Form follows function is a principle associated with modernist architecture and industrial design in the 20th century. The principle is that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose. ~Louis Sullivan, American architect (Wikipedia)
You’ve spent months thumbing through home style and architectural design magazines, and countless hours hunched over your laptop browsing through an infinite number of “ideabooks” on Houzz. You have three scrapbooks filled with photos, drawings, paint chips and fabric swatches. You’ve read hundreds of reviews on Homestars, compiling a long list of potential contractors, architects and interior designers. You’ve googled windows, doors, floors, fixtures, carpets, lighting. You now understand Passive House, LEED and Net Zero buildings.
You know what you want and you are ready to assemble your team — a group of experts that will bring your dream to life.
Right at the beginning stage of the planning process, it is a good idea to bring in your interior designer along with your architect and contractor. Your team will be knowledgeable and up to date on building codes and regulations and they will each bring a set of specialized skills to the table. They will thoroughly understand all the technical aspects of design required to create your dream so that it is structurally safe, functional and visually pleasing.
During the preliminary planning stage, your interior designer will be better able to create your living spaces to reflect your needs and wants, knowing the size and location of all the windows and doors in your new home. This will effectively reduce the likelihood of costly alterations to the structural design of your house, as your architect and designer can collaborate to bring all the elements of your vision together when drawing up the plans for your new house.
Architects and interior designers are trained in spatial design and planning. They can see the “big” picture — ensuring that the function of your windows and doors complement the form of your interior spaces — for example, choosing a folding door system to bring the outdoors in, or suggesting tilt & turn windows for the bedrooms for easy cleaning and fast emergency exit. It is important to balance aesthetic considerations with structural planning when designing your home — and your design and building team, working together, will ensure that your dream home is both beautiful and functional.
For innovative ideas and inspiration, plan on attending the Vancouver Home + Design Show from October 22 – October 25, where you can find designers, builders, and new products for your home building or renovation projects. Come and see us at Booth 1129. We love to talk about windows and doors!
Browse through our Project Gallery for photos of homes featuring our windows and doors.
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