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WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM PROFESSIONAL INTERIOR DESIGNERS IN MALIBU

Hi. My name is Jo-Ann Capelaci. I’m the owner and principal designer for Colours and Concepts, listed under Interior Designers in Malibu. We’re a Thousand Oaks-based Interior Design firm serving Los Angeles & Ventura Counties.

One question many people ask is…

What are the typical services available from professional Interior Designers in Malibu?

A wide range of design services are available from most professional Interior Designers in Malibu.

For example, an experienced Interior Designer can be involved with custom turn-key home design, from inception to completion.

They can be involved in the pre-construction and construction phases, working with architects, contractors and homeowners to develop the ideal:

- interior design plan,
- color schemes,
- lighting,
- room layouts,
- and other implementation elements.

They can remodel an entire existing home or office, solving problems with:

- space,
- lighting,
- entertaining,
- children,
- common areas,
- work space
- and other space and design issues throughout the home or office.

The Interior Designer may redesign or refurbish

- a kitchen,
- entertainment or media room,
- bedroom,
- bathroom,
- work space,
- common area
- or other interior space,
- or an office.

Or they may be involved with simply specifying and purchasing of

- furniture,
- window coverings and accessories,
- custom furniture
- and built-in design.

Experienced Interior Designers in Malibu also provide refurbishment or redesign services after fire and water damage.

They also are involved in merchandising a home for sale, preparing a house to present well for potential buyers.

Experienced Interior Designers in Malibu can be hired initially for a few hours at the concept stage, say 5 hours, so the Client can get a feel for what it’s like to work with a particular Designer and the possible solutions that may be available.

If you’d like more free videos like this one, click on the link or go to — www.SoCal-Interiors.com

ABOUT COLOURS AND CONCEPTS

Among Interior Designers in Malibu, at Colours and Concepts we’ve been providing a wide range of professional Interior Design services throughout Los Angeles & Ventura counties for almost a decade.

We serve a wide range of clients and collaborate with:

- Developers and Builders who want to increase the value of their properties and projects;

- Contractors, Architects and Homeowners who are renovating or building new; and

- Individual Homeowners desiring to improve their living environment.

I studied design in Toronto, and went on to found and run a design firm for ten years. I then relocated to Southern California, where I have been creating beautiful and effective living spaces throughout the Southland for almost a decade.

I am a Certified Interior Designer and am a past Vice President of the Tri Valley Chapter of the Interior Design Society, one of the nation’s largest design organizations dedicated to serving the residential interior design industry.

I am also an affiliate member of the American Institute of Architects, and an active member of the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, where I recently redesigned their office spaces.

Among the Most Experienced Professional Interior Designers in Malibu, our firm has extensive experience working with a wide range of projects large and small, in diverse environments, and serving clients with all types of personalities and tastes.

For example, in Toronto people are often interested in more traditional styles, with jeweled colors and deeper tones. Whereas in Southern California there is more of a mix, from Tuscan and Spanish to French Country to Contemporary, often with lighter color tones.

We can design in all these styles and others.

We have redesigned floor plans, opened up spaces to make them roomier and more inviting, created extensive media and entertainment areas, developed outstanding family and child-friendly rooms and spaces, and enhanced kitchens and bathrooms.

We have improved work spaces, helped select:

- furniture,
- paint,
- wall and window coverings,
- refurbished and redesigned after fire and water damage,

and prepared complete turnkey custom house design.

And sometimes we’ve had an inspiring time with those clients simply wanting to improve, beautify or just inject some fun into their living environments.

People are often surprised at the amazing possibilities and options available to them.

If you have a project and you’d likte to chat with professional Interior Designers in Malibu, or are simply considering the possibilities of changing your living space or your working environment, We’d love to chat with you.

Call us anytime, at 818-259-2752.

And if you’d like to see more free videos like this one, check out our website at – www.SoCal-Interiors.com

I hope this was helpful. Thanks

This series of 4 articles takes a brief but informative look at 21 of the most famous and Interior Designers, from the earliest pioneers right through to the most celebrated modern day designers.

The Pioneers of Interior Design

Jean-Henri Jansen (1854-1928)

Dutch designer, Jean-Henri Jansen, launched one of the first ever international interior design companies ‘Maison Jansen’ (House of Jansen) in 1880, which became renowned for designing and creating exceptionally beautiful and high quality furniture which would be utilized in a multitude of interior decoration projects. House of Jansen opened branches in 8 of the major cities of the world. Jansen worked closely with the talented interior designer Stephane Boudin whom he made director of the company. The clients of House of Jansen included Royalty and the rich and famous.

Elsie de Wolfe (1865-1950)

The first lady of interior decoration, Elsie de Wolfe considered herself an ‘ugly child’. This Victorian stage actress was a rebel of her times and was credited by many to be the inventor of the modern profession of interior design, even though there were already established interior designers in her time. Elsie disliked Victorian tastes altogether, her designs were therefore generally made up of light and bright colors, contrary to the drab and gloomy Victorian décor coupled with unnecessary excesses such as heavy velvet draperies. This was a pioneering departure from the contemporary designs of the time. Elsie’s influence continues to be felt in the modern world of interior design.

Ogden Codman (1863-1951)

American interior decorator and architect, Ogden Codman spent his childhood in his birthplace of Boston before heading to France in his youth for a period of time. Codman had two uncles who influenced him tremendously – architect John Hubbard and decorator Richard Ogden. Some of Ogden Codman’s works include Edith Wharton’s Newport home, Land’s End, the Rockefeller family estate of New York client John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and the Newport summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Along with novelist Edith Wharton, Codman co-authored a guidepost of American interior design, ‘The Decoration of Houses’ in 1897.

Frances Elkins (1888-1953)

Born in Milwaukee, Frances Adler Elkins was one of the most prominent interior decorator and designer of the previous century. Sister of the famed Chicago architect David Adler, Elkins was known for her futuristic designs that brought together different styles and elements from various periods. They included country French styles, chinoiserie and art deco. The furnishings featured in her designs included designers such as Jean-Michel Frank and Alberto Giacometti. The career of Elkins that spanned over three decades is glittered with many high profile commissions in Hawaii, the Midwest and northern and southern California, none more interesting than the restoration of the 1830s structure, Casa Amesti in Monterrey, California.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)

Frank Lloyd Wright was an interior designer and architect whose career included more than 1000 projects, 500 of them that have been complete. Wright was known for his promotion of organic architecture, an example of which is Fallingwater. The Robie House is an example of Wright’s leadership of the Prairie School architectural movement, while the Rosenbaum House depicts Wright’s Usonian home concept. Wright also had refreshing ideas for every kind of building, be it church, office, school, hotel or museum. Along with excellent architectural renderings, Wright also designed much of the interiors of his buildings including the Décor, layout and furniture.

In Part 2 of this article – which can be accessed through the ‘Article Source’ link below – we take a look at the early interior designers including Fritz August Breuhaus, Stephan Bouldin, Emilio Terry and Dorothy Draper.

One of the cornerstones of many great interior designs is the choice of art. Paintings in particular are often sourced by modern designers to complement the rest of the the design scheme. The popularity of art has increased considerably in the UK over the last decade, not only the number art enthusiasts increased but also the number of artists at all levels; from hobbyists right through to professionals. For those artists, ABC Art supplies provide Blank Canvas and Canvas Boards which are durable, long lasting and suitable to be used for art produced for use as part of an interior design scheme.

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• Famous contemporary chinoiserie interiors

DESIGN PROBLEMS TO AVOID WHEN HIRING LOS ANGELES OR VENTURA INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Hi. My name is Jo-Ann Capelaci. I’m the owner and principal designer for Colours and Concepts. We’re one of the more experienced Ventura Interior Designers serving both Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

One question many people ask is…

What are some problems to avoid when hiring and working with professional Los Angeles or Ventura Interior Designers?

Well first, hiring a qualified professional Interior Designer should minimize the stress associated with

- selection of materials and colors,
- poor workmanship,
- errors in specifications, and
- unreliability of contractors.

It can also greatly reduce the time needed for many design projects. Obviously the longer a project takes, the longer you will be inconvenienced by a mess and perhaps an unlivable home.

Sometimes it’s necessary for you to temporarily relocate while the work is being done.

Experienced Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers with project management skills can usually coordinate contractors and suppliers to minimize any disruptions and create a more seamless design process.

Of course, you want to make sure you are selecting someone with the right mix of design skills, time management and project management expertise, and someone with effective listening skills.

Several times I have been told that a client was not happy with a designer they hired previously. Often the client will explain that, the designer told me I need to do this, this and this and I didn’t want to do this, this and this. In these cases the client would explain that the designer presented a design that was not what they wanted to do and had a color palate they were not happy with.

To me, I’m not sure this is doing your job properly, if you’re a designer.

As one of the more experienced Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers, I’ve learned that it’s important to listen effectively to the client and not inject too much of my own ego into the design suggestions.

So therefore, first of all, when you hire an Interior Designer, make sure they ask you a lot of questions, and are someone who can understand what you are trying to articulate to them.

You can often tell this in the first interview.

Some clients will go further and hire Los Angeles or Ventura Interior Designers for a few hours at the concept stage, to get a sense for how the Designer works and interacts with them.

If the Designer does not have a broad background, where they have worked on many types of projects over their career, that may also be a problem. They may simply be a “one note” designer, providing a limited palate of ideas and resources.

Also, if the designer has poor time management skills, this can be a real red flag. From their returning calls to you in a timely manner to their delivering the initial plans, you can often get a sense of their professionalism and dependability.

Remember, your Interior Design project is not just about getting a few great ideas on paper. It’s also about your Designer’s ability to coordinate the various contractors and suppliers who may also be involved in creating an amazing living space for you. That’s why it’s so important to only work with Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers who have relationships with numerous types of contractors and suppliers.
Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers with poor time management can cost you time, but can also impact the ultimate budget of your project. Without effective Design Management, the potential for problems can skyrocket.

Of course, with every Design project, there is a possibility for unforeseen problems, as well as last minute changes and ideas, especially on the part of the Client. A professional designer should be flexible enough to accommodate not just the initial wishes of the client, but also, changes that may come up because of a last minute inspiration or a potential problem situation that arises during construction.

For this reason, a good designer should be solution driven and flexible.

With all the possible variables, it is especially important that your Designer have considerable experience with many of the suppliers and contractors that will be used.

Of course, problems will periodically arise with even the best suppliers. But working with an experienced professional Designer will generally reduce the likelihood of unreliable suppliers.

Needless to say, an effective Professional Designer should listen carefully to the Client’s needs and requests. But they should also be able to make suggestions beyond the client’s initial ideas.

You are hiring a professional who, in many cases, will have a vast experience and knowledge base that you can tap, including ideas you may not have considered that could really help.

If your Designer doesn’t present fresh ideas, then you may be getting short-changed in the possibilities for great design of your home.

Certainly, the biggest problems arise when a Designer does not guide the client through the decision process based on the client’s specific lifestyle, budget and preferences.

Truly effective Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers will take the time to understand your lifestyle, budget and preferences so they can Design a living environment that meets or exceeds your goals and wishes…a design that reflects your personality.

If you’d like more free videos like this one, click on the link or go to — www.SoCal-Interiors.com

ABOUT COLOURS AND CONCEPTS

At Colours and Concepts, as one of the more experienced Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers, we’ve been providing a wide range of professional Interior Design services throughout Los Angeles & Ventura counties for almost a decade.

We serve a wide range of clients and collaborate with:

- Developers and Builders who want to increase the value of their properties and projects;

- Contractors, Architects and Homeowners who are renovating or building new; and

- Individual Homeowners desiring to improve their living environment.

I studied design in Toronto, and went on to found and run a design firm for ten years. I then relocated to Southern California, where I have been creating beautiful and effective living spaces throughout the Southland for almost a decade.

I am a Certified Interior Designer and am a past Vice President of the Tri Valley Chapter of the Interior Design Society, one of the nation’s largest design organizations dedicated to serving the residential interior design industry.

I am also an affiliate member of the American Institute of Architects, and an active member of the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, where I recently redesigned their office spaces.

As one of the more experienced Los Angeles and Ventura Interior Designers, our firm has extensive experience working with a wide range of projects large and small, in diverse environments, and serving clients with all types of personalities and tastes.

For example, in Toronto people are often interested in more traditional styles, with jeweled colors and deeper tones. Whereas in Southern California there is more of a mix, from Tuscan and Spanish to French Country to Contemporary, often with lighter color tones.

We can design in all these styles and others.

We have redesigned floor plans, opened up spaces to make them roomier and more inviting, created extensive media and entertainment areas, developed outstanding family and child-friendly rooms and spaces, and enhanced kitchens and bathrooms.

We have improved work spaces, helped select:

- furniture,
- paint,
- wall and window coverings,
- refurbished and redesigned after fire and water damage,

and prepared complete turnkey custom house design.

And sometimes we’ve had an inspiring time with those clients simply wanting to improve, beautify or just inject some fun into their living environments.

People are often surprised at the amazing possibilities and options available to them.

If you have a project or are simply considering the possibilities of changing your living space or your working environment, We’d love to chat with you.

Call us anytime, at 818-259-2752.

And if you’d like to see more free videos like this one, check out our website at – www.SoCal-Interiors.com

I hope this was helpful. Thanks for listening

In Mark Oser’s world, light is art, and the most important design element in a house. A trained painter, he prefers white walls to showcase canvases and sculptures, and dramatic lighting to highlight the architectural details of his 6,000-square-foot modern home in Holland.

It’s not your typical Bucks County fare, but that’s not why clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida call on Oser, an interior designer for 20 years who now does many design/build projects.

His own home features glass for staircases, stainless steel for curved walls, granite for floors, and open spaces for paintings that make it feel like a modern museum or a slick movie set. A comfortable one, though.

“My main goal was to create an ultramodern [house], but warm at the same time,” says Oser, 44. “I softened all of the hard materials with warm lighting, thick carpets, and warm touches of color.”

Building his home from the ground up was a challenge, Oser says: “I have been exposed to so much over the past 20 years and had so many resources that I loved to use. How do I narrow it down to what I like?”

First, he had to find where to build. He wanted to be in Bucks County, but he didn’t think a big development would be right for him, his wife Lisa, and daughter Halie, now 9. He found a community of 10 homes where the builder would allow him to design and construct the interior.

Like the rest of us, Oser had to contend with that awful word budget.

“When I thought about all of the things I wanted in this house, I thought, ‘I can’t afford myself.’ If there was something I wanted that I could not afford, I tried to do it with more cost-effective materials.”

It took Oser a year to design the whole house and another year, after they moved in in May 2001, to design the lower level. He bounced ideas off his wife, who was involved in the projects.

“My most important requirement was that my home feel inviting while being warm – modern design sometimes has a cold feel to it. Mark blended a modern style with a sense of warmth,” Lisa Oser says, crediting his use of lighting with making that happen.

The basement that took so long to design? It features a six-seat theater with ticket booth, a bar, a seating area, a gaming area, and the requisite home gym. The rooms have a movie theme, and there is even a life-sized clay sculpture of a movie attendant in the ticket booth.

The soundproof theater has fabric walls and dramatic sconces, and a 125-inch movie screen behind remote-controlled curtains.

“This is my favorite room,” Mark Oser says, “because you feel so different here. It takes me away.”

“You can do anything using this screen: show family photos, play games, and watch movies, of course,” says Oser, who often hooks up his computer and works there.

Adds Lisa Oser: “My friends and Halie’s love this house. It is really set up for entertaining.”

The bar and seating area have fun pop-art touches such as puzzle-piece ottomans and chairs done in fabric that looks like film reels. Oser painted an “Al Pacino in Scarface” movie mural onto the wall near the pool table.

Upstairs, in the main living spaces, however, “I wanted to have an art gallery effect,” says Oser, who mixes his own work – his take on a Roy Lichtenstein is on one wall – with that of other artists.

For the kitchen, he wanted sleek and angular mixed with curved design elements. The granite floors match the countertops, and white custom cabinets conceal small appliances. The eating area has a Jetsons-like triangular table and colorful seats.

In the square family room, Mark Oser wanted curves. He created them with flooring cut in a wave shape. The room features a built-in TV over the fireplace and, on an opposite wall, an airbrushed sky effect with the words COOL in 3-D.

“Paint can be changed, so if I get tired of it, I can easily change it,” he says.

The master bedroom needed lots of storage. Oser tucked it away behind curved brushed-steel and lacquer custom cabinetry that looks like an architectural element. A fireplace and TV are built into a wall opposite the bed, which rests on a glass-block base, lit from within.

“The lighting and glass create a floating effect,” Oser says.

He painted the molded ceiling a warmer color than the walls, and tucked away cove lighting to give the space a wonderful glow. And he created a meditation area for his wife, who owns an insurance-brokerage agency.

Three years ago, Oser took his talents outside, adding a pool that transports visitors to his favorite state, Florida. He brought in sand from the beach and palmlike trees, worked his magic with lighting again, and dotted deck areas with art and sculpture from favorite artists.

“The best part of living in a modern house is it is open and airy, unique and timeless,” Lisa Oser says. “I feel like I am on vacation in Florida or California in my own home.”

Mark also thinks of it as a living portfolio.

“I could have a showroom,” he says, “but I choose to live in mine.”