Understanding the Entire Home Design

People have often looked at me quizzically when I have requested photos or pictures of home interiors, especially if our scope of work is an exterior entry!

To create the best possible design fit, the overall nature of both and exterior design needs to be reviewed and understood.

This does not mean that timbers outside mandate the use of timbers inside, but rather, achieving a complimentary feel means looking at the entire picture, from fixtures and furniture to the actual size and volume of the space. Which is why I’m tickled pink with the content Alan Mascord has provided for this article.

Alan produces plans that look good, have complete information, and are easy to work with. John, the Chief Manager at Mascord, and I bumped into one another at a home show recently and talked about how we could work together to get Arrow’s readers some tips on home design. Enjoy and learn from the info they have compiled for you!

Certain design principles apply to all house plans. Proportion, rhythm, creating a focal point—these are the kinds of considerations that interior designers and architects pour over in a home plan. Today we’re covering a universal and timeless design tenet: Unity between interior and exterior styles.

A consistent interior/exterior theme creates a soothing, enjoyable experience for the visitor and resident alike. Uniformity between indoor and outdoor spaces is pleasing to the human eye. So, if your home’s exterior has a Spanish Colonial feel, it makes sense to continue this theme indoors.

To help you achieve interior/exterior design harmony, we’ve gathered a few characteristics of two of our most popular styles of home plans: Craftsman home plans and contemporary home plans.

Common Elements in Craftsman-style Home Interiors

Built-in bookcases and other built-in storage options, such as bench storage on the porch.

Hardware with a patina. Look to specialty hardware stores to acquire period pieces, such as cabinet handles and drawer pulls. Or you can purchase special patina kits for transforming your current hardware.

Wood throughout. The Craftsman style embraces the use of natural materials, including wood.

Create a warm, friendly Craftsman atmosphere by framing the fireplace with wood, for instance. Other potential placements for wood include crown molding, coffered ceilings or more rustic exposed beams and trusses, and tongue and groove wall paneling.

Stained glass accents—Frank Lloyd Wright, the undisputed master of the Craftsman style, often included stained glass windows in his house plans.

Craftsman stained glass windows are more muted than, say, cathedral windows. For Craftsman style, stained glass window patterns should be geometric, not pictorial.

If the idea of installing a row of stained glass windows seems a bit excessive, you can include this Craftsman characteristic via stained glass window hangings, cabinet doors, and even glass shower enclosures.

Common Elements in Contemporary Home Interiors

Neutral paint colors, including beige, brown, cream, and white.

Clean, simple furniture with little to no ornamentation. Light timbers, such as birch, maple, and oak, are preferred materials for furniture in contemporary homes. Natural, Robust Materials. Keep it clean and simple: exposed wood, stone, ceramic and concrete finishes.

Natural, textured fabrics in neutral tones. Think silk, cotton, linen, and wool. If you need to jazz up a room, consider a single blanket or accent piece in a bold color, or in an audacious geometric pattern.

Lighting fixtures are often metallic in contemporary homes. Lamps and sconces should be used to bring attention to art and other favorite design elements.

What Category am I?

If your house plan doesn’t fall into the above categories, no problem! Everyone’s home should be a unique reflection of their personal tastes and values. A bit of internet research will reveal the unique interior traits of your style.

Be sure to keep a portfolio of pictures and ideas. By matching interior and exterior styles in your home, you’ll create a wonderful sense of harmony.

Speaking of starting points, Alan has an excellent portfolio of stock plans you can view at www.mascord.com.

Thanks for providing such valuable info, Mascord Team!

Keep in mind that your style is unlikely to fit neatly into a box, but these guidelines are a great starting point and tool for better communication.

Starting with a stock plan, we will do the work for you! Give us the plans you selected, and the Arrow team will work with you to develop your personalized timber package.

We will then communicate relevant info to the Mascord team and let them work their magic putting the final touches on your home or cabin plans.

To your momentum and success,

– Bert Sarkkinen

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