As an architect and interior designer, I love the challenge of creating spaces that are truly an expression of how the family lives. The continuous process of getting to know my clients is one of my favorite parts of a design project. I will recommend to start that they go through magazines, take photos of what inspires or excites them and think about their values, lifestyle and what types of spaces make them feel comfortable. This type of collaboration with your architect and/or interior designer is such a vital beginning to any design project – the goal is to create spaces that reflect the client.
For my design process, I like to start with the big picture – how does each space within the home relate to the other spaces around it? When you walk into the space, what do you want to perceive and how do you want to feel? This helps me to create a sequence throughout the home of spaces that suit a family’s lifestyle. I next begin the layering process and think about how details, color and texture and the relationship between these elements can reinforce the larger design concepts that we want to achieve.
I recently completed architectural and design work on a newly constructed home in Glencoe that really illustrates the impact of detail. As the design of this house evolved, I began to get a feel for the overall concept: a thoughtful contrast between clean/sleek and vintage. It became very interesting how unusual vintage pieces could bring to life the more streamlined design elements of the home. The images below will take you on a mini tour of the home through the unique detailing!
The doors provide many of the striking details of this residence; every door in the home is a unique vintage piece. This detail from the iron door that leads to the garage was originally from a wine cellar in France.
This is another interesting vintage iron piece; these screens flank the dining room bar and conceal functional shelving.
For the lower level fireplace, I created a twist on the standard fireplace design with these painted resin flowers and tile. The richness of the detail creates a sort of quiet surprise when you first see it – a feeling that we wanted to incorporate throughout the home.
We added whimsical touches to this very modern spa bathroom. This is a free-standing glass wall with embedded dyed leaves, and I wanted the light fixture to feel like a charm bracelet.
This is an example of how detail can help a large space feel cozy and intimate. The vintage fixture in this entryway is from France, and the brick is antique common brick salvaged from Chicago buildings.
I think the floor-to-ceiling richly textured tiled wall in this powder room is a great example of how to use lots of texture without exhausting the eye. The fixtures and other walls are kept very clean and simple to give the eye a place to rest.
Sometimes a structural challenge can be a great opportunity to use innovative design and detail. This
house has a partial steel structure with some exposed columns. I wanted to dress the column to keep with the feel of the house and used reclaimed barn wood timbers and vintage doors to create functional cabinets while simultaneously concealing the column.
I hope I’ve given you an idea of how texture and detail can bring interest to a space! Attend the Glencoe PTO Housewalk to see firsthand the relationship between the detail and overall design of this residence.
Submitted: by Terri Crittenden, Architect and Interior Designer
Susan Fredman Design Group
350 West Erie, Chicago IL
312.587.8150
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