ksgrant . . . . . I was on a very tight budget, but knew I was going to hit a wall and need a designer consult. I had space plan drawings for my kitchen and used the design services (free w/ cabinet purchase, CAD) to complete the space. I also had very specific inspiration photos that reflected the same perspective as the space, i.e. window placement over sink (light), position of appliances, prep sink. I paid close attention to how I intended to use the space, needed prep space for a least three cooks. I read a lot about the "triangle". Mostly I spent a lot of time with the plans and considering materials in relation to the inspiration photos. For instance, I wanted soapstone but it was out of budget and went with honed black granite to get the same look. Another example is that I wanted the kitchen to have some of the same elements as the old one to reflect the period of the house, so I had venting added to cabinet piece in front of the sink. Houzz was not available at the time, I would have posted some plans/materials here for more input and suggestion. Feel free to email me at tirgoddess.com for any other questions, happy to help. More than anything, take your time and do your research.

interior design is about designing layouts and flow of a room or area. It looks at principles such as your daily routine in a room, how much time you spend there, making things easily accessible and in a logical place, looking at lighting, and ultimately creating the most usable space in a given area. Interior decoration is about dressing an area and making it look good, this is where colour, texture and accessorising comes in. An interior decorator will recommend cushions, an interior designer won't (in the technical sense anyway). Interior design can be very broad ranging from houses to airport terminals. Many interior decorators offer interior design too, but in the academic and qualification sense, if you were to do a course for example at KLC, they are treated as two very different disciplines.

Hi patrina :-) So did you actually live in Jamaica for a time or where you born here? Never been but can imagine a very laid back vibe from there! It’s fantastic to chat to people from different backgrounds (sort of a turn this thread has took) as there is too much hate about to do with different cultures and race :-( It’s funny how styles change though! As I’ve said I do like mid century and have a few genuine pieces but I guess the stuff I pick now is probably an evolution of it, well in my eyes have heavily influenced the design of the pieces I like. I also like to make stuff, it’s generally a take on something I’ve seen that is either too expensive or just not quite right but nearly there! In the throws of possibly making a very contemporary concrete bench for the front of the house! It’s one of those ones that is either gonna be great or go horribly wrong.

Thank you JAMITE for your contribution and the story, stunning wall papers, very much on trend too !