From the Floors Up

How To Use the Elements and Principles Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer Part 16

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Part 16 Unity

The concept of unity is a critical principle of interior design. By definition, it suggests oneness and uniformity. Successfully using it requires you to have broad concept of how all the elements in a room are related to each other.  Whereas other design principles can be individually considered to some extent, this simply is the case with unity. So, how does one pull it off like a pro? By creating a simple list of decorating priorities!

Decide ahead of time the most important features of your room. This could include color, style, architectural elements, etc. We suggest no more than three. Once you have your list, use it every single time you make a design decision for the room.  

Let’s use this photo of a dining room as an example. The style of the room is minimalist. For the most part everything in the room has an aesthetic of simplicity. Yet, the space is visually interesting due to the liberal use of shapes.  All of the architectural elements are characterized by obvious angular shape references – square or rectangular. Color is also a very important aspect of this room. It is a monochromatic color scheme, which means various tints and shades of the same color, in this case, brown. So, let’s relate these three distinct elements to the concept of unity. A modern, minimalist design is supported by the use of clean lines. The architectural features in the room are clearly the most important. To deter distraction from them, a subtle color palette is incorporated. The room is unified because everything in it adheres to these three guiding elements.

Another way to understand how to do this well would be to imagine that you are going shopping for items to include in this room.  Would you buy something red? Would you incorporate a fancy, detailed, baroque chair? Would you incorporate a rug with a pattern of circles? No, no, and no. Remember, you’re not deciding based on your tastes. You’re deciding based on the three top priorities of the room. Red, baroque, and circles just don’t jive.

Enjoy your new decision making tool and watch as your rooms come together beautifully!

Next read Part 17 – Variety

Don’t forget to go back and start by reading Part 1

How To Use the Elements and Principals Of Design To Decorate Like An Interior Designer, Part 4

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Part 4 — Form

In parts 1-3 of this series we covered the idea of space, as well as how to use line to guide guest’s eyes and/or set the tone of a room. Moving along, let’s now discuss the idea of form.

Form transform space into a back drop and it gives line a purpose. With regard to decorating your home, form is anything that has solid mass and can theoretically be viewed from any angle. If the form is especially impressive or remarkable, it is also defined as having a sculptural quality. 

This baroque inspired table is a fantastic representation of form. From every angle it draws your attention, and if you like it, your admiration. As you can see, a design element with a sculptural quality is ideal for making a statement. It’s the sort of thing that makes you say “Wow, look at THAT!”

You can use this to your advantage in two different ways. If you want the room to feel well designed yet refined, opt to use only a few objects with exceptional form. If you want the room to feel decadent throughout, go wild with form and fill the room with it! A point of reference might be the home of a historically royal family. In that case, don’t forget to serve cake!  

Another way to employ form to influence the design of your room is to utilize it as means of controlling visual weight. We’ll cover the concept of balance in a later post in this series, but let’s also consider it here. As mentioned, form has mass, and the brain recognizes mass by automatically assigning it a visual weight.

Imagine instead ornate yet light chairs. They have a beautiful sculptural form that encourages the viewer to linger awhile and take in all of the nuances. But, they register in the mind as still light and airy. As opposed to the table example – it reads very heavy. Thus, form also influences the feel of a room and whether or not it’s formal or cozy.

Next time you’re shopping for furnishings, keep form in mind and choose those that meet your decorating goals. Delicate forms are typically for admiring, whereas solid forms convey stability and comfort.

Next read Part 5 – Shape

Don’t forget to go back and read Parts 1 – 4 

Wallpaper in the Kitchen

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Screen Shot 2013-05-21 at 2.24.59 PMThere is a current design trend for wallpaper throughout the home. Wallpaper was once thought to be old fashioned and outdated, but not anymore. The patterns and colors of today’s wallpapers are anything but the wallpaper your mother or grandmother had.  Beautiful colors, historic and vintage patterns, and new materials mean that wallpaper is one trend that will be with us for a while.

Because of the popularity of wallpaper, we are seeing it used throughout the home; from bathrooms to hallways and every room in between.  There is a wallpaper design that can work for any room.  Some wallpaper is subtler than others in their color and patterns.  We are even seeing wallpaper used in kitchens.

The kitchen pictured here has a subtle diamond patterned wallpaper design throughout.  If you choose to use wallpaper as a way to add color to a backsplash, consider covering the paper with glass for protection.  However, some wallpaper can be wiped with a moist cloth. These are probably a good choice for the kitchen with all of the splashes and spills.

When adding any color or pattern to a kitchen or any room always take into consideration your flooring. If you have a tile or patterned floor, also consider the color and scale of the floor pattern when choosing a pattern for the walls.  The same is true for stone or wood floors. Choose a wallpaper design that will coordinate with your floor, cabinets, and hardware for a cohesive looking kitchen.

Building a House…I Wish I Had Thought of That! (Part One)

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Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 10.37.00 AMWe would like to introduce Megan, one of our readers who has been kind enough to share her story and advice on building a house.

If building a house is in your future there are many things to think about and consider. Below are some helpful tips that will hopefully keep you from saying, “I wish I had thought of that!”

  • Window Shape: When I built my house I was set on having bamboo shades. It wasn’t till after I moved in that I discovered bamboo shades couldn’t be customized to an arched window. This actually made a lot of sense, but I had not thought about it when we were designing the window shapes in the house.
  • Master Shower: This is a brilliant idea instead of installing shelves in the corners of the shower for your shampoo.  You can do pocket shelves on the same wall as the shower knob. This provides a dry area for all your shower essentials and keeps things neat, tidy, handy, and dry!
  • Hallways: For an added touch use arch niches in your hallway. This is great for a picture or plant. Don’t forget the accent light!
  • Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 10.35.58 AMEntry Area: An insert of tile or slate is the perfect solution for keeping your wood floors from getting moisture from rain and snow. It’s easy to maintain and worry free.
  • Carpet:  Make sure you get a good carpet pad. A good pad will extend the life of your carpet and you’ll be able to feel the difference on your feet!  Also, go one step further and research carpet beyond “base grade”.

You don’t want to miss next week’s post! Megan has even more information she’d like to share.  Stay tuned.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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