Power of the Axis

There is a lot to be said for structure. In Interior Design structure can take many forms, but I think it is one of the most vital elements to making your design make sense. One of the most powerful elements of structure is the axis. Using these view lines can give a home continuity from room to room, as well as help build an order within a room, whether using symmetry or a looser arrangement.

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  When beginning to layout your space, lay out the view axis' throughout the room. It could be the view from the Front door, or the view to the fireplace etc. Look also for secondary lines of importance.


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  Having established these lines try to balance around them to give you the most even sense in the room. The simplest method of this is a strict sense of symmetry, this can create a more formal arrangement though.


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  When trying to balance out the room, consider the relative weights of color, light and texture too. By inter playing these ideas you can create a more interesting mix.


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  In the image above you can see that this gallery has a very obvious axis, but the arrangement of furniture on one side and a row of light drapery on the other, balance each other other, without having to resort to symmetry. This can give a space a more dynamic feel.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Summer

Summer is one of my favorite times of year. It means long days, vacations and endless blue skies. So I like to find ways to bring a little bit of this feeling into my home. I think it's important that where you live finds a way to reflect the passing seasons. Here are some things you may want to try:

• I like to give my kitchen a whole new look. I will find new cabinet knobs, change out the towels and napkins to a brighter color (this year it will be tomato red) , change the mat etc, and even bring in a small chili plant to spice things up.


• Making the house feel fresh, so try and keep the doors and windows open for as long as possible everyday, and introduce a natural scent, like cut flowers, or a scented potted plant, like a geranium. Nothing smells as fresh as the real thing.


• Having said that, in summer I love to entertain in the garden a lot, so at night my is not as fragrant as I like, so I will augment the regular candles with scented ones, it's amazing what that little boost will do.


• Keep a bowl of fresh fruit at the door, its a nice splash of color, but is also a great way to mark the season.


• Swap out the pillows on your bed and sofas. Bring in more pattern and color, it will make the room glow. You might want to concentrate on fruit tones, like yellow and orange.

Bring on Summer!

Answer Day: Bathroom Makeover

I am always being asked "what can I do with my Room X if I don't want to do a major remodel?". Usually this question is about a Kitchen or a bathroom, where people for any number of reasons do not want to start tearing out fixtures and rebuilding cabinets. So here are some thoughts on simple things that you can do to your bathroom in a weekend, that will give it a whole new lease on life.

• First thing, Paint! A fresh coat of paint can make all the difference, and be daring, it's just a bathroom, you are only going to spend a few minutes a day in here, make it something that is going to inspire you. I personally like strong color in a bathroom, like chocolate (I think that it can be very flattering).


• Revisit the lighting. On Resource day a few weeks ago, I spoke about Circa Lighting, they have a huge range of fixtures that are cool, but within a good price range. If you have only a ceiling light, and no sconces, why not try adding sconces that hold real candles? It will give you a great look, without the trouble of rewiring (be sure to use dripless candles).


• Freshen up your countertop. There is no excuse for plastic bottles all over the place. Get some pretty containers and empty your liquid soap into one, moisturiser in another etc. There is nothing worse than bathrooms that look like a cosmetics counter at a discount department store. It only take a few minutes to do this and it makes all the difference.
• Don't underestimate the power of a plant or fresh flowers in your bathroom. They can really give a nice boost.
• Invest in a few great towels. It always amazes how many people keep their towels till they are a threadbare mess. Replace them at least once a year. It is not a huge investment, and it makes you feel like a million dollars every time you step out of the shower.

Designing within a Style

In design, there has always been a fascination with "the other". People in New York want to build and decorate like Provence, people in Southern California want to build and decorate like Italy etc. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, the results, more often than not, are less than stellar. I have some thoughts as to why this happens and suggestions as to how to avoid some common pitfalls.

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  It is all about scale, you cannot make a mansion feel like a cottage, nor a cottage cannot feel like a mansion. So when considering your project, whether it's a new home from scratch or a bathroom remodel, consider first if the scale is appropriate to the project you are doing.


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  Consider context. Part of the reason why a Swiss Chalet looks so good in Switzerland is because it is appropriate to the location. The slope of the roof, the size of the overhangs are all responses to context. The same chalet would look silly in Arizona. This is part of the reason why Mediterranean styles can be so successful in Southern California.


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  Learn and know the style. What shapes are the windows, how big are they, how many are there? learning these facts and why they are like that is all a part of knowing your style. Until you learn that, making changes to suit your design can be hazardous.


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  After you learn the style you are now in a position to distill it down. What you want to do is recreate the feeling of the style, not make a copy of it. For instance do not get caught up in photo's saying, it must be this way or that, but step back and ask what is it about the style I am responding to, and how do I make that.


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  Having said all this, do not be a slave to the style. You are not an 18th century peasant, and if your house looks like one, it will make no sense. Instead look at scale, color and texture, these are the elements of style that will bring you success.

Good Luck with your projects!

The New Living Room

I was chatting with a client the other day, and they told me that the thing that they loved about the new Living Room that I designed for them was that it didn't seem like a Living Room. I hope that what he meant by that was that the room felt warm and inviting, the sort of place where you might sit and read a book on a Saturday afternoon. What I hoped it didn't feel like is an old parlor where you only go on special occasions, that is, never.

Thankfully the way people live and use their homes has changed a lot, now people are not interested in having rooms that they never use, but it doesn't mean that every room should feel like a Den either. Here are some of my thoughts on The New Living Room:

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  No matter what you do, it is unlikely that the room will be used often, by a large group. So don't design it that way. Design the room for small, discreet seating groups, that way, when it is just you alone or you and a friend, it still feels comfortable. To do this, limit yourself to one sofa, then plan how the room will work with small groupings of people.


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  I have to admit, that while I want people in that room, I don't want them just watching TV, so I rarely will do a TV in a Living Room. There are already plenty of other places in the house for that.


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  Do not use furniture or fabrics you are afraid of. You will not feel comfortable in a space where you are constantly thinking about what to touch and how to keep clean. A rule of thumb, make the big pieces practical, the smaller ones the more fragile ones if you like. Then if there is a party or a large group, you can easily child and drinkproof the space.


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  You can spend a lot of money in this room, unless you are careful, so make it go as far as possible. Keep the major pieces pretty neutral, and add splashes of color or a sense of the seasons with pillows and accessories.


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  Finally, personalise the space. Put around a few framed pictures of your friends and family (matching frames please). Only a few framed pictures go a long way, don't cover every surface with frames, it doesn't say how much you love your family, it says you have no ability to edit.

Enjoy your Living Room, make it a habit to use it at least once a week, you will be amazed how useful it can be.

Out of Town

I am leaving today for a much anticipated vacation. The next two weeks I will be touring Italy with some close friends. I have prepared a bunch of postings that will be put up in my absence, but I am not sure whether there will be a new posting each day, but bear with me, I will be back up to my usual pace when I return. Can't wait to share some thoughts from my trip.

Mark

Modern Kitchens

I really love to cook, so Kitchens are rooms that I really love to design. But aside from their practical aspects, Kitchens also function as the heart of the home. This is the place where, homework is done, kids are fed and stories are told. So it can be difficult when I get a request to do a modern Kitchen, because it seems to me that these can be the antithesis of this. The image above is a Kitchen I did in a house up in northern California in conjunction with a local Kitchen Designer. The family has young kids and this Kitchen can be a madhouse at times, so I think that the clean lines help to give the Kitchen a more straightforward, handsome look that a more traditional style might not.

Here are some ideas to consider if you are creating a modern Kitchen:

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  I like to use a combination of different materials to create a sense of warmth. In this Kitchen we used Douglas Fir doors wrapped in stainless steel, and then repeated the stainless steel on the island. It helps to create a nice rhythm.


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  One of the hallmarks of modern Kitchens is this idea of big splashes of one material. I like the idea for instance on the back splash, using a very simple color, like the sandblasted glass, but do it in a small tile, so that you still get some texture up there.


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  Once again, use different types of light so that you can create different effects, from bright utilitarian to a warm glow at night.


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  When laying out the kitchen, massing is very important. You want a modern kitchen to feel light and effortless, so try keeping all the bigger pieces (Refrigerator, wall ovens, pantry etc) grouped together.


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  When using a lot of material like stainless steel, make sure you balance it out with some material with a lower lustre, like slate, or else you will end up with a glary, shiny mess.

Good Luck, and Happy Cooking!