What items of your design will require detailing to convey your design?

Hmmm...I don't have many custom pieces. In the master suite, I have the custom fiber optic suspended ceiling. I haven't drawn this piece as an elevation yet but thank goodness it is on the more simple side. Basically it's just a drywall (or wooden) slab with fiber optic lighting randomly installed in them. This piece will be suspended by metal piping. Other places I could possibly provide details of is the shower in the master bath because it has a little alcove in the shower for shampoo, conditioner, etc. Also there is the kitchen that I didn't necessarily customize...I got the specs from a kitchen catalogue (I forget which company). I'm sure I'll need serious help on these because I haven't done detailing in forever!!

Fiber Optic Ceiling

I saw this idea in a home movie theater in one of those Street of Dreams Tours a few years back. I thought, "Wow! That's kinda cool!" And then I thought, "why not incorporate that in a room but suspended?" I thought that maybe I'd incorporate it into the master bedroom. Instead of it looking like the night sky, maybe I could do a suspended, painted drywall ceiling w/ fiber optics or a suspended wooden ceiling w/ fiber optics in it. Mrs. Smith didn't want anything too crazy in the space and I thought this would be a great way to introduce lighting in a unique way and providing some architectural interest in the space as well.

Innovative ways of using wood flooring

In the great room, I thought about using wooden flooring in ways that you don't usually see in residential spaces. Instead of using it on the floor like normal, I thought why not use it on the ceiling or where the side of the stairway is. It's such a great conversation starter and interesting to look at. Also, it pulls nicely from the natural surroundings of the neighborhood. It's a way of bringing the outside in...something the couple wanted to inject in their space.

Fireplace inspiration

I love dragonflies and what they symbolize: life and strength. Its colors aren't bad either. The master suite has a fireplace that I decided to tile w/ glass. It embodies the colors of the dragonfly. Plus, when you look at the tile at an angle, it gives off bits of red or purple. You can't quite make it out but it picks up the red in the space so subtly. I got the tile sample from United Tile.

Also I decided to tile the fireplace from floor to ceiling to give a uniqueness to the place. It also showcases the tile in such a classy way. I wanted the clients to be wowed by the space and didn't want to provide the usual way a fireplace should look like (tiled surround w/ a mantel piece up top). This style is too traditional. The couple is a bit traditional but not so much. They wanted a more updated yet casual look and wanted to see some architectural detail in their room remodels.

Inspiration photos

I am so not a nature girl but I love the colors of nature and I tend to get my inspiration there. The colors are very beautiful and work well together. Because the Smith Residence is set in a community surrounded by greenery and pine trees, I thought why not keep everything simple w/ pops of color. The family wanted things to be simple and wanted neutrals but not necessarily white. They were fine with pops of color as long as it was in small doses. I thought it would be nice to use a palette of grays, blues and greens w/ touches of brick red. You'll see in the picture where I had got my inspiration from.

Most of the rooms pretty much stayed w/ the gray-blue, green combo but going to the master bedroom, I injected bits of red in small doses because it was a place that Mr. & Mrs. Smith could relax yet feel passionate. The master suite was a great start to introducing warmth in the whole house.

Changes or Revisions to my Design

This is a project I've already done and I'm only focusing on 4 spaces: Master Suite, Master Bath, Kitchen and Great/Family Room. I've incorporated a few revisions to work with my design and the needs of the clients. These changes are in the master bath, kitchen and a minor one in the master suite.

In the master bath, I changed it so that the double sinks are separated and not sharing the same countertop. The area where the shower is, I replaced with one of the sinks. I placed the shower somewhat across from the whirlpool tub so that it isn't next to the door, which, I find a bit awkward. Plus sometimes I feel like having your own space would be more beneficial for my clients. The husband may have a few items while the wife may have a boatload of makeup, perfume, accessories, etc. So, personal space could help ease situations like these.

In the kitchen, I added a seating area by the window and placed a stove against the wall as opposed to the island. The fridge is moved over to the next wall. I felt that this made more sense. My clients love to entertain and, not only that, they have small children. Having the stove on the island (where most people would naturally congregate) would be a safety issue...especially with children around. And the children's safety goes above all else.

The minor change I made in the master suite was taking the entry door and placing it on the opposite side. This was basically to accommodate my design because I am having pendant lamps working as night table lamps. This major change allows for better flow.

Summary for Exploring the Role of Home Design in Fostering Family Interaction

With the current schedules of each family member nowadays, there is a decreasing amount of time families spend together. While spaces within the home are multi-functional (especially that of family rooms), living spaces are designed with the intention that families are encouraged to interact while also providing an aesthetically pleasing space. After all, family interaction is good for the well-being as well as a person's health. Usually, these are the people you spend your time with after a long day at work or school. Traffic flows in the home are thought of as well...open floor plans are a plus as well as having a living space w/ multiple functions (i.e. incorporating a study area in the kitchen or having one room overlooking another such as the kitchen and family room being adjacent to each other). When promoting a multi-use space and considering time constraints, you are forcing families to do things in one room together.