Linear Bliss: A Home Remodel

This is a remodel done for a home in Tempe, Arizona, along with an additional dwelling unit (ADU). The pictures above show the floor plan, the site plan, demolition plan, as well as multiple elevations, perspectives and sample choices.
This was my first time taking on such a large project, and redesigning and remodeling in actual home. I found the whole thing to be really overwhelming and rewarding at the same time.
I thought I was successful in making a home that was wheelchair accessible. I did it with help from sources, talking with a contractor and also by doing some wheelchairing myself. All of this combined knowledge was applied to the space.
I learned many things from this remodel. I learned about new sustainable building materials, sustainable and recycled materials for the home, along with wheelchair accessibility. I also learned that a project like this has many steps, and it is important to always keep the concept in the back of my mind along the way. It is also important to stay on track, and to push myself so that I don't fall behind.
For more projects down the road, I want to try and explore as many ideas as possible. I am really good at scribbling out a few ideas and then only using one or two of them. Sometimes I just throw some out just because I "think" they are bad. However, in this project, one of my ideas, that I originally thought was too boring, actually turned out to influence most of the layout of the floor plan. I am really going to work on trying out a variety of things in future designs.

This is a bathroom design inspired by a pine cone. The process for this design included an analysis of the functionality of a seperate bathroom floorplan, as well as following the NKBA requirements for handycap accessiblility.
I was sucessful at creating a layout that allows for the laundry to be kept seperate from the toilet and shower. That was the bathroom provides space for a few people to use the space at a time, without being in eachothers way.I was less sucessful though at showing the laundry room space. My poster has enough pictures to fully understand the bathroom area, but none that show the laundry space.
My strenths included coming up with a design that related closely to my concept. My
weaknesses are presenting the design and putting together poster boards that best tie in with that concept. My model for the bathroom is also not the most refined piece of work.
Before this design, I was unaware of many key things that go into a bathroom. Some of those things were lighting, different materials and their uses, and the specific NKBA requirements.

This is a children’s room designed for two twin boys that are 6 years old. Before beginning the design process, I selected a children’s book for inspiration. The book chosen, “A Pocket for Corduroy” by Don Freeman, had a unique style of scratchboard illustrations. This eventually lead me to focus on the bright colors used, the diagonal lines from the crosshatching, and the overall spinning movement in one particular scene.
Besides the concept behind the space, I also tried to work into the design, space for the twin boys to study, sleep and play with their older brother. Not only that, I also tried to think about how the boys would grow up in the space.
The aspects of the design that were successful include making a nicely put together concept model and presentation board. Both of them tied in well with my concept and the room. My weaknesses are still trying to put down my ideas so that people understand exactly what I plan for the space. This includes both annotations and visuals of the space.
This was a really fun task, I enjoyed putting myself in kid’s shoes in order to make an appealing room for twin boys. The lose and sketchy feel layout made it easy to explore different possibilities for the space.

Kitchen Remodel

For this kitchen remodel, I had the opportunity to help a family friend redesign a kitchen to meet all her wants and needs. In the beginning, I started by getting familiar with my client. We talked about everything from her family, to her hobbies, her job, and her home. She showed me an important teapot that she felt was necessary to keep in her dream home.
I really struggled at first to find inspiration from such a formal teapot because my client specifically asked not to have a formal kitchen. So sketching out concept drawings, and parti sketches, I really did not have an good ideas, or anything that was abstract enough. Once I finally picked at sketch it was more smooth sailing.
One thing I will work on in future remodels is trying to get down more concept sketches. I will try to be quicker with getting my ideas, and accessing them after I have a good number done. Not only that, but I will also try to be more symbolic and abstract and less literal.
As for this kitchen remodel, I am really happy with how it turned out. I believe this is a space my client would like to spend her evenings in and also show off to all her family and friends!

Kitchen Case Study

To begin to better understand the functions of a kitchen before ever designing one, it is important to analyze and try out different kitchen spaces. In order to do this, I got together with three other girls to cook a spaghetti dinner. We went through all of the steps of making a delicious feast, and at the same time measured and discussed the space.
This was a unique task because we worked in a group to complete the dinner. It was a good challenge to divide the tasks up evenly and work together. I contributed to the group by taking the pictures, recording, and drawing out the perspective while also helping to discuss the positives and negatives of the kitchen. My weaknesses were not fully voicing my opinion on final decisions. The next time I work with a group, I will be more confident in what I want to see produced.
Diving deeper into kitchen spaces by cooking a spaghetti dinner was a fun way to analyze a kitchen. We learned from both the positives and negatives within the kitchen.