Project: Interior Design Pt. 1
This design has been an incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling project, allowing me to weave my own personal narrative into the work. The building is part of a grand, decaying treehouse, born from a child’s boundless imagination, but now slowly deteriorating as the child, grown old, approaches the end of their life. The tree, once vibrant and sturdy, now stands precariously, clinging to its last vestiges of strength.Given that this structure was crafted by a child, I wanted to embrace an unorthodox approach, thinking beyond traditional design norms. The whimsical nature of the treehouse had to reflect a sense of innocence and carefree creativity, while its slow decay speaks to the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The challenge was to balance the fantastical with the wear and tear of age, creating something that felt both magical and melancholic at the same time.
I began this phase with some rough sketches of the perspective, as I had a clear vision of what I wanted the interior to feel like. To help bring this idea to life, I created a small 3D model as a reference and then developed a thumbnail sketch to explore the composition and layout of the space. As I progressed, I started adding values to better understand how the space would be lit and how the light would interact with the decaying structure. One of my key ideas was to drape the tree in a circus tent, creating a contrast between whimsy and decay, while also surrounding it with makeshift playground elements. These details would highlight the sense of a child’s forgotten dream still lingering in the space. An important aspect I didn’t mention earlier is that, despite the abandonment, this treehouse is still home to someone. A character, left behind by the child along with the tree, still resides here. This character, though isolated, tries to make the best of the situation by bringing in stolen lights and scattered pillows to make the place more comfortable. I wanted to capture a subtle sense of life within the tree—a faint, almost imperceptible flow of energy—suggesting that the tree is still alive, albeit on the verge of dying. Beneath it, a warm, hopeful glow radiates, symbolizing the lingering hope of someone still trying to preserve what’s left of the treehouse and the memories it holds.
Once I felt confident with the overall concept, I moved on to the next phase: the line work process. This stage allowed me to refine the details and give the design a more defined structure. With the rough sketches in place, I carefully outlined the elements of the treehouse and the surrounding area, bringing the vision into sharper focus. The line work helped solidify the relationships between the various components, from the draped circus tent to the makeshift playground items, while also enhancing the sense of decay and abandonment. It was an exciting moment to see the concept begin to take shape more clearly, setting the foundation for the next steps in the design.
Here is the final product, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. The color palette, especially the greens paired with the contrasting warm yellows and reds, really brings a sense of life to the eerie, decaying space. It strikes a beautiful balance between the natural world and the fading remnants of childhood imagination. The warm tones infuse the scene with a sense of hope and comfort amidst the decay, creating a captivating contrast with the haunting atmosphere. This piece has truly become one of my favorite paintings to work on, as it allowed me to experiment with both the narrative and the emotional impact of color
Next, I turned my focus to the exterior of the house, applying everything I had learned from this project so far. With a clear understanding of the atmosphere, I wanted to create and the techniques I’d refined, I felt ready to tackle the next challenge. The goal was to maintain the balance between whimsy and decay while ensuring that the outside of the house reflected the same sense of life and abandonment that I had captured inside. Drawing on the details and color choices I’d already explored, I aimed to make the exterior just as immersive and evocative, inviting the viewer to step into this world I had carefully built.