Anyone who knows me well (or has helped me move) knows I have an extensive collection of art and design books. Books have always been a great source of inspiration for me. If something is good enough to be published in a book, it must be exceptional in some way. As designers we are always absorbing from the world around us to spark ideas we can bring to our clients. Sometimes a design begins with a single detail you cannot stop thinking about. For this Scottsdale home, that starting point was a book about antique iron.
This book from my collection, Decorative Ironwork by Marion Cambell, inspired a custom ironwork design I collaborated on with my mentor, Billi Springer. Bringing it to life took sketches, a CAD drawing to scale, and close coordination with the general contractor and ironworker. Looking back at the process is a wonderful reminder of how much goes into the custom details we enjoy in a finished home.
Finding the inspiration
When you find something you love in a book or photograph, take a moment to think about what draws you to it. Is it the shape, the sense of movement, the texture, or the way the details are arranged? Perhaps there is something about the composition of many parts that you want to create for your own experience.
Understanding that connection provides a strong direction to direct the design. It helps us take an inspiration and develop it into something that belongs in your home, with proportions and details suited to the space. Once inspiration strikes, we pull from different resources to collaborate and bring something truly unique to life.
Decorative Ironwork by Marian Campbell
Chandelier suspension-rod; wrought iron with original paint and gilding. English c. 1700.
Developing the design
Billi Springer and I collaborated on this piece, and her sketches and vision are part of its story. A sketch gives a loose idea form. It allows us to explore a composition and communicate the feeling we want the finished design to have.
I love being able to share this part of our work together. Seeing the sketches alongside the CAD drawing and the finished ironwork makes the collaboration visible in a way that a photograph of the final piece alone cannot.
Drawing the ironwork to scale
I created a CAD drawing to scale to develop the proportions and communicate the design. Today we have even better visualization tools but in 2008, line drawings in CAD were the industry standard and most ironworkers prefer this type of working drawing to this day.
Scale makes such a difference with decorative work. The size of a rose, the curve of a scroll, and the open space between the elements all affect how the piece feels. A detail that looks beautiful on a small page needs to work just as well at its actual size.
The drawing connects the creative idea to something the team can build.
Working with the people who build it
We worked closely with the general contractor and ironworker to bring the design to life.
This is an important part of custom interior design. The drawings give everyone a shared starting point, and the collaboration carries the idea through fabrication and into the home.
Each person brings a different understanding to the project. The ironworker knows the material and how to work with it. The general contractor understands how the piece fits into the construction. Our role as designers is to communicate the design clearly and stay involved as it takes shape.
Seeing the details come together
In the finished ironwork, sculptural roses sit among curling leaves and repeating scrolls. There is a beautiful contrast between the strength of the iron and the softness of those botanical forms.
Look closely and you begin to appreciate the individual elements, then step back and see how they work together. That balance is what makes a detailed piece feel complete.
For me, this is one of the most rewarding parts of residential design. An idea that began on a page becomes a lasting part of someone’s home.
Bring your inspiration to life
If you have a photograph, a favorite book, or an object you would love to build a design around, bring it to our first conversation. You do not need to have every detail figured out.
Planning a home or remodel in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley? Schedule a design consultation and let’s explore what we could create together.
Follow Victoria King Design on Instagram for more original drawings, work in progress, and a closer look at how our custom interiors come together.