Are you missing the big picture - for your home?
Home extension by Linda Woods Design (3D model - under construction)
Hi Home Lovers! It's been a while since we’ve chatted - with the building boom I've been chasing my tail for the last few months. But I've been dying to write to you and share a little design wisdom to help those of you who may be feeling a little “stuck”.
I've been working with a number of clients lately who are wanting to improve both their home and yard. Many of my clients live in the Hills and country areas and the indoor - outdoor connection is super important. They come to me with the same challenge – they’re finding it really hard to move ahead with transforming their home because they're scared they're going to make mistakes.
One client wants to upgrade their outdoor area but at the same time they know their interior layout isn't working like it should. They’re worried about going ahead and putting in a pool and new alfresco but knowing that deep down inside their kitchen isn’t in the right place. Knowing this is an important inside-out relationship – how do they move ahead? For many years they haven’t – they’re stuck.
A beautiful kitchen servery brings the outdoors in (Image: HarpersProject.com)
Another client is the reverse - they're dying to do a kitchen upgrade and make the interior flow better with an open space plan but at the same time they know down the track they want to upgrade their pool and alfresco area. They’re scared to touch the inside because they don’t have a plan for the outside. So once again – they’re stuck.
Enlarge your home by connecting to the outdoors (Image: beckiowens.com)
When I say “stuck” I mean every time they go to start their home projects their minds gets flooded with the “but what about’s”. Even though they're not designers they instinctively realise that a home is like a living organism and every part is connected. For a home to be harmonious all these parts need to be functioning well together. Without an overall vision they’re scared, and rightfully so, to work on any one part alone.
If you can empathise with these feelings and are dreaming of a home that’s connected to the outdoors with living spaces extending beyond the walls of your home - then its really important to create a big picture first and a masterplan of how your indoors and outdoors are going to function together.
I've been in the industry 25 years and while I started out in Interiors my obsession with context always led me to ask “but how does this fit in with...” the architecture, the landscape, the street - till eventually I went on to study Urban Design and Master Planning and my career took a different path for a while developing residential communities.
After missing the creativity and craftsmanship of the smaller scale and the personal relationships, I returned to custom home design and I bring with me the understanding of masterplanning and how great design starts with the big picture.
Together with my diverse team, our powerhouse strength that sets us apart from other design firms, is the ability to jump between the big picture vision of the land and building design and layout to the intricate details of the interiors and final styling. I collaborate with building designers, landscape designers and stylists to ensure your home design is working together beautifully inside and out.
Inside-out concepts tie everything together!
In design everything is connected. So when I'm working with a client to create a big picture Design Concept we're jumping back and forth between interior colours & textiles and exterior architectural details to create a visual concept that ties everything together. We’re sketching out relationship diagrams of how outdoor spaces will connect with indoor spaces which then informs the perfect layout for home and yard.
Once you've developed a big picture vision for your home you're going to feel so much more at peace and confident to go ahead with home improvements. Whether you're taking it stage by stage or if you want to do it all at one time - you'll be confident that you’ve thought it all out, you know how it all works together and your dream home is going to help you and your family live your best life.
LINDA XO
Perth Interior Designer
Need help with your big picture?
A beautiful home starts with an overall vision that ties the exterior and interior together into a seamless design. Don’t start your home project without one! Let’s work together and start you on the right path for success.
