Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Designing DETAILS
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| Charles Eames Lounge Chair |
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| Charles Eames (1907-1978) |
Details are everywhere, in every component
of life; there is probably no more apparent place than in interior design. Charles Eames, a
renowned American architect and furniture designer stated, “The details are
details. They make the product. The connections, the connections, the
connections. It will in the end be these
details that give the product its life.” (Eames n.d.) Whether designing or redesigning a space, such as a home or even a single room,
details are crucial. Designing often elicits thoughts of major renovations, and
along with it, major costs. What most
people do not realize is many things create the story a space will tell, and many
of those elements are small details.
Three seemingly small features of design are color, texture, and use of
accessories.
Lili Diallo, a renowned interior
stylist, said, “(Color) proves to be the underlying key to telling a particular
story and establishing atmosphere.” (Diallo 2010, 79) Color is a background to everything in the room, whether it is on the wall, on
the couch or in the accents. Color
schemes produce energy in spaces, whether it is warmth from bright colors
like red, orange and yellow, or coolness from colors like blue, green and
violet. Abundant use of black or white
adds starkness to a room or subtle use creates a simple environment allowing
other colors to pop. Using light colors can make something feel larger while
dark colors cause it to recede or shrink. Alexandra Stoddard,
another interior stylist and author, says not to be afraid of color. A yellow entry will carry the sunny
cheerfulness of the outside into a space.
A simple detail like color adds as much to a space as any other element.
Texture is another facet of
design that demonstrates the significance of details. Texture is everywhere. It can create interest
without being imposing. “Texture is more than just a tactile sensation,” (Stoddard 1993) according to Diallo. Texture a visual
experience when multiple textures are mixed together. A formal leather couch can be relaxed by
adding linen throw pillows. Adding a
plush rug to a room with hardwood floors can create a softer and warmer
experience.
Elaine Griffin, one of the country’s
leading stylists said, “Achieving warmth and coziness in a room is about
balancing shiny + matte, fuzzy + sleek, pattern + plain, and dark + light in
furnishings, textiles, and finishes.” (Griffin 2009, 236) Using furniture from different time periods likewise blends textures. Modern lacquered
furniture and décor creates a cleaner more sophisticated tone, whereas,
rustic and weathered décor generates a more inviting and homey mood. Texture also generates a level of
comfort. A good example of this is the
children’s story, The Three Bears. Goldilocks did not
find comfort in Papa Bear’s overly hard chair or Mama’s exceptionally soft chair;
she needed a mix between the two to find a chair that was “just right.” Overlooking the detail of texture could make
the room feel stiff and uninviting. Texture is used to establish ambiance and ease
in a room. It can be a small, but extremely valuable detail to design.
When designing
a space, the process of accessorizing and adding objects truly add the
finishing touches. Adorning a room with
pictures, lamps, and even knick-knacks turn an indistinct room into a personal
space. Carol
Spier said, “lucky are those who possess the eye and the nerve to make
magic from the miscellaneous.” (Spier 2009, 26) Adding accessories to a room finishes the story. Photographs evoke happy memories and give a more
personal connection to a room. A table lamp adds closer, more personal light,
whether for creating a softer feeling than overhead lighting or simply for
reading. Objects on coffee tables or
shelves whether “ugly or pretty, (are) justified by the owner’s connection to
it.” (Diallo 2010, 129)
Most stylists advise being mindful of editing objects though. Taking a second look can keep a room from
looking messy and cluttered.
Accessorizing is the detail that completes a room and the desired
mood.
Well-designed
spaces appeal to most people, whether they know it or not, because of the
details. Color, texture, and
accessorizing in design create the desired atmosphere. There are few things more powerful than color
in a space; it can provoke immediate emotion.
Texture establishes the level of comfort. Objects create a narration and help
personalize and define the feeling of a room.
Details elevate design.
______________________
Bibliography
Diallo, Lili. Details A Stylist's Secrets to
Creating Inspired Interiors. New York: Clarkson Potter, 2010.
Griffin, Elaine. Design
Rules. New York: Gotham Books, 2009.
Ho, Dan. Rescue
from Domestic Perfection. New York: Bulfinch Press, 2006.
Stoddard, Alexandra. Creating
a Beautiful Home. New York: Collins, 1993.
HGTV. 6 Steps to
Design on a Dime. Des Moines: Meredith Books, 2006.
Spier, Carol. The
Finishing Touch Details That Make a Room Beautiful. New York: Hearst
Communications, 2009.
Eames, Charles. Charles
Eames Quotes.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/charles_eames.html#yvbAwC8qERYAwmS6.99
(accessed April 4, 2012).
Photos and Illustrations
Charles Eames http://www.stylepark.com/en/designer/charles-eames
Lemon picture http://candystilettos.com/2011/07/21/simple-home-decor/
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Important DETAILS
When baking a cake, if one simple ingredient is left out, it can change the entire outcome. A leavening agent is the ingredient that lightens and softens the cake. If the baking soda, baking powder, or eggs are removed or reduced in a recipe, the result will be a flat, dense product. If the sugar and flavorings are omitted or changed, the chocolate cake may no longer be “Perfectly Chocolate.” Changing the liquid amounts, or lessening the baking time may cause the cake to end up as “Perfectly Chocolate” soup.
Monetary
value is usually determined by details. While purchasing a diamond, there are four
Cs to consider: Cut, Color, Clarity,
and Carat. The actual cut denotes
the proportions given to the diamond. Sacrificing the size to enhance the
brilliance is a sign of quality. Color
tinting of a diamond is evaluated by a lettering system: D to Z. Colorless
diamonds (D, E, and F) usually maintain the highest value. Clarity is
determined by the “flawlessness” of the diamond. A usual definition of flawless
is if under a 10-power magnification, no flaws are visible. Carat
refers to the weight of the diamond. One carat is equal to 0.200 grams. The
small details, the cut, color or clarity, play as large a role in the quality
and value of the diamond as the carat size.
Attention to detail is essential in safety. In 2008, Dieter Uchtdorf, a former senior vice president of flight operations and chief pilot of Lufthansa German Airlines, recounted why such a small detail as two degrees in navigation can tragically affect the lives of hundreds of people. Uchtdorf summarized the accident saying,
Attention to detail is essential in safety. In 2008, Dieter Uchtdorf, a former senior vice president of flight operations and chief pilot of Lufthansa German Airlines, recounted why such a small detail as two degrees in navigation can tragically affect the lives of hundreds of people. Uchtdorf summarized the accident saying,
“In 1979, a large passenger jet with 257
people on board left New Zealand for a sightseeing flight to Antarctica and
back. Unknown to the pilots, however, someone had modified the flight
coordinates by a mere two degrees. This error placed the aircraft 28 miles (45
km) to the east of where the pilots assumed they were. As they approached
Antarctica, the pilots descended to a lower altitude to give the passengers a
better look at the landscape. Although both were experienced pilots, neither
had made this particular flight before, and they had no way of knowing that the
incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an
active volcano that rises from the frozen landscape to a height of more than
12,000 feet (3,700 m).
"As the pilots flew onward, the white of
the snow and ice covering the volcano blended with the white of the clouds
above, making it appear as though they were flying over flat ground. By the
time the instruments sounded the warning that the ground was rising fast toward
them, it was too late. The airplane crashed into the side of the volcano,
killing everyone on board.
"It was a terrible tragedy brought on by
a minor error—a matter of only a few degrees.”3
Details are important.
Everything in the world has some degree of detail, as these examples (cooking,
nature, and safety practices) have shown. Paying attention to detail is more
than just focusing on visual factors or creating a higher level of
comfort. It is imperative to pay
attention to details all around us. Details truly make the difference between dissatisfaction
and quality, and in some cases, the difference between life and death.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
1. Hershey Foods Corporation, HERSHEY’S Best-Loved Recipes (Lincolnwood, Ill.), 2000, p. 9-10.
2.“A Tiffany Diamond,” http://www.tiffany.com/Expertise/Diamond/
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Historical DETAILS
Many people say, “don’t sweat the small stuff.” According to Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group, that is exactly opposite of what you should do. During a TED talk, Sutherland said, “Our own sense of self-aggrandizement feels that big important problems need to have big important, and most of all, expensive solutions attached to them.”1
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| Rory Sutherland |
Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, realized many accomplishments during his lifetime. His list includes authoring the Declaration of Independence, being the governor of Virginia and the third President of the United States, founding the University of Virginia and constructing his beloved Monticello. Jefferson spent more than forty years designing and redesigning, building and rebuilding his home and its gardens.2
Architectural features of the home include an alcove bed, open on both sides, with an indoor privy nearby. One important detail Jefferson designed for Monticello is the Great Clock in the Entrance Hall. The clock has a face both in and outside the house. It is a seven-day clock with cannonball-like weights that mark the day of the week as they rise and fall. The gong alerts all household members both inside and out, of the time. “Its design evinces Jefferson’s desire for order, which he exerted in equal but different ways over his family and his slaves. It also reveals his love of innovation and his ability to modify the traditional to suit his needs.3
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| Thomas Jefferson |
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| John Wooden |
Wooden’s attention to detail helped lead to his success. One detail that was extremely important to Wooden was character. Wooden was being considered for the head coaching jobs at both UCLA and the University of Minnesota in 1948. After a miscommunication due to snow, Wooden had accepted the UCLA offer, thinking the University of Minnesota had changed its mind. Moments later, Wooden was offered the job at Minnesota but turned it down, having given UCLA his word.6 After retiring from his extremely successful tenure at UCLA, Wooden went on to share his well-known pyramid for success in basketball, but more importantly life. Central to his plan is skill, which includes covering every detail.7
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| Steve Jobs |
Research and development for new products were kept top secret, but when new products were announced, the hype was incredible. While one of Forbes most powerful people of 201010, Jobs still paid attention to individual customers. Devir Kahan wrote an email to Steve Jobs about his keyboard, and Jobs responded himself saying, “Software fix coming soon. Sorry for the bug.”11 Details also allowed Jobs and Apple to maintain a sense of consistency. He was known for wearing his “uniform,” tennis shoes, a black turtleneck, and faded jeans, to announce exciting news.
While paying attention to details will not automatically land you on Forbes Most Powerful People list, these examples show how being attentive can help lead to success. Rory Sutherland advises, “Although logically it’s quite a good idea to have a lift with no up and down button in it, if it only serves two floors, it’s actually bloody terrifying, okay? Because when the door closes and there’s nothing for you to do, you’ve actually just stepped into a Hammer film.”12
1 Sutherland, Rory. TED. June 2010.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/rory_sutherland_sweat_the_small_stuff.html (accessed February 17, 2012)
2 Monticello.org. House & Gardens. February 2003. http://www.monticello.org/site/house-and-gardens (accessed February 2012).
3 Ibid.
4 Wikipedia. Wikipedia. February 14, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden (accessed February 17, 2012).
5 Wooden, John. The Wizard's Wisdom: 'Woodenisms'. June 4, 2010. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5249709 (accessed February 17, 2012).
6 Puma, Mike. Wizard of Westwood.http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Wooden_John.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
7 Wooden, John. The John R. Wooden Course. http://www.woodencourse.com/woodens_wisdom.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
8 Jobs, Steve. Steve Jobs: How to live before you die. June 2005. http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
9 Ibid.
10 Forbes. Most Powerful People 2010. 2010. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/20/powerful-people_2010.html (accessed February 16, 2012).
11 Stone, Brad. Ding! Mail. OMG! It's Steve Jobs. March 24, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/technology/25apple.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
12 (Sutherland 2010)
4 Wikipedia. Wikipedia. February 14, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden (accessed February 17, 2012).
5 Wooden, John. The Wizard's Wisdom: 'Woodenisms'. June 4, 2010. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5249709 (accessed February 17, 2012).
6 Puma, Mike. Wizard of Westwood.http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Wooden_John.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
7 Wooden, John. The John R. Wooden Course. http://www.woodencourse.com/woodens_wisdom.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
8 Jobs, Steve. Steve Jobs: How to live before you die. June 2005. http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
9 Ibid.
10 Forbes. Most Powerful People 2010. 2010. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2011/20/powerful-people_2010.html (accessed February 16, 2012).
11 Stone, Brad. Ding! Mail. OMG! It's Steve Jobs. March 24, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/technology/25apple.html (accessed February 17, 2012).
12 (Sutherland 2010)
Images
Rory Sutherland- laurenceschuberth.com
Thomas Jefferson- www.visitingdc.com
John Wooden- www.economicnoise.com
Steve Jobs- edudemic.com
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