Design Friday: The Cons of an Extreme Makeover

We are all familiar with ABC's "Extreme Makeover" show. Homeowners living in filth or going through some type of crisis, are chosen to have their home gutted (sometimes dozed) and turned into a beautiful dream home. It's fun to watch this show (and every other show like it) to witness the transformations, creativity, and joy unfold. The danger in watching these shows is losing touch with the reality that most normal people can not afford to overhaul their home all at once. Most folks are accumulating things slowly over time.
"Extreme Makeovers" choosing to rennovate your home would be akin to winning the lottery. I had never considered that such luck might be a double-edged sword, until I read an article featured in the Florida Times-Union.

"The Harveys were on 'Extreme Makeover' in March 2005. The family was sent on a vacation to Niagara Falls as its termite-infested 1930s house, which was previously an Army barracks, was demolished and rebuilt by contractors, plumbers and others from the Northeast Florida Builders Association's nonprofit Builders Care group.
"The family went from a 1,300-square-foot home to a 4,300-square-foot home. The home is noticeably bigger than any other home on East Street."

As a result, utilities for the home jumped from $60/month to $400/month, and property taxes were hiked from $500 to $5,200 after the makeover. Ouch. The homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments and the house will be auctioned off after being foreclosed.
The lesson I took away from this? Be careful what you wish for, or you might just get it.

Design Friday: Handel's "Messiah"

For this Christmas season, I thought it appropriate to highlight one of the undisputed most inspired and beautiful musical works- George Frideric Handel's Messiah.
Since I don't have the time to give an adequate write-up (or even plagiarize), I thought I'd direct you to this article in the December 2010 Ensign. (It even includes a video of the MoTab singing the Hallelujah chorus). I especially enjoyed the "Lessons from Handel's Life" at the end. Particularly having confidence enough in our abilities to accept criticism, and learning to recognize and act on inspiration given to us from heaven. What I admire most about revolutionary designers and artists is their confidence in their own style, as they face criticism from rejecting what is generally accepted. Almost always, their works are not immediately accepted but they remain confident and ultimately transform their field of work.
I also believe that revelation is not reserved merely for inspiring us to swing by some one's house, or giving someone a phone call. As we strive to create, we are entitled to receive revelation as well. After all, as Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. This is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you."

Design Friday: Womb Chair

In honor of my current state, I chose to highlight the Womb Chair for today's Design Friday (yes, an actual Design Friday!).

picture from dwr.com

The womb chair was designed in 1948 by Finnish designer Eero Saarinen (I highlighted the incredible Eero before in this post). Saarinen was challenged by Florence Knoll to create a chair she could "curl up in", and this chair was his response. The chair was designed to encourage a relaxed sitting position providing emotional support and a sense of security- hence the "womb" name. This chair exemplifies Saarinen's ability to challenge rules and set new standards for modern design. It is considered to be iconic representaion of mid-century Scandinavian organic modernism.

(Funny, my womb looks just like this chair in the ultrasounds!).

Bad Design Friday

Part of understanding good design is understanding bad design. Design is part of our everyday life, and it drives me nuts when things do not function as they should. My soul sings when things are designed with thought and work efficiently.

Today I consider the sign. To me, the purpose of a sign's design is to clarify when things are not blatantly clear. A well placed, well designed sign should efficiently communicate, instruct, and dispel confusion. A lack of signs in a common sense location is frustrating (ex: detour signs that do not efficiently guide you through the detour resulting in getting lost). On the flip side, I find it incredibly annoying when there are so many signs trying to communicate an idea, it leads to confusion and delay (as Sir Topham Hat would say). To me, this suggests that the best possible or most efficient solution has not been found for the problem.

So, here's my example of a poorly designed sign. I found it in an airport on one of my recent travels. I actually found it pretty amusing (it was also 11:30 pm after a 6 hour day of flying so I was easily amused).

Operating in an airport must have something to do with the ambiguous closing time, but what's the point of posting your hours of operation, if you're not going to post your hours? Why even commit to an opening time at all? Why not just say: "Daily From: Open to Close"?

Design Friday: Aspiral Clocks

I thought these were so cool, I had to include them in Design Friday... which apparently has become more of "Design Whenever I Feel Like It". These are called Aspiral Clocks, and were invented by London natives Will Aspinall and Neil Lambeth.

To tell time, the circle slowly turns as the red/yellow ball rests on the ledge indicating the time. The ball slowly progresses through the numbers until it reaches the 12th hour, at which point it rolls through the hole in the middle and comes out at the bottom again. The clock is about 13 3/4". I love their fresh and creative take on a very old design. This, to me, is an awesome example of form following function.

Here's their website for more information.

Design Friday: A Little Humor

Today I decided to poke a little fun at our design efforts, lest we take ourselves too seriously. Here is an article from "The Onion" that was brought to my attention by an alert reader. Enjoy!

Seashells Transform Suburban Bathroom Into Tropical Hideaway

Formerly the Watson's bathroom, now an enchanted portal to the gleaming white sand beaches of Bora-Bora.

"WOODMERE, OH—-A wicker basket filled with seashells and placed on top of a toilet tank has magically transformed Dale and Paula Watson's suburban bathroom into a serene tropical oasis, sources reported Thursday.

"I can't believe the difference adding those seashells made," said Paula Watson, who had somehow been transported from a beige, run-of-the-mill bathroom to an unforgettable island paradise thousands of miles from the Greater Cleveland area. "Every time I walk in here now it's like, 'Wow, where am I? Cancún?'"

According to household sources, the extraordinary transformation took place at approximately 10:32 a.m., when Watson neatly arranged a handful of seashells inside a round wicker container and looked up to suddenly find herself at a beachside resort where all the troubles of modern life just melted away.

The magical seashells, which are able to conjure up the cool, tropical breeze of a seaside cabana, were personally gathered by the couple during a recent trip to Myrtle Beach.

"It's like our own little island getaway right at home," said Dale Watson, who stood as if surrounded by palm trees and soft white sand beaches in the spot where there had only been a shower mat and curtain before. "I feel like I should be eating grilled mahimahi right now."

"This is the way life should be," Watson added. "Time just slows down in here."

Eyewitnesses agreed that by merely gazing upon the seashell centerpiece, one is whisked away to an enchanted garden, lush with exotic flowers, fluttering hummingbirds, and shirtless natives whose brown skin glistens with sweat as they present trays stacked high with pineapple, mango, and tender cuts of pork.

Guests of the Watson home have confirmed that visiting the tropical utopia, which is lo≠cated at the end of the hallway, second door on the left, light switch above the sink, is a breathtaking experience they will never forget.

Grandmother Ilene Watson, 77, said she could spend the rest of her life in the carefree bathroom environment without complaint.

"It's so exotic," the mesmerized septuagenarian said. "Just like when Harold and I used to go traveling after the war."

Although delighted with the transformation, Paula Watson said she had plans to improve the 80 square feet of island paradise by adorning the blissful space with vanilla-scented coconut candles, a ceramic clown-fish figurine, and sand-dollar shaped soaps.

"I love our secluded little vacation destination, but we can always spruce it up a little," Watson said. "It would be neat to get a large glass container and fill it with beach sand, a piece of coral, and more seashells."

"It's like bringing the Pacific Ocean to us!" she added.

Watson also admitted she's had her eye on a nautical-themed light-switch-plate cover featuring a seahorse, which would further transform the tropical hideaway into the magnificent kingdom of Atlantis, a stunning underwater realm where dolphins and mermaids dance and play.

This is not the first time that Watson's home has undergone such an incredible metamorphosis. In 2004, a framed painting of two deer instantly turned the family den into a rustic hunting lodge, while in 2005, the corner of the living room became an old English cottage after a porcelain tea set and a vase with dried flowers were added to an end table."

Design Friday: Lighting

Okay, back to the elements and principles of design. Today is the element of Lighting. Lighting encompasses both natural and artificial light (or a combination of both), and serves four functions: visual activity, enhance room decor, mood, and safety.

Lighting is perhaps one of the most important elements of design, because of its ability to affect the appearance of all other elements (such as color, texture, and space) and can minimize architectural flaws. Good lighting can really make a room sing, but is usually not very high on most people's priority list. In fact, in movie production, lighting is often the first thing to go in budget cutbacks.
Until we can afford a lighting designer to customize our home, here are the four lighting zones to keep in mind that each room should have to improve it's functionality and atmosphere:

• Ambient- For overall lighting. It's also nice to have the ability to lower light levels to affect mood (think dimmer switch).
• Task- Lighting focused on designated work spaces to improve productivity (such as a desk lamp).
• Accent- For enhancing architecture, bookcases, etc.
• Wall- To enhance artwork

If this is a subject your want more information about, I recommend you check out, "The Art of Illumination" by Glenn M. Johnson. He is a professional lighting designer, and in the book he discusses lighting techniques for each room.

Design Friday: The Guggenheim

(To those who enjoy Design Friday, I apologize for it's M.I.A. status. I'm hoping to jump on board again, but sometimes there just isn't time to do the research I'd like to.)

As I was inspired by my recent travels to NYC, I thought I'd highlight the Guggenheim Museum today. This was a building that was a goal for me to see in person, but sadly I was not able to go inside. Kudos to my husband and son who made the haul with me, at the end of a long, long day in which we forgot the stroller.


The Guggenheim (Solomon R. Guggeheim Museum) is a contemporary and modern art museum that was completed in 1959 on the upper East side of Central Park. While many are familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright's prairie style homes (such as "Falling Water"), it may be surprising to learn that he is also the architect of this spiraling modern building.
Commissioned in 1943 by Solomon R. Guggenheim to house his collection in Manhattan, Wright first envisioned the building as a red marble, inverted ziggurat. Over the course of the next 16 years, his vision was slowly altered as Baroness Hilla von Rebay (the museum's first director and Guggeheim's art-advisor) and James Johnson Sweeney (the museum's second director) expressed disagreements over the building's design concerning such things as the exterior color, gallery lighting, and whether the building would upstage the collection.

For a more thorough history of the building's conception and construction, visit the interactive timelines found at the Guggenheim's website.

Design Friday: Texture

Texture is the visual perception or actual tactile smoothness or roughness of a surface. Smooth textures generally suggest more formality, while rough textures often feel more casual. A variety of texture in a room keeps a room feeling interesting and provides a contrast that gives relief to the eye. The key is to have variety, but to make sure that the textures are compatible with the ambiance of the room. Texture can be introduced through accent pillows, upholstery, rugs, furnishings, paint, wood grain, artwork, and window treatments.
It's easy to tell texture by feel, but it's the visual perception that is perhaps a little bit trickier to pin down. For example, a tiny printed pattern can suggest texture from a distance, while being smooth to the touch. So when you're choosing fabric for a space, pillow, etc., it's a good idea to look at it from a distance to get the overall feel of the pattern.

Design Friday: Proportion

Proportion is the size relationship (ratio) of the parts of an object to its whole. This is something that is hard to define, but you've probably noticed it in your surroundings without being able to put your finger on it. Gardner's "Art Through the Ages II" explains, "The experience of proportion is common to us all. We seem to recognize at once when the features of the human face or body are 'out of proportion'." Proportion is relevant to everything, but two examples in design could be exemplified in furniture: like if the arms or legs of a chair are too small compared to the whole chair, or if a lampshade is too big or too small for the lamp base. It just looks wonky.

What's interesting is that pleasing proportion is not just a subjective term, but has actually been defined by the ancient Greeks into a mathematical equation. This is called the Golden Mean or Golden Rule. This Golden Mean has been utilized by artists and architects (especially during the Renaissance) to compose their works- mainly in the form of the Golden Rectangle. This proportion has even been found in nature, such as in the nautilus shell, and the arrangement of branches along a stem.

A golden rectangle is made using a compass by: 1. drawing a square (red), 2. drawing a line from the midpoint of one side to an opposite corner, 3. using that line as a radius to draw an arc , which then defines the length of the rectangle, and 4. completing the rectangle (blue).

You might be familiar with the "Rule of Thirds". This is a rule of thumb that states that something is most pleasing, when divided into or arranged in thirds. For example, if you want to install a chair rail, wainescoting, or divide a wall with two different paint colors, it would look most pleasing at 1/3 the height of the wall, or at 2/3 the height of the wall.

It must be noted that while the Golden Mean is universally accepted as the most pleasing proportion, it is not a hard and fast rule. While it is something you can definitely depend on if you are not confident in "eye balling" things, artists, architects, and designers may purposefully use disproportion to achieve their goals.

Whew! That's about as much math as I can take in a day, so we'll leave it at that!!

Design Friday: Harmony

The harmony I speak of has nothing to do with how well the family members in your home get along. Rather, it is the compatibility of elements to create a pleasing whole, achieved through unity and variety. Unity is when all objects in the room unify to establish a master plan (such as a color scheme, furniture style, patterns, etc.). Variety is simply the absence of monotony. Basically, harmony means your room looks pulled together, without being boring.

"Every interior should have goals of identity and oneness, yet be varied enough to be interesting. This design statement, master plan, or set of goals should be set forth in written and graphic form, so that every furnishing item, whether purchased at once or over a period of years, will be selected to complement all other furnishings specified. It is wise and thoughtful planning that sets apart find design from interiors that lack harmony." -Nielson, Karla J., Taylor, David A., "Interiors: An Introduction" No pressure.

Most people do not have the means to redecorate an entire room at once. As I, myself, am in this boat, I can testify that this can be hard because you have more time to change your mind. Therefore, a master plan is critical. If you obtain a vision of what you want your space to look like, when you are out shopping, you can edit the things you purchase by comparing them to your master plan. If you don't know where to even start, find an inspiration piece for the room (or buy one if you don't have one). A neat rug, painting, fabric, etc. can help guide you in the right direction. If you're having trouble even coming up with a master plan, or don't trust yourself, study magazines and copy what you see. You don't have to tell anyone.

Design Friday: Emphasis

Emphasis is my emphasis today. (haha). Emphasis is an enhancement that produces a point of interest or a focal point in a design... the "anchor" for the eye and room. When you walk into a room, there should be a natural focal point for the eye to be drawn to first. Many rooms have natural focal points such as fireplaces or a window. A room can even have a few focal points- to carry the eye's interest around the room- but there is usually a dominant one. If your room does not have a natural focal point, you can create a focal point by painting an accent wall, arranging furniture facing a desired focal point, or showcasing something great.

Design Friday: Balance

My feature of the Elements and Principles of Design continues. Today I am covering the principle of Balance. It's easy to understand the concept of objects physically balancing, but perhaps a little more tricky to apply it visually. It's really the same concept though. Balance can be applied in furniture arrangements, mantle accessories, wall decor, etc. It is achieved in a room by arranging components symmetrically, asymmetrically, or radially. (On a side note, I would have loved to have had more time to hunt down more examples to illustrate each idea, but I think these do a good job.)

Symmetrical balance is basically a mirror image. It is easy to achieve and contributes a sense of order, predictability to a room, and has a more formal/refined feel.

Symmetrical Balance. If you divided the room in half, it would mostly be a mirror image of itself. Also, note how the coffee table appears to be small in scale without much mass, despite its actual size. Photo from April 2007 "Architectural Digest".

Asymmetrical balance is using objects of differing size to achieve a balanced scheme. This is a bit trickier to obtain, and takes a lot more practice to achieve. It involves arranging objects of different mass and scale to form a pleasing arrangement. Asymmetrical balance creates a more informal feeling in a room.

Asymmetrical balance. While the furniture is arranged symmetrically, notice the groupings on the mantle are not. They are arranged in a way that the heights and colors of object are balancing, as opposed to being identical sizes, etc. Photo from May 2007 "Architectural Digest".

Radial balance is balance found in objects radiating from a central point.

Radial balance. The furniture is arranged around the coffee table. A dining table would also be a good example of radial balance. Photo from May 2007 "Architectural Digest"

Design Friday: Scale and Mass

This week I'm covering the Principle of Scale and the Element of Mass. I'm covering them together because they are pretty closely related). Scale is the actual or perceived size of a room, piece of furniture, pattern, etc. It is also one of the most abused principles.
The most relative example of Scale in an interior is furniture. Furniture should be the appropriate scale for the size of a room. If you have a huge room, dainty furniture is going to look silly and dwarfish. You could also apply it to wall decor. If you have a huge empty wall, a small scaled painting will look really out of place by itself.

The ottoman and chair are the appropriate scale for each other, but look oddly small next to the bed and side table.

There are ways to play with scale though, and that's where Mass comes into play. Mass is the actual or perceived weight, density, or relative solidity of a form. If you have a smaller scale couch, you can actually make it appear more massive by covering it in a darker color (and vice versa). A glass coffee table will appear lighter scaled then a solid coffee table of the same size. Furniture on legs will appear less massive then furniture that is solid to the floor.

The above table's glass top, thin legs, and light color make it appear light in scale and less massive, as opposed to the dark, solid wood, and bulkier table below.

Massing is another strategy to create the illusion of larger scale. Massing is when you group furniture or objects together to create more mass. If you don't have a large picture for a large wall, you could group some pictures or objects together, and together they will appear to be the appropriate scale. If you have a small chair and a couch, you can group the chair with a side table and lamp, to give it a more appropriate scale.

Even a mass of frames the same size look heavier with a darker matting (below).

If you feel like you don't have an eye for appropriate scale or mass, just take time to observe store displays, model homes, etc. Compare the actual scale of objects to their surroundings, and notice how colors affect their perceived mass. Then play in your home. Also, sometimes taking pictures of arrangements and looking at the picture is easier to analyze than the arrangement itself.

Design Friday: The Elements and Principles of Design

Continuing with the idea of making design relevant in our own lives, I thought I'd take a break from the regular approach, and try to highlight the basic foundation of design, aka: the Elements and Principles of Design. (My main resource will be "Interiors: An Introduction" by Karla J. Nielson and David A. Taylor).
You might think you must have an innate ability to have good design sense, and if you weren't born with it you have no hope. I don't think that's necessarily true. An innate sense certainly helps, but I think with enough studying and practice, anybody can develop good design sense. Design shows are fun to watch, but not always helpful in educating (at least the ones I've seen). If you know and understand the elements and principles, hopefully it can give you a way to verbalize what you like, don't like, or what's missing.

Principles

• Scale
• Proportion
• Balance
• Rhythm
• Emphasis
• Harmony

Elements

• Space
• Shape
• Form
• Mass
• Line
• Texture
• Pattern
• Light
• Color
  

For the next 15 weeks, I'm going to take time each week to highlight each individual element or principle to help give a better understanding of what makes successful design. It'll be a good review for me anyway.

I hope I haven't bit off more than I can chew!

Design Friday: The Kitchen Faucet

This week I really wanted to discuss something that exemplified design's relevance in our daily lives. It's inspiring to study chairs and architecture, but I wanted to highlight something more practical. My attention was brought to my kitchen faucet.


Perhaps one of the most important places in our homes that good design is a requirement is the kitchen. The kitchen is such a busy place, it makes sense to put thought into the items you will be working with all day long. Really think about your needs and try to find something that will meet them. It is rewarding to have something that works just the way you need it to. Remember the mantra, "Form follows function".
I love my kitchen faucet. I never thought I could love a kitchen faucet, but I do, because it meets my needs. Here are some considerations for a kitchen faucet based on my experience (but everyone's needs are different). Let me count the ways...
1.) Handle: Those retro dual handle faucets are cute, but it doesn't make sense to me to have separate hot/cold handles at the kitchen sink. Turning on the water and adjusting the temperature with my wrist is so convenient when my hands have salmonella on them and I need to wash them.
2.) Pull-out Spray vs. Side Spray: Having the spray function pull out is so much more convenient than pulling it across the sink. Also, the sprayer is easily maneuverable (some are like little shower heads!)
3.) Faucet Height: The high goose neck makes handwashing large pans or pots or filling up a pitcher so simple.
4.) With those needs met, I love its clean lines (aka: form).

Good design can should be a part of even the most practical aspects of our lives. We are all worthy of good design in our lives, and since you have to buy something anyway- make sure you love it. You'll be grateful every time you use it

Design Friday: The Night Before Christmas

I wanted to highlight something seasonal today, so I bring to you "The Night Before Christmas", illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa.


Last year I was perusing through a bookstore's Christmas sale rack for books to add to our Christmas library, when I came across this book. The poem is a classic (and a must have for any library), and I was immediately drawn to the illustrations. The book was published in 2007 but the illustrations all have a very vintage and whimsical charm to them, reminiscent of Christmas cards from the 1940' and 1950's (I especially love the forest scene inside the front and back covers- her reindeer and trees are so delicate and graceful). The quality of illustrations mean a lot to me, and these have such an integrity to them, that it instantly feels like a family classic. (I was excited to learn that Gyo Fujikawa is actually a pretty well known illustrator, with many works to explore).

So, give it a look.... of course, you don't have to take my word for it!

Design Friday: Barcelona Chair

Today I am highlighting one of my favorite chairs, the Barcelona Chair.

This beautiful, sleek, modern chair was designed in 1929 by famous Bauhaus architect, Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. It was designed for the German pavilion at the International Exhibition in Barcelona. An inaugural ceremony took place for the German exhibits in which the king of Spain presided, and the chairs were custom made for the king and queen to sit in. Mies felt, "The chair had to be . . . monumental. In those circumstances, you just couldn't use a kitchen chair." This chair's lines and proportions quickly gained it recognition as epitomizing modern design.

I think this chair is another example of the versatility of modern design. It is as comfortable in a modern setting, as it would be in a room with neoclassical (a revival of classic, aka: Greek) elements. I love the simplicity of its lines but that it is simultaneously luxurious, as well as its use of negative space.

Resources:
(Pictures from knoll.com)
- knoll.com/products/product.jsp?prod_id=71
- dwr.com/product/barcelona-chair.do?keyword=mies&sortby=ourPicks
- moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=4369

Design Friday: Aalto Bowl

I was browsing through a Crate & Barrel catalog, and came upon a candleholder entitled "Aalto". From its form and name I immediately knew what it was paying tribute to, and therefore decided to enlighten all about the original... the Aalto Bowl.

The Aalto bowl is named after its designer, Alvar Aalto (more on him in the future). Alvar is one of the masters of modern architecture and Scandinavian design. Typical of Scandinavian design, his work was inspired by the lines and forms found in nature. As he felt that good design should be a part of everyday life, he created these bowls for use in everyday life. These bowls come in a variety of sizes and colors, and are produced through iittala.
How might this be used in everyday life? I think sometimes we get used to doing things the way we always do them, and when we see an object in an unfamiliar form, we are unsure what to do with it. This doesn't look like a traditional bowl, so it might take adjusting to treat it as such. Depending on the size, it could be used to serve fruit, or collect seashells, or to hold crayons, or fall leaves, or gourds, or fill with sand and place a tealight, flowers, etc. Its unusual shape will instantly transform what you are presenting from ordinary to interesting and modern.
I actually have the mini bowl, due to my parents visiting Finland many years ago. They didn't realize at the time exactly how significant an Alvar Aalto creation would be to me, they were just told at the time that the Aalto bowls and vases are something every Finn owns. I think it's so very cool, and currently I use it to collect change. I have to say, it is fun to use it as an everyday object rather than put it on display.

References:
- iittala.com/web/Iittalaweb.nsf/en/products_decorating_alvar_aalto_collection

Design Friday: Plan Toys

Lately, I have been perusing the internet for Christmas toys. I rediscovered a long lost website whose toys I absolutely love to look at: Plan Toys. All of these toys have a real simple, "designerly", Scandinavian quality to them, and are all made from wood. Unfortunately, as with all good design, a lot of these toys are pricey, and I'm pretty sure if I did buy one, my son would not appreciate them as I would hope (most of the ones I love are kind of young for him anyway). So for now, they are eye candy. And don't underestimate the importance of good toys. Frank Lloyd Wright attributes his architectural success to a set of Froebel blocks his mother bought for him when he was nine. He feels they helped him to master geometry through play.
Here are a few of my favorites: