COLORS IN DESIGN

Color makes a large impact on the way individuals interact in their environments. This is especially important in the home, homes are our safe haven and comfort zone. There are several ways to pull color into design. Study your client and their personality to determine what colors to incorporate in their home. The 3 categories that colors are grouped within are warm colors, cool colors and neutral colors.

Warm colors perceive happiness, optimism and enegry. These colors consist of the adjacent colors to red on the color wheel. Red, Orange and Yellow all reflect attention and movement, cheerful and inviting. These can also trigger hostility or irritation if used incorrectly.

Use Red when you want draw attention to a focal point or view. Yellow is best in a cheerful environment such as a kitchen and Orange will draw your eye to certain design elements.

Cool colors perceive soothing, calming and healthy environments. Colors consisting of Green, Blue and Purple tones compliment a cool color scheme. They create balance,

Purple will stimulate the brain, combining red and blue which will spark creativity and serenity. Purple works great in a home office or craft room. It is best to use Green in serene areas such as bathrooms and Blue pulls a balance between active and calm which is great for high traffic areas.

Neutral colors perceive stability, nature and comfort. These are timeless colors.0 Neutrals are perfect for background colors and large areas. Black and Gray are best for a backdrop to bright and dark colors while Tan and Brown are great for patterns, muted colors and textures.

Your surroundings influence emotions and color can cause physical, mental and emotional effects on people. It impacts the way objects are perceived, the attitudes of our friends and family and the way individuals interact in the space. Learning to incorporate color can be a critical part of design.

Brighten Up Your Space

These simple steps are the most effective way to brighten up that dull space of yours. This can make your room look larger, boost your happiness and make your home look new.

Accent, task, direct and in-direct lighting creates an elevated appearance

Layer Light Sources: Most people do not realize the impact lighting has on your overall productivity, mental well-being and everyday mood. The best way to make a room feel more spacious is by eliminating shadows and dark corners. Incorporating more light sources with better quality of light can create this effect. Add in-direct lighting, otherwise known as up lighting that will reflect off of the ceiling. This gives the feel of a higher ceiling and has the effect of more wall space as well. Include several different light sources for task, ambient and overhead lighting at various height levels. Dimming controls are also an easy way for versatile lighting in a space.

Open Up Windows: In addition to artificial light, natural light is a must. Fewer draperies allow windows to bring in more light. Simply removing heavy drapery, tying curtains back or replacing them with simple cornices and translucent shades will allot you the benefit of all the outdoors has to offer, inclusive of natural light. Utilizing floor to ceiling window panels can create the illusion of larger windows and of more light. If the room does not have many windows, replace a solid interior door with a glass door or set of french doors to remove barriers between rooms. This also allows light from other spaces to flow in.

Tall windows bring the outdoors in

Use Reflective Surfaces: The addition of simple reflective surfaces to an area will make the whole space have a brighter, larger feel. The reflective surface will draw in light and bounce it around the room. This includes not only mirrors but items such as accessories, wall art and light fixtures that have some shine can accomplish the same goal. Glass, crystal, silver and gold are excellent mediums to utilize as well.

Reflective finishes will make a room look larger

A Fresh Coat of Paint: A very simple way to brighten a room is by painting a brighter neutral color to the walls such as white or pale yellow. If you choose to go a different route or just love that dark accent wall (like I do!) give your ceiling a fresh coat of paint in a lighter hue that compliments your color scheme. Incorporate lighter finishes on furniture and built-ins. If you love the rich finishes, make sure to create balance. Mix rich finishes with lighter accent pieces such as lighter fabrics and accessories.

A small bathroom will look larger with a fresh coat of paint and a brighter color

Kitchen work triangle

To make your kitchen functional, it's all in the beginning stages. This is where a designer or architect will be most influential for your custom home or remodel.

Many don't realize the importance and effectiveness that a well planned kitchen helps with the convenience of cooking, especially for those home chefs. There is a process to the design of a kitchen which is most commonly referred to as a the "Kitchen Work Triangle". This triangle connects the three main cooking areas within the kitchen; stove, sink and refrigerator (it can also include an oven if separate from the stove). These three points connect to create an oblique triangle with acute angles depending on your layout of kitchen. TIP: Distance between appliances should be between 4'-0" and 9'-0" while the sum of each side should not exceed 26'-0". The distance between angles is an important aspect to space planning a kitchen. It can make kitchens feel inconvenient going back and forth or too small to work in.

The different types of kitchen layouts include; L shaped, U shaped, Galley, Single Wall, Island and Outdoor. In certain areas, especially with island configurations, you may end up with more than one work triangle to configure the appliances around. L-shaped kitchens are the most common kitchen layout.

L shaped kitchen layout

U shaped kitchen layout

Also try to place the kitchen sink as close to directly across from the stove as possible for better accessibility. TIP: Single Wall layouts is most commonly used in very small kitchens but this can still be accomplished by separating them aligned between 4'-0".

Galley kitchen layout

Single Wall kitchen layout

It is also good to minimize traffic flow from this triangle or further the crossing of main areas away from work areas. This will allow the cook to be near their major work areas without being interfered by creating the most functional kitchen. Island kitchens can be very effective but can also interfere if they are too large and spread out.

Island kitchen layout

Outdoor kitchen layout

There's never a specific layout to use since every house's design is different, but trying to keep the sink in the middle of the triangle will always help with spacing. This is because many cooking processes involve going to or from the sink, you normally take produce from the fridge to the sink to wash or cut up food near the sink and take to the stove to cook. Not every kitchen will be able to create an appropriate work triangle but follow these tips and you will create the most efficient kitchen while cooking.

Space Planning a kitchen in 3D