Mehta, Ravi and Rui Zhu. “Blue or Red? Exploring the Effect of Color on Cognitive Task Performances.” Science 5(2009).
This article explains that in the past, there have been inconsistent findings on the effect of color on cognitive performance. Some studies have revealed that blue and green results in better performances, while other studies have found that run leads to better performances. In this particular study, they aim to reconcile this discrepancy that has existed in past research. Ultimately, Mehta and Zhu’s research proves that red enhances performance on detail-oriented tasks, whereas blue enhances performance on creative tasks.
Countryman, Cary, and SooCheong Jang. "The effects of atmosphereic elements on customer impression: the case of hotel lobbies." International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management 18(2006): 534-545.
This study examines the atmospheric elements of a hotel lobby to find if had any effect on guests’ perceptions and impressions. They found that out of the three main atmospheric elements they examined (color, lighting and style), color had the most significant impact on the guests. This study emphasizes the importance of knowing the powerful impact color has on people. This knowledge does only benefit future hotel lobbies, but also, other buildings, by knowing how to have a more positive impact on others.
Ladau, Robert. Color In Interior Design and Architecture. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989.
Ragan, Sandra. Interior Color by Design: A Design Tool for Architects, Interior Designers, and Facility Managers. Massachusetts: Rockport Publishers, 1995.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Some interesting readings...
Pile, John F.. Color In Interior Design. New York: McGraw Hill, 1997.
The psychological impact of color is discussed in chapter eleven in the book, Color In Interior Design by John F. Pile. When studying the psychological impact of color, it is important to remember that a clear finding under one set of circumstances, is not necessarily applicable under a different set of conditions. This is because color can be experienced in a large variety of contexts. Due to this book’s understanding of this concept, color studies are categorized as the following: studies of aesthetic preference, physiological studies, studies of environmental color and emotions, studies relating environmental color to health effects, studies relating to commercial purposes, work making use of color reactions or preferences as an element in psychological testing. This chapter also explains how color can help establish a mood, atmosphere or impression of a room.
Halse, Albert O.. The Use of Colors in Interiors. New York: McGraw-Hill,1978.
Chapter three in the book, The Use of Colors in Interiors (Second Edition) by Albert O. Halse shares useful information on the psychological effects of color. This chapter offers an explanation of what specific emotions are elicited by certain colors. Overall, it has been found that most people prefer either warm or cool colors, but their opinion is shaped by a variety of factors. Elements that influence opinions of colors include the individuals’ familiarity with the color as well as the conscious or unconscious emotional connotations the color may possess. This chapter also provides an explanation for what colors are best for different buildings including: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and educational.
The psychological impact of color is discussed in chapter eleven in the book, Color In Interior Design by John F. Pile. When studying the psychological impact of color, it is important to remember that a clear finding under one set of circumstances, is not necessarily applicable under a different set of conditions. This is because color can be experienced in a large variety of contexts. Due to this book’s understanding of this concept, color studies are categorized as the following: studies of aesthetic preference, physiological studies, studies of environmental color and emotions, studies relating environmental color to health effects, studies relating to commercial purposes, work making use of color reactions or preferences as an element in psychological testing. This chapter also explains how color can help establish a mood, atmosphere or impression of a room.
Halse, Albert O.. The Use of Colors in Interiors. New York: McGraw-Hill,1978.
Chapter three in the book, The Use of Colors in Interiors (Second Edition) by Albert O. Halse shares useful information on the psychological effects of color. This chapter offers an explanation of what specific emotions are elicited by certain colors. Overall, it has been found that most people prefer either warm or cool colors, but their opinion is shaped by a variety of factors. Elements that influence opinions of colors include the individuals’ familiarity with the color as well as the conscious or unconscious emotional connotations the color may possess. This chapter also provides an explanation for what colors are best for different buildings including: residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and educational.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
One of favorite blogs, Material Girls, commented on an interesting study published in the New York Times in the post, Mixing Science With Design. The study conducted by Ravi Mehta and Rui Zhu discusses how color in a room can influence mood and actions. According to the study, red makes people more cautious and detail-oriented and blue makes people more creative. Mehta and Zhu replicated these results in domains of product design and persuasive message evaluation to show that the effect of color on people’s cognitive tasks occur outside their consciousness.
Mary McDonald, whose amazing talent has previously been mentioned, has a blue office that was featured in an article in Domino.
Drew Barrymore’s office is featured in this post for its use of both blue and red. By painting the walls light blue and using bold red accessories, Barrymore gets the best of both worlds.
This study makes me question whether various shades of blue influences creativity to different extents.
Mary McDonald, whose amazing talent has previously been mentioned, has a blue office that was featured in an article in Domino.
Drew Barrymore’s office is featured in this post for its use of both blue and red. By painting the walls light blue and using bold red accessories, Barrymore gets the best of both worlds.
This study makes me question whether various shades of blue influences creativity to different extents.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Social Bookmarking Soul Mate
After saving a new bookmark (DesignSpongeOnline.com) to my delicious account, I came across someone who appeared to also have an interest in interior design. This account user uses the pseudo-name, Gardencitymovement. They are a seasoned bookmarker with, as of today, 983 bookmark pages. Of these 983 bookmarks, there are over 300 bookmarked pages associated with design. The top ten tags include: design, art, pknf, Amsterdam, blog, music, architecture, graphics, culture and Dutch.
Gardencitymovement’s good bookmarking practices are evident from the amount of tags used to identify the bookmarked pages. For every page that has been added to this delicious account, there is consistently more than one tag attached to it. The page, Livingetc, for example has inspiration, magazine, shopping, interior and home as tags. Another page bookmarked, Apartment Therapy, is tagged with blog, inspiration, interior, furniture and apartment. In total, there are 870 tags used to organize Gardencitymovement’s pages.
Although the amount of tags might help the delicious account’s owner find pages, it could complicate finding pages for others. One way Gardencitymovement could improve on their bookmarking practices is by using tag bundles. This would benefit both the user as well as others who view the bookmark page to make tag bundles. The more I explore other user pages, the more useful tag bundles appear to be. Tag bundles help narrow down bookmarked pages because sometimes a string of random words are sufficient to correctly explain the subject of a page. Although Gardencitymovement has done an excellent job using multiple tags for every page, when the amount of pages reaches over 900, tag bundles become a necessity.
Another way Gardencitymovement could improve on their social bookmarking skills is by adding their own comments on the sites they bookmark. This would help others understand what makes them like the sites they tag and perhaps how they came to discover them.
Gardencitymovement introduced me to a site called Superuse. This site is tagged by Gardencitymovement with art, blog, activism, innovation, sustainable, recycling, sustainability, products, environment, green and eco. What makes this website unique is how it combines recycling and design. Architects and designers from all over the world come together to share innovative ways to recycle. The site features an interesting home accessory made by recycling a computer and making it an aquarium: a MacQuarium.
Another site that I discovered from browsing Gardencitymovement’s main page is actually a website for the magazine, LivingEtc. This site has a lot to offer its’ visitors. There are list of links that include: a gallery of photos of beautifully decorated rooms, a forum for users to ask and answer each other’s questions, buyers guides, property advice, blogs, shopping spots for interior design fans, locations for furniture that is featured in the magazine and advice from established interior designers.
Being able to be exposed to sites like LivingEtc is what distinguishes using social bookmarking sites from blog rolls when trying to find other sites with your similar interests. I have added Gardencitymovement to my network in hopes of uncovering new interior design pages.
Gardencitymovement’s good bookmarking practices are evident from the amount of tags used to identify the bookmarked pages. For every page that has been added to this delicious account, there is consistently more than one tag attached to it. The page, Livingetc, for example has inspiration, magazine, shopping, interior and home as tags. Another page bookmarked, Apartment Therapy, is tagged with blog, inspiration, interior, furniture and apartment. In total, there are 870 tags used to organize Gardencitymovement’s pages.
Although the amount of tags might help the delicious account’s owner find pages, it could complicate finding pages for others. One way Gardencitymovement could improve on their bookmarking practices is by using tag bundles. This would benefit both the user as well as others who view the bookmark page to make tag bundles. The more I explore other user pages, the more useful tag bundles appear to be. Tag bundles help narrow down bookmarked pages because sometimes a string of random words are sufficient to correctly explain the subject of a page. Although Gardencitymovement has done an excellent job using multiple tags for every page, when the amount of pages reaches over 900, tag bundles become a necessity.
Another way Gardencitymovement could improve on their social bookmarking skills is by adding their own comments on the sites they bookmark. This would help others understand what makes them like the sites they tag and perhaps how they came to discover them.
Gardencitymovement introduced me to a site called Superuse. This site is tagged by Gardencitymovement with art, blog, activism, innovation, sustainable, recycling, sustainability, products, environment, green and eco. What makes this website unique is how it combines recycling and design. Architects and designers from all over the world come together to share innovative ways to recycle. The site features an interesting home accessory made by recycling a computer and making it an aquarium: a MacQuarium.
Another site that I discovered from browsing Gardencitymovement’s main page is actually a website for the magazine, LivingEtc. This site has a lot to offer its’ visitors. There are list of links that include: a gallery of photos of beautifully decorated rooms, a forum for users to ask and answer each other’s questions, buyers guides, property advice, blogs, shopping spots for interior design fans, locations for furniture that is featured in the magazine and advice from established interior designers.
Being able to be exposed to sites like LivingEtc is what distinguishes using social bookmarking sites from blog rolls when trying to find other sites with your similar interests. I have added Gardencitymovement to my network in hopes of uncovering new interior design pages.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Blogaroma
Welcome!
I have a confession. I love watching HGTV. Although I am a 21 year old girl who doesn’t even have her own home or garden to cater to, I still adore learning, watching and hearing about interior design. I am that girl who sits in the aisle at Barnes and Noble, reading the pages of interior design magazines such as Country Living, Dwell, Elle Décor, Domino or House Beautiful. I will pick a longer line at the grocery store just so I can browse the pages of those same magazines while I wait to be rung up. I will even go so far as to confess that I actually get excited when I receive a Pottery Barn catalog in the mail, and of course I immediately peruse each page looking for more creative decorating ideas.
Although you might not be willing to admit it, interior design relates to everyone, regardless of age, gender, class or race. Even if you are a college student who has a room full of mismatched furniture, it is that same mismatched furniture you see, feel, sit on or perhaps trip over everyday.
I hope to inform my readers about the world of interior design. I want to show how different styles can be used to express individuality, personality and taste. By sharing a large variety of styles, such as Asian, contemporary, country, eclectic, English country, Mediterranean, mission, modern, romantic, traditional, transitional, tropical or even Western, I want to ensure that there is something to inspire everyone.
Designers that have inspired me personally include Rachel Ashwell, Thomas O-Brien, Jamie Drake, Alex Papachristidis, Steven Gambrel, Candice Olson, Kenneth Brown, Phillip Greenberg and Angelo Surmelis to name a few. Each of these designers’ have cultivated their own unique aesthetic that allows them to maintain their own point of view. I truly respect their ability to illustrate their unique vision no matter what type of room they design.
I want to share these renowned designers’ work not to set an unreachable standard for my readers, but to inspire them. I want to show that beautiful furniture, drapes, bedding, pillows or flooring does not always have an expensive price tag attached. Although it might take a disposable income to hire the top designer and afford custom made furniture, it is important to remember that style is free. As long as you are willing to be creative, anyone can surround themselves with functional and inspirational design.
It is also important to realize that interior design is not restricted to the home. Interior design is essential for hotels, apartment buildings, restaurants, stores and bars. I want to share the ways the look and style of buildings can elicit a feeling or mood just by their interior design.
A major trend that has started to infiltrate the design world is the notion of “going green”. There are a plethora of ways people can be environmentally friendly when designing a room. There is even a television show on HGTV titled “Red, Hot and Green," which focuses on designing with the environment in mind. Each episode features an eco-friendly room makeover. I want to share ideas I have gathered from the show and other articles to help inspire others to be more green.
Whether it is that Dallas Cowboys wallpaper you remember having splashed all over your walls when you were growing up, or the antique desk you inherited from your grandparents, the items that make up a your interior design signifies a part of you. What you surround yourself with not only represents your life, but also influences it.
Blog Lust
Need home decor tips? If you do, I found an amazing interior design blog, Material Girls, that will undoubtedly inspire you to instantly start sprucing up your apartment, house or dorm room. Even if your space is already beautifully decorated, you will feel an uncanny desire to re-frame that old picture, re-paint your bathroom or change the pillows on your bed...I am telling you, this blog is just that good!
The blog’s contributors include Lauren, Abby Baldwin, Emily Johnston , Jill Seidner and Julia B. Edelmann. All of these contributors are talented, well established interior designers. Their offices are scattered across the country, including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Brooklyn and Chicago.
Everyday, the Material Girls’ 172,718 readers are provided with new information on interior design. The blog’s readers are given the opportunity to comment on the daily posts. The readers’ comments reveal that the blog’s audience can be divided into two main subgroups. One subgroup includes professionals with careers as interior designers. The other subgroup, which includes me, is made up of people who do not necessary work in the interior design business but have an interest in it. Because Material Girls’ blog posts are short and simple, the blog is able to effectively cater to both of these subgroups and be enjoyable for the readers regardless of their experience in the interior design industry. You could even be inspired inspired by the comments readers' post. They offer additional links to other websites as well as helpful design tips.
Although the blog’s writers share their personal opinions, the readers are still provided with a broad, valuable perspective on interior design. This is made possible by the contributors’ combination of different backgrounds and aesthetics. By offering a diverse range of interior design styles to its’ readers and by posting articles from other established sites and interior design magazines, the blog is able to maintain its credibility.
Domino, a reputable and well-respected interior design magazine, was referenced on a post from January 15. The article was about interior designer, Mary McDonald. As Emily Johnson writes, McDonald “does not care if a piece is "high" or "low", she isn't afraid to paint zig zags on the floor, nor does she hesitate when pairing colors like navy and rose”. McDonald is considered “one of the most daring designers out there”. Johnson praises McDonald for knowing “how to dress a space- no matter how unpredictable, glam, bold, ornate, bright, geometric, dressed up, or casual it is, she nails it every time”. The post shares McDonald’s design tips as well as reveals pictures from Domino of some of her work.
McDonald’s design tips (summarized by Material Girls):
1. Define a room with hardware store bought molding
2. Pair classics with the "ridiculous"
3. When designing a room in a monochromatic scheme, add a shot of contrast
4. Don't be afraid to go bold on the floor
5. Don't be afraid to get a little funky in areas that normally lend themselves to the expected
6. Start neutral, then pile on the accessories
7. Cheat by using both high and low end items
8. Collect objects (from around the world) in all the same hue to form unified and sophisticated displays
The blog benefits from being written by working interior designers because it can share information that only professional have access to. For instance, on January 19th, Emily Johnson posted pictures from the Home and Gift Market at The Dallas Market Center. One of Johnson’s favorite showrooms is Global Views. She writes that “lots of glitz and glamour adorn their vignettes” and it is filled with “sunburst mirrors, metallics, and graphic prints”. Here is a picture from the Home and Gift Market at The Dallas Market Center and the showroom.
Although I do not have access to showrooms that a professional might have, I can offer a unique point of view to my readers. Since I do not work in the interior design industry (or own my own house to decorate), I have not cultivated a personal, distinctive style yet. I will be able to provide my readers with a young, fresh, open-minded and uninhibited view on the interior design world. Ultimately, I can only hope that my blog will inspire others the way Material Girls has inspired me.
Eddie Ross
What stands out in Eddie Ross’s self titled blog is his style of writing. Post after post, his voice remains consistent and distinctive. He undoubtedly has his own point of view, which he has acquired through the years of experience in the interior design industry. Eddie Ross has served as the Associate Decorating Editor at House Beautiful, Senior Style Editor of Martha Stewart Living, appeared on Bravo’s reality show “Top Design” and is currently the owner of Eddie Ross, LLC, a company which offers interior design, event production and styling services. After browsing through his posts, it is undeniable that Eddie Ross has learned a lot about the interior design industry and he is willing to share his insightful opinions and ideas with his blog’s readers.
When analyzing Eddie Ross’s voice, what initially stands out is his sentence style. The post titled “Goodbye City, Hello Country” from January 28th, provides examples of Eddie Ross’s use of sentence structure.
Eddie Ross’s use of questions is another factor that makes his of voice, or style of writing, conversational. By asking his readers questions, he lures them in, enticing them to respond and interact. Throughout the blog, he has asked the readers to share their flea market finds, their favorite Christmas decorations, and what silver they need to polish.
The use of fragment sentences is also a characteristic of Eddie Ross’s distinct voice. His January 28th post continues with:
He writes fragment after fragment as he expresses his desire to leave the city and move to the country. Although fragments are not necessarily proper writing technique, when used creatively, they are effective in establishing a writer’s voice. These fragments also add to the conversational quality of Eddie Ross’s posts. When I read the previous post, I almost felt as if he was causally talking to me on the phone.
Another post, titled, "More to Come: Art That Fits," reveals Eddie Ross’s voice is from January 22nd:
It this post, Eddie Ross’s use of dashes, exclamation points, questions and italics all are examples of his writing style. The exclamation point, in particular, is a positive contributor to his voice. Explanation points allow the posts to convey an emotion. Each post has an upbeat, positive, feeling that radiates through Eddie Ross’s voice. This emotional excitement is made possible by exclamation points.
It is important to mention that Eddie Ross does not just use dashes, fragments, exclamation points, questions and italics in these particular posts, but throughout the entire blog. His voice is consistent. As I browse through previous posts, I feel like I am listening to story moving backwards. Since the posts are filled with personal accounts of events, people and objects Eddie Ross encounters day to day, the entire blog feels connected and cohesive. There is not a major disconnect from post to post but a seamless connection that has a story-like quality to it.
The combination of the conversational quality of his posts, his opinionated point of view on interior design, and his personal account of events (including pictures) make this blog unique.
I have a confession. I love watching HGTV. Although I am a 21 year old girl who doesn’t even have her own home or garden to cater to, I still adore learning, watching and hearing about interior design. I am that girl who sits in the aisle at Barnes and Noble, reading the pages of interior design magazines such as Country Living, Dwell, Elle Décor, Domino or House Beautiful. I will pick a longer line at the grocery store just so I can browse the pages of those same magazines while I wait to be rung up. I will even go so far as to confess that I actually get excited when I receive a Pottery Barn catalog in the mail, and of course I immediately peruse each page looking for more creative decorating ideas.
Although you might not be willing to admit it, interior design relates to everyone, regardless of age, gender, class or race. Even if you are a college student who has a room full of mismatched furniture, it is that same mismatched furniture you see, feel, sit on or perhaps trip over everyday.
I hope to inform my readers about the world of interior design. I want to show how different styles can be used to express individuality, personality and taste. By sharing a large variety of styles, such as Asian, contemporary, country, eclectic, English country, Mediterranean, mission, modern, romantic, traditional, transitional, tropical or even Western, I want to ensure that there is something to inspire everyone.
Designers that have inspired me personally include Rachel Ashwell, Thomas O-Brien, Jamie Drake, Alex Papachristidis, Steven Gambrel, Candice Olson, Kenneth Brown, Phillip Greenberg and Angelo Surmelis to name a few. Each of these designers’ have cultivated their own unique aesthetic that allows them to maintain their own point of view. I truly respect their ability to illustrate their unique vision no matter what type of room they design.
I want to share these renowned designers’ work not to set an unreachable standard for my readers, but to inspire them. I want to show that beautiful furniture, drapes, bedding, pillows or flooring does not always have an expensive price tag attached. Although it might take a disposable income to hire the top designer and afford custom made furniture, it is important to remember that style is free. As long as you are willing to be creative, anyone can surround themselves with functional and inspirational design.
It is also important to realize that interior design is not restricted to the home. Interior design is essential for hotels, apartment buildings, restaurants, stores and bars. I want to share the ways the look and style of buildings can elicit a feeling or mood just by their interior design.
A major trend that has started to infiltrate the design world is the notion of “going green”. There are a plethora of ways people can be environmentally friendly when designing a room. There is even a television show on HGTV titled “Red, Hot and Green," which focuses on designing with the environment in mind. Each episode features an eco-friendly room makeover. I want to share ideas I have gathered from the show and other articles to help inspire others to be more green.
Whether it is that Dallas Cowboys wallpaper you remember having splashed all over your walls when you were growing up, or the antique desk you inherited from your grandparents, the items that make up a your interior design signifies a part of you. What you surround yourself with not only represents your life, but also influences it.
Blog Lust
Need home decor tips? If you do, I found an amazing interior design blog, Material Girls, that will undoubtedly inspire you to instantly start sprucing up your apartment, house or dorm room. Even if your space is already beautifully decorated, you will feel an uncanny desire to re-frame that old picture, re-paint your bathroom or change the pillows on your bed...I am telling you, this blog is just that good!
The blog’s contributors include Lauren, Abby Baldwin, Emily Johnston , Jill Seidner and Julia B. Edelmann. All of these contributors are talented, well established interior designers. Their offices are scattered across the country, including Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Brooklyn and Chicago.
Everyday, the Material Girls’ 172,718 readers are provided with new information on interior design. The blog’s readers are given the opportunity to comment on the daily posts. The readers’ comments reveal that the blog’s audience can be divided into two main subgroups. One subgroup includes professionals with careers as interior designers. The other subgroup, which includes me, is made up of people who do not necessary work in the interior design business but have an interest in it. Because Material Girls’ blog posts are short and simple, the blog is able to effectively cater to both of these subgroups and be enjoyable for the readers regardless of their experience in the interior design industry. You could even be inspired inspired by the comments readers' post. They offer additional links to other websites as well as helpful design tips.
Although the blog’s writers share their personal opinions, the readers are still provided with a broad, valuable perspective on interior design. This is made possible by the contributors’ combination of different backgrounds and aesthetics. By offering a diverse range of interior design styles to its’ readers and by posting articles from other established sites and interior design magazines, the blog is able to maintain its credibility.
Domino, a reputable and well-respected interior design magazine, was referenced on a post from January 15. The article was about interior designer, Mary McDonald. As Emily Johnson writes, McDonald “does not care if a piece is "high" or "low", she isn't afraid to paint zig zags on the floor, nor does she hesitate when pairing colors like navy and rose”. McDonald is considered “one of the most daring designers out there”. Johnson praises McDonald for knowing “how to dress a space- no matter how unpredictable, glam, bold, ornate, bright, geometric, dressed up, or casual it is, she nails it every time”. The post shares McDonald’s design tips as well as reveals pictures from Domino of some of her work.
McDonald’s design tips (summarized by Material Girls):
1. Define a room with hardware store bought molding
2. Pair classics with the "ridiculous"
3. When designing a room in a monochromatic scheme, add a shot of contrast
4. Don't be afraid to go bold on the floor
5. Don't be afraid to get a little funky in areas that normally lend themselves to the expected
6. Start neutral, then pile on the accessories
7. Cheat by using both high and low end items
8. Collect objects (from around the world) in all the same hue to form unified and sophisticated displays
The blog benefits from being written by working interior designers because it can share information that only professional have access to. For instance, on January 19th, Emily Johnson posted pictures from the Home and Gift Market at The Dallas Market Center. One of Johnson’s favorite showrooms is Global Views. She writes that “lots of glitz and glamour adorn their vignettes” and it is filled with “sunburst mirrors, metallics, and graphic prints”. Here is a picture from the Home and Gift Market at The Dallas Market Center and the showroom.
Although I do not have access to showrooms that a professional might have, I can offer a unique point of view to my readers. Since I do not work in the interior design industry (or own my own house to decorate), I have not cultivated a personal, distinctive style yet. I will be able to provide my readers with a young, fresh, open-minded and uninhibited view on the interior design world. Ultimately, I can only hope that my blog will inspire others the way Material Girls has inspired me.
Eddie Ross
What stands out in Eddie Ross’s self titled blog is his style of writing. Post after post, his voice remains consistent and distinctive. He undoubtedly has his own point of view, which he has acquired through the years of experience in the interior design industry. Eddie Ross has served as the Associate Decorating Editor at House Beautiful, Senior Style Editor of Martha Stewart Living, appeared on Bravo’s reality show “Top Design” and is currently the owner of Eddie Ross, LLC, a company which offers interior design, event production and styling services. After browsing through his posts, it is undeniable that Eddie Ross has learned a lot about the interior design industry and he is willing to share his insightful opinions and ideas with his blog’s readers.
When analyzing Eddie Ross’s voice, what initially stands out is his sentence style. The post titled “Goodbye City, Hello Country” from January 28th, provides examples of Eddie Ross’s use of sentence structure.
Well, everyone—after six years of living in our small but beloved sliver of Manhattan, the time has come for a newer, better and far more beautiful chapter in our lives, and if you'll join us, in yours as well! If ten years in the magazine business and a short six months of blogging have taught me anything about what it takes to create pretty things, day in and day out, that (I hope!) inspire and delight you—furniture and table settings, flowers and food, glittered webs and ornament wreaths—it's space. And I mean S-P-A-C-E. For us New Yorkers, it's everywhere and nowhere.Eddie Ross constantly uses dashes to connect his ideas. These dashes are significant to mention when examining his voice because it gives his posts a rhythm when they are read. The dashes serve as a casual break between thoughts and make his posts conversational. The conversational nature of his writing is useful because it draws the readers in. Conversational phrases, such as "I hope" also give this post a personal touch. These personal touches make the readers feel a connection to the blog writer. This connection is important to establish because it allows the blog to attract a following. Another conversational phrase that reiterates Eddie Ross's distinctive voice is when after mentioning space, he spells it out. This is just another example of how his writing feels personal. When I read his posts, I don't really feel as if I am reading something he has written, but rather feel like he is speaking to me.
Eddie Ross’s use of questions is another factor that makes his of voice, or style of writing, conversational. By asking his readers questions, he lures them in, enticing them to respond and interact. Throughout the blog, he has asked the readers to share their flea market finds, their favorite Christmas decorations, and what silver they need to polish.
The use of fragment sentences is also a characteristic of Eddie Ross’s distinct voice. His January 28th post continues with:
Now I just want to be able to cook, craft, garden, decorate, and entertain in a way that's my own version of Fabulous. With silverware, china and linens. Hydrangeas, lilacs, and clematis. I want to have garden parties and dinners by the fire. A butler's pantry and a linen closet. A room for guests (frequent) and a room for Jaithan when we're at odds (infrequent). I want a washer. I want a dryer. I want a letter box on the street. I want a dog. I want five dogs! But most of all, I want to be able to share it all with you! So guess what? In a modest, 1760s farmhouse in Millerton, New York, nestled on a 70-acre working farm with horses and sheep, cows and ponies, we found it all. Here's a picture of our new home shortly after it was built.
He writes fragment after fragment as he expresses his desire to leave the city and move to the country. Although fragments are not necessarily proper writing technique, when used creatively, they are effective in establishing a writer’s voice. These fragments also add to the conversational quality of Eddie Ross’s posts. When I read the previous post, I almost felt as if he was causally talking to me on the phone.
Another post, titled, "More to Come: Art That Fits," reveals Eddie Ross’s voice is from January 22nd:
When it comes to our homes, I bet we all have something in common we'd rather not admit—walls, somewhere or another, left woefully bare. If you just haven't gotten around to hanging what you already own, what are you waiting for? It's the New Year, so get to it! On the other hand, if you're anything like me, still searching for that perfect piece—traditional but with a fresh, new look that's sophisticated and modern—check out the new Biltmore Collection from my friends over at Artaissance, my favorite online source for beautiful, affordable art.
It this post, Eddie Ross’s use of dashes, exclamation points, questions and italics all are examples of his writing style. The exclamation point, in particular, is a positive contributor to his voice. Explanation points allow the posts to convey an emotion. Each post has an upbeat, positive, feeling that radiates through Eddie Ross’s voice. This emotional excitement is made possible by exclamation points.
It is important to mention that Eddie Ross does not just use dashes, fragments, exclamation points, questions and italics in these particular posts, but throughout the entire blog. His voice is consistent. As I browse through previous posts, I feel like I am listening to story moving backwards. Since the posts are filled with personal accounts of events, people and objects Eddie Ross encounters day to day, the entire blog feels connected and cohesive. There is not a major disconnect from post to post but a seamless connection that has a story-like quality to it.
The combination of the conversational quality of his posts, his opinionated point of view on interior design, and his personal account of events (including pictures) make this blog unique.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
After discovering the benefits of using social bookmarking sites, one site in particular, Delicious, stood out with the potential to help other interior design enthusiasts. Delicious was founded in 2003 and currently has over five millions users with 150 million bookmarked URLs. By default, all bookmarks posted to Delicious are public and can be viewed by anyone.
Due to Delicious’ popularity and easy to understand and use interface, there were already a large variety of interior design sites bookmarked. To be exact, there were 34084 search results for “interior design.” To make it easier for visitors to sort through and decide which site to visit, every bookmark has tags attached. These tags help tell the Delicious user more about the site. Popular tags included: home, furniture, art, inspiration, apartment, green, environment, architecture, blog, magazine, shopping, décor, materials, reference and tools.
I personally found this site useful because many of the sites bookmarked were blogs about interior design. I had already discovered other inspiring blogs by blog rolls, but this social bookmarking site provided so many more options. One blog I found using Delicious is Desire to Inspire.
Desire to Inspire began in January of 2007 by two women with one main thing in common: an obsession with pictures of beautiful rooms. One women, Jo, in an interior designer from Australia. Kim is a “design junkie” from Canada. They found each other through a Flickr group and were inspired by another interior design blog, decor8 to start their own.
Since 2007, Jo and Kim have stayed true to the name of their blog. They have gathered quite a following from posting pictures of gorgeous rooms. Throughout the years, they have provided readers with pictures from all over the world with all different design aesthetics.
Today, they profiled New York based architect, Galo Verdesoto. Desire to Inspire praises Verdesoto for his clean, elegant, open and airy contemporary spaces.
Social bookmarking sites such as Delicious has opened up an entire new world for me to explore. The hours of “googling” are finally over!
Due to Delicious’ popularity and easy to understand and use interface, there were already a large variety of interior design sites bookmarked. To be exact, there were 34084 search results for “interior design.” To make it easier for visitors to sort through and decide which site to visit, every bookmark has tags attached. These tags help tell the Delicious user more about the site. Popular tags included: home, furniture, art, inspiration, apartment, green, environment, architecture, blog, magazine, shopping, décor, materials, reference and tools.
I personally found this site useful because many of the sites bookmarked were blogs about interior design. I had already discovered other inspiring blogs by blog rolls, but this social bookmarking site provided so many more options. One blog I found using Delicious is Desire to Inspire.
Desire to Inspire began in January of 2007 by two women with one main thing in common: an obsession with pictures of beautiful rooms. One women, Jo, in an interior designer from Australia. Kim is a “design junkie” from Canada. They found each other through a Flickr group and were inspired by another interior design blog, decor8 to start their own.
Since 2007, Jo and Kim have stayed true to the name of their blog. They have gathered quite a following from posting pictures of gorgeous rooms. Throughout the years, they have provided readers with pictures from all over the world with all different design aesthetics.
Today, they profiled New York based architect, Galo Verdesoto. Desire to Inspire praises Verdesoto for his clean, elegant, open and airy contemporary spaces.
Social bookmarking sites such as Delicious has opened up an entire new world for me to explore. The hours of “googling” are finally over!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Check out what I found at Design Sponge,
They explain how to turn old vintage jewelry into adorable and functional drawer knobs.
This is such a great idea! Turns a simple set of drawers into a great focal point. This idea could also be applied to bed-side tables of night-stands to dress up any boring bedroom. If you don't have the time, money, or patience to find vintage jewelry and transform them into knobs, Anthropologie is another alternative. They sell a wide range of knobs with a vintage feel. Instead of buying matching ones, mix it up! Visit Anthropologie's website at http://search.anthropologie.com/?q=knobs.
Some knobs from Anthropologie,
They explain how to turn old vintage jewelry into adorable and functional drawer knobs.
This is such a great idea! Turns a simple set of drawers into a great focal point. This idea could also be applied to bed-side tables of night-stands to dress up any boring bedroom. If you don't have the time, money, or patience to find vintage jewelry and transform them into knobs, Anthropologie is another alternative. They sell a wide range of knobs with a vintage feel. Instead of buying matching ones, mix it up! Visit Anthropologie's website at http://search.anthropologie.com/?q=knobs.
Some knobs from Anthropologie,
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Eddie Ross
What stands out in Eddie Ross’s self titled blog is his style of writing. Post after post, his voice remains consistent and distinctive. He undoubtedly has his own point of view, which he has earned through the years of experience in the interior design industry. Eddie Ross has served as Associate Decorating Editor at House Beautiful, Senior Style Editor of Martha Stewart Living, appeared on Bravo’s reality show “Top Design” and is currently the owner of Eddie Ross, LLC, a company which offers interior design, event production and styling services. After browsing through his posts, it is undeniable that Eddie Ross has learned a lot about the interior design industry and he is willing to share his insightful opinions and ideas with his blog’s readers.
When analyzing Eddie Ross’s voice, what initially stands out is his sentence style. The post titled “Goodbye City, Hello Country” from January 28th, provides examples of Eddie Ross’s use of sentence structure.
Eddie Ross constantly uses dashes to connect his ideas. These dashes are significant to mention when examining his voice because it gives his posts a rhythm when they are read. The dashes serve as a casual break between thoughts and make his posts conversational. The conversational nature of his writing is useful because it draws the readers in. In order to establish a following, it is important for the readers to feel a connection to the blog writer.
Eddie Ross’s use of questions is another factor that makes his of voice, or style of writing, conversational. By asking his readers questions, he lures them in, enticing them to respond and interact. Throughout the blog, he has asked the readers to share their flea market finds, their favorite Christmas decorations, and what silver they need to polish.
The use of fragment sentences is also a characteristic of Eddie Ross’s distinct voice. His January 28th post continues with:
He writes fragment after fragment as he expresses his desire to move from the city, to the country. Although fragments are not necessarily proper writing technique, when used creatively, they are extremely beneficial to establishing a writer’s voice. These fragments also add to the conversational quality of Eddie Ross’s posts. When I read this post, I feel as if he is causally talking to me on the phone.
Another post, titled, "More to Come: Art That Fits," reveals Eddie Ross’s voice is from January 22nd:
It this post, Eddie Ross’s use of dashes, exclamation points, questions and italics all are examples of his writing style. The exclamation point, in particular, is a positive contributor to his voice. Explanation points allow the posts to convey an emotion. Each post has an upbeat, positive, feeling that radiates through Eddie Ross’s voice. This emotional excitement is made possible by exclamation points.
It is important to mention that Eddie Ross does not just use dashes, fragments, exclamation points, questions and italics in these particular posts, but throughout the entire blog. His voice is consistent. As I browse through previous posts, I feel like I am listening to story moving backwards. Since the posts are filled with personal accounts of events, people and objects Eddie Ross encounters day to day, the entire blog feels connected and cohesive. There is not a major disconnect from post to post but a seamless connection that has a story-like quality to it.
The combination of the conversational quality of his posts, his opinionated point of view on interior design, and his personal account of events (including pictures) make this blog unique.
When analyzing Eddie Ross’s voice, what initially stands out is his sentence style. The post titled “Goodbye City, Hello Country” from January 28th, provides examples of Eddie Ross’s use of sentence structure.
Well, everyone—after six years of living in our small but beloved sliver of Manhattan, the time has come for a newer, better and far more beautiful chapter in our lives, and if you'll join us, in yours as well! If ten years in the magazine business and a short six months of blogging have taught me anything about what it takes to create pretty things, day in and day out, that (I hope!) inspire and delight you—furniture and table settings, flowers and food, glittered webs and ornament wreaths—it's space. And I mean S-P-A-C-E. For us New Yorkers, it's everywhere and nowhere.
Eddie Ross constantly uses dashes to connect his ideas. These dashes are significant to mention when examining his voice because it gives his posts a rhythm when they are read. The dashes serve as a casual break between thoughts and make his posts conversational. The conversational nature of his writing is useful because it draws the readers in. In order to establish a following, it is important for the readers to feel a connection to the blog writer.
Eddie Ross’s use of questions is another factor that makes his of voice, or style of writing, conversational. By asking his readers questions, he lures them in, enticing them to respond and interact. Throughout the blog, he has asked the readers to share their flea market finds, their favorite Christmas decorations, and what silver they need to polish.
The use of fragment sentences is also a characteristic of Eddie Ross’s distinct voice. His January 28th post continues with:
Now I just want to be able to cook, craft, garden, decorate, and entertain in a way that's my own version of Fabulous. With silverware, china and linens. Hydrangeas, lilacs, and clematis. I want to have garden parties and dinners by the fire. A butler's pantry and a linen closet. A room for guests (frequent) and a room for Jaithan when we're at odds (infrequent). I want a washer. I want a dryer. I want a letter box on the street. I want a dog. I want five dogs! But most of all, I want to be able to share it all with you! So guess what? In a modest, 1760s farmhouse in Millerton, New York, nestled on a 70-acre working farm with horses and sheep, cows and ponies, we found it all. Here's a picture of our new home shortly after it was built.
He writes fragment after fragment as he expresses his desire to move from the city, to the country. Although fragments are not necessarily proper writing technique, when used creatively, they are extremely beneficial to establishing a writer’s voice. These fragments also add to the conversational quality of Eddie Ross’s posts. When I read this post, I feel as if he is causally talking to me on the phone.
Another post, titled, "More to Come: Art That Fits," reveals Eddie Ross’s voice is from January 22nd:
When it comes to our homes, I bet we all have something in common we'd rather not admit—walls, somewhere or another, left woefully bare. If you just haven't gotten around to hanging what you already own, what are you waiting for? It's the New Year, so get to it! On the other hand, if you're anything like me, still searching for that perfect piece—traditional but with a fresh, new look that's sophisticated and modern—check out the new Biltmore Collection from my friends over at Artaissance, my favorite online source for beautiful, affordable art.
It this post, Eddie Ross’s use of dashes, exclamation points, questions and italics all are examples of his writing style. The exclamation point, in particular, is a positive contributor to his voice. Explanation points allow the posts to convey an emotion. Each post has an upbeat, positive, feeling that radiates through Eddie Ross’s voice. This emotional excitement is made possible by exclamation points.
It is important to mention that Eddie Ross does not just use dashes, fragments, exclamation points, questions and italics in these particular posts, but throughout the entire blog. His voice is consistent. As I browse through previous posts, I feel like I am listening to story moving backwards. Since the posts are filled with personal accounts of events, people and objects Eddie Ross encounters day to day, the entire blog feels connected and cohesive. There is not a major disconnect from post to post but a seamless connection that has a story-like quality to it.
The combination of the conversational quality of his posts, his opinionated point of view on interior design, and his personal account of events (including pictures) make this blog unique.
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