Sparks Interiors Model Installation

While interning with Kim at Sparks Interiors this summer I had the chance to help prepare and complete a model installation for D.R. Horton's South Lake Vista homes in Lake Stevens. I spent a few days starting some of the purchasing for items to make the space seem realistic and lived in. We then spent nearly a week installing all of the furnishings and decor. Here are a few images of the final result.

Entry

Dining Room

Master Bath

Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet

Bonus Room

Merry Forks Wine Bar & Bistro

In the spring I completed a hypothetical design within an existing building in Pullman. It was a space where a local winery and restaurant would combine to form a wine bar and bistro. There were many requirements to consider but the first floor was to include the bistro, wine tasting, and wine retail. While the second floor had offices for the business and a conference room that must also serve as a VIP tasting room. Above you can see the common area looking towards the bistro and bistro bar. After figuring out a concept based on the interviews of Jim Harbour of South Fork and Patrick Merry of Merry Cellars, I started design development within Revit to create the idea I had envisioned.

One of the requirements was to design a grand staircase to lead the VIP guests up to the second floor. I decided to use a sweeping stair with a 3form railing as seen in the above left image. On the right is the wine retail space with an area for barrel tasting in the center. You can see a panorama of the first floor here.

On the left above you can see the landing of the second floor onto a reception area and seating booths for small groups or lunches. On the right is the main open office area with clouds hanging above the workstations. A panorama of the second floor landing can be seen here. Most of the furnishings were designed by Steelcase and we worked with their planning design center online to bring our idea to life. After completing the design, I then produced a set of construction documents to finish off the project.

Hard Cover Journal Tutorial

Every now and then I get this burst of craftiness and this hard cover journal was the focus during my latest creative endeavor. I was studying the covering for a book I had one day and thought it would be a fun idea to try and create my own. So I went in search of some instruction on how to do so and found this wonderful tutorial here. I liked how it gave you a step by step but wanted to change a few things, first I am not a writer but I enjoy sketching so I wanted to use a material that I could use watercolor or markers on and it wouldn't bleed through. The second thing was I thought the cover was too bland and wanted to created some texture to it like an engraving. The following tutorial is how I went about creating a hard cover sketch journal with my own artistic cover.

Things you will need:
- Heavyweight cardstock (I made my journal the size of half a letter page so 8.5"x5.5", but
you can make yours however big or small you wish, and the number of pages determines how thick the journal will be. I used 24 pages of cardstock)
- A stapler
- A couple large binder clips for holding the pages together while glueing
- Hot glue gun with extra glue sticks
- Ruler and Xacto knife
- Cardboard or Chipboard anything stiff
- Some thinner cardboard for the spine (I used a cereal box)
- Whatever you wish the cover to be, it can be fabric or paper (I used some construction paper that bent nicely)
- The contrast paper for your cover design, if you wish one
- Elmer's glue
- And finally your lining paper

Step 1: Stack your cardstock in piles of 4 sheets (I had 6 piles)

You will bind the paper in separate folios. I had 4 sheets in each folio and 6 folios so I used a total of 24 sheets of cardstock which creates 48 usable pages.

Step 2: Fold each stack of 4 pages in half

You may have to fold each page individually and stick it together because the paper is so thick, but here are all my folios folded together and stacked. Try and keep it as lined up as possible.

Step 3: Unfold, turn over and staple

Unfold each folio and flip it over as seen in the image above. Then using an open stapler, staple the folio edge together at least two points. So I would staple my dining table I put an eraser under where the stapler was being used to the staple ends go into the eraser, then you just fold the pieces in so its like a normal staple. I was given this idea by the first tutorial and it worked beautifully! Repeat on each folio.

Step 4: Glue the binding onto the folios

First start by cutting your binding from regular printer paper. It should be the same length as the folios, so for me that was 8.5", but it should be 5 times as wide. I started by using binder clips to make sure all my folios stayed together, then measured the width and cut a page 5 times that width. Once that was cut I used a hot glue gun and applied glue to the folded edge of the folios and attached them to the center of the binding paper and let it dry. (If you wish to trim the folios at this point you can, but I liked the uneven edges for my journal.)

Step 5: Measure and cut out the cover boards

I made my covers 1/4" wider than my folios and 1/2" taller so there would be a quarter inch extra on three sides of my folio and the fourth edge lined up with my bound edge of the folio. After I marked this on the chipboard I cut out the cover boards with a large Xacto knife and a metal ruler unlike the architectural scale shown in the picture above so as not to damage the ruler.

Step 6: Make the spine for the journal

In studying hard cover books around my house I realized the spine was not as thick as the covers so I decided to using an empty cereal box as the cardboard for the spine. So by smushing the covers against the bound folios I measured with the cardboard and a pen how wide the spine needed to be and cut it to the same length as the cover boards.

Step 7: Mark and cut the cover material

I first laid out the cover and spine so they are 1/4" apart, then drew my edges for the cover 3/4" wider on each side. So as to minimize overlap I aligned the edges to the covers as seen in the image above. Then following a box I own I looked how the cover was attached and noticed the top and bottom had 45 degree cuts again minimizing overlap so I used that in my cover. Then cut out the material using an Xacto knife or scissors.

Step 8: Cut out the contrast paper for the cover design

I cut out my contrast paper to be the same size as my front cover board so there would not be any uneven edges when glued together.

Step 9: Cut out cover design

It is shown here with the contrast paper beneath so you can see my design but don't place then beneath while cutting your design out. You can do whatever line drawing you would like and if you have a really steady hand you could even do lettering. I however do not so I decided on a mountain and tree landscape. I wished it had come out better but I am happy enough with the design.

Step 10: Glue contrast paper to the cover material

Using elmer's glue so it is a smoother attachment, glue on the contrast paper to where the front cover board would sit.

Step 11: Glue cover boards and spine in place

Using hot glue attach the front cover over the contrast paper then attach the spine and back cover. Make sure everything is aligned nicely with straight edges.

Step 12: Finish the edges of the cover

Start by folding and gluing in the left and right edges, then attach the top and bottom using hot glue. As you can see in the images above the overlap is minimized and creates a crisp cover.

Step 13: Glue the binding paper into the cover

I used hot glue to attach the binding to the cover. Be sure to only put glue on the front and back cover, NOT the spine. The spine is just supportive on that side but if it wear glued it would not close properly.

Step 14: Cut lining paper out

You can use almost any type of paper. You want it to be just as tall as the folios, but twice as wide so they cover the first/last page of the folios and stretch onto the cover as you will see in the next step. This gives the interior a nice finished look so you don't see the chipboard or the folded pieces of the cover.

Step 15: Glue the lining in place

Again I used hot glue for this step. I started by attaching it to the first page, then to the the small fraction of cover between the spine and the cover and then attached it to the cover so it all comes together nicely.

Now it's all done!!

Apartment Art

For the artwork in my apartment I decided to find images or artworks I like and try to replicate them for my own purposes using pens or acrylic paint or watercolor pencil or mixed mediums. I do not sell these nor claim there design to be my own but I do like them, so below each image I have included the link I found the artwork at.

Found at: http://www.wordsonimages.com/photo?id=91402-And+forget+not+that+the+earth+

I did change the colors in this particular design but found the original image at:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/BURTON-x-BYVM-Contest/6167333

I decided to add pins to this design for where I have lived, visited and am currently adding where I would like to go. I found this tutorial at: http://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/2012/06/diy-wooden-world-map-art.html

Found at: http://society6.com/product/for-whatever-we-lose_Print#1=45

Found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75279231@N06/galleries/72157629137315081#photo_3370655226

Used my own pick of music lyrics by Rachel Platten but the tutorial is found at: http://meohmymama.blogspot.com/2011/04/diy-tutorial-for-wood-stained-painting.html

Found at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/109155925/wooden-walnut-mountain-range-triptic?ref=market

Found at: http://weheartit.com/entry/62651425

Falling in Love with Spokane

As a group project, this design focused on a wedding venue on Canada Island in Spokane, WA. We worked with landscape architects to determine appropriate plantings and created a plan for a commercial kitchen, storage, public restrooms and bridal party rooms within existing buildings on the site. Our concept for this design was: "The wedding design for Canada Island is like a night sky. The ceremonial area is the main focus of the island, whichrepresents the moon. The gazebos and bride’s garden add hints of sparkle like stars in the night sky. The trees around the ceremonial space and throughout the island allow beams of light to shimmer through their leaves, creating a literal sparkle in the wedding venue. At night, strings of lights will illuminate the island, especially in the reception area. The buildings are central to the preparation and executions of the event. The sparseness of the grapevines on the archway leading up to the ceremony space will allow glimpses of light to shine through and add more of a starlit feeling. The quaking aspens and water birch trees serve as privacy
barriers without completely blocking the view of the river. The natural concept falls in with branding incorporating the moon and the stars. Working off of the color schemes of the new brand the island uses teal gray and yellow colors with spots of red."

After working multiple different designs ideas we developed a final plan for the island as well as the existing buildings and created a poster that displayed a few perspectives of a wedding in motion implementing our design ideas. After completing our posters we presented our designs to Spokane residents and the Faculty of Riverfront Parks new branding team.

Revit Office Lighting Design

In this design we were given a space where we would focus on the lighting application. We were asked to figure out the daylight zone and the electric light zones. Then we each came up with a lighting concept for the space. In the original design we were supposed to focus mainly on the open office that was to be filled with 10-12 workstations and then apply some light techniques to the other areas. To start off we did some rough calculations for the number of luminaries needed in the space, then we selected the ones we would like and created a reflected ceiling plan and lighting schedule. After figuring out the design, we had to create our idea in Revit putting together a final booklet that included renderings, solar studies and our previous process work.

The lighting concept I used for my design was "The lighting in these spaces should create evenly illuminated effects that maximize the daylight use and fit the needs of the occupants. It should be a space that enhances focus and productivity with its lighting and materiality."
Overall I am very pleased with my design and above are the final renderings for my open office, conference room and small office kitchen. 

Chicago Study Tour

This last fall I took the opportunity to go on a interdisciplinary study tour to Chicago, Illinois. It last 5 full days not including the travel and gave us the opportunity to study buildings as groups and present to one another at the actual site. On our first full day we started off leaving our downtown hotel, the Red Roof Inn, and walked to Trump tower to discuss the first days buildings. We then proceeded to learn from each student about there buildings. Some of the ones I found most interesting that day were the Harold Washington Library and City Target. I loved the owls as a sign of knowledge on top of the library and the intricate patterning on the exterior of the Target.

After that "Loop" we took a train to visit the Illinois Institute of Technology. The next day we had the opportunity to learn from different discipline teachers, so I started my day with the Landscape Architect teacher. She led us on a walk through Chicago looking at the undeveloped areas. We got to walk along the beach and then moved further towards the Lincoln Park Zoo. On the way we saw this interesting arch that had all the students intrigued (top right). After lunch the Interior Designers went with their teacher to explore the Merchandise Mart, visiting Herman Miller, Design Tex(bottom left) and Dream Home, as well as the Green Spot.

 At the end of that day the faculty had an evening cruise along the river and out onto the lake planned, so experiencing that with my friends and colleagues was really fun.

The next day we started at the Farnsworth house, learning the stories of their flooding and how it came about. Then in the afternoon we had our last student group present around Millennium Park. My group had researched the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (bottom left), so I had the opportunity to teacher fellow people about that structures story. But I also loved hearing about Crown Fountain (bottom right) and how it shoots water out at people in certain segments of its programming.

 The last full "school" day we were taken on a tour of Frank Lloyd Wrights Home and Studio (left). Then just after lunch we took our group picture in front of the infamous Bean or "Cloud Gate" and ended the day exploring the Art Institute of Chicago which had some amazing pieces of art I later learned in the semester in my Modern Art-19th century course.

 The final day in Chicago was a free day for the students and I wandered through the Shedd Aquarium with a friend. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we came back with new friends in multiple different disciplines.