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DesignDude
Before you redecorate, Read This!
 | | Jon Fortuna, the Design Dude |
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Welcome to 2008! As the Holiday Season wanes, and all of the decorations are packed away we have an opportunity to reassess our homes and begin to contemplate changes for the new year.
One of the questions I am asked most often is how do I come up with design schemes for clients, so over the next several months I'd like to go through the process from start to finish. I hope in doing so, some of you may be inspired to new heights in your own decorating...
Function - When considering a room the first thing you must consider is the function of the space.
While this may seem obvious we have all been in rooms where the TV blocks the fireplace or a piece of furniture makes easy access to the room nearly impossible. Too often rooms with these problems are caused by a lack of forethought in how the room should function. I often make a list of all the things a client expects to be able to do when enjoying their new room. If for example, you love to read as well as watch television in the main living area, particular care needs to be taken in the types and placement of lighting in the room, particularly the table lamps. Review your list once you have made it, and you should have a good idea of what a room needs to function properly.
 | | Before purchasing furniture, look through design magazines to determine what style appeals to you. |
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Size - It is extremely essential that you consider size or scale in your planning. Take rough dimensions of the room, and keep them with you as you shop. But more than that, consider the size of room relative to the list of functions you have made. If you need a multipurpose room (as most of us do!) avoid pieces that are either extremely overscaled or can not serve more than one purpose. If, for example, your living room is 14 feet wide, and you choose an extra deep sofa that is 4 feet in depth, you have (by the time you make allowances for walking space etc.) nearly chopped your room in half. If you choose a sofa that is even 9 inches less deep, which will suit everyone except the extremely tall, you regain the sense of space and proportion to the room. That brings up another important thought, keep the size of you and your family in mind during planning. I generally provide seating with various depths and heights in a room to assure the comfort of everyone.  | | If you are inspired to redecorate for the new year, consider these three things foremost: What is the function of the space, what are the dimensions, and finally, what color reflects your personallity? |
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Color - Color is the next step in the process, and one most people are extremely unsure about. There are several ways to help deter- mine what colors you should use... in fact there will be a future column devoted to just that subject, but for now I recommend you reflect on the following questions. Are there colors you must use such as the tile or carpet, existing furniture in the room, your grandmother's purple and green china tea service, etc.? Are there colors that make you instinctively happy? A good test for this is to purchase a couple of design magazines and tear out the photos of anything that appeals to you. Chances are, you will find both style and color themes that will be apparent when you lay the photos side by side. Is there a place in town that you love, such as a restaurant or lobby? Chances are the colors used have something to do with your feelings. Finally, look in your closet and see if any color or colors dominate your clothing... fore example I love blue, and my closet really reflects that. This
gets us started, and as you see, we haven't even selected a piece of furniture
yet! So tune in next month, and we will continue to explore the design process!
Until then remember to look at, live with, and love great design!
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