"You are considered to design a residence in the City of Chicago. The location is in Lakeview.
Neighborhood, near Wrigley Field. The owners are currently living in Los Angeles and will be commuting during the design process and subsequent construction and installation. They are strict with their wishes.
The clients wish for the house to have an interior that does not remind them of a laboratory. They do not care for sleek surfaces. They do like quality
They enjoy arches.
They love the classical language. They do not mind an interpretation of it.
They wish for furniture to have quality, however they do not care for the standard retail type.
They are not scared of color, however they have an art collection of various size paintings they wish to display.
They insist their kitchen will be an interpretation of Tuscan-like feeling in Italy.
They will begin with the complete demolition of the interior. The exterior will be kept intact along with the side porch and rear extension of the house.
The house is to function for parties of up to 30 people.
Lower level:
Provide areas for a bar and tables, a movie theater space that does not have to employ typical movie seats, a bathroom, exercise room, Jacuzzi, storage.
Main level:
Provide living space, Tuscan-like kitchen, dining area, a 'red room' (this room will double as an office and guest room), powder room, and a stairway that will connect all the levels vertically. A water feature is requested by the client, as well as fireplaces at the designer's recommendation for this level and throughout the house.
Top level:
Provide a master suite. Provide two means of egress. Provide a private bath for the guest room."
This was the assignment for my first school project. Clearly a dream house/project to work on (especially as your first "client"), but this is an actual house and project that my professor and his firm had just recently completed. We received the blueprints of the home, along with the above program, and were left to delve into the project at our own interpretation. We were not given any budget constraints; we were given the freedom to explore layout, materials, and design without the added pressure of cutting costs (again, only in school would this ever happen, but it sure was fun!).
Our first six weeks of the program were dedicated to learning the fundamentals of design while concurrently applying them to the development of this project. It's amazing to me how far my class progressed in those six weeks, considering in week one we literally learned how to draw a line in AutoCAD. I would have loved to go into more detail in my project, and fully complete every room, but in six weeks I quickly learned the importance of prioritizing since you can only do so much before the "bell" rings.
Below are my presentation boards for "A House in the CIty." Please forgive the crappy photos, I promise they look much better in-person!
Above: Concept and inspiration images. "An oasis from hectic city living where colors and textures from the Tuscan countryside are referenced throughout, and stark white walls serve as a gallery to showcase the homeowners' vast collection of art. The dark espresso-colored woodwork throughout the home provides a rustic, old-world charm, while a mix of modern and antique furniture pieces provide an eclectic flair"
Above: Main level. Showcased: sample of the wood to be used throughout the home; furniture, materials, inspiration images, and color palettes for the kitchen, dining room, living room, and "red room"
Above: Top level. Showcasing master bed and bath, as well as a second living area.
Above: Lower level. Showcasing ideas for the bar area and theater, as well as a wine cellar I decided to add.
Basically, my goal was to have the house itself serve as a work of art. Since this is the couple's second (at least) home, I wanted to take advantage of the fact that they weren't afraid of color and really have fun with textures and materials that might not be as practical in a home you live in year-round.
Hope you enjoy! Onto project #2...
I have had my eye on one of these bad boys for quite some time now. I feel like I see them everywhere, but I've just never had a reason to buy one! In my new apartment, I have an "office" area (basically just a desk), but finally have the perfect excuse to purchase this chair! This weekend I finally sucked it up and invested (that's what I like to call it) in this amazing piece of furniture.
