On a practical level, individual needs vary widely, and those needs have to be fulfilled by the home's design. People use their rooms differently. Some people want to be able to eat in every room in the house. Some want to do jigsaw puzzles in a certain room and some want a piano. A lady with a spectacular collection of scarves must have a closetthat is designed to accommodate them.

The trick is to satisfy these everyday concerns while creating an environment that is an expression of the people who live there. We've all known someone who seems ill at ease in their own skin. Unfortunately the same situation can exist with people and their homes. The design of a house can be an awkward fit for its owners. It has to complementthem and their lives or, no matter how polished and coordinated, it is a failure.