Master Bathroom Project

The inspiration for this room came from a children's book about Africa. I felt that this was appropriate given that the overall concept was inspired by a quote about Africa. The many colors of Africa run the entire spectrum. There are the hot colors of red, orange and yellow. And the cool colors of black, purple, indigo and blue. When these two spectrums meet you get green in the middle. Green is the symbol of growth and vitality, very appropriate for designing for a child because as a designer you want the spaces they are in to inspire them. Focusing on primary colors and dividing the room into three sections to highlight three very different areas of the room. When first entering the room you are drawn through a hot, exciting red tunnel towards a bright, cheery green wall. This red area is to inspire activity. The dresser is placed here so as to motivate the children to dress quickly. Once you pass through the red room, you enter the green space. Here is a desk for two, to provide a space to study and learn. To the left of the green room, are the beds. The bedroom walls are a tranquil blue to provide a restful and quiet area, perfect for sleeping.

Kitchen Design Project

In designing the Gregory's kitchen, there were a lot of factors that had to be considered and brought together to create a seemless, efficent space. Patti, who is a wheelchair user, is one of the main users of this kitchen and therefor it needed to fit her needs. Countertops, shelves, cabinets and appliances all needed to be accessible.

In the design, I was keeping in mind my concept of influence and impression. The central oval island's curves 'push' out and impress curves into the surrounding counters and banquet. Wide 4' aisles and expansive lowered counters provide abundant work space for all users. Multiple sinks allow for dishwashing to be seperate from more quick applications like getting drinking water or quick rinsing.

Concept Development

From a long quote by an idol of mine, Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen), in which she describes how much Africa changed her life and made such an impression upon her but wonders if she left any impression upon it, I developed my concept for the Gregory apartment remodels. The quote is about being so influenced by something that it changes you and you will forever have the impressions that it left upon you. I think this relates very importantly to the way one should feel about their home. Home's decor, style and all it's associations have forever influenced everything about us.

From this idea of influence and impression, I sketched some parti drawings reflecting these ideas. A dominate shape of curves, similar to a ripple effect, started to emerge. An idea of an implication of constant movement was formed. And upon this path, representations of influence would be present.

My model shows these ideas through its curving shape, implying continuity, and through abstract representations of a figure moving along the path, encountering another larger object, passing through that object and coming away with something from that object.

Wheel Chair

Ride, Don't Walk...

I had rarely thought about the challenges that a person who uses a wheel chair would face on the WSU campus until I learned that we would have to experience it for ourselves. I instantly started to focus on all the hills and the rough, treacherous sidewalks. Starting in Daggy Hall on the 3rd floor, I entered the elevator to descend to the basement parking garage. Upon entering the elevator, I found it very difficult to maneuver towards the floor destination buttons. I was the only person in the elevator and I'm sure I would have bumped another person if they were sharing the space with me. I exited the elevator and thankfully found a door with an electric opening device. Easily maneuvering through the generous 4' doorway I now found myself outside.

I mustered all of my upper body strength and pushed myself up the incline out of the parking garage. Now I was approaching the South entrance of Carpenter Hall. There is a ramp to the West of the entrance and I found it very difficult to push myself up it. Again, I was very relieved to meet another electric door. However this time, I was very conscious of my knuckles as I wheeled through the very narrow opening. Once inside, I made my way easily across the stone floor fighting absolutely no friction. I was headed to the library. This proved problematic. Upon trying to open the very heavy, resistant metal door, and still trying to remain seated, I was in a tug of war battle with this door. Cursing and making quite the scene, I continued to battle the door. If I could get the door open enough holding it with one hand, I would lose control of the door when I would try to wheel in. After making quite the scene, a very nice gentleman inside the library got up to come help me get in. I can't imagine how a person who regularly uses a wheelchair would feel, knowing that there are places they can't get into without the help of someone else. It really makes me conscious now about how I will design doors and doorways.

Now that I was finally in the library, I was in search of a book. Easily navigating the sections, I found the book. It was easy enough to reach, but I noticed that there were more books that I couldn't reach than there were books I could reach. I wouldn't have been able to retrieve a book from half of the other shelves without the assistance of another person. Now it was time to leave. The aisle I was in was on the outside of the rows and was generously wide, but not enough to turn around. I continued down the aisle and planned to just double back in the next aisle over. This proved very problematic, and frankly distressing, as the aisle was just BARELY wide enough for me to travel down. There were spots where I couldn't fit through unless I moved books to a different spot because they were sticking out too far into the aisle. I had fears of knocking down shelves or the entire bookcase. Finally, I made it to the end of the aisle and again, a very nice gentleman opened the door me.