INT322KRM

 Interior design does not just focus on the aesthetics of a space but also it's practicality and function. This includes indoor environmental qualities like acoustics and indoor air quality. Acoustics are important to consider in a space because it affects peoples' interactions with the room and others in it. Rooms can be too quiet or too loud making it either too easy or too hard to hear others. There is a balance of sound that should be in the room, just like a balance of lighting or color. Indoor air quality is also important because it affects the health of those in the space. Poor air quality can lead to health problems down the road. Because we spend so much time indoors we must create and design healthy environments. Acoustics: Sound travels in waves and as humans, we can hear a range from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Depending on a person's age, they may only be able to hear a smaller range. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch of the sound. Because sound is a wave...

 Plumbing systems are very important for buildings and while it is often planned for in conjunction with architects and engineers, it is still important for interior designers to understand. We, as humans, need clean water to live and typically use water for other daily tasks. Understanding the basics of how plumbing works is important. It helps us shape our designs into actual plans that are not only realistic but even sustainable and efficient. There are three main groups of water that are used in plumbing. The first is potable water. Potable water is water that is good for drinking. The second is gray water. This is waste water from sinks, washing machines, and bathtubs. Black water is the third type of water. This water contains sewage and is the least clean of all the waters. All three of these waters are separated out in plumbing and can be treated and filtered for reuse. There are many different ways to filter and treat water such as activated carbon filters, sand filters, a...

Electricity and lighting are very important aspects of design. Electricity is important for keeping systems running, such as heating and cooling. Lighting is very important for interior designers to consider. Poor lighting can make a wonderful design look different than what is intended. It affects colors and textures that make up designs. Electricity is typically provided by electrical companies and carried to buildings using wires. The powerline is dropped down to a meter that records electrical usage. The power is then grounded and run through to the interior electrical panel. Providing power adequately in a room is important to consider when space planning. The number and locations of outlets and electrical supply locations should match the intended use of the space and match with the furniture placement. Bad outlet placements stand out significantly in a design, very similar to a clashing color. Floor outlets can help with this because in larger spaces it allows for easy access to...

Ceilings are an important part of design. In comparison to the other surfaces in a room, ceilings are often the least considered, but I would argue that they make or break a room. Ceilings aren't often noticed because of how well they either compliment the space or blend into the space. But if a ceiling doesn't match, it sticks out like a sore thumb. There are many different kinds of ceilings but knowing the main ones can be beneficial when selecting a style or design suitable for a room.  Ceilings types are typically determined by the roof structure. Cathedral and sloped ceilings are often used to give a sense of openness to a room. This ceiling type is only practical in buildings that already have as slopped room. The ceiling material follows the shape of the roof. Directly applied ceilings is when the ceiling material is attached to the structure of the building. This is typically the case with multi-leveled residential buildings and cathedral ceilings.  Another popular cei...

Interior designers often have a say in what goes into a flooring's finish. While we may not necessarily specify its frame work (that's left to the architects and structural engineers), we still have play an important role in how it looks when finished. And how it is finished is often based on how the floor is framed. There are three main types of framing systems: wood, steel, and concrete. Wood framing systems are either light frames, that uses joists, or heavy timber which uses beams and girders to carry the loads. Oftentimes wood framing systems are used in residential buildings. Steel framing systems are actually very similar to wooden ones. They use light gauge steel joists or structural steel for a beam and girder system. Steel joists typically have an open web structure whereas wood joists would be solid 2 x 8/10/12s. There are a few different types of concrete framing systems but they fit into two main categories. The first is cast-in-place, in which the form is built on...

 Typically walls are thought to be simple and more often than not, fairly bland. Most walls focus more on defining the space rather than bettering the space. But there is still so much that goes into them, not only in the way that they are constructed but also in the finishes they are covered in. There are three main types of wall construction. The first is a stud wall system. This is where wood or steel studs, typically between 2"x4" and 2"x6" are spaced 12", 16", or 24" apart and attached to a top and bottom plate. If a stud wall is an exterior wall, it is sheathed. Sheathing consists typically of either plywood or OSB is attached to the stud wall to resist wind loads. The space between the studs can be filled with insulation and the interior portions of the walls are covered in drywall. The second type of wall construction is concrete/masonry walls. These walls are typically bearing walls. These can often be challenging for interior spaces because ...