Interior Design - Case Study Example

Test Paper M1 The two pictures presented here represent both good and bad elements of interior design. While the first picture is light and welcoming, the second is dull and rather drab. When looking at a room, it should be possible to feel excited and inspired by it, so that one should look forward to walking in and living in the area. The contrast between the two rooms appears to lie in the way in which the space has been utilized, and the materials which have been used to create the space. The first living space appears very carefully designed, with a love of the building, while the second has some features which suggest that the layout has been rather haphazardly thrown together. These two pieces provide a contrast in styles and layout which is instructive when they are considered side by side. Creating living space is not always about using the brightest colors, or making the most from available space, but rather, it is also important to consider taste, attractiveness, and the ability to live comfortably in an area once it has been put together. The first piece was created by a top designer, and I think that this was evident in the layout of the room. In many ways, the room could be described as very limited: indeed the article accompanying the photograph stated that “Tough textured concrete and few windows” were the basics of the house. The main focus of the room is a large wooden-paneled staircase which runs up to another floor, with what seems like a balcony area which would allow those climbing the stairs to look down and see the living room. While the wood does make the room appear lighter, at the same time it also has the appearance of a balsa-wood, DIY creation, which slightly undermines the feel of the room. However, the flexibility of the light wood has allowed the designer to take the stairs up to the other floor in a curving or fluid motion, which seems to make the stairs look like an apple peel; a rather attractive and natural effect in a concrete building. A few artistic pictures on the stairs do not really add much, but the general feeling of the feature is one of modernist artistic style and inventiveness. The light color of the stairs is reflected in the color of the carpet in the living room, and also one or two of the articles of furniture. This contrasts with the darker chairs, providing a nice counterfoil to the lightness of the other features. The material of the sofas seems to be soft and welcoming here, although the chair in the foreground seems rather hair raising; it perhaps reflects a peculiar fashion of that year, rather than a long-term feature. One can see, in the design of this room, that there are two elements which both contrast and flatter each other, and these are the design features of straight lines and curves, which the designer has used to good effect. We can therefore see that the curve of the stairs begins at the base with two ‘square’ chairs, each with flat line features, and terminates on the landing with a straight edged balcony effect, which echoes the right-angled layout of the chairs and sofa. The curves are mirrored in the coffee table and unusual chair at the forefront of the photo, and by the tree in the background by the stairs, which curves in the opposite direction to these stairs. One can see therefore, a pattern of curve-straight edge-curve within the design of the room. It is possible that the room might be made to seem larger by incorporating brighter colors in the design, and removing some of the black and other dark features of the room; however, it is more than likely that such changes will lessen the beauty and attractiveness of the design. The second room, at first glance, seems to have fulfilled the demands of designers for plenty of ‘white’ space, and clean lines. However, it is also clear that the room itself is rather cold and forbidding, rather like living in a refrigeration unit. There is also a rather unsettling aspect where the overhead light above the table blends in with the dark space behind to produce the impression of a wine bottle. No doubt an unfortunate camera angle, but the dark space at the back seems an unattractive and unnecessary feature without this optical illusion. Unlike the first photo, this room has no warming curves to detract from the punishing right angles of the chairs, table, shelves, fire, and work areas. Even the wood piles below the furnace seem very square and immobile. Whereas the first photo had elements, such as the sofas, which seemed comfortable, this is much more inflexible, and therefore unattractive. Looking upwards does not offer much in the way of comfort either, as the room is overhung by some kind of balcony or roof which seems to loom threateningly over the chairs, and a tree trunk which is no doubt intended to look ‘natural’, but simply adds to the overhead effect of a ceiling strung together with junk. The floor and table appear to be made of stone, as so the workbenches (there is a similar polish on all these surfaces), and the rest of the features appear to be a combination of light wood, and concrete. Whereas in the first design, the concrete was underplayed, in this photo it is clearly part of the room. The overall impression of the second picture is one of gloom; the lines are too straight, and the room has no warmth or appeal. The first way to improve the design would be to remove the chairs and table at the front of the photo, and maybe replace with something curved and in a much darker wood. The second improvement would be to take off the panels, and fit glass, and remove some of the junk on the walls, and the wooden ‘beam’ above. Putting the wood in a round container, filling in those squares below the furnace, and adding a couple of spotlights above them, would improve matters greatly. Paint and a door to the dark space behind might also give a better overall impression. I would also suggest putting wood down on the floor, in order to give the room a warmer feel. It is probably not possible to change the concrete structure of the fire or the shelving, but warmer colors and a warmer floor might improve the situation. Comparing these two pictures, it is clear that while the first has made an attempt to warm up a small room with curves and dark, chocolaty colors. These are matched with straight lines which lead between the curves, thus serving to draw the eye through the room, and making it seem much larger in the process. In contrast, the second room has far too many straight lines, none of which lead to anything interesting or attractive, but simply to more straight lines. Thus, the effect is one of dullness and lack of focus. The surfaces have been polished, and the result is that they all look hard and cold, which the straight lines only reflect. The one ‘feature’ of interest, the wooden beam, is crude and seems completely unnecessary, which adds to a feeling that the ceiling and upper part of the room belongs to a junkyard. Unlike the tree in the first photo, which compliments the layout and is complimented by it, the beam in the second looks out of place and redundant. The first picture shows what can be done with little space and imagination; the second picture how cold surfaces and DIY designs can affect a room. Read More