I remember back when I was in interior design school our professors (who were all architects by training) always asking us to consider the “transitions”. To be honest, I couldn’t really understand their fascination with how a stair was detailed, or how the inside and the outside of a building were connected, or how a countertop intersected with the cabinets in a kitchen.
I wanted to choose paint colours and furniture and materials and all of the other fun things we normally associate with interior design. The last thing I wanted to do was spend six hours drawing a detail of a stair tread!
Well, I’m happy to say now that I get it, I really get it! It is about the transitions. The ways in which spaces are connected together really does make a difference. It took awhile for it to sink in but I’m fully there now.
No where is this more true than in new buildings but it is also very important when bridging old-historical and contemporary together. Some of my favourite transitions are modern additions added to the backs or tops of traditional houses. (Perhaps, because this is what I dream of doing to our own Victorian some day.)
Even if you are just renovating your house room by room take some time to think about your doorways, hallways, stairs and mouldings. All combined the look of these things will make a big difference to your home.
So tell me the truth, do you take these things into consideration when designing your home? I know it’s hard to spend money on a door when you want to fill your house with furniture and redo your bathroom but I think it might be worth it. Would you agree?
If you need more convincing you can check out the rest of my Transition pins over on Pinterest!
Image credits: 1 – Shim Sutcliffe Architects – James Dow photo 2 – Shim Sutcliffe Architects – Bob Gundu photo 3 – hiswii.soup.io 4- Carr Architects 5 – a note on design tumblr 6 – Lynda Reeves home – House and Home – Michael Alberstat photo 7 – Architectural Digest – Pieter Estersohn photo
9 Comments
I find transitions to be key – I really don’t like it when I see houses perfectly done but they didn’t finish the corner of the baseboard or open rooms have 3 different types of flooring or even how looking through rooms and the colour palette doesn’t transition. For me it’s hard to be patient and wait to have the small details finished that I think can make or break a room.
I completely agree! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about wanting to go back to school with the knowledge I now have. It would be a whole different ball game! My one professor always used the word “relationships” when describing elements in a home and I was all about “but look how pretty this chair is!” It’s kind of like when you grow up and realize that your mom is usually right – apparently professors are too.
Me too! I get so excited when I see a Victorian house with Modern features. We renovated two Victorian homes in London, I just wish I had the money to have done something like that! I love that the glass window! Great post!
Yay! You listened to us!
I’m afraid to overshare just how much I agree
all I’m going to say is that no one who has seen our bathroom remodel has once commented on how tile is perfectly aligned and perfectly transitions from the shower, to the wall, to the floor, etc. I guess you either pay attention to those things, or you don’t. Even if it is as simple as subway tile.
Wonderful post.
I DO think about this stuff…a lot…
In fact, I think the only reason our original renovation of the main floor of the house is so pleasing, is because we hired a VERY talented architect (he is an artist)…I learned so much watching him, and the amount of attention he paid to every single detail.
couldn’t agree more….great post!
God yes I agree totally. I too remember my wonderful professor in interior design school harping on about this – though he called it ‘approach’.
Nice decor in a badly designed house is just ‘make up’. A well designed house doesn’t need much covering up, and it makes all the difference to spend that little extra time and effort at the building phase of creating a home.
Lovely post and yummy Pinterest link. Thank you.
x Charlotta
Being thoughtful of the details when undergoing a new build or renovation is so important, I agree wholeheartedly. And this makes the difference of a well designed space or one that is lacking. When the project is re-decoration and transitions can not be changed then I approach them as neutral as possible, to not draw attention and focus the design and detail on the fun stuff, furniture, colours and materials. Great post Emma!
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