish well cared for furniture, accessories and lighting when a change in design style demands new furnishings or perhaps your existing pieces won’t blend within the new décor of a room? They go to a home furnishings consignment store like Design Plus that offers a responsible option for someone else to [...]
Using store bought furniture? Always mix, never worry
We all have our favorite retail furniture stores and websites. It’s easy to shop for furniture, lighting and accessories at places that are familiar because we consistently like their new offerings. It’s best to mix it up a bit to avoid interior design that looks more like a particular store or website and less like [...]
Compositions in a Room
Residential interior design and decoration is built upon four basic layers of elements within an overall composition that personalizes living space. The first layer is the Interior architectural space or room. The second is the defining details of the architectural space. The third includes floors walls and ceiling or the “shell”. The furniture plan and [...]
