Maureen Mitton - Residential Interior Design: A Guide To Planning Spaces

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Having worked in the design portion of the construction industry for many years, I am well aware of the collaborative nature of the industry. Throughout the duration of every project (from conception to occupancy), everyone needs to rely on the competence of those whose work precedes ones own. Short of that, it all starts to fall apart.

Another component of a successful project is an owner/ client who clearly communicates his or her needs, collaborates on a vision of what could be, and is willing to take some calculated risks. I have had some outstanding clients over the years; I will not compromise their privacy by listing names, but those clients all have my ongoing respect and gratitude.

As this new edition goes to press, I am again reminded of the importance of collaboration. As you, the user of this book, look ahead to your career, my hope is that you will find and be able to work with good collaborators.

And there are those rare collaborators who go above and beyond. When I became disabled in the last few weeks prior to the deadline for the completion of this edition, it was my longtime colleague, collaborator, and coauthor who stepped and said, in essence, you concentrate on getting well and Ill finish it up. We both knew that was going to be no small feat. One does not find that breed of collaborator on every corner.

Thank you, Maureen Mitton.

Courtney W. Nystuen

From the beginning it was important to me to work on this project with Courtney. He taught this subject matter (and much more) for years and educated so many design students during his academic tenure; I simply had to find a way to keep him connected with students. He has also kept a full range of professional architectural projects going throughout his academic career and into his alleged retirement.

Courtneys ability to consider the information and content most useful to students and present it in an approachable manner made this book happen. Working with Courtney has been delightful. How he puts up with me will forever remain a mystery.

Melissa Brewer did excellent, meticulous CAD work on the first edition of this book. Shelley Pecha stepped in to do new CAD and Revit drawing revisions for the second edition as well as for this edition. As always, Shelleys speedy and organized response and work are much appreciated! Thanks to Jamey Bowe of River Valley Architects for his work on some of the CAD illustrations in Chapter 8.

Thank you to Seth Schwartz and Melinda Noack at Wiley for their help and patience.

My family, as usual, paid the price on this project. Thank you all for putting up with my months of work on this project. Finally, I have to say thank you to Courtney Nystuen, one of my favorite people, for making this book a reality. I only hope that we have moved beyond nice try into almost excellent territory.

Maureen Mitton

Every cubic inch of space is a miracle.

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Miracles

This book is meant to serve as a primer on space planning for rooms and spaces in a home. Related information regarding codes, mechanical and electrical systems, and a variety of additional factors that impact each type of room or space is also provided. In addition, this book includes information about accessible design in each chapter in order to provide a cohesive view of residential accessibility. This new edition includes updated 2015 International Residential Code information and additional updates.

Intended as a reference for use in the design process, this book can aid in teaching and understanding the planning of residential spaces. Most chapters follow a similar format, starting with an overview of the particular room or space and related issues of accessibility, followed by information about room-specific furnishings and appliances. Chapters continue with information about sizes and clearances, organizational flow, related codes and constraints, and issues regarding electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and basic lighting.

This book is meant to aid students and designers in understanding the amount of space that is minimally necessary in order for rooms to function usefully. Examples of larger spaces are also given, but at its heart, this book is intended to show students how to use space wisely and make good use of space throughout the dwelling. With clear knowledge about minimums, designers and students of design can learn when it is appropriate to exceed such standards for a variety of reasons that reflect specific project criteria based on client needs, budget, site, and other constraints.