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Interiors

By Clifford Scholz

The majority of what architects talk about is the exterior package of a structure, when in reality the majority of the time we spend is actually in the interior of the structure. I believe if you were to compare the two amounts of time that the interior part would be considerably longer in duration. Sleeping itself represents about 30% of the time spent inside. Regardless it is very obvious that as much time, or even more time, may well be spent on designing our interior surroundings as compared to the external package.

My architectural internship kept me very close to the layouts, flow, and finishing of interiors;
especially in the residential sector. Much of that work was very traditional in nature which frequently required symmetrical interior relationships. Grasping the importance of the relationship between the interior and exterior of an architectural element is critical is achieving the best interaction. A good example would be a window. This has an external proportion and position that is key to the overall look of the structure/home. It also has a direct interaction to the interior height of the window stool and head. It is critical to get this correct for the best solution. Accommodating interior furniture and window treatments are only the beginning of a successful interaction. Combining all of the exterior and interior elements in an overall successful design is the goal.

Living Room Before

The two examples I would like to comment on are renovations of existing interiors and the home office/study.

The interior renovation is an existing home on Useppa Island. We were asked to completely renovate an existing 3 story home which was dated and needed rejuvenating. Through the structural renovation we were able to open up the interior of the space and create a warm space with the use of cypress paneling. By reducing the number of different finishes in the house and simplifying the layout, we were able to revitalize the interior “feel” of the home. Sometimes, or most times, simple is better.

Living Room After

Another example of is the home office and/or library. With people’s lifestyles centering on their home life more and more, the versatile library/office has taken on many different uses. Our example here is a home on Bird Key. The client wanted a room that could be used as a library, an office and a media room. They wanted it cozy, but also big enough to entertain their guests in. The key here was to get the scale correct so that if you were in the room by yourself you felt comfortable and cozy, and if you were entertaining 4 people, you could use the room and not feel confined. The key is the furniture layout and traffic patterns. We also wanted to give the room a warm feeling through the use of mahogany raised paneling and cypress ceiling beams. The result is a truly versatile and elegant room.

Library

Interior spaces are an extension of ourselves and our lifestyles. The key elements to a successful space are proportion, light, scale and finishes. Successfully integrating these interior principles with the balance of the home elements is the formula for a great design.

As founder of CMSA, Cliff has over 35 years of experience in architecture and construction. His sense of design and clear-cut goals has created a reputation for quality and excellence for his firm. As lead architect, he is responsible for the design of projects consisting of custom residential developments, office structures, commercial renovations, golf clubs and high-rise condominium buildings. He takes a proactive role in every project as the client contact, and directs his team of highly skilled professionals to keep every endeavor in balance. Cliff received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Cliff is also a Licensed General Contractor in the State of Florida and certified as a LEED AP. Cliff may be reached at 941-923-2400 or via email at cscholz@cmsa1.com.

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