What influences the design of a model unit?

Model Unit Design

What influences the design of a model unit?

January 10th, 2024 | by: Allison Furlan 

 

 

When I think about model unit design for a project there are several factors that are involved in the overall design and direction.  The budget, timeline, location, demographic, and unit type all influence the objects and overall feeling that I try to capture when designing a model unit.  Generally, the client drives the budget and timeline that we need to work within and sometime their marketing team is involved in developing a profile of the target demographic.  After understanding the general direction and goals we start to develop a profile and overall feeling we want the model to evoke. For example, a studio unit in a downtown urban area would have an entirely different feeling and design direction than a two-bedroom apartment in the suburbs.   

 

Developing a Profile  

After considering these factors, I develop a unique profile of the apartment’s residents. Are they a single person or a couple? Do they have pets or children? Did they relocate, and if so, from where? What drew them to this location, and what hobbies do they enjoy?

Throughout the design process, I continuously refer to this profile, ensuring every element aligns with the envisioned lifestyle. For this particular one-bedroom unit, we designed the space around a professional couple who relocated to be closer to nature and embrace a slower pace of life. Their interests—traveling, cooking, reading, and the outdoors—shaped the design choices throughout the home.

Thoughtfully chosen details tell a story about the people who live here. The high-end knife block, Dutch oven, pour-over coffee setup, and curated cookbooks on the kitchen counter suggest a passion for cooking. A fully stocked bar cart, complete with ski lift glassware and cocktail books, hints at a love for entertaining and enjoying artfully crafted drinks. In the bedroom, retro national park prints, activewear, and quirky books—ranging from travel guides to Wes Anderson films—reveal a sense of adventure and a love for exploring new places

Adding Local and Personal Touches  

I always set aside extra time and budget to source items locally for a project. These pieces help fill in key areas and come from local purveyors and vendors. Simple additions—like coffee from a local roaster, hand-woven tea towels, artwork from local artists, or bitters from a nearby distillery—add authenticity and depth to the space.

These locally curated pieces give you the impression that these items were lovingly selected to adorn their apartment.  There is such a thing as “over-staging” an apartment or being too specific with a style where prospective renters cannot look past the clutter to see the potential of a unit.  A model room is a delicate balance of being staged but not overly lived-in and personalized so people can envision themselves living there.   

 

 

 

 

 

When in Doubt Steam it Out 

There are a lot of final touches and finesse that go into staging a model room.  Yes, there are the hours needed to select the perfect furniture and accessories and shopping locally but there are the last few touches that make a space feel special.  These attention to details can range anywhere from steaming the window coverings and bedding, removing all tags and labels, fluffing pillows, rolling towels, or adding Spanish moss and pebbles to artificial plants to elevate their appearance.  Cleaning and vacuuming the space to a spotless shine to ensure that when someone opens the door they walk in and say, “Wow I want to live here”.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So why hire a professional?

If after reading this you still think designing and installing a model room seems easy, think again. There are so many facets of creating the perfect model room that effortlessly balances style, negative space, and the right blend of accessories. From space planning to selecting the correct scale of furniture, artwork, rugs, not to mention the time to curate everything from the sofa down to the toothbrushes and have everything arrive on time and on budget. Hiring a design professional takes the hassle out of designing, managing, assembling, and installing a detail-oriented space like a model room. 

Whether it is a new construction space or an existing apartment building, a model unit can dramatically help sell a space to a potential renter. Model rooms help people see the potential in a space that is a blank slate and help them envision how they can make that space feel like home. If you have need of a model unit, just ask the Interiors team at Pivot North!