Interior Design Process - UBC House

As designers, analyzing our clients needs, goals, and lifestyle is one of the most important things on our to do lists. In every every project, we need to assess the“Pros & Cons”  of the existing space, which we try to volume up so the pro side wins. The challenge is we also need to marry the functionality and ideal design with the client’s budget concerns.

For a recent UBC house project, we were tasked with redesigning the master bedroom. The goal was to open the cramped closet sized den to create an open, yet still functional space.The client still wanted to use the den as a more open office that could store papers and documents.  

We started the first phase of our design by measuring the existing walls, windows and furniture to understand the space and possibilities for a fresh new design.

Before the renovation, the room was crowded with furniture and the green walls gave it a closed in feeling. The den was a cold, dark room with little attraction as a workspace. 

UBC HOUSE PHOTOS - BEFORE  

In this bedroom the cons were:

1. No focal Point
2. Closed space
3. Need for built in or smaller scale furnishings
4. Not enough lighting

The first problem was that there was clearly no focal point for new elements to be arranged by, and there was too much positive volume. (Furniture and clutter).  We felt that we needed to design additional millwork for storage that could also become part of the focal point for the room.

We began the process by searching for some inspirational photos of the bedroom elevation which we could reference and present to the clients to show them how the room could be transformed.The following photo was one of the ones that caught our eyes.

 

Being able to read before  bed was a lifestyle need for the clients at UBC house, so we intended to create an optimal environment  for reading. The couple wanted to be able to store their books in a way that also left the room open. For this reason, we designed the millwork with deep shelves for storing  books and accessories. We wanted to create symmetry on either side of the bed which would help the room feel more balanced. We also wanted to create a framed millwork panel with two flush lights for reading and two pendant lights with individual switch controls for the comfort of each reader. 

After getting inspired, we started to draw some preliminary elevations. Take a look at our elevations below, and you can see how we tooled our inspiration from the photos to make them  work for this specific space.

UBC HOUSE PHOTOS - AFTER

In the end, the millwork solved the problem of the overflow of positive space and we also  painted the walls a pale oak colour to allow more reflection of the natural light. We commissioned a painter friend to provide a soothing and relaxing scene that we could use as a focal point. This focal point can be seen from all angles of the room. 

Changing the existing pot lights to higher output, warm temperature LEDS also helped to increase the volume of the light in the room, which created a sensation of openness. Around the bed we added the built in millwork as we designed in our elevation drawings.

For the office, we ran the millwork storage down the length of the north wall, adding a small space for a desk at the end. We removed the partition door to the den, and added additional millwork storage to the wall behind the desk area, for paperwork, documents etc.

       For UBC house we were able to triumph over the cons, bringing out the warmth and openness of the space. By taking away the interrupting volume and replacing it with recessed storage and long clean lines, we were able to create the open and positive space the clients were looking for. Our clients at UBC house are thrilled with their new design and we look forward to making another successful marriage in the form and function of the Tao. 

Live Edge Tables - A Growing Trend in Vancouver Interior Design

An interior design trend that is gaining momentum both in Vancouver as well as other areas of the west cost is the "live edge" or "wild edge" table. Premium designers of live edge tables emphasize the use of reclaimed or salvaged wood,  often saving pristine offcuts from combustion or landfill. Wood species commonly found in west coast design include: red cedar, maple, douglas fir and oak. Walnut and other wood species are harder to find and can be more expensive per board foot.

For a well designed live edge dining table, expect to pay upward of $1200- $5000 depending on the size and wood species selected. Live edge tables are currently being mass produced, but we recommend using a local designer who specializes in reclaimed, or salvaged wood. This employs local artisans, in addition to preventing unnecessary deforestation. Some designers will sell you a raw slab which you can then finish yourself, but if you aren't interested the DIY method, most are prefinished and ready for quick sale.

If you would like to know more about sourcing a live edge table for your own home or office, feel free to contact  Shima Alavi, Principal interior designer at our Vancouver office: shima.alavi@taointeriors.com, or submit a contact form on our website at www.taointeriors.com
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Colour and Mood in Interior Design - The Psychology of Colour

When a room is well designed, you walk in it and feel peaceful and at ease. Most of the time, we don't really pay attention to the reason why this happens. It is the interior designer's job to create the ambiance and mood of a room through a careful and selective process. Based on your preferences, you should feel both mentally and physically comfortable within your space.

There are multiple techniques the designer can use to achieve this balance in comfort. One of them, and the topic of today's post , is colour.

Being close to the water, mountains and trees, nature's presence has a huge effect on interior design choices in Vancouver and on the west coast, but nature's influence isn't the only one. Colour can interfere or influence our moods and thoughts. These feelings vary depending on the client's age, gender and culture.

Let's examine the different colours and their psychological meanings:

Blue: is a calming and serene hue, and is often used in offices because it is thought to promote productivity and enhance intuition. Be careful though, it is a also a cool colour so it can also bring a feeling of sadness to a room that is not balanced with other hues.

 

Green: is considered a restful colour on the eye. It is believed to relieve stress and promote mental relaxation so it is great when used in the bedroom, to promote tranquility.

 

Orange: stimulates creativity and enthusiasm, it is a very cheerful and energetic and promotes feelings of rejuvenation. It's a great colour for an exercise room, or as an accent colour on walls, fabrics, throws, or furnishings.

 

 

Yellow: is a happy colour, it captures the brightness of sunshine. It can be used vastly, but it can be a bit overwhelming if used as the main color scheme. Yellow encourages communication, so it is great to be used in kitchens and living rooms, but it can also cause eye strain so it's best not to use it in baby rooms.

 

Red:  is a very uplifting and energetic colour. It is great when used in kitchens or dining rooms, as it is known to increase appetite. Used in a living room, it draws and connects people together. In some cultures, red is thought to represent wealth and prosperity. It also stimulates passion.

Brown: is a classic blend of various hues and it never gets old. Brown invokes feelings of stability and grounds the room with a solid earth tone.  Brown reminds us psychologically of nature, and is thought to promote feelings of strength and security.

Purple: is an uplifting colour. It is dramatic and sophisticated and it's great when wanting to create that 'wow' factor. A lighter hue, like lavender, has a calming feel, similar to blue, but it is easier to use because it is never as "chilly".

White: White is a classic, can be used widely throughout a space. It embodies the essence of balance and purity, being comprised of  an equal balance of all the colors in the spectrum. White helps to create a bright, clean and vibrant space that maximizes available light. White is also elegant, but it needs to be accented in the right way, to avoid creating sterile, vacuous space.

Black: has the power to ground a room, and like white, is very elegant and sophisticated. Psychologically, black evokes mystery and a sense of protection. It is sometimes better to use as an accent colour, as it absorbs rather than reflects light.

 

 

If you would like to book a interior or exterior colour consultation, please contact Shima Alavi, Principal interior designer at our Vancouver office: shima.alavi@taointeriors.com, or submit a contact form on our website at www.taointeriors.com

 

 

Design Theory: How to Place Furniture

Are you looking to change up your living room? Is it uncomfortable to walk in that tight entry way?  Or is it hard to have guests over because you feel like you don't have enough space to host a group of people? In this post, we will help you understand why. Most of the time it is all about furniture spacing and placement.

Many times when we host a party we feel like there isn't enough space for everyone. This is caused mostly because people place their furniture in the wrong way or don't follow simple guidelines. With a few tricks we will show you how successful your furniture layout can be.

•  As a rule of thumb it is a good idea to leave 3.5' and 10' between seating so your guests can easily talk to each other without the room feeling too crowded,
• Allow 18" between a coffee table and a sofa to give enough leg room but at the same time be able to reach for your drinks,
• Place a rug about 24" between the wall and a big sized rug in a large room, and between 12"- 18" in a smaller room. Place the rug in a strategic way: at least the front two legs of a sofa or armchair should rest on the rug.
• Make sure to have some occasional chairs on hand so that they can easily be pulled in to accommodate additional guests - position chairs  24" apart for guests to pass through.
• When selecting a dining table, allow at least 36" between the dining table and walls or other furniture to have enough space to move around freely

• When setting the table provide 18-24" between dining chairs to prevent your guests from being in each other's way. For smaller spaces a circular table can maximize the amount of chairs you  can have at one sitting.
• Last but not least, good lighting is very important when sharing a meal with friends and family. A good rule to follow is to hang your light fixture 24"-32" above the table

Want to learn more? contact one of our designers on our website at www.taointeriors.com

Design of the Day - Yumi Chair

The Yumi chair By Laura Kishimoto is an amazing piece of furniture. Its futuristic look and complex craftwork engages the mind. Made out of ash veneer, the chair is inviting and embracing at the same time. Laura describes the chair as

"the result of an ongoing exploration of creating form  through a combination of the designer’s conscious aesthetic decisions and the will of the material".

Completion of E.29th. Avenue Project with Lane Fab Design/Build

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are so very happy to be finished our our project on E.29th Avenue with the award winning team at LaneFab Design/Build Vancouver's pre-eminent builder of laneway homes. For this project the theme was light and airy, with punches of colour accenting the visual lightness of white and warm grey. Chrome was added to reflect light, and transparent furniture helped to make the space seem even more spacious and liveable. In this smaller home one of the key the focal points was definitely was view to the outside, and we were successful in framing it prominently as a feature. As part of our ongoing theme to bring the outdoors indoors, carefully chosen accent colours aided in the creation of a visual balancing between the main living areas and the natural environment.

 

Recently Comlpleted Deep Cove Project Features Latest in West Coast Contemporary Design

 

This stunning property in the heart of deep cove was finished with contemporary design elements, while maintaining a thematic balance between the natural surroundings. For more information on this and other projects please contact us via our website at www.taointeriors.com
 

Gray Magazine + Moe's Home Collection Fundraiser For Mental Health

Last night, we attended a fun-filled evening at  Moe's Home Collection celebrating Moe's new look,  Gray Magazine's 2 year anniversary, featuring artists and designers in support of Mental Health -  with all charitable proceeds being donated to St. Pauls Hospital. For this event, Joel Berman, of Joel Berman Glass Studios , Christian Woo and three other designers were asked to design their own concept of a mirror for the silent auction. We entered the auction and were fortunate enough to win Christian Woo's entry #2!!!  A beautiful mirror designed from solid walnut. We we were so pleased to win something made by this award winning designer and hope to feature his work in some of our future projects.

Thanks to everyone at Moe's and Gray Magazine for hosting this fun-filled event, which was in support of a great cause!

Living Design

 

 

 

 

You don't have to lift a brush to brighten up the spaces in your home. Plants add  life to your home, and provide a natural accent colour that can co-exist with virtually any of the other accent colours already present in your design.

Try using any healthy vibrant lush plant with a white vase to add color and life to any room. White is a wonderful colour for plant pots - a simple white vase like the one pictured above is a beautiful way to display a plant. Everything looks sharp next to it, and the true character and beauty of the plant become immediately noticeable.

Indoor plants can make you think of spring and summer in a cold climate and also they can help you to overcome those winter blues.

If you are the kind of person who fears that plants wouldn't last very long due to neglect,  or forgetfulness, you could try incorporating various members of the succulent, tropical or cactus varieties. Below is a great list of plants that require very little in the way of maintenance:

Zamioculcas  (Common name "Zanzibar Gem" or "ZZ Plant")  

Crassula ovata  (Common name "Jade Plant")

Sansevieria trifasciata (Common name "Mother-In-law's Tongue")

Hevea brasiliensis  (Common name "Rubber Tree")

Dracaena reflexa (Common name "Song of India")

Design of the Day - Ingo Maurer's Zettel'z 6 Lamp

Ingo Maurer Zettel'z 6 Lamp

The Zettel'z 6 lamp was designed by Ingo Maurer in Germany. This unique design was recently featured at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York. The Ingo Maurer Zettel'z 6 Suspension uses 40 printed- and 40 blank Japanese paper sheets. Ingo Maurer uses this Japanese paper as a translucent medium whichss allows light to pass though the scripted pages. The 40 printed sheets display love letters in many languages, and the owner is invited to participate in the creativity. 40 blank pages are supplied to let you create your own letters and add to the design. 

Design of The Day - By Our Own Designer- Pardis Dehghani

Recently one of our in house designers, Pardis Dehgani, completed this custom furniture design with the use of AutoCAD, and a little imagination. The finished product was assembled and finished by one of our product partners, and was recently delivered to a happy client. Just another example of a great design our team is capable of producing. Great job Pardis!

Design of the Day - Golden Iris Coffee Table - Andres Schneiter

Design of the Day - Golden Iris Table - By Andres Schneiter 

Today's design of the day features the work of local furniture designer
Andres Schneiter. The contemporary lines of this piece reveal the evidence
of a skilled craftsman and designer, as well as a truly original artistic
vision.

Over the past few years, Andres Schneiter's furniture designs have been
featured at IDSWest in Vancouver, where his designs have increasingly
garnered the attention and accolades of the design community. Andres's
work is designed and fabricated in his own Maple Art Studio,
where he welcomes enquiries regarding custom furniture designs in a
variety of wood types. 

For more information about this designer or other designs featured in

Design Of The Day, please feel free to contact us.