Drawing Room - From Theory to Concept

Having looked at the theories of High Modernism and Truth to Materials, I have used these theories to develop the following concepts for the Drawing Room.  These I have shown below.

Truth to Materials

Wood is the main component in this neutral looking scheme.  There is not a lot of colour variation, and so this design does not have much depth.  My favourite elements from this design are the wood and stone table, and the sea grass carpet.  These are aspects that I may look to carry through to the final design.

High Modernism

 This design has a lot of references to external structures such a s trees.  The room has three windows, all of which look out on trees, and so this design really connects to the countryside.

Truth to Materials and High Modernism

This combination of both theories I feel is the strongest design, as it incorporates the theme 'country connections' as well as being practical.  This rom is used the most by my client, and is often host to family afternoon teas, meaning that all the surfaces need to be resilient and able to take the odd mark.

Furniture and Fittings Choices


Coffee table - The table top is a rough surface which adheres to the truth to materials theory.  It is a solid piece, and so will be able to handle everyday use.

Square side table - This is made from wood and stone, two natural elements.  The stone in the table reflects the existing stone in the room which makes up the fireplace.  This is to be placed on the right of the sofa, creating symmetry, as the stone shelf attached to the fireplace sits to the left of the sofa.

Round side table - the rough oak matches the mirror, and does not take up too much room, as this will be beside the arm chair which sits a third of the way into the room.

Console table - Again this has a rough wood surface in tune with the truth to materials theory.  It is a large but sits along a long wall, under the window.  The length allows the lamps to be placed either side of the window without obstructing the curtains.  It is not a solid piece, and this allows the wallpaper which will be behind it to show through.

Side chair - This made from a  matching wood to the console table, and comes upholstered in a natural linen.

Sofa  - This is an elegant statement piece and will be used in two places.  Firstly as a large three seater sofa, and secondly as a love seat.  The large sofa will have a matching natural linen to the arm chair, however the love seat will be in a different fabric, yet to be chosen.


Light -  The light incorporates ivy into the design, a natural element that grows on the outside of the house.  This is part of the high modernism theory, incorporating an external structure.


Table lamps  - Both of the lamps incorporate elements f a tree, the first imitating the structure of a tree, the second incorporating twigs into the design.

Wallpaper - The wallpaper will be on the end wall which contains the console table, and looks out on an orchard.  The design as been chosen to incorporate the external view.


Whicker basket - This is a natural material, and is to sit on the hearth with logs in for the open fire.

Kitchen - From Theory to Concept

Having looked at the theories of High Modernism and Truth to Materials, I have used these theories to develop the following concepts for the Kitchen.  These I have shown below.

Truth to Materials

Stone and slate are the main components in this concept, as there are not many other natural materials commonly used in a kitchen.  The wooden units are another example of truth to materials, however the cooker is a man made object, and I have used the most natural cooker I could find.  The casing is made from aluminium, however this has a more industrial feel than rural.

High Modernism

This scheme incorporates natural structures, mainly focussing on trees and twigs.  Again it was difficult to find kitchen elements that suited this concept, and so items such as the cooker and fridge have been left out.  The cooker units have natural imagery carved into them, and external coulrs have been incorporated in the fabrics.

Truth to Materials and High Modernism

This concept combines the two theories, as well as acting in a practical manor.  External natural structures are predominant in the bannister, and the fabric.  The wooden kitchen conforms with the truth to materials thoery, as well as giving the design a country feel.  Elements such as the sink, cooker and fridge do not follow either concept, however meet the clients needs for practicality, and are not modern pieces, and so work with the rest of the design.

Furniture and Fittings Choices

Units - Wooden units were chosen as they conform to the truth to materials theory.  The units from the high modernism concept were too fussy, and complicated the rest of the design.  The chosen units are simple, roughly sanded, and the joinery is visible.  

Cooker - It was not possible to find a cooker that followed either theory, as the cooker is a man made invention.  For this reason, I decided to choose a cooker that worked with the colour palette of the concept.  The green AGA which compliments external colours looked to dark and out of place, and so a lighter cream was chosen.

Fridge - The fridge was chosen to work with the cooker, as this is also something that cannot conform to either theory.

Floor & wall tiles - Truth to materials was the main reason for this choice, as these are an excellent demonstration of this.  The kitchen leads out onto a stone patio, and so this connects the internal and external.

Sink - The sink is the third item that does not fall into either theory, however for practicality reasons, the stone sink would be too difficult to clean, and so a traditional butler sink has been chosen instead.

Marble worktop - This was also chosen because it conforms with the truth to materials theory.

Blind fabric - The blind fabric choice stems from my research into the high modernism theory, but is also a direct link to the outside.  The window in the kitchen looks out on an orchard, and so the apple blossom fabric is a prime example of bringing an external element inside.

Light - For practical reasons, the light cannot be made from wood, and light fittings that use natural forms did not work with the concept.  For this reason, I have chosen an unpolished aluminium lamp, as this best reflects the truth to materials theory.

Banister - Having opened up the stairs, these should be incorporated into the kitchen concept, and here I have chosen cast iron railings that have been shaped to resemble tree branches.

Bedroom - From Theory to Concept

Having looked at the theories of High Modernism and Truth to Materials, I have used these theories to develop the following concepts for the bedroom.  These I have shown below.

Truth to Materials

This scheme uses natural woods and has a calming feel.  Other natural materials include 100% wool carpet and natural linen curtains.  Although this concept is ver soft and neutral, I feel that only using natural materials could make the room look quite bland.

High Modernism

This concept looks at bringing external elements in.  The bed frame, mirror, bench, lamp and curtain pole all reflect the structure of a tree.  The shape and form of a rose is imitated in the chair and painted onto the chest of drawers.  Continuing with the theory, I have chosen external wall lights for either side of the bed.  This is an unusual concept, and very much reflects the outdoor life.

Truth to Materials and High Modernism

This theme incorporates the two theories to produce what I think is a more balanced concept.  Truth to materials is represented in the bed head and furniture, and external structures take the form of the lamp, cushions and throw which will be made from the researched Lesley Richmond leaf fabric.  With this concept, I experimented with the idea of a wallpaper behind the bed, looking at possibly incorporating trees of plants.  However having used this sort of wallpaper in the bathroom, I wanted to keep the two rooms unique.  The second option was to conform with the truth to materials theory.  In doing this, I came up with the idea of using old timber to create a 'scrap-wood wall', a natural yet striking feature.  Another thing this design demonstrates is an un-gendered space, something the client was looking for.  

Furniture and fittings choices

Bed Head- This is a very classic shape fitting in with the period of the house, but also complies with the truth to materials concept.  It also softens the scrap-wood wall designed to go behind.

Chest of Drawers & Wardrobe - These conform to the truth to materials theory, and also have a rustic look about them which will work well with the scrap-wood wall.  They are simple yet elegant, and do not perfectly match, imitating natures force.

Chair - This was chosen because it looks comfy and is made from natural linen and wood.  The fabric behind it will make up cushions, with images of natural forms being incorporated here.

Bedside table - This does not match the rest of the furniture, but as it is to sit in-front of the scrap-wood wall,  I wanted something that will stand out.  Thenatural imagery painted on reflects the high modernist theory.

 Natural Linen Curtains - The Wooden wall is to be the main feature, and so natural linen curtains with a blind behind will be used to avoid distracting from this.

Table lamp - This imitates a tree structure (high modernism) and will link with the wood to be used in the room.

Mirror - The leaf frame is another demonstration of the use of the high modernist theory.  The frame imitates a climbing plant, and the rustic colour fits in with the throw

 Throw - This is to be made from the leaf blanket fabric designed by Lesley Richmond, and will be a bespoke piece.  The colours and shapes exactly imitate external leaves, and so demonstrates the high modernism theory.

Carpet - The carpet is made from 100% natural wool, and so is an example of the truth to materials theory.

Wall light - To further the idea of making the external internal, I have chosen an outdoor light, which will be fitted to the scrap-wood wall.  This will also fit in with the rustic look of this feature wall.

Bathroom - From Theory to Concept

 Having looked at the theories of High Modernism and Truth to Materials, I have used these theories to develop the following concepts for the en-suite bathroom.  These I have shown below.

Truth to Materials

This concept has been formed using only natural materials.  These materials have not been treated or painted to resemble anything else.  Wood and stone are the predominant elements, however natural fabrics such as linen and cotton have been included to show how the theory can be applied to the whole concept.

High Modernism

High modernism looks at making internal structures external.  Here I have created a concept that takes external structures and makes them internal.  This has led to some interesting feature pieces such as the sink stand and flower relief tiles.  As stated in the brief, the window in this room looks out over a garden full of wild flowers and birds.  Although this theme draws on this, and is an original concept, I need to bear in mind factors such as ease of cleaning and practicality.  It is for this reason that I have created a third concept, shown below.

Truth to Materials and High Modernism

This concept combines the two theories that I have looked at, with truth to materials furniture and fabrics, but also incorporating the idea of external natural structures.  In one of my previous posts, I also explored the idea  of external colours, which have also been incorporated into this concept.  I feel that combing the two theories and concepts has produced a practical concept that meets the original brief.  The wallpaper, fixtures and tiles connect the outside view, while the sink stand and bookcase give the room a continuing natural connection.

Furniture and Fittings Choices

Sink stand - The marble and wooden frame work incorporates the truth to materials theory, the sink which is not strictly true to the original source will be easy to clean, an important consideration.  The toilet is also ceramic, and so tis will link the two together.

Storage Unit - The client needed storage for towels, spare toiletries and ornaments.  This bookcase had two draws for storing away items such as toilet rolls and spare toothpaste, and plenty of open shelving for towels and ornaments.  Although the piece does not exactly match the sink stand, it is true to its material, and as not all natural materials perfectly match, I do not feel this is a problem.

Wallpaper - This has a direct link to the view from the window, and will be pasted on the wall containing this window as it is a large wall, and can be seen from the hall and bedroom, adding interest.  The plants that the birds are perched on represents an external structure.

Application of wallpaper

Tiles - The tiles reflect the wild garden outside, and the flowers that are all jumbled in together.  Although here it is shown with the flowers at the top, I will be putting the flowers at the bottom, to give the impression they are growing and blowing away in the wind.  This I feel will look more natural.  Matching plain tiles will line the floor in the shower and the main bathroom, but will be rough, to avoid slipping.

Fittings - The towel rail and toilet roll holder are a direct link to the wallpaper and the outside, and have been chosen for their finish and practicality.

Toilet - This period style piece reflects the age of the house, and suits the rest of the concept, as opposed to a modern style which did not fit in.  As previously stated, the material also matches the sink.

Wooden Skirting Board - This is to tie in the furniture and the painted walls, and to add a better finish to the bottom of the wall.  Natural wood also reflects the truth to materials theory.

Natural Linin Blind - For privacy, I will use a roman blind, instead of curtains.  I have chosen a non patterned fabric so that it does not detract from the busy wallpaper, and as this does not represent the high modernism theory, I have applied the truth to materials theory, choosing a natural linen.

Shower Head - Similar to the toilet, i have chosen a more traditional shower head, as this works well with the rest of the concept.  It also matches the metal taps on the sink.

Truth to Materials in the Bathroom

The house contains many natural resources such as a stone fireplace, and wooden beams.  To create a design that works seamlessly with this, I would like to continue this throughout the rest of the house.  Stone tiles demonstrate the truth to materials theory I have been researching, and so in this post, I have done some initial research. 

The large glass screen shows off the stone surround.  the tiles on the floor give the space dimension, as they are smaller, but the colour still works well with the wall tiles.  They also stop the space blending into one and looking flat.

These tiles look much more geometric and darken the space.  The room I am designing has one long window, and so is a very light space.  This means that it can take the darker colours, however I do not like these particular tiles

This is an example of how very light natural colours have been used.  To me this makes the bathroom look very washed out. there is also very little varying textures so the room has no depth or interest.

This is an example of how other natural textures have been used in a bathroom, demonstrating truth to materials.  I like the wooden sinks, and so I now have another direction to research.  I also like the rustic towel rail, as it works well with the natural look of the room.

These stone tiles are by a company called Lafabbrica Spa.  These combine the idea of truth to materials, but also include an external structure in the design.  The bathroom looks out over a wild flower garden, and so using these tiles would be a direct connection with the outside.

Truth to Materials

Throughout my research, I have looked into the use of natural imagery in fabrics and wallpapers.  This however only touches on the soft furnishings side of interior design.  I will also be using furniture such a tables, cabinets and chairs.  This post aims to explore the use of natural materials in regards to furniture, and will begin by looking at Understanding architecture: an introduction to architecture and architectural history by Hazel Conway and Rowan Roenisch.  In this book, a chapter titled Theories and Histories in Architecture examines the idea of truth to materials.

‘Truth to materials meant that all materials were chosen for their particular qualities and not painted to look like other materials’ (Conway, 2005).

The idea of truth has been applied to materials, however the theory has religious connotations.  Pugin, a catholic architect, and the founder of the theory believed that the ‘religious principle of truth’ should be expressed in gothic architecture used in churches and cathedrals.  In his eyes this meant not concealing the architecture of the building (Conway, 2005).  The resemblance to the high modernist theory here of showing off internal technologies to the outside world is eveident here, as many of the principles are the same.  Linking to High-modernism, Pugin expresses that

‘Constructioanl truth to materials meant that the construction of a building was evident and not concealed; ornament was used, but it did not obscure the construction and it was appropriate in form and meaning’.

Although this theory relates to architecture, it can be applied to interiors, inparticular furniture.  Below is an example of how this can be applied

(Alibaba n.d.)

Both of these coffee tables are made from wood, however only one is true to its material.  The timber coffee table above has been roughly sanded, and the grain of the wood is evident.  The natural colours have been preserved, and looking at it, you can see all the joins and methods of construction.  Below is a coffee table made from mdf, an engineered wood.  The lacquer finish and smooth surface makes it look like it could be made from plastic.  This finish also hides any construction work such as joinery and screws.

(Furniture Beyond n.d.)

The lacquered coffee table is far more modern as it demonstrates modern practices.  As the focus of my project is to connect to the countryside, the timber table fits in much better with my theme.  It is for this reason, that I will consider the idea of truth to materials when choosing my furniture, to create as natural a design as possible.

Post Bibliography 

Conway, H and Roenisch, R. 2005. Understanding architecture: an introduction to architecture and architectural history. Routledge

Alibaba. (n.d.). recycle timber dining table. [Online] Available at: http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/11738124/recycle_timber_dining_table.html [Accessed: 18th October 2011]

Furniture Beyond. (n.d.). Coffee Table. [Online] Available at: http://furniture-beyond.com/?p=2&a=view&r=312 [Accessed 18th October 2011]

Furniture and Furnishings List

From my floor plans, I have compiled a list of the furniture and furnishings I will need to select for each room.  For some of the items I have given approximate sizes as a guideline for what I can fit into the space

Drawing Room

• Console table 50 x 200cm
• 2 x table lamps
• Side chairs 50cm deep
• Round side table 40-50cm
• Arm chair 100x100cm
• Coffee table 100x100cm
• Love seat 130-14 width
• Two seater sofa 200cm width
• Side table 70x70cm
• Rectangular log basket 50x30cm
• 2 x table lamps
• Mirror
• Carpet
• Main lighting
• Curtain fabric
• Sofa fabric
• Cushion fabric
• Paint / Wallaper

Kitchen

• Butler sink
• Base units
• AGA
• Flooring
• Wall tiles
• Fridge (SMEG)
• Breakfast table
• Breakfast chairs
• Worktop
• Lighting
• Curtain fabric
• Seat cushion fabric
• Taps
• Paint / Wallpaper

Bedroom:

• Chest of drawers 50x130cm
• 2 x Wall Lights
• Small bedroom chair
• Free standing wardrobe width 250cm
• 2 x side tables
• 2 x table lamps
• Headboard
• Long foot stool 35x130cm
• Curtain Fabric
• Bedding
• Carpet
• Paint / Wallpaper

Bathroom

• Toilet
• Storage shelves 50x20cm
• Shower screen and door
• Shower head and dials
• Taps
• Sink unit 60x80cm
• Towel rail
• Flooring
• Wall tiles
• Toilet roll holder etc
• Curtain fabric
• Towels
• Paint

Final Floor Plans - Agreed by Client

These are the final floor plans that have been agreed by the client.  Under each one is a despcription of the alterations and areas of development.

Drawing Room

• Here I have extended the console table to fill the wall space.  This also means that two table lamps can be placed on the table, without obstructing the curtains
• I have made the armchair smaller, and so a small chair will need to be looked for
• I have also added a small round side table 
• The side table next to the sofa has been made larger.  A longer table was tried which did fill the space better but looked too cluttered

Kitchen

• I have chosen to include a breakfast table instead of an island for two reasons.  Firstly because it is more traditional, and secondly because I did not wan't anything obstructing the view out of the double doors.
• I have removed both the windows from the one wall, and centred double doors along the wall instead.
• The fridge has been moved out from under the stairs, and although it is not in an overly prominent position, it is not obstructing anything, and this seems to be the best place
• The external door opposite the stairs has been moved to allow the cupboard doors to open easily.
• The door at the bottom of the stairs is not new, but was not drawn into previous drawings as it should have been.

Bedroom and Bathroom

• The main change is that the client has now decided that they do not want a TV in the bedroom, as they feel it ruins the ambience of the space. 
• In place of the TV I have added two wall lights and a mirror to create a dressing table area.
• Nothing else has been changed in this room

From these drawings I can now construct a furniture list for each room and begin to choose furnishings.

Bedroom and Bathroom Floor Plan Options

Lastly, the bedroom and bathroom floor plans were presented to the client.  These were presented as one drawing to demonstrate the alterations to the bathroom stud wall.  These are as follows:

Drawing 1 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Plenty of wardrobe space, and a chest of drawers
• Moving the bathroom door allows a larger piece of furniture to be put along that wall

Drawbacks

• Bedroom looks crowded
• Bed not centred to chest of drawers which looks unblanaced
• End wardrobe door is obstructed by side table
• Bathroom has been turned into an 'L' shape making it look smaller
• Effectively have to walk down a corridor to get to toilet

Drawing 2 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Plenty of space in bedroom
• Large chest of drawers provides lots of storage
• Bathroom layout works well, moving the wall and door creates more space in bedroom, but layout of bathroom means it does not look any smaller
• Sink overlooks garden

Drawbacks

• Bed is in view of the doorway, making it feel exposed
• Bed not centred with window making it look unbalanced 

Drawing 3 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Lots of wardrobe space
• Like the area created for television
• Good space around the bed

Drawbacks

• Bathroom looks narrow, drawing 2 had a better arrangement
• Ceiling where built in wardrobes have been drawning is sloped so may not be able to get full height
• Dressing table looks a bit lost

Drawing 4 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Lots of wardrobe space
• Like the chest of drawers opposite the bed for the television
• Nice touch to have a bedroom chair
• Bed is fully integrated into the room, so does not feel exposed
• Good bathroom layout, maximising the space (same as drawing 2)
• Bedroom furniture layout makes the room look balanced

Drawbacks

• Sink does not have a mirror above it, however it does look out over the garden

Thumbnail sketches to give a rough idea of what each one might look like in 3D

Looking at the feedback from the client, there is a clear favourite.  drawing 4 seems to tick all the boxes, and only has one minor draw back, however the client does not seem to have too much of a problem with this.  The bathroom layout from drawing 2 and 4 works well, and maximises the space in the bedroom.
The aim of this presentation was to choose a drawing to develop, however the client seems perfectly happy to keep drawing 4 as it is.

Opening out the Kitchen

In my final kitchen design, I have opened up the stairs so that they can be seen from inside the room.  This meant taking out the dividing wall between the kitchen and the porch, which opens up the space.  To explore this, I have begun to look at open staircases, and consider some possibilities.  Below is some initial research into this idea.

I was drawn to this image because of its natural features.  The timber looks rustic and solid, and would work well with my scheme to use natural colours and materials.  I also like how it works with the natural stone flooring, as this another area that I need to consider at a later date.

This image is an example of how a staircase leads into a kitchen.  Although I do not wish to use a spiral staircase, I like how the staircase has been made into a feature in this room, and would like to echo this in my own design.

This is another example of a staircase leading into a kitchen, and i think the same use of colour on the bannister and the kitchen units ties the whole area in together so this is something to consider when planning my kitchen.

Here I have looked at the shape of the bottom few steps.  Yo give the impression of the stairs leading into the kitchen area, I would like to use this fan design, more commonly known as a flared staircase.  This image bears particular resemblance to how my design may work, as it is only flared on one side.  As I am not opening up both sides of the staircase, one edge of the stairs will be flat against a wall.

A Rough Idea of the Kitchen

This sketch gives a rough outline of what the kitchen might look like with the new design in place.  It look spacious and open, and could possibly include some wall units.

Kitchen Floor Plan Options

The next set of plans to be presented to the client are the Kitchen floor plans.  Some of the designs involve structural work, but again, here are the plans and the client feedback:

Drawing 1 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Good use of fire place, avoids blocking it completely
• Double doors opening onto patio will allow food to be taken out easily
• Seems to be plenty of worktop and cupboard space

Drawbacks

• Breakfast table is a bit of an obstruction, not really any where for it to go
• Sink faces a wall, would prefer it to face a window
• Similar to existing design, which does not feel that spacious
• Not good use of the space at the bottom of the stairs

Drawing 2 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Sink overlooks a window
• With the stairs and porch opened out the space looks bigger
• I like the breakfast bar and island, as this creates more surface and storage space
• No overhead cupboards to cramp the space
• Storage under stairs is a good idea
• Like the doors to one side, leaving one small window, less structural work
• Again like what has been done with the fire place

Drawbacks

• Island may make the space look smaller, possibly look at a different way to incorporate a breakfast area?
• Not sure about the fridge under the stairs, we wanted a smeg fridge, so we would like to make more of a feature from it

Drawing 3 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Prefer fridge being out into the room, but may stick out too much next to the door
• Breakfast table seems better fitted next to the stairs

Drawbacks

• will the breakfast table obstruct under stair storage?

Thumbnail sketches to give a rough idea of what each one might look like in 3D

Having taken on board this feedback, drawing 2 seems to have a lot of positives.  The client liked the storage idea under the stairs, and the positioning of the cooker seems to be another good aspect.  The breakfast area is still a problem, as it needs to not cause any obstructions.  This is something I need to look at, but as a starting point, I will be developing drawing 2.

A rough Idea of the Drawing Room

This quick sketch represents the living room with the new design in place, and looks cosy but uncluttered.

Drawing Room Floor Plan Options

Having looked first at the drawing room, I have come up with three different furniture layouts.  I have drawn thumbnail sketchens of each layout, and below are the floor plans drawn in vectorworks

These I presented to the client, to gain feed back, and look at which one I should develop.  Below is a copy of each drawing, with the client's thoughts written underneath:

Drawing 1 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Good use of fireplace and stone shelf
• Like how the furniture faces into the fire.
• Room seems open and easily accessible from double doors
• Extra seating is sometimes required when the family comes round so chairs either side of console is a good idea.
• Room looks full, but not over cluttered
• Table lamps spread throughout the room, so that ambient lighting is possible.

Drawbacks

• Perhaps need a bigger side table between love seat and sofa to fill the space
• Hooks next to double doors may crowd the space if have lots of coats on them.
• Possibly not enough room behind arm chair to get through the door

Drawing 2 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Again like how everything is centred round the fire
• Similar use of stone shelf, but this seems to work well
• Like the console table hiding the back of the sofa
• Moving the door towards the wall creates more space for the seating area, perhaps look at using this in the first drawing to give more space?

Drawbacks

• May not be enough seating
• Sofa arrangement creates a corridor from door to door
• Room doesn't feel as open
• Wall with double doors on is long and blank, may look like an area of dead space or another corridor
• No quick access into seating area from internal door

Drawing 3 - Client Feedback

Positives

• Lots of seating

Drawbacks

• Corner unit overpowers the space
• Left side of the room looks bare and empty
• Chair blocks door way
• Not enough room for side table next to corner unit so anyone on the end has no where to put a drink
• Coffee table seems too big, might not be enough leg room when sitting on the sofa
• Not many table lamps so ambient lighting cannot be attained 

Thumbnail sketches to give a rough idea of what each one might look like in 3D

Looking at each of these drawings and the feed back from the client, drawing 1 seems to have a lot of positive aspects for the client, and not too many draw backs.  In drawing 2, the door has been moved and the client suggested that if this was implemented in drawing 1, it would overcome the problem of the lack of space between the door and the chair.  Drawing 1 also provides a large amount of seating, which is something the client seems concerned with.

I have decided to take drawing 1 further, and try to overcome the drawbacks of this lay out.  Drawing 1 seemed to be the one that the client was most impressed with and each of the problem areas are small details that can easily be altered.  I will however be taking an element of drawing 2 (moving the door), and drawing 3, which the client did not like will go no further.

Existing Floor Plans

These won't be to scale on this blog, however here are the floor plans drawn to scale in Vectorworks.  The scale is 1:20, printed on A3 paper.  This should give a better idea of the proportions of the room.

Drawing Room

Bedroom and Bathroom

Kitchen (with stairs and porch)

Simple Elements of Nature

Wallpapering an entire wall can create a permanent feature.  In this post I will be looking at simpler ways to add an element of the outside.

(Homeklondike n.d.)

The blind adds a subtle reference to the outside using cool natural shades.  I really like the use of the blind with the contrasting fabric curtains as it gives the window more depth.  This is something that I would like to develop and start looking at mixing my own fabrics to give an idea of this look.

(Shabby Chic, 2008)

These wallpaper-style chinoiserie tiles from Fired Earth are no longer in stock but I would be very interested to see if any other companies do something similar.  I think the use of the tiles are very effective here, and would work well in the clients bathroom.

(Cushlab, n.d.)

Cushions are a very changeable design feature, and can be regularly updated without too much cost.  This floral cushion has depth and texture and is a more interesting take on floral cushions.

(Colefax and Fowler n.d.)

This design is similar to the blind, using a fabric which incorporates a natural image, and then tying this in with a matching fabric.  I also like the different use of fabrics adding different textures to the design.

(Cozypad, 2011)

I have found lots of designs that include wild birds, and this is something that I am quite keen on.  This is one of my particular favourites, and I like the link between the green tones in this design.  This room incorporates a lot of natural plants, and this is perhaps a more obvious way of bringing in natural elements.

(Colefax and Fowler n.d.)

Finally this fabric by Colefax and Fowler uses a very natural colour palette.  I really like the use of colour in this fabric, the white against the grey with a subtle hint of green.  My clients house contains lots of large windows, and so I feel I should look more at fabrics and fabric designers who have used natural imagery in their designs.  

Post Bibliography

Homeklondike. 2011. White Traditional Living Room Ideas [Blog]. Available at: http://homeklondike.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/1-white-traditional-living-room-ideas-2011.jpg. [Accessed: 12th October 2011]

Shabby Chic. 2008. Wallpaper-style chinoiserie tiles from Fired Earth. [Blog]. Available at: http://lovelythings.typepad.co.uk/lovely_things/2008/08/wallpaper-style.html. [Accessed: 12th October 2011]

Cushlab. (n.d.). Cream Floral Cushion. [Online] Available at: http://www.cushlab.co.uk/floral-cushions/272306_cream-floral-cushion.html. [Accessed: 12th October 2011]

Colefax and Fowler. (n.d.). Haslemere Prints. [Online] Available at: http://www.colefax.com/collections/new/haslemere-prints.aspx. [Accessed: 12th October 2011]

Colefax and Fowler. (n.d.). Haslemere Prints. [Online] Available at: http://www.colefax.com/collections/new/haslemere-prints.aspx. [Accessed: 12th October 2011)

Cozypad. 2011. Pottery Barn’s Beautiful Spring Collection Of Pillow Covers. [Online] Available at: http://www.cozypad.com/pottery-barn’s-beautiful-spring-collection-of-pillow-covers/1924.html. [Accessed: 12th October 2011]