A Magnetic Experience!

The Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum needed help with the design of a temporary exhibit to be housed in the CMU Natural History Museum.  We came up with a field of shiny metal tubular discovery stations.  The towers captured the lights from the existing fixtures to create a glow on the exhibits and surrounding surfaces.  Mirror frames were also designed to be integrated with graphics inspired by northern lights.

How Would It Look if...?

It can be very difficult to picture how an addition might look on an existing house.  Design and planning models can be very effective ways to test ideas and make sound decisions.



Existing House Model

 


2 Story Option







1 Story Option



Front View with Color



Taming the Clutter & Tying it All Together!

This family with young children uses their main living space for multiple purposes - from kids play zone to TV area to a space for music lessons to a homework area and they love to entertain - whew!!  They were looking for ways to make the space look well designed, incorporate their existing artwork and support multiple functions.

Before Photos

We started by creating an inspiration board with soft calming colors and natural elements:

The family's existing artwork and furniture was then incorporated into a board full of ideas for the family to use when they were ready to choose paint colors, furniture and accessories.

We also developed a new space plan and potential built in system that can help to better organize the space, create a place for the TV and provide lots of storage for homework, toys and music.

Arts & Crafts Fantasy!

This home owner is a writer who loves the light, detail and richness of a historic home mixed with a touch of modern design and fantasy. 

Living room / Library / Bar - before:





Bar / Library Before



After

We started work with inspiration boards to try to capture the home owner's tastes in furniture accessories and color. 

We further developed the inspiration board to include existing furniture and accessories as well as planned furniture and accessory purchases to help achieve a cohesive design.

We also did some redesign to the back wall of the bar area.  The existing mirror made the space seem dark and masculine.  An arch was suggested to help tie the bar area into the arts and crafts furniture selections and help soften the space.  It also reminded the homeowner of warm Tuscan design.

Bar Area Study Model

The end result is three distinct rooms connected by color and beautiful furniture and accessories.  It is a perfect creative writer's retreat!

No Warts! Floor Plans

The original main level floor plan:

After working together we developed a fully integrated final floor plan with a really great kitchen with high ceilings and clerestory windows!

Section view through house showing cool kitchen design:



No Warts!

This is a model of a charming Cape Cod style house that needed more space for a family that likes to entertain.  The homeowners asked for design ideas to add space that keep and enhance the charm of the house.  The owner said she had seen too many additions that were not integrated into the design of the original house and ended up looking like "warts" growing off of the side of the house! 

The back of the house was the biggest concern. The rear of the property was beautiful and woodsy, but it wasn't designed for  the family to entertain and enjoy the back yard.  The big concrete slab was boring and univiting!  The family wanted an addition that would provide additional family room space but would still look like part of the house.  They also requested suggestions for additions to the master bedroom and updates to the kitchen.

This design model shows additions developed with the home owners, including changes to the roofs to open up the house to the views of the forest and add more light and space to the house.  The new addition helps to create a more private outdoor "room" with the existing concrete slab.

The model was used to explore how exterior building materials can be used to tie the new additions and existing house.