Interior Design Tips and Techniques

Le Corbusier, who wrote "Towards a New Architecture", summed up interior design and planning quite accurately. He wrote "The plan is the generator...... Without plan there can be neither grandeur of aim and expression, nor rhythm, nor mass, nor coherence....A plan calls for the most active imagination. It calls for the most severe discipline also. The plan is what determines everything; it is the decisive moment." These thoughts, in essence, tell the whole story. Planning is everything.

Interior designing calls for this discipline. Designers are charged with the responsibility of utilizing 'space' to its fullest. However, at the same time they must attempt to make things as visually pleasing as possible. It is a huge challenge. The best designers go about this process in an orderly fashion. Remember, Le Corbusier said that is "...the most severe discipline also." Often during the process, an intelligent interior designer asks many, if not all, of the following questions:

1. What exactly will you be doing in the room or group of rooms that are being considered? If more than one activity is going to take place, what is the primary activity? List other priorities in order of importance.

2. How does this room or group of rooms interact with other rooms in the structure? Basically, is this room or group of rooms at the center of the structure or off to one side? The location of the room or group of rooms can have a profound impact on its final design.

3. How do you envision the traffic pattern in this room or group of rooms? This is extremely important. Don't forget, just as you often have hallways connecting rooms, you also have 'interior hallways' within rooms connecting parts of the room. You never want to block one of those 'hallways' inside a room. The traffic pattern in the entire structure should also be studied. For example, will normal household traffic enter and exit in this new 'space'? Or, will traffic travel through this room or group of rooms into another part of the house? All of these aspects must be considered.

4. How will this room or group of rooms be lighted? Will it be primarily natural light during daytime hours? How will nighttime lighting be balanced with daytime needs?

5. How will mechanical needs of this room, group of rooms, or other rooms affect this area? Remember, mechanical systems (heating/air conditioning ducts & pipes and plumbing pipes) often require specialized placement. They are not easy to relocate. It is often impractical to relocate these systems due to extreme financial costs.

6. Have you taken into consideration the sound qualities of the room? If sound will be generated in the room, how will it affect other rooms in the house? If the room will have a sound system within it, have the speakers been installed in the proper locations? Have the acoustic properties of other materials within the room been studied for compatibility?

7. Are you taking advantage of natural outdoor vistas in your interior scheme? If the room or group of rooms has a mountain or ocean view, or a view of a simple well-landscaped patio, take advantage of it. Orient the space to the view, or bring the view into the space.

8. Do you want the room or group of rooms to convey a feeling? Do you want people to feel a certain way when in the room? If so, plan accordingly. For example, if you want a wide open feeling, consider light colors, high ceilings, etc.

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Elements of Interior Design

Interior design is not just the simple concept of furniture layout. It involves the entire 'feeling' of a space. Many elements come into play in a very subtle, yet effective way. For example, an interior designer can create a mood or feeling by working with lighting, materials, textures, colors, furniture types, etc. All of these elements working together can create a dramatic effect.

Also, interior designers often design the room, as we have discussed, from the inside out. They develop a plan based upon what will happen in the room or group of rooms. Often, those not trained in interior design attempt to create a room by starting with the outside dimensions. They then try to make a plan or layout work based on those outside constraints. This method can lead to very unworkable layouts.

Interior design is a blend of common sense and creativity. Our personal habits dictate what is comfortable to us. Those feelings should be conveyed to a designer. At that point, the designer can add the creative touch to create a room which will be both functionally and visually pleasing.

The subject of interior design has been extensively documented. There is a huge volume of fine literature concerning the subject. Many books are available that deal with the introductory level of basic interior design. Often these books are available at a local library, or a university library which has a design program. These collegiate libraries often extend lending privileges to individuals who carry a regular library card. I highly recommend that you visit your local library or bookstore should you wish to investigate this topic.

Additional Reading & Source Material

• The Meghan Method
  Meghan Carter
  Gem Multimedia, 2011

• Designing Interiors
  Rosemary Kilmer W. Otie Kilmer
  International Thomson, 1994
• Interior Design Illustrated
  Francis D.K. Ching
  John Wiley & Sons, 1987

• Good House Parts: Creating a Great Home Piece by Piece
  Dennis Wedlick
  Taunton Press, 2003

• Interior Design
  John F. Pile
  Prentice Hall, Inc., 3d ed., 2003

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Construction Tips for Unfinished Spaces

Uneven Concrete Floors

Some people with basements have floors that slope steeply for drainage purposes. There are two ways to deal with this: pour a thin concrete overlay (see Bulletin 379 - Concrete Overlays Installation), or build a wood floor over the concrete. The wood floor system can be tough. You need to determine the highest point in the floor system and work backwards from there. I always use a transit to establish this high point and then translate that point to the side walls. I then install CCA treated lumber 2x4s around the perimeter of the room. The wide face of the 2x4 touches the floor. This allows you to stretch mason's string tightly between the members to get a smooth plane out in the rest of the floor. You install the rest of the treated 2x4s with shims beneath them for support. Place the shims at 16 inch centers. I then stretch a high quality vapor barrier (see Bulletin 109 - High Performance Vapor Barriers) on top of the 2x4's before installing the subfloor plywood.

Be sure to provide access to any floor drains! These drains will need to stay functional in case of basement flooding. Also, you will periodically have to pour water in them to prevent sewer gas from building up.

Walls - Build in Place or Tilt Up

The walls for this project can be build in one of several ways. If you choose to build them in place, you install the bottom plate first, then the top plate, then fill in the wall studs. I like to use 2 x4's for the walls. This provides plenty of space for insulation, wiring, full depth electrical boxes, and plumbing pipes. Furring strips limit the amount of insulation you can install. They also limit your ability to easily wire a space.

Don't assume that foundation walls are straight and plumb. They are usually not! Check to see if the walls lean in or out. They can do both on the same wall! I hold my walls away from the masonry walls at least one half inch. I don't like to see untreated lumber touch masonry. This also gives you room to account for crowned studs and masonry wall movement.

If your walls are to be attached directly to concrete floors, this can be done without expensive anchors. Use a hammer drill with a 1/4 inch bit. Drill through the wall plate and into the concrete about 2 inches. Then take two 16d sinker nails and nail them into the hole in the plate at the same time side by side. If you use a 20 oz. hammer and hit them straight, they will go in readily. It is virtually impossible to pull the nails out! Just anchor the bottom plate every 4 to 6 feet.

The top plate position is determined by dropping a plumb bob to the edge of the bottom plate. Transfer the bottom plate location to the joists above or to blocking pieces should the ceiling joists run parallel with the wall. Cut and install the top plate. Fill in the studs at 16 inch centers.

If you decide to build the walls on the floor and tilt them up, make sure they are 3/4 inch less in height than the space they are to fill. If you build them full height they will get stuck as you tilt! Use blocking at the top to fill the gap once in position.

Always try to line up wall studs with floor joists above! This will make it easier to run plumbing pipes and heating ducts.

Mechanical Systems HVAC, Plumbing, Electric

HVAC: This work goes first. Ductwork is cumbersome. Think of plumbing at the same time. Basement spaces usually require minimal heating and cooling unless you space has a walk out wall(s) which is totally exposed to the elements. Remember, locate supply ducts near outside walls. Install return air ducts on interior walls away from the supply ducts. The idea is to 'draw' air across the room.

Plumbing: Now is the time to upgrade plumbing to other parts of the house. It will be messy to do it 2 years from now! PVC drain stacks will be noisy. If these are present in your existing space they will need to be wrapped with insulation to minimize sound transmission. Cold water lines may need to be insulated if you have had problems in the past with condensation. Condensation can drip onto your new ceiling.

Electric: All electric work has to be done per the National Electric Code. If you don't know how to do this, get an electrician who does! People die every week in the USA from electrical related house fires. Calculate loads to make sure you have enough circuits! Remember a 14 gauge wire is only rated for 15 amps or 1,800 watts. A 12 gauge wire can handle 2,400 watts or 20 amps. Think.... if you put in 10 recessed ceiling lights each with a 75 watt bulb, you have already taken up nearly half the capacity of a single 15 amp circuit! Appliances, hot glue guns for hobby rooms, etc. all take their toll on circuitry. Make a list of what you intend to have and calculate the loads from this list.

Insulation / Vapor Barriers

Insulation is a must. If you chose 2x4 walls, you will be able to install batt insulation. You can use unfaced insulation if you installed the vapor barrier already. If not, you may want to use foil faced insulation. The foil facing should be visible from the room side.

Drywall / Paneling / Artificial Stone .......

Wall surfaces are next. Choose the one which will give you the most flexibility. For me it is drywall. It can always be the base for a future material such as paneling or artificial stone.

Ceilings - Think of the Future .......!

If you have ever tried to fish a wire in a basement that had a finish plaster ceiling, I know what type of ceiling you would install! Before you rule out acoustical tile as being "too commercial", you had better go look at some. There is a wide variety of styles, grid, etc. You can also mix and match ceilings. Create a tray or soffit perimeter around the room. Fill the center with acoustical tile. This way you can access a huge area of the ceiling. This will come in handy in the future - trust me on this one.

Flooring - Think Floods .....

My inlaws have a finished basement. It has flooded at least 5 times in the past 10 years. After the second wall to wall carpet was thrown away, they finally switched to area rugs. Vinyl tile has come a long way. Colors and patterns are attractive. Give it a serious look. Beware of hardwood flooring in basements. The Hardwood Associations CAUTION against its use below grade in even historically dry basements. Don't tempt fate. Mother Nature always bats last.

Finishing Materials - Options

Rough Construction Materials

Want perfectly straight walls? If so, steel studs may be your cup of tea. You can insert 6 inch high pieces of 2x4 in them at top and bottom to secure baseboard and crown moldings. This allows you to use nails for your trim instead of screws.

If you are worried about wet floors for some reason, you can buy treated plywood! Most people don't realize this. It is perfect if you are concerned about insect infestation as well.

Thinking about using 2x3 walls for some situations? Well, if doors or plumbing lines are in these walls you may have problems. Remember, standard door jambs are milled thinking that you will use 2x4s with 1/2 inch drywall on each side.

Are you worried about sound? If so, think cast iron for plumbing drainage stacks. Vent pipes can be PVC. Seal all holes and void spaces that go to other rooms or floors. These are conduits for noise transmission. If you decide to drywall the entire ceiling in your new room, you can install a fiberboard first and then the drywall. This will do a decent job of soundproofing.

Electrical and Communications Wiring

Now is the time to think ahead for the future. Not only should you think of this new space, but other rooms in your house as well. Does this new space cut off the rest of the house from the main electrical panel or telephone or cable TV termination points? If so, add wiring now to other points within the house or attic for future use. Or, at the very least, install several conduits through which wires can be added at a later date.

Never install telephone or cable TV wires in the same holes or in line with 120 volt electric lines. Power going through the high voltage lines can sometimes create an interference in the low voltage lines. Always run low voltage wiring AFTER high voltage wiring. The high voltage wire can withstand more abuse than low voltage wiring. Don't forget about security or alarm system wiring. Drill separate holes!

Fire Sprinklers - Sounds Crazy but ...

Now is the time to install a fire sprinkler head or two in the new room. There are fancy pop down heads that fit flush with the ceiling until activated by rising temperatures.

Hobby or Craft Work Stations

Do you have room to create a hobby or craft space? If so, the wall outlets should be 42 inches off the floor. Create a space to sit at the counter top with a bar stool by leaving out a cabinet or two along the wall. I plan to do that in my basement remodel. Use standard stock wall cabinets above the countertop to store supplies.

Unique Wall Finish

Want to create a unique look? How about finishing off one wall with artificial stone? You can do an entire room and create a medieval castle hall! Let your imagination run wild. If the room is to be for children, why not install fiberboard covered with fabric? It can be a giant bulletin board using colored push pins. Use this same wall treatment if you have a dartboard planned.

Create walls that are art galleries for your children's school pictures and projects. This will add color to the space. The walls will change monthly as more drawings are brought home.

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Some of my earliest remodeling jobs were basement finishes. Here in the Midwest, basements are very common. People finish them at a later date as families grow or space requirements change. For example, I am currently writing this bulletin in my basement office! Two years ago, this space was a dim basement area. It was transformed with a minimal amount of effort. If you have a basement or other unfinished space, you might be able to tackle this project.

Code Problems

Guess what? That basement of yours may not be 'legal' once finished. Many building codes place ceiling height, egress, waterproofing, etc. restrictions on basements. If you intend to secure a building permit for your project, you had better spend some time researching the local code in your area. You may find a surprise or two.

Waterproofing is a good example. Here in Cincinnati, you can build a home and not waterproof the exterior of the basement walls. Damproofing (sprayed liquid asphalt) will suffice. But, if you want to finish the basement a year after you move in, you must waterproof the walls! Fortunately there is a brush on cementitious compound which will meet the code. What happens if you wait until after your walls are up in your basement before you find this out? See why an afternoon at the building department might be worthwhile.

Plan for Future Needs

I know someone who once finished his basement. He was a true weekend warrior who lived on the lunatic fringe. Well, he had a full sized freezer in the basement. He left the freezer in an unfinished portion of the basement. The doorway he used to access this room was a standard 30 inch wide door. Too bad the freezer was 34 inches wide....

Think about furnaces, hot water heaters, desks, sofas, etc. You may have to install a 3 foot or a 2 foot 10 inch door to make movement between spaces possible. Planning ahead is everything.

Lighting - A Critical Issue

Basement or attic spaces often require special lighting solutions. Windows are often small or non-existent. If you can include a combination of indirect and direct lighting you should be in good shape. Some ceiling designs will allow you to install hidden fluorescent lighting which bounces off a drywall soffit or trayed ceiling. Use fixtures with electronic ballasts to save energy and money. You can also purchase light bulbs which produce more natural skin tones. Don't use the old standby cool or warm white bulbs.

Plan your lighting for special purpose areas such as billiard, ping pong or other game tables. A dart board setup may require a single track light that directs a beam of light to the board and not a glare in the eye of the dart thrower. All these subtle touches are what distinguish an average remodel job from one that is exquisite. Take the time and raise the bar of excellence on your job! Your friends, neighbors, and relatives will compliment you, trust me!

Built-ins, Bookcases, & Bars

Did you know you can order some standard kitchen cabinets unfinished? Install some quickly assembled shelves on top, paint, and you might have a great storage/bookcase area. With recessed lighting above, the look will be dramatic. The countertop for this area can be a modern plastic laminate that resembles leather, granite, or marble. Order the top without a backslash and build the shelves right on top of the counter.

Some people like to include a wet bar in their finished basement. I have done it no less than 50 times. These areas often require special planning to fully optimize the limited space.

Free standing bar walls often need to be secured to the cabinets beneath to eliminate wobble. To obtain a perfect bar height and design, you should take a tape measure with you to your favorite hangout. See what bar height and width is most comfortable. Don't simply guess. It could end up a disaster.

Try to plan for a mid-sized sink if possible. Those cute little 10 inch by 10 inch bar sinks are only good to fill a glass of water! Certain sink manufacturers make a mid-sized single bowl sink that works very well for bar applications. Standard double bowl kitchen sinks often overpower a basement bar. Visit a kitchen cabinet showroom for additional ideas.

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