CURATED SPACE – THE ULTIMATE LUXURY

Recent studies indicate that, for those who seem to have it all, the concept of luxury is no longer the same.  By and large, the idea of luxury still revolves around the same timeless elements - quality, comfort, elegance, and for many, exclusivity.  But from the findings of a survey of luxury travelers conducted by Marriott International and Skift Research, true luxury is not  found in a product that can be bought, or a place to be visited. ​

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​Luxury travelers seek out exotic destinations in the hope of coming back changed in some way – more cultured, more fulfilled, more satisfied with life – even if only on Instagram.
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What they seek is not a trip, or a thing, but an experience - artfully curated, with all risk and stress filtered out, leaving them free to plunge into it and emerge revitalized.  

But at a time when people found themselves forced to stay home, it begged the question – why do you need to leave home to experience what you want?  If your home has everything you need, will you still feel boxed in during a lockdown? Will you still need to take vacations to recharge, if your home recharges you?

​As an interior designer and space planner of residences, I see my job as more than making places out of spaces.  My ultimate task is to curate experiences in the home. ​​

​A well-designed home should do everything a vacation trip is touted to do – give you a sense of well-being, lower stress levels, restore creativity and productivity, and strengthen bonds with your family members.  Yet, judging by the trending popularity of staycations, in which people pay good money just to get away from their homes and live somewhere else for a few days, many homes are far from being the sanctuaries they are cut out to be.

Our living space and sense of self are closely correlated.  The sculptor Anish Kapoor wrote that architecture is a reflection of the self, like a surrogate body.  Thus, when we choose a place to live, our self-image and values are reflected in the building façade, the interior spaces, and the surrounding neighborhood.  If we are forced to live in a place we dislike, it is like confronting in the mirror a face you detest, and the ritual of coming home becomes an ordeal. ​​

Space and experience are also closely correlated, but a bigger space does not necessarily mean a better experience.  A British team of researchers found that the main reason people tend to move homes is a perceived lack of space, which had caused their sense of well-being to decline. Generally, a move to a larger home causes a temporary surge in their sense of well-being, but after a few months of adaptation to the larger space, the novelty wears off, and they revert back to how they felt at the beginning. ​​

​Can satisfaction with one’s home be sustained over time?  Of course it can – Warren Buffett famously still lives in the same house after 60 years.  In a recent bestseller, The Architecture of Happiness, author Alain de Boton argues that our best human spaces can actually make our lives happier, and even change us for the better.

A one-bedroom condo shown before renovation above, and after, below

Numerous people have reported enjoying their enforced confinement during the lockdowns, and have even found themselves developing new skills like baking, painting and photography.  What keeps these people happy to be home while others contend with depression and cabin fever?  ​​

As a designer of homes, I can’t promise happiness, but I can organize a given space so that it becomes a setting conducive to happiness and well-being. Here are ten pointers on how to curate a home to be a worthy setting for your lifestyle.

Focus on shape, not size 

A room’s spatial quality has more impact on your sense of well-being than its floor area.  When a room’s shape feels unresolved or ambiguous, it is difficult to rest, as the human brain tends to look for closure and resolution. A space with a symmetrical shape and regular features will feel more centering due to the sense of balance, proportion, and refinement it gives. ​

If vertical space is available, go for it – a smaller room with a high ceiling can feel more luxurious than a large, low-ceilinged one, which may feel flat and oppressive.  And if there’s enough space, contouring its outlines can transform shape into form, heightening your sense of being enclosed within a memorable environment.

Provide a variety of settings to create different experiences

​There should be a balance of zones that are formal and relaxed, open and secluded. An open space without zones can feel impoverished and boring because there’s only one place to be in.  An essential element of luxury is having choices and alternatives.  Allow yourself the pleasure of traveling within your home to different destinations.

Build in flexibility

Pocket doors can convert a large room into two private zones, or merge your kitchen with your main area to allow light and interaction to flow.

​A spare bedroom can be designed to switch to a home office or creative corner, with multi-tasking furniture.

Give room for rituals to develop  

Happy places are spaces dedicated to self-indulgence (pampering, hobbies, passions). Personal spaces contribute to a sense of self-worth and satisfaction with your surroundings.

​Provide places for the family to gather

Have rooms where media is not the focal point. Rediscover the lost art of conversation and the pleasure of companionship in shared moments and spaces. ​

Invite nature in

People who visit outdoor green spaces regularly have lower rates of depression and high blood pressure.  A view of a leafy landscape, or the sky over water, can reduce stress and mental fatigue and induce a sense of restoration and wellbeing. The visual complexity of nature both stimulates and calms.​​

Tailor your home around you 

​Think of your own tastes and habits and plan ahead for them. 

Consider amenities such as a window seat, a kitchenette within the master suite, or a coffee station or dry bar along the passage.

Provide transitional zones

Halls and passages are like pauses in a paragraph – they give you room to breathe.  An entrance hall allows you a moment to shed off stress from outside like dust off your shoes. ​

Passages sharpen your awareness of entering into a new space, and make you experience your home more clearly and vividly, while providing privacy and setting boundaries. ​

Focus on longevity. 

Emphasize timeless style and investment-grade finishes. Choose quality over quantity. The resulting delight to the senses is alone worth the cost, but it will also ensure that your satisfaction with your home will endure

Lastly, guard your privacy

There is now a greater need for the home to be a centering place, to provide an anchoring balance between the physical and virtual realms we now inhabit.  Imagine the outside world pouring into the interior space through multimedia and virtual meetings, like flood waters or a leak in your roof.  The home should have at least one place safe from intrusion, for it to be a true refuge.

A curated home can go even farther than a vacation can, in giving you the luxury that many wealthy travelers seek in vain – the luxury of reconnecting with yourself and reaffirming your own identity.  If your home reflects your values rather than the trends of today or the brands that connote luxury to others, it will become a true statement of who you are, and you will never have to leave home to find yourself.