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Archive for September 28th, 2010

If you would like a career in interior design, then it is essential that you take interior design courses. Interior design courses will cover the basic principles and elements of interior design and ensure that you have the knowledge to embark on a career as an interior designer. Itâ??s important to understand that there is a difference between and interior designer and an interior decorator. An interior designer is a trained professional who deals with the underlying concepts of design as they pertain to space. An interior decorator focuses on the decorations of a room, where the designer is the one with the training who determines the best use of design principles to transform a space into a visual work of art.

There are many signs that a person would make an excellent interior designer. Interior designers are often very alert, taking in their surrounding environments with a keen interest. If you find that when you go some place, you are quickly observing the surrounding physical space and are redesigning the area in your mind, you should consider a career in interior design. Those who have a natural talent for interior design are often very artistic as well as creative. If you think a career in interior design is right for you, then you should consider taking interior design courses.

Itâ??s also important that those who are interested in careers in interior design know how to work well with other people. Not only will the interior designer be part of a team that must work together to complete the project, but also he and she must be able to communicate well with clients and contractors. Taking interior design courses can help many gain the skills they need to become professional designers.

The area of interior design is vast, and there are many interior design courses that you will need to take to ensure that you are prepared. You might choose to take a diploma course as this is convenient and can be completed in a time frame that works with your schedule. One important class that you will need to take will focus on drawing and the aspects of making models, using computers, and creating 3D objects for the purpose of design. As an interior designer, you will focus on much more than simply choosing fabrics or art prints. You will focus on the overall design of structures from an architectural point of view. It is this knowledge that will be used later in your career, to ensure that you can fully maximize a roomâ??s special potential.

Another very important aspect of interior design has to deal with color. It isnâ??t enough simply to understand space and design. You must know the principles of color and light and use them in a variety of ways. There are numerous ways in which interior designers use light and color to create a number of different effects. Choose interior design courses that offer these classes.

In addition to architecture, light, and color interior design courses must also focus on the business side of the job. Interior designers must know how to market themselves in the business world and understand the correct tactics used for interacting with contracting companies as well as clients.

 

There is a strong belief among many people, that Australian Natives are beautiful but have no perfume. A stroll through the bush will dispel that rumour easily.

The fragrance of crushed leaves and scented blossoms can be almost overpowering at times. But many of the natives have a more subtle fragrance; you have to be close to them at the correct time to appreciate the flavours and scents.

The perfume of native plants is often produced at different times of the day or night. Perfumed native flowers include many of the Grevilleas (some like G. biternata and G. G. buxifolia have a strong honey-like perfume others like G. buxifolia have a light fragrant perfume), Boronias ( e. g. B. floribunda, B. serrulata and B. megastigma), Sowerbaeas (Vanilla Lilies), Xanthoreas (Grass Trees), Banksias, Eleaocarpus reticulatus (Blueberry Ash) which has a strong almost aniseed scent, Hakeas, Pittosporum undulatum (Native Daphne) — the perfume of this species may becoming overpowering in the evening –, Leptospermum species (e. g. L. flavescens), Homoranthus species (which has a Baked Biscuit scent) and Hymenosporum flavum (Native Frangipani). Many of the white flowering Eucalypts, Melaleuca and Callistemon species have a strong honey scent.

There are a number of fragrant orchids particularly the Dendrobium species: these tend to be strongest from early morning to the early afternoon. While some of the Cymbidium species such as C. suave have a good perfume during the middle of the day). The Sarcochilus species have what is best described as a spicy aroma.

The aroma released by some plants foliage is not revealed until it has been disturbed, crushed or brushed against. These include the Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle) which is probably the best of all native lemon scents and is also used commercially as a cooking ingredient, while the foliage of B. anisata is strongly scented like aniseed; Eremophilas, Eriostemon species, Prosantheras,

Leptospermum petersoni (Lemon-scented Tea-tree — also good as a hedging plant), Darwinia citriodora (a light lemon scent) and some Melaleucas (Paperbarks) also have scents.

Of course you can’t forget the Eucalypt family with its famous eucalypt scent, which is redolent of our bushland. But now many other countries are growing vast plantations of them for timber, firewood and revegetation programs on every continent bar Antartica. One species, the E. citriodora gives off a strong lemon-come-eucalypt scent while Agonis flexuosa has a combination of eucalyptus and peppermint scent.

Calomeria elegans has been used as a substitute for lavender. Some species of Boronias also have strongly scented foliage.

And let’s not forget the grassy type plants, the lomandra’s and the Grass trees, both of which give a lovely honeyed smell when in flower.

So why not think about using some fragrant native plants in your garden. Not only will you get the benefit of supporting your local environment. But you might also get other benefits, like attracting birds, other wildlife and butterflies to your garden.