tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-107828122026-01-18T11:21:05.102-08:00Lee Brown's Interior Design Blog. Professional Interior Designer shares years of knowledge with you to provide free interior design and decorating education.Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-87160610861460100532020-11-16T16:04:00.209-08:002020-12-05T20:30:23.346-08:00

 Loving the Job? If not - get out!Customer service is a large part of being an Interior Designer. The client needs to feel special and enjoy their design experience. They don't want to have to deal with a grumpy tired designer who literally throws their scheme together and says "there you are" without any explanation and sends a bill! They want an enthusiastic Interior Designer who is in

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-50910932161587529032020-10-10T17:25:00.002-07:002020-10-10T19:46:13.237-07:00

Do I need a Pinterest Account as an Interior Designer?Yes, you do need a Pinterest account! If you want to stay in touch with design trends, get inspiration, and be organized, it is vital that you set up a Pinterest account. I am sure you currently browse the internet for design inspiration, by using Pinterest you can set up your own boards and categorize them to review at a later date. For

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-40583871837543990862019-06-24T11:59:00.001-07:002019-06-24T11:59:21.629-07:00

Putting Color Back in the Bathroom For so long now, all I can remember is white bathroom fixtures. Toilet, bath, shower, vanity, basin. They are all white available in many different shapes and sizes, designs and styles but predominantly white. I was recently scrolling through Unsplash, where I get inspirational photos and I found these images of bathroom fittings and walls that were a little

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-59120805491968803302019-06-10T18:26:00.003-07:002019-06-10T18:26:38.998-07:00

Eeny Meeny, Miny, Moe - Which Color Should I Go? Here are 15 simple tips to remove the color "noise" from choosing your perfect color. Sometimes choosing color seems like you are in the middle of a children's nursery rhyme or a choosing  lottery numbers. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe - which color should I go? Too many choices and no idea of how to choose just the right ones. It's like being in

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-48544018170683335282018-10-04T19:12:00.000-07:002018-10-04T19:12:03.813-07:00

If you love interior design but don't have the time to learn.... .......you now can with WillowCollege. I used to dream of being an interior designer. Now I am, but I had to study part time and attend classes, work and juggle a business. It was hard work.  Thank goodness for progress and technology now.  I have been teaching interior design online at interiordezine.com 

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-86757775852529635472018-09-12T23:46:00.000-07:002018-09-14T00:54:42.917-07:00

Using Living Things to Enhance your Interior - Plants I remember when I was young, we had pot plants everywhere in the house. When we went on holiday we had to arrange someone to come in and look after them or my mum would put them all in the bath and leave a bit of water in the bottom. They were very well cared for. We had pots hanging in macrame hangers, we had rubber plants, maiden hair

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-81452395115294548862018-06-10T17:03:00.000-07:002018-06-10T17:03:21.171-07:00

Creative Color I thought I was pretty good with technology, until I had to start navigating my way around Pinterest and Instagram! Wow, it was so overwhelming. After a few months, I think I have now mastered it. So I thought I would show off my new skills and invite you to join my Pinterest Tribe - Creative Color. For those of you who know me Color is my passion, so I have started posting

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-4063616065598654122018-05-29T20:14:00.000-07:002018-05-29T22:31:16.050-07:00

7 Jobs you can do if you are an Interior Designer? I get asked all the time about what is an interior designer and what is involved in the job. There are so many different ways you can use Interior Design training, so I have put together 7 that came to mind. I can and probably will expand to another 7 at a later date. Color Consultant - this involves selecting colors and becoming an expert

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-11731392375999653732018-05-07T19:17:00.000-07:002018-09-16T18:49:00.159-07:00

Never Choose "Just" White for Interiors After working for a paint company for two and  half years, I became very familiar with white. So many times I could hear painter's clients say "I'll just have white for the walls".  Do you know how many variations of white there are? Neither do I, but it would be hundreds. When I first started I worked for a day in the paint store mixing paint

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-53723519140582384512018-05-05T08:30:00.000-07:002018-05-05T08:30:11.686-07:00

We want you to be a Foundation Member As you know, I am Lee Brown and I am a co-founder of interiordezine.com. Chris, my husband and I are currently building another business which is an extension of this, it's called WillowCollege.com. You have probably heard about it, as I have been sending out a lot of emails lately, and there will probably be a few more coming!  We need support to

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-28955866862689456052018-04-03T20:03:00.000-07:002018-04-03T20:09:58.822-07:00

Hi, if you are one of my budding interior designers from interiordezine.com, you may have an idea that I have been busy with a new project. Not just me, Chris and I have both been working day and night on an exciting new way of learning interior design, its called Willow College. Over the next few weeks there will be more information coming out about it. So for now I'm going to send you

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-90888825814679886932017-04-28T20:32:00.002-07:002018-09-16T18:50:49.584-07:00

I just received a text out of the blue from a client that I had done a lot of work for in my last job. They were inviting me to see their brand new home as it is finished and they want everyone involved to see how well it has turned out. I felt very special. What a lovely thing to do. Unfortunately they have to sell it, so I just went online and had a sneak peak at the for sale photos on the real

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-73519633541844679982017-03-29T16:42:00.001-07:002018-09-16T18:53:48.288-07:00

You are Paid for your Attention to Detail in Design We recently went to a wonderful hotel for a very special family occasion and I was really impressed with the interior design of the hotel. It was smart, well themed for the era of the building and it was inviting, warm, welcoming and created a lovely setting for this occasion. I was incredibly impressed with the design as well as the service we

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-90754971368495707672017-03-03T19:11:00.001-08:002018-09-16T18:57:41.509-07:00

You are worth something! I just found this blog post that I had started writing a few years ago and never finished.  I though it may be of interest to you. I am so tired of working myself ragged and then to be told by the customer that they won't pay me. I find it humiliating, firstly that I have to ask them for payment, then that they say they won't, after they have the information you

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-9232242681978658472014-09-27T17:09:00.003-07:002018-09-16T19:00:12.295-07:00

Bathroom Choices What do you need in a modern day bathroom? Bath - Vanity - Shower - Toilet - Bidet - Heated Towel Rail - Demister Mirror - Heated Floor Tiles - Heater - Extract Fan - Stereo - TV? As our lives get busier the time we spend looking after ourselves is diminishing. Way back in time - taking a bath wasn't a luxury like it is now - it was the only way to get clean. Now in the time

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-12066106571220214952014-08-15T18:01:00.001-07:002018-09-16T19:01:44.861-07:00

The Importance of Working to a Budget I can't stress this enough. Budget rules! You can have the best ideas in the world but if your client can't afford it then those great ideas will go nowhere. One of the keys to being a successful interior designer is being able to work to a budget. Here are some tips to help you with this. Lists - yes a boring list. Get your client to write down

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-34457812742318983282014-06-14T17:26:00.003-07:002018-09-16T21:10:57.217-07:00

Always Have an Opinion on Design This may seem like an obvious statement, but I have recently been put in my place about sitting on the fence. Here is the background. I had been working for a company that managed insurance rebuilds and repairs after the Christchurch earthquake. This was a very labor intensive role, a very emotional role and a role where I had to turn off my "design" way of

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-79962981774679610362014-02-14T17:47:00.000-08:002020-01-06T13:30:11.080-08:00

Always Keep Searching for Something New As usual, I am on my "high horse" about products. There is so much choice when you are an interior designer that it can become easy to just specify what you know and become lazy. This is my advice for you today, don't - keep searching for something better. There are so many new and exciting products becoming available that it is difficult to keep up with

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-26246257639685877082014-01-17T19:13:00.005-08:002018-09-16T19:36:23.937-07:00

How to Find Clients for your Interior Decorating Business I have recently received an email from a student informing me that they have learned a lot through the interior decorating ecourse and now want to get some work, how do they find clients? It is a very good question and one that I am sure many of you are also wondering what the best way to find clients is? There is no easy recipe. Firstly

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-37219044314943370472013-07-27T17:12:00.002-07:002018-09-16T19:40:39.785-07:00

Quirky Interiors It's great that we all have different interests and ideas about how we live, it creates a well balanced society. The hardest part about this as an interior designer is putting aside your interests and ideas and getting into the client's headspace.  So here are some tips on how to work with quirky interiors. Show interest and get an understanding of how they

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-30777212489342551302013-05-06T15:28:00.007-07:002021-01-29T18:45:09.450-08:00

Individuality in Design I have been visiting a lot of homes lately and noticing how different the people live to me. I know that I wouldn't choose to configure my home like they have but it works for them. As an interior designer it is not my role to change the way they live - just enhance the environment and make it work better for them. Some people like to spend their indoor outdoor

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-33843861615919151602013-02-17T13:36:00.000-08:002018-09-16T19:45:44.788-07:00

My Home is My Castle I write this article after nearly two years of upheaval in my city. We had a major earthquake on February 22 2011 and the people of Christchurch's lives will never be the same again. They lost their homes, some lost family members, jobs were ended abruptly because the entire central city was closed down and most of it is now

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-31322910510659503842012-10-05T14:47:00.001-07:002018-09-16T19:52:43.650-07:00

Trust Your Instincts The reason I write this blog is to give you insights on being a designer. In the ecourses I offer, I give you direction to understand and learn the principles of design. Anyone can learn these, but to be truly able to take these lessons and move up a level you need to be able to think and feel like a designer. All I want to talk about today is to trust your instincts. If

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-71822713802816464732012-09-20T04:22:00.000-07:002018-09-16T19:56:33.559-07:00

Please - Beware the Designer Value Added What are you talking about? I am talking about being blinded with a title of designer or architect. It is like any field there are good and bad designers and architects, so take each on their own merit, not just because they have a qualification. I know I am here to teach you about how great it is to be a designer and help you

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10782812.post-73066326688384011932012-07-28T21:24:00.001-07:002018-09-16T19:59:01.194-07:00

Achieving Bathroom Bliss After having to move from a home with two spacious bathrooms to a home with one tiny bathroom, I have had to get creative with bathroom storage. You don't realize how many bottles of must have "things" you need in your bathroom, let alone how many you access daily. Flowing soap, moisturizer, antiseptic cream, deodorants, hair products, make up, tooth paste, hair

Interiordezinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17571411266135890990noreply@blogger.com8