In previous posts of The Design Brief®, we have covered the Design Elements as they relate to interior design: LINE, SHAPE AND FORM,  PATTERN AND TEXTURE, LIGHT, and COLOR. 

I use the analogy that the design elements are like the ingredients in a recipe. Choosing to add specific amounts of ingredients (the elements) is how a designer effectively and creatively composes a space. 

If the design elements are your raw ingredients—the flour, salt, and spices—then the design principles are the culinary chemistry that determines whether the final dish is a masterpiece or a mess. Think of design principles as the sensory experience that emerges when the elements are combined.

Just as with a well-executed recipe, a thoughtful blend of design elements can result in a savory masterpiece; conversely, a poor combination can yield something bland or even unpalatable. And while a strategic pairing of ingredients can create a harmonious sweetness, an unskilled combination risks a finished product that tastes bitter.

It is in combining the design elements (ingredients) to achieve desired levels of the design principles (interactions) that a designer exercises creative expression and mastery.

In previous posts, we covered a variety of historical periods in architecture, interiors,  and furniture design:

Historic French ArchitectureFrench Furniture Styles

Historic British Furniture and Architecture

Historic Italian Architecture

Historic Architecture from Spain

American Historic Furniture Styles

The last post listed above covered furniture styles that were strictly American, but it did not include a critical period: the architectural and furniture design movement that took place from about 1930 to 1970, called Modernism. 

The Modernist movement included innovations in art as well as architecture and furniture, including abstract expressionism, pop art, and surrealism. But that is a topic for a different post. And music of the time also took innovative turns in the 20th century as well, including Blues, Jazz, and Rock and Roll. But here, we will explore what transpired in architecture and furniture design during this period.

Let me also clarify some terminology. I sometimes hear people say that current designs look really modern. That is a misuse of the term. Modern design is really of that period of about 1930 to 1970, the topic of this post. A more appropriate term for designs being produced at the current time would be contemporary.

By the early to mid-20th century, the American landscape was undergoing a profound transformation. At the beginning of the century, most people didn’t have indoor plumbing or electricity in their homes, and transportation relied on horses and buggies. Just a few decades later, in 1969, the United States sent astronauts to the moon. 

nd a newly expanded network of highways. In 1950, only about 9% of American homes had a TV; by 1959, that number had soared to nearly 90%.

Simultaneously, the social fabric was shifting: women were entering the workforce in record numbers, and the pace of daily life quickened as new technologies reshaped the home and the office. Following decisive victories in both World Wars, the United States emerged as a global superpower, fostering a national sense of security and supremacy. Together, these forces acted as a catalyst for a radical evolution in American lifestyle and material culture.

So it was no wonder that the architectural style of the times took on a distinctly new flavor. Unlike the previous styles of Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau, and Victorian—all of which were ornate and featured many embellishments—modern architecture was quite simplistic. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe famously said “Less is More,”  meaning that stark simplicity is better than elaborate ornamentation. Modernists embraced minimalism and clean lines.

Why Interior Designers NEED to Know the Residential Codes

It is critical that designers who are producing residential floor plans understand the relevant code requirements. Codes are the law, and the requirements must be followed. 

Most often, if a designer draws a floor plan or lighting plan that misses code compliance, the licensed plumber or electrician, or the experienced carpenter or installer will recognize the deficiency, and make a correction on site or during installation. Within their specialty, good contractors are well aware of the requirements and keep up on any code requirement changes. Or, during a plan review for a building permit application, a code deficiency might get tagged for revision. And, even if something is installed or constructed incorrectly, a building inspector should catch it during an inspection (but then, of course, there may be a hefty cost to the homeowner to reconstruct the element per code requirements!!!)

This is all very comforting to designers. Mistakes and improper applications get caught and fixed along the way during plan reviews and construction. So, the real risk when a designer is ignorant of the codes is that they lose credibility with contractors and installers. AND, that gives the entire industry a bad name. 

Can you almost SEE the contractor rolling their eyes when they see a designer’s plan that has missed a basic requirement???

Can you almost HEAR the men on the job site chuckle over the silly designer’s scheme that misses the mark with plumbing, electrical, or life safety codes?

Yeah, right. This is why some designers get a bad rap.

And this is also why we at Dakota Design Company have developed the Residential Codes Handbook, which includes summaries and diagrams of ALL codes related to single-family homes. Additionally, we update it every three years when the International Residential Code (IRC) and the National Electrical Code (NEC) are revised, and we send all purchasers an update to keep them informed about any code changes.  

But in this post, we will cover the key areas where designers might miss the mark when it comes to code compliance. 

Interior designers excel at maximizing the visual elements within a space to achieve optimal solutions. We all recognize that a beautifully composed interior space is the result of meticulous planning and creative intuition. Designers manipulate visual elements to trick the eye, evoke specific moods, and enhance how people function within a space.

For instance, designers manipulate line to direct where one’s eyes should focus. Color is used to add visual interest and as a spatial corrector: by using colors that make elements advance or recede visually, to create a sense of balance and unity, or to create focal points and areas of emphasis. Texture and pattern add visual weight and interest to a space. Lighting is a sculptural tool that adds variation, creates depth, and highlights architectural features. Designers rely on symmetry and balance by organizing objects to provide a sense of order and reduce cognitive clutter.

Designers are skilled at all of these manipulations, and more. But all of these strategies rely on visual perception: what the inhabitants of a space can see visually. 

Although interior design is clearly predominantly a visual endeavor, this is not to say that designers ignore the other four senses, which are (in addition to sight): smell, touch, hearing, and taste. After all, design isn't just about what would look good in a photograph; it's about how a space feels when someone is actually experiencing it.

What is Multi-Sensory Focused Design?

Sensory-focused Design, also known as Atmospheric Design, focuses on ways people can experience interior spaces through their other four senses, in addition to sight. Intentionally adding elements that trigger smell, touch, hearing, and taste can greatly impact the experience of being in a specific space, making it emotionally resonant for the person.

Each year, we compile insights and tips from interior design industry experts to help make the year ahead more seamless and profitable. We gather these contributions into our annual playbook, and in this blog, we’re sharing one individual expert insight pulled directly from that resource.

These are tips from a business lawyer and former litigation lawyer who specialises in supporting interior designers and creative business owners. Tracey touches on how the difference between a struggling design business and a thriving one often comes down to one thing: properly tailored contracts that actually work for how you operate.

Each year, we compile insights and tips from interior design industry experts to help make the year ahead more seamless and profitable. We gather these contributions into our annual playbook, and in this blog, we’re sharing one individual expert insight pulled directly from that resource.

These are tips from a CPA and accounting professionals at CVW Accounting, providing interior designers with premium quality services and personalized care to help you make sound financial decisions.

Each year, we compile insights and tips from interior design industry experts to help make the year ahead more seamless and profitable. We gather these contributions into our annual playbook, and in this blog, we’re sharing one individual expert insight pulled directly from that resource.

These are tips from a brand ambassador at Design Manager.

Each year, we compile insights and tips from interior design industry experts to help make the year ahead more seamless and profitable. We gather these contributions into our annual playbook, and in this blog, we’re sharing one individual expert insight pulled directly from that resource.

These are tips from the owner and designer behind CANB Design, a residential design and rendering studio. Specializing in creating realistic 3D renderings that help designers and homeowners visualize their projects with clarity and confidence.