With the economy being the way it is many people are starting there own business, eventually if your one of the lucky one’s you will have to actually open an office and hire people to help your business grow. Office interior design is a big business and there are many things you can do to make the design of your office appealing and productive. You want your employees to feel comfortable at work, but at the same time have easy access to them and to what they are doing. Using products like office partitions are a great way to accomplish this.

Partitions are inexpensive and a great way to put a few people in one room, but keep the privacy. Optima is a great company that offers a variety of partitions for your office, like glass partitions that allow people to see into the area, but they still provide some sort of a private feel. Glass Partitioning is not always a see though product, Optima offers a selection of different glazing options that will fit your future office needs. You can make your glass partitioning completely see though so it creates a streamlined effect and make the space look large or you can have designs or logo’s put into them to create a more personalized look. You can also completely frost them over for privacy so that your clients can feel safe working with you in your office.

What I like most about Optima is that they are environmentally aware of their imprint and have done some great things for the environment because of this. They have worked hard reducing their production material waste. They also are using recycled materials in their products making them very environmentally friendly.

A great thing about their web site is that architects or interior designers can download CAD drawings of the Optama office systems, making their life easier and possibly lowering design cost for you and your company. Also if you use Optima’s systems you can qualify to get great environmental tax breaks, depending on your area and whats available to you of course.

As your starting your new business think ahead to what it could become, check out Optima’s systems view their 3D and project gallery and get an idea of what your future business may look like and what you you may have to come up with to pay for that very good looking future.

Technorati Tags: environment, glass partitioning, Interior Design, Office interior design, office partitions

Have you ever looked at a picture in a magazine and copied the image exactly in your own room? Well that is called copy cat design and it’s okay when your doing it just for you, but in the professional world it’s not such a great idea. So what do the professionals do? Well they look at that same image for inspiration and change things to fit their clients needs. This is something that you should try as well. Instead of coping the room exactly find one or two things that you love about it and add it to your space, then go from there.

An example would be going to Wal-mart and buying the better homes and gardens bedspread, but finding other things to go with that besides what you see in the picture. Yes these pictures are meant to make your life easy, but it doesn’t represent your individual style. Adding those personal accessories is a great way to make a well designed look your own, so don’t copy cat, be inspired by a room.

Technorati Tags: better homes and gardens, personal accessories

Have you been interested in interior design, but have no idea where to start? Well if your like me and want a real interior design job you need to know what education you really need. Some states require that you go to school to be an interior designer, so do not but many of these have legislation in progress to change this.

Interior designer vs. Interior decorator

An interior decorator is someone who fluffs and decorates a room. They make things look pretty with paint, furniture and so on. Many decorators have little or no schooling, but are good at what they do. There are programs for interior decorating certificates, but please keep this in mind, having this certificate does not make you an interior designer.

An interior designer is someone who has gone though at least two years of formal education. In most states it is also someone who has passed the NCIDQ exam and has had out of school training with a certified interior designer. Interior design degrees are offered all over, but find one that is a good fit for your and your lifestyle. Certified interior designers are able to design small homes, knock down walls and usually have a background in architecture.

If your looking to get into the field of design find out which type of career fits your needs, if you want to just paint and do cosmetic work on homes a decorating certificate is right for you, but if you dream of designing hotels, restaurants or cruse ships check out an interior design school near you.

Technorati Tags: interior decorator, interior design degree, interior design school, ncidq exam

The throne is a symbol of royalty, greatness and even greed. This Furniture Friday is dedicated to the English throne, known as St. Edward’s chair. This simple chair has had a great part in the history of England it has seen kings come and go and shows much of English history with the unfortunate carvings that have been put on it over the years. The chair was designed by a carpenter called Master Walter, he was paid 100 shillings to design the chair.

It was commissioned by King Edward I after he claimed the stone of scone, an ancient symbol of the Scottish kingship. The chair was designed to hold this stone. The chair was named after Edward the Confessor and is kept in Westminster Abby.

St. Edward’s chair features thick oak wood paneling with legs shaped of gilded lions that were added to the chair in the 1700’s. The seat has an opening for the coronation stone. Some historians believe that the chair may have had more ornamental decoration but it has been worn over the years.  The chair does remains sturdy and continues to be part of the coronation process.

The chair has only been removed twice in it’s 800 year history. Once for Oliver Cromwell’s induction as the protector of England and during World War II for safety.

The stone of scone was returned to Scotland in 1996, but will return for future coronations.

The chair is still stored in Westminster Abby and can be seen there today.

Technorati Tags: coronation stone, edward the confessor, english history, St. Edward Chair, westminster abby

Did you know felt is great for the environment, yes that same material that you used as a child for craft is something that you can now use to be environmentally friendly. Felt is made of wool that is matted together to create a fabric. Tribes in some areas of the world use felt to build their homes and to make their clothing.

Felt can be used in many applications such as furniture, blankets and even walls. Felt fabric can make great and colorful rugs as well as artwork. Felt can even be combined with LED’s to create a visually interesting light source.

Technorati Tags: artwork, fabric, felt, Furniture, Rugs