Good Design

What you don't see...

18' Contemporary Wall Unit

When my wife and I purchased our first new home, we waited a year and eight months for it to be complete. During that period we had plenty of time to decide what we could do with the bare 18' wall in the front room. It is a beautiful house with large windows on the front wall adjacent the front entrance. The home is breath taking with the feeling of warmth and invite as one entered into the vaulted room. I believe this room was the selling point for us when we purchased this house.

View from the 2nd Floor

Contemporary Design is not for everyone, but what makes this particular design work in this room are the things you can't see. The width of the wall unit was no accident. If you where to measure the width of the wall unit and the width of the windows they would be exactly the same. This helps balance the room and one feature doesn't overpower the other. Balance is important to design and to keep the balance the distance between the right side of the wall unit and the distance between the left side of the window to the corner of the wall are also equal. The depth of the wall unit is equal to that of a standard shelf to not allow it to be intrusive to the room.

Three large brushed metal inserts.

Balance continues within the confines of the unit. Three large irregular and unequal brushed metal inserts where constructed and installed in a staggered arrangement. To keep balance the outside borders between the right, left, and top of the unit are equal. Although the metal inserts appear staggered with equal side spacing the flow is intact. At least one edge on each of the metal inserts touches a specific invisible border keeping continuity. The three metal inserts are all different sizes but the volume or area each unit covers, is close to being equal. This allows the structure to remain balanced with equal weight from top to bottom.

Sofa from "Fifth Avenue" - Wall Unit design by Gerry Thibeault/Bogie Inc. 

The last feature in this room is the round sectional sofa. The round lines soften all the vertical and horizontal lines that make up this room. The curved shape ties the wall unit together with the window. The sofa distracts the eye from the lower part of the room and keeps the focus on the two main features, the wall unit and the window. The curved design of the sofa reaches out to the rooms guests, whom can't resist but to sit and spend time in this room. It's a great space to entertain and all the guest face each other and are in full view of one of the two main features.

All Good Design, weather it be a room, automobile, or magazine advertisement follow specific principles. What you don't see is often the success of a great design.