Pancyprian TS Interior Design III Θ.Κ. cheat sheet

Elements of design: space, form, line, colour, texture, light, pattern. Principles: balance (symmetrical, asymmetrical, radial), rhythm (repetition, progression, transition), emphasis (focal point), proportion, scale, harmony, unity, variety.

Rule of line function: vertical lines add height and formality; horizontal lines widen and calm; diagonal lines add dynamism and movement; curved lines soften and guide circulation.

Golden ratio ≈ 1:1.618; the 60-30-10 rule allocates 60% dominant colour, 30% secondary, 10% accent. Both are proportion tools, not laws.

Symmetrical balance suits formal, classical and monumental interiors; asymmetrical balance suits relaxed, contemporary and small rooms where a heavy element must be offset by a lighter, larger one.

Scale relates an object to the human body; proportion relates parts to each other. A 2.2 m ceiling with a 1.5 m-wide chandelier fails on scale even if proportion within the fixture is correct.

Unity is achieved by repeating one element (colour, material, geometric motif) at least three times across a room; variety prevents monotony but must not break the dominant theme.

Texture affects perceived colour: a glossy surface reflects more light and reads lighter and cooler; a matte or rough surface absorbs light and reads darker and warmer.

Emphasis hierarchy: one primary focal point per space (fireplace, view, artwork), supported by secondary accents; more than one competing focal point fragments the composition.

Circulation rules: primary circulation ≥ 1,200 mm wide; secondary ≥ 900 mm; single-person passage ≥ 600 mm; two people passing ≥ 1,200 mm.

Dining clearances: 750–900 mm per diner at the table edge; 900–1,100 mm between table edge and wall for seated access; 1,000–1,200 mm for serving behind chairs.

Kitchen work triangle: sink, hob and refrigerator, each leg 1.2–2.7 m and total 4–8 m; the triangle must not be crossed by primary traffic.

Bed clearances: 600 mm minimum on at least one side, 750–900 mm preferred both sides; 900 mm at the foot for a wardrobe or dresser access.

Bathroom minimums: 760 mm in front of a WC and basin, 600 mm beside a WC, 900 × 900 mm shower enclosure; a 1,500 mm turning circle for wheelchair access.

Zoning methods: physical (walls, partitions, level change), visual (ceiling change, flooring change, colour), and implied (furniture arrangement, rugs, lighting).

Adjacency logic: public/social zones (living, dining) near the entrance; private zones (bedrooms) buffered; service zones (kitchen, bath, laundry) clustered for plumbing economy.

Ergonomic benchmarks: worktop 850–900 mm; dining table 720–750 mm high; seat height 430–450 mm; desk 720–750 mm; eye level seated 1,100–1,200 mm.

Colour wheel relationships: monochromatic (one hue, varied value/saturation); analogous (adjacent hues); complementary (opposite); split-complementary (opposite plus its two neighbours); triadic (three evenly spaced); tetradic (two complementary pairs).

Achromatic = white, black and greys, no hue. Neutral schemes use low-saturation hues plus achromatic tones; they enlarge perceived space.

Value contrast drives legibility: light walls recede and enlarge a room; dark walls advance and compress; a dark ceiling lowers perceived height, a light ceiling raises it.

Warm hues (red, orange, yellow) advance and raise perceived temperature; cool hues (blue, green, violet) recede and lower it. Rooms facing north benefit from warm schemes to offset cool daylight.

Simultaneous contrast: a colour appears different against different backgrounds - grey looks warm on blue, cool on orange. Always test samples against the actual adjacent finish.

Metamerism: two samples matching under one light source may mismatch under another. Specify and approve colours under the actual or specified lamp type (e.g. 3000 K vs 4000 K).

Light reflectance value (LRV) 0–100: ceilings ideally ≥ 80, walls 60–75, floors 20–40 for balanced luminance; very low-LRV walls require more artificial light.

Cultural and psychological notes: white is mourning in parts of East Asia and Cyprus Orthodox tradition uses white for festivity; blue is protective in Mediterranean and Cypriot vernacular; red signals luck in China, danger in Western contexts.

Flooring selection criteria: traffic class (domestic 21–23, commercial 31–34 per EN 685), moisture exposure, underfloor heating compatibility, acoustic impact, slip resistance (R rating / DIN 51130).

Hard flooring: solid timber (sensitive to moisture, needs acclimatisation), engineered timber (stable, suitable over underfloor heating), laminate (wear layer AC3–AC5), LVT, ceramic/porcelain (PEI class), natural stone (sealed, heavy).

Soft flooring: wool is durable, fire-resistant and resilient; nylon is the most hard-wearing synthetic; polypropylene is moisture-resistant but less resilient; carpet tiles allow access to raised floors.

Wall finishes: paint sheen guide - matt for ceilings and low-traffic walls, eggshell/satin for general walls, semi-gloss/gloss for kitchens, bathrooms and trim; washability class per EN 13300.

Wallcovering: vinyl wallcovering is scrubbable and suited to corridors and healthcare; natural fibres and paper need low-humidity rooms; wide-width (1.06 m) hangs faster with fewer seams.

Upholstery durability is graded in Martindale rubs (domestic ≈ 20,000; contract ≈ 25,000–40,000; heavy contract 40,000+) or Wyzenbeek double rubs; check abrasion, lightfastness and pilling.

Furniture types by function: case goods (storage), occasional (accent), task (work), and built-in/joinery. Selection criteria: dimensions, ergonomics, durability, maintenance, fire performance.

Fire and safety: upholstered furniture in public interiors must meet national fire regulations; curtains and wallcoverings need appropriate reaction-to-fire classification; escape routes require low-flame-spread finishes.

Lighting layers: ambient (general), task (focused work light), accent (highlighting objects or surfaces), and decorative (feature fixture). A complete scheme layers at least three.

Luminous flux in lumens (lm) is light output; illuminance in lux (lx) is light falling on a surface; 1 lx = 1 lm/m². Efficacy = lm/W.

Illuminance targets (typical): living 100–200 lx, kitchen worktop 300–500 lx, dining 150–300 lx, bathroom mirror 300–500 lx, desk task 300–500 lx, circulation 100 lx.

Colour temperature: 2700–3000 K warm (residential, hospitality), 3500–4000 K neutral (offices, retail), 5000–6500 K cool (clinical, industrial). Colour rendering index (CRI/Ra) ≥ 80 general, ≥ 90 for colour-critical tasks.

Beam angle and spacing: narrow beams (15–24°) for accent, medium (24–40°) for general, wide (>60°) for wall-wash; spacing roughly equals mounting height for even downlight coverage.

Daylighting: daylight factor = indoor illuminance ÷ outdoor illuminance × 100%; a room needs roughly 2% for adequate daylight; glazing area typically 15–20% of floor area for good daylight.

Energy: LED efficacy 100–150+ lm/W versus halogen ≈ 20 lm/W; dimming, occupancy sensors, daylight-linked controls and zoning reduce consumption; note EU energy label classes A–G.

Luminaire types: downlight, pendant, track/spot, wall-wash, cove (indirect), linear, and floor/table lamps; glare controlled with baffles, louvers and UGR values in workspaces.

Standard scales: 1:1, 1:5, 1:10 for details; 1:20 and 1:50 for room plans and elevations; 1:100 and 1:200 for building plans. State the scale on every drawing.

Plan conventions: cut at ~1,200 mm above finished floor level; show walls poché, door swings, window openings, stairs with direction arrow, and a north arrow.

Elevation conventions: show finished floor level (FFL), ceiling line, openings, fixtures, and a title with the room name and viewing direction. Sections cut vertically through the space and show structure and heights.

Dimensioning rules: dimension lines outside the drawing, in a chain from a common datum; give overall and part dimensions; never dimension the same item twice; units in millimetres on construction drawings.

Line hierarchy: heavy lines for cut elements, medium for visible edges, light for furniture and fittings, dashed for hidden elements, and centre lines for symmetry.

Drawing set for an interior scheme: location plan, demolition/construction plans, furniture layout plan, reflected ceiling plan (RCP), elevations, sections, details, schedules and specifications.

RCP content: luminaires, switching groups, ceiling heights, bulkheads, air diffusers, smoke detectors, sprinklers and access panels - coordinated with the layout plan.

Presentation: mood board (concept and atmosphere), sample board (actual material samples with labels), rendered perspective, and a written concept statement; keep one consistent graphic language.

Partition types: stud partitions (metal studs at 400/600 mm centres with plasterboard), masonry partitions, and glazed partitions; fire rating and acoustic rating (Rw) must be specified.

Plasterboard build-ups: 12.5 mm standard, 15 mm for improved acoustic/fire, double-layer for higher ratings; a typical 100 mm stud partition achieves Rw ≈ 40–50 dB depending on layers and insulation.

Ceilings: suspended grid (600 × 600 mm module), plasterboard, and open/exposed. Plenum depth must accommodate services; access panels are required at valves, dampers and junction boxes.

Openings: lintels carry loads over openings; door widths - 800–900 mm internal, 900–1,000 mm accessible/escape; thresholds should be flush for accessibility.

Electrical coordination: socket outlets at 300 mm above floor, switches at 1,000–1,200 mm, kitchen worktop outlets at 1,100 mm; separate circuits for lighting, sockets, kitchen appliances and HVAC.

Plumbing coordination: soil and waste pipes need falls (typically 1:40 to 1:110 depending on diameter); wet walls are clustered to reduce runs; floor drains and waterproofing in wet rooms.

Fire safety: escape routes must remain clear and be protected; fire doors self-closing with intumescent seals; materials in escape routes need limited reaction-to-fire; smoke and heat detectors per code.

Ventilation and moisture: bathrooms and kitchens need mechanical extract, with typical rates around 15 l/s intermittent for bathrooms; uncontrolled moisture causes mould and finish failure.

Ancient Greek and Roman: post-and-lintel and column orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian); Roman innovation of the arch, vault and dome (Pantheon); mosaic floors, frescoed walls, and the atrium house plan.

Cyprus: Roman villas with mosaic floors at Paphos (Dionysos mosaic, 2nd–3rd c. AD); Byzantine basilicas and churches with domes and frescoes; Lusignan Gothic (Bellapais Abbey); Venetian and Ottoman layers in Nicosia's architecture.

Byzantine and medieval: central domed plan, mosaic and fresco interiors, marble revetment; later Gothic introduces the pointed arch, rib vault and stained glass.

Renaissance and Baroque: Renaissance returns to symmetry, proportion and classical orders (Palladio); Baroque adds movement, curved forms, gilding, stucco and dramatic chiaroscuro lighting.

18th–19th century: Rococo (asymmetry, pastel, ornament), Neoclassicism (Robert Adam, restrained classical), Regency/Empire, Victorian revivalism, and the Arts and Crafts movement rejecting industrial production.

Modernism: Bauhaus (1919–1933) unites craft and industry; De Stijl uses primary colour and orthogonal planes; Le Corbusier's five points and 'machine for living'; Mies's 'less is more'; open plan, white walls, tubular steel furniture.

Post-war and late 20th century: Mid-century modern (Eames, Saarinen), Brutalism (raw concrete), Postmodernism (Memphis, historical quotation), High-Tech, and Minimalism.

Contemporary trends: sustainable and biophilic design, adaptive reuse, Scandinavian and Japandi restraint, maximalism, and smart-home integration; heritage conservation principles of minimum intervention and reversibility.

Brief analysis: establish client needs, budget, programme, constraints, regulatory requirements, and a written statement of requirements agreed with the client before design starts.

Programme/schedule of accommodation: list every space with area, occupancy, adjacency requirements and service needs; test total area against the available floor area.

Concept development: derive a concept from site, brief, culture or material, then translate it into spatial, colour, material and lighting decisions - the concept must be traceable in the final scheme.

Mood board: communicates atmosphere and direction using images, colour chips and texture references, usually 1–2 boards; it is conceptual, not a specification.

Sample board: presents actual physical samples of specified finishes with labels (product name, code, supplier, location of use); arranged in proportion to how they will appear in the scheme.

Specification: written schedule per element - finish, product reference, manufacturer, colour code, location, quantity, and performance requirement; it must be coordinated with drawings and schedules.

Presentation set: concept statement, plans and RCP, elevations, perspectives, mood and sample boards, schedule of finishes, furniture schedule and lighting schedule, plus cost outline.

Project stages follow a typical sequence: briefing → survey → concept → scheme design → detail design/specification → tender → construction/installation → handover and snagging.

Snagging and handover: prepare a defects list against the specification, verify installed finishes match approved samples, and hand over maintenance information and warranties.

Sustainability in specification: prefer materials with recycled content, low VOC emissions, FSC-certified timber, local sourcing and end-of-life recyclability; check indoor air quality standards.

Budget control: prepare an elemental cost estimate at concept stage, update at scheme design, and track variations; the finishes and furniture package is a common overrun area.

Accessibility: apply universal design principles - step-free access, 1,500 mm turning circles, lever handles, contrasting nosing, and accessible sanitary provision - from the concept stage, not as an afterthought.

Check unity by removing one element at a time: if the composition still reads coherently, the removed element was redundant; if it collapses, the element was structural to the scheme.

Rhythm types to specify: regular repetition (even spacing), progression (increasing size or spacing), alternation (A-B-A-B), and radiation (elements from a centre).

Contrast tools: light/dark, rough/smooth, large/small, warm/cool, solid/void. Use contrast to create emphasis; use similarity to create unity.

Human scale reference: eye level 1,500–1,600 mm standing; door height 2,100 mm; these set the perceived scale of every vertical element.

Door swing zones must be kept clear of furniture; a 900 mm door needs roughly a 900 mm quarter-circle of clear floor.

Seating groups: sofa-to-coffee-table 400–450 mm; coffee table to opposite seating 400–450 mm; conversation distance under 2,500 mm to keep voices comfortable.

Wardrobe access: 600 mm depth for hanging clothes, 900–1,000 mm clear in front; hanging rail height 1,700–1,800 mm for long garments.

Workstation: desk depth 600–800 mm, monitor 500–700 mm from eyes, chair with 400–500 mm seat depth and adjustable height 400–520 mm.

Choose the dominant colour from fixed elements (floor, stone, joinery) first; then select secondary and accent colours to harmonise with it.

Use a colour's undertone consistently: mixing warm and cool greys in one scheme usually reads as a mismatch unless deliberately contrasted.

Small rooms: light values on large surfaces, accent colour on one feature wall or in textiles; avoid strong dark colour on all four walls unless the room is well lit.

Colour fastness and light: south-facing rooms with strong daylight fade textiles; specify lightfastness grade 5–6 for curtains and upholstery in bright rooms.

Wet areas: use impervious, slip-resistant floor finishes (R10–R11), sealed grout, and waterproof tanking behind tiles in showers.

Timber moisture content should be 8–12% for interior use in temperate climates; acclimatise boards on site for 48–72 hours before laying.

Acoustic finishes: porous absorbers (fabric, carpet, acoustic panels) reduce reverberation; mass (dense board, masonry) reduces sound transmission.

Maintenance: specify replaceable modules (carpet tiles, LVT planks) in high-wear commercial areas to reduce lifecycle cost.

Lumen method estimate: number of luminaires = (target lux × area) ÷ (lumens per luminaire × utilisation factor × maintenance factor).

Maintenance factor typically 0.8 for clean interiors, lower for dusty environments; it derates the installed illuminance.

Dimmer compatibility: check lamp-driver compatibility (leading vs trailing edge, DALI, 0–10 V); mismatched dimmers cause flicker and drop-out at low levels.

Emergency lighting: escape route illuminance typically ≥ 1 lx along the centre line; maintain via self-contained or central battery systems.

Title block must contain project name, drawing title, drawing number, scale, date, revision and author.

Revision control: cloud and triangle the changed area, add revision number and description to the revision table; never issue an unnumbered drawing.

Furniture layout plan shows every item with a reference matching the furniture schedule (code, description, quantity, supplier).

Reflected ceiling plan is drawn as if viewed from above looking down at the floor - light fittings appear mirrored left-right relative to the floor plan.

Ceiling void must be deep enough for the largest service plus falls and access; coordinate sprinkler, duct and cable tray routes before fixing ceiling height.

Service risers and wet walls should be grouped and shown on the plan; a soil stack cannot be moved without checking the drain run and fall below.

Socket and switch heights should be consistent throughout a project and shown on elevations; kitchen appliance outlets are positioned per the appliance schedule.

Acoustic separation between rooms: seal penetrations and joints; even small gaps reduce a partition's Rw rating substantially.

Identify a style by its structural signature first (arch form, column order, vault type), then by ornament and colour palette.

Arts and Crafts: honest materials, visible joinery, handcraft, muted natural palette. Art Nouveau: whiplash curve, organic line, ironwork. Art Deco: geometric zigzag, stepped form, lacquer and chrome.

Bauhaus furniture signatures: tubular steel cantilever chairs (Breuer), geometric primary-colour schemes, functional simplicity.

Cyprus heritage: recognise Byzantine domed churches, Lusignan Gothic abbeys, Venetian fortifications, Ottoman-era additions, and British colonial civic buildings.

Concept stage deliverables: brief summary, concept statement, mood board, sketch plans and a preliminary budget.

Scheme design deliverables: furniture layout plan, RCP, key elevations, sample board, finish schedule and revised cost plan.

Detail stage deliverables: construction details at 1:5 and 1:10, full specification, schedules, and tender/construction drawings.

Post-completion: snag list, operation and maintenance information, warranties, and as-built drawings.