Semester Design Project
The concept of this design is Modern Contemporary with a touch of French Provincial. A majority of the furniture is modern styled, however there are some pieces, such as the sofa chairs, that were chosen with a French Provincial style in mind. The color scheme consists of primarily white with black, gold, and emerald accents. To enhance the desired French approach, rectilinear wall paneling will be applied throughout the apartment with gold details lining the panels in the bedrooms.
The space plan of the design is centered around the kitchen, dining, and living areas. These spaces needed to be the largest to satisfy amusement and entertaining obligations. The kitchen was designed with a peninsula shape in mind to allow for minimal traffic interruptions and to maximize the efficiency of the work triangle between the sink, refrigerator, and range. To entertain many guests a large eight-person table was required; the chosen dining room set will comfortably seat eight individuals for dinner parties, social events, and other entertaining opportunities. Four additional barstools have been included next to the dining table to provide for additional seating at the bar countertop. Because a set of three sofas was preferred, adequate table space was needed to provide convivence for guests. A small cutout in the West living room wall was included to act as a side table for décor, drinks, and other miscellaneous items. This table space also acts as a storage cubby for soft goods, such as blankets and additional pillows.
Although it was not listed as a primary hobby, a paint room was inserted within the bedroom quarters. The space provides just enough room for the placement of a large painting easel and overhead storage shelf designated for paints, brushes, etc. The space is enclosed by one glass sliding pocket door that also acts as a statement wall for the bedroom. Additionally, an island was specifically requested for the master closet. This was achieved by withdrawing enough space for two closet systems and cubby wall inserts as well. Ultimately, the space plan for this design revolves around the kitchen, dining, and living areas on the East side of the apartment, while the bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry spaces residing on the West side of the apartment.
The style I have attempted to achieve is Eclectic with the mixing of Formal Modern and Formal Traditional- French Provincial to be more specific. I believe I have achieved this look through the inclusion of elegant and explicit furniture and décor. While a majority of the furniture holds modern characteristics, the detail and decorative wall paneling, anaglyptic ceilings, and herringbone flooring help to balance the two differing styles.
One of the largest problems I encountered when designing this space was the inclusion of an eight-person dining set. In most scenarios the dining room overlapped with the living room; this caused the living room to feel small and cramped rather than spacious and cozy. I really wanted to incorporate a three-person sofa to seat more people, however each sofa I found was too large and did not leave enough clearance space for the dining table. The answer to this solution was the rectangular cutout of the West living room wall; this small cutout allowed for table space, additional cubby storage, and overhead shelving to display unique décor. Although the cutout interfered with the art room space, enough room for an easel, chair, and shelf remained.
Originally, the art room was not divided by walls and was neatly placed into the corner of the master bedroom. Although this granted an open concept, it did not provide a sense of privacy and separate atmosphere for a painting hobby. The addition of two partition walls proved to be the solution for this obstacle; a private nook was also created through this solution where the client can relax, decompress, or study after a long day.
Overall, this design was created with the intention of displaying formal modern and formal traditional elements along with a space plan that catered to the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Several design complications were encountered; however, they were improved to better the concluding design.
