So. . . the New Year is here, and you’ve packed away the decorations and cleared out or reorganized the clutter. (At least the thought has arisen, right?) As I promised my clients and readers, I’m working on a series, “Great Beginnings”, to be a guide for planning and implementing any home design project.
Space planning is just one of my first priorities in planning a room, whether it be a simple or a complicated layout. I use a special program to scale the design and the furniture for the best fit. (More on this subject, later . . . )
In a previous post, I addressed some points on organization, not only to open up space, but to plan it in a way which promotes for ease of living and less wasted time in trying to locate important possessions. A method for achieving that was briefly covered in multi-functional rooms or even multi-purposed pieces of furniture. I’ll get back to some more detailed examples of that, in Part 3. For now, I want to chat about what emotion or lifestyle you want your well-designed space to evoke.
Identifying this takes a little extra thought. Many of my clients have collected pictures, prior to our meeting, to show rooms they like. I study them carefully to see if I can put together a pattern, be it the color scheme, the design style, particular pieces of furniture or accents. In most cases, the bottom line revolves back to how the room makes them “feel”.
Do you crave a cheerful, airy space – such as this room, featured on my AVA Living Space? I named it the “Glorious Morning Room”. It was designed for a shingle-style home and the original artwork, by Jan Yearwood, was the starting point for the color palette. Many visitors have said this room made them feel happy.
Or . . . is it more your preference to create a cozy retreat, enveloped in texture? My client’s dining room, dipped in delicious, dark chocolate, achieved the desire of having guests linger over coffee and cordials. No dinner bell required.
Is your wardrobe more formal and tailored? Chances are, you’ll love an elegant entry . . . smooth and polished, with the details of a custom couturier. (Custom build project for my client, with Arcadia Homes, Inc.)
If you are a free spirit, (or a ‘tween of the feminine persuasion), you’ll dream of a personalized nest to reflect your passions, plans and ponderings - with vivid hues placed in a play of patterns. (Photographed by Chanda Pope – Room featured in “Little Ones” Magazine.)
The rooms, above, were completed down to the last ingredient. They had to have a Great Beginning, in order to achieve the Best Ending. I was so fortunate to have clients who allowed me to take them through the entire process, from the first questions to the finishing touches. After all, even with the right recipe in hand, you can’t enjoy a cake, half-baked!
Stay tuned for Part 3 . . . “Thinking Inside of the Box”. If you would like to receive these posts, be sure to subscribe to my feed, here, or on Facebook Networked Blogs. (The buttons are to the right.)
Meanwhile, I’d love to hear about your dream room. What does it feel like, to you?
Cheers to “Feeling Good”! Wanda
