Miscellaneous
Welcome to the Interior Design Today radio show with Mary Knackstedt.In our 33rd episode, Mary talks about technology in design.Technology has really changed the way we design and build. We love all the features, but sometimes they really aren't very beautiful. In other cases, they eliminate a lot of storage. I think of all the audio and recordings that we've had, and now we have just a very simple iPad which can hold all of that information. Things are now so minimal, and the quality is excellent. It really has changed the way we design things.I've been amazed at some of the features we have in televisions. I'm working on one now which is above a fireplace (not my favorite place to put one), but considering the room, the client wants it there. It is definitely the best location. On the other hand, they tell me they never watch television, but they must have a 60" screen. Isn't it sad that our very best wall is taken up by this big, black screen, which is not used. I decided that we've got to do something different with this, so in this case, we're doing a very simple application. We're not hiding it behind doors and lifting screens, these systems were several thousand dollars. Now, all I've done is a beautiful tapestry panel on a track, which simply slides with a baton, so that they can move it aside when they're watching television. Meanwhile, you wouldn't know the TV is there. It is hidden by a beautiful piece of art.It's just, why should we waste the best part of our room with something that we're using occasionally, which isn't very pretty. Here, we can have a beautiful piece of art. A painting, a tapestry, or something else. I have noticed that people are doing televisions which look like a plain white wall, but it's actually a screen. All we do is turn it on, and our wall becomes a great video screen. Not only featuring television, but communications systems. All of the information that comes from their various family members, photos, and almost anything else one can imagine. It can be hidden in this very discrete way, so that it is there when we want it and gone when we don't.I would love to see some of the things that you are doing with your television and other types of tech. Together we can create even more exciting ways, having the advantages of technology, but without losing the artistry of our homes. We want the art, but we also want the convenience of tech, so let's put them together in a creative way. They can compliment each other, but the tech does not have to overtake the beautiful parts of our spaces.Please subscribe to the video or audio version of the radio show via iTunes or listen to it at http://interiordesigntodaypodcast.blogger.com via the following MP3 Link.