I’ve devoted today to completing the final revisions of the perfect floor plan to my client’s home renovation design. The scope of this very exciting project has been known to shift, change and grow over the past few months as we continued to dig deeper into the “true needs” of their busy family life.  Over time we explored various combination’s and permutations of space, scale and volume as it related to their lifestyle– and I can now say with confidence I will be presenting them with (what I feel to be) the ideal new floor plan for their charming (yet dated and spatially challenged) Cape Cod styled home.

Main Floor – Revisions will include additional square footage off the rear of the home – resulting in the ideal floor plan!

Spatial relationships are extremely important when planning a successful home renovation.  The perfect plan must maintain consistency, uniformity, proportion and flow seamlessly from one space to another – at all times respecting the original architecture of the home.

Creating that perfect floor plan is as unique as each client’s design profile – no two clients’ needs are exactly alike – and no two home renovation projects are alike.

So it comes down to a simple mathematical equation involving both addition and subtraction:

Adding Square Footage + Subtracting Existing Walls = Spacious Floor Plan

The truth is – older homes tend to be more compartmentalized where one room is isolated from the next and in my client’s case, removing existing walls and adding some new space at the front and rear of the home instantly opens up the floor plan and layout – ultimately creating a visual connection from space to space and making the flow of the home more feel more open, accessible and spacious.

Mission accomplished!

Next step – elevations and details!

Stay Inspired!

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2011 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Planning and designing is the most creative part of any home renovation, remodel or addition project, as it allows you to express yourself truly and honestly.

If you’ve hired a design professional it then becomes their job to make sense of all your wants and needs – and to program and develop a detailed client profile in order to begin the planning and design phase of your project.

Keep in mind that spatial relationships are extremely important when planning a successful layout. As you see your floor plan evolve, you want to aim for consistency, uniformity, and proportion from one space to another.

For example: Don’t triple the size of your kitchen and expect that by leaving the adjacent family room the same quaint size, it will work in seamlessly with the new.  That old space will undoubtedly be incongruent with the scale and proportion of the new space.

If you face design dilemmas with confidence and implement strong planning and design strategies, you’ll achieve the greatest results. Always remember to balance good design with practicality and follow solid theories and principles to get you through.

Here are 10 valuable tips to consider when developing a good solid floor plan:

1. Consider how your home is situated on its lot, particularly the orientation and view – and maximize the assets.
2. Plan traffic flow to increase convenience from room to room.
3. Notice the current circulation patterns in your home. You should be able to move about from space to space without obstacles blocking you.
4. Older homes tend to be more compartmentalized where one room is isolated from the next—open that up in the renovation.
5. Look for visual connection from space to space.
6. Make sure the foyer is centrally situated and is easily accessible from all areas of the house.
7. A closet near the entry is a great convenience.
8. The path from the garage and/or laundry room to the kitchen should be short and direct, especially for unloading groceries.
9. Having relationships between spaces creates a more inviting and workable environment.
10. Keep traffic and circulation off to one side of the room and not through the space.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “15 Money Saving Strategies When Planning Your Home Renovation”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.

Brown Residence, Week 8

Having accumulated enough data to bring the Brown’s design concept into focus gives me the information I need to really begin developing a comprehensive and well-designed floor plan.  It’s my job to make sense of Liz and Mark’s wants and needs and implement them into the overall layout and floor plan.

Remember we are working with and existing home of approx. 3,800 square feet and potentially adding on another 2,000+ square feet to the existing structure.

Spatial relationships are extremely important when planning a successful layout.  As the floor plan begins to evolve, we must aim for consistency, uniformity, proportion and flow from one space to another.

The development of a solid floor plan is where you begin to see your dream take shape.  It’s a process that evolves over time between the designer and client, and is the first crucial step in providing you with a true reflection of how your family really lives.

Committing to a final floor plan takes time to develop.  From a sketch on tracing paper to completed CAD drawings – the ultimate goal is to create a fantastic layout that is perfect for you!

Here Are 5 Key Strategies For A Smooth Planning Process:

1. Work very closely with your designer or architect.
2. As questions – if you don’t understand the drawings, have them explained until you do.
3. Take your time and plan methodically to avoid costly errors.
4. Make sure your designer implements all of your desires and understands your priorities.
5. A fully detailed plan helps to avoid any miscommunications.

I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes”

Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca.
© 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc