Understanding scale

Understanding Scale

When building or renovating a house, scale is very critical. It can be divided into architectural and interior design.

Key Aspects of the Architecture

The architecture deals with the cornices, architraves, skirting, and floors in every room. Most developers and others don't pay attention to the size when choosing cornices, skirting, architraves and floors.

I recommend choosing the largest scale possible. Consider incorporating larger cornices and skirtings.

Key Aspects of the Decoration

When it comes to furniture, I recommend opting for larger pieces, such as an oversized mirror over a fireplace, which always looks better.

Scale of Pattern

In a small room, using a large pattern completely transforms the space. When the eye sees large patterns and large-scale furniture in a small room, it sends a signal to the brain that the space is larger than it is. If you have three wallpapers, choose the one with the largest-scale pattern.

Bringing Balance and Harmony

Developers don't pay attention to original details as profit is their bottom line. Quite often cornices, skirting and architraves are bought off the shelf with lowered existing ceilings.

Where to Start

Firstly, I like to see what has been left of the original building. Quite often buildings have not been renovated sympathetically. If you look around you can find bits and pieces.

A lowered ceiling suggests the original cornice is still there. Remember that terraced houses are very similar, so if your home doesn't have original features go and look at your neighbours. At least one of them will have original features.

Try and go into a neighbouring house, take pictures of architrave and cornices. You are never going to have the original back but get the scale correct. It doesn't have to be as ornate. You can simplify things, so there are a few original components, but it's still based on that.

The Drawing Room

In my drawing-room, I have dealt with scale by hanging an over-scaled tapestry just below the cornice. This completely transformed the room, making it appear much higher than it is. On the opposite wall, a mirror over the fireplace has been used. These two balance one another.

Balance is achieved by scale rather than symmetry in my room. Next to the fireplace, a large screen has been placed. These three over-scaled pieces balance each other.

The Library

Fortunately, the original cornice, skirting, and architrave are still in the room. They have a good balance and are the right size.

Your Assignments

1. Find a picture of scale and proportion, and explain how the designer used them to create a pleasing design.
2. Use magazine cutouts to construct two collages: one showing unrealistic proportion, and one showing unrealistic scale.

Getting Your Cornice the Right Size

Cornices have been used in interiors for a long time, but their use has changed drastically since the Georgian era (1714–1830). The first Georgian designs were influenced by classic designs, from Greek and Roman Palladian to English Baroque. During that time, egg and dart cornice designs were most popular; they add a touch of sophistication to any interior.

At the end of the Georgian era, cornices were also simplified with horizontal lines, a pattern that survives to this day. The Regency era (1812–1820) introduced more intricate patterns, such as leaves. In contrast, the Victorian (1837–1901) period introduced a variety of diverse designs that were inspired by the Gothic and other periods.

Edwardian (1901–1910) plaster cornices and period mouldings tend to be simpler and less dramatic. There are a few classic examples from the Art Deco (1920–1940) era. Smaller repeats and crisper lines dominated plaster cornice and coving designs in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

The modern, contemporary (1950-present) cornice style reflects anything that is currently popular today. This style is characterised by sharp, straight lines and right angles or even no pattern at all.

Tips for Getting Your Cornice Right

Try researching the building date so you can distinguish the cornice period, or visit neighbours and see what their cornices look like.

Scale

The height of the ceiling and the room size dictates the size of the cornice required.

• Typically, large cornices are 200 mm (8 inches) or larger and are used in rooms with ceiling heights exceeding 4.3 metres (14 feet).
• A medium cornice, which is between 90mm and 120mm in height, is recommended for ceiling heights above 2.75 metres (9 feet).
• Small cornices range in size from 50mm to 70mm (2.75 inches to 2.75 inches). They are ideal for ceilings less than 2.5 metres under 9 feet) in height.

Reversing the Cornice

A cornice can be reversed so that the detail is on the ceiling rather than the wall. This is great, particularly in rooms that do not high ceilings and it helps give the illusion the room is bigger than it is.