Research

On this page I will document the research I am doing for this project, I love old homes and I really want to do this project justice as it is also my first client and I want to make a good impression for the start of my career as an interior designer.

Site Analysis

So the house is situated in a central location of Kirkcaldy in a very residential neighbourhood.

The site analysis shows that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west with the sun in the winter being lower in the sky than in the summer when it reaches a higher apex.

The area of the home I have been asked to redesign is the stairwell which is located on the right of the house but only sports a small original skylight facing the rear or the property, based on the image you can see there is no direct sunlight shining through that window at any point in the day so I shall try to design something that allows the maximum amount of light to transfer through the window to the stairs.

#636257

I wanted to throw this image of the birdseye view of the area in Procreate to see how much of the image was green space as I wanted to see if I could use this as influence for my designs, not just with the colour that comes out but also using the local Flora and fauna in my designs if it was relevant enough.

I blurred the image above and was left with this colour and after entering the hex code it was pretty difficult to see if it was in fact a shade of green or not so I searched the hex code and pulled up an this website (Encycolorpedia n.d.) which told me it was a medium dark shade of yellow but all of most of the closely related colours were in fact green as you can see here so I think I should be able to use this as a jumping off point for inspiration.

Victorian design

Intitally I wanted top research 1887 design as a year because as we know design trends change year to year and this would have still been true back in the 1800's. Unfortunately although I was able to find libraries in the states that had catalogs and documentation of design trends from 1887 I would have to request for them to digitise these and send them to me which could take months and I don't have the time plus they might not want to create digital copies of these documents for me to have. Instead I mostly researched the 1880's as a broad search as well as victorian design in general as the design trends of the period would still be relevant.

This whole Aesthetic Movement thing was basically people getting fed up with mass-produced Victorian stuff. It was like the pregame to the Arts & Crafts vibe. They were all about embracing Japanese influences and saying "hey, let's make everyday objects like furniture and ceramics actually look good." Dudes like William Morris, William De Morgan, and the one and only Oscar Wilde were the ringleaders pushing this idea that beauty should be in your daily life. They dug stylised patterns, flat surfaces, and nature motifs like storks, sunflowers, and lilies. It caught on in the States too with companies like Herter Brothers putting their own spin on the Anglo-Japanese style.

This reformed aesthetic fit right in with house styles that had that medieval, gothic-y vibe going on - think Stick Style, Queen Anne, Shingle Style. They loved using muted colours like olive, ochre, and peacock blue, taking cues from Morris reviving those medieval color formulas and the softer tones of Japanese woodblock prints. Wall decor often had that dado-fill-frieze thing with the middle part kept simple to really make those framed prints pop.

By the mid-1870s in England, this whole "Art for Art's Sake" mentality went buck wild with the Cult of Intensity and those outrageous Aesthetes like Oscar Wilde. They took it to the next level with their wild fashion and over-the-top behaviours, making the sunflower and lily their symbols. If you weren't on board, you were basically a clueless Philistine to them.

While the Aesthetic Movement eventually evolved into Arts & Crafts in England and Art Nouveau in Europe, it kind of fizzled out in America by 1890 as people got nostalgic for the Rococo look with cabbage roses and mauve. But that Japanese influence still hung around in the work of architects like Sullivan, Wright, and Greene & Greene. (Old house online 2021)

(National Trust n.d.) says that If you're getting some dark, rich colour vibes with bold prints, you're probably eyeballing some Victorian flair. Queen V's crazy long reign from 1837 to 1901 makes it tough to pin down one distinct style for the era. It was basically a free-for-all, with people going nuts combining all sorts of past styles in ways they'd never done before. Travel opened things up with Japanese and Indian influences sneaking into home design. With mass production making home goods way more affordable, Victorian pads were stuffed to the gills with textiles and furniture. You had groups like the Arts and Crafts movement rebelling against that mass-produced look by channeling medieval architecture - shoutout to William Morris and his crew. Overall, Victorian maximalism brought you things like Gothic Revival vibes with arched windows and ironwork, dark jewel tones, crazy wallpapers with giant floral prints, carved heavyweight furniture, funky patterned tile floors, super ornate fireplaces, and layers of lush velvet drapes and curtains.

Lighting

This blog by Ross gave me great insight into the transitional period when homes shifted from gas to electric lighting in the late 1800s. The Cross House's gas/electric combination fixtures were cutting-edge in 1894, allowing use of the new electric lights with gas as backup. But this innovative technology was quickly outmoded within a decade as reliable electric-only lighting took over. Seeing the vintage catalog images and I gained an appreciation for how rapidly the change from gas to electric occurred through this transitional gas/electric phase. (Ross 2016)

I also found an internet archived book (Edison Electric Light Company 1887) from the Edison company that speaks about the transition from gas to electric lighting near the end of the 1880's however it apparently didn't take off as quickly as they would have expected but there was a period of time where there was lighting used that was both gas and electric at the same time, not sure on the safety of that but I'm not an electrician.

Skylight

Another element of this home I wanted to exentuate is the skylight, although small in this grand space i do this it is an important element so I research how to get more light out of a skylight.

(Velux n.d.) says that the easiest way would be to flare the light shaft, this is the box that the window sits in. In many cases the light shaft will only be flared in one or two directions to minimise the work for maximum light intake however because this window is so small it would probably be more fitting to the space to flair all four sides to let in as much light as possible.

Accents

Victorian hallways present both opportunities and challenges for decor. In grand country homes, the spacious hallways allow for showing off original features like tiled floors, panelled walls, ornate staircases and fireplaces. However, narrow town house hallways can feel dark and constricted. Regardless of size, highlighting period details like mouldings, ceiling roses and patterned tile is recommended, while using tricks like painting staircases in contrasting colours, incorporating reclaimed tiles, or adding seating can breathe new life into these spaces. A balanced mix of styles is common, blending Victorian elements with more contemporary or eclectic pieces. Proper lighting is crucial, whether through large windows, internal glazing or decorative fixtures like chandeliers. Overall, Victorian hallways provide a canvas for creativity by restoring original character while integrating more modern and personalised design touches into these stylish entryways. (House & Garden 2013)

George, A. (2024) Describes stepping into a captivating Victorian hallway where history and elegance intertwine. Intricate wallpaper, ornate crown moulding, and a plush runner guide you past antique portraits and a grand grandfather clock. This opulent space sets the stage for the grandeur beyond. This website lists 39 victorian design ideas and below I have listed 9 that I find the most inspiring to use in the space.

Crown moulding

Crown molding's intricate designs and curves bring sophistication and character to the hallway, elevating its aesthetic appeal.

Decorative panelling

Wainscoting, usually crafted from wood, lends an elegant touch to the lower part of hallway walls.

Brass lighting

Brass lighting fixtures, featuring intricate designs, cast a warm and inviting glow throughout the hallway. The soft illumination creates a welcoming ambiance, adding a touch of sophistication and elegance to the space.

Ornate ceiling medalions

Intricate ceiling medallions with decorative motifs add a grand, detailed touch to the hallway's aesthetic.

Stained glass

Stained glass windows, iconic in Victorian architecture, bathe the hallway in captivating, colourful light patterns, creating a mesmerising and distinctive ambiance.

Intricate Ironwork

Victorian hallways were elevated by elegant yet sturdy iron stair railings with ornate balusters that seamlessly combined decorative artistry and functional security.

Mosaic Tile flooring

Victorian hallways frequently showcase intricate mosaic tile flooring, displaying stunning patterns and designs that add visual interest and elegance.

Intricate Wallpaper

Victorian homes frequently showcased lavish wallpapers adorned with intricate florals and deep, luxurious colours, lending a sense of richness, texture and visual depth to these spaces.

Hardwood flooring

Hardwood flooring brings a grounding and luxurious touch to the hallway with its rich, natural tones.

Native Flora and Fauna

(iNaturalist n.d.) has an extensive list of all plants and animals that exist in fife, they also share the information on whats endangered, native to the area or have been introduced by humans at some point. After scouring the list for some time I was pretty surprised by how many of them were native to this area and below I have chosen some of interest.

European Badger

I selected this one because I love how cute the European badger is but I would also like to add in some true black elements into the space to tie in the cast iron railing.

Hogweed

For the plants I chose a hogweed as I see them frequently on my walks and I like how bold their stalks are compared to how bright and fluffy their flower heads are.

Barn Owl

Next up I looked at the barn owl as I grew up next to a wooded area and the sound of their hoots is really nostalgic to me. I also think they are very striking visually.

Bull Thistle

Lastly the Bull Thistle, I mean it wouldn't really be a Scottish design if it didn't have a thistle somewhere and I like how cute this one is compared to it's cousins.

Reflection

Experience

I conducted research on victorian design as my clients are passionate about keeping the house as original as they can make it as well as native flora and fauna to the area. I dedicated a lot of time to doing this research right as this will be my first ever project for my business portfolio. I also created a site analysis of the building to look into the lighting of the space as this is a huge problem for my clients.

Refection

I learned that it is very difficult to find the specific information I was looking for on such short notice and even then it wouldn't be as relevant as I would have liked. I also saw that there are way more plants and animals native to the local area than I would have ever imagined making the decisions for what to put on the wallpaper designs all the harder.

Action

If I were to do this research again I would give myself as much time as possible to reach out to places to get more in-depth information on my topics of interest. I would also select a higher number of specimen to put in my wallpaper and categorise them for specific designs as then each of them will be cohesive and also intricately detailed.

References

Edison Electric Light Company (1887) The Edison incandescent electric light : its superiority to all other illuminant. [Desktop]. Edison Electric Light Company. Available at: https://archive.org/details/TheEdisonIncandescentElectricLightItsSuperiorityToAllOther/page/n19/mode/2up (Accessed 14 January 2024).

Encycolorpedia (n.d.) #636257 hex color code, Encycolorpedia. Available at: https://encycolorpedia.com/636257 (Accessed: 12 January 2024).

George, A. (2024) 39 stunning victorian hallway design ideas, Edward George London. Available at: https://edwardgeorgelondon.com/blogs/home-garden/victorian-hallway-designs (Accessed: 23 April 2024).

House & Garden (2013) How to decorate a victorian hallway, House & Garden. Available at: https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/victorian-hallway-ideas (Accessed: 14 January 2024).

iNaturalist (n.d.) Fife, Scotland, GB, iNaturalist. Available at: https://www.inaturalist.org/places/fife#/places/fife= (Accessed: 27 January 2024).

National Trust (n.d.) Interior Design through the ages, National Trust. Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/architecture/interior-design-through-the-ages (Accessed: 13 January 2024).

Old house online (2021) Aesthetic Movement Interiors 1872–1889, Old House Journal Magazine. Available at: https://www.oldhouseonline.com/interiors-and-decor/aesthetic-interiors-1872-1889/ (Accessed: 13 January 2024).

Ross (2016) A Brief History of Gas/Electric Lighting, Restoring The Cross House. Available at: https://restoringross.com/a-brief-history-of-gaselectric-lighting/ (Accessed: 12 January 2024).

Velux (n.d.) 6 unique skylight installations for brighter rooms, Why Skylights. Available at: https://whyskylights.com/velux-skylights-blog/maximizing-natural-light-from-skylights-with-creative-light-shaft-design#:~:text=To%20maximize%20how%20sunlight%20spreads,four%20sides%20can%20be%20flared. (Accessed: 14 January 2024).