INTERIORS | THE ROUGH SKETCH (A GUIDE)

A floorplan is a visual representation of the subject space, a room or house, as defined by the project's scope. 

It is typically a 2D overhead rendering of the area, a length and width representation of the horizontal axis (Figure A.). It can also take the form of a 3D representation of both horizontal and vertical axes (Figure B.).

The rough sketch is the first draft of a floorplan and the first stage of a design plan. It is crafted by hand on site of the subject space, the objective of which to capture its shape, dimensions, and architectural features..

This information will later be transcribed into the final draft of the floorplan and used as the baseline for the design plan.

Neither measurements nor special tools are required to draw the outline of a room; though, grid paper and a straightedge may prove useful in keeping lines straight and the draft legible, especially as the sketch advances into the next stages.

Width and depth measurements are collected for the composition of two dimensional floorplans.

Measure the distance between the walls and not the baseboards (Figure E.)

Measure the openings of windows (Figure F.) and doors (Figure G.). 

Trim should not be included as part of window and door measurements.

Moving around the perimeter of the room, measure the distance from the edge of one wall or architectural feature to the next. 

To measure the distance between a wall and a window (Figure H.), for example, measure from the wall edge (not the baseboard edge) to the window opening (not to the window trim).

Vertical measurements are gathered for the composition of three dimensional floorplans and design plans.

When measuring the height of the walls, measure from the floor to the ceiling.

Trim such as baseboards and crown moulding should be included as part of the wall measurement (Figure I.).

Measure the height of architectural features. Measure the openings of windows (Figure J.) and doors (Figure K.). 

Trim such as baseboards and crown moulding should not be included as part of window and door measurements.

Elevation refers to the distance from the floor to the bottom of the architectural feature.

Baseboards should be included as part of the elevation of architectural features; whereas, trim surrounding an architectural feature should not be included.

To measure the distance between the floor and a window (Figure L.), for example, measure from the floor to the window opening (not to the window trim).

Dimensions are recorded on the outer edge of the room outline nearby corresponding walls, windows, doors, and other architectural features.

So as to visually distinguish between individual dimensions and corresponding features, each measurement is bracketed off. The measurement is recorded between brackets, a line drawn between each measurement and breaking for the measurement itself.