Details Make the Difference

As architects and interior designers, we are trained to have an eye for detail. Details add personality to a space, and keep it from looking cold or anonymous. When it comes to aesthetics, the little things really do add up. Consideration of differing and complementary features goes into creating cohesive looks.

Color, texture, scale, purpose and proportion are examined and appraised. Interiors are visualized at the same time as exteriors. This ensures that themes and motifs are consistent throughout. A balance between sparseness and fullness is key.

Purpose

When it comes to design, purpose of a building is a top consideration. For example, hospitality buildings differ greatly from corporate headquarters. Other considerations may include:

• Is the building residential or commercial?
• If commercial, what scale occupancy will there be?
• How many people will be passing through the doors, and taking in its aesthetic?
• What tone or atmosphere should the building have?

Details bring a design together.

Color

It is helpful to create a color palette to be used throughout a design. This ties each area together and avoids using colors that compete with each other for attention. A single color can be varied by hue, shade or tone. This variation creates a palette out of the single color, which is easy to mix and match throughout. Sticking to the differing hues of the same color avoids clashing. Varying the color hue or tone gives repetition and proportion without coming across as too deliberate.

Texture

Texture can be presented in two ways. It can be tactile – able to be felt with your hands. Or, it can be visual – adding weight and interest to the eye.

A great example of tactile texture comes with choice of flooring. A shag carpet is much rougher than a tiled floor. It warms up the space, closes it in and softens the area. In contrast, a tiled floor keeps the floor smooth and cool. It does not add a break to the lines of the area. A tiled floor is sleek and modern, and much more adaptable to different functions of a room or area. This is why you’d be much more likely to find tiled floors in corporate or commercial spaces, and shag carpets in a home. The more texture to a space, the more “lived in” it feels. Stucco walls, carpets, throw pillows, blankets and nick backs all add textural elements to a space, which creates a cozy and informal atmosphere.

The key is to find the right combination so that the proportions remain satisfying.

Visual texture is a feature, which draws in the eye. Patterns and lines have this effect. The eye loves repetition. We are creatures of repeating habits; so repeating elements are innately comforting to us. Repeating shapes in a space emulates this feeling of harmony. It is agreeable to the eye, and soothing to the mind. Square, geometric shapes help to establish a feeling of order in corporate spaces. They add to sleek, modern aesthetics.

Repeating curved shapes reflects repeating shapes found in nature. This is soothing and relaxing, and gives a grounded feel to any home. They give a more elaborate and complicated effect. The key is to find the right combination so that the proportions remain satisfying.

Details bring a design together. Residential and commercial properties require different approaches to interior design. Occupancy is a key consideration, as well as function and form. Collage Consultants WLL has the eye for detail that makes the difference. From start to finish, we design and create vibrant and functional buildings. Contact us today for a consultation.

Share post: