Mansion Global, March 2021
In a year where health has dominated many of our lives and staying at home has been the norm, it’s not surprising that there has been an uptick in demand for home environments that imbue a sense of wellness and connection compared with how important healthy home environments were when life took us elsewhere.
From adding plants and outdoor elements to inside sanctuary spaces to reclaimed and recycled construction materials, this past year and the coronavirus pandemic that has tucked us all in at home has moved the needle on our relationship with home. With that has come a growing interest in conscious residential design decisions around health and wellness across the country and around the globe.
Designers Focus on Happy and Healthy in Wellness-Inspired Interiors
In a year where health has dominated many of our lives and staying at home has been the norm, it’s not surprising that there has been an uptick in demand for home environments that imbue a sense of wellness and connection compared with how important healthy home environments were when life took us elsewhere.
From adding plants and outdoor elements to inside sanctuary spaces to reclaimed and recycled construction materials, this past year and the coronavirus pandemic that has tucked us all in at home has moved the needle on our relationship with home. With that has come a growing interest in conscious residential design decisions around health and wellness across the country and around the globe.
“It’s more important than ever to be intentional about creating an environment in our home that enhances the quality of life. After all, it’s where we are spending just about all of our time these days,” says April Jensen, Founder of ADJ Interiors, in St. Louis, MO.
Enhancing that quality of life means different things to different design clients, depending on the scope of project, region, budget and more. What designers agree on though is that health and wellness are and have been top of mind across the board, amplified by COVID-19.
Tacos & Tequila, February 2021
We tapped Goli Karimi, Director of Design at Home Front Build — an acclaimed architecture, interior design and construction team out of Los Angeles — for her favorite bathroom renovation, and it’s safe to say that we’re totally inspired by the loo’s bold, over-the-top statement. Set within an iconic 1916 English Tudor in LA, the bathroom features stunning Andalucia tiles from Walker Zanger and a beautifully textured ceiling that, in Goli’s words, “envelop you as if you’re being carried by ocean waves under fluffy clouds towards the impressive Crosswater tub.” Not only that, “the mirror-like polished stainless steel exterior of the tub reflects the floor tile, visually expanding the room.”
Redo the Loo: Bathroom Designs to Inspire Your Next Renovation
We tapped Goli Karimi, Director of Design at Home Front Build — an acclaimed architecture, interior design and construction team out of Los Angeles — for her favorite bathroom renovation, and it’s safe to say that we’re totally inspired by the loo’s bold, over-the-top statement. Set within an iconic 1916 English Tudor in LA, the bathroom features stunning Andalucia tiles from Walker Zanger and a beautifully textured ceiling that, in Goli’s words, “envelop you as if you’re being carried by ocean waves under fluffy clouds towards the impressive Crosswater tub.” Not only that, “the mirror-like polished stainless steel exterior of the tub reflects the floor tile, visually expanding the room.”
Replete with a sophisticated antique patina in a calm shade of blue, this bathroom is truly an oasis for relaxation. And, although it’s brand-new, the bathroom feels like it’s always been there. “The best compliment one can get when renovating a historic home is that it feels original,” Goli said. And when we asked for her best tips and tricks when renovating, we were thrilled to get some great, timeless advice: “There are so many decisions to make and hiring a professional gives you the peace of mind that all details will be thought through and worked out. Once you’re done with the project, you should be able to enjoy it for many years without having to replace anything.”
Wall Street Journal, February 2021
The Most—and Least—Soothing Paint Colors, According to Interior Design Pros
AS WE CLOSE in on a year of living claustrophobically, Americans continue to look for strategies that can quiet the jitters—and don’t involve thousands of calories. One solution: calming decor. To help you out, we asked hundreds of designers what they consider the most soothing interior paint colors.
Nature-inspired palettes of pale blue and olive green were mentioned often. Notably absent? Pigments such as fire-engine red and neon green, which the experts view as invigorating at best and anxiety-inducing at worst. “As a rule of thumb, the more saturated and pigmented the color, the more it is associated with excitement and stimulation,” explained Palo Alto, Calif., architect Mary Maydan.
Here are the four specific paint colors that were most frequently cited by our expert panel, followed by four hues that designers generally agreed jangle the nerves.
Dwell, January 2021
A couple enlist woodworking experts to turn the run-down shack in their backyard into a gleaming guesthouse.
The oversized shed at the back of this property in Highland Park, Los Angeles, was a bit of a mystery. It had stood for 90 years, filled with tree trunks on one end and interesting antiques on the other. The current homeowners, a television writer and a musician, discovered that plans for the shed had once been filed, yet the city didn’t officially recognize its existence. Despite its state of flux and disrepair, the couple was sure about one thing: It had potential.
Salvaged Wood From a Neglected Shed Shines Again in This Los Angeles ADU
A couple enlist woodworking experts to turn the run-down shack in their backyard into a gleaming guesthouse.
The oversized shed at the back of this property in Highland Park, Los Angeles, was a bit of a mystery. It had stood for 90 years, filled with tree trunks on one end and interesting antiques on the other. The current homeowners, a television writer and a musician, discovered that plans for the shed had once been filed, yet the city didn’t officially recognize its existence. Despite its state of flux and disrepair, the couple was sure about one thing: It had potential.
Reclaimed wood graces the exterior and wraparound deck of the ADU, which is surrounded by native landscaping.
"Before COVID-19, we were envisioning a place where family and friends would be visiting constantly," says one owner, who asked for privacy. "Most of all, we wanted a functional guesthouse that our elderly parents could use while visiting us and our baby. We hope that will still happen someday."
Having a large common space that comprises the living, dining, and kitchen areas makes the room feel larger, while thermal sliding doors on one side let in light and air.
Aside from guest quarters, the couple imagined an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that could work as a temporary address during the future renovation of their historic main house. "It was a chance to make better use of our backyard, too, which has always been our favorite part of the property," the owner adds.
As it stood, the shed had separate entrances to two distinct rooms: one with carpet and one without. The owner thinks that the carpeted space may have been a residence at one point, but the other area was most likely a barn and chicken coop. Its tree stumps and spiders would have to go, but the couple wanted to find a way to hold onto all that wood.
Reclaimed wood from the original shed was used on the floors and ceiling in the common area.
Since the couple sought to reuse as much as possible, they partnered with Home Front Build on the project to capitalize on the firm’s expertise in woodworking. It took about two weeks to salvage what they could of the shed after plans were drawn in fall 2019 for a 780-square-foot unit with one bedroom and one bathroom.
"Having a large, open space doing triple duty as a kitchen, living area, and dining area helps it feel spacious—as does the high ceiling, the windows on the north side, and the large sliding glass doors that open to the backyard," the owner says.
Custom cabinetry, countertops, and a dining table were crafted from salvaged wood.
Wood salvaged from the shed was reimagined as flooring, custom cabinetry, and a ceiling detail in the common area; the kitchen’s live-edge countertops, cantilevered shelves, and dining table were crafted from the remnants of a neighboring tree. Even the coffee and side table in the living area were built from a walnut stump found in the yard when the couple first moved in.
"We kept the rest of the color palette simple: mostly blues and greens, with pops of orange and yellow," the owner says. And in keeping with the environmental mindset, high-performance thermal sliding doors and wide eaves over the wraparound deck keep the space naturally comfortable.
Green tiles complement an oversized vanity in the bathroom, which gets a lot of natural light.
It took about a year for the project to be completed, but whether it’s a triumph is still a bit of an unknown. "We wanted an easy-to-navigate floor plan, partly because we didn't have much space to play with, but also because we were imagining our parents in the house and anticipating their feedback," the owner says. "When they're finally able to come visit, we'll know how successful we were."
The ADU stands ready for guests—and the owners to use as a temporary home during renovations of the main house.
Keller Williams Luxury International, January 2021
Luxury designers have long created spaces for high-powered owners to conduct business away from company headquarters, and now the home office is for everybody.
Homework
Luxury designers have long created spaces for high-powered owners to conduct business away from company headquarters, and now the home office is for everybody.
21 Modern Kitchen Ideas To Spruce Up Your Space
Undertaking a kitchen remodel is definitely one of the most ambitious home projects there is. But it can also be the most rewarding. Because the kitchen is truly the heart of the home, so much time is spent there—whether for functional reasons, like cooking and meal-planning those workweek dinners, or for more emotional ones, like gathering to chat with a glass of wine in hand. So when your kitchen is up-to-date, well designed, and truly a reflection of your lifestyle and aesthetics, it can kind of feel like the planets are all in alignment—you cook better, socialize better, and maybe even eat better.
If you're considering undertaking a kitchen remodel in the new year, now's your chance to gather inspiration. These modern kitchens run the gamut from midcentury to new traditional, to updated takes on now-trendy styles like modern farmhouse. And while they're all gorgeous and sure to send you into a design swoon, they're also highly functional and have some clever takeaway tips—so be sure to take notes.
Scroll ahead for our favorite inspiring modern kitchen designs for a happier, healthier, and more functional year ahead.
