Three Homework Exercises
to help you express how you want your natural home to feel
Any designer you collaborate with on your upcoming project needs to get inside your mind…see what you envision, relate to what you like, and understand what is important to you. This mind-meld allows a designer to channel your vision when they work on your project.
The exercises below help communicate your vision and desires. I recommend spreading your effort out over several days or weeks. And ideally everyone with a stake in the project participates to some degree in these exercises. Remember that there is no right or wrong here. The exercises are not judged in any way…they are meant to be enjoyable and connect you more deeply to your vision.
It's like turning the pieces of a puzzle right-side-up before beginning a jigsaw
A designer needs to see the vision inside your head
Exercise One:
Collect Inspiring Images
Step 1:
Collect images from books and magazines that inspire you about your upcoming project. The images can include anything…spatial relationships, materials or textures, the quality of light in a space, a color, storage ideas…really any image that speaks to you in some way, even if you can't describe why. Try not to edit or judge your selections…if something inspires you, add it to your collection.
Step 2:
As you collect images, jot down what attracts you. Feel free to go quickly, writing the first thoughts that come to mind. (Leave blank if you are unsure what draws you to the image.)
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You can flag books, make copies, cut photos out of magazines...or you can collect photos electronically or even use pinterest.
by Sarah Susanka
by Suzi Moore McGregor & Nora Burba Trulsson
by Wayne Bingham & Colleen Smith
Exercise Two:
Write Your Personal Image of Home
Step 1:
Envision that your project is complete and meets your wildest expectations! Close your eyes and try to visualize your new space. What do you see? Feel? Smell? Experience? What is the light quality like? It may help to picture walking through the completed spaces or visualize a particular activity or ritual that is important to you.
Step 2:
Once you have a clear picture, write it down.
Write as free-flowing as you can, without getting too self-conscious about your words…the goal is to have fun picturing your finished project! There are no rules to how you tackle this exercise or what you write.
Whatever feels like the right way to express your vision is perfect.
Exercise Three:
Create a List of Themes
by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, & Murray Silverstein
Start by reading the Introduction (specifically “Using this Book”). Then review the Summary of the Language list. Take note of which patterns catch your interest, then go to the section in the book where that pattern is described in full. Each description includes a photo, some sketches, and the fundamentals of what benefits that pattern provides. There will also be a list of related patterns that you may also want to explore. In the end, you will end up with a list of 8 to 12 (or more) core patterns that together will create a language or coherent picture for your total project. You may also keep a list of secondary patterns that peaked your interest but that have secondary importance.
Review one or both of the following books
and identify key patterns that describe how you want your home to feel. These books are organized differently, but the purpose is the same: to define fundamental elements of well-designed homes.
Patterns of Home
by Max Jacobson, Murray Silverstein, & Barbara Winslow
This book condenses the complete “language” of the previous book to ten key patterns. Review each of them and indicate those that are most in line with your project priorities. This book has the added benefit of color photos, and you may want to tag any that you find particularly inspiring.
Interested in designing together?
Email me and I will send you my Vision Worksheet to fill out online. The worksheet helps you articulate your project scope and helps me ensure that your goals are in alignment with my skills