Interior Design Blog

The Interior Design Showcase Blog covers a range of subjects written by interior designers for interior designers – and of course for any one who is interested in the world of design and architecture. The Blog covers a range of subjects that interior designers find compelling, helpful or are just plain passionate about.
Profitability in Architecture and Interior Design practices– it’s a question of time

Profitability in Architecture and Interior Design practices– it’s a question of time

Cost management essentials–project profit margin What is complicated, requires a lot of data analysis, and damages your entire business if not done properly? It is monitoring profit margin of projects for businesses in architecture and interior design. As projects shed labour hours that are difficult to estimate accurately, the labour cost increases and profit margin disappears. Hence, it becomes imperative to control profit margin per project as it will determine your overall profitability. Understanding comparative profit and loss reports, cost benchmarks and profit-drivers Architecture, interior design and refurbishment companies are either product-heavy or service-heavy. In other words, they can either…
Meet the Next-Generation of Leather Alternatives: Mycelium 101

Meet the Next-Generation of Leather Alternatives: Mycelium 101

A look at the break-through fungus-based product and its technology, Mycelium leather, by Nicole Rawling
7 common business mistakes interior designers make and how to fix them

7 common business mistakes interior designers make and how to fix them

A practical and achievable guide to shaping a more profitable and effective interior design business model.
How to write authoritative and professional articles on interior design and architecture

How to write authoritative and professional articles on interior design and architecture

A guideline setting out the key steps in creating articles on interior design and related subjects. These guidelines can be used by interior designers and architects writing for publication on The Interior Design Showcase however will also be applicable to articles written for publication on any website.
How to present images of your products online for the interior designer market

How to present images of your products online for the interior designer market

Interior designer Carol Rutter guides suppliers and manufacturers on how to effectively present images of products for selection and specification by creative specifiers including ideal outcomes, pitfalls to avoid and best practices.

A classification system to organise product literature and samples for use in an interior design product library, filing system or for online bookmarking.

A classification system to organise product literature and samples for use in an interior design product library, filing system or for online bookmarking.

If you have not yet found a good product filing system or you have one with too many or too few categories to be useful then here is a classification system that is both comprehensive and concise. With only 45 product genres it is easy to use and remember for interior designers, library managers and researchers. A separate fabric classification system is also given.

A categorisation of grades of stainless steel and their uses

A categorisation of grades of stainless steel and their uses

There are many types of stainless steel and specific uses for each of them. Here is a collation of the different grades with simple explanations of their components and typical applications.

An interview with Newcastle-based interior designer, Karen Walker, Interior Designer

An interview with Newcastle-based interior designer, Karen Walker, Interior Designer

Karen Walker talks to us about starting her own business after 23 years working for someone else’s company and the specific pressures brought by working in the North of England. We also showcase some of her hotel and library projects.

An interview with Carl Michael Harris, Director at Miners Studio Ltd.

An interview with Carl Michael Harris, Director at Miners Studio Ltd.

Carl Michael Harris tells us about his new design studio and explains its name and design philosophy. Carl gives us his view on snobbery within the design industry and we also look at some of his memorable projects from his past working at David Collins Studio.

An interview with Jarod Smith, International Interior Designer

An interview with Jarod Smith, International Interior Designer

International interior designer Jarod Smith gives us the inside story of three uber-glamorous Portuguese villas for TV celebrity clients, shares his views on the key challenges within the interior design industry and tells us about his new career working with Arteriors.

Six animals and their products that householders can avoid when creating vegan interior design for their home

Six animals and their products that householders can avoid when creating vegan interior design for their home

Without knowing it, we contribute to the abuse and exploitation of animals by buying goods and furniture that are made from their products. Jecks Lea gives details on six of these animals and tips on how to detect their products so that they can be avoided.

A practical approach to vegan home interior design for householders

A practical approach to vegan home interior design for householders

If you want to become ethical in your home and replace animals’ products with vegan ones, Jecks Lea gives a simple and easy-to-follow guide on how to tackle what might seem an overwhelming project.

A look at the growth in use of vegan products in home interior design

A look at the growth in use of vegan products in home interior design

In the first of a series of articles on vegan interiors Jecks Lea explains the principles of veganism and how these are equally relevant in the home as in diet and lifestyle.

An interview with Johanne O’Neill, International interior designer

An interview with Johanne O’Neill, International interior designer

Interior designer Johanne O’Neill talks to The Interior Design Showcase about her work, her design philosophy and her favourite types of clients. We also look at some of Johanne’s work across a diverse range of projects.

An interview with Nigel Scorer, Director at Contents Interior & Graphic Design Ltd.

An interview with Nigel Scorer, Director at Contents Interior & Graphic Design Ltd.

Practice Director Nigel Scorer talks to The Interior Design Showcase about his interior design business based in Newcastle upon Tyne, his feelings working within the interior design industry including frustrations, favourite bits and his ideal client.

An interview with Sue Fisher, Interior designer at FiSHER iD

An interview with Sue Fisher, Interior designer at FiSHER iD

Interior Designer Sue Fisher, ranked as amongst the top 20 interior designers in the UK by The Telegraph, talks to us about her interior design business based in Kent that she has run for 27 years, her approach to design, frustrations and favourite projects.

An overview of the design style of the glamorous socialite interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE

An overview of the design style of the glamorous socialite interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE

Kelly Hoppen has developed a highly distinctive signature style for her use of taupe, ivory and chocolate tones and her orderly, and utterly restrained, way of creating ranks of plants, flowers, books and other decorative items. Here we look at how she has become sought-after by furniture and yacht designers to lend her brand to their products and how she has influenced countless interiors.

A review of the life and work of the great and influential interior designer Mario Buatta, The Prince of Chintz

A review of the life and work of the great and influential interior designer Mario Buatta, The Prince of Chintz

Gloriously indulgent and over-the-top in terms of colour, form and collation, Mario Buatta has been famous in America for his work for equally exuberant pop stars and celebrities. Yet, despite the costliness of his interiors Buatta’s “undecorated look” shimmers with the style and serenity of classic design elements.

Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen – lighthearted, foppish TV presenter, serious businessman or talented interior designer?

Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen – lighthearted, foppish TV presenter, serious businessman or talented interior designer?

This celebrity interior designer is undoubtedly charming and very watchable on screen but is Laurence Llewellyn Bowen known more for his personality than his prowess with interiors? We peruse his activities in the world of design and have a look at some of his business pursuits.

An account of the life of interior designer Elsie de Wolfe, famous for saying

An account of the life of interior designer Elsie de Wolfe, famous for saying "I am going to make everything around me beautiful, that will be my life"

Elsie de Wolfe was born plain and as a result hated everything that was ugly and mediocre. She flew into a tantrum as a child when her mother painted their family home sitting room a hideous colour redolent of William Morris (whom Elsie loathed). Here we look at her career and signature style which incorporated Chinoiserie and Palladian touches with lots of white and light colours – in direct opposition to Morris’s “dingy style”.

A short biography of the design in the life of the socialite and trailblazing interior designer Dorothy Draper

A short biography of the design in the life of the socialite and trailblazing interior designer Dorothy Draper

Despite the glamour of her life and her own personal style Dorothy Draper was a tough and powerful force. In the days when women, especially not in her milieu, did not “go out to work” she set about creating a business and a brand that has lasted to this day.

Achieving a luxurious look in a small space – how interior designers have created glamorous or sophisticated bedrooms, bathrooms and sitting rooms.

Achieving a luxurious look in a small space – how interior designers have created glamorous or sophisticated bedrooms, bathrooms and sitting rooms.

The less an interior designer has to work with, whether it be budget or space, the more effort it takes to produce something memorable. Defying the confines of physical space and creating desirable and comfortable interiors is a particular skill – here we look at a few success stories.

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