The Seven Fundamental Principles That Guarantee Great Interior Design

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1 mary cook, aia principal, mary cook associates chicago, illinois The Seven Fundamental Principles That Guarantee Great Interior Design for as long as anyone can remember, design has been shrouded in mystery. Designers are viewed as having some kind of mystique, some wealth of knowledge and ethereal talent that s beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. Mary Cook disagrees. Mary contends that the principles of interior design can be understood, successfully implemented and enjoyed by anyone. Fear not. Just as tennis lessons won t make you into Roger Federer, Mary Cook s principles won t eliminate the need for professional interior designers. But her seven fundamentals will allow everyone from educators and design professionals to home owners and design enthusiasts of all levels to develop the skills they have. And it s no accident or unconscious stroke of luck. Mary Cook has managed to articulate the fundamentals that are common to all successful design. It started in the 1990s. Her design firm, Mary Cook Associates, began getting calls lots of calls from clients who had just recently completed interior designs with other firms. They all had the same complaint. The space just didn t feel right. After about twenty fixes, Mary realized that it came down to the same seven things. Every time. They are the seven absolute, universal truths of design. But, they are not rigid. They lend infinite flexibility to every interior design, and accommodate personal tastes and allow for individual creativity. They transcend style, size of space and even size of budget. When they are implemented correctly, the result is what Mary calls Harmonic Balance. And this goes well beyond appearance. Spaces that have achieved Harmonic Balance not only feel right, they also impact the very quality of life of the people who experience them. Those engulfed in an interior that s in Harmonic Balance are moved. Emotions, attitudes and motivations can be molded and guided. Health and well-being can improve. Property values can be improved. Sales in Harmonically Balanced restaurants increase. The health and well-being of nursing home patients can improve. Interior designs in Harmonic Balance can literally change lives. The Art of Space The Seven Fundamentals Harmonic Balance unleash the real power of interior design. 1

2 mary cook the art of space It may sound remedial, but you have to know what you want your facility to project. What image do you want it to have? What impression do you want it to make? If you don t start with the right objective, nothing that follows it can be successful. Quite simply, you have to know how the space will be used. Not as simply, you have to anticipate all its uses. Designing for multiple and varied uses requires a unique skill set, but anticipating all possibilities is the difference between facilities that function and ones that function beautifully. 2

3 mary cook the art of space These may be the two most important words in design. It is the size of different architectural and interior design components and their relationships to one another that contribute more to achieving harmony than anything else. Lighting is a natural extension of objective and function. In a multifunctional environment like yours, lighting has the power to transform spaces to meet the objectives of each different function. 3

4 mary cook the art of space It s easy to see how color is an integral part of the equation. When color works in concert with the other fundamentals, it can subdue or ignite spaces. This emotional aspect to color helps elevate the response to design from a superficial to a visceral level. The correct combination of pattern and texture assist the other fundamentals in strengthening the overall impact and enhance harmony. They can bring additional balance to proportion, create dimension, define space and add visual interest. 4

5 mary cook the art of space This final layer of design takes design to a new level, because it adds meaning to space. It is the final step to infusing emotion into the equation. about mary cook Chicago native Mary Cook is the president and founder of Mary Cook Associates, Inc., an award-winning interior design firm specializing in full-scale interior architecture and design services to a wide range of clients. Her portfolio includes multi-million dollar renovations, landmark restorations, adaptive reuse, and new construction. Over the past 20+ years, the company has acquired national presence, implementing and managing hundreds of design projects across the United States. Cook began honing her intuition for creating highly-livable interiors while working for the distinguished partnership of Jack Childs and Gene Dreyfus. Starting as an assistantlevel designer, she quickly rose to become the company s east coast vice president of sales and marketing. Inspired by her mentor Gene Dreyfus, Cook was confident that she could deliver top-quality interiors in her own right. In 1986, she founded Mary Cook Associates. The company now encompasses multiple industries. Cook is well known for designing spaces that deliver an emotional impact, demonstrating her unique ability to understand the demographic influences in specific markets and create exceptional interiors that cater to certain lifestyles. Golf, yacht and country clubs, The Art of Space is available in the NeoCon bookstore and direct from the publisher at html senior living facilities and residences, lobby and corridor design, fitness centers, residents clubs and other amenity spaces, and single and multi-family homes have all benefitted from Mary s unique Harmonic Balance. She is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the National Association of Home Builders, the NAHB 50+ Senior Housing Council, the American Institute of Architects, the Home Builders Association of Illinois & Greater Chicago, the National Golf Course Owners Association, the Club Managers Association of America, the National Recreation and Parks Association and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. Cook is also in high demand as a guest speaker for industry events both locally and nationally, and her most recent speaking engagements include the NAHB International Builders Show, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Annual Conference, and NeoCon