creating space that isn’t there
by mayjin
We’ve been hacking at the new place for the past 3 months, and if I were to include the months of design that would easily exceed 7-months. I’m at the last leg and it’s a good time to reflect on all that has gone by. Although it has been arduous for the most part, I have learned quite a lot through this project.
On a personal level, I’ve learned that, 1) I would prefer not to go through it again (but I know I would have to), 2) how to choose “not to be nice“, and not feel sorry for the contractor who has been nice all along, 3) shopping for furnishing and fittings is not all fun (especially when you have a full time job), 4) how to use money to solve problems and save time, and 5) to be happy with very little, because the more extensive the renovation work, the more I dread it as time drags by (at one point, I even resented the whole project).
All that aside, I’ve also learned bits and pieces about designing and renovating a place, specifically a small place. The new place is a condo that is over 1,700 sqft. Some people reckon that is a big space, while others (like me) would find this a really small place to live in. You see, I’ve always lived on a landed property, specifically a corner lot that would have substantial land area for us to rear chickens and let weeds grow, although the weeds wasn’t part of the plan. I also enjoy spending quiet moments at home or having friends over to just chill in the house. So I do spend a lot of time at home and the space I have means a lot. To place me in a high-rise (2-blocks of 15 floors each- is that high?) with over 1,700 sqft and no land is a little bit suffocating (to say the very least).
When I embarked on this project, the main goal is to create space where there is little. It’s all going to be an illusion. I’ve made some mistakes along the way, and I’ve learned from them.
I’m not an expert at this, but these are some pointers I’ve learned on how to work on a small space. I am writing it down because I am quite sure I would need to remember this for my next project.
1) White is magic. I keep my walls white across most parts of the house. Here in Malaysia, contractors would paint the walls in the colour of your choice, and wouldn’t ask you about the ceiling, because he will assume you’re like all his other clients who don’t care about the ceiling and would be happy with a standard shade of white in a cheap paint. Don’t let it happen to you! I find that keeping your walls and ceiling in the exact same paint colour blurs the “line” between the ceiling and the wall, so the whole room looks like it stretches further than it actually does. It’s an amazing bluff.
2) Colour: Warm versus Cool. Warm colours are like shades of red, yellow, orange. They make a place cosy and snuggly and also SMALLer. Warm colours are generally stronger. When you walk into a room with a mix of colours, your eyes would tend to notice the objects in warm colours first because they appear closer and bigger. Cool colours like blue and green, are colours that “fall back” to make a space bigger and airy. My sofa is in a strong shade of red. It has not arrived yet, but I realised that if I had it in blue, I would have a larger living room instead. You will find that the same applies to wall colours too.
3) Coordinating colours. I still have a lot to learn with this one, but with the little I’ve learned, I noticed that contrasting colours breaks a space. If I were to coordinate my furnishing in a monochromatic colour, it would create a more soothing effect. The easiest way to know whether you’re straying too far away from your colour theme is to use a colour chart. The further away the colours are from each other, the greater the contrast. And while contrast can be used beautifully, it’s a tricky thing to play with, so just be careful. :)
4) Curtains. I find white-based colours in a light fabric works best at creating space. But I’m a utilitarian, and white and light don’t work best in my home, because it’s hard to maintain and light fabric don’t hold very well with prolonged use. So I’ve gone for plain neutrals in 100% cotton. They feel like the kind of fabric you’d have used to make slacks with, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them. :)
5) Reflective surfaces. Glass and mirrors allows more light into a space, and a brighter space always looks bigger than a dark, dimly lit place. Big space is always good, to me. :P
Some of the choices I’ve made in the new place does not adhere to the pointers I’ve written, and that was pretty much how I learned, through bad calls (as well as the good ones). It’s a learning experience, and I can afford to make a few mistakes.
Most of all, I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself. Most things don’t matter that much, really. :)
