Autumn Sky- Interior Course - Part 3
Hello! Hello!
Welcome to Part 3 of the Autumn Sky Colour Course.
Previously we have really been focused on the mood & inspiration for our chosen Interior project. We’ve developed the ‘Top Six’ colour palette and then used this palette to start building on what features and finishes we desire to integrate into our space.
During Part 3 of the course we will be moving into the practical realm, creating what is often referred to as your Design Brief.
Firstly, we are going to dive in by listing what we know about the project:
Who is the project for?
Even if you are designing the Interior for your own home, its helpful to actually think about who will be inhabiting the space and what kind of lifestyle they have.
Below I’ve done a list to suit my ‘Autumn Sky’ client.
A couple in their late 30s
3 Golden Retrievers and a cat named Biscuit
Rita works from home, John travels 6 months of the year
They love entertaining and sharing their home with family and friends
They have 4 nephews and 2 nieces that come to stay during school holidays
John has a collection of Cook books and loves to dance in the kitchen
Rita loves watching the sunset from the Living Room window
This will most likely be their home for the next 10-15 years
I find getting to know my client’s lifestyle is so very important. I can’t stress it enough! It really is like Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, what good is a gorgeous four post bed if (a) its too tall for the ceiling height, (b the cat has bad hips and can’t jump up on it, or (c) is so ridiculously ostentatious for their 1970s Bungalow, not yet too mention their personal love of mid-century design??!!!
What my list tells me about John and Rita is that they need a home that is equally their retreat as well as a place to feel inspired to work from. They have an open-door policy, which means they need practicality and durability in the materials of the home, to really cater for both children & pets. All while still injecting character and flare into the interior so that their home is a reflection of who they are.
For example: a beautiful display shelf for Johns Cook Books, a kitchen with a foot print to fit his dance moves. For Rita an inspired choice of drapery that frame the large window in the Living Room so that she can appreciate those sunsets even more.
What Interior are we designing?
Now that we have a great read on our client, we need to connect with the area of the home being renovated/re decorated. In this case it is John and Rita’s open plan Living, Dining & Kitchen. I typically always start by sketching up our foot print or plan of the space where I can jot down notes and measurements (See sketch below).
This schematic is essentially a visual brain storm of the space. Here I’ve included details that are fixed (windows, ceiling height, stairwell etc..), alongside elements that are variable such as the furniture layout.
*Tip* Remember although we are gathering more accurate detail we are not yet carving from stone. Don’t get bogged down by the pragmatic quicksand. Get excited by the prospect of feature elements and stay in your inspired zone.
With the floor sketch and client info we can now cross reference with our conceptual list we created in Part 2 of the training. This process focuses on connecting the dots between inspiration, the home owner (even if it’s for yourself) and finally the interior of the home. The three main ingredients for any successful interior project. Have a look at my notes and links I’ve added to the list.
Flooring → Existing Chipboard, would prefer timber look, possibly laminate
Wallpaper (texture)→ Limited blank walls, textured wallpaper add character
Paint → Ceilings, window trims, doors
Lighting Feature→ Great ceiling height 2.8m to show off feature over the dining table
Upholstery (pattern/texture) → Custom Upholstered Mid Century Sofa Warwick Hinterland
Curtains (soft) → To frame large windows with a view, maybe a sheer curtain over a lining on a double rod system
Stone Bench → Important for John and his love of cooking
Kitchen Cabinets → Both high and low cabinets
Luxury Kitchen Hardware → Functional finishing touches
Tiles (colour/texture) → Splash Back
Timber → Floor and some furniture possibly
Sofa/Arm Chairs → Large, plush with a Lux finish
Coffee Tables/Side Tables → A must in the living/lounge, possibly circular timber / metal combo
Dining Table → Large to seat at least 8 for entertaining
Rugs → Zoning lounge area and adding texture
Shelving → Cook Books/wine glasses/cutlery/display
Cushions → Always to add colour and comfort
Plants → Bring the out doors in, while purifying the air, low maintenance
From here we can create our Mood Board that encompasses our aesthetic, including our colour palette, potential products, finishes and feature elements.
*Tip* Remember a mood board does not have to contain all products, finishes and accessories used throughout the space. It is a sampling or snap shot that you can then reference as foundation for your design.
Following on in Part 4 will be a focus on editing down our wealth of options and dissecting how I created the Autumn Sky Mood Board.
If you have any questions about the content please pop a comment below. Or send a message through my contact page, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest.
Loz xxx
