Principles of Design

Balance: is the visual weight of elements within a space. Something with good balance has the same weight on all sides.

Symmetrical: identical on both sides. These images are symmetrical because they have the same colors, patterns, shape, structure, or furniture on either side. The images of the church, parlor room, and sorority house have symmetry to make a more formal structure. The other three images are symmetrical to look more comfortable and stylish. We understand the feel of these three images because they are emphasizing certain colors and patterns.

Asymmetrical: not the same on both sides but still balanced. Creates a more casual feel. This is an image of a room in my sorority house where we always watch movies. There is a desk and TV on one side and a couch on the other. Even though both sides are different, the room is still balanced.

The below images are of arrangements of pictures. Although the pictures are not lined up perfectly with one another, the arrangements are still balanced.

The dresser below has an asymmetrical design because of the objects on top of it. Although they do not make a symmetrical picture, the books and lamp balance each other out. The book case in the parlor room is also asymmetrical because of the objects inside.

Radial: elements arranged around a center point. All of these objects has a center structure with other elements protruding from it. Painted lines on the door knob and around the light at the Georgia Theatre create radial symmetry.

Emphasis: has a focal point or element that immediately catches the viewer's eye. In these images, emphasis is created through light (at the end of a garden path and a light fixture on a wall), color pops, points, and a sorority sign against a white house.

Repetition/Rhythm: repeated elements in a design. Creates unity and continuity. The lines on the side of the building creates rhythm within the structure. Repeating stones makes a snaking, interesting pattern in the mulch. The four pictures of doors are examples of repetition because even though they are not the same images, they enforce a similar concept. The shutter has repeating lines and is hanging similar objects. The square pictures mixed with the square pillows and light fixture creates repeating shapes. Hallways in a library are repetitious both because of the books and the multiple book cases. The lines outside of the Holiday Inn entrance are an example of structural repetition.

Movement: the path taken as your eye moves through a space. Can be created by lines, shapes, colors, and forms. Hanging lights move the eye downward and upward in a space. Pictures zig-zagging on the wall move the eye from image to image. Zig-zagging lines on fabrics create movement. Vases with flowers in them move the eye upward.

Proportion/Scale: Relationships of parts to the whole. The images below are examples of both good and bad proportions. Even though the gigantic armoire is disproportional to the size of the room, the TV and objects on either side are proportional to the armoire. The TV on top of the desk is too big for the desk in such a small area. The lamp on the table is the perfect size to fill out the table. The image of a tiny lamp next to a much taller one looks awkward when looking head on at the space. In the image of Stone Henge that I took in London, you can see how huge the stones are compared to the scale of the two humans in the picture.

Unity/Harmony: arrangement between all parts of a space that help it function together. Done through similar finishes, fabrics, colors, shapes, and textures. The sorority house is unified because all of the windows look the same and it uses the same three colors throughout. Although the blue and grey room has different patterns on each bed, the color scheme throughout the room makes it unified. The room with the hemp curtains is unified because both beds have the same covers and the pillows are the same color as the curtains and the decorations on them. Yellow and red are Chi Omega colors, and my room has many elements that are yellow and red to make it a unified space. When curtain colors match the decorations around them, it makes a space more unified. The plates in the parlor room are all the same style, unifying that space and making it formal, but different.

Variety: uses several elements of design to hold the viewer's attention. It guides the eye through the space. The examples of houses I have included all use different materials such as wood, brick, stucco, stone, and glass to give the structure and design variety. Inside of Yoforia, they use a grass material, wood, plastic, and a matte wall to create an interesting visual while  you eat ice cream. Variety of objects used to decorate a room can create a more interesting and exciting scene, but can sometimes look overwhelming.

Space and Texture

Space: an area defined by elements being around one another. This can be obvious, like a space enclosed by walls, or implied, like an empty space between two things or lines showing the outline of a space. Space can be created through artwork or in reality using walls, ceilings, and floors.

Actual: A courtyard is an enclosed space for people to do various activities outside. Cabinets are used as storage spaces for people to stow away various item or to put things on display. They are a space used for organization.

Implied: An archway is an example of an implied space because it is implied that people are to walk through it. Balconies and awnings are spaces where people can sit or stand, or be shielded from sunlight or rain. A parking space is a space designated for cars, and sometimes a specific person. A man-made path is an implied space because so many people have walked on it so it is recognizable as a space to walk.

Texture: the surface quality of an item that can be seen or felt. Can be tactile (you can touch it) or visual (even if you can't touch it, it looks like you would be able to feel it). Implied textures strive to mimic the feel of certain textures.

Real: Bricks, wicker, shag, wood, and glass all have specific textures. Glass is also a reflective texture. It makes a city scene more beautiful in my opinion if the sunset is able to reflect off of the buildings at night.

Implied: Textures mimicked in drawings, fabrics, and advertisements are all implied textures. The pattern on ice machines mimics that of actual ice, making you want that cold, smooth feeling. Animal and water prints are found on a lot of clothing items. I this self portrait I drew, we were to decide how we wanted the background scenery to look. I chose to mimic stone and wood, implying texture. I also added texture to my hair and face using shading.

Plane and Form

Planes: flat surfaces extending in length and width. Planes are often shallow in depth and can be made of many different materials, and can be opaque, translucent, textured, or smooth. These are examples of planes because they are flat surfaces made of various materials that make up structures. Although windows are see-through and mirrors reflect, they are still great examples of planes.

Geometric Forms: have length, width, depth, weight and solidity. Examples of these are circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, etc. These geometric forms are all readily recognized as certain shapes: the lamp is a sphere, while the pillars, smoke stacks, and candle are all cylinders.

Natural Forms: are found in nature as they were originally made. Examples of natural forms are trees, bushes, and rocks because nature made all three of them, they were not man-made. Although the shape may have been altered by a human, the actual form of a shrub or rock is not man-made. The rocks found in the ocean are shaped by another form of nature: water.

Abstract Forms: demonstrate qualities of an actual form but has been altered in some way. Great examples of this are replicas of animal or plant forms made out of different materials. The artists of these pieces are trying to render the presence of a certain thing, but do so using an interesting material. The idea came from the artists' mind, not from its natural existence. All of these examples are recognizable as owls, flowers, a tree branch and a giraffe; however, they are not in their natural form.

Dynamic Form: demonstrate movement, energy and imply activity. One of my examples is a friend's room that doesn't really have much order to it. Both of the roommates have their own style and objects. Some rooms in my sorority house are perfectly proportional on each side with matching bed spreads, picture formations and object organization. As you can see, they did not go for this look by adding a mirror to only one side of the room, having different picture placement and different bed spreads. My other example is a waterfall because it implies motion and energy.

Static Form: appear to be in a still and resting position. They offer a sense of calm and power because of their permanence. They are very specifically laid out to avoid confusion, look more formal, or be more practical. The Parlor Room is the most formal room in my sorority house and has a symmetrical lay out with matching furniture on each side. I think this achieves the formal feel it was designed for. Our dining room is also laid out statically in order to make it more functional so everyone has a place to sit. If the furniture was to be moved around it wouldn't give us the most amount of space possible, making it less comfortable to eat in there.

Non-Objective Form: usually doesn't represent anything recognizable until we get the title of the structure, and then maybe we can recognize something more abstract. I chose a light structure that my friend has hanging in her room because I'm not sure what it was made to look like. I also chose some earrings that I have that don't represent any form in particular. I think these structures were designed for people to take an interest in their meaning and form.

Residential Designers

I chose the 25 residential design sites I did based on uniqueness and individuality. A lot of the sites are antique sites that I like to browse through because I like the look of that old-timey style. I also like sites that have furniture, textiles, and lighting that can't be found anywhere else because that is what makes a space special. I chose sites that have a big variety of goods and show lots of pictures and examples of the type of designs they offer. I like to browse through these sites because they give me inspiration for new looks. I chose some modern sites as well, just to help broaden my tastes. I don't usually like modern looks but if I happen to be hired by someone who does, I need to know where to look for pieces. The main two things I looked for when choosing these sites are 1) Do they show lots of examples and am I able to browse each style? 2) Does this site have items that I would not be able to find elsewhere. I also am obviously attracted to items that each of these designers carry. There are some  items that I am not drawn to in each collection, but I like the variety of styles that each displays. When working with a client I need to learn to be flexible, so browsing through a designer's work with a flexible taste is helpful. The most interesting site I found is Graham & Green. They are based in the United Kingdom so a lot of the furniture, lighting, and textiles they offer is very unique. They are able to take materials and items that you would not associate with a specific function, and make them to function in that way with incredible design. Their designs inspire me to be more creative.

Graham & Green

Elements of Design: Line and Shape

The elements of design are defined as elements that are used to create an object, composition, or the environment, and they help give these things character and aesthetics. The pictures I have posted below focus on point, line, and shape.

Point: a single position in a space or surface without length or width. Points draw attention and focus, and can create balance, unity, and pattern. I have included pictures of objects or works of art that use different sizes of points to draw attention and create a pattern. Points can sometimes be highlights, they do not have to be seen. For example, the owl candle holder has points for which light to shine through that make it more interesting. The brick wall has holes, or points, intermixed with horizontal lines to create a more interesting pattern

Diagonal Lines: Signify action and movement. They create a visual of energy and motion. Some diagonal lines can also create a more casual feel, like the lines that the photos are hanging from in the picture below. These lines are a great way to bring some character to an otherwise boring white wall. The staircases signify a downward motion, and that by taking stairs a person is trying to go somewhere else. How people choose to design these stairs are what gives them character. The stairs on the far left are more modern looking than those on the right. The diagonal lines seen on the doors of The Georgia Theatre imply a welcoming feel and urge a person to walk through into the venue. The diagonals are pointing in the direction that venue owners want their costumers to go.

Horizontal Lines: Signify calm and stability. They can also be used to create texture and patterns. The two sunsets I have pictured below were taken in Hawaii and Turks and Caicos, which are two vacation spots that people journey to to relax and feel calm. The peaceful stability of the water meeting the horizon is what gives people that feeling. The horizontal lines created by the buildings in the Atlanta skyline also give the scene structure and stability. They balance out the vertical lines created by taller buildings. Horizontal lines seen in the bookshelf signify stability as well because they are responsible for holding all of my friends' belonging up so that they can be easily accessed and also fashionably displayed.

Organic Lines: Move the viewers eye through the image and onto other images. They also create a whimsy and energetic feel. I drew the two drawings pictured using organic lines that flow from one place to the other. In the drawing of glass there are many different lines that show the reflectiveness of each glass piece and how by looking through one glass object, the object behind it gets skewed. Organic lines used in the cloth piece show how the cloth flows, and they move the eye from the black piece up to the white. The winding sidewalk in the picture of my hotel in Hawaii moves the viewers eye to the ocean ahead. An organic line is seen in the hills in Arkansas, and the sunset also adds to their whimsical feel.

Vertical Lines: Signify power and strength. They are intended to move the viewers eye upward. All of the pictures I posted below are structures that are meant to be looked at in awe and stand for something. The skyscrapers of Atlanta signify a powerful city, the columns of the bank signify authority, the church's signify respect, the monument stands in honor of the city of Athens, and the columns on the school building signify the power, authority, and class that being educated brings.

Structural Lines: Supportive lines of design, they are usually large and thick and hold a structure up. They give structures their form. Pictures below show examples of structural lines holding up monuments, shading, furniture, buildings, and shops. There are many ways to make structural lines look like more than just lines that are holding objects up. Lines can be diagonal, colorful, contain patterns, or be made up of different materials that draws a viewer's eye to them.

Implied Lines: These lines are suggested, not actual lines. They appear when objects meet different areas within a design. The implied lines below all occurred in nature. Water meeting  land surrounding it creates a vertical line in the waterfall, and the ocean water meeting the land surrounding it creates a cove if someone were to look from above. Tree branches meeting with trunks or branches of other trees create implied shapes. In the bottom left picture taken in Hawaii, the viewer's eye is drawn to the triangle shape made by the two trees. It creates the focal point of the picture.

Geometric Shapes: Defined by outline or created by surrounding objects that imply a shape. They have a certain position within a composition to make something look more appealing, or to give a certain message. All of the structures below have a geometric shape to give them character and make them more attractive. Unusual shapes are used to make an object look more interesting, like the shapes in the iron door on the bottom left. Different shapes are used so that no one structure looks identical, they all have their unique details.

Natural Shapes: Anything in the environment, including human and animal form. Plants and animals make and exist in different shapes and forms that make them all unique. A rectangular table can be made from wood to create a natural, yet useful piece. A circle of natural bushes compliments the circular man-made fountain. Shells and sea animals are the most interesting shapes in my opinion because no one species or shell is identical. The human body and face is also interesting because again, no one person has the exact same body or face. In the picture below, the human form is being used to decoration and to display pieces of jewelry. Also pictured below is an etching of a leaf, flowers, and a guitar on the side of a parking lot in downtown athens. This does not only draw in the viewer's eye because it is an interesting work of art, but it also displays what Athens has to offer: the nature scene and the music scene.

Abstract Shapes: Alterations of actual shapes or forms by someone's imagination. They are sometimes recognizable and sometimes not. Abstract shapes are used a lot in artwork, as displayed on the mask of varied images, the painting of women in dresses, and the colorful drawing. Abstract shapes can also be used to represent something. A colorful peacock is portrayed on my pillow, but it is not recognized right away. This is a successful fabric because it draws in the viewers attention and causes them to think about the image. The same concept is achieved by the bedspread, which in my opinion is displaying skewed images of leaves and flowers in an interesting manner.

Non-representational Shapes: Shapes that are not recognizable until the author gives the background or title of the image.Each of these works of art (clothing items and paintings) have a specific reason of why the author chose to design them in that manner, but we are forced to ponder on this for that reason is unclear. Each of these pieces draws me in and makes me wonder about them. they are also aesthetically pleasing and attractive to me.

My Favorite Designers

I chose the interior designers and architects I did based on their ability to be different and think outside of the box. They can all design for fancy, expensive hotels, or everyday simple families. They are able to appeal to a wide variety of people. Not everything that they design looks exactly the same, and that is what I like about them. They know how to create elaborate things but also simple things, and they can mix the two to create spaces that are intricate but also very comfortable to live in. My two favorite designers so both of these sides. Marty Mason is the founder of Marty Mason Collected Home, but Patti Hogdson is the director of Interior Design. Patti is actually one of my good friend's mothers and she helped my family as well as her own to design our houses. She thinks outside of the box and uses things that normal families wouldn't use, but that is what is so great about her decorating. She took a ladder and painted it and put it in the corner of a room and made it look like it was meant to be there. She also is able to make a space very comfortable and livable, but she can also be very fancy with her designs. I always look to her for inspiration or to look over my ideas. My other favorite is John Porter & Associates. He mostly designs city scapes or office buildings but what he designs is incredible. I like the way he uses a lot of different materials like glass and stone to create beautiful, interesting buildings. Everything he designs is fun to look at, and I always want to see what he is working on because it never ceases to amaze me. His use of lighting on his buildings makes the buildings come to life even more at night and help the city that they were built in to look more colorful.

John Portman

Marty Mason and Patti Hogdson

The Search for Beauty

Generally when one thinks of something beautiful they might think of something with color, unity, or balance. When asked to think deeper into the meaning of what they thought of as beautiful, they might say that it had a personal impact on them. They might have had a pleasant experience with a certain thing, or it might be something that they care deeply about. What we all have to remember when we define beauty is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Everyone has a different opinion of what they see as beautiful based on experience, psychology, needs, or their beliefs or views. I have a different concept of what is beautiful than other people, but that is to be expected. One might think something is ugly when it could surprisingly please, or be meaningful, to someone else.

Culturally Current Beauty

This is a photograph I took at my Uncle's wedding of the city of Atlanta, where I live. This picture is beautiful to me, and I'm sure other people, because of the sunset, lights, and reflections on the glass buildings. I personally also think this is a beautiful photo because it was taken at a very happy time in my life and I also love the city that I live in. If other people live in Atlanta, or live in any city, they probably think this is a beautiful photo too. Everyone loves a pretty sunset so I would say that this photo is universally beautiful.

Unexpected Beauty

I took this picture of an old, broken down, abandoned house in a neighborhood close to my house. The colors are pretty ugly, except for the painting in the corner, and everything is stained, broken, or chipped. Many people would not think this photo is appealing because it signifies abandonment and is not very pleasing to look at. However, some people might be drawn to the rugged look, or wonder the story behind the picture. Others might have had a similar experience with abandoning a house, or coming across one, and might be able to relate to it. What I like about this picture is the painting in the corner because it tells me this house was once lived in and colorful, and could once again come alive. 

Sidebar Links

The titles, pictures, and descriptions on the sidebar are all links to websites that inspire my interior design, fashion and music choices, and are all beautiful in my eyes. These links can take one to a variety of places: home decor businesses, clothing stores (both online only and actual stores), sites promoting new and old music, sites of local artists and photographers, television network websites, and other social media sites like Pinterest and Youtube. They all have one thing in common though and that is they all represent my design techniques and personal style. I have included pictures of which I got from each corresponding website of things that I have a personal interest in. All of the home decorating ideas, clothes, shoes, accessories, music, and artworks are items that I would purchase or do myself.

My criteria for choosing these websites depends on my feeling towards each category. For home decorating ideas, I chose websites that sell antiques and things that are colorful. I also chose some sites that sell foreign goods because I like the colors, patterns, and materials that come from places like the Middle East. For clothing I chose sites that sell vintage, colorful, and comfortable clothing, but also sells fun modern pieces of clothing as well. My style is simple and laid back but I sometimes add some color or wear an unusual shirt to mix it up a little bit. I chose the music sites I did because I love all types of music and get excited about hearing new artists. Music is a big part of my design also because I like to look at album titles to get ideas for fashion and design and also to use as decoration. I chose YouTube and Pinterest because I look at those sites for inspiration in Do It Yourself Projects. I love to make things myself and be creative with materials I already have, and when trying out new fashion and design techniques, they are helpful tools. The Style Network and HGTV are my favorite channels to watch because they also give me new ideas with cheap ways to be creative or change up a room or outfit. Because I like to decorate so much, I always like getting fresh ideas and also seeing new ways to design a small or large space to make it the best that it can be. I chose Flickr because I love photography. Taking pictures and editing them is a big hobby of mine and I hang a lot of pictures in my room. I like to look at other people's pictures to get ideas from them for pictures I can take on my own. One of my favorite things to do is to discover new restaurants and galleries that have a unique style and design to them. Being from Atlanta, I have gotten the chance to see a lot of well-designed places in the city, so I included an Atlanta city search website so that others can discover them as well.

My two favorite websites that I have included are Urban Outfitters and Pier 1 Imports. My favorite thing to do is buy clothes and decorations so I can show off my style and personality. These two stores are where I like to shop the most because I could literally buy everything in the store. I like them both because they sell and exhibit styles that are not usually found in America, but look more international. They sell patterns, cuts, materials and furniture that not every where in America sells. Urban Outfitters not only offers styles that are trendy but vintage, they also offer edgy and fresh clothes as well. Urban is also all about comfort. These aspects not only apply to my fashion choices, but also my design choices. I love stepping into pier one because every item is so unique and different, however, when paired together correctly with other accessories, is very trendy. I like to get anything from lamps and wall hangings to pillows and plates. Everything that I get from there is colorful, vintage looking, made out of unique materials, and is most importantly useful. All of the wall hangings I have in my room are hooks for holding other things like necklaces, scarves, and purses. This way I can exhibit both fashion and decor at the same time.


Pier One Imports
Urban Outfitters

My Personal Style

I would describe my personal style as bold and colorful but not too loud. I also really like to use old wood (obviously) and old iron because its resourceful but it also looks really cool. I really like colors like orange, red, and yellow but I use them minimally with beiges, whites, and grays so there's not too much going on. I like fabrics that have designs on them but not too much design. I have included a picture of my bed right now that shows how I like pops of color and pillows with designs on them but it is also not overly designed and I have a plain bed spread to balance the color of the pillows. I am also really into music so I have posters of my favorite bands with wooden frames around them. I like to display my colorful jewelry on hooks that have flowers, branches or colorful vintage knobs on them. Going along with the theme of wood, I really like fabrics and decorations that have to do with nature, like trees, leaves, animals, and flowers. One of my best friends has a farm house that really expresses my style as well. She has added color to a house made of only white wood. I have also included pictures some of the rooms as well. I feel so comfortable there because its really cozy and out in the middle of nature. In terms of walls and cabinets I really like dark hard wood mixed with brick and stone because I think it looks really warm and homey. I like colors like browns and maroons in rooms because it also gives a warm touch. In living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms its important to feel comfortable and I believe this type of decor does the trick. I think its fun to get creative with old furniture. I painted an old wooden dresser a light blue and put it in my room at home for storage. It added to right pop of color and was also resourceful. I have a lot of fun making things for myself out of old material. My best words of advice for designing are to not be afraid to add some color but make sure its not overwhelming and also be creative!

What is Interior Design?

Deciding to major in Furnishings and Interiors at UGA was not a hard decision for me because designing and furnishing has always been a passion of mine. Because I have moved a lot in my life I have had many opportunities to redo my room and express my personality through its' decor. Interior design to me is a way to express myself. By looking at my room and the fabrics, pictures, and wall hangings that make it up, people can easily tell what my style is. Interior design is also the best way to show your creative side. I am always looking on home decorating sites like pintrest, peir one, urban outfitters, and anthropologie to get new ideas of how to create things that are stylish but also useful. I love looking on these sites and in the houses of my friends who are also creative to gain new ideas. I like to hang a lot of pictures and posters in my room because i love photography and I am also really into music, but I am always looking for ways to hang them more creatively. An idea that I stole from peir one imports is to hang pictures on wire that is attached to a piece of wood. This idea is both stylish and useful. Moving into the sorority house, I needed a creative idea for a headboard. One of the ideas I came across on urban outfitters is to make a head board out of an old shutter and old iron. This is also a resourceful idea because you are using old things that also come together to look really amazing. I also wanted to display my jewelry because jewelry also says a lot about personal style and I found a way to make my own jewelry case by using some old wood again and some chicken wire. By majoring in Furnishings and Interiors I have been able to share ideas, be creative in using different materials, realize and emphasize my own personal style, and express myself to people who don't know me through decorating.