A "Living" Room

In Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, he writes about how our awareness of self "flows outward to include the object of our extended identity." In terms of our homes, the different rooms in which we spend most of our time in gradually become objects of our "extended identity" to the point where the look of a room can reveal a lot about our personalities. For instance, if a room is decorated with pieces of ancient artifacts, one might imply that the owner is interested in history. If a room is only slightly furnished with the essentials, such as a chair and a table, one can say that the person who lives there does not care much for material objects.

Naturally, people want to live comfortably in spaces that represent who they are, and how they want others to see them. How is this accomplished? Design, of course!




(before on left; after on right)

*Photos taken by Alice Chew



In the above pictures, one can see the major changes performed on this one room. Before all the construction, the living room was essentially enclosed on all four sides, restricting the amount of light from the windows. The wood paneled wall, as well as the dark red carpet, exacerbated the lighting problem, making those who set foot into the room feel trapped. Fortunately, through the help of carpenters, painters, and the creative minds of the investors, an entirely new living room was created. Walls were torn down and repainted, curtains were replaced, ceramic tiles were laid, and more; the end result being the more open and lively room seen above on the right. Ultimately, the room was given a new "life," emanating the qualities the investors' valued.

How was this simple yet effective design made? Purely from the human mind, and most importantly, from the desire to make an imagined concept a reality.