TABLE OF CONTENTS
Module 5
4
INTRO
4
FUNDAMENTALS
5
BALANCE
5
EMPHASIS
7
CONTRAST
7
RHYTHM
9
SCALE AND PROPORTION
10
HARMONY AND UNITY
11
DETAILS
12
TOP TIPS
13
THE METRIC HANDBOOK
15
KITCHEN ERGONOMICS
17
FURNITURE LAYOUTS
18
DIFFERENT LAYOUTS FOR LIVING / DINING
21
RECTANGULAR
21
SQUARE
22
L-SHAPE
23
SUPPLIES YOU MAY REQUIRE
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Next Topic…
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First published October 2020. All rights reserved. All documentation is copyright to Formation Concept Design Ltd. and cannot be reproduced or shared without license. © Formation Concept Design Ltd. trading as Staunton Henderson Architecture and Interior Design 2020
Terms of Use: Supplier discounts offered as part of this course are for the use of the purchaser only and are not transferable. The course is general information based on interior design and general design tips with an emphasis on project management in relation to construction and architecture. This course does not replace the service of hiring professionals. It does not constitute professional advice for a particular project in any way. It is not accredited to a professional body. Structural, construction, architectural or financial advice is not tendered in this product for any individual project. The course offers general knowledge with the express aim of giving confidence and enjoyment to the end user. Information here is based on single residential works and not commercial, large scale or conservation work. The information provided in this course is for general purposes only. It does not and is not intended to replace the services of a qualified professional. Your use of the information and reliance on any of it is at your own risk and we cannot accept any liability for loss or damage you might suffer as a result of it. This online course is called Renovation Crash Course and has an advertised end goal “you can feel confident progressing with your home renovation.” The information here is non-exhaustive.
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MODULE 5
INTRO
The two main benefits of Interior Design, for me,
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are creating a better flow through your home, and
•
making spaces that provide comfort and or joy.
Of course there are the aspects of expressing your personal taste, showcasing your style.
But really the two most important things are that the home furnishings allow the home owner to use their home to its maximum potential, and that they give the owner joy.
In this module we will cover the 7 fundamentals of Interior Design, some Top Tips and some sample layouts.
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FUNDAMENTALS The 7 fundamentals of Interior Design are:
Balance, Emphasis, Contrast, Rhythm, Proportions and Scale, Harmony and Unity, and Details.
BALANCE Balance is achieved by distributing the visual weight of objects within a space to achieve a feeling of equilibrium. The size, shape, colour and texture have a major impact on the visual weight of a particular item. Larger, darker, brighter and highly textured objects typically feel heavier.
There are different types of balance.
Radial balance:
Items are distributed and arranged around central point either extending inwards or outwards. If you wish to put the focus on a specific central item, apply it to direct attention inwards.
Asymmetrical Balance:
Any elements in odd numbers can be utilised by keeping the focal point in an imaginary central axis. This is more common in contemporary spaces, it is more difficult to achieve than symmetrical balance and works better in narrow shaped rooms. It has an energised feeling.
Symmetrical Balance:
More common in square rooms.
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Divide space into two equal halves going on an imaginary axis threw the centre.
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Each half is compensated equally as the other half. This gives a living space a calm feeling.
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Repeat items or mirror them along an axis centrally to achieve symmetry.
This type of balance portrays a calm, stable, dignified feeling.
The images on the following pages explain further.
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Symmetrical
Asymmetrical
Radial Symmetrical
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EMPHASIS The principle of emphasis in interior design is the process of creating focus within a designated space. Once the focal point is chosen, the rest of the design can work around it. Emphasis can become a room's focal point through isolation, contrast, and placement.
In this image the emphasis is on the beautiful high ceilings. The large scaled and contrasting unique object of the light draws the eye upwards to the ceiling.
Emphasis
CONTRAST After we decided about the type of Balance and our focal point of the room, we should think about Contrast and how to make your space interesting.
Contrast is where two or more elements that have opposite characteristics are placed together. Using any of the elements of design, a skilled designer can create a dynamic composition through the use of contrast.
Contrast can be created in a few different ways;
Contrasting Shapes
For example, combine a rectangular sofa to a circle mirror to distribute and balance the attention between both of the items.
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Mixing And Matching
Think of mixing natural stone and wood for furniture and putting these against steel and chrome. You can also use fabrics such as using a simple solid color and then mixing and matching this with patterned items.
Texture
The importance of texture cannot be stressed enough. In interior design, the concept of texture refers to the perception of the way elements of design feel.
For example, start imagining how it feels to run your hand over a bumpy, cool backsplash versus a table’ smooth top. It is the perception of texture in interiors that matters.
When you put two textures that contrast together, this adds weight to space, visually. This means that the design components will be able to draw the eyes in more quickly. When you use two textures that contrast, such as rough and smooth, this works best.
Color
Using colour to create contrast is most likely the easiest and the most obvious method of creating.
The most striking impact is achieved by using two opposing shades on each end of the colour wheel.
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RHYTHM Rhythm in interior design denotes creating visual interest throughout your space by repeating and contrasting visual patterns. Rhythm is how well you execute repetition. A space that has steady rhythm and repetition will lead the eye around the room seamlessly.
Design is like music. There is an overall beat. If the beat is staccato or uneven, the listener is jarred. There should be a chorus, some items repeated. And an overall melody, a unified style of the room. An album, your whole home, will have a similar theme. It doesn’t need to be exactly the same, but it could be similar.
Rhythm
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SCALE AND PROPORTION Scale refers to the size of rooms and the size of the objects within that room.
Tiny sink basins in a very large bathroom will look odd, and visa versa.
Proportion refers to the size of objects in relation to one another, for example a coffee table should be two thirds as long as the sofa it is used with.
Proportion should generally be correct unless creating an emphasis.
The scale of items in a room can expand or contract the sense of space. Using all small scale items in a small room, does not make the room seem larger, but can have the opposite effect. A large scale item can expand such a small room. Experience and judgement certainly come into play here. It would be useful to draw the room in 2D or 3D.
Large Scale Objects in a Large Room
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HARMONY AND UNITY Harmony is the sense that all of the elements of your design fit together. Unity refers to the repetition of particular elements throughout your design — whether they're colours, shapes or materials — to pull the look together. These principles are used to create a sense of cohesion in the space.
If you think about a spa hotel, the design will have a lot of harmony and unity to help you feel calm and relaxed. A nite club design may have more contrast and emphasis to create a sense of dynamism.
Repeated Patterns create Rhythm Symmetrical Balance creates Serenity Varied Textures create Contrast Lighting well designed adds to the Details
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DETAILS One of the most important interior design principles is the detail in the room. Everything from the light switches, the handles on the cupboards, the lamp shade’s trim and the scatter cushion’s piping colour are classified as details in interiors.
Details include:
Lighting,
Accessories,
Partitions, (how rooms are separated - a solid wall, a glazed wall, timber slatts, a bookcase)
Staircases,
Fenestrations, (window and doors and their treatments)
Metallics.
Interior design projects can be inspired by everything and anything, including dream destinations, exotic prints, the internet, inherited pieces and the like.
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Now you have covered the 7 fundamentals of Interior Design. You are better equipped to analyse image you see on Pintrest. And to understand why you would choose some items over others.
TOP TIPS
TOP TIP: •
Most suppliers use metric, so it is best to work in the same measuring system to avoid confusion.
•
Kitchen units and wardrobe units are in as standard 60 x 60cm. So when you are laying out your spaces on your grid paper you know that a kitchen counter with 4 cabinets is 4 x 60cm = 2.4m long. Other thinner or wider units are of course available, but are “off standard”. These days many kitchens come with pot drawers which are often 80cm or 90cm wide.
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Sofas are often in units of 800 x 80cm, meaning that a regular sofa seat is 80cm wide by 80cm long. The arms and back of a sofa can vary greatly in width so ensure to check the product dimensions. Example from made.com on the following page.
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Try not to have to many different colours present in your upcoming design palette planned for your room. Less is more. Aim for three maximum. Metals are seen as neutral.
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Use the same floor finish in open plan to allow the space to flow. Define spaces within the open plan with lighting or ceiling height changes.This is why pendant lights are often used over a kitchen island, they are defining the kitchen area.
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Always use an area rug in a Living Space to define the space and create cosiness. Use an exact sized grip underlay if you are concerned about trip hazards.
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An L-Shaped sofa in an open plan space defines the Living Area by creating two little walls along the back and side of the sofa.
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Supplier Page showing dimensions
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THE METRIC HANDBOOK There are often set sizes for items in a home and so you do not need to decide the dimensions for everything.
These set standards can be part of the Building Regulations and must be adhered to. A supplier, your architect or carpenter will know these, and will not lead you astray.
Others are derived from ergonomic and the best way to use the space.
Some common examples:
Counter tops:
Kitchen counters should be at 90cm above the floor. Wheelchair accessible counters are lower.
The example of the reception desk counter shows all three heights: 90cm for the person sitting, usually the receptionist, a 76.5 cm height for a wheelchair user to write on, and 110cm for a person standing to write on.
Counter depths are over 60cm to allow for the appliance to fit behind. Washing machines sometimes need deeper counters to allow their pipes space at the rear.
Chairs:
Chair seat heights vary between 45cm and 50cm. A person knees are usually at 47cm above the floor to the table must not have a lip lower than that.
The distance behind a chair is important too.
The distance from the table to a wall for seating is 50cm for the chair plus 45cm for someone to pull the chair out to be able to sit down, so 95cm in total, see diagram “e” below.
In a catering situation to allow for servers to pass behind this dimension increases to 50cm plus 90cm, giving 145cm in total from the table. See the diagram 17.7 below.
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So If you are squeezed for space, consider the minimum dimension. If you have a more spacious home, consider the larger dimension for comfort.
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KITCHEN ERGONOMICS When planning the layout of your major kitchen appliances (fridge, sink, and hob), the layouts with the best flow are always in a triangle formation.
The reason “the triangle” works best is because it represents the traffic flow between your most used work zones. It allows you to easily move from one work space to the next and it takes into consideration road blocks (such as an island), multiple people in the kitchen (you can both move in a rotation), and distance. As far as spacing, there aren’t any hard and fast rules but it’s best that the appliances are neither too close (less than 1m) nor too far apart (more than 3m).
Ideally you should be able to swivel on one foot and touch each of the fridge, sink and hob.
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FURNITURE LAYOUTS One of the most important elements to know is that there should be little streets within your home. Thoroughfares created through, behind, or around areas where the users move through.
If these are not thought about and defined it will make moving about your home difficult. There should be no furniture or obstacles in the thoroughfares. You can see below the different placement of the coffee table to allow for the route. Room Entrance Small Slipper Chair Library Wall Built In Unit Side tables with Lamp
Route 3 Seater Sofa Side table
Large Slipper Chair
Club / Arm Chair
Small Console table with Lamp
Standing Lamp Fire Place
Room Entrance
Route
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Room Entrance
Room Entrance Route
Room Entrance
Writing Desk
Room Entrance Route
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Room Entrance
Room Entrance
Route
Route
Route
Room Entrance
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DIFFERENT LAYOUTS FOR LIVING / DINING The way to use this section is to print it out, and trace over the plans with a marker, not a biro. Print them many times so that you can get accustomed to tracing over them. Mark where the hob is, the sink is, the under counter appliance. The fridge is either within the lines showing cupboards, or in the pantry.
This exercise will get you accustomed to the different layouts, and hence help you understand what you like for yourself.
RECTANGULAR
Green Area denotes Deck or Outdoor Paving
Dining
Living Space, L-Shape Sofa marks the space This dashed box denotes an under-counter appliance like a dishwasher or drinks fridge.
Lines denotes Over-Head Cupboards The circles denote the Hob.
Double Sink
Pantry becoming more used in homes due to the social nature of a Kitchen these days. Not everything needs to be on display. This is where you will keep your mixers, nutribullet, counter top appliances out of sight.
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A nice continuous counter here, which is better ergonomically
Any WC needs a lobby between it and the kitchen, so a sliding door is required here
SQUARE
Full width sliders here let a lot of light in. This whole back wall opens up. Note: A stair can not open out into a kitchen due to Fire Regulations.
Some furniture to separate the living space from the thoroughfare behind
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L-SHAPE
Some corner windows make for a pleasant nook
Double doors denote the fridge.
It is always best to keep the kitchen and dining as close as possible.
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This L Shape allows the living room to popout entirely separately, which I find pleasing.
The break in the counter is offset by the use of an island. I would always use a sliding door to a pantry, rather than a hinged.
This L Shape allows the Dining Area to pop-out.
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So how do I know what to design for my own home? Refer back to you Mood Boards from Module 1, Topic 2.
Look the images there, they will tell you what you like.
Analyse them. Write on the images what you like about them, and what you do not like about them too.
Here is my method:
I like something interesting on the ceiling This up-lit ceiling makes the
ceiling seem much higher
I LOVE these lantern style lights..
I have no idea why..I just love them I like the critical style windows, the glass is full height, not just to top of door. And I like the wall in-between and not full width
I like the white counter-top, it looks fresh and clean
This floor is my favourite type, but I prefer a little lighter colour I do not like the formal chairs This yellow is not for me I do not like this style legs
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Now that you have practice drawing plans, try to draw the plan of a photograph you have saved on Pinterest
Give it a go! No one is watching or giving you a test :)
It does not matter what your sketches look like.
The more you sketch, trace, and analyse images with writing;
the more you will know what you like and don’t like.
And that is the priority at this stage.
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SUPPLIES YOU MAY REQUIRE
SUPPLIES YOU MIGHT LIKE: •
Grid paper, like this one, or this one or a gridded notebook.
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Sketch Roll from CASS Art or from Cork Art Suppliers. This product seems to be out of stock in a lot of places right now. Oven grease proof paper is a substitute. Yes, the one in your kitchen!
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Inky pens in black, blue, red and maybe green. Here is the one I use: Pentel. But if you are starting out, a set of regular markers will work. The pen ink needs to flow easily. A biro drags the paper and this slows down your thinking.
Note: There is a phenomenon called Hand to Eye connection. It is usually referred to in relation to coordination. But designers use it all the time. For us it is a non-verbal thinking where we just let a pen flow over the paper and draw lots of different layouts. The brain will tell the hand what to draw. We usually make a mess on a few sheets and then get a fresh sheet and re-draw a neat version when we are happy. This is why I say not to use a biro, it slows down the connection between the brain and the hand.
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NEXT TOPIC… We will delve into the Materials next week
Keepin’ on moving…
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