Interior decoration: Encyclopedia - Interior decoration

Interior decoration

Interior decoration is the art of decorating a room so it looks good, is easy to use, and functions well with the existing architecture. The goal of interior decoration is to provide a certain "feel" for the room; it encompasses applying wallpaper, painting walls and other surfaces, choosing furniture and fittings, such as light fixtures, and providing other decorations for the area such as paintings and sculptures.

Interior decorating is done professionally by interior decorators. It is considered a design field.

There is a distinct difference between interior decorating and interior design. Interior decorating is generally focused on finishes, such as wallpaper, paint, window coverings, and furnishings. Interior design involves manipulating the [architectural]] integrity of the interior space as well as the creation of a lifestyle experience through the study of human behavior.

The role of the interior decorator evolved in the 18th century from the Parisian marchand-mercier and the upholder in London. In Paris, the guild system that had evolved since the late Middle Ages prohibited a craftsman from working with a material with which they had not undergone a formal apprenticeship. Only a marchand-mercier (a "merchant of goods") could fit Chinese porcelains with gilt-bronze handles and mounts, combine Japanese lacquer or Sevres porcelain plaques with marquetry and gilt-bronze mounts on furniture. An early marchand-mercier Gersaint, had his shop-sign painted by Watteau. The Rococo interior was taken out of the hands of the architect and the painter and put in charge of the marchand-mercier.

In London, a parallel is the rise of the "upholder," a member of the London Upholders' Company who increased his design competence from providing upholstery and textiles and the fittings for funerals, to become responsible for the management of the entire interior. In the great London furniture-making partnerships, a cabinet-maker is usually paired with an upholder: Vile and Cobb, Ince and Mayhew, Chippendale and Rannie or Haig.

Palladian architects like William Kent or Matthew Brettingham might provide designs for walls that would be executed by joiners, stuccoists, painters and upholders but often their designs were limited to mantelpieces and monumental side tables, which were considered part of the immovable decor. The neoclassical architect Robert Adam was prepared to design every detail of his interiors if the client wanted, down to the doorknobs and fire-irons. Sir William Chambers designs for furnishings are often underestimated. James Wyatt 's designs for furniture were gathered into an album, perhaps in preparation for an engraved publication. The French marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre moved to London in 1788 and was responsible for interiors for the Prince Regent and worked with the architect Henry Holland.

In the 1830s, interior decorators were responsible for the revival of interest in Gothic and Rococo styles in England. By the later 19th century, some firms set themselves apart as "art furnishers".

Modern interior decorators began with Lenygon and Morant in London, Charles Alavoine and Jeanselme in Paris, and Herter Brothers (from 1864) and Elsie de Wolfe and Ogden Codman in New York.

Other early interior decorators:

• Syrie Maugham

Although most professional interior designers of today attend accredited interior design schools and pass nationally recognized competency examinations, many of the most famous designers and decorators during the 20th Century had no formal training: Sister Parish, Mark Hampton, Stephen Chase, Mario Buatta, John Saladino, and many others were trend-setting innovators in the worlds of design and decoration.

See also: feng shui

Interior decoration - Theme

A theme is a consistent idea used throughout a room to create a feeling of completeness. These themes often follow period styles. Examples of this are Louis XV or Art Deco. The evolution of interior design themes has now grown to include themes not necessarily consistent with a specific period style allowing the mixing of pieces from different periods. Each element should contribute to form or function or both and maintain a consistent standard of quality and combine to create the desired design.

Interior decoration - Something to Avoid in Your Decorating

Since interior decoration (interior decorating) communicates, not only to the ones who live in a home, but also to guests, it is important to avoid unintended messages.

Artwork is key to human expression. First painted or scribed on cave walls, nearly everyone carefully chooses art work that complements their lives, art work that offers a sense of calm or challenge, encourages one to dream or relax, all depending on the mood one wishes to convey. Artwork is about opening up the home, not with clear messages, but to imagination--artful ambiguity that fosters introspection and wonder, sometimes humor. Each room can build on the inherent theme, e.g., the dining room -- a place of eating and celebration, and artwork would be chosen to complement that theme.

One of the key mistakes, one of the "don'ts" to avoid, is choosing as artwork - framed photographs of oneself or of one's spouse, and hanging them on walls around the home. Hanging pictures of oneself and spouse turns the home into a shrine dedicated to You, the inhabitants. You unwittingly convey self-centeredness, suggesting that narcissism is alive and well in your home and there is little room for anyone else. It suggests that no matter what you may say, guests are actually unwelcome! It is better to offer photos of yourself as gifts to ones who love you than to display them in your home!

A few photographs of children, grandchildren, and other family members can be appropriate, but even these should be few in number. Preferably place them or hang them in a single room such as a den or bedroom hallway, not throughout the home. Often the wall next to a staircase or an upstairs corridor that connects bedrooms is a good choice for your personal and family photos. Additionally, a photo album can be left out on a table underneath hung photos for those who wish to see more.

Interior decoration - On the television

In the UK and elsewhere, interior decoration has become a popular television format, with advocate programs including changing rooms (BBC) and Selling Houses (Channel 4). Famous interior designers include Linda Barker and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Category: Interior design

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Interior decoration", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki