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LAUNCH INTO INTERIOR DESIGN: a beginner’s guide to the industry

Book Review: Launch into Interior Design by Jenny Kennedy

If you are curious about learning interior design, you might want to check out the book “Launch into Interior Design: a beginner’s guide to the industry” by Jenny Kennedy. This book is a comprehensive and practical guide that covers everything you need to know to start your career as an interior designer or decorator. Whether you want to design your own home, work for clients, or start your own business, this book will give you the insider tips and tricks to create beautiful and personalized spaces.

In this review, I will give you an overview of the book, its main features, its strengths and weaknesses, and my personal opinion. I will also provide some suggestions on who might benefit from reading this book and how to use it effectively.

What is the book about?

The book is divided into three parts: Design, Business, and Marketing. Each part consists of several chapters that cover a specific topic related to interior design and decorating. Here is a brief summary of each part:

  • Design: This part covers the basics of home building design, such as floor plans, elevations, and blueprints. It also teaches you how to make design decisions and select the right products and colors for different rooms and styles. You will learn about the different types of flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, lighting, hardware, furniture, blinds, draperies, rugs, artwork, and décor. You will also learn about the psychology and principles of interior design and decorating, such as balance, harmony, contrast, and focal point.
  • Business: This part covers the essentials of starting and running your own interior design business, such as writing a business plan, setting your rates, creating contracts, managing projects, and dealing with customers, trades, contractors, and salespeople. You will also learn about the legal and ethical aspects of interior design, such as permits, codes, insurance, and liability.
  • Marketing: This part covers the best practices and strategies to market yourself and your business, such as creating a portfolio, website, logo, business card, and social media presence. You will also learn how to network, advertise, and generate referrals and testimonials.

The book is written in a clear and engaging style, with plenty of examples, illustrations, photos, and tips. It also includes exercises, quizzes, and checklists to help you apply what you learn and test your knowledge. The book is suitable for beginners who have little or no experience in interior design and decorating, as well as for intermediate and advanced designers who want to refresh their skills and learn new techniques.

What are the main features of the book?

Some of the main features of the book are:

  • Comprehensive and practical: The book covers a wide range of topics and provides detailed and useful information on how to design and decorate different spaces and styles. It also gives you practical advice on how to start and grow your own interior design business and market yourself effectively.
  • Insider and hands-on: The book is based on the author’s personal experience and expertise in interior design and decorating. She shares her insider secrets and tips that she learned from years of working in the industry. She also encourages you to get hands-on and experiment with different products and colors to find your own style and preferences.
  • Easy to read and follow: The book is written in a simple and friendly tone, with a logical and coherent structure. It uses clear and concise language, with short paragraphs and bullet points. It also uses visual aids, such as diagrams, charts, tables, and photos, to illustrate and explain the concepts and ideas.
  • Interactive and fun: The book includes various activities and exercises to help you practice and apply what you learn. It also has quizzes and checklists to help you review and evaluate your progress. The book also has a humorous and entertaining tone, with anecdotes, jokes, and stories that make the reading enjoyable and fun.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?

Some of the strengths of the book are:

  • Informative and educational: The book provides a lot of valuable and relevant information and knowledge on interior design and decorating. It also teaches you the skills and techniques you need to succeed in the industry. The book is a great resource and reference for anyone who wants to learn more about interior design and decorating.
  • Inspirational and motivational: The book inspires and motivates you to pursue your passion and creativity in interior design and decorating. It also helps you overcome your fears and doubts and gives you the confidence and courage to start your own interior design business and career.
  • Supportive and helpful: The book supports and helps you throughout your learning and designing journey. It gives you guidance and feedback on how to improve your design and decorating skills and abilities. It also answers your questions and concerns and provides you with solutions and suggestions.

Some of the weaknesses of the book are:

  • Generic and repetitive: Some of the information and advice in the book are too general and vague and do not address the specific needs and challenges of different designers and decorators. Some of the topics and tips are also repeated and redundant and do not add much value or insight.
  • Outdated and limited: Some of the information and examples in the book are outdated and do not reflect the current trends and innovations in interior design and decorating. Some of the products and resources mentioned in the book are also limited and do not cover the full range and diversity of options and alternatives available in the market.
  • Biased and subjective: Some of the opinions and preferences in the book are biased and subjective and do not represent the views and tastes of different designers and decorators. Some of the recommendations and suggestions in the book are also based on the author’s personal experience and expertise and may not be applicable or suitable for everyone.

What is my personal opinion of the book?

My personal opinion of the book is that it is a very useful and informative book for anyone who wants to learn more about interior design and decorating. It is also a very inspirational and motivational book for anyone who wants to start their own interior design business and career. The book is well-written and well-organized, with a lot of examples, illustrations, photos, and tips. It is also interactive and fun, with exercises, quizzes, and checklists. The book is a great resource and reference for beginners, as well as for intermediate and advanced designers who want to refresh their skills and learn new techniques.

However, the book is not perfect and has some flaws and limitations. Some of the information and advice in the book are too generic and repetitive and do not address the specific needs and challenges of different designers and decorators. Some of the information and examples in the book are also outdated and limited and do not reflect the current trends and innovations in interior design and decorating. Some of the opinions and preferences in the book are also biased and subjective and do not represent the views and tastes of different designers and decorators. Therefore, the book should be read with a critical and open mind and should be supplemented with other sources and resources to get a more comprehensive and updated perspective on interior design and decorating.

Who might benefit from reading the book and how to use it effectively?

The book might benefit anyone who is interested in learning more about interior design and decorating, whether for personal or professional purposes. The book might also benefit anyone who wants to start their own interior design business and career, whether as a hobby or as a full-time profession. The book might also benefit anyone who wants to improve their design and decorating skills and abilities, whether as a beginner or as an expert.

To use the book effectively, I suggest the following steps:

  1. Read the book thoroughly and carefully: Read the book from cover to cover and pay attention to the details and explanations. Try to understand the concepts and ideas and how they relate to each other. Take notes and highlight the key points and tips.
  2. Practice and apply what you learn: Do the exercises and activities in the book and try to apply what you learn to your own design and decorating projects. Experiment with different products and colors and see how they affect the look and feel of your space. Get feedback and suggestions from others and learn from your mistakes and successes.
  3. Review and evaluate your progress: Do the quizzes and checklists in the book and see how much you have learned and improved. Identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them. Set goals and objectives and track your achievements and challenges.
  4. Keep learning and improving: Don’t stop at the book and seek other sources and resources to expand your knowledge and skills. Read other books and magazines, watch videos and tutorials, attend workshops and courses, join online communities and forums, and network with other designers and decorators.

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