Design affects every area of our life. Everyday I am reminded how design impacts my life.
Enjoy how design affected our lives on our vacation to Alaska and Seattle, Washington.
My husband and I were recently on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth II cruise ship. You learn very quickly that the location of your room, the size of the ship, and if you have a balcony affects what you see, hear, feel, and your overall experience.
Everyone we spoke with about going on an Alaskan cruise recommended that we experience Alaska with a balcony. Because we were traveling the Inside Passage of Alaska and there was so much to see we heeded their advice and chose a room with a balcony. Our balcony allowed daylight into our room each day and for us to enjoy the sights whether dressed for dinner or still in our pajamas!
Design works the same way. What is the lifestyle that you want? Do you crave lots of daylight flooding into your kitchen in the morning? Do you need lots of storage so everything can be put away? Do you prefer to not be on your knees looking for the missing pot lid in your kitchen cabinets?
As you travel to different locations you experience different environments. The vegetation is different, the fauna, the smells, the climate. We saw bald eagles, whales, and sea lions. Flowers in richly saturated colors dotted the landscape rich in green terrain. We saw many snow-capped mountains.
This shot was captured by our tour director while on a whale watch in Juneau.
One of the black bears at a bear rescue center that we visited in Sitka.
Two homes adjacent to a very contemporary home in Alki Beach in Seattle.
Flowers outside of the Salish Lodge near Snoqualmie Falls, Seattle
Our eyes enjoy and appreciate different colors, textures, and variety. It’s one of the reasons we travel.
It’s the same in our homes. We want some spaces to have quiet tones and colors and simple lines. In other areas we want brighter and more vibrant colors and textures. In our Family room, a sofa to snuggle with our child while reading them a story or with our mate while watching a movie is what we desire.
We saw the majestic Hubbard Glacier. According to our naturalist on the ship it is 250 feet above the ocean and 150 feet below. It is located 200 miles NW of Juneau.
Hubbard Glacier in the distance from our balcony. It is in the middle with the mountains on either side.
The blue green glacier as we got closer. Ships are limited in how close they can get due to the icebergs.
Perspective is very interesting in design. When we were quite a distance off from the glacier it appeared to be level with the ocean. However, the closer we got the more we realized how tall the glacier actually is.
When you are selecting/designing new furnishings or a new kitchen you want to choose the appropriate scale and proportion of each element because that affects your perspective… how the space will look and how you will feel in it.
So, while you are on vacation this summer, be aware of the way design impacts your life! Enjoy the variety of color, texture, light, scale, proportion. Realize how these elements alter your perspective. Let me leave you with this beautiful installation at the Chihuly Glass and Garden Center in Seattle, Washington. Happy Trails to you!
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