Design & Style, Home & Lifestyle

Working With Space

Lesson time 11:11 min

Kelly reveals how to design your space like a boat, make a small space feel larger, and engage with existing architectural features to give your space a new spirit.

Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Topics include: Design a Space Like a Boat · Play With Visual Trickery · Embrace Awkward Spaces · Give It a New Spirit · Identify Key Architectural Features

Kelly Wearstler

Teaches Interior Design

Award-winning designer Kelly Wearstler teaches you interior design techniques to make any space more beautiful, creative, and inspiring.

Preview

[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: This lesson is about working with space. It's about the theater space. How you discover the space. It's about sequences. So for example, as soon as you walk into a room, do you want to discover everything at one time, or do you want there to be a sense of discovery where you go through one beautiful room, and then you move into another? When I design a space, I look at it like designing a boat. Like, you have to consider every square inch. It's up to the designer, and it's the designer's responsibility to make use of every space. And so we're working on a project townhome in New York. The clients entertained quite often. And there was a living room and a dining room that was on the same level, and they really wanted a bar. And so we were looking at the architecture, considering where we would put a bar. Then it occurred to us that there was a cavity in the staircase below the railings. And so we actually did some investigative work, and we opened it up, and there was a space that was about 4 and 1/2 feet by 7 feet. And so we put in a secret bar. And we put it behind a hidden door, so when it's not in use, it's invisible. You don't see it. But then when it opens, and you have this incredible bar, just to see the look on everyone's face as you're taking a negative space and you're making a unique experience for your client. Little things you can do. For example, in my home, I had a cavity in a wall that was probably 6 inches deep. And I actually put a door over it. And then when I open it up, there's glass shelves and there was a mirror behind. And I put all of my toiletries, and it's amazing. It feels like you're in a department store. And just taking that tiny little bit of space just makes it incredibly functional for me and is an incredible experience. [MUSIC PLAYING] This is a project that's in Los Angeles, a residential project. And the client who loves fashion and has an incredible collection of clothing wanted an amazing closet. We'd already carved out-- I think it's like 20 by 20 feet. Something just massive. But she wanted it to feel bigger. And so we came up with a molding profile that included mirror. And behind all of these doors is her clothing. And it's shoes and handbags, and all the spaces are super organized and defined really well. And she wanted to be able to entertain in her closet. And so there is a living room setting here, which is great. And so looking at how to enlarge this space is the beauty of mirror. And we actually put it on the ceiling. So you're in this enclosed box, and it feels just infinite. Being a good designer is about visual trickery, and mirror is the perfect medium to use. There are many different ways to use mirror. For example, if you have one room in your living room, you could either go floor to ceiling with mirror. And you could also buy several mirrors. Like, I love things that have repetition. So if you want to enlarge your space in your livin...

About the Instructor

Eclectic and experiential, Kelly Wearstler’s style helped redefine modern American design and influenced the rise of designer hotels. Now the award-winning designer takes you behind the scenes to demystify interior design. Make any space feel larger, and choose colors, materials, and textures with confidence. Curate collections of art and objects, cultivate your own distinct style, and create spaces that tell a story.

Featured MasterClass Instructor

Kelly Wearstler

Award-winning designer Kelly Wearstler teaches you interior design techniques to make any space more beautiful, creative, and inspiring.

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