If interior design is the beating heart of a project, architecture is the body that houses it. Although these two professions are known to bump heads, they should learn to work together. They overlap, so a bit of advance coordination can result in a more satisfied customer and a better-looking end result. The following looks at how architecture and interior design coexist, and the designs that perfectly mesh.
Colonial Style Homes and Traditional Interior Design
Colonials and colonial revivals are perfectly paired with traditional home décor. Classic furniture, such as Victorian sofas and Georgian tables, couple perfectly with a colonial’s hardwood floors and double-hung windows. Interior designers should insist that the architects of new colonials feature hardwood floors throughout the home, which they can then outfit with subtle rugs and antique furniture, such as what’s found at Boyles Furniture & Rugs.
Contemporary Craftsman and Primitive Design
The contemporary craftsman home style grew in popularity between 1905 and the early 1930s. That period is known as the American Arts and Crafts movement, and it’s marked by large porches, terraces, balconies, and primitive interior design. If you love crafts, such as etched wood wall hangings and bird-houses, this is the style for you. The interior design of these homes should feature primitive arts and crafts, as well as furniture made from raw materials.
Mid-Century Modern and Sleek Minimal Design
In the mid-20th century, mid-century modern homes were all the rage (and still are). These homes feature notable floor-to-ceiling window-scapes and eco-friendly building materials. As for the design, well it should match the home’s minimal architectural elements. Modern design means placing function over form. It should focus more on a pieces’ use rather than its beauty. For elements of beauty, modern art can be hung or a sculptural statement piece can be placed in the room. The goal is to be minimal with sharp lines and a clean-living space.
Southern Charm Inside and Out
Southern homes are full of charm with their antebellum architecture, which sometimes features enormous columns and all-brick exteriors. As for the interiors of these attractive facades, nothing spells southern charm like an elaborate table-scape, but it can’t be too fancy. In an article for Southern Living, Florida designer Phoebe Howard recommends pairing high-end with low-end. “The pieces don’t need to match.” She said. “They just need to be similar and simple… I like to mix patterns. The fancier, the better. I like the juxtaposition of fancy silver with simple plates and glasses.”
Southwest/Adobe and Earth-Tone Interiors
Southwestern Style 101 denotes the necessity of earth-tones, rough textures, bright woven fabrics, and arts and crafts style décor. The interior of these homes should match the exterior which most often feature stone masonry facades and clay tile or terra cotta roofs. The Spanish adobe architecture is the inspiration for most southwest style homes, and therefore it is a good idea to incorporate this cultural identity into the home’s interior without overdoing it.
English Cottage and Cozy Inviting Interiors
Nothing satisfies one’s inner Jane Austen like an English cottage home. These homes are small in stature, but abundant in visual identity. They are marked by a soft pallet (often white and slate grey), triple or double style windows, and inviting pathways leading up to the front door. The décor should be both cozy and inviting. Think lots of plush chairs and sofas, reading nooks, and draped fabrics. Queen Anne and Victorian furniture perfectly suit the space. English cottages also offer one of few places where patterned wallpaper is a welcome touch.
When it comes to styling your home, architecture and interior design walk hand-in-hand. The cohesiveness of your home’s design elements will impress your guests, and provide you with a satisfying home life that makes sense. Although the two have feuded for quite a while, it seems architecture and interior design are life partners destined to always go together.
