A point of focus can be as simple as a favorite piece of art at the center of the main living space. Or it can be more elaborate, such as an inglenook around a beautifully designed fireplace or a composition of windows looking into the garden beyond. Its purpose is to draw you into the space and to give the area a center.
Although it is not crucial to have a point of focus in every space in the house, the introduction of one or two in key rooms can add a lot of character. In many rooms, there is an obvious focal wall surface. Usually it’s a focus for one of the following reasons: It is directly above a fireplace or built-in television; it is bathed in light from a skylight or adjacent window; it is the tallest wall in the room; or it is the termination of a strong visual axis through the house.
In houses where there is a view along an extended visual axis, the end-wall surface is given increased importance. It automatically becomes one of those places that cries out for a piece of artwork–or some other object or feature–that will provide striking visual delight.
Often the fireplace or television commands attention because of its function. Whatever the focus may be, you can enhance it with special lighting or by adding a space to exhibit a special treasure.
For 20 years, architect and author Sarah Susanka has been leading a movement that is redefining the American home and lifestyle. Through her “build better, not bigger” approach to residential design, she reveals that the sense of “home” we seek is a quality that has almost nothing to do with square footage. Her “Not So Big” message has become a launch pad for a new dimension of understanding how we inhabit our homes, our planet, and even our day-to-day lives. Susanka is the best-selling author of nine books including The Not So Big House, Home By Design, and The Not So Big Life, which collectively have sold well over a million copies. Her books provide the language and tools for homeowners to bring their own dreams of home to life. As a cultural visionary, Susanka is regularly tapped for her expertise by national media, including “The Today Show,” CNN and The New York Times. Builder Magazine recognized Susanka as one of 30 most notable innovators in the housing industry over the past 30 years, Fast Company named Susanka to their debut list of “Fast 50” innovators whose achievements have helped to change society, and U.S. News and World Report dubbed her an “innovator in American culture.” She is also a recipient of the Anne Morrow Lindbergh Award for outstanding individual achievement toward making positive contributions to our world.
