本帖最后由 C_Lucida 于 2013-8-29 13:38 编辑
明天开会,整理资料忽然发现这篇文章,细读后发现有些意思,这是位女性酒店设计师的文章,外国FF&E设计师的视角和一些诀窍有一些值得借鉴的,因为是英文,本来想试着翻译后再发,不过发现翻译后有些作者的本意发生了变化,也许因为本人的英文水平不够,希望海涵。如果能帮各位从境外设计师的角度梳理一下有关软装设计的一些理念和想法,那是再好不过的事情了。
Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment
10 Common Sense Ideas
to Create Uncommon Impact
at Your Property
By Kalen Willis, Senior Interior Designer, HatchettHospitality
Today’seconomic environment calls for an FF&E strategy that carefully blendscommon sense and financial sense. Here are 10 tips to make your property standout from the competition in practical, yet cost-effective ways.
Capture the Style & Spirit of YourSite Whether it’s forbusiness or for leisure, travelers are away from home and that is always alittle disorienting. Your design choices can help create a soothing “sense ofbelonging” for your guests – which will almost certainly make their trip moreproductive and more memorable, thereby increasing their chance of returning andof recommending your property to others. Examples ofaccenting your location and reflecting local culture include: · With architectural design and finishingmaterials – rough stone and exposed timber for a rugged look in mountain ordesert locations; polished marble and dark woods for a “board room” or “countryclub” look · With paintings, wall hangings, andsculpture that bring the character of your community inside · With colors – reds and yellows are warmcolors, desirable in destinations that are “hot” in temperature or in actionsuch as a gaming resort, while cool colors such as blues and greens aresuitable for business locations and sites designed for relaxation · With fabrics – light weight and smoothtexture for bed coverings, window treatments, and wall coverings typicallyconvey a more relaxing, luxurious atmosphere than fabrics that are heavy inweight and rough in texture
Accessories With Attitude The innovative andinfluential American interior decorator Dorothy Draper wrote, “It is just asdisastrous to have the wrong accessories in your room as it is to wear sportshoes with an evening dress.”
For hoteliers, this means selecting accessories and accent pieces that makespace more warm and home-like – and make guests more comfortable. Accessories comein many forms – lamps, vases, plants, and knick-knacks to name just a few – andthey are most important in the lobby and public areas, which are focal pointsthat should be “dressed to impress.” Avoid items thatare too small to be seen properly or that invite being stolen, and make sureitems are used in a suitable space – for example, don’t put a large vase offlowers on a small end table where it will overpower the furniture. Sometimes the bestuse of accessories is “invisible” – namely, the items are meant to blend intothe background so effectively that guests are barely conscious of theirpresence. Other times, accessories are meant to stand out and to dramaticallyreinforce a room or space – whether it’s due to their size, shape, color,quantity, or placement. With eitherapproach, use accents selectively – if you overdo a certain item or technique,it becomes the norm and loses its novelty as an “accent.”
Make a Dramatic Entrance It takes only fourto six seconds for the human mind to form a first impression, so that’s howlong you have for your lobby to set the tone for a guest’s visit. Ideas to makeyour lobby “pop” include: · Architectural elements such as a row ofcolumns, stained glass windows, or a domed ceiling · A prominent central feature such as awater fountain, a large sculpture, or a dramatic chandelier · An unusual mix of seating styles andmini-meeting areas that encourage people to congregate and conduct activities Remember that“direction” is important, with floor and ceiling elements leading the way tothe registration area. But keep things clean and simple – don’t overwhelm thesenses and be sure the check-in desk is visible from the entrance.
Bed-dazzled A good night’ssleep is why people check into your hotel, so expand your bedding budget andgive them what they want. · Splurge for a higher quality mattressand box spring that will increase satisfaction plus wear longer · Enhance the bed area further withhigher thread count sheets, plusher pillows, decorative bolsters, luxuriousthrows, and woven duvet covers with down or faux-down duvet inserts
See the Light Each spacerequires three types of lighting: · Task lighting – bright, direct lightfor reading, computing, food service, or other work · Ambient lighting – soft, comfortablegeneral light for watching TV or having a conversation · Accent lighting – decorative emphasislight (often achieved with halogens) to create drama and mood, for example, bydrawing the eye to a specific area, architectural effect, or piece of artwork Remember thatbeyond being functional, lighting is also a design element: · In public space, oversized fixtures canserve as a focal point for the area · In hallways, alternate fixture stylesto create interest – for example, among a line of recessed cans, change theceiling height at door drops and use a semi-flush oversized fixture to throwlight onto the ceiling · In bathrooms, use a creativecombination of decorative sconces, ceiling lights, and recessed cans – with anespecially high level of brightness near the mirror for shaving and applyingmake-up
Guestrooms Outside the Box Brand minimums canbe enhanced in the guestroom at minimal cost but with impressive results, forexample: · Use a granite top on the nightstand –it improves durability and makes the furniture piece plus the entire room lookmore upscale · Feature one piece of accent furniturewhose unique style, finish, or upholstery makes the whole room special – andthe entire guest experience memorable · Create one accent wall – often theheadboard wall is a good choice – by painting it a different color or coveringit with vinyl that’s textured or boldly patterned
Bathroom Buzz The bathroom isthe second-most frequented area of a guestroom, exceeded only by the bed. Makeit more attractive, comfortable, and easy-to-use with these improvements: · Granite or marble for countertops,showers, and tub surrounds · Decorative lighting instead offluorescents – and sconces beside the mirror · Framed mirrors · Free-standing furniture-style vanitieswhich provide convenient towel storage – and several manufacturers offer metalferrules that protect the legs and base from cleaning products used on thefloor · Larger decorative tiles for the walls · Curved shower rods that give guests anextra 15 inches of shower space – and fabric shower curtains that create anupscale feel with their heavier texture and weave
Art and Soul Say “artwork” andmany people think of framed paintings and prints, however, there are many otheroptions available to you, including: · Collages · Sculpture · Wall hangings · Murals · Mirrors · Water features Beyond format,consider the style that best captures and conveys the spirit of your setting.This means going beyond predictable country scenes in rural properties andboating scenes in coastal or lake areas. For example, bright colors andimpressionistic pieces create a contemporary look while bold black and white photographyis suited when the desired ambience is dramatic reality.
Design is in the Details Hoteliers oftenstart the design process by assembling photographs of things they like at otherproperties, in magazines, and online. This is useful for identifying a generaldesign direction, but an interior designer will help you move beyond “a lacarte design” to a comprehensive scheme that establishes a coordinated andconsistent look throughout the property. Good interiordesigners are more than decorators. Yes, they are skilled at tying togetheryour various design elements – and yes, they know how to find the best productsat the best price. However, designersare typically familiar with a variety of construction issues including buildingcodes, architectural and electrical systems, security, and acoustics – and assuch they will facilitate your work with a variety of contractors. Perhaps moreimportantly, designers – especially at experienced full service FF&E firmssuch as my employer – can enhance your relationship and expedite your dealingswith your franchiser.
Your Perfect Partner There are hundredsof decisions and thousands of dollars in expenditures during any FF&Eproject, so choose a design and purchasing partner that you’re comfortableworking with. For example, you want a purchasing agent who is familiar withyour brand and its specific requirements, but who will still represent yourinterests as the owner. You also want acompany with a proven reputation for being thorough, dependable, andcost-effective. Get references – and if possible, visit some of the propertiesthat the company has designed and furnished. Also, askcandidate companies to name the suppliers they usually use – and why. Answersshould include the advantages and disadvantages of various manufacturers,including such factors as reliability, shipping costs, craftsmanship,durability, and pricing. While there is nohard rule of thumb, a good purchasing professional can extend your originalbudget by 10% to 20% – plus considerably reduce your headaches and sleeplessnights. To make yourproject go as smoothly as possible, find a company that provides one-stop“turnkey” service for the four stages of FF&E – design, purchasing,transportation, and installation. It’s preferable that the company performsthese services in-house, without sub-contracting them to other vendors, so thatthe same team of individuals is involved throughout every phase of the project.
There are no problems – justopportunities for solutions. That line from arecent movie is certainly worthwhile guidance as you undertake your nextFF&E challenge – and may the tips in this article indeed be useful forturning some of your “opportunities” into solutions.
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