Renovation Solutions: Architects three tips for a great design

These French doors and windows, visible from the home's entry, provide lots of natural light to the space and also offer an inviting view of a covered deck and beautiful back yard.

Kevin Bunnell

Enlarge photo

Editor's note: Portions of this column have previously run on the writers' website at renovationdesigngroup.com and in a previous Renovation Design column at deseretnews.com.

Many people think of architecture as the look of a structure from the outside, and this is indeed a part of architecture. One of the definitions from the Free Dictionary for architecture is the "orderly arrangement of parts." The exterior style, shape and lines of a building do constitute architecture.

However, interior architecture is equally as important as what goes on the exterior of a building or residence. A house that looks spectacular but does not function well for the residents on a daily basis becomes more of a sculpture than a home. Architecture is a challenging blend of science and art. Taking a general look at home remodeling, we have three basic tips to create a great design.

Exterior and interior connections

The exterior architecture of a home is very important. Your home should have a dominant style with updated, complementary finishes. For example, adding a front porch to a house can make a world of difference both in the look of the home and how it functions.

However, architecture not only concerns the arrangement of the interior and exterior parts of a residence but also the way the home relates to its context or surroundings. Our living spaces should extend outside the literal walls of our homes both physically and visually. In our climate, we have the opportunity to play, celebrate, entertain and relax outside for a good portion of the year. Even when the weather keeps us inside, we need light and a visual connection to nature and to the world beyond our walls. Therefore, as our living spaces and activities extend outside, they should reflect the same level of design and style as the interior of our homes.

The connection between our inside and outside spaces is critical and should be seamless and natural. Even outside, we should find properly designed living areas. The overall architectural design of a home should facilitate a clean transition between inside and outside, making it completely natural to move easily between the two types of spaces.

View post:
Renovation Solutions: Architects three tips for a great design