Creating a home of distinction

Coordinating architecture and interior design can take a house from a bland and cookie cutter look to a house of distinction. Today, many homes are part of a development where every other house shares architectural design and there is a lack of unique character. 

Creating a home of distinction takes effort. You need to take a good look at your home to see beyond the uninspiring looks to find what makes it special.

You don't need to have a historic home in order to have architectural detail. In a Mid-Century Modern, it may be the wood floors that are the focal point of a room. Choose the rest of the rooms design to highlight the strongest point. Place of the furniture so that it compliments what you want to highlight.

When it comes to surface materials it is also important to consider the character of the house. If you have a Victorian House it may not adapt well to ultramodern surfaces and colors. By the same token, it is wisest to not try to turn your Craftsman beauty into a country cabin.

Some exterior architecture adds great appeal to the interior design. Gables offer the opportunity for interior window seats. The steeply pitched roofs of Cape Cod homes make a good spot for built-ins and storage where it isn't possible to walk easily. When choosing your interior design, using the coordinating architecture can help to define your style as well as accentuate the architectural details of your home.

What are the architectural details? These days there are many details that can become the focal point of the interior design. One of the problems is that it is difficult to see the entire picture; you can only see one room at a time.

Look at the room and identify its architectural details. If it is the living room is there a fireplace with a mantle? Is there a window that draws your eyes to it immediately? Once you have identified what is significant about the architecture of each room it is important to look at the entire interior as a cohesive whole. You want to make sure that the mood or style you are trying to accomplish works within the framework of your home.

You may want to de-emphasize the fact that your ceiling is low. Make sure that the paint color of the ceiling is not dramatically different from the walls. It should always be lighter to accentuate the feeling of spaciousness. If you have twelve-foot ceilings and want to make your room feel warm paint the ceiling a darker shade of the walls.

Spaces in your home may run together such as your entrance way and your interior stairway. A staircase can be the main architectural feature not only in a room but of the whole house. You want it all to work well together. Choose furnishing and colors that highlight the mahogany handrail, newel post or the great spindles.

Finding the architectural details in your house is the most important thing you can do to help you choose the perfect interior design. If you are in the process of looking for a new home keep your personal design tastes in mind. You can always change the interior design of a room but changing the architecture is much harder.