Sample Board Online looks at William Morris Design

Furniture, wallpaper and textile designer Morris was also among other things a writer and socialist. He was the leader of the Arts and Crafts Movement in 19^th century Britain. The movement promoted a return to handcrafted simple design and naturalistic forms. Flowers and other plants were drawn in an uncomplicated style with rhythmical sensual qualities. William used vegetable dyes rather the popular chemical dyes.

Morris designs motif’s included:

·         Daisies

·         Marigolds

·         Honeysuckle

·         Poppies

·         Jasmin

·         Plants

·         Birds

You may ask how we ended up on the subject of Morris. I was watching a TV show which mentioned the Fabian society of which William was a member. So I started to visualise his wonderful detailed flowing designs. In many ways he was ahead of his time. I believe he would have welcomed the views of the environmental movement. The development of the Art and Craft Movement was a reaction to the industrial revolution.

Some of the colours Morris used

·         Naturalistic colours

·         Often in muted tones

·         Blue

Green

·         Brown

·         Red

·         Orange

·         Light yellow

There were positives and negatives in The Art and Craft Movement

Like all things there were positives and negatives to this move away from factory produced items. Mass production had for the first time in history made it easier for ordinary people to have what only those with in the higher classes had been able to afford. Morris and others were concerned about the loss of craftsmanship.

‘Anyone wanting to produce dyed textiles with any artistic quality in them must forego the modern and commercial methods in favour of those that are at least as old as Pliny, who speaks of them as old in his time’  William Morris

However a similar situation arose as we have today were custom made pieces become too expensive for most people. As designers it is helpful as the great designers of the past (like Morris) to have a wider view on things. This can be a challenge in the busy world of design. I prefer more contemporary styles in pattern and furniture. But I have over the years come to appreciate and marvel at these wonderful designs.  

William Morris designs are still produced today and have influenced the Art Nouveau and other styles. If he was alive today I am sure he would embrace the green, eco friendly and sustainable design mantra.   

There are many websites with information on William Morris one of the best is the Morris and Co site http://www.william-morris.co.uk  

Sample Board Online Welcomes Adicolor

What a dreadful thing to happen to Haiti they have enough problems without this earthquake. We sponsored a child called Joseph in Haiti for a number of years. When he was old enough we decided to support other work in other countries. We made this change because we knew the people involved in the work and we were happy to find most of the money we give finds it way to the people in need.

My husband heard the other day that some aid organisations are giving very little to those who need aid. Administration cost is enormous. But at least they do get some help.I hope Joseph and his family are OK. Some times all we can do besides give is pray.

Welcome Adicolor

Theodora Marcioni the director of Adicolor in Australia is available to answer any questions on her range of beautiful decorative finishes. The company also offers workshops on application techniques as well as on site consultation services. 

The first range we will look at is the Venyse decorative coating. The examples presented here are from that range. In this order DT01, DT02, DT21, DT05, DT07

 

Adicolor has over 40 years experience using over 2000 year old handed down traditional methods and the highest quality raw materials. Designed and manufactured in Italy and distributed to over 20 countries Adicolour has over 1000 colours available. Some finishes only need one coat.

There is a vast range of finishes available including the Desire range this is the most widely used designer finish. Vele is a siloxane based glaze with gold and silver reflects. Sogni Sk is a modern, elegant and translucent based finish that is durable and suitable for high traffic areas. Velie Velluti is highly refined water based decorative finish.

Venyse has a look similar to classic Venetian plaster. Old Fashion an exclusive finish designed to replicate the attractive effects of true old world charm and Travertinus is the reborn ancient Roman travertine marble range.

Adicolor is Environmentally Friendly

·         Low VOV

·         Non toxic

·         Water soluble

·         Virtually odorless

The wonderful benefits of Adicolor products make them very environmentally friendly. The products have a Sincert eco certification and are individually labeled with VOV content on packaging. Adicolor products are available Australia wide.

“Content comes first... yet excellent design can catch people's eyes and impress the contents on their memory.” Hideki Nakajima.


Before I go I can't wait to show one of my favorite Adicolor finishes Luxury Silver. It is from the Design range not from the Vensye range. I think it is just brilliant and I am sure would work well with contemporary design. You can see why it is one of the most popular finishes. What do you think? 

Music and Design at Sample Board Online

Music and Design

In the mid 1980’s I had a flash of revelation about how design can have the same impact on us as music can and came up with my little saying ‘Design is to the eye what music is to the ear’. This like all revelations is not new. I think it was Isaac Newton who actually related the notes in music to colours. I found this out later. I thought I had come up with a brilliant new thought. We can only dream.

'Design is to the eye what music is to the ear'  

I suddenly remembered the old book were Isaac Newton’s theory is discussed. You know what it’s like to have something in the back of your mind and you struggle to bring it to full remeberance. May be you don’t have these sort of lapses but that’s what happens to me. The book was written in 1969 by Faber Birren. It is a small book called ‘Principles of Color’ and it outlines and reviews past traditions and theories on colour.

Colour and Musical notes

Newton allied seven notes on the music scale with seven colours. Red with the note C, orange  with D, yellow E,  green with F, blue with G, indigo with A and violet with B. What an amazing theory. Love colour and music. I am not a musician and can only play cords on a keyboard. But I have had some wonderful times playing creating my own sound.    

Since I was a wee girl I have always sang. One of my first memories is singing with my Dad. We are a family of singers. When we lived in Germany we would all pile into the big blue kapatan car. As we travelled along with the roof skylight open and all the windows down we sang at the top of our lungs. We thought we were the Von Trapp Family Singers. I have a great passion for singing, music and design.

Mix of old and new   

There is a wonderful trend of mixing old styles with contemporary interior design. We have only to think of the wonderful reinvention of the Louis XVI chair in plastic by Philippe Stark called the ghost chair to find an example of this trend.

This is one of the reasons why we have included lamps from The Antique and Vintage Lamp Co in the Sample Board Online library of products. It will allow designers to have the advantage of including on unexpected lamp design in a scheme.    

The Antique and Vintage Lamp Co

The antique lamp shop offers a brilliant range of antique and vintage lamps. The styles include Chinese, English, French, Japanese, 18^th Century, 19^th century and 20^th Century lamps.

Maurice Robertson the principle has been involved with antique porcelain and pottery for a period of 45 years. This includes 25 years as international specialist dealer, formerly known as "The Antique Porcelain Gallery", valuer to The Australian Incentive to the Arts Scheme and regular lecturers. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass includes dealing with museums and the supply of pieces of national interest to the Prime Minister's Department.

The company offers a certificate of authenticity with each of the individually designed lamps, providing a full description, circa date and unconditional guarantee.

Sourcing Service

The company offers an invaluable service to designer, decorators, both home and professional, The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co will source lamps to your requirements. After 45 years of dealing, they have access to a worldwide network of specialist resources, and while they can not  make guarantees in the unpredictable world of quality antiques, they certainly have a high success rate.

Just contact the company providing details of your desired lamp. Photographs are always helpful, both of the piece or style if possible and the room in which it will reside. Maurice will get back to you as promptly as he can and discuss your request.

Between the extensive range offered, the sourcing capability and in house, custom made, lampshade service, The Antique and Vintage Lamp Co will make your search for the perfect lamp easier.

 
“No design can exist in isolation. It is always related, sometimes in very complex ways, to an entire constellation of influencing situations and attitudes. What we call a good design is one which achieves integrity – that is, unity or wholeness – in balanced relation to its environment. The reason good design is hard to come by is that its creation demands a high degree of emotional and intellectual maturity in the designer, and such people are not found too often.”
George Nelson.

You will find a number of lamps from The Antique and Vintage Lamp Co on the Sample Board Online site. If you visit http://www.sampleboardonline.com you can choose a lamp and try it out on a board, have some creative fun and then buy the lamp most suited to the room you are creating. 

The SBO free design tool thanks

The SBO free design tool will be a valuable resource for Australian interior designers, interior decorators, architects, students and the DIY designer. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me as I have made my first steps to market the brilliant eco friendly Sample Board Online design tool. My first challenge was to start a blog and to twitter my next challenge to encourage suppliers of quality interior products to come on board. Look who has joined us already.

Thanks Cairns Marble

Thanks to Carolyn of Cairns Marble for being the first Aussie supplier to come on board. Cairns Marble a family run business with over 20 years experience in processing natural stone including marble, granite, and limestone. All the products they supply are placed through a stringent quality control process. They believe quality control does not only relate to the stone quality but also the ability to cut correctly and within tolerances of size and thickness.

Cairns Marble is an eco friendly choice  

Cairns Marble Australia’s product range is expanding every day, and the company is continuously striving to improve and enhance their range of natural products. Cairns Marble Australia Pty Ltd is excited about their exquisite marble products, including Bianca Mist and Opal Pearl which offer unique translucent qualities, allowing natural light to filter through the stone up to a thickness of approximately 50mm.It can be said

'It takes the world’s oldest continent to make the best marble’

Ten beautiful Cairns’ marbles in colours ranging from black, pink, beige, blue, gold, pearl white and green are presented in the Sample Board Online product library ready for designers to select for their sample boards. Carolyn laughingly told me they export marble to Italy. That’s some recommendation.

In the next blog I will introduce you to Adicolor Sample Board Online's first paint supplier

Thanks to those who have helped me on my blog and twitter journey

I have been greatly helped on my journey into the world of blogging and twitter by Dale Harris http://www.daleharris.com/ a brilliant young graphic designer. A lovely young lady called Julie and Lyndsay of It’s a Date Design http://www.itsadatedesign.com. I have been amazed at how helpful and kind people have been. Julie Mintz of Interior Designers Australia, Angela Elliss from the HDD directory, Henry of the Design Tavern and Charlotte of http://www.interior-design-it-yourself.com were very encouraging and obliging. Amanda at Warwick fabrics has been delightful. I could actually go on and on I will stop. It’s now sounding like an acceptance speak “I would not have been able to do this without my husband , mum, dad….….” In my view these wonderful people have achieved what Mother Theresa aspired to:

‘Let no-one ever come to you without leaving better and happier, be a living expression of God’s kindness: kindness of face, Kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile’ 

In future blogs I will introduce you to the other Australian suppliers who have come on board and placed products in the Sample Board Online library ready for selection by visiting designers and other users of the SBO platform.

Don't forget to have a free try of the at http:www.sampleboardonline.com This free and fun. Please let us know what you think.

You Can Add Your Own Images To Sample Board Online

This is a wonderful added feature of the Sample Board Online site. Designers, decorators, architects and users can upload their own images. This could be a floor plan, perspective drawing or any item. It is easy to do. Those with experience with Cad and Cadd will be able to do it easily. If you get into trouble you can send an email or post comments and we will get back to you.

I have now been in blogosphere for a week now. It has been challenging and fun. I can now write a blog, include images and have found out how to follow others. I now have to find out how to get others to read my blog, to follow me. Slowly but surely I am conquering this new world. As I write this I am aware I have only one reader. But I know I will soon have many readers hanging off my every word (I wish as the young ones would say). But I have set a goal and I am working one it so I am half way there. My blog is now located on the Sample Board Online web site. That is a step in the right direction.

But you want to know how to upload your items onto the Sample Board Online site not read about all my adventures in blog space. So here does. Follow the same steps for starting to create a sample board. If you have not done so you will need to register to make an account     

If you go Ros’ blog at http://blog.sampleboardonline.com/ to her post ‘Create a sample board using ‘My items’ dated Monday 23 rd November 2009 you will find the steps I mention here. Ros has also included some illustrations.     

How to upload your images

Step 1:

The first thing to do is register by going to ‘Create Account’. When you have registered you will find a link on the upper right hand side called ‘My Profile’. When you go to ‘My Profile’ you will see the link ‘New Board’ under ‘My Profile’

‘My Profile’

If you click on ‘New Board’ a page will come up. You are now ready to upload your gems

Step 2:

Click on the upload image link next to the ‘My Profile’ link

A white window will appear with a blue box with select images… prompt

Step 3:

Go to ‘My Item’ in the bottom right hand corner click on link

Step 4:

Drag you upload images on to the canvas

Then follow the same steps for creating a sample board mentioned in the blog ‘Sample Board Online Designers One Stop Shop’ dated 10/1/2010

Hopefully you should now be able to (if I have explained it properly) create a sample board using items from the Sample Board Online library of products and using your own uploaded images.

Please have a try by going to www.sampleboardonline.com site it is free and fun. Then let us know what you think. We really do like to get your feedback. Sample Board Online does plan to have some competitions in the future. So have a play and you never know you could create a masterpiece and win.    

You have probably gathered by now if you have read my other posts I love quotes and sayings. Can’t help myself! It is something I learnt when I studied success motivation. Here one from the great designer Charles Eames

“Here is one of the few effective keys to the design problem – the ability of the designer to recognize as many of the constraints as possible – his willingness and enthusiasm for working within these constraints. Constraints of price, of size, of strength, of balance, of surface, of time and so forth.”

Sample Board Online Interior Designers One Shop Stop

Sample Board Online is free for all interior designers, interior decorators, architects, building designers, students and the DIY designer. This great online tool is easy to use, cost effective, eco friendly and great fun.

Many users will be able to use Sample Board Online without instruction. However there may be some who (like me with anything technical)would welcome a wee bit of instruction. Those of us who grew up before computers, mobile phones, websites, and emails often need a little encouragement. Having said that however I was able to work out the SBO system easily so I am sure you could even without this guidance.

How to use Sample Board Online
The first thing to do is register by going to ‘Create Account’. When you have registered you will find a link on the upper right hand side called ‘My Profile’. When you go to ‘My Profile’ you will see the link ‘New Board’ under ‘My Profile’

‘My Profile’

If you click on ‘New Board’ a page will come up.

New Board page contains:

Tabs
• Categories (for example Barstool, tables….) Use red arrow to view
• Suppliers (for example Cairns Marble…) Use red arrow to view
• Types (for example flooring…..) Use red arrow to view
• Moods (for example bathroom…) Use red arrow to view

Under the tabs there is a window where the items selected can be viewed. On the left is a blank canvas with the instruction ‘Drag item here’

Drag items here blank canvas

You can create a sample board by:

• Firstly select a category, supplier, type or mood (for example table lamps)

• A number of thumbnail images of lamps will appear

• Click on one of the images

• To obtain information about the lamp double click on the image

• Product specifications will then appear

• To close this tab just go to close

• You can then drag the image onto the blank canvas to the left

• The size of the image can be increased or decreased by using lower right hand corner of the image with the red arrow

• To remove the lamp from the canvas go to the ‘remove’ icon below the canvas

Follow the above procedure to select all the items for your creation.

The items selected can be placed in front or behind other items by using the ‘to back’ and ‘to front’ green arrows below the canvas on the right hand side.

You can also use the ‘clone’ icon to copy an item.

When you are satisfied with your sample board you can save it by going to ‘save’. You will then be asked to name the board then just click OK. To view the board you go to ‘My Profile’. If you click on the board you will see a larger board displayed.

Above the board are three icons. You can choose to ‘Edit’, ‘Delete’ or ‘Print to PDF’. If you choose to edit it will take you back to the canvas were you can make changes to your board. If you go to the ‘Print to PDF’ a file of your sample board with images and the details of each product you have selected will be created. All you need to do now is save the file. How great is that?

Sample Board Online Provides

• Sample board
• PDF File
• Images of each product selected
• Details on each product

The sample board you have created becomes a specification sheet

If you want to delete your creation just go to the delete button. If you want to have more fun or need to create another board for a client just go to the ‘New Board’ link and start all over again.
It’s that simple

Your sample boards will be saved in your ‘My Profile’ file for you to view and use at anytime.

Sample Board Online can really become your one stop shop.

We invite you to have a try by going to www.sampleboardonline.com. Designers we want to have all the products you desire ready for your use. Please let us know about your favorite suppliers so we can invite them on board.

‘Design Is the Conscious effort To impose A Meaningful Order’ Victor Papanek

In the Next Blog
I will explain how to upload your own items. Nearly forgot to tell you of this fabulous feature