architecture tips

Now then, here's a topic you probably have not heard of or discussed much, but in light of some of the warlike activities going on around the world, perhaps we should discuss it.

What type of interior design and decor to use inside of a long-term bomb shelter?

Yes, this is a rather morbid thought, but now with Putin in control of Russia again and leading the world back towards the Cold War and with rogue nation states having nuclear weapons, and as we enter the age of nuclear terrorism - bomb shelters are now back on the table, maybe you've thought about having one to protect your family? Okay so let's talk about this shall we?

If you're going to be in a bomb shelter with all the amenities for a long periods of time, let's say six months to a year and a half until the radiation fallout has subsided, then you are going to want to decorate the place and keep it as peaceful as possible because there will be a lot of stress being cooped up like that. It's not that humans can't do this we know they have, as there are people in prisons, and NASA has studied volunteers who have spent several years inside capsules and habitats for practice for a potential colony on living on Mars.

They have done all sorts of psychological studies, and the U.S. Navy has also done studies and research inside of submarines. The human psyche can handle it, but the business of decor, or the interior decorating does matter. In prisons they find there is less aggression with pastel colors. While that is true, there is another reason why I believe that the inside interior paint ought to be very bland and light-colored. You see, if you don't have sunlight for a long period of time your skin starts to lose its color and pigmentation.

This can cause health issues, but I am sure that anyone who is going to be in a long-term bomb shelter would have considered special vitamin supplements, perhaps even vitamin D. But if your skin starts to turn white and grayish, you'd want the paint to match. If the colors were too dark, there would be too much contrast between the color of the skin of the humans inside and the sides of the wall.

This would remind you that you weren't as healthy as you could be because you would look like the walking dead. By keeping the colors similar, this would uplift your spirits, and you might not notice the huge difference between before and after, even if the process were rather slow. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Innovation in America. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Far too often executives make decisions purely on costs rather than considering the loss of productivity, or the hassles they cause to the consumer or customer. One such example I'd like to cite at this point is the use of LED lighting. Indeed, it is very noble to save energy and money, as that is a wise thing to do. However if it is being done at the expense of productivity or if it is causing health issues in factories and office buildings then it needs to be entirely reconsidered. The color of the LED lighting, and the frequency which is used does affect the human bio system and brain - okay so let's talk shall we?

At the LED symposium for "Strategies in Light 2013" there will be several workshops, in workshop number four they will discuss "Color Science for Lighting" and in workshop six "Human Factors for Lighting and Design" where they will discuss some of these issues. Now then, let me ask you a question; have you ever been to a Wal-Mart store and noticed that your mood had changed after entering the store and walking around within just a few minutes? There is a reason for this, and the lighting definitely has something to do with it.

In McDonald's stores they used to have unpleasing bright colors for the chairs in the lobby. This caused the tables to turn faster so that they could serve more guests in a very short time period during the lunch rush hour or morning breakfast rush. Many corporations use elevator music, pastel colors, and special lighting for increased productivity and mood enhancement. Many smaller companies are unsure of these things, and they don't use these tricks of the trade when it comes to lighting, but they should.

Many small business people put in LED lighting to save money on the electricity bill and for that I say; good for them, as it's environmentally friendly smart thing to do. But it is not so smart if it is challenging the immune system of your employees, or challenging the psychological composure of your customers. You want your customers to be in an upbeat and happy mood, and the human bio system throughout its evolution has become rather fond of UV light, as it comes from the sun. That is why that frequency of light is more pleasing to the eye than other types of lighting.

If you are saving money on your LED lighting, but customers are spending less time in your store because perhaps they feel uncomfortable, even if they don't even understand why, then you are losing sales. There are reasons why you should use soft lighting, LED lighting, neon lighting, or the regular UV lights. It all makes a difference, so maybe you should do some research before you go strictly LED just to save money. Saving money is great, but it shouldn't be the only imperative in making that decision. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Business Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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With such a range of designers and architects to choose from how do you know you're getting the right person to work with to produce the results for your client when you are planning a makeover project for them.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of the best trade interior designers and architects were listed in one place? An online directory that showcases the best of the best showing their backgrounds, the projects they have completed, testimonials and references from previous clients and what areas they specialize in.

Now all this information is all available at the touch of your smart phone, iPad or computer.

The online trade directory showcases interior consultants and architects that can be accessed with ease in just a few minutes. This is a great solution for your clients' upcoming projects.

The trade directory has listings of all the bests designers all offering a fresh approach that includes their individual artistic flair. They have been selected to appear in the directory for their creativity and originality. They also place a strong emphasis on ensuring your clients' projects encapsulate all their needs from concept to completion as they will endeavour to fully utilize client space effectively and creatively according to their instructions.

All the designers and architects showcased will specialize in certain styles or types of interior design from residential to corporate and some will even have had experience in theater or film production and offer a large range of creative processes to create and meet the lifestyle of your clients' design projects.

The online trade directory is a fantastic resource and can save you a lot of time which is essential in the busy world we all live in today. Utilize your time wisely by going into the directory and looking around until you find the services of a designer most appropriate to suit your clients' project.

An added advantage is most of them will also have project management experience so they can manage your client's expectations right through to implementation.

Whether your client is looking for a contemporary look, antique, or a blend of diverse elements from different periods the directory will give you the confidence to ensure your clients' projects are handled with skill and professionalism all the way through.

With an online directory specifically developed for this purpose the world of design and awesome projects is just a few clicks away and a great resource for you to assist your clients to create their home of their dreams.

New Zealand Interior Designer is New Zealand's Directory of leading interior designers to construct or design innovative projects. Our aim is to find you the ideal interior design partner to work with you in creating the home of your dreams. All our creative designers are experienced in interior and exterior design and have a genuine desire to serve clients with the best home design services to complement your budget, lifestyle and choice.

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The entrance to your office reflects a lot about you as an entrepreneur as first impressions do count and can often influence customers in the most unlikely manner. This part of your office assumes great importance for it gives the visitors a glimpse of what your office has to offer. It does not matter whether you are a manufacturer or a service provider, the entrance of your office plays a very important role in attracting clients. The design of the entrance of your office should set a visitor thinking of what they can expect from you. Whenever, a visitor enters an office space, he/she expects it to be easy to access and friendly. The ambiance that a visitor experiences at the entrance of an office often decides whether they would do business with you or not. So, the correct aesthetics about the design of the entrance of your office are of paramount importance. Be it access, transparency, color combination or the artwork, everything has to be in perfect harmony with a visitor's expectations.

The 5 keys to having a great interior design for your office entrance are:

1. Color combination: It is the color combination of the entrance to your office that first captures the attention of a visitor since it is well-known that colors strongly affect the psychology of emotions. The creative use of colors at the entrance of your office can set the mood of a visitor. Therefore, it very important that you choose the colors of the entrance very carefully. The color combination should reflect the kind of products or service that you offer. Unless you are the owner of a pub or a discotheque, choose colors that are easy on the eye.

2. Furniture: Just like the right color combination, the selection of appropriate furniture is also very important regarding the entrance of your office. The furniture at the entrance or the waiting area should be well laid out, with an eye on comfort and beauty. The choice of furniture at the entrance may range from lavish to ordinary; you may choose anything as long as it is comfortable and is in harmony with your overall office design.

3. Reception area: Special emphasis should be given on the design of the reception area in in your office. Every bit of space in this area should reflect the kind of services your visitors are going to get. The reception area should make the visitors feel comfortable and not anxious. You should make sure that the reception area is not cluttered with unnecessary things. Having some greenery can be a great touch.

4. The Artwork used: The kind of paintings, wall hangings and artwork that is used at the entrance of your office make a lot of difference to the overall ambiance. Whatever artwork or paintings you choose for this area should be in good condition and should be well lit. Make sure that the artwork does not give an unkempt look to the entrance.

5. Lighting: Lighting is another important attribute that sets the tone of any interior, be it a jewelry shop or any commercial office. Every nook and corner of the entrance should be well lit to create a soothing ambiance and give a feeling of confidence to the visitors. Any badly lit corners give a dingy feeling to the visitors and in turn can adversely affect your business prospects.

By taking care of all these interior designing attributes, you can give a great look to the entrance of your office.

Shaunvir Singh Mahil, Founder of OutsourceEngineeringService.com. He aims to introduce innovations in Engineering Outsourcing Services by providing clients their own talented engineering professionals from India in diverse Outsource engineering domains.You can find out more information about architectural design services Please visit our cad design services website

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If you are thinking about opening a restaurant, or thinking about doing a renovation on your existing restaurant, but have a very limited budget, there are lots of creative and affordable ways that you can make a big change without spending big money.

A few simple ideas can help you transform your restaurant operation into a brand new place. The ideas below are also all DIY, so there is no need to have to deal with the headaches of hiring a contractor.

1. Clean it up

First and foremost, a complete detailing of your restaurant should be done before any big or small renovation jobs are done. Wash and clean each and every single wall, corner, countertops, display shelves, drawers, cabinets, table, chair, window, washroom, etc. in your entire operation. When things are clean, they can look new again.

2. Paint

A good paint job can change the dynamic of any operation drastically. It is the easiest and most inexpensive way to make an instant change to the interior design of your restaurant. Choose colors that are related to your brand, and the type of food that you serve. Paint your bulkheads in bright colors to attract attention. If your tables, chairs, cabinets and counters are looking a bit shabby, repaint those as well.

3. Make deals with artists

Can't afford to buy expensive artwork for your walls? Why not help local artists in your community get some exposure instead? Use your restaurant operation as a gallery for new and upcoming artists. If a piece sells, the artist can give you a percentage of the sales. This way, artists have an outlet to display their work to the public, and you get to have beautiful pieces of art in your restaurant for free.

4. Avoid restaurant supply stores

Restaurant suppliers tend to charge a fortune for shelving units, display props, food display ware, cookware, smallwares, etc. Consider shopping for these items at stores like IKEA, Pier 1 Imports and other inexpensive home décor stores that offer such items at a much lower price.

5. Wallpaper

Wallpaper is a great way to add texture, color and depth to your operation. Today, you can buy wallpaper with any type of print imaginable. For example, if you want to give your operation a wood feel, but can't afford to use real wood, use a wood-themed wallpaper instead. Contrast your painted walls with strips of wallpaper to make your walls more interesting. Wallpaper can also help you relay to your customers the atmosphere of your restaurant.

6. Laminate flooring

New floors can get quite pricey. Wood floors cost a fortune, and carpeting always needs to be cleaned. Laminate floors are ideal for restaurants as they are easy to clean and can withstand a lot of traffic. It can also be DIY, thereby saving on the need to hire a professional installer. Laminate floors come in a huge variety of colors, patterns and designs, and cost a lot less than wood or carpet.

7. Use natural elements

Instead of spending money on expensive décor items, consider going outdoors to find pieces of nature. Fill clear glass vases with sand, rocks, seashells or gravel, and add a small tealight inside for an inexpensive tabletop light. Use leaves, twigs, flowers and plants to add more fresh, natural and environmental elements to your restaurant.

8. Look online for free stuff

Check often online at websites like Craigslist or Kijiji to see what people are giving away for free. Someone else's garbage may be your treasure. Keep your eyes out for light fixtures, shelving units, tables, chairs, coffee tables and other items that could be cleaned and easily refurbished, and fit well into your restaurant operation.

Diane Chiasson, FCSI, president of Chiasson Consultants Inc., has been helping restaurant, foodservice, hospitality and retail operators increase sales for over 30 years. She is recognized as one of the best restaurant consultants in Toronto. Her company provides innovative and revenue-increasing foodservice and retail merchandising programs, interior design, branding, menu engineering, marketing and promotional campaigns, and much more. Contact her at 416-926-1338, toll-free at 1-888-926-6655 or chiasson@chiassonconsultants.com, or visit http://www.chiassonconsultants.com/

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As a designer of sorts, mostly high-tech futuristic concepts, I often see flaws in the designs of others. Sometimes I chock it off to laziness or a lack of sense of purpose for the innovator, perhaps they just don't much care, and good enough is well, good enough for them, still for me, it's just not that way. No, I am not the proverbial mentally challenged perfectionist, rather I just don't like to look at a half-assed effort, maybe you agree? Or, maybe you don't and you understand that the designer, engineer, or innovator is just doing his or her job and they aren't really paid to think beyond that.

Well, they should, and when they don't, yes, you guessed it, we all have to live with the results, and I ask; where is the fairness to the user in that level of mediocrity? One pet peeve of mine, perhaps something which bothers me most is to look at a brand-new home which hasn't taken into consideration the fact that there will be future television technology coming along in subsequent generations of the virtual-reality high-definition living room. Just look at any current home, and realize the lighting is all wrong for a large flat panel screen of 50 or more inches.

Next consider how often this technology changes. Five years ago, there were very few flat panel screens of that size, and then came the LCD, and then the LED screens, and next will be the super high definition screens, they are showing up on the shelves right now. Right after that, after everyone has purchased one of those items in various sizes for their living room and all the rooms in their house, then next we will see the holographic projection televisions. Indeed, some of these systems will be surround-a-view systems where all the walls and the ceiling will become part of the experience.

Does that mean we should give a break to designers in the present period? After all, how will they know what the future might bring in the way of technology, and how might they know how to effectively light the room? Well, they can't know if we don't tell them, hence the reason for this particular article number 28,860 but I digress.

You see, what I am explaining, well, that is the future which is coming forth and it will be here in 5 to 10 years, you can bet on it. So, shouldn't we start thinking about that today, and expect our designers and interior architects to consider all of this?

Too many mistakes have been made in the past, obvious mistakes, as we watch these technologies come forward. It seems a shame to go into a brand-new home and see that the lighting is incorrect, or the layout with all the sockets, ceiling fans, and lights are all wrong for those who will spend countless hours in their living room watching multimedia and movies on their large flat-panel TV. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Not long ago, I was at Starbucks and I was talking to a young gal who was taking photography courses at the local college. She was going after her prerequisite classes so she could start her degree program. I asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, and she said she would like to do something in the art world, become an artist, or perhaps an interior designer. She realized that she didn't have enough experience to get a job right now doing something like this, and she would need to get a degree to get on with one of the larger firms in our area.

Indeed, I thought this was quite noble because she was seeking a career in something that she enjoys and has passion for. Good for her. I wondered if she should start her own business in the interior design profession, but she did indicate to me that the competition was tough, and it would be difficult to build a customer base when she didn't have any referrals coming in, and no clients willing to pay her money. Still, it is my contention that you should do something you have passion for, and if you do chances are the money will follow, provided you are doing most things correctly in your own small business.

Let's say you like to do interior decorating, and make everything look perfect. Maybe you have one of those perfect eyes for detail, good spatial reasoning, and perhaps you are a little compulsive and obsessive need for perfection. If so, being an interior designer and pursuing that profession might be right up your alley. Consider if you will your options;

1.) Interior Business Design
2.) Real Estate Home Staging
3.) Interior Decorating and Design
4.) Architectural Consulting and Interior Design
5.) Retail Marketing Displays and Branding Programs

Do you see yourself doing any of those things? These are all solo professional type small businesses that you can start, build, and in the process you will be doing something you love, something you're good at, and of course the most important thing; something you have passion for. You should ask yourself; "what do I like to do?" And if your answer is interior design, then why not look into some of these things, maybe this is your future career and it might make a great entrepreneurial business for you. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Small Business Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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