Meet… The Little House
I’m excited to introduce the house that leapt right out of my dreams!
Well, not as she is but as she will be! Just wait until she’s all redone!!! If you haven’t already surmised how much I looove small spaces… let me take a brief moment to state for all the records that I absolutely do! She’s only about 575 square feet on a tiny lot in a historically black area in our town. It’s also a part of town that looks like you’ve stepped into a third world country. Poverty-stricken, dotted with dilapidated buildings, and feral cat’s everywhere. It ain’t pretty, but guess what?! We can change that! It only takes one person to start ☺️. Believe me, this tiny spot is already Disney World in my mind!
This little house has some major problems though. So much so, that it has taken me 2 years to thoroughly understand and address them all. That part of the design process is called the analysis stage which includes what is called programming, where you answer questions like: what are you working with? What is desired? What is possible? EEK! Fitting all your needs (everything that a starter family home would have, for example) into a smaller space with serious constraints is challenging to say the least, buuuut… I loved it. Yes, I may have gotten a few more gray hairs and thrown my laptop out of the window, but the programming part was enjoyable nonetheless! All I’m trying to convey here is that her mere size was a dilemma right by itself. At only 14 feet wide by 44 deep, she’s long and skinny. We didn’t add to her footprint—the lot won’t really allow it (nor will our budget). So we went upwards instead. She’ll be at about 878 square feet in the end.
First floor preliminary draft CAD plansSecond floor preliminary draft CAD plansWe are currently at the tail end of the concept development stage of the design process, and you must know—you muuust know, we designers get alllll the kicks out of some concept development! Well, I do at least. I believe it is foundational to any good design because it is the part of the design process where one works out all the kinks and quirks in a space by brainstorming, drawing up schematics that show the desired relationships between spaces like the half bath and the kitchen or the kitchen and the front door. We emerge from this stage with a synthesis of all that legwork! We are ready to evaluate what we’ve drawn up, select the best option, and finally move on (which is hard, because people, including myself, can stew over such permanent decisions for foreverrrr) to making design decisions where we begin drawing preliminary floor plans. You will find that inwardly I have absolutely ZERO chill (which means my level of exuberance creeps up to beyond average) when it comes to this step. Be warned. This is why I’m over-geeked about blogging my way through the complete redesign and renovation of this Little House! From concept to front step, let’s enjoy this journey together, shall we?!
The Design Process
First Step - define design problem(s)
Second Step - analysis or programming
Third Step - synthesis or concept development
Fourth Step - evaluation (where the design solution is finalized)
Fifth Step - implementation or installation
If you have an analytical mind and wish to have something a wee bit more substantial than just “it looks good” as a way to measure whether or not your design solution is good or bad, then let me make a suggestion, if I may… During the first step in your design process also define your design’s criteria, so then when your design solution is finalized, your standard for measuring it’s effectiveness is ready. For example, the design criteria I use to determine whether or not any of my designs are good or bad is thus:
Agape’s Standard Design Criteria
Function & Purpose
Is the function of the space satisfied and its purpose fulfilled? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Utility & Economy
Was the budget met, do the materials spec’d honor the environment, are the products and the process—by which they are made, ordered, and shipped—efficient? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Form & Style
Is my style adequately reflected? Are the final finishes and furniture selections cohesive and aesthetically pleasing? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Image & Meaning
Has the vision for this space been realized, does it evoke meaningful associations, like how I feel on Christmas Day when I’m in it? If yes, how so? (If no, then never mind…)
