Principles and Elements of Design

A Simple Elegance

The principles and elements of design play a huge part in designing a room. To create a space one must understand the principles and elements of design. It is important to understand the rules because the Element and Principle of Design rules are what make a space successful. For this blog I found an example of a fresh and cozy living room. I feel that this image makes a good use of the principles and elements of design.

Some of the elements of design that are seen in this space would be examples of lines. The space uses many different lines. One can see horizontal lines in the tops of the chairs. The use of horizontal lines creates a calm feeling in the room. Another line that is seen is vertical line. There are vertical lines in the drapery and vertical lines one the sides of the white chairs. Having vertical lines in space creates the sense of balance. Balance is the key to creating a space. When a space does not have balance, the space can feel unnatural. In addition to the first two lines, curvy lines are seen when you look at the back of the couch. Using the curvy lines in the space creates a space that is natural and soothing.

Another element of design seen in this space is the use of color. Color in a space creates an emotional feeling. The colors in this room are very light and airy. The white couches make the space feel larger. By using the dusty rose, and pale pink color the room get a pop of color. The pop of color is not overwhelming, but soothing. The white walls with white furniture create a space with drama and a space with unity. It also allows for the accent pieces to stand out more and create the focal points.

  As mentioned earlier focal points and balance are seen in this space. However they are not elements of design.  A focal point and balance are principles of designs. There are many focal points depending on which way you are standing in the space. However, the focal point the caught my attention the most was the window. The use vertical and horizontal lines frame out the space, which draw ones eye to the window in the space. In addition the drapes in a different color than the wall automatically make your eye focus on the windows. Another principle of design is balance. One can see balance throughout can be seen throughout the space. There is balance on either side of the window with the two side chairs. Also there is balance with the use of the armoire on the left side of the room and the other side of the room is the fireplace. Each of those pieces are grand in scale, but being on separate walls on each side of room create balance.

         Using the elements and principles of design when creating a space, will ensure a space that is perfect. The example that I used of the blog has many elements and principles of design. The use of lines, balance, unity, and many more elements and principles are what make this space successful. 

Unusual Materials-Street Signs Turned into Chairs

                                       Unusual Materials: Street Sign Chairs 

Often times when a designer is designing a room more traditional pieces of furniture are chosen to complete the space. The designer would often pick a couch covered in fabric, or a bookshelf that was made of solid wood. However, what if the designer pushed the envelope a little, and decided to use a chair that was made completely out of recycled streets signs; and a bookshelf made of the same material? Today the use of recycled materials is a big trend in any market. In addition, the use of unusual materials in interior design is starting to make a big impact in the design community.

How would you like to have a custom made piece of furniture that was made solely of street signs that one drives by everyday? Well that dream can become a reality thanks to Borris Bally. Borris Bally is a designer that takes everyone’s every day trash and turns it into a treasure.  Not only can one find custom pieces of furniture made from street signs, one can find flatware, clothes and home accessories. Bally has the talent to turn something that is ordinary into the extraordinary.

Today, designers need to push the envelope. Everyone one has seen the traditional sofa and love seat, four piece dinning set and side chairs. Design is about creating a space that is unlike any other space. It is about taking a space that is bland, and creating a space with a strong sense of design. One can get this effect by picking out pieces of furniture that are not traditional. Not only is the furniture fun and funky, this particular furniture can be used in many different spaces. The chairs could be found on the patio of a home, in a kid’s playroom, a contemporary loft in the city, and an office that is full of creative people.

One reason someone would chose this particular piece is because of the creativeness. Most people would stick to the normal unusual materials such as, water bottles, glass bottles, cork, etc. However, Bally decided to take something that most people just steal and use as wall decoration. Most people think street signs are just that, street signs. However, in Bally’s eyes a street sign is a piece of custom-made furniture for someone who has a bold design taste. Bally has a very special and rare talent that most dream to have.

Today design is about creating a space that is unlike any other. It is about taking a material the most people would not think to use. Being an interior designer allows you to take an unusual piece of furniture and make it feel as if this piece of furniture was meant to be in the space.  When designing remember that you can turn any unusual material into a piece of furniture as different, and functional as a chair made out of street signs.

                                               Works Citied

Borris Bally. (2009). Borris Bally Portifolio. Retrieved December 5, 2011, from                  http://www.borisbally.com/

Design Expo

Design Expo 2011

Every fall semester International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the American Society of Interior Design (ASID) chapters at Texas Tech host a Design Expo. Along with the Design Expo is a lunch with a guest speaker. This year’s guest speaker was Brian Graham. At the Design Expo different vendors representing all different companies come to the Merket Alumni Center and set up shop. The vendors are there to show the interior design students their latest product(s) that are impacting the design world. This year was my second time to attend the Design Expo and I enjoyed it even more than the first time around.

Walking through the ballroom in the Merket Alumni Center is very exciting. To your left there are vendors, to your right there are more vendors, and in front of you, as well as behind you are vendors. The vendors are from all different places on the map. Some of the different vendors that one could find in the ballroom were Sherwin Williams Paint, Yates Flooring, Brain Graham Designs and many more. Each vendor was there to inform the students on their newest products and talk about the latest fads in the design world. Some of the latest products that the students were informed about, were how one could use water at a high power to cut out things, the trend of wallpaper, office chairs, and fabric that can be written on with a sharpie and wiped off with water. As you can see there were a lot of different choices for the students to wonder around to look at.

The first year that I attended the expo I fell in love with it. However, attending the event a second time made me love it even more. This year I felt I gained more appreciation for the expo. I did just go and walk through quickly. I actually took my time, a listened and took in all the information each vendor had to offer. I was like a sponge. I also was able to attend the lunch where Brian Graham spoke. Listening to him and seeing the passion he has for design made me realize, for the first time in a while, why I am going to school to be an Interior Designer.  It also inspired me to maybe consider working in a different field than residential design. The last thing that I realized was there are so many different areas of design that one can work in, and if Brian Graham can do it, the so can I.

Every interior design student should take full advantage of the design expo. It allows a student to see the latest trends in the design world. It allows the student the ability to see how fast the design world changes in taste. One-year wallpaper can be out of style and the next year wallpaper can be the latest fad. The expo allows the student to feel as if they are in the real world looking for the latest fad that can use in their designs.

   Attending the expo is something that each student in interior design should attend. The expo should be taken advantage of; the student can get samples, brochures, and many more things. Not only does the student get samples, the student gets to see some of the trends in design that are changing the world of design as we speak. Lastly, I feel that it also allows the student a little glimpse of what it is like to go to a world trade center. Though it may not be the same size caliber as an event at the world trade center it still allows the student the ability to see all the aspects that go into the event and all of the trends for the year.

Window Treatments

Window Treatments 

Windows are a very important architectural feature in a room. Windows add a sense of warmth to any space, they bring light to a room, and they bring a sense of happiness. Without windows in a room, the space becomes dull, and lifeless.  Window treatments can add a sense of drama. Window treatments draw your eye to the architectural feature in the room. However, window treatments can be tricky. A good example for window treatments is at the Merket Alumni Center.

I recently visited the Merket Alumni Center for a Design Expo. The space is very traditional, with dark stained wood, and heavy pieces of furniture that create a warm and inviting space.  The windows were beautiful.  Reaching at least ten feet high are three windows in the room. Two of the windows flank a breath-taking fireplace, and the third window is on the wall perpendicular to the fireplace. The windows fill the room with tons of natural light. The room has the perfect balance. The windows were dressed with beautiful ornate drapes that go all the way down to the floor. The drapery rod is hidden behind a cornice box that had traditional molding. Behind the drapes was another window treatment. The window treatment was a pull down shade, which was a little more modern, but still flowed seamlessly with the space. The shade was in a neutral cream color, which blended into the windows and the ornate drapery. The shade was the material of what would be on window panels outside of your house.

The window treatment used in the Merket Center is a good example of how to draw ones eye upward. The height of the drapes make the ceilings seem taller than they actually are. The reason for this is a little trick the interior designer plays on the eyes.  The designer hanging the treatments at the top of ceiling, which in turn makes the space seem taller.

Windows in a space allow the outside to come in. A window can transform any space, and adding window treatments can create a sense of drama, while at the same time adding privacy and temperature control.  Windows are a piece of architecture that can be seen inside your house as well as outside. Meaning that windows should be treated as a piece of artwork. Play with the shapes, and size of the window and the treatments.  A perfect example of mixing formal with modern window dressing is at Merket Alumni Center. Go by and check it out yourself and be transformed!