The Real Estate Browser Volume 8, Issue 16 | Page 22
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Volume 8 Number 16 – Say you saw it in The Real Estate Browser of Lynchburg — 21
kling in the sunlight have inspired smart-
phone interfaces, while talking comput-
ers on “Star Trek” have contributed to the
creation of voice-controlled speakers.
Sometimes designers are inspired by
consumers themselves. For example, at
Moen, a leading manufacturer of kitchen
and bath fixtures, innovation is driven
by what homeowners say they want and
how they interact with products. When
determining the sensor placement for
new MotionSense Wave touchless fau-
cets, their design team was inspired by
the way hands move around the kitchen
sink. The fixtures feature a single-sensor
hands-free activation on the base’s left
side, allowing users to turn the faucet
on and off with the wave of a hand. “We
also draw creativity from furniture, tools,
architecture, music and museums,” says
Steven Ward, Moen’s director of global
design.
Seek Your Source of Ideas
Next time you’re updating your bath
or restyling your kitchen, act like a pro-
fessional by venturing outside the box to
get your creative juices flowing, whether
it’s turning to a favorite song or a piece
of artwork. For example, 16 percent
of Americans who have done a home
design project look to the outdoors for
inspiration when planning home design
projects, while 15 percent look to archi-
tecture. Maybe you’re struck by the col-
ors of the sunset in your family’s summer
beach vacation photos or the amazing
brick pattern you saw wandering through
a historic neighborhood. Consider what
colors and patterns grab you and evoke
the feeling you want to have within your
space. And once you find them, snap a
photo and reference it as you’re design-
ing.
Curate Inspiration
Been a while since you took a vaca-
tion? Don’t live in an architecturally awe-
inspiring locale? Social media is a great
proxy. In fact, of Americans who have
done a home design project, 33 percent
look to social media for inspiration. Just
like the pros, create a design plan for
your space, but make it easy by using a
site like Pinterest. Create boards for color
combinations, materials and textures
that attract your eye, so you can define
your ideal look. Many Pins are shop-
pable, making it simple to purchase your
perfect home décor products with just a
click.
While making design decisions, don’t
worry about being “on-trend.” If you
stay focused on what styles speak to you
personally -- as well as the functionality
your room needs to support -- you’ll cre-
ate a space that feels uniquely yours.