Elements of Design
with Thom Filicia
EVOCATIVE
Well-designed rooms work on many levels, some of them obvious,
some not. Function and comfort clearly come first. But style goes
hand in hand, and you can use design to create a portrait-or at
least reveal a personality.
Suppose you’re the kind of person who likes to challenge your
intellect. And, suppose you’re the kind who suspects that people
walk into your home expecting to see something specific. If you
are, why not shake things up a little and defy those expectations? I
call that kind of person-you-"evocative". You follow the road less
traveled, and you should have the type of interior that matches
your daring and that piques your own dreams, and others, too.
Interiors that spark
the imagination,
evocative interiors,
usually have more
than a hint of the
exotic. They’re
assertive, but not
brash, and they’re
quietly, solidly,
confident. To create
that special
ambiance, start
with at least one
element that has
bit of fabulousness,
and a definite
edge. Suppose, for
example, you cover
the floor with a
bold black-and-white
pattern,
Karastan’s Mystical
Zebra, perhaps.
You’ll find that a
zebra pattern (or
tiger stripe, or leopard print) charges everything in the space with
excitement. Patterns like these contain more than meets the eye,
and less, because certain types of patterns can actually trick the
eye and also activate the imagination.
There are actually two ways to create this kind of compelling, atmospheric
environment: one is to emphasize the walls and floor,
the other is to layer the pattern motifs throughout the space. Each
may seem a bit abstract, but both come from the idea of contrasting
positive and negative, whether with line, shape, or color. If you
want the room and rug to be center stage, then treat everything
else as backdrop.
For example, glaze the walls a deep, rich, mysterious, reflective
black or dark chocolate, place a stark dark-and-white faux skin
pattern on the fl oor, and then upholster all the furniture pieces
with the same solid, neutral-toned fabric. Alternatively, you can
go graphic in a really big way. Choose the pattern, then work consistently
within that pattern direction and layer it on everything upholstery,
walls, curtains, and so on. That way, the furniture
almost disappears, and the room becomes truly chic.
When you give pride of
place to one surprising,
exotic element, it tends
to transform everything
else in an otherwise
simple room, even to
supercharge it. Suddenly,
you have a place that
resonates with intrigue and
that evokes adventures
far away.
© 2007 Thom Filicia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.thomfilicia.com
