Experiencing a Supporting Pillar as a 'Wow' Moment instead of an Impediment
In modern living rooms, structural columns no longer have to be an eyesore. With a bit of creativity and the right approach, they can be transformed into intentional design elements that enhance rather than disrupt the space.
Aizhana Kunayeva, founder of AKKA Interiors, is a prime example of this transformation. She cladded the existing structural columns in warm timber with refined brass accents, making them visual anchors that define zones within the open-plan layout. This approach not only softens the presence of the columns but also adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to the room.
Karl Openshaw, the creative director of BAYA Interiors, shares a similar philosophy. He emphasizes that architectural constraints can become opportunities for storytelling with the right treatment. In one of his projects, the team designed a bespoke wrap-around bench to soften the presence of a prominent column, making it feel intentional and providing additional seating.
The use of tiles as a design element can also turn a structural column from an eyesore into a focal point. The glossy Zellige tiles used by Maddux Creative on a curved column create a striking tiled feature, serving as a focal point in the dining room. The use of tiles on a curved surface adds further depth to the design, as the light shifts throughout the day, it bounces off the column, giving the space a sense of life and movement.
Michele Lorenz, principal at Ashby Collective, takes this concept a step further. She created a sculptural installation with freeze-dried florals, barnacles, driftwood, and other organic elements for a homeowner's high-rise condo. This ingenious example demonstrates how a structural column can be dressed in faux flowers to detract from it and turn it into a captivating work of art.
The key is to consider the column not as a problem to be hidden but as a feature to be embraced. Whether by emphasizing its form with texture and artwork, integrating it into furniture, or using architectural tricks to make it blend harmoniously in the modern interior, the column can be transformed into a standout and stylish element of your living room.
Karl Openshaw, formerly the vision behind BLOCC Interiors, has worked on projects in the UK and overseas, but his favorites are smaller, intimate spaces where thoughtful design is key. He has extensive experience across the design industry, with a strong focus on trend-forecasting. His work has been published in numerous high-end interior publications and he recently won the 2017 Preservation Merit Award from Austin Preservation for his participation in the restoration of an iconic Austin home.
In conclusion, the transformation of structural columns in modern living rooms is a creative and innovative way to enhance the space. By embracing these columns as design features, designers can turn them into intentional elements that contribute to the overall aesthetic and functionality of the room.
- In modern interior-design concepts, structural columns can be intentionally transformed and no longer serve as eyesores in living rooms or other spaces.
- AKKA Interiors' founder, Aizhana Kunayeva, showcases this transformation by cladding columns with warm timber and brass accents, making them visual anchors that refine the open-plan layout.
- BAYA Interiors' creative director, Karl Openshaw, also believes in repurposing constraints as opportunities for design and storytelling, such as a bespoke wrap-around bench to soften a prominent column.
- Maddux Creative leverages the use of tiles, like glossy Zellige tiles on a curved column, to turn the structural element into a captivating focal point in dining rooms.
- Ashby Collective's Michele Lorenz pushes the envelope by creating sculptural installations using organic elements, even faux flowers, to detract from the column and make it feel more like a captivating work of art.
- To summarize, the key is to view columns as features to be embraced and not as problems to be solved, as designers can soon turn them into standout and stylish elements of any modern interior design or lifestyle home-and-garden project.
