Build, Build, Build!
“If you build it, they will come!”
Thank you, Field of Dreams. Yes, we’re referencing a very old movie, but there is a reason this line has been running through our minds! The residential building and renovation industries have been running FULL TILT. Despite labor force shortages, supply chain and shipping problems, and huge increases in certain building materials (lumber, plywood, and foam insulation to name a few), residential building projects and activity are at an all-time high!
So, if you design and build it well, homeowners will come back with more.
After a few years of Covid “landscape” living, homeowners are tired of staring at the same (often tired, and outdated) walls, and are also more than eager to have their homes truly be their castle. Too many homeowners have had to fight it out with their spouses and toddlers to claim their little piece of the kitchen, family room, or living room to find their own, semi-private Zoom haven.
Too many months of competing for space where there is an abundance of functional demands have contributed to this building boom. People want their hard-working homes to really and truly function as they need them to, and (hopefully) also be perfectly aligned with their aesthetic and lifestyle preferences.
That’s where professional architects, interior architects, and interior designers come to the rescue! A design professional can assess a project, and help any homeowner design, plan, and implement the perfect environment. This takes a great deal of experience, the ability to listen well to needs and preferences, and a keen understanding of how to translate thoughts, images, and desires into a space that perfectly reflects and captures everything the client has in mind.
The Art of Design
How is this done? By first getting the space “right.” Good design fundamentally relies on certain “touchstone” principles: flow, balance, symmetry vs. asymmetry, scale, proportion, color, texture, etc. However, the much trickier part of designing and planning is translating good design principles within the context of a stated idea or vision of the ultimate space. An experienced designer listens carefully and can “capture” the homeowners’ vision by deftly combining an understanding of what is being said or described (or sometimes, not said) with the best manifestation of design.
In the image above, we have the perfect example of the hard-working home in the BEFORE RENOVATION mode! There is a sea of toys, clutter, and furniture that seems randomly arranged. Maximum chaos reigns, and the aesthetics leave something to be desired...
A series of great planning (and listening) sessions with our clients unveiled their ultimate vision for the changes -- in terms of functional and aesthetic needs and desires. Tired, blah-colored cabinetry and an old brick fireplace surround were transformed by the (relatively simple) change of the fireplace surround material (this great white and grey ledge stone) and a fresh, dove grey paint color on the cabinetry. We also created a well-defined furniture plan, that includes two little moveable bench seats, super-comfortable and well-proportioned lounge chairs, and a large, lounge-worthy sectional to complete the furniture layout. Finally, we “styled” the shelves to create a family-friendly, casual, yet cohesive feel for the flanking bookshelves. Additionally, new storage areas (in the form of new built-in cabinetry) to house organized baskets of kids’ toys has created great ease of clean-up and organization for this busy family!
Multi-Tasking Spaces
Multi-tasking spaces come in all shapes and sizes. Your multi-tasking space might be a playroom/office/retreat combination area, where there is a designated workstation (whether a complete built-in wall of cabinetry with a desk, cabinets, and bookshelves, or a simple standing desk somewhere in the room), flexible areas with bean bag chairs, or other easy to move play and lounge pieces, and perhaps also a cozy corner for reading and relaxing.
Whether your budget is large or small, a few clever design tweaks can transform your multi-tasking home into your favorite haven!
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