Gain Balance & Peace in Your Home: Negative Space

Mozart in Verona by dalla Rosa 1770
If I were to compile a top 10 list of the greatest mistakes made in interior design, by professional and DIY'ers alike, one of the list toppers would have to be the outstanding lack of negative space. I was recently at a show house in NYC and saw the problem in at least two interiors. And I see it rampantly in DIY design. The easiest way to explain the importance and impact of negative space in interior design is to turn to an old pal of mine. Mozart. Now, Mozart put rests in his symphonies. Why? Answer:  Because he was a smartie pants. Rests make the things that go before and after them distinct. Rests also make the things that follow them MORE important. Negative space in design works in much the same way.


Do you see the two faces?  That's the negative space.

Negative space in your home interior is the "space around" something. It is a visual rest. The word negative has a bad wrap - so let me tell you this:  Negative space is such a positive thing! And such a powerful thing. If you have a room in your home designed by you or a pro that just doesn't feel right - and that feels a little heavy, see if you can find your interior in these questions and descriptions.

Something in every corner. There is a plant, a small plant stand, a small table, a piece of art, a chair in absolutely every corner of your room. Corner stuffers, listen up. Edit and distill - open up at least one corner in a room and watch an interior breathe and become more peaceful and exponentially more pleasing to be in.

Artwork hung everywhere OR Artwork hung no-place special OR (my favorite) an 8x10 or 11x14 family photo hung all by itself in the middle of nowhere. Random Artwork Splatterers, hold on now. Take the time to read my popular blog post on how to hang artwork (click here). Artwork draws and stops the eye. Proceed with caution! Hang art in relationship to the thing it is next to or near.  You need large pieces hung over large furniture, or you must create strong groupings hung over larger pieces of furniture. Create more balance and peace in any interior by freeing up some wall space with a rest, a breath. 


Negative space can make a corner calmer
Clutter. I have nothing further to say here...you're smart enough to know how visible clutter destroys a sense of peace and balance in a home. I had a new potential client call me in to do some work with them, but what they needed more than a great designer was a great organizer. Savers, this means you.  Create breathing room in your home, create peace in your home for your children and for your marriage, create peace in your space for your own creativity and spirit and sense of well being by culling down the clutter.

Embellished painted furniture. This type of furniture, in the right environment used in the right way can be such a knock out. Truly. Cautionary tale, however:  Painted furniture - like art - needs space around it. Negative space.  An embellished painted chest needs to be a stand alone in a foyer or bedroom. Flank a sofa with a pair of them and unless you are a skilled pro, get ready for visual chaos on a room. Be careful how and when you use embellished painted furniture. 

Speaking of negative space, I need to go see one of my clients who needs to "open up this place so it feels like something special" – his words not mine. Out of the mouths of clients… :)
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Style vs. Point of View: Traditional meets Hacienda

My newest clients are always a treat. And they are always so anxious to have style discussions with me. What they don't know that my older clients know and that some designers regrettably don't address is that style discussions alone are puddle deep. Style discussions are not enough. Surely, I must also take into careful account the design fingerprint of the people I'm designing for - what their cravings and aversions are in an interior. However, something else outstandingly important must also be considered by the most savvy designer and it is this: The Point of View of the Room.

For example:  Country French is a style. But, I could do that style with an updated point of view - a traditional point of view, a whimsical point of view, blue and white point of view, etc. In interior design, the point of view then, is the specific flavor I load into an interior by guiding the clients to particular nuances. Whether we use what clients already own, re-purpose what they have and add very specific elements or start from scratch, I am always evaluating each element to be sure it has the correct point of view in order to add up to the marvelous desired effect a client is asking me to create.



David Van Scott Photography
Here's a a great example. This is a wonderful family room that I completed last year for a favorite client. The style is certainly pretty much traditional. However, the intentional point of view taken in the design of the room - the flavor or top notes in the room - are inspired by Spanish/ Andalusian homes. 

 

What makes the traditional style in the room? Well, note the shapes of the upholstery, for starters. These shapes could find their way into just about any traditionally done interior. The built in bookcases that flank the fireplace (built and designed entirely by my talented client!) could find their way into many different traditional spaces. Certainly, the silhouette of the window treatments and Persian style rug are also "traditional" all the way. To be sure, if I was doing a pure Spanish style, I'd have some different furniture silhouettes, I'd have plastered walls, darker wood floor, a different rug and different architectural shapes on the built in book cases, which would likely be in a wood finish. However, my clients wanted a traditional style. Not a Spanish Style. They wanted a Spanish flavor...that's the point of view.


Before
 
 

After - David Van Scott Photography
So, look one layer farther up the ladder. Look past the bones of the room and you'll see why I try to discourage clients from shopping for accessories or furnishings without me too early in the process. That's because of this insider secret:  it's in these object of interest and accessories and the accent pieces and color palette that an interior is given its point of view. This is also why heading into the furniture store and simply buying what you see on the sales floor results in a sterile room. No point of view.


David Van Scott Photography
Here are some ways that the Spanish point of view finds its way into the room.  It is the specific combination of:
• Lush, woven fabrics, cut velvets, plush piles abound in this room - all beautifully cut - the time-worn leather on a favorite family exposed arm chair. Perfect for our point of view.
• No Andalusian interior would be complete without some heavily carved woods - and you'll get a delicious dose of that on that show stopping coffee table we found at a favorite resource, all made from architectural salvage...from Tibet, thank you. But, it works for us down to the last heavy carved leg! (Actually- those legs are reclaimed pillars.)
• Notice the deliberate use of iron and metal in the room - also a flavor direct from regions of Portugal and Spain to include:  iron candelabras, a copper drum table, a heavy metal urn lamp on the drum table, the wood carving with metal plaque hung over the sofa.
• Note the the carefully selected Andalusian earth tone palette that draws it all together. Note too - in our earliest meetings, my client said she was trying to make the room feel warm and rich which is why you'll see in the before photo that she selected the saffron gold wall color. However, it was a hot color that did what hot colors do - it moved the walls closer together and made the room look smaller. On the other hand, our finished joint creative endeavor pictured above shows rich warmth - but still there is a warmth in the room, but also a rich openness and breadth to the room.
The result of all of these spices and flavors sprinkled about? The point of view. Here you have a traditional family room interior that sits wrapped in the subtle fragrance and whispers of a country estate in Portugal or Spain. 
 
Point of view. This is what separates the mediocre from the great in interior design. And no - they don't teach this on HGTV.Source URL: https://interiordesignq.blogspot.com/search/label/Interior%20Design%20Ideas
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Outdoor Furniture 101

If you’re thinking about buying new outdoor furniture, you might be wondering which direction is best. Here’s a little handy and quick primer on the upside and the downside to the available choices, which include:  Aluminium, Wicker, Wood, Plastic and Steel patio and deck furniture.


Aluminium



You should hear my British pal Zoe say "aluminium." It’s marvelous – sounds like,”AL-LOO-MIN-EE-IM.” To which I always, say dumbly in Americanese…”What?” And now back to our article:


Upside: If Aluminium patio furniture is powder coated, it won’t rust or fade. It’s also lighter weight and lower maintenance than steel. Aluminium is also easy to care for. Simply clean with soapy water as needed and if you wish – you can coat with car wax to help repel water and stains.


Downside: You get what you pay for – high end aluminium patio sets cost $1,500 and more.


Wicker



Upside: Lightweight and durable – whether in the woven wood or woven synthetic.


Downside: These pieces tend to be bulky and take up a fair amount of space. Also, quality goods can be pricey. Note: If you can, choose weather-resistant wicker which can be easily hosed off.
 
Wood
 

Upside: The nice thing about wood, other than its natural appeal, is that it won’t absorb the sun's heat the way metals and wicker might, making it a nice choice for hot, sunny decks and patios. Easy care: wash with warm soapy water and rinse.



Downside: Wood patio furniture will not last "forever" without care to include staining and storage inside during the winter months. You can keep cedar and teak outdoors year round, but expect them to fade. Best not to place wood furniture on grass since wood will absorb moisture from the ground and can rot. You can use paint or sealants to help keep water out.


Plastic



Upside: Generally, this is the least expensive outdoor furniture option. It’s generally quite portable and some is made from recycled materials. Chairs usually are able to stack, making for easy storage.


Downside: Plastic patio furniture is not as long-lasting as other choices. It also doesn’t look as great as other choices. You will spend less, yes, but it will look like you did. Please keep white plastic clean! It can look dingy and old rather quickly. You can store inside between seasons to help prevent fading and keep it in better looking condition.


Steel



Upside: Boy is this stuff strong and durable.  It makes for very substantial furniture.


Downside: Steel tends to be heavy and thus harder to move. Also, unless it is specially treated, it will likely rust if left out all year round. You can apply a special protective coating or spray wax to help prevent rust. Inquire at your outdoor furniture dealer or big box home center to learn more.


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How to Select the Perfect Wall Color

Assigning wall, ceiling and trim paint color is a fine, tricky art and regardless of the time a client perceives it takes me to do, it actually took me a decade to learn to do excellently well. Further, there is more to it than picking a swatch off a deck. One needs to anticipate what a paint color will actually DO once it's up on the wall: how it will change when up on the wall given the directional natural  light in the room, the artificial light in the room, and also the other room, furniture and paint colors it sits near.  Color changes in different light. Color changes due to the color it sits near or next to. Scared yet? I don't blame you!



I see no more common error in new clients homes then I do in "do it yourself" paint color selection. The results - when poor - can be anything from a glaringly bad color choice that is too hot, too sweet or too cool, to a completely missed undertone that makes what a DIY'er thought would read as neutral...but instead ends up looking too pink, too orange, too gray or too ...well, wrong. And those are the better scenarios. At worst, poor room color choice can lead to homeowners literally chopping up their home into tiny little disjointed sections, the ultimate effect of which is that this same homeowners will have shrunk by a third their square footage...they will have made their home look and thus feel smaller. All with poor paint color choice!


Before assigning room color, I need to know where the room is going, what   fabrics are to come into the room? The flooring? Area rugs? These single elements all merge to do the dance of artful design. It takes a seasoned designer to know not only that color leads the eye, BUT to decide how and where one wants to lead the eye!



Given what my clients love and have shared with me as their goal for their living space, using color strategically, I must decide...
• Am I trying to open up the architecture?
• Am I trying to make the room feel smaller and more cozy?
• Am I trying to frame a focal point or create one?
• Am I trying to lift...or lower...a ceiling?
• How am I trying to connect a particular room to another space so there is a sense of flow and space from room to room.
Beyond all this, I have to know where my clients like their "color." Do it yourself'ers are the first ones to slap a favorite hue on the wall, only to have me discover with them that the place they REALLY most like and crave color in their interior is NOT on the wall. (They may prefer that favorite color on the upholstery, the draperies, the horizontal plane filled by accent pillows or the floor...all these vie for my attention as a designer when I develop a color plan for a space.)



There are clients who are in a hurry to take a professional paint recommendation and immediately have their painter put it on the wall. However, for my sensitive clients, I will provide them a choice or two so they can pick up sample jars to paint test swatches on the wall in order to view the wall color in different lights at different times of the day. Doing this extra step is a smart investment of time and budget.


DIY'ers, where paint selection is concerned, proceed with caution. Working with a designer is certainly not the right slope for you. However...correct color and  paint selection is a mighty slippery slope...the mistakes are far reaching and if not corrected, you will "pay" for them for a long time to come...more than you realize. 
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The 5 Biggest Misconceptions about Interior Designers

When I tell people I’m an interior designer, many respond longingly, “Oh, I wish I was doing what you’re doing...it looks so fun.” Or, “I always wanted to work with a designer but I'm a little intimidated." So - I thought it’d be fun to share with you some of the most common misconceptions about being an interior designer. Enjoy!


Myth #1.  It’s glamorous. 
Reality:  Schlepping, hauling and carting samples of fabrics, tile, granite, marble, wood, paint renderings, wallpaper books - all in large, 10-20 pound awkward shaped bundles is not so glam. Hauling around accessories, 5’ and 50 pound bolts of fabric – or just plain moving, carrying or lifting anything and everything that goes into a home – and wearing heels while doing it. Good luck.


Myth #2.  Designers sit around and play with fabric all day. 
Reality: I wish! Figure 2 full days a week managing all of the paperwork that drives design: managing orders (dry), purchasing finished and raw goods for my clients (mind-bogglingly detailed), fixing problems when mills or manufacturers don’t ship things properly or there is a damage (irritating). Spend another 1-1.5 days rendering designs to show to clients for their projects and dealing with my workrooms on current projects. Throw in 15 hours per week for writing newsletter articles, blog posts and press releases. That leaves 2 days for meeting with clients, doing site checks on projects I’m installing, shopping (yum)...and yes…then there’s picking out fabric. Squish in meeting with my team live, via phone or Skype on various issues. And yes, this adds up to more than a 5 day work week. :-) (Did I mention continuing professional ed time?)


Myth #3.  Designers Believe in Spending Money Recklessly – High End All The Way.
Reality:  They shouldn’t. I don’t. I view clients' resources as I view my own – something to be respected and for which lots of hard labor was expended to earn. There’s a time to spend, a time to save, a time to reuse, a time to splurge. Client is always the master of the budget. Period. No designer should judge the size of any budget, only serve and guide. I do beautiful design in a mixture of dollar range purchases in addition to re-purposing things already owned. Client budget and goals determine what that mix will be.


Myth #4.  Designers are Elitists and Snobs. 
Reality. Many are. Some aren’t. Look for the good ones – the good, the sensible, the kind and the ethical. 


Myth #5.  Clients must be hard to work with. 
Reality. Not mine. I really like my clients. I seem to attract good, honest, kind, smart, lovable, humorous, fun people to my practice. And they stay with me for a good long while because they appreciate the results I bring, the value I bring and the ease my service creates. My clients are not hard to work with. :-)
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