Ranch: Process

Public space:

A large wooden door accented with stain glass greats the occupant as they enter the home. The stain glass represents, in color, an abstract form, of the interior floor plan and color schemes. This way the user is interdicted by the space upon their arrival. The materials found in the foyer are: polished concrete floor, sage colored walls, dark cherry wood accents such as shelf’s and mud room style bench. This room or the “green” room was designed to give the occupant’s eyes time to adjust from the harsh exterior natural lighting to the now, dimmer, electric lighting.

Adjacent to and in contrast with the “green” room is the living room- or “red” room. The elements found in the red room are mostly comprised of highly reflective surfaces, both the fire from the fireplace and the sun’s light will reflect off the polished white concrete floor. Even the furnishings are quite reflective. The step-down into this split-level room has been changed to a ramp to reinforce the bending of light that takes place in the public spaces. In the living room there is a large piece of wall art created out of cardboard and recycled brown paper; above are yellow and red recessed lights, when on the wall becomes a theatrical light show. The fireplace mantel possesses a mimicked stone pattern similar to that of Frank L. Wright’s previous works. I took inspiration form him because he believed that the fireplace is the hearth of the home and, in plan, the fireplace lies centrally in the ranch home. I also took from Robert Venture’s designs the proposal of making the fireplace and staircase one, so as to maximize space. Here, in the “red” room I moved the step-up riser all the way to the right so that it could be next to the fireplace as the floor plan moves into the dinning room- or “yellow” room.

To the right of the living room is the dining room. Here the predominant colors are white and yellow. I tried to let yellow act as the inspirational color that pops into the space, rather then allowing it to consume the space. In an effort to create interesting shadows and color change, I used translucent yellow chairs over which polished concrete floors. The walls are made of an attractive paneling system by Iconic Walls entitled “broadcast” the paneling comes in all white, however, I intend on painting bands of yellow in the concaved parts of the wall paneling to enhance the charm of the room.

Both the “red” room and the “yellow” room will be linked to each other through the lighting systems. In plan the North wall joins the living room and dining room spaces together, I plan on allowing them to shear the same drapery system. On the ceiling two ribbon like light fixtures will be attached to a pulley system to control the amount of electrical light that is carried into each space (please refer to illustration). Next to the dining room is the den, which also continues the yellow scheme. Coming full circle, the kitchen or “blue” room is comprised of retro style wallpaper, Ice Block countertops, white polished concrete floors and blue cabinetry.

Privet space:

Relating back to my inspirational art piece, Philadelphia, I have determined that the gestural lines in the work will act as the preexisting wall structures and the bright blocks of color best respond to high traffic areas like those in the public space. Thus, turning the white and gray tones in the painting into the more relaxed privet spaces of the home; such as the master bedroom, baths, and children’s rooms (please refer to scenes).