For Design Lovers

Red Door Interiors is a personally run company specializing in all aspects of interior design and decorating (refer to our Services page for a list of services) in the residential as well as the commercial areas of interior design. Red Door Interiors has been offering Interior Design services in the Gold Coast Area of Australia.

Any one or all of the following services are offered by Red Door Interiors:

Design and Planning: Making the most of your space by planning your interiors and solving your design problems. We design bathrooms, kitchens, plan office layouts and design custom cabinetry for bars, libraries, studies, reception counters and anything that needs to be custom made. We supply plans and drawings.

Design Concept: Forming the overall concept for the whole project, this is presented in a visual form that shows fabrics, furniture, colours and finishes. This will be the master plan for the project and future work to follow.

Interior Decorating Consultation: we can provide you with decorating advice on a once off or hourly basis if you need some guidance or expert assistance in the choice of colours, finishes or selection and placement of furniture.

Selection and co-ordination of finishes for investment properties or new homes: together with paint colours these items will form the shell of the interior and need to be coordinated with the overall concept to create the best background for the furnishings and help to sell your new investment. Elements included in this service are the specification of wall finishes – paint, paneling, wallpaper- floor coverings – tiles, carpet, stone, timber – light fittings and bathroom tiles and fittings.

Quoting, supply and installation of furnishings: creating a budget by obtaining prices and quotes on the items required for the interior and then managing the ordering and installation process. Red Door Interiors has access to wholesalers in all areas of soft furnishing, furniture, fabric and interior products, so the client is not limited to one retail supplier but rather has the choice of the best supplier for their requirement. These items include:

•    Window finishes: roller blinds (motorized or chain operated), external awnings, timber shutters, roman blinds, curtains, pelmets, swags and tails.
•    Soft furnishings: bed covers, bed heads, cushions, bed valances.
•    Upholstered couches and chairs: reupholstered or new.
•    Furniture: dining tables, chairs, occasional chairs, entertainment units, coffee tables.
•    Accessories: artwork, mirrors, rugs, lamps, plants, decorative objects

Colour consultancy: by selecting the best paint colours to suit your architecture, your lifestyle and your outlook we can create or change your image. We select and specify paint for all aspects of the project, both internally and externally. A full colour consultation will result in a colour board and specification list.

Furniture packages and styling: complete turnkey packages to suit various budgets can be supplied for the investment unit or presale presentation. All the furniture, bedding, electrical and white goods, artwork, kitchenware and accessories are supplied as a complete, stylishly designed package and within a set time frame to allow the investor total piece of mind that his investment will attract the best clientele without his having to furnish the property himself.

Corporate Design: Good interior planning and interior design of your office space can instantly upgrade your professional image and has been shown to improve staff morale and increase productivity.

Red Door Interiors has been offering Gold Coast Interior Design Services for 25 years and has vast experience in planning office layouts and decorating corporate interiors. We can provide you with a proposal to revamp your existing interior or design a totally new one. We handle all aspects from planning and layouts, designing receptions and boardrooms, colour schemes to suit or change your image, selecting office furniture, and supplying blinds, artwork and accessories. We can work in conjunction with your builders or can provide our own sub contractors for the interior construction and fitout.

Fashion Has no Borders ™ FHNB Fashion & Accessory Exposé ™:  November 18th and 19th  

A multifaceted fashion exhibition will take over the Roundup Centre in Calgary this November, bringing together students, and fashion industry experts as well as both high-profile and Canadian retailers. 

Fashion Has No Borders ™ President Sharon Cornwall is excited to bring the Fashion & Accessory Exposé ™ to Calgary after a successful run in Toronto. This new and innovative show will provide retailers with the chance to further develop their reputation as respected members of the industry, as well as present entertainment and promote fashion industry education by connecting business leaders with emerging talent.

 “The show will launch and link Canada’s up-and-coming designer superstars with many of our Nation’s quality local source manufacturers, all in support of an industry that is a crucial mainstay of our diversified economy,” said City of Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, “Thousands right here in Calgary are employed in fashion design, manufacturing and retailing. The Fashion Has No Borders™: Fashion & Accessory Exposé™ is their showcase, a chance to prove how very, very good they are.”

 Fashion students will have the chance to come and showcase their designs and creations on the runway, and future beauty school students will be able to gain more insight into the colourful world of fashion by talking to industry experts about their experience. Young Calgarians will also have a chance to perform during the ‘Fashion Theatre’ portion of the runway show. Prizes and educational bursaries will be awarded during the exposé, including ‘Designer of the year’ and ‘fashion photographer of the year’.

 “Fashion Has No Borders™: Fashion & Accessory Exposé™ is a great opportunity for the Olds College fashion students to get exposure to the industry they are studying,” said Terry Males, Chair of the School of Business at Olds College. “In Western Canada the networking at ground level of the fashion industry is difficult to find.  There is no real resource that is easily accessible to young minds to discover the extent of how rewarding our industry can be.”

 The wide array of retailers at the exposé will be split into a handful of differing categories. Kiosks featuring vintages pieces, accessories, and sport and street-inspired fashion will each have their own “zones.” Additionally, there will be zones for higher profile designers, menswear, beauty products and personal wellness.

 So, for all the fashion lovers and future fashion entrepreneurs out there, get ready for the Fashion Has No Borders™ Fashion & Accessory Exposé™ happening on November 18th and 19th from 12 P.M. until 9 P.M. both days. Cost for entry is $9, or $5 for high school and beauty school students with ID. For more information visit http://www.fashionhasnoborders.com.

Buying clothing for toddlers is even more exciting than buying baby clothing, there are a few things parents need to consider when choosing appropriate clothing for their little ones. Your toddler might be beginning to walk or cruise around furniture, it’s important to buy clothes that won’t get caught on furniture or trip your toddler up.

Toddlers need clothes which allow them the freedom to explore their surroundings, and where possible protect their knees. It is easy to get caught by the old saying ‘she’ll grow into them’, but be careful that your toddler’s clothes are not so big that they could trip on the length of the clothing. Having said that, 3/4 length pants can be an advantage when purchased too long. your toddler can wear them as full length jeans and then as capri pants. That’s great value for money!

Toddlers need good quality clothing which will stand the test of climbing, crawling, getting mucky and being washed and washed again! Often good quality, durable clothes cost a bit more, but your little one will get lots more wear out of these garments and this is where you will see your value for money.

Toddlers spend lots of time painting, drawing, using playdough, in the sandpit, digging dirt, riding bikes and doing anything else which will get them dirty. Don’t choose your little one’s best clothes for these occasions, you don’t need to be upset if something you love gets messy, choose clothing you are not worried about getting mucky. We all know toddlers need to play and get dirty, your little one’s clothing needs to be suitable for everyday play situations.

Certain care should be taken while washing and storing your toddler’s clothing for maintaining their appearance and durability. You should wash and dry toddler’s clothing following the instructions tagged on them.

1. Just as when you shop for clothes for yourself, you need to know the size of the clothing your toddler wears now. Toddlers grow fast, so the clothes you bought two months ago may already be tight on your little one. Take a look at the clothes you have now and how they fit your child. If they seem to be getting tight, buy a size or two bigger this time.
2. Clothes for toddlers often come with features that allow them to grow without growing out of their clothes. For instance, it is smart to buy toddler clothes that use Velcro closures. Velcro gives as toddlers grow. The same goes for elastic waistbands that can expand with your child.
3. You can also buy clothing a size too big for toddlers. This is a common practice, especially for people who do not want to buy more clothes in a short period of time. Just be sure the clothes fit your toddler well enough to allow them to be active without hindering their movements. You don’t want the clothes to be so big that the arms cover your toddler’s hands or the pant cuffs drag on the floor. One size up should be sufficient to provide your child with room to grow.
4. The other comfort factor for your toddler is the material used to make the clothes. Cotton remains the most versatile material, one that breathes during hot weather, and that can keep toddlers warm in cooler weather. Cotton can also be washed many times. There are also synthetic materials that are used in toddler’s clothing. If you want to purchase toddler clothes made of synthetic materials, just make sure the label states that the clothes are fire retardant.
5. Finally, pick clothes for your toddler that speak to your sense of style. Some people prefer off-the-rack toddler clothes sold in department stores, which can certainly be inexpensive, but not always the best value for money. Boutique clothing offers better quality, durable garments which will stand the test of time. The other option is unique and one-of-a-kind toddler clothing found in boutiques. If you want your toddler to wear something different than other children, this is the route for you.

Caution

Make sure the toddler clothes you want to buy can take all that toddlers dish out. Toddlers are very active and are known to become messy as they play and eat. So, read the label on toddler clothing to make sure you can wash it often without fear of it quickly falling apart or shrinking.

Hopefully this comprehensive guide provides some insight into buying toddler’s clothing which will withstand the test of time! Remember, good quality toddler, designer clothing is often more expensive but you will see your value for money when your child’s clothing can still be worn months and months after you have purchased it.

Setting up your own business is not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of things which you have to take care of before you can actually open shop. If you want to venture into clothing retail or wholesale, you have to keep in mind certain considerations. For one, you need to decide whether you would want to sell men’s or women’s clothing. You also have to decide whether you would want to offer fashionable clothing or simple tees. If you go for the former, you have to be aware that your clothing supplies should be of the latest trend. This way, you will not lose your customers to other stores which sell chic apparel.

It is possible for you not to spend much if you want to stock your clothing boutique with trendy designer clothes. The main reason for this is the emergence of fashion wholesale suppliers. If you are looking for stylish yet affordable clothes, opt for Hong Kong fashion apparel or Japan & Korea fashion clothing. There are a lot of clothing suppliers which sell this style of garments. One of these is CausewayMall, which is a clothing wholesale manufacturer from Hong Kong. This company is a wholesale online shopping mall, allowing you to shop for its wholesale Korea style fashion clothes over the Internet. Compared to the traditional way of buying clothing supplies, shopping online is more convenient. This is due to the fact that you can do your ordering even in your own home.

If your boutique is located in the United Kingdom, you can still shop for wholesale women clothing at CausewayMall. This Korea fashion online store markets its products internationally, exporting wholesale women’s apparel to wholesalers and retailers from all over the world. When you order clothing supplies in bulk, you will get to shop for clothing wholesale at discounted prices. The economic cost of CausewayMall’s wholesale fashion cloth allows you to save huge amount of cash. You should not let this opportunity pass if you want to earn big returns.

You can buy cheap ladies wholesale clothing at CausewayMall.com and still get the best out of your money. Not all affordable garments are made from weak fabrics. What is more, the designs and styles of its cheap junior wholesale clothing or wholesale women clothing are not outdated. The fabrics of the clothes that are sold at CausewayMall are good. Most importantly, its styles are charming and unique. When it comes to your selections, you have thousands of options to choose from. You can take a pick from wholesale dresses, blouses, skirts, pants, jackets, and accessories.

The online customer service of Causeway Mall caters to the needs of its clients every Monday to Friday. You can also contact their customer service through MSN or Skype, which makes you save much of the phone fee. If you have any questions regarding the available products of the store, you can just log on to this supplier’s website to inquire. With the online services of this Hong Kong clothing wholesaler, shopping is never easier.

When it comes to graphic programs or image modification programs, Photoshop from Adobe is among the more popular software programs available today. There are several reasons for its immense popularity. For example, Photoshop is perfect for use on many different operating systems, such as UNIX, Windows, and Mac. Another example is that there are more Photoshop beginners video tutorials and resources about advanced Photoshop tricks available than any other graphic software program on the market.

What Can You Expect To Find In Photoshop Beginners Tutorials?

If you are really new to Photoshop and its interface, it is usually a good idea to look for helpful tutorials and hints to help you get started. At first glance, Photoshop may seem to be extremely complicated and difficult to learn. However, the reality is that once you learn where everything is and what each tool is designed for, you will have no troubles using the software and performing the actions you would like to with your photos and images.

In Photoshop beginners’ video tutorials, you can expect to learn basic actions such as digitally making over your photos. This gives you the ability to fix imperfections and flaws in your pictures. You may also learn about the many different tools, such as tinting, painting, changing backgrounds, as well as more basic steps.

Basic steps you might learn with beginner video tutorials include setting up preferences, working with tool and layer palettes, creating selections, using different shapes for selections, choosing colors, using tools such as gradient or paint bucket, and adding text to your images. These are of course basic steps and knowing these steps are essential to making the most out of your time using Photoshop.

Of course, there are different levels of video tutorials as well. As you progress from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels there will be different skills to learn and you get further into various techniques that can be learned.

With advanced Photoshop tricks you can learn techniques such as creating photo montages, which allows you to take an existing photo and turn it into something completely different and creative. You may also learn advanced Photoshop tricks such as creating digital illustrations, which allow you to create images on your own, without the use of other images. You might also learn how to color digital comics in that bright and bold coloring comics typically use. There are so many new and exciting things that you can do with Photoshop there is no one specific tutorial that can teach you everything.

Each tool has something unique about it. In many cases, one tool can be used to do perform many different techniques or tricks. The goal in your Photoshop experience is to make sure that you make it your own. Learn what techniques and skills that a tutorial can teach you, but do not be afraid to explore and see what else you can do with the program.

You are only limited to your imagination with Photoshop, which is why it has become one of the top graphic and image software available on the market today.

Girls go through clothes fast, especially during those active pre-teen years. It is important to buy girl’s clothes that look good, are good quality and are in style. Girls, from a very young age develop their own sense of style and do not necessarily want to wear what their parents choose for them.

Remember to take your daughter with you when you shop for her clothing, this will avoid any unnecessary arguments or tantrums over what types and brands of clothing your daughter will be wearing. These tips will help you pick the right clothing for your daughter and for you.

1. The first task is to take an inventory of what kinds of clothes your child already owns. Make a list of all of her clothing. Maybe she needs more socks, a new pair of shoes, a shirt or a special dress. You want to find out if there are particular kinds of clothing missing from her wardrobe or if she has outgrown something. The inventory should include everything, from her nightgowns to her school clothes to any nice outfits she might have for special occasions.
2. Next, ask her what she wants. She may know which girls’ clothes she needs better than you do. She will know which clothes are worn out and which are too tight. She will also have a sense of what is available and importantly what she likes from having seen clothing on other girls. She will be able to help fill up the list of needed clothing.
3. Time to go shopping. Of course, it is best to take your child with you when you are buying girl’s clothing. She can tell you what she likes in terms of style and color, and you will be able to influence her decisions when it comes to buying clothes she needs but does not necessarily want. Also, it will be much easier to make sure the chosen clothing fits her if she is present at the time you shop.
4. It is never a bad idea to go shopping for girl’s clothing with other parents. Whether you go with dads or moms or both, you will find it very helpful to compare experiences regarding styles of girl’s clothing, as well as clothing brands. Also, other parents are likely to have knowledge of girl’s clothing shops and retailers about which you are unaware. And you will likely know of some great girl’s clothing sources they do not know.
5. Be sure to first buy what your daughter needs, as opposed to what you or she wants. You want to have all the underwear, socks and daily clothes in hand before focusing on a pretty dress or jumper. Keep the basics of her wardrobe in mind, and once you have those items bought, move on to the extras.

Following these guidelines can assist you with choosing the types of clothing your daughter really needs, as opposed to what your daughter really wants. Young girls often begin to refuse wearing clothing their parents have chosen for them as young as the age of three. To avoid wasting money on clothing your daughter will not wear remember to take her shopping with you, it is wise to give her a choice of clothing; for example, a choice of 2 to 3 different dresses which you both like. Let her make the final decision on which dress she really likes, this will ensure that she will actually wear the item of clothing.

Just the other day I received a question on Twitter from Adam at Design4Love:

“Hi.. how are you? Do you have any tips for me how to get into the UK design industry (Other than sending applications to agencies). Thanks!”

Which got me thinking about how difficult it was for me and some of the fellow graphic design students I studied with to get a job in the design industry back in 1999 (yes that long ago!) straight out of design college. I snapped up a job with a Central London design agency in Soho within 2 weeks of leaving college but looking back it wasn’t really the right job for me then. Though just 13 months later I changed positions and worked for a great design agency based in London Bridge and learned a huge amount as well as working on lots of different types of projects as a designer.

Anyway competition was fierce then BUT the amount of graphic design and other design courses available in art colleges and universities up and down the college has grown hugely since then.

So here are a few tips on (like Adam asked) “how to get into the UK Design industry”

The Portfolio:
Having a great design portfolio is a must. To be honest your design portfolio is the most important thing on this list, its what you’ll mainly be judged on. It must be well presented and include at least 6 or more design projects. Think about the kind of work the agency your applying to does and try to tailor your portfolio towards that. For example if they specialise in corporate identity and branding work try to include work of this kind.

Be ready to talk about your design work, what inspired you, why you approached the project in the way you did, even choice of typeface, colours, imagery etc. Show them some of your sketchs and development work, some agencies what to see your scribbles more than the finished work as it shows your design process and how you think!

Before taking your portfolio along to job interviews, make sure you show it to a people (tutors, other design students) talk them through it, get them to ask you questions about your design work and respond with suitable answers. This will get you used to talking people through your portfolio, making you a more prepared for the interview.

Work Experience:
Offer to do some work experience with a design company who’s work you really admire (for free if you have to!), even if its just a week then spend that week wowing them, making the tea, producing great work, take an interest in everything relating to that design company. It is a good way to get your foot in the door but also don’t be too pushy or cocky, you might think your a great designer but remember there is a big difference between design college and the real world!

If the company really like you during your work experience they might offer you a full time job!

Finding Work:
Send your portfolio as a PDF etc to as many design companies (that your interested in) as possible, then after a few days give them a quick call to check they have received it.

Another alternative and one that worked for me is to approach a design recruitment agency. I contacted Major Players (there are many others!) when looking for a new graphic design position. They interviewed me and I took them through my portfolio and skills set, based on this they then contacted me when suitable jobs became available. This worked very well as they got me a new job within 2 weeks.

Dress code:
There isn’t one as such. Wear what your comfortable in but also look like you have made some sort of effort! That said I wouldn’t recommend turning up in a suit! Remember what you wear can be seen as a reflection of yourself and your design style or preferences.

Behaviour:
Be yourself, be calm and open to discussing your work and the work of the design agency. Remember to ask questions about what work they produce and what your role would be. One thing I found useful was to ask if someone could take you around the studio, afterall that is where you’ll be working if you get the job and you need to see what sort of environment you’ll be working in. It also easier to ask questions as you move around and see how they work.

Research:
Remember to do some research on the company that is interviewing you, as they are likely to ask you what made you apply for a job with them, what sort of work do they produce, what awards have they won (if any), why do you want to work for them in particular?

Keep trying:
Above all keep trying and keep looking at ways to improve your portfolio. If you go for an interview and they don’t give you a job, don’t worry, your work just might not be suitable for that particular design agency.

So hope this has helped, good luck!

A thoroughly prepared client brief is half the success of a rebranding or design project. Attaining all the necessary and relevant information from the client and a comprehensive insight into the client’s brand provides you with a great foundation for the right brand identity and design solution.

As a designer or brand consultant, a properly prepared client brief gives multiple sources of ideas to work with. Unless you have a clear understanding of what the client wants and needs you waste your time trying to design something out of nothing and the client ends up spending more money than budgeted for as a result of the required modifications…which naturally makes both parties very happy….

Depending on the particular project you will need a specific design brief. That means if you are developing a website or creating a business card, the client design brief will be different. However, there is some general information about your company and what you want to achieve, which should give a good idea in any design situation. Here are some general questions that will help me and fellow designers and consultants:

• 1. Title
• 2. What is the nature of your business? What does your business do?
• 3. What is your target market?
• a. Age
• b. Sex
• c. Income
• d. Occupation
• e. Location
• 4. What is unique about your business or product?
• 5. Who is your competition?
• 6. What is your aim? What are your goals?
• 7. How do you want your clients to feel about the brand? What is the message you want to communicate?
• 8. What is your budget? Range?
• a. Providing a rough guide enables the consultant/designer with an idea of the type of marketing and design solution that can be provided to you.
• 9. What is your deadline?
• 10. Provide the designer with current and past design and marketing materials.

 To see how you can improve the image of your brand click here: graphic design Melbourne