Posts Tagged ‘interior design ideas’
Fashion + Interiors 2013 “Tastemaker” look
Friday, May 17th, 2013Fashion + Interiors 2013 “Modern Nostalgia” look
Thursday, May 16th, 2013
Fashion + Interiors 2013 “Edgy Minimalist” look
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
Design Challenge
Tuesday, December 18th, 2012by Ally Evander, Allied Member ASID
Do you ever watch those Designer’s Challenge shows on TV where they give the designers a space, a bunch of restrictions and demand great design? Well occasionally, our clients ask the same of us.
A project we’re working on right now is a home where the client wanted us to create a modern look while respecting the traditional, Victorian architecture of the home. The twist is, the home is a rental, and they don’t know how long they plan to stay. So, no paint, no taking down wall paper, no replacing finishes or fixtures, on a budget…. Oh, and we only have 4 weeks to fill an entire house with furniture and some major personality!
Check out the before pictures:
BORING right!?
Our concept is to use lots of bright color, fun patterns, and unexpected whimsy to achieve a lot of look on a budget. We’ll repeat the same bright, poppy colors around the house in an effort to unite the hodge-podge spaces. Here is a taste of what we’ve designed for the space:
We’re installing in January, so stay tuned for “after” shots in the New Year!
How to stay warm this fall
Wednesday, October 10th, 2012by Ally Evander, Allied Member ASID
Fall weather is officially here and the weather reports don’t anticipate any unexpected warm ups, so this post is about staying warm in style!
If you have a fireplace in your home, you have the perfect place to cozy up to on a cold day. But we work with many clients who’s fireplaces are quite the eye sore. An easy way to freshen up your fireplace is to change the surround material. Here is a project we are working on right now where the client wants to make the living room fireplace more of a focal point.
We’ve selected this crushed glass tile in a gorgeous blue by Sonoma Tilemakers. Stay tuned to the blog for after pics once we have installed!
Here are a few photos of some fireplaces we have fixed up in past projects with various materials.
If you don’t have a fireplace in your home, you might need one of these luxurious fur pillows and throw blankets from the Holly Hunt showroom.
Gone Wild!
Monday, July 30th, 2012by Ally Evander, Allied Member, ASID
All of Minnesota has gone Wild for the newest members of the State of Hockey’s team. Minnesotans are eagerly anticipating the start of the new season with the exciting news that the Wild have officially signed two of the best players in the Nation Hockey League, Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.
At LiLu, when we hear big news, we think design. All this week we will be featuring design concepts that would be perfect for the newest Wild players.
At LiLu, we believe that your lifestyle should be reflected in your interior spaces. Being a professional hockey player is a way of life. But we don’t want to hit you over the head with dopey design, like a chandelier made of hockey sticks. Its hockey all day every day for these guys, so the concept is to make reference to that hockey lifestyle, but also provide a comfortable, homey means of escape.
Check out our concept board for a lounge to host the whole team after a big win:
…I bet you’re wondering why we didn’t design anything to put on the fireplace mantle? All good designs plan ahead for the future… so we left a little room for the Stanley cup.
An Interior Worthy of a Standing Ovation
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012by Lauren Setum, Allied Member ASID
I recently attended a performance by the Houston Ballet as part of the local Northrop Dance Season. Every year, Northrop brings in a variety of dance companies from all over the world to perform right here in the Twin Cities…it makes for a fabulous Friday night out, I definitely recommend looking into upcoming shows. Catch a glimpse of the mixed repertoire performance I saw in this video.
When I was in school, a professor once pointed out the similarity between the art of dance and interior design. Both of these creative fields involve the idea of bodies in space and how they can be manipulated by design ideas (or choreography) and result in something extremely impactful and intriguing. For instance, the concept that the perfect lines and forms can create an end product that is aesthetically pleasing can be applied to both dance and design. So too can a precise rhythm…whether it is created by the feet of a dancer or repetition of a shape in an interior, both can be visually interesting.
What really gives depth to these fields, however, is the emotion and story behind what you see on the surface. When dancers perform, they are conveying an emotion with each movement. Your interior should do the same, as it is a reflection of who you are, the experiences you’ve had, and the places you’ve been. As we explore how to emulate one’s passion for dance into an interior, notice how a good design can take this idea a step further than just framing a picture of a ballerina.
Chandelier from Dennis & Leen
End table from Holly Hunt
Chair from Dennis & Leen
Fabric from Donghia
Fabric from Designers Guild
This same idea can be used with any hobby, and LiLu can help bring it to life!
Concept…again?
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012By Christina Winter, Allied Member ASID
If you read the blog on Monday the peek at a project was about phasing and implementing your project. There are several different reasons why people need to stage their project. It can be because of Budget. It can be for sanity purposes. Do one room at a time, start it and then finish it, move on to the next. This is common for those who have several projects all in mid phase and not one seems to ever be completed. No matter what the reason for wanting to phase your project, we at LiLu Interiors can help you to decide a plan, stick to it and implement in the best way possible.
We talk ahhhh lot about Concept. Our favorite saying is “Practice safe design, use a concept!” Concept is what drives the design and helps to remember as you move through your project WHY you made the decisions that you made. Then concepts also helps to MAKE decisions. We ask ourselves what supports the concept? What relates back to the concept?
Concepts can be used in all areas of you life…not just design. Are you planning a party? What is the theme? Is it a Hawaiian theme or a western theme? If you have this established in the beginning then it easier to decide on the decorations, the menu and what you are going to wear. Concepts are also helpful to help you reach your goals. Are you trying to lose weight? What is the main reason for this? If you have the leg work done and the why answered, you find it is easier to reach your goal.
Creativity
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012By LuAnne Silvia, ASID
In the LiLu Studio we look inward for inspiration. People wonder if designers spend time looking through design magazines for ideas. All of us at the LiLu studio enjoy the beautiful photos published in magazines but the truth is we rarely make the time to sit down and page through them. We find other ways to stay on top of what’s current. When we are in need of fresh inspiration, we find picking up a paint brush or a knitting needle or a camera keeps our creative minds creative.
I attended a talk at the Minneapolis Photography Center given by Annie Griffiths, one of the first female National Geographic photographers. It inspired me to register for a photography class and finally learn what all the buttons on my camera actually do. Ally is currently taking a pottery class at Northern Clay Center. Rolling up her sleeves and diving into the art of throwing pots has given her new insight. And Christina is volunteering on the decorations committee for Wishes and More painting and decorating a booth for their upcoming Winter Ball gala event. Every time you have the opportunity to be hands-on and solve challenges along the way new ideas spark! The creative juices flow. And in the end you have made something, which is the most inspiring thing of all.
A Question of Quality – Tailoring
Thursday, November 17th, 2011By Emily Anderson, Allied Member ASID
This week we are looking at the question of quality and what makes a furniture piece worth the investment. Our criteria so far as been construction and finish. Today we are considering one of my personal favorites – the tailoring of upholstery. I love it because a finely upholstered piece of furniture is a thing of beauty. Just like a perfectly tailored suit with the perfect pleats or buttons can take your breath away, so can a tufted sofa or impeccable chaise.
When upholstery is done well anyone can see it. It does not take a trained eye to appreciate quality tailoring. The showrooms here at IMS abound with exquisite examples of exceptional pieces.
Here a few favorites:
Incredible tufted sofa through Duxbury, Ltd.
R. Jones chaise through BlendedBlue.
Successful transition of nail head trim.
Fantastic Bright sofa from BlendedBlue. Look at the amazing tailoring on the back cushions specifically.
Beautiful large scale pattern match. Notice how the inside back flows seamlessly onto chair seat. Chair from BlendedBlue.
