The final project of the fall semester is Mary's House a live-in group home in Greensboro, NC for drug/alcohol  addicted mothers and their children.  Mary's House is one of the few facilities in North Carolina that allows children to remain with their mothers as they strive to free themselves from the grip of addiction.
     The project involved teams of students who selected individual rooms in Mary's House and gave them a much-needed facelift.  Each room had a $20,000 budget.  The work was then combined into one presentation for Craig Thomas, executive director of Mary's House and interior designer Betsey Isley.  This presentation will be used to raise funds and acquire donations to make the recommended improvements.  The presentation will also be submitted later  this spring to a contest for non-profit design, sponsored by HDTV.  Winning non-profits will receive $20,000.00 to upgrade their facilities.   
     My room was the kitchen, which must be configured as a commercial restaurant facility due to the particular status of Mary's House.  My teammate Kaylan Providence and I made a number of changes to make the existing kitchen easier to clean and provided more storage and work surfaces.  

     The new floor plan and a list of changes made to the room.

  The new tile walls include the colors of milk matte, cookie, goldfish, zest, splash, and teal agate.


                                          Furnishings and Finishes Schedule with Pricing

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to EVERYONE!

Camp Second Floor Floorplan

     The second floor space plan is now complete for the Camp Activity Center.  One would think that designing this space to be barrier-free would be the most difficult portion of this project, but marrying a living space with an executive office and conference room on the second floor was very demanding due to tight space requirements.  The project specified that the living space needed to be approximately 1100 square feet, leaving little room for the office areas.  It took creativity (and a lot of patience) to arrange the rooms in the allowed space.

      The second floor is entered through either an outside staircase or an elevator located on the first floor.   A private hallway connects the executive office and the conference room, encircling the massive tree trunk that rises from the first floor Activity Area.  A door in the hall leads to the living quarters, which can also be accessed through the second floor front balcony.  The living Quarters include a kitchen, living/dining area, master bedroom and bath, a half bath with laundry, and a guest bedroom/den.  As with the first floor,  sustainable features were required in the furnishings and finishes of the offices and living quarters.  All rooms feature carpets and flooring produced with rapidly sustainable fibers and all furniture is produced from either sustainably produced or recycled wood products and finished with low VOC varnishes to improve indoor air quality.  It was refreshing to see the large selection of furniture that is now being produced with green considerations.  The furnishings are very compatible with the tree theme which begins on the first floor and is carried throughout the living quarters and office areas.  The result is a relaxing environment that reflects the respect for nature that the camp itself strives to foster.

MATERIALS AND FINISHES

     The materials and finishes specified for the first floor of the Camp Activity Center must have sustainable features as well as functioning beautifully.  Growing awareness of green design and the desire for properties to achieve LEED ratings has meant that more products are being produced with sustainable features, yet finding the right material can still present a considerable challenge.

     The most obvious feature in the Activity Center is the use of whole tree architecture.  This form was adapted in America by Roald Gunderson and utilizes full-form trees that have often been reclaimed from urban areas, parks,  or national forests.  The technique qualifies for LEED credits in materials and resources, rapidly renewable sources, regional materials, and certified wood.

The Lipse Stackable Chair from Davis Furniture has selected for its clean, modern lines and the fact that it is Indoor Advantage Gold Certified for its low VOC finishes.

The Wheelchair Accessible Butcher Block Table by Hausmann  also earns the Indoor Advantage Gold Certification for its low VOC finish and features a hank crank to adjust its height.  The thick natural maple top can hold more than 300 pounds.

   
  The floors of the Activity Center are extremely important because they must not only be easy to maintain under heavy traffic, but also serve as way finding tools for the visually impaired campers.
Armstrong Commercial Natural Linoleum with Naturcote was selected  in two contrasting colors for its durability and its unique sustainable features.   The material is naturally sustainable and 100% USDA Certified Biobased.  It is also 35% pre-consumer recycled content and 36% rapidly renewal materials.  The Naturcote finish is low VOC.

     An interesting fact about this flooring is that it is produced
from an original linoleum formula developed in 1909.  It contains linseed oil, wood powder, and jute backing.  It is amazing to realize that a product more than 100 years old has surged to the forefront of modern sustainable design.  It proves that technology must sometimes look back to move forward!      

Flooring also plays a major part in the design of the raised stage
and prop room.  Natural bamboo planking from EcoTimber was selected because it is sustainablely  produced and is finished with low VOC varnishes.  Its light color provides a good contrast from the darker linoleum and makes it easier for vision-impaired campers to see the edge of the stage.

Camp Activity Center First Floor

     The floor plan for the first level of the Camp Activity Center is now complete and the concept is beginning to take shape.  When you enter the front door, the first things that you will notice are the trees.  Eight real tree trunks, complete with natural branches encircle the large open activity area, leading the eye toward a great Douglas Fir that rises majestically up through an opening into the second floor.   Contrasting way-finding paths lead from the door down both sides of the building, guiding campers to their destinations. Way-finding symbols and Braille labels are found on the trees as well to aid vision impaired campers as they navigate the large open spaces where canes may not be helpful.  On the right is the nurse's office, located close to the front door for easy access.  Two barrier-free bathrooms are next to the office, easily reached by campers in the activity area.  On the left hand side, a raised barrier-free stage framed by whole trees and equipped with wheelchair ramp faces the activity area.  A prop room with dressing and makeup areas  joins the stage and continues down the side of the building.   

    The center of Activity Center has tables and seating for thirty campers, including two tables that are wheelchair accessible.  The space is open to allow for a wide range of activities and projects.  The tables encircle the Great Tree, which inspires the creative spirit.  Storage bins for each camper are located on the back wall and a storage cabinet with a sink is positioned on the left wall for quick clean-ups.  The activity area has  easy access to the back door and an elevator to the second floor.  In all, the first floor provides a safe, comfortable environment for children of all abilities to express themselves.

Camp Activity Center Concept Statement

Work has begun in ernest on the concept statements for the Camp Activity Center.  A concept statement is not always easy to define, yet it is the foundation on which a project is built.  We began by brainstorming and creating a mood board to help refine our feeling about this project.  The mood board is a collage of pictures, colors, and textures that express our emotions regarding the Activity Center and its goals.

My concept statement is "Nurture Through Nature" and these mood board images help illustrate my feelings about this statement.  The facility will encourage campers to build self-esteem and break down personal barriers while exploring nature and themselves.  The soothing greens, browns, and golds will help generate a natural sense of security and inclusiveness as children of all abilities learn to reach out and discover strengths that they never knew they possessed.  

 The camp name "Awerika" is the Iroquois word for their nation, meaning literally "We Are Here in Unity".  The camp will stress the unity of the campers with each other and the greater world, regardless of their disabilities.  

 The concept will incorporate design principals and elements and such as rhythm, variety, shape, scale, and texture as it is expressed in organic materials.  The result will be uplifting and positive, designed to display the marvel of the natural world while revealing the inner strength that lives in us all.

Field Trip to Montpelier and Monticello

     An added treat to enhance our studies in historic preservation was an over-night field trip on October 10-11 2013 to the presidential residences of Montpelier and Monticello, both located near Charlottesville, Virginia.  This was our first overnight class trip and everyone was excited to experience these famous historic sites as well as the fine dining and shopping of Charlottesville.  Many historic sites operated by the national Parks Service were closed due to the government shutdown, but luckily, neither Montpelier nor Monticello were effected.  I was unable to go with the class at the last minute, but I was with the group in spirit!

     Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison, was the first stop on the excursion.  The class toured the ca. 1797 Greek Revival mansion, getting a personal look at the period furnishing and architectural details of the drawing room, dining room, library, and bedchamber.  Dolley Madison had a strong local connection to our group, as she was a native of Guilford County, North Carolina.  She and James Madison entertained hundreds of guests sat Montpelier in the years following his second term as president.  Financial problems led to Dolley Madison selling the mansion and plantation in 1844, and an ongoing effort continues to locate and acquire as many of the original furnishings as possible.

     Thomas Jefferson's legendary home Monticello is much more familiar to the average American than Montpelier.  The mansion's exquisite architecture, designed by Jefferson himself, places it among the most famous of American structures.  The west front view with its commanding octagonal dome is prominently featured on the back of the nickel, with Jefferson himself on the front.  Touring this amazing residence gives insight into the true genius of  Thomas Jefferson, as the rooms are filled with his numerous inventions and experiments.

The interiors of Monticello radiate with an ingenuity that goes far beyond the standard architectural features of their time, showing a bold hand with form and color.

         
                            The incredible play of light and shadow in the dome room.

     In all, the experience of visiting Montpelier  and Monticello exemplifies the very best in historic preservation and shows the importance of continuing to identify and protect structures that demonstrate the best design characteristics of their time periods.  At various times throughout their long history, both Montpelier and Monticello have faced uncertain futures.  Thankfully, concerned people were there to protect these irreplaceable parts of American history.

  

     Fall Semester in Commercial Design II kicked off with an exciting interior design competition sponsored by the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library.  Randolph Community College was the only community college to compete last year and was proud to have a fourth place winner.  This means that we have a lot to live up to this year!  A prize of $10,000 to the winners assures that the competition will be keen.
     This year's challenge is an activity center for a co-ed sleepover camp located on 1200 acres in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  The camp specializes in activities for 30 traditional and special need children and must be barrier-free and fully accessible.  The second floor of the center will encompass a private residence for the camp director, an executive office, and an executive conference room.  The first floor will contain a nurses station, restrooms, storage area, a stage with a prop room, and an open activity area with removable tables and chairs.  In addition to designing the space, we must each form a concept statement, name the facility and design a logo.  This demanding project will take the entire semester and a wide range of skills to complete.
     The process has begun and we are brainstorming!  The class recently toured Victory Junction, a camp for critically ill children located in Randleman, NC, to observe firsthand what a camp for special needs children entails.  We all came away with inspiration to pour into our own projects and incredible respect for the staff and children of this remarkable place.    

The hot new movie "The Great Gatsby" has caused alot of buzz about the style of the 1920s and '30s.  Art Deco has been largely neglected since it was stamped out during the Great Depression, but many expertss predict a return of the sleek, streamlined design form thanks to the oplunent sets of "Gatsby".  My Residential I class has decided to embrace Art Deco by using it as an influence on our project house, which is based on the actual residence of instructor Holly Barker.


I have not been a personal fan of Art Deco until now, and it has become a case of judging without full knowledge.  My experience with the form had been limited to peeling veneer "waterfall" beds and chunky,rounded dressers.  Following an afternoon of research in High Point's Furniture Design Library, I realized that Art Deco was the catalist for the Mid-Century and Modern furniture that I love and its visual lineage decends from the classic Beidermeire designs of the 1820s.  Like any furniture style, when it is seen in its highest form, it hits with tremendus impact and stirs my imagination.  I think that I may even rescue an old club chair that has been languishing in my grandmother's basement!

Spring Semester is finished and one of my favorite projects from Introduction To Interiors is ready for presentation!  The project consisted of designing a gender-neutral cupcake shop for fictitious owner Matthew Dwyer.   The assignment really appealed to me since my husband Walter and I spent 20 years operating a donut and cake shop.

As you walk through the door of Dwyer’s SugarRush, you will experience a treat to both the eye and the sweet tooth.  Your attention is grabbed immediately by the stainless steel and bamboo veneer dropped ceiling arching over the cash wrap with its sleek, modern showcases filled with gourmet cupcakes.  To the right is seating for 26 guests, encompassing three arched, circular stainless steel and bamboo veneer booths, a modern table with matching chairs, and a lounge area featuring modern resin settees and tables beneath a breathtaking circular arch.  A short hallway leads to the bathrooms and back exit door.  Through the door behind the cash wrap is the 350 square foot kitchen, with walk-in refrigerator and freezer units connected to minimize the loss of cold air during use.  A convenient office space is tucked into the left hand corner. A side door allows discreet passage to the back door for trash removal.

     Spring break is just days away and we have completed our first design project in the Introduction to Interior Design class.   The goal of the project was to design a pool house made from a corrugated metal shipping container for a family in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.  Shipping containers are one of the hottest trends in up-cycling today, with thousands being transformed into housing in Europe, but they present some specific design challenges.  The interior space itself is long and narrow, the metal construction tends to hold heat and create a tinny echo.  We were encouraged by our instructor Emily Reynolds to creatively meet these and other challenges while adapting the container to the needs of a family of four.  The Smith family requested a pool house for entertaining, with seating for four or more people that also included a reading area for Mrs. Smith.  

     The first step was to create a floor plan.  I chose to cut a section from the container and weld it into an "L" shape to provide more floorspace and facilitate movement.  Sliding glass doors were selected to encompass the entire front facing walls.  Next, colors, fabrics and furniture were selected, keeping in mind that all finishes would have to be of an outdoor approved material.  I decided to keep to the theme of recycled materials by adding re-ground rubber flooring, which also reduces the echo effect of the metal container.  Artwork consisted of a tile collage made of recycled skateboards.  The container also featured a green roof to reduce heat.

     After the floor plan was approved, the next step was to color render the wall elevations and apply them to foam core board to create a 3D model.  The model was then cut out, assembled with straight pins, and photographed.  

The final step of the project was the development of a presentation board, which showed the furnishings and finishes selected for the container.  In all, this project was a great initiation to the world of interior design that allowed us to experience the full range of the designer's responsibilities.

"So, what are the hot trends for the Fall 2012 High Point Furniture Market?"

That's not a million dollar question; it's a multi-billion dollar question!  Designers and manufacturers the world over are hanging on those words and the answers can be hard to define.  The variety of furniture and accessories is so vast that it takes careful observation to spot a real trend instead of being swayed by merely the colorful and unique.  A genuine trend has to have the legs to carry it across many product lines and and last   long enough to justify a manufacturer's investment.  Because of this longevity factor, most predictions are based on observations from the previous market and seasoned with reports from other furniture shows worldwide.  It all adds up to some very important words.

 With that being said, top interior design publication Elle Decor has issued its trend alert for this fall's market.  Based on the optimism that they experienced at the Spring 2012 High Point Furniture Market, Elle Decor has identified the following:

GLAMOUR - People pay attention to details during times of economic hardship, so expect to see lots of high quality materials, sophisticated colors, and luscious curves.

METALLIC LEATHER - Adding glimmering detail to classic styles.

PLEATS - Lots of detailing in upholstered goods.

DINNING ROOM TABLES - Very large but still practical.

SMALL SPACE SOLUTIONS - For those of us who don't have a mega mansion.

GREEN PRODUCTS - Green materials are innovative and creative.   


With a somewhat different view on 2012 furniture trends is Li Edelkoort of Paris-based Trend Union, a company which forecasts trends for some of the world's foremost manufacturers of fashion, beauty, automobiles, and interior design.  Edelkoort has selected these as furniture's new direction:

LIGHTER AND MORE MOBILE - Rooms will have less furniture and the pieces will be both modular and portable.

DAYBEDS - They're back.

UPHOLSTERY - Beautiful pebble-inspired colors.  Tactility is key. 

PAPER AND CARDBOARD - Transformed into durable materials, also involving green construction.

WOOD - More rough and uncut.  Pieces will look more outdoorsy.

METAL - The industrial look is still in, with light weight mesh and colors of black and rust. 


These forecasts come from equally reputable sources, but there is little in common.  One report focuses more on a European audience,but the High Point Furniture Market is fully global in its reach and must be responsive to all potential buyers. This truly illustrates how elusive the definition of a trend really is.  In the long run, only time will tell which predictions are accurate and which miss the mark.   

 

QUESTION: When is a chair like a paraglider?

ANSWER:  When they share the same fabric and design!

Advanced fabrics have been the norm in outdoor sports for years.  Speciality materials that breathe, wick moisture, 

and protect skin from abrasions and the elements have revolutionized the world of sports equipment and clothing, but these high-tech fabrics have seldom crossed over into other products.  The Waver Chair, designed by Munich based Konstantin Grcic for Swiss manufacturer Vitra, boldly combines the best of sports technology to create a cutting edge chair that is as much a style statement as an innovation.   Grcic states that he intended to design a chair that was truly unique and looked to several different sports for inspiration, including windsurfing and paragliding.  The paraglider had the greatest impact, with the cantilevered frame and suspended, form-fitting seat taking cues from the seating harness.  The durable polypropylene fabric  is stretchy and waterproof, allowing the chair to be used outdoors as well as indoors and the aluminum frame swivels, allowing the seat to swing slightly.  The sports influence is seen again in the brilliant color choices available on the Waver Chair.  Not surprisingly, Grcic's breakout chair has generated critical acclaim and has been named 2012 Best Furniture Design by Azure Magazine

Summer usually means a few months of taking it easy, but to interior design students, it means classes in residential and commercial lighting.  Lighting is a fascinating and often underutilized tool of design and now that class is over, I want to share some of my favorite trends in the world of illumination.

Who says that light bulbs have to be ugly?  Certainly not london based Hulgar.  Their interpretation is appropriately called the Plumen, which means plume.  The Plumen is graceful enough to need no shade while saving 80% in energy verses a standard light bulb and maintaining a life expectancy of eight years.

Pendants get wilder and more beautiful every year.  From delicate cascades of Swaroski crystals to dramatic mouth-blown globes, there is something for even taste in LBL Lighting's collection.

                                              

The Mademoiselle 2 is a sparkling piece of jewelry disguised as a low voltage halogen fixture, but not all of LBL's crystal designs are dainty.

Crystals become glistening spears on this suspended fixture called the Roxie, which features interlocking metal rings and aircraft cables.

Mid-Century continues to stand the test of time with a fresh generation of drum shades available in fabric and metal for suspended fixtures.

Last but not least is Molo Design's aptly named Cloud Softlight.  The gently corrugated forms appear to hover weightlessly, as much a freeform sculpture as a light fixture.







 

             

Spring is nearly here and the new color forecast is ready!  Pantone has long been the harbinger of color trends and their palette for Spring 2012 is alive with neons and soft pastels.  Apartment Therapy editors were especially enthused with "Back To The Fuchsia", which combined purples and pinks with green accents. 

Almost polar opposites are the Pantone "Resilience" and "Transending Time" collections.  Both feature muted neutrals and pastels that would find comfort in many interiors. "Resilience" brightens its selection of browns and greens with a flash of flamingo orange.

"Transending Time" relies on wine, plum, and rose blended with wood tones to achieve a soothing harmony.
                                                                                                                                                                      

 

     Pastels are also on the season's trend list for Benjamin Moore, whose "Eclectic Elegance" and "Earth and Sky" selections offer calming neutral tones that can be either warm or cool. 

    

In furniture styles, Mid Century Modern still remains popular. Its clean lines and imaginative pieces fit well with today's open floor plans.  Who says an oldy can't be a goody?

Of course, there will always be traditional.  It has always been the style that most people feel comfortable with and it will continue to be.  But thanks to this year's new color palettes, traditional doesn't have to be boring.  The new brights or the subtle pastels will look equally well.

And what home would be complete without accessories?  These are as essential to the home as they are to fashion.  This year, the trend seems to be transparent, according to Lamps Plus.  A dramatic, clear glass or acrylic ceiling fixture paired with a glass table lamp will complement virtually any setting.

In fabric pattern and throw pillows, bigger is better according to The Trend Curve, who based their prediction on the items seen at the recent International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC.  These bigger, bolder motifs are coming after several years of small patterns and will quickly insert color and pattern into an existing interior. This trend is seen spreading to upholstery fabrics as well.  The Trend Curve is so confident in their observations that they predict bold patterning to dominate fabric accessories in 2013 as well.

The trend toward large motifs is also showing up on other accessories, such as thus lampshade.  At any rate, the year is young, and we can watch and see how all of this year's predictions hold up over time.

Welcome to my design blog.