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Cassandra LaPorte 38 Ferry Rd, Hadlyme CT 06439

Phone: (860) 373-4078

[email protected]

www.cassandralaporte.webs.com

Design Philosophy

Cassandra LaPorte • [email protected] • www.cassandralaporte.webs.com • 38 Ferry Rd, Hadlyme CT 06439 • Phone: (860) 373-4078

Interior design is a field that is constantly evolving to incorporate new and exciting ideas. Designers can find inspiration

from anything, but generally follow the trends in fashion and architecture. It is most important to not only listen, but to

see. This doesn’t mean looking at one thing and appreciating it, it means looking at what makes something original,

beautiful, appealing, and unique and applying it to design. What makes a design ‘good’ can be interpreted in so many

ways by every different viewer of a space. It is important to be open, and to tailor design work to different needs of

different people, while still giving a building or a room the drama and beauty it deserves. The last, but one of the most

important concepts in design is that this field is advancing in so many ways. There are so many products that can be

repurposed or reused in ways that are often more creative and exciting than just buying a premade piece from a store.

Staying up to date with current trends, updated codes, and green products are some of the things that will set one

designer apart from the others.


Sunshine Nursing Home

The Sunshine Nursing home project was the first project where I realized I wanted to go into commercial design, especially

the healthcare field. I loved designing to the necessary codes, fire ratings, and accessibility guidelines. This was my very first

project working with the ADA guidelines, and I have loved healthcare design ever since.

Objective: To select a well known, historic style and base the design and concept around elements of that.

Concept: This nursing home project was based around the designs and works of Frank Lloyd Wright. The color scheme,

material and finish choices, and furnishings were all chosen to reflect certain elements in his famous work. Though this

project does not focus on one particular aspect or building Frank Lloyd Wright had designed, it does incorporate different

elements of the organic nature of his buildings, including his use of stone.








Sheer Elegance Hotel

Objective: To design a hotel suite based around a piece of artwork.

Concept: Walking into the king suite at The Sheer Elegance Hotel, there is an instant view of he soft, curved elements inspired by Karin Kuhlmann’s artwork ‚Winged.‛ The

main elements highlighted from this 'sheer, colorful, modish' artwork are reflected in the strong curvilinear forms around the suite. A collage of vibrant red and orange blown

glass macchia shapes is mounted on the left entry wall. Directly across from the entryway is the bathroom which reflects the curvilinear forms through the use of curved walls,

and a semicircular counter with matching sink. To the left of the bathroom curving wall forms create separate areas for social, sleeping and kitchen activities. A small yet

functional kitchenette is located near the dining surface. Under a first archway is the living room. In this space, one of the repeated forms in the artwork is defined in the

ceiling feature, which utilizes the three prominent vibrant colors: yellow, green, and red, showcased as backlit resin panels. The chocolate colored leather furniture is decorative

and functional and is grouped close together to form a comfortable social atmosphere. The coffee table and TV stand have matching curved forms, but are made out of

stainless steel and glass to contrast the soft structure of the sofa and chair. Under a second archway is the bedroom. The bed itself has elegant arches to add an accent of style

to the room. Overall, the design of the space is creative, functional, and perfect for anyone looking for a retreat designed for those with an appreciation for art and comfort.



Resin Panel Colors



http://www.chihuly.com/persians/Art/CdCC_Img0015B.html




Horse Feathers Restaurant

Objective: To design a restaurant in the Cazenovia/Nelson, NY area. The restaurant needs to be based around an object that relates to the history of the area. The food must be based on the new

trend of consuming locavore foods, so creating a menu is an important part of this restaurant.

Concept: Horse Feathers is a new restaurant in Nelson, New York, designed for both the ‘Equine Alley’ and ‘Antique Alley’ community members, which makes it both family and horse friendly.

The atmosphere of the space is sophisticated, yet relaxed, much like the horse-drawn sleigh it has been designed around. This is achieved through key elements such as intimate furniture

arraignments, and cozy fireplaces. Upon first entering the space from the main entryway, a curved wall leads customers directly to the hostess station and take out counter. The opening for this

counter is a dark wood panel which is shaped like the front of a sleigh. From here, customers can either go to the bar to relax with some friends, or go right to the intimate waiting area. The

flooring changes from maple hardwood flooring to a carpet that has lines similar to the curved lines which a sleigh would make when traveling through snow. Next, guests can go to a booth,

banquette, circular booth, or a regular table. The circular booths where inspired by the shape of the circular brass light on the side of the sleigh. These have the same damask tufted back, and black

leather seat as the waiting area and other booths, so that there is cohesiveness throughout the entire space.. The other tables have a dark wood, reminiscent of the dark wood exterior of the horse-

drawn sleigh. The chairs are upholstered in a burgundy woven fabric, with diagonally crossed lines of gold to match the color of a traditional seat in a sleigh, and to incorporate the gold from the

sleigh light. There are two double sided fireplaces in the large seating area near the second entrance to the restaurant. They are in small walls that help divide the space to maintain the feeling of

intimacy and coziness. Overall, the space is designed to give a feeling of comfort and coziness, especially on the chilly nights that are well known to the community members of Madison County.



Rengel Core Drawings








Internship- Walsh Kitchen Design

Hired to complete renderings for this project. The goal was to present the client with a few different design options to help them

decide on a design. After one last meeting, and about 8 renderings later, the clients happily decided on materials, and are getting ready

to build their dream kitchen.


Kitchen Renderings


HGTV Showhouse Showdown Renderings

These renderings are for the HGTV design project, Showhouse Showdown. These were done for my internship over the

summer of 2011.

The show aired on March 30th and April 6th. This is the winning design!



Winning Design!



Winning Design!


Sephora- Pave Design Competition

Objective: To design a pop-up retail store that will fit in with the style of the current Sephora stores. It can be capable of fitting indoors or going outdoors.

Concept: This pop-up SEPHORA store design intends to attract customers from every angle of the store based on its striking exterior. The walls are architectural systems that have glass panels fused

with ornamental cast iron. These segmented panels will not only attract people from the outside, but will also retain heat or air conditioning if the structure is to be assembled outdoors. Interior

shelves are visible through the glass wall and portray the symbolic white and black bars of SEPHORA. While highly ornate, this store will still be easily recognizable as part of SEPHORA because the

black and white stripe branding will able to be seen in large scale though the glass. The many decorative elements add a touch of class to this functional, mobile structure. At the entrance shoppers

are greeted with ‘pop-art’ style faces of SEPHORA models, transparently printed in red tones on two of the glass panels. The fourteen food high ceiling highlights tke trademark SEPHORA flame. It

is surrounded by dazzling fiber optic lights which entice people to come further into the store. Located near the entrance are shelving unites which house IPads and Iphones to provide interactive

information about the store and new products. At the opposite end, these decorative elements are reinforced at the cash wrap, which is made out of the same black iron elements of the walls. This

initial view really ties every aspect of the design together to create an aesthetically appealing space. The shelving units themselves take a more ‘traditional’ approach, and use somewhat standard

makeup displays which are already being used in SEPHORA stores. This helps to remind people that while the exterior of the store is much different, they can still expect the same amazing products

inside. Whether this store is used for summer or winter, Christmas or the Fourth of July, the decorative nature of this pop-up store is eye catching and timeless- Perfect for any time of the year.


Sephora – Pave Design Competition





IPod/Ipad Center

Scale: NTS

Floor Plan

Elevation

Rendering

Beauty Center

Scale: NTS

Elevation Rendering

Floor Plan

Shelving Unit

Scale: NTS

Elevation

Rendering

Floor Plan

Makeup Display

Scale: NTS

Elevation

Rendering

Floor Plan


Senior Project

Objective: To create a design center that reflects the thesis of the senior topics paper. The space must me ADA accessible, meet building codes, and

incorporate rooms or spaces that portray the thesis in a meaningful way.

Concept: The thesis this design center is built around is that living roofs and indoor gardens should be used in commercial and residential environments in

order to improve energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality, improve the overall health of occupants, and save building owners money over time. The

various rooms, activities, and wall treatments portray things designers, architects, and even the general homeowner can incorporate into their own residential

and commercial spaces.


Senior Project


Senior Project


Special Interests

I took up a studio art minor because I have always had a passion for art..


Special Interests

Hand Rendering & Lighting Design- Second Place Winner Children's hospital at night

Kiln Formed Glass Work Kiln Formed Glass On Welded Sculpture

Charcoal Drawing of escorche sculpture


Special Interests

3D Foam Core Model

Rendered Floor Plan

Furniture Design Featured In Whirl Magazine

Documents

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