MOCK-UP PROCESS

 

When designing on-site we use very simple and revealing mock-ups. Our mock-up process uses inexpensive materials such as cardboard, scrap wood or pallets to create the full scale environment or“ truespace”. The carpenters, the clients, anyone on the site can easily sense the best solutions. At first look this might sound inefficient, but to the contrary. We actually streamline the design process within the building process.  The mock-ups need not be elaborate, expensive or time consuming. The best design solutions are strikingly apparent and the results are superior.  We find that this collaboration involving our craftsmen, carpenters, and clients inspires everyone to do their best work to create something beautiful.  This is the essence/magic/ of true space design.

 

How it works in practice: If you are standing on the first floor of your house, it’s very easy with some simple materials to feel what the space would feel like with different ceiling heights, different wall, window and door locations from both the inside and the outside. These answers are immediate, accurate and efficient and the result is a cohesive and beautiful space.

 

If you have a sunny window seat to design in a bay window you could design it in your imagination and then draw it up to communicate the idea to a crafts person or you could spend an hour or so with some plywood scraps or cardboard boxes building it in the true location. You can adjust the armrest to be just right with the seat height and to spill into the window sill.  You can refine the curve on the front, adjust the angle of the seat and the back and the depth and then sit on your creation with a cup of coffee. You won’t wonder does this belong here does it seem to big does the curve work.  When it is right you will know it works. Then instead of drawing it, which is very time consuming and where it might get lost in translation, you can show it to the craftsperson and say build this.  This essentially how all our design is done at Thorne Design & Build. If you’re a hands on person you can do this or we can do it for you.  But most people think it is the most fun part of the whole project.