above ASHLEY WHITTAKER
One
of the more “basic” tasks in the interior design business is space planning.
It’s less showy, less gratifying than choosing and placing the final furniture,
finishes, flooring, fabrics and artwork but if it’s not right, if the
foundation isn’t laid, the overall design work can look pretty silly.
above KC INTERIORS via NEW ENGLAND HOME
Space
planning is all about function, particularly in the kitchen. Home trends come
and go but other than the overall size increases, the functions of a kitchen
haven’t change that much over the years. We still cook and eat in the kitchen,
prepare the morning coffee, bake, and entertain. What changes most are the
cabinet styles, the appliances, the color schemes, fixtures, window styles and
flooring.
above McALPINE TANKERSLEY
The
“work triangle” is at the heart of every well designed kitchen. It’s the
placement of the refrigerator, stove/oven and sink. Everything else is less
important than these three elements and the distance that lies between them.
I’m not saying the Kitchen Aid or cappuccino maker isn’t important. But they
aren’t the foundation of the design the way the triangle is. To put an island
in the middle of the triangle, or to have one of the three work stations too
close together creates a restriction in movement. A well designed kitchen has a
fluid, well edited floor plan. Beyond the triangle you need ample counter
space, not too narrow, not too deep. You need several types of lighting. If you
cook large, daily meals or entertain a lot, an additional sink can be nice.
above via LONNY.com
Islands
and bars have been popular items for some time. Many clients ask for islands in
their designs but if they’re not well thought out or are too large, they can
create problems.
above via BETTER HOMES AND GARDEN
I
was working with an architect and builder a number of years ago on plans for
the construction of a large mountain home. The architect had designed one of my
least favorite living spaces: the Great Room. Right away I noticed the bar
extended too far into the living/dining area leaving virtually no room for a
dining room table and chairs. Fortunately we were able to cut down the depth of
the bar to accommodate the dining room set but the bar ended up looking skimpy.
It was a trade-off. The architect made a mistake. You can design a house on
paper but to make it livable, you need a strong sense of how people will
actually place the furniture. In this case, instead of an over scale curved bar
dividing the kitchen from the dining area, a straight bar would have been more
practical and attractive.
Space
planning needs to be addressed before finalizing your building plans. Placing the
fireplace and built-ins are obviously needed, but also knowing where the sofa
and master bed will go, placing the windows, the doorways, the lighting and
outlets: these things should be taken into account before plans are finalized.
In
a recent project, I did two sets of floor plans for a living room. It was a spacious room with a beautiful stone
fireplace and mantel, plenty of windows, vaulted ceilings, surrounded by beautiful
landscaping. But laying out the furniture was a bit tricky because the
fireplace was located at the end of a very long wall. It didn’t leave a lot of
room for seating around the fire. I addressed this by drawing out plans with
two separate seating areas. For the main seating area I proposed a 90 inch
sofa, a cocktail table, console, built in bookcases, and an armchair near the
fireplace, and two more armchairs and an ottoman near the television.
above via ELLE DECOR
In
my own living room, I’ve divided the space into two distinct seating areas. One
is the dominant seating area with a floating sofa (meaning it’s not against a
wall, but centralized in the room), two floating armchairs, and a large
enclosed hutch which is directly adjacent to the fireplace. A second, with a
large round table and two small wood framed chairs is in front of a large wall
of paned windows. I also have an armchair in a large picture window, and a
small, wooden rocker by the built-in bookcases. The less dominant seating areas
have smaller chairs and tables.
Space
planning is an integral part of designing and furnishing a home. If you don’t
have a good floor plan, even though you might think it looks attractive, it
will never function right and therefore never look right either. Once you’ve
addressed the function and traffic flow of the room, and have the bones right, you
can decorate it to suit your own distinctive style.
above via LIFE1NMOTION.TUMBLR
Shiree’s
Style File
When
planning a kitchen, place the stove, refrigerator, and sink first then build on
the plan by neighboring task related areas next to its corresponding work space.
For instance, place drinking glasses next to the sink, spices and olive oils
near the stove, and baking ingredients in or near the island.
The
work triangle should be 26 feet or less, with no single leg shorter than 4 feet
or longer than 9 feet. No major traffic patterns should cross through the work
triangle.
Work
aisles should be at least 43 wide, 48 inches wide with more than one cook.
In
furniture lay outs, always keep a clear pathway between entrances and exits.
above via ZSAZSABELLAGIO.BlogSpot
above via SIMPLIFIEDBEE.com
above via VERANDA
above SHIREE HANSON SEGERSTROM