1. Certificate In Interior Design (Interior Design Institute)

With options to advance your studies further, the Interior Design Institute takes you through a 24 week online course filled with creativity, design flair and style. Equipping you with the skills to style beautiful homes, the course focuses on both theoretical and practical skills to whip you into design shape. Based on almost two hundred 5/5 star reviews on their website, you can be assured that students were able to enjoy their experience and find their inner creativity through the modern and informative course. On completion you are given a Certificate in Interior Design which can help you kickstart your career in interior design, or as a hobby or successful sideliner.

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2. Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration at Interior Design Online (Sydney Design School)

Renowned for their high quality education, students at the Interior Design Online are taught industry-focused skills that they can learn both online or on campus. This design institute requires no previous design experience and teaches fundamentals such as the latest international design trends and styling for both residential and commercial spaces over a 2 year period. Accredited by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), students are taught how to use 3D modelling software and even professional presentation techniques all from the comfort of their own home. Interior Design Online is by far one of the greatest options to be introduced and allows you to start anytime to grow your knowledge. You can enroll now!

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3. Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration with Open Colleges

Now considered Australia’s leader in online education, Open Colleges has provided high quality and revolutionary education for the past 100 years. Being recognised by the Design Institute of Australia, the professional membership body of designers and creatives, you can walk away with a diploma and an extensive portfolio to present to your prospective clients and employers upon graduation. The diploma spans over 2.5 years covers all areas of interior design and interior decoration. Equipping you with total confidence, knowledge and skill to immerse yourself into the industry, you’ll go through modules such as design principles, working with clients and suppliers, right through to practical skills using interior design kits.

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4. The Professional Interior Design Course at the Interior Design Academy

For those who seek more independence and flexibility with when they choose to study, the Interior Design Academy offers a self-paced learning approach spread over 12-24 weeks. Suitable for busy mums looking for a career change or students juggling full time work, you have the option to complete it within 2 years. With over 25 years of experience and specialising in distance learning, professional interior designers and writers have trained students in more than 80 countries. Whilst building your theoretical knowledge, they also provide you with practical skills such as meeting client’s needs, marketing and design skills that are often overlooked in many course outlines. On completion, you receive the Interior Design Academy Identification Pass stating your credentials and are placed on their register of interior design which opens up a world of connections and interior design opportunities.

5. Plan Decorative Live at The Decorating School (e-course)

This fabulous 6-week online course offers you valuable knowledge into how to design, how to decorate and analyse space. Through masterclasses from interior design experts, The Decorating School teach you how to use colour and the essentials when transforming a home or space. Providing you with a bite-size taster into the world of interior design, it offers those who are interested in taking up a tertiary education in the field or simply for homeowners who would like to try their own hand at redesigning her home. For those who enjoy a more fun and relaxed approach to full-time accredited learning, this course is ideal and connects you to like-minded students through exclusive Facebook and Pinterest groups.

Feeling inspired yet? Why not take the plunge and learn a new skill and potential career changer! With no age restrictions and working around you, online interior design courses can be suited to almost everyone and can help you build and express newfound creative flair and passion. Make sure you research what interior design institute suits you best to ensure you get the most out of your studies and first and foremost, enjoy the course throughout!

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1.Kanji Ueki 

Having worked in both Tokyo and Milan, Ueki has spread his works all over the world. Creating his own business Cassapo & Associates, their projects have provided spacial designs for Apple stores and high-end commercial spaces. Their projects showcase the textbook Japanese interior style of large minimalistic spaces and incorporate natural materials such as hardwoods and bamboo. Ueki works closely with Maruni, a product design company, where he produces sculpture-like wooden furniture.

2. Hashimoto Yukio

The designer now lectures and teaches at various Tokyo universities with over 10 years of experience under his belt. Utilising the Japanese interior design concept of lightness and ambience, Yukio’s work is beautifully showcased in commercial spaces, hotels and restaurants. The play on light and dark creates a mesmerising and sensual atmosphere in all of his unique spaces.

3. Koichi Futatsumata

Establishing the company CASE-REAL in 2009, Futatsumata focuses on providing a practical and sustainable solution to interior design problems. Specialising in product design, he creates incredibly clean and monochromatic designs for interiors, most commonly seen in Aesop stores.

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4. Naoko Takenouchi

Takenouchi was previously a restaurant designer in Tokyo, and has now partnered up with Britain’s Marc Webb to form the integrated design firm- Takenouchi Webb. Bringing a fusion style to Japanese interior design, his projects are a wonderful mix of western styles, texture and the Japanese design fundamentals such as minimalism.

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5. Tokujin Yoshioka

Having worked under the name of our next designer, Yoshioka has climbed the popularity ladder of Japanese interior designers. A go-to designer for commercial spaces, his clientele range from Issey Miyake to Hermes and Peugeot, just to name a few. His works are renowned for an airy, retro and futuristic style.

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5. Shiro Kuramata

One of the most celebrated and significant designers, we couldn’t leave him off the list. Kuramata’s futuristic and practical designs to this day are showcased in New York’s MoMA and the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. Creating both beautiful spaces and furniture pieces, his work can be described as a fusion between oriental design and occidental styles.

5. Shinichiro Ogata

Owning the widely popular design studio Simplicity since 1988, he’s produced traditional Japanese design in mostly commercial interiors. Doubling up as a famous chef, Ogata focuses his discipline on environmentally sustainable design and paying homage to traditional Japanese fundamentals. His works traditionally use Japanese materials which create a naturally beautiful and elegant interior design style.

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Feeling inspired? Japanese interior design is truly a beautiful reflection of contemporary culture through minimalist and sustainable design. Consider taking inspiration from the Japanese interior designers in your next interior design online, to achieve harmony in spatial and aesthetic attributes. 

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The blanc de blanc approach for the home interior style of ‘The School’ is a perfect blank canvas for the evolving creative needs of the space. Photographic studio one minute with natural light beaming off the all white surfaces, and Shibori workshop the next, full of creative souls enjoying a special kind of morning tea with friends.

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Simplicity and soulfulness seems to be the essence of Sydney-based Megan Morton’s design philosophy. Whether it’s her home interior style or photography layouts, she manages to dig deep and find the things that tell a story. Pairing back to a few curated pieces in a room is a real challenge, but Megan has this skill down-pat.

“Stylists are doing one thing one day, another the next and by weeks end have been asked to do the impossible”, she writes in her book, Things I Love. Well, she certainly makes it look easy.

Her concepts are shared among florists, photographers, engineers, embroiderers and general craftsman in a variety of impressive trades.

According to Megan, “What (stylists) do best is work with other people who are really good at their thing and deliver a result that works for everybody.”

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It is within these circles that she shares her success, acknowledging the teams of experts that make her style and its outcomes beyond amazing.

“Having something lovely to look at” is important to her, especially in her own interior style. When creating a space that is personal to you, it can be difficult to find a starting point. Great design is often found in detail that doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive – a small token that generates a memory or a moment that you can’t not have on display such as handwritten postcards, a collection of watches or a pile of linen bound books. Seeing your prized possessions in all their glory as you pass them each and every day is priceless.

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Making the most of what you’ve got is another great lesson from Megan. She writes about awkward spaces or ‘kooky small rooms’. Her approach is to embrace what you have and allow life to take place in these spaces just as they are supposed to. Never just assume a space has to take the path it has in the past. Transforming a usually ignored corner into a cosy reading nook or the space under the stairs into an office changes the way you think about your space and can open your way of living into something you had never imagined.

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“Houses don’t need to stick to one colour palette”

Megan has been seen to experiment in her own home with painting half of the floor black and the other white just to experience the difference of living in a space with two contrasting floors. There is no greater way to know what works best for you in your home until you have lived in it. Have fun with colour, because a change is as good as a holiday.

So, next time you need to make a decision on refreshing your own space, take a leaf from the pages of Morton’s style files: be original, create a space that tells your own story and have fun along the way!

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TOP 10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT Megan Morton:

1. She rocks a maxi skirt like no other
2. Her genuine admiration and respect for all of the creative counterparts that support her
3. Ability to hero a few key pieces in a room that could be tempted with waaay to much ‘stuff’
4. ‘The School’ and all of its unique and expert workshops
5. Appreciates the elements and principles of design ‘rules’, but isn’t afraid to break them
6. Gypsy soul that makes a work/family life balance seem possible
7. Appreciation for handmade craftsmanship
8. The collection of arm jewels. Just WOW!
9. Values a great sense of humour
10. Appreciation for art 

Top 5 Megan Morton styles I love:

1. The most successful colour schemes have a dominant colour and a subordinate colour
2. When things go wrong, it can force you to create a new set of solutions even better than the first
3. A mantra of ‘something old, something new, something rough, something smooth’
4. Don’t use the straight-backed seating from the 16th Century when no one had time to sit down
5. Even if something is expensive, it only has value if you love it.

This article was written by Kylie Monteleone, @Spacedresser and Designbx interior designer. 

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As proprietor of luxury boutique hotels around the world, British designer Kit Kemp is an expert on bedroom design. Her signature style is an explosion of colour and a mix match of fabrics, yet the rooms remain elegant and refined by balancing strong colours with gentle. Beds are king-sized, with upholstered headboards that reach the ceiling.  Large bedside tables at the side of the bed are paired with ottomans at the foot. Extra seating is provided, complete with large diameter tables.  Heavy drapes on windows work as privacy and block out blinds, but also made from meters of sumptuous fabric for a luxe feel.

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As you would expect from an interior designer to Hollywood stars; Kelly Wearstler’s interiors are dramatic.  Furniture is big and bold, as are the sculptures and artwork.  Her materials palette includes a mixture of onyx, marble, polished stone, mixed metals, leather, silk and fur.  Mirrors behind lamps are used to reflect light around the space and create interest.  Carpet works well in master bedrooms, creating softness underfoot as well as softening acoustics.  Whereas some designers might be included to go with subdued carpeting, Wearstler specifies carpets and rugs that can be strong in colour and pattern.

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In the quieter scheme of things is another British designer, Ilse Crawford.  Human needs and desires are top consideration when designing spaces for clients.  This is evident in the tactile nature of her materials that include cane, timber, leather and velvet.  Lighting levels are kept low, save for large pendants installed from the ceiling, creating interest when viewed from all angles of the room.  With a mantra of appealing to the human senses, often a fireplace is included in the design.  Providing warmth, light, comfort, the fireplace is the ultimate luxury in a master bedroom.

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Whatever your style, you can use these techniques to create a master sanctuary of your own. 

Never far from a measuring tape, Donna Vercoe- Designbx designer is a Vancouver transplant who now calls Sydney home. When making the leap to Australia, she changed gears from working as a pool designer in the construction industry to studying colour and design. She now works as an interior designer, collaborating with clients to ensure their design fits their style, as well as fitting into their space. When not taking measurements, she can be found with a camera in hand, eyeing up details to share on Instagram.

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Kristy Withers form Incy Interiors shares how an average day looks in her creative world.

When did you start this venture? I started Incy 5.5 years ago when my son was going into his first ‘big boy’ bed and I couldn’t find a bed anywhere that I liked and wasn’t super expensive so I decided to create a range of my own.

Talk us through the early days… The early days were tough because I found out I was pregnant the same time I launched the company. This was very exciting as we had struggled to fall pregnant but also wasn’t great timing. I knew I had 9 months to grow the business and get things under control.

What does it take to build a successful business? With any success comes lots of hard work! Building a successful business means making sacrifices. You don’t earn much if any money initially, you work every waking hour and lots of the time you are doing it on your own. It really does take commitment and nerves of steel!

What’s your advice for any emerging business? Make sure you are passionate, know your numbers and can make then work and go for it!

What would an average day at Incy Interiors look like? There is no typical day for me but the day generally starts at 5.30/6.00am when my husband’s alarm goes off. The kids generally come in for a snuggle before starting the day and then we start the crazy rush of getting dressed, breakfast, bags packed, etc before getting out the door at 7.45am. We have a 30 minute travel and then two school drops offs on either side of town and I try to be in the office by 9am. The day then varies wildly. I may be doing anything from marketing plans through to financial forecasts, entering orders or talking to customers. We have no egos at Incy so everyone pitches in and does what needs to be done. I leave the office 5.30ish and either pick the kids up from my sister’s (who is our nanny and lifesaver) or head home where the kids will already be. Then the crazy rush of baths, dinner, homework, stories etc begin. Our kids have a bedtime of 7.30pm so by the time I have cleaned up and put washing on it is generally around 8.30ish. I then either flop on the lounge and watch tv, have a bath (and glass of wine) or open up my laptop. Bedtime for me is generally 10ish and then it all starts again!

The Incy store family

Who or what has been the greatest inspiration for Incy Interiors? My son was the original inspiration for starting Incy but my entire family are the reason I keep doing what I do. It also helps that most of them work at Incy.

Tell us about some of your favourite (projects/collections/milestones) One of my favourite projects is something we are working on at the moment and that is our new store in Bathurst. . It is in the most amazing old converted flour mill. We have a HUGE space and we will have not only a retail store there but also our offices and our first ever Incy outlet. We are opening on 23rd July so please come and visit if you are in the area. Any pointers on how to streamline and simplify the running of successful business? I actually need this advice myself. I have created a super complicated business model that most certainly doesn’t make it easy for me so if you get this advice, can you please pass it on?

Which global markets influence your company? Right now we have a presence in 7 international markets – NZ, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, UK, Canada and USA. We have recently launched ourselves into the US so it is our major focus for 2016, this was a huge project that involved changing the products to meet US standards, finding warehousing, setting up logistics, new companies, etc.

What’s the secret to finding great staff for the Incy store? Go with your gut. I always hire based on attitude over skill. If you have the right attitude you can learn anything whilst all the skills in the world don’t matter if you have a bad attitude.

What are the three words your company lives by? Honesty, integrity and passion

Incy Interiors is a preferred supplier for Designbx interior design online projects. 

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