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More Articles by Karla J. Nielson  More Design Perspectives

SURROUND STYLE
Wall-to-wall design.

by Karla Nielson, Allied Member, ASID, WCAA

Watching a great movie or listening to powerful music in quality surround sound is a marvelous experience—it fills the air, thrills the ears, penetrates the body and envelopes the listener or viewer so that the music or the cinema experience becomes infused into the depths of the being. It can be a thrilling, transcending experience. So it is with beautiful interior design.

As we surround ourselves with great design, impeccably executed, the soul is swept into the realm of the interior, affecting attitudes and behavior and setting a stage for events and actions appropriate to the purpose of the space.

SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH STYLE

One of the greatest material and emotional joys in the life of someone who loves comfort and beauty is the ability to coordinate all the furnishing elements in a room to create a complete whole that becomes larger and more significant than just the sum of its parts. Such a room truly is a complete whole. A finished interior where all the elements work as effective components and mesh together has a dramatic effect on the attitudes and actions of its occupants.

Through the use of materials and elements, finely designed rooms evolve into masterpieces of living art. “Living,” because people do live, work, connect, dine, communicate, worship, shop, obtain services or perhaps relax in interiors created by design professionals. These activities are all part of life; hence, they all form rooms where people live. As people are affected by their surroundings, for better or for worse, it is worthwhile to study how to create interiors in which the environment becomes a pleasing, uplifting, effective and motivating space.

HARMONY IS THE GOAL

Harmony is acknowledged where an interior is so well-coordinated that it seems to have naturally come together as a cohesive whole. Thought and care are evident in the fluid composition from wall to wall, from ceiling to floor. In interior design education, harmony is accomplished through the use of two sub-principles. These are unity and variety.

Unity is the creation of an interior in a unified style, historic period, mood or theme. It is the glue that holds the space together in a way that it makes sense. The identification of a theme is something that can require a bit of thought, and sometimes words can establish how you or your clients should feel in the interior.

For example, a traditionally styled interior may be described in words such as elegant, lovely, dignified, refined, handsome, high quality, formal, exquisite. In the room illustrated in the first photograph, the pale yellow striped wall covering and straight, trimmed silk draw draperies on a metal designer rod establish an authentic, formal Neoclassic/early Empire feeling. This is further established by the English Neoclassic Adam fireplace mantle. This mantle is a significant architectural feature, combined authentically with the recessed wall niche and framing white woodwork to establish a Formal Traditional theme. The other backgrounds are equally supportive of this theme—plain plaster ceiling, wood plank floor, French Neoclassic Aubusson (flat tapestry) rug with delicate designs.

Variety ensures that the composition will not be boring, but rather interesting. These principles are evaluated according to the elements of design: space, form, line, pattern, texture, light and color. In this same Neoclassic interior, variety is seen in selecting a discriminating balance of furnishings from the Formal Traditional styles: French Rococo console (background), armless fauteuil chair and fireplace screen, the tall Neoclassic tea table and sleek low Neoclassic magazine-laden end table, and Empire glass etegeré/library cabinet are prominent selections that echo the background elements.

The furniture focal point is the Chippendale camelback sofa, a Late Georgian piece, upholstered in an Oriental-inspired climbing vine motif. This is appropriate because during this period, from 1751 to 1790 (which overlapped both Rococo and Neoclassic French Periods), imported Chinese fabrics were much sought after for Chippendale pieces. Note that the Chinese elements are also seen atop the etegeré/library cabinet.

Rococo and Neoclassic elements are also seen in the accessories—the mantel features a Rococo object d’art, while the Rococo over-mantel mirror is framed in a straight Neoclassic style. The chandelier has small curved metal pieces and is a combination of the Rococo curves and straight sconces of the French Neoclassic period.

The room is a whole entity, both unified and with variety from major, related influences, skillfully blended and arranged.

SURROUNDED WITH ASIAN
INFLUENCE

Another fabulous example of surround style is seen in the next photograph, the Asian influenced bedroom by New York City designer T. Keller Donovan. Taking a cue from blue-and-white Ming Porcelain, this fresh room has a sharp and classy quality in every selection. These are the unifying elements. The variety is created by the hand of the master. A skillful balance of toile fabric placement—on the Country French sofa, the continental screen and the tailored bed skirt form just enough repetitive pattern.

These blue-white applications are balanced with quality white bedding and upholstered headboard, neutral gray walls behind a large white Chinese porcelain vase and a delightful variety of Oriental ginger jars. A touch of the south Asian seas can be found in the light-diffusing window shadings, an updated, clean effect of the original Asian bamboo shades. Add sisal floor mat and large tropical plants and the viewer is wholly transported to Asia!

SURROUNDED WITH COLOR!

Another dramatically effective room is seen in the last photograph, an intensely intimate library by ASID interior designer Jaime Drake. The color scheme holds this room together in harmony—sensuous red contrasted with a clean white paint, and balanced with taupe and black.

The French doors allow for much-desired natural daylight, but are treated with a window film to protect against fading. At night, a Roman shade to match the walls can be lowered for cave-like coziness. Creative details delight the eye with variety—most notably the scalloped mirror that enjoys a new life reflecting beautiful accessories as a coffee table surface. Other items that give the room variety include the use of one-of-a-kind handsome pillows. This room has a sense of surround style, encompassing the lucky occupant in a luxury of color, form, pattern and contrast. Yet the unifying elements are profound and rich.

CREATING SURROUND STYLE

As you create surround style, remember the key elements:
• Choose a theme based on a time in history, a place, color, a great piece of art or an architectural detail.
• Plan ways to establish the theme through several elements of color, style, pattern or furniture.
• Look for creative ways to incorporate enough variety to keep the interior interesting without losing focus of the unity.
• Hold fast to the idea that the room should envelope the visitor. Upon entering, one is immediately and willingly swept into the theme and feels at one with the effects.
• Keep it beautiful and uplifting. One should feel that the interior was a rewarding experience and will long to return.