Interior Design

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Interior Design Schedule
January 26 - March 23, 2010
Tuesdays, Room 300, Treadaway Hall
Day: 9 a.m. – Noon
Evening: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Tuition: $130
Instructor: Joan Gaither

Add/Drop Dates
Add: February 9, 2010
Drop: February 2, 2010

Registration

To register call (210) 436-3321 or e-mail Robin Thedford, St. Mary’s Continuing Studies director, at wthedford@stmarytx.edu. You can also register online at www.stmarytx.edu/continuingstudies.

About the Interior Design Program

This program focuses on design ideas for primary rooms and includes the following topics:
Changing the rooms or boxes we live in
How do you develop a color scheme using existing palettes in your home? Hint: When it comes to background colors, neutral does not necessarily mean beige.

Through visual examples, learn the hundreds of ways to incorporate color, from applying molding to using fabric on walls. Small or enclosed rooms practically beg for a backdrop of color. Typically, these are dining rooms, libraries, hallways and foyers.

In dining rooms, colored walls set the stage for candlelit conversations; in libraries, the walls set the mood for contemplation; and in hallways and foyers, which are often deprived of natural light, color creates a vibrant welcoming space.

If you love white walls, realize that white is still a color, so make the white in your home look deliberate and instead of something done by default.

Space planning
Learn the 10 most common mistakes in furniture planning and how to avoid them. Through visual examples, participants will learn how to fill gaps in furniture inexpensively.

You’ll also learn how to create intimate groupings in oversized rooms and how to compensate for small living space in the 11 x 11 “extra bedroom.”

Lighting
Misusing light is the single most common mistake in design. Learn to identify improper lighting and find out how proper lighting can make an ordinary object look spectacular. Program participants also will learn the most effective way to utilize overhead lighting. With the help of real-life visuals, you’ll develop the ability to create space and depth with lighting.

Floor coverings
Learn to decide which floor covering – from tile to hardwood and carpets to area rugs – is best for your home and budget. Participants also will see samples and learn how to mix floor coverings for a designer look.

Window treatments
Learn how to decide what a window really needs and how to create an opulent look without spending a fortune.

Accessorizing
Learn the difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical accessorizing and how to make formal and informal groupings on tables and walls. Participants also will be taught how to make “table scapes” and how to arrange bookshelves for appearance rather than function. Learn what to do with a fireplace mantel and how to fill the empty area above a fireplace.

Selection of furniture
Quality control is an importance factor when selecting furniture. Learn when the highest quality is absolutely necessary and how to mix furniture styles. Acquire a working knowledge of the history of furniture design and how to distinguish “eclectic” from “junk.”

Field Trips
The program includes several field trips to custom design centers, including workrooms for window treatments, upholstery, etc.

Instructor

Joan Gaither has been teaching interior design workshops for 25 years. She studied architecture and design at the University of Hawaii and currently writes a column on interior design for Military Spouse magazine and is the owner of JRG Interiors.