The arrival of spring marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of this site. It’s been so meaningful to me to share my journey through traditional design with you. Thank you for reading! Your comments and feedback mean the world to me.

Today I’m excited to share some new techniques I’ve developed through my Visualization Techniques class. I’ve learned how to take ideas in my head and put them on paper to communicate my vision to clients. To do so, I’ve studied shading, hand sketching, the rules of perspective, and 2D and 3D computer drawing and rendering (adding colors, finishes, materials, shading) techniques. Currently, I’m using the SketchUp program for 2D & 3D line drawing and Photoshop for rendering. I’m also experimenting with alcohol markers to add texture and depth to my drawings.

Interior Design is so visual. It’s vital to be able to show others the furnishings, placement, materials, fabrics, and finishes that you are proposing to create or change a space. I’m delighted to be gaining these skills even while admitting that I need lots of practice. Knowing the rules of perspective drawing has upped my ability to do room sketches, but it still takes a lot of time and thought to do a “quick” sketch of a room. The goal is to get it down in about 10 minutes or less.

Here are some of my samples of quick hand sketching and using the rules of perspective, shading, textures, and Photoshop rendering to bring to life a wall elevation and condo floorplan. (I only want to take credit where it’s due, so please note that I did not draw the armchair, kitchen, elevation, and floorplan linework below. I modified them with color, texture, shading, and finishes.)

English Country House Primary Bedroom

A project I’ve designed from the start to design boards is an assignment to create a primary bedroom for a vacation home for imaginary clients. My fictional clients own an English Country house. I created the line drawings in SketchUp and did the rendering in Photoshop. The design boards give an overview of furnishings, fabrics, lighting, and wood finishes before showing it all as I’ve imagined in a 2D rendering of the primary bedroom.

I enjoyed researching the motifs and characteristics of a classic English country house bedroom and incorporating them into my proposal. These include:

• Floral/chintz patterns
• Area rugs atop carpet
• Canopy beds
• Wood finishes
• Antique furnishings
• Foot of bed benches/settees
• Fireplaces
• Comfortable elegance
• Ceiling beams
• Cozy seating
• Wallpaper

This summer, I’ll be taking classes in CAD (Computer Assisted Design) and Interior Design Codes and Standards. It’s all a bit technical, but necessary, information to be a great designer.