Design, Reimagined

Photos courtesy of KH Webb Architects PC

This year has brought many challenges—and as a result, homeowners have spent more time inside their homes than ever before. Suddenly we need a lot more from our residences to accommodate an increasingly homebound lifestyle.

When reimagining the design of your home, ask yourself these questions: What functions does each space need to serve, and how can the design accommodate that? What unique features can make each room more livable? 

Whether designing a custom home from the ground up or renovating their current residence, homeowners are starting to dig into the design process and pay more attention to the details. As you spend more time in a space, you begin to understand how you live in it, what your needs are, and how the design of your home can better suit your lifestyle. 

Great architecture has always been driven by the site and location—where the wind comes from, what the views are, where the sun rises and sets. In the interior, livable design means that it is tailored to your individual needs and desires, ensuring every nuance of your day-to-day life is addressed. 

When it comes to recreation, meal preparation, remote work, outdoor gathering and relaxation, here are creative ways to add function to your home.

Recreation

The most apparent way to create recreational space in your home is to add an exercise room. You can elevate your workout experience by installing a television or projector—whether to binge your favorite show or take a simulated run through a peaceful forest.

Or, consider building a hidden closet in your living room to stash your Peloton® bike or treadmill. You can pull out the equipment while you are using it, and store it away when you are done.

To up the ante, create a dedicated area in your home as your own private clubhouse—with an indoor climbing wall, arcade, full kitchen area, places to play and make a mess—that you can close the door and separate from your main living spaces.

Meal Preparation

People who never had time or an interest before are now learning how to cook—and enjoying more time spent preparing meals at home. As a result, homeowners are rethinking the design of their kitchens, micro-analysing how they cook and gather and live in this space. 

The answer? Build a mess kitchen instead of just a pantry, with a coffee bar and space to use your blender, mixer and any other appliances and accessories. This design allows you to make your meal prep messes out of the way, and keep your main kitchen looking beautiful to serve as a social space for people to gather in your home.

Newly-aspired chefs should also look into high-end appliances such as breadmakers, sous vide devices and steam ovens to elevate their menu options. 

Remote Work

Not long ago, we were removing office spaces from our homes—now we can’t live without one. Although working from home can present many challenges, there are features homeowners can add to increase productivity and professionalism. 

Have you been caught on a virtual meeting with an embarrassing background? If you are concerned about how you may appear on video, consider installing a green screen backdrop behind your desk. 

You can also add a conference room in your home, which can serve the dual purpose of a workspace for your kids. Building an outside entrance also allows homeowners to host meetings without having guests inside the living spaces of their homes.

Outdoor Gathering

Many homeowners are also rethinking the design of their outdoor spaces. To provide more time spent outside, install a fire pit or heating on your patio. This is especially important as we approach fall and winter weather, and still want to avoid feeling cooped up inside.

As we look to new ways to entertain guests at our homes, adding a bathroom entrance directly from the backyard prevents anyone from having to come inside your home. With extended outdoor living space and ample seating, you can continue to host gatherings outdoors while maintaining social distance.

Relaxation

After a long day of work and play (from home), there’s nothing more rejuvenating than a hot shower or relaxing bath. For ultimate relaxation without leaving your home, focus on creating a zen-like design in your master bath.

While this space must serve the basic functions of a bathroom, it can also provide a resort-style retreat for the homeowners—so don’t forget to add a sauna or steam room, too.

Kyle H. Webb, AIA is the principal at KH Webb Architects PC, a Vail, Colorado-based design and architecture firm. View their profile or reach Kyle at 970-477-2990.

Content for this article provided by KH Webb Architects.