Lesson 1- Introduction
Introduction of the Host
Ms. P. Mytthili has been heading the Interior Design Department at the Institute of Design, Chennai for close to a decade. A postgraduate in Hindi Literature, she holds several diplomas in Interior Design as well as Interior Decoration. She is also certified in Corel Draw and Auto Cad.

She has many interior designing projects to her credit. Offices, Show rooms, Residences, Exhibition stall designing and Landscape projects too. Carnatic music, Gardening, Handicrafts and Painting are some of her other interests.

INTRODUCTION

The interior of someone's home is like a giant mirror, reflecting their character, taste, aspirations and interests, and their little foibles. The purpose of this programme is to help one in making decisions that will create a home, which reflects the personality of the owner, and one, which they are happy to live in.

It starts by explaining how to examine the present state of things, and to work out what should be retained and what would be better changed. This first chapter assesses the benefits of some basic internal alterations such as reorganising the use of space or how the furniture is arranged, and goes on to plan new decorating and furnishing schemes in conjunction with another very important but often overlooked factor: lighting. The next stage is to plan how to carry out the work in a well-organised and methodical way - always the secret of success.

The best way to get an objective view of a home's interior condition is to imagine that it is for sale and to view it in the role of a prospective purchaser. The aim of the exercise is not to give rise to a severe bout of depression, but to make it clear what exists in the home and what could be done to change or improve it.

Start at the front door, and step into the hallway. Is it bright and well lit, or gloomy and unwelcoming? A lighter colour scheme could make a narrow room appear more spacious, and better lighting would make it seem more inviting. Decorating the wall opposite the front door would make a long hall appear shorter, while changing the way the staircase is decorated could make it a less- or more- dominant feature. Is the staircase well lit, for safety's sake as well as for looks? Opening up the space beneath the stairs could get rid of what is typically an untidy glory hole (storage room), taking up space without saving any. Lastly, are the wall and floor coverings practical? The hall floor is bound to be well trodden, and needs to be durable and easy to clean as well as look attractive.

Now move into the main living room. This is always the most difficult room in the house to decorate and furnish successfully because of its dual purpose. It is used both for daily life and to entertain visitors. It must be fresh and lively by day, yet cosy and peaceful in the evening. One of the keys to success is flexible lighting that can be altered to suit the room's different users, but the decorations and furnishing all have their part to play too.

Look at the colour scheme. How well does it blend with the furnishings, the curtains and drapes, the floor covering? Are they any interesting features such as a fireplace, an alcove, an archway into another room, even an ornate cornice around the ceiling? Some might benefit from being highlighted; other less attractive ones would be better disguised.

Bibliography
1. Book of Colour Sketching by Carolyn Warrender's
2. The Complete Decorating & Home Improvement Book by Mike Lawrence

Class Schedule:
Lesson 2- How the room works
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Courtesy: Institute of Design, No.134, Rosewood Offices, Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai - 600 034. Tel. 824 0588