DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES IN INTERIORS

Accessories are added elements that have various effects to the original
element.
Once the layout, furniture, lighting, artwork, electronics, accessories,
paint and other elements have been established, accessories are then
used to finalize the design.
These accessories include:
- Ceramics (Vases)
- Mirrors
- Art and Pictures
- Sculptures
- Clocks and Candles
- Indoor Plants

Ceramics are inorganic, non-metallic solids prepared by the action of heat

and subsequent cooling
Types of ceramic products
Structural- eg bricks, floor and roof tiles
Refractories- eg kiln lining, gas fire radiants, steel and glass making
crucibles.
White wares- eg tableware, cookware, wall tiles, pottery products and
sanitary ware.
Pottery types
1.Earthenware often made from clay, quartz and feldspar It is, or
can be, fired at relatively low temperatures and vitrification does not
take place, leaving the body slightly porous(if not glazed) .
After firing the body is porous and opaque, and depending on the raw
materials used will be colored from white to buff to red. Earthenware is
also less strong, less tough and more porous than stoneware, but is less
expensive and easier to work.

2. Stoneware- a vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic ware made primarily

from non-refractory fire Stoneware, which, though dense, impermeable
and hard enough to resist scratching by a steel point.
The stoneware differs from porcelain because it is more opaque, and
normally only partially vitrified. It is usually coloured grey or brownish
because of impurities in the clay used for its manufacture, and is normally
glazed."

3. Porcelain- (also known as China or Fine China) is a ceramic material

made by heating materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin,
in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 C (2,192 F) and 1,400 C
(2,552 F).
The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from
the formation of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body at
these high temperatures.

HOW ARE CERAMIC PRODUCTS MADE?

Shaping and forming methods

1. Hand Building

This is the earliest forming method. Wares can be constructed by hand

from coils of clay, combining flat slabs of clay, or pinching solid balls
of clay or some combination of these.
Parts of hand-built vessels are often joined together with the aid of slip,
an aqueous suspension of clay body and water.
Some studio potters find hand-building more conducive to create oneof-a-kind works of art.

2.The potter's wheel

In a process called "throwing, a ball of clay is placed in the centre of
a turntable, called the wheel-head, which the potter rotates with a stick,
with foot power or with a variable-speed electric motor.
During the process of throwing, the wheel rotates while the solid ball
of soft clay is pressed, squeezed and pulled gently upwards and
outwards into a hollow shape.
Wares produced by this method have high artistic merit though
reproducibility is poor .

3.Roller head machine

This machine is for shaping wares on a rotating mould, as in with a
rotary shaping tool.
The rotary shaping tool is a shallow cone having the same diameter as
the ware being formed and shaped to the desired form of the back of
the article being made.
Roller head machines remain the dominant method for producing
flatware.

4. Slipcasting
This is ideally suited to the making of wares that cannot be formed by
other methods of shaping.
A slip, made by mixing clay body with water, is poured into a highly
absorbent plaster mould. Water from the slip is absorbed into the
mould leaving a layer of clay body covering its internal surfaces and
taking its internal shape. Excess slip is poured out of the mould, which
is then split open and the moulded object removed.
Slipcasting is widely used in the production of sanitary wares and is
also used for making smaller articles, such as intricately detailed
figurines.

Pottery decoration techniques

1. Impressed surface details
Making impressions in the damp clay surface can be used to create any
number of freehand impressions and marks, limited only by your own
imagination and patience.

2.Use of slips
A slip is a suspension in water of clay and/or other materials used in the
production of ceramic ware. Decoratively its placed onto a wet or leatherhard clay body surface by dipping, painting or splashing. Slipware may
be carved or burnished to change the surface appearance of the ware.
Colored slips can be used to create pieces of ceramic art by techniques
similar to paint in other media.

3. Glazing
Glaze is a layer or coating of a vitreous substance which has been
fused to a ceramic object through firing.
Glaze can serve to color, increase gloss, decorate, strengthen or
waterproof an item.
Ceramic glaze raw materials generally include silica, which will be the
main glass former. Colorants, such as iron oxide, copper
carbonate or cobalt carbonate, and sometimes opacifiers such as tin
oxide or zirconium oxide, are used to modify the visual appearance of
the fired glaze.

MIRRORS

A mirror is flat or curved surface usually produced of glass that has

a reflective coating applied to it.
Brief History
Man first got reflections from rivers, ponds and other natural entities
The earliest man made mirrors from polished stone and mirrors made
from black volcanic glass obsidian - Found in Turkey dating back to at
least 6000 years.
Also found in Ancient Egypt - polished copper with the round face of the
mirror embellished with ornamentation, Mesopotamia - polished metal,
Central and Southern America - polished stone,
China - made from metal alloys, a mixture of tin and copper called
speculum metal that could be highly polished to made a reflective surface
as well as mirrors made of polished bronze.
Metal alloys or precious metals mirrors were very valuable items in
ancient times only affordable to the very wealthy.
During the period of the Renaissance in Europe, mirrors were made by a
method of coating glass with a tin and mercury amalgam. In the sixteenth
century, Venice became the centre of manufacture for such mirrors. A
factory for manufacturing mirrors called Saint-Gobain was established in
France.
Mirrors were still expensive luxuries and only the very rich owned it.
In 1835 Justus von Liebig, a German chemist, developed the silveredglass mirror where a thin layer of metallic silver put onto glass by the
chemical reduction of silver nitrate.
This enabled mirrors to be manufactured on a much larger scale, and that
is when ordinary people could buy a mirror.
Types Of Mirrors
There are two main types:
- Silvered and
- Non-Silvered

Silvered Mirrors
Concave Mirror: Glass is curved inward, and then coated, creating
enlarged reflections. Useful as a grooming aide.
Convex Mirror: The glass curves outward, creating reduced
reflections. It can be either decorative or a useful tool in parking
garages or busy corridors to help people see around the corner
Silvered tinted Mirrors: Tinted mirrors are produced using the
methods described above. The silver coating is applied to one of the
various tinted glass substrates available on the market. Tinted mirrors
are generally used in decorative applications where color and
diminished light reflection are desirable.

Non-Silvered Mirrors
Pyrolytic Mirrors: These are highly reflective coated glass mirrors with
performance characteristics like that of silvered mirrors. They are used in
shower doors and other areas where moisture can affect the substrate of
silvered mirrors.
Transparent/Two-way Mirrors: They are designed to permit vision
through one direction while giving the appearance of a standard mirror
from the opposite side. Their major application is to permit undetected
observation for study or surveillance in interior conditions such as
learning centers in schools and universities, medical and psychiatric
clinics, and security stations in casinos or high-traffic retail stores.

Applications Of Mirrors In Interior Design

1. To reflect light
Mirrors brighten a room, and therefore are placed near lamps or light
fixtures or in places where theyll reflect natural light.

They also improve the inside lighting of a room. For instance, a room
thats painted in a dark color may seem smaller as well as feel
oppressive. Adding mirrors to a number of walls can counteract the
darkness and boost the color of wall space.
The best method to improve a rooms lighting without needing more
electricity would be to place mirrors reverse windows. The mirrors
may reflect natural sunlight streaming with the windows and brighten
the entire room. Some homeowners actually report a cost savings in
energy costs simply by reflecting the free light in the sun.

Use a large, full-length mirror in entrance ways to instantly give a

person a sense of increased space when they enter.

2. To Increase space
A wall of a mirror or mirrors in a small space, such as a bedroom or
dining room or hallway that is really squashed opens it up and creates a
sense of flow and increased area.

3. To create warmth
Placing a mirror on a mantle can make the fireplace area, which can
often feel cramped and dark, more inviting.
A mirror can also be placed next to a fireplace to reflect the glow and
flames of the fire

4. For an artistic effect

This can be achieved by hanging a series of mirrors on a wall. They
can be the same or vary in size and shape. They can be arranged in
symmetrical or asymmetrical patterns depending on the tone of the
room.

Many mirrored surfaces will reflect the beauty of whatever room it is

mounted in, and the jumbled style will add its own personality.
Each of the separate mirrors reflects a slightly different perspective, so
there is experience of a burst of color and shapes wherever the mirrors
are placed.

5. Accessorize using decorative mirrors.

You can use simple frames, add mosaic tiles to the border, or use other
materials to make a mirror fit the rooms theme.

6. Vanity Mirrors In Bathrooms

Since full-length vanity mirrors are standard, embellishments and
thoughtful staging can be applied to make the bathrooms stand out.

6. In designing
Group small mirrors together in different shapes and sizes to create an
interesting feature on a wall but also bring light to the room.
Glue mirrored tiles to your kitchen cabinet doors so reflect the whole
room to create a mosaic look in your kitchen.
Fit a mirror behind your stove, this is traditionally a rather dark area
in your kitchen so add a mirror to bounce any available light around
the room. This will also give you more light for when youre cooking a
meal.
Place a big mirror beside your dining room table, this adds to the
mood of a dining room and keeps it light and bright.

SCULPTURES

Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three

dimensions and one of the plastic arts.

Durable sculptural processes originally used carving (the removal of

material) and modelling (the addition of material, as clay) but
since modernism, shifts in sculptural process led to an almost complete
freedom of materials and process.
Materials used
Metals especially bronze
Stone
Wood
Bone
Precious materials such as gold, silver, jade, and ivory are
often used for small luxury works
terracotta and other ceramics
Wax

 Stained glass
Types of sculpture
1. Sculpture in the round- free-standing sculpture that is meant to be
viewed on all sides, and is surrounded entirely by space

2. free-standing sculpture, such as statues, not attached (except possibly

at the base) to any other surface

3. Relief- at least partly attached to a background surface. Relief is often

classified by the degree of projection from the wall into low or basrelief, high relief, and sometimes an intermediate mid-relief.

Apart from their obvious decorative qualities, sculptures are used as

expressive pieces. They may be used to express ones culture, religion,
beliefs, ambitions and likes.

PAINTINGS, ART AND PICTURES

Paintings or any artwork makes a living space more pleasant and

intriguing.
They often well with other colors, shapes and textures you choose to put
in a certain area. They are included in an interior precisely because they
are complementary to almost any room.
Inside a house, in particular, the normal entryways and hallways often are
the new display location for paintings, photos or any artwork like
sculptures.
A beautiful large abstract painting can spark some interesting conversation
with your guests in your office or living area.

Canvas Printing on wall in Arabic

Heart display of photos on wall

Paintings high up on the living
room wall

In the bathroom, attention to the naturally high humidity is

important. A well-protected piece of abstract wall art or whimsy and
color that will make the room come alive can therefore be used.

Displaying a lot of small, framed art can be a fun way to add

interest to a bathroom, especially in small spaces. Frame works on
paper behind acrylic or plexiglass (a transparent acrylic plastic
often used in place of glass), which can hinder condensation build
up.

In Bedrooms

Photos can be used to fill up empty corners, hallways and walls for
a lively feel.

INDOOR PLANTS

Why use indoor plants?

They are a quick decorating tool
They have an air-purifying quality that can absorb and strip toxins like
formaldehyde from materials in the home like carpets.
Some like the aloe have medicinal value

Note: Different plants require different care and lighting conditions.

Enough research should therefore be made before purchasing any new
plant.

Interior plants transform any room in the home, there is a plant for any
location provided there is at least a glimmer of natural light. The choice of plant
is obviously a matter of personal choice but generally there are some plants that
complement a contemporary scheme and some that suit more traditional styles
better. Most interior plants, particularly Palms, look good in almost any setting.
Some important things to think about when selecting plants to suit your home
are:
Location. The environment in which you place your plant can be important.
Don't put plants too close to radiators and avoid cold drafts. Whilst most house
plants are tolerant of quite a wide range of light levels many will not like too
much direct sunlight. Check the plant descriptions on this site for details. Good
plants for direct sunlight are Beaucarnea and Yucca. Good plants for poorly lit
areas are Philodendron, Blechnum and Epipremnum but there are many more.
Growth rate. Most indoor plants are relatively slow growing but if you do
select a faster growing plant make sure that you allow enough room.
Pots and containers. Most people prefer to hide the plastic pot inside a
container, Think about the shape, colour, size and proportions of the container
relative to the plant and your room; the right container really can make all the
difference. See our range of stylish containers for more ideas.
Grouping plants. House plants like garden plants can look stunning when
arranged in mixed groups but consider how the colour, size and form of the
plants complement each other. Many house plants look fabulous when a number
of the same variety of plant are grouped geometrically in the same container.
this is particularly effective in contemporary designs.
Interior Setting. Some plants look stunning when one or two are placed singly
along a plain wall. Chose the more architectural species such as Dracena for the
best effect. A big blousy plant such as Spatiphylum "Sensation" , the giant peace
lily will make a unforgettable first impression in your entrance hall.

CLOCKS AND CANDLES

Clocks are used on walls for time as well as to accessorize the walls.
Candles on the other hand provide more lighting, enhance the mood
and can produce a good scent in the atmosphere of a room.

Clocks on shelf with indoor plants, pictures and candles.

Clock on wall above fireplace

Candles in a fireplace

Candle stands

OCCUPANT SAFETY AND HEALTH

Modern buildings are generally considered safe and healthy

working environments. However, the potential for indoor air quality
problems, occupational illnesses and injuries, exposure to hazardous
materials, and accidental falls beckons architects, engineers, and
facility managers to design and maintain buildings and processes that
ensure occupant safety and health.
Notably, building designs must focus on eliminating or preventing
hazards to personnel, rather than relying on personal protective
equipment and administrative or process procedures to prevent
mishaps.
Protecting the health, safety, and welfare (HSW) of building
occupants has expanded beyond disease prevention and nuisance
control to include mental as well as physical health and protecting the
ecological health of a place through the creation of spaces that enable
delight and the realization of human potential.
Therefore, the design team should apply an integrated approach,
including work process analysis and hazard recognition to develop
solutions that provide healthy built environments, having no undue
physical stressors, as well as meeting other project requirements.
In addition, consideration of HSW issues should be an integral part
of all phases of a building's life cycle: planning, design, construction,
operations and maintenance, renovation, and final disposal.
Provide designs that eliminate or reduce hazards in the work place to
prevent mishaps and reduce reliance on
personal protective equipment.
Prevent occupational injuries and illnesses.
Prevent falls from heights.
Prevent slips, trips, and falls.
Ensure electrical safety from turnover
through Operations and Maintenance. Modifications must be in
conformance with life safety codes and standards and be documented.
Eliminate exposure to hazardous materials (e.g., volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde, and lead and asbestos in older
buildings).

 Provide good indoor air quality (IAQ) and adequate ventilation.

Analyze work requirements and provide ergonomic work places to
prevent work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD).
Perform proper building operations and maintenance.

Provide Designs that Eliminate or Reduce Hazards in the Work Place to

Prevent Mishaps
Provide designs in accordance with good practice as well as applicable
building, fire, safety, and health codes and regulations.
Conduct preliminary hazard analyses and design reviews to eliminate or
mitigate hazards in the work place.
Use registered design professionals and accredited safety professionals to
ensure compliance with safety standards and codes.
Provide engineering controls in place rather than rely on personal protective
equipment or administrative work procedures to prevent mishaps.
Integrate safety mechanisms, such as built in anchors or tie off points, into
the building design, especially for large mechanical systems.
Design a means for safely cleaning and maintaining interior spaces and
building exteriors.
Provide for receiving, storing, and handling of materials, such as
combustibles, cleaning products, office supplies, and perishables.
Prevent Occupational Injuries and Illnesses
Consider work practices, employee physical requirements, and eliminating
confined spaces when designing buildings and processes.
Design for safe replacement and modifications of equipment to reduce the
risk of injury to operations and maintenance staff.
Provide proper ventilation under all circumstances, and allow for natural
lighting where possible
Mitigate noise hazards from equipment and processes.
Designate safe locations for installation of RF equipment such as antennas
on rooftop penthouses.

Prevent Falls from Heights

Provide guardrails and barriers that will prevent falls from heights in both
interior and exterior spaces.
Provide fall protection for all maintenance personnel especially for roof
mounted equipment such as HVAC equipment and cooling towers.
Provide certified tie off points for fall arrest systems.
Prevent Slips, Trips, and Falls
Provide interior and exterior floor surfaces that do not pose slip or trip
hazards.
Select exterior walking surface materials that are not susceptible to changes
in elevation as a result of freeze/thaw cycles.

Provide adequate illumination, both natural and artificial, for all interior
and exterior areas.
Ensure Electrical Safety
Ensure compliance with the National Electrical Code
Provide adequate space for maintenance, repair, and expansion in electrical
rooms and closets.
Provide adequate drainage and/or containment from areas with energized
electrical equipment.
Evaluate all areas where ground fault circuit interruption (GFI) and arc fault
interruption (AFI) devices may be needed.
Consider response of emergency personnel in cases of fires and natural
disasters.
Label all electrical control panels and circuits.
Install nonconductive flooring at service locations for high voltage
equipment.
Specify high visibility colors for high voltage ducts and conduits.

Eliminate exposure to hazardous materials

Identify, isolate, remove, or manage in place hazardous materials such as
lead, asbestos, etc.
Consider use of sampling techniques for hazardous substances in all phases
of the project to include planning, design, construction, and maintenance.
Consider occupant operations and materials in designing ventilation and
drainage systems.
Provide adequate space for hazardous materials storage compartments and
segregate hazardous materials to avoid incompatibility.
Substitute high hazardous products with those of lower toxicity/physical
properties.
Provide Good Indoor Air Quality and Adequate Ventilation
Consider ventilation systems that will exceed minimum ASHRAE standards.
Recognize and provide specially designed industrial ventilation for all
industrial processes to remove potential contaminants from the breathing
zone.
Design separate ventilation systems for industrial and hazardous areas within
a building.
Consider the use of carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring equipment if there
are CO sources, such as fuel burning equipment or garages, in the building.
Specify materials and furnishings that are low emitters of indoor air
contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Consider the indoor relative humidity in the design of the ventilation system.
Avoid interior insulation of ductwork.
Locate outside air intakes to minimize entrainment of exhaust fumes and
other odors. (e.g., vehicle exhaust, grass cutting and ground maintenance
activities, industrial pollutant sources, cooling tower blow offs, and sewage
ejector pits).
Ensure the integrity of the building envelope, including caulks and seals, to
preclude water intrusion that may contribute to mold growth.
Prevent return air plenums/systems from entraining air from unintended
spaces.

 Provide air barriers at interior walls between thermally different spaces to

prevent mold and mildew.
Provide Ergonomic Workplaces and Furniture to Prevent Work Related
Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD)
Design work places that make the job fit the person.
Select furnishings, chairs, and equipment that are ergonomically designed
and approved for that use.
Design equipment and furnishings reflective of work practices in an effort to
eliminate repetitive motions and vibrations as well as prevent strains and
sprains.
Consider using worker comfort surveys in the design phase to help eliminate
work related musculoskeletal disorders.
Accept the principle that one size does not fit all employees.
Consider providing break areas to allow the employees to temporarily leave
the work place.
Minimize lighting glare on computer monitor screens. Provide task lighting
at workstations to minimize eye fatigue.
Perform Proper Building Operations and Maintenance
Proper preventative maintenance (PM) not only improves the useful
life of the systems and building structures, but it can lend to good
indoor air quality and prevent "sick building" syndromes.
Ensure all maintenance and operation documentation, especially an
equipment inventory, is submitted to the building owner/operator prior to
building occupancy.
Follow manufacturer recommendations for proper building operations and
maintenance.
Include safety training of operator personnel as part of the construction
contractor's deliverables.
Require the use of integrated pest management (IPM) for all pest
management services, interior and exterior of the building.
Require building maintenance personnel to maintain the HVAC air
infiltration devices and condensate water biocides appropriately.

 Monitor chemical inventories to identify opportunities to substitute green

products.
Consider incorporating continuous into your building maintenance
program.
Bibliography:
-http://www.slideshare.net/

-www.wikipedia.com
-http://www.wbdg.org/design/ensure_health.php