"if it is a multi-functional space, then what are all the functions,
and how many people are going to be using it?" she says.
in a large, open-concept space, it's important to understand
what your traffic patterns will look like and to know that some
pieces of furniture will work better than others. a floor plan is a
must, even before you go shopping.
"you need to plan how you're going to move around the space,"
says Schroeder.
"it's really about the size of the pieces, so they've got to be pro-
portional and they should allow that flow."
Flow should be mapped right into the floor plan. Schroeder
says it's a good idea to allow about three feet or so for move-
ment from place to place. That takes into account the "human"
scale, which also should be considered when planning your
conversation areas.
"When you are doing a furniture layout, a 12-foot circum-
ference is a nice area to space your seating in," says Schro-
eder.
"if you place it any further away, people aren't as comfort-
able visiting."
The dining area also has some specific flow challenges.
"you should allow 42 inches from the edge of table to a
piece of furniture or a wall to accommodate a chair and
someone walking around it."
Function isn't just about placement, it's also about time of
day and how it will be lit for use.
"i think that lighting is often ignored in a big way because
it often isn't planned for properly," she says.
Cont'd on page 120
Golden Gates Estates PHOTO COURTeSy OF STReeTSiDe DeVeLOPMeNTS
Parade of Homes FALL 2015 119
