Georgian History

Making the Most of Your Show House Tour Intro
1 / Show House Details
2 / Tour Tips
3 / Shape
4 / Materials
5 / Structure
6 / Color
7 / Texture
8 / Size

A show house tour is much like a museum visit. The many types of expression can be overwhelming. Many of the show houses are so chock-full of ideas that the experience can be a design overload.

With a little preparation you can better appreciate and enjoy your visit.

Remember, you are not allowed to take pictures in these houses, so managing what you see and knowing what to look for can be critical. You can really get divine inspiration and a real flavor of what can be possible for your own interior design. Reap all you can and use your ability to really look at design and process how it is possible. By evaluating others' work - especially great work - you can better transcend your ideas of design to reach new creative heights.

Managing your objective can maximize your experience.

So first things first. Look at our calendar to find where and when show houses are open. Plan your schedule ahead of time.

Check our site for information about the participating designers, the house itself, floor plans, and other useful information. The best way to take in all of what these show houses have to offer is to visit more than once. The first time through the house you can just move from space to space and look at what appeals to you. Meandering about is not so overwhelming and really inspirational. I always walk through and experience a rush of "how did they do that"! Going with that little bit of wanderlust really motivates me to think of all the interior design projects I want to tackle.

It is worthwhile to plan a visit, if possible, with a plan to better "see" the design. Each time you visit these show houses, the details, features, color schemes, spatial planning, dimension, and materials come into clearer focus. Just as we have focused on the designs of different cities, the same techniques can be used in the show house.

Focus on the elements of design - Shape, Material, Structure, Color, Texture, and Size. These elements give order to the designs you see and help you get an appreciation of the design techniques. Also, you can see how the talented designers incorporate all of the elements to create a comprehensive, workable, remarkable design. The understanding of each of the elements and the way they are combined is what differentiates a mediocre design from an excellent design.

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