The Whole is the Sum of its parts...
“It’s the approach to details that makes something feel authentic. People recognize and respond to the real thing. What creates this elusive “authenticity,” which makes us strive to own a type of watch or eat a certain type of food? It’s not just glossy advertising. It’s in the details-the care and attention to which something is put together. Get these wrong, and it’s not the “real thing” anymore. It is exactly the same in architecture (and design).
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As you may remember from my previous post, I discussed how the process of bringing a design to life is complex and can easily go wrong if there’s a lack of adequate preparation and communication, or if you’ve hired a team who can’t execute your ideas in a quality way. I like to say that it always comes back to the details – if one element is off, the entire design can go down the tubes.
On the other hand, as important as it is to focus on those intricate aspects of a design, it’s also equally important to remember that the whole is the sum of its parts. A design doesn’t work unless the details work in harmony to create a cohesive and curated whole. So, today I’m diving into the topic of context in design and why it’s so important for a successful project outcome. After all, you don’t want to focus in so much on the details that you lose sight of the larger picture because it’s the overall view that will ultimately catch a passerby’s eye.
Case in point: most mornings I can be found walking with Watson, my discerning poodle chihuahua, in one of Houston’s most picturesque neighborhoods. Tree-lined streets and plenty of well-detailed homes greet me as I walk by, yet even here I find that there is plenty of room for improvement. Sometimes, it is a trim color that needs to be adjusted and while the homeowner is on the right track, the gray they chose is not the right gray. Or, other times I find trouble spots in overgrown, scraggly landscaping like azaleas with leggy exposed stalks looking worse for the wear and emulating the rose bush trees of the Red Queen’s garden or shrubberies that were intended to create privacy but failed to fill in. These issues, while fairly small, make the overall home’s appearance seem derelict and run down.
Of course, there are also more jaw-dropping mistakes I’ve come across over the years that have completely ruined a home’s potential. The below garage is one example. As you can see from the photo, the garage itself is set so close to the drive that it’s nearly impossible to turn in to it from the street (and since the only other parking is on the street, that creates quite a challenge). It also appears that there is a breezeway of some sort that is taking up space that could otherwise be given to the garage, meaning that precious space is incorrectly doled out. It’s clear that someone dropped the ball in this case, and while certain elements may have worked individually, as a whole they simply do not fly.
With that being said, there’s no reason you can’t set yourself up for success in your own design. Here’s how to make sure you make the right decisions every single time:
The first and most important step is to consider the needs and cues of the surrounding environment. Do the materials you long for work for the climate you live in? Does the land you are building on have large swaths of forestry surrounding it, or is it on a typical residential street with houses lined up like soldiers? You may long for that Pacific Northwest contemporary home, but it can wind up looking entirely out of place in a suburban environment more in line with traditional design (which can impact your resale value down the road). Similarly, you might have fallen in love with Ipe paneling, but because of the yearly treatment required to maintain it, you need to consider if that’s something you’re willing to do. Function, it turns out, plays a major role in the success of our design goals. Ultimately, you want to honor the good architectural details that you have and correct the ones that aren’t in keeping with the overall feel of the property. By doing this (instead of scrapping everything for a style that doesn’t quite fit), you’re sure to have a design that both pleases you and fits in with the neighborhood aesthetic.
Step number two follows this same line of thinking: stick to a single style that works for you. Now, I’m not suggesting certain styles can’t be successfully mixed, but more often than not, the mixing of styles is rarely pulled off, and it most certainly requires a well-honed eye to do it right. While I do believe that you should buy what you love, that doesn’t mean it will necessarily play well with the rest of your aesthetic. The goal is to create a space that is balanced and to avoid giving your space an identity crisis. As one of my clients has said on many occasions, it is a fine line between “WOW” and “WOAH”, and one wrong step can throw the whole thing off.
“Much beauty in architecture (and design) arises from balance: emphasizing some elements while simplifying others. This creates a hierarchy within the (space), focusing energy on the most important parts. The goal is to create a building that is interesting but not overwhelming and confused.”
Now that you have your style and environmental factors in line, the third step to recognizing the importance of the whole is to work from a detailed set of drawings and to double (and even triple) check your measurements. Concepts may look great on paper or in your mind, but walls are not necessarily straight, and plans won’t necessarily be followed to the letter by your hired contractors. So, taking the time to address your design at this step is critical before build out or placing an order for furniture. Generally speaking, drawings allow you to see any problem areas and correct them ahead of time (and thereby avoid those pesky change orders and unnecessary added costs). You’re able to consider the plan from every angle and see how a design will come to life outside of your mind’s eye. How does your furniture fit? Is there the right amount of clearance? Does the height of the tub interfere with opening the shutters behind it? Are those chairs too big for the seating group? Once you have the answers to your most burning questions, you’ll find that you’re on a much clearer track to success.
After your drawings have been reviewed, step number four comes into play: take a look at the entire thing at a glance. You want to know if the details you’ve chosen play well together, or if they make the space feel a bit off. The proportion of a window, thickness of a glazing bar, or type of window can make a building look right or wrong, and similarly, a light fixture you’ve fallen head over heels for might be gorgeous but also all wrong for blending in with the surrounding lighting. When choosing each element, it’s essential to place it in the context of the actual space. When in doubt, pull out your phone or iPad, place the desired object front and center on your screen, and hold it up in the direction of the location in which you want it to live. If the scale, color palette, and style work with the room as a whole, then go for it. If not, it’s safer to just let it go and choose something else. As hard as it may be, you’ll be glad for that decision once your design is fully in place.
Why this works-simple ceiling lights pair well with a gridded pendant. Both combine circular shapes. Design by MR Architecture
In this image a single style of pendant is repeated over the island and cafe table beyond. Design by MR Architecture
In this kitchen, the same series fixture is used both as a single and a multi light pendant in several locations as in the secondary dining beyond. Design by MR Architecture.
This living room features different fixtures delineating each area. You can see the difference in the overall effect from the previous images. Design by MR Architecture
The whole is undoubtedly the sum of its parts, and when we strive to create a successful design, we must also strive to see each piece as an element of a greater dynamic. Details are everything, but details fall apart without an overarching intention stitching them together. As you think about your future space and how it will be used, be sure to consider it from every angle – a well thought out design that attaches meaning to each component will be much more satisfactory than one thrown together based on whims alone. Curate your home or work space as a larger piece of art and you will surely find that it’s an instant classic – no matter how much time has passed. Please check out more fabulous projects by MR Architecture. https://mrarch.com
Stay tuned for our next post where we feature the first of our project case studies.
P.S. You may have noticed that I have referenced the book-Get Your House Right by Marianne Cusato & Ben Pentreath on several occasions. I have found it to be an excellent resource. While it focuses on traditional architecture, the principles it discusses can be applied across many styles. The illustrations are hand drawn by Marianne, beautifully, in the way that only hand drawings can be. To help you achieve your curated whole, I can’t recommend it enough. Add it to your collection today by clicking below.
