-
How ’90s interior design software laid the foundation for today’s life sims
In 1994, my mom, a working interior designer, decided to jump on the home computing bandwagon and get 3D Home Architect (opens in new tab). The Broderbund program was part of an awkward, curious wave of computer-aided design (CAD) software adapted for the burgeoning home market (opens in new tab)—the average joe looking to redecorate and remodel in an exciting new digital world. I was already familiar with floor plans and architectural drawings from watching my mom at her drafting table. My mother made a valiant attempt to get used to the program, but as a diehard traditionalist, she eventually returned to working with her trusty pencil and paper. Suddenly…
-
How to design a formal living room: Emma Sims Hilditch advises on creating smart spaces
A formal living room is the one room in the house that you might keep the kids and pets out of, where you’re unlikely to indulge in TV dinners but are very likely to invite guests into for smart soirées. Designing a formal living room follows a number of formula that are easy to translate – but how to do so in a way that makes the room feel welcoming as well as beautifully curated? If you have been browsing formal living room ideas, you will likely have noticed that they have quite tight layouts, that furniture is neatly upholstered and that drapes are sumptuous. But how to add that…
