RENOVATE | Creating an interior design concept.
Creating an interior design concept.
Concept | NOUN | An abstract idea.
A central theme that guides your design choices.
An idea first, brought to reality through careful planning and selection.
But really… what is a concept?!
Getting started on a renovation or new build project can feel like you have a file of a million different products, interior styles and costs and don’t really know exactly how to finalise your decisions. This can be one of the most frustrating parts of trying to bring your interior style together!
It’s an interior designers job to be able to tease your interior style from you but if you are wanting to get started on your own then I have one suggestion for you… create a solid interior design concept to lead your project.
Now you might have heard the term “concept” thrown around a lot and aren’t really sure exactly what it entails or how to go about creating one. An interior design concept is a broad brush stroke of how your project will look and feel (the vision). It can be made up of images and words or really anything that helps you describe your vision. When I am teaching interior design I find the most successful concepts are the ones that include a combination of image that are literal (actual interior spaces) and more abstract ones like a material swatches or texture (eg. feathers or cork).
For all your DIY-ers out there I can’t encourage you enough to sit down at the inception of your project to narrow down your concept so you will have a driving force behind every design choice. How do you create one I hear you ask??
Ideas - Scribble down all your ideas no matter if you think they will work or not. Also write or sketch (if that’s your thing) down other parameters like site conditions (sun, views, neighbours etc), any historical elements to consider and anything else you know about your project at this stage. At this stage the messier the better just get it all out!
Visuals - I know you’ve all got those Pinterest boards or saved instagram posts that you’ve want to come back to … good news! The time is now to curate them into some sort of form that will help your project.
Design statement - everyone is different so you might want to write yourself a long statement here about what your project is going to look and feel like. Others might be like me and only want a few key words to go with the visuals you have selected. Do whatever feels right to you because the more we connect with our concept the easier it will be to use throughout your project.
Final concept - create a one or two page document that presents your visual and written concept design and carry this with you whenever you are making your selections.
This concept design hand sketch of the Molong Farmhouse just shows things need to get messy before they get clean!
Still sounding like double dutch? Well…. Let me give you an example.
While working on an old farmhouse at Molong, NSW I needed to select tap ware for the new ensuite. This project is a 100yr+ wattle and daub farmhouse having a face lift of the original four room dwelling to include a more contemporary extension that will result in a space fit for the client’s living needs. My concept for this alteration and addition is “Old Farmhouse X New Farmhouse” which essentially reminds that I am aiming to tread the line between traditional features like cornices and ceiling roses while making sure the extension doesn’t contrast wildly from the original dwelling. I also want to remember that a farmhouse would never have been overly ornate like some of the Victorian or Federation city counterparts. Therefore after the initial panic of “help, what did I come here for” when walking into the showroom I refer back to my concept that allows me to narrow down my selection. There is a lot that doesn’t fit the concept which is a good thing because it keeps me on task until I find the Brodware Neu England range that fits the bill perfectly.
Brodware’s Neu England range balances the fine line between traditional farmhouse tap ware that won’t look out of place in a more contemporary renovation.
A solid design concept is one way you can make a room flow together or even how to make mismatched furniture look cohesive. Don’t underestimate how many times you will feel overwhelmed during a renovation or new build and your concept design will rescue you as it has done to me so many times in the past. If you would like to discuss this further I am happy to book in a free 30 minutes consult to see exactly where you are up to so visit my scheduling page here.