Wonderful for imaginative play, practical for living. A Letter from the Parent of a Child with Autism.

I contacted Sarah last year after reading her thoughtful blog post titled “Creating a Safe Space for Neurodivergent Children to Thrive.” My 15 month old son had just been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. His days would now be filled with hours of intensive at-home therapies. Could we transform our home into a space that would support these therapies, yet be warm and comfortable and naturalistic?

Sarah and her team were excited about the challenge. We had ~400 square feet of my one-bedroom condo to work with.

She came to visit and we talked. I wanted everything. It had to provide a place to hide out, a sensory retreat. It had to have a running path, because my son loved to run. It had to have fixed and reconfigurable climbing options, because my son loved to climb. It had to have a treehouse with a slide, just because. It had to have a bed.

And of course, it had to promote therapy. Early intervention for autism is all about saturating children with attention and social interaction. The child, of course, would much rather be doing their own thing. Clinics facilitate this by putting the child and therapist into an 8 by 10 foot room with a rug in the middle. This way, they have no choice but to interact.

We had a conversation that went roughly like this:

“I want the same effect,” I told Sarah, “but without the walls.”

“Have you considered the possibility,” Sarah said, “that if we have a therapy area surrounded by all these fun options to run and climb and it looks like a natural setting that he will just .... run off?”

“Yes,” I said.

I had another thought. “He’ll also need easy access to 50 bins full of different toys. He’s at the general combination stage of presymbolic play.”

“I’ll have a mood board ready next week,” Sarah said.

The mood board was amazing. It looked like a collection of children’s museums, rich people’s houses, and gardens. I circled half of the items and said it would be great if our condo could look like that.

“I’ll have a design in a couple of weeks,” Sarah said.

Two weeks passed, and it was time to see the design. I prepared myself for disappointment, for being brought back down to Earth, because it was a list of requests impossible to satisfy. But then Sarah said, “I think we’ve got everything. Here’s how we did it.”

She opened up an AutoCAD file and went through the design. There were custom rugs laid out to create — in negative space — a running path along our hardwood floors. There were bookshelves and climbing shelves funneling inward to the bed, which now doubled as a crash pad. There were lily pads and rocks and modular climbing forms. There was a treehouse and a sensory cave carved out of our old laundry nook. A shelving system for therapy materials. The treehouse light looked like the sun, illuminating origami cloud lights hung around the room.

The largest cloud light hung low over the largest space on the rug, bordered on one side by the running path, on another side by the modular forms, and on another side by the shelving system.

“The therapy area,” I thought. “They’ll naturally sit and play here. The light is low-hanging enough that everyone has to be child level. There’s no walls, but it’s clear this is the best place to sit.”

There were other areas in the space too that were naturally conducive to one-on-one interactions. The sensory nook. The treehouse. The bed. The table by the library shelving. It was an entire space that encouraged adults to interact with children.

Over the next months, construction proceeded and the space became reality. Sarah’s team handled everything about the implementation, e.g. furniture delivery, getting contractors, etc. The end result was beautiful.

My son loves the space, and has thrived in it. It works just as designed. He engages happily with his therapists, working when he needs to, playing when he needs a break, and afterward it transforms happily into just his home. He improved rapidly over the next year, engaging more and more with others. It was a wonder to see his happy, social, and outgoing self emerge. At 26 months, he began to talk, and a few months later he overcame his speech delay entirely. It was due to the hard work of many people, himself included, and the space Sarah designed provided the stage for all this to happen. It was key.

There are companies that specialize in making rooms for autistic children. They look like therapy rooms — here’s the trampoline, here’s the lights, here’s the swing. They all look so clinical. Our space is every bit as functional, but it doesn’t look like a therapy clinic. It just looks like home.

One thing I love about the space is that everything is general purpose, nothing is prescribed. The climbing forms are my son’s taxi, battleship gun, car, boat, elevator, and many others. The padded areas next to the bed are a sofa, climbing area, book storage, toy stand, etc. It is wonderful for imaginative play, and very practical for living.

Everything is thoughtfully done. The color palette is amazing. My son loves the color green, and so shades of green are everywhere. When I added houseplants to the plant wall, I was startled to see that they matched the color palette. There are blues and purples around the room as well.

“The tricky part was finding something that would match the blue handles of the toy bins,” Sarah said.

“You considered that?!” I remember thinking.

Before I met Sarah, when I thought of high-end interior design, I thought of rich people’s houses that were cavernous and modern and museum-like, all shades of gray or beige broken up by expensive art. But our space didn’t turn out like that at all. Instead, it was vibrant and colorful and lovely and fun.

Comments from others: the parent of a nonverbal child came in and just said, it works. It’s funny how when you make a space totally focused on the child, it makes the parent happier too.

When my sister came to visit, her two kids were here along with my son, and all 3 kids were happily occupied in different areas of the space. My brother in law said, this makes it easy to watch all the kids at once, everyone is happy.

Another sentiment — it’s the roomiest 400 square feet in the world. Parents visiting the space often have larger houses, but have said they want a system more like ours, that has space for their children to play and all their toys too.

The design works for neurotypical children as well. They come in and are purely delighted. They don’t want to leave.

Working with Sarah was a wonderful experience. She is as much an engineer as she is an artist. She created something functional and beautiful. The intersection of those domains was something simple and elegant and clear. She turned something impossible into something that now seems inevitable and obviously correct — I couldn’t imagine it any other way now.

I appreciate that the process was conversational and collaborative. Before I met Sarah, I talked to two other people. One designer had the approach, “I look at your space, I make a design, and what you get is what you get.” Another wasn’t even an interior designer — she was a professional organizer — but was adamant that her way was the best, and kept telling me that she was right and I was wrong (e.g. “the books need to be displayed cover out, not spine out.” “but we have so many books.” “maybe you should have fewer books”).

In contrast, Sarah was much more experienced, knowledgeable, and proficient — but the way it came off was very different. She took the time to learn what we needed for my son, and understand on a deep level the “whys” behind what we were doing. Instead of saying “no” to any idea, she would guide me through the tradeoffs and constraints involved. There was never a sense of, “I’m more experienced, so this is the way things should be”; it was always more of a conversation, and very collaborative. Sarah didn’t just make it seem like she was powerful and capable — though she was, of course. She made me feel I was powerful and capable too, which is what I needed at a moment I was trying to do something right for my son.

A common pattern is that Sarah and I would have a brief conversation or email exchange, and a few days later, she would let me know of a solution. It was evident a great deal of thought and attention had been put into it. It gave a sense of infinite capability. Everything was also well organized and documented. It was amazing how quickly things could go from an idea to a concrete implementation. With Sarah, anything was possible.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Inclusive Playspace: Creating a Unique Sensory Environment for a Child with Autism

Thoughtful design can transform a home into a supportive and enriching environment, particularly for individuals with unique needs. This custom playspace, designed to support the sensory needs of a child with autism, naturally blends therapy and play into daily home life. Biophilic design elements such as a nature-inspired color palette, organic forms, and textures are utilized to create a visually stimulating child-oriented environment of diverse visual and sensorial experiences that create order within the space while also inspiring movement, play, and fun. These design features create visual and sensorial cues that help to create awareness of what is available to them within this environment, empowering them to make their own selections and choices for activity, play, and therapy, creating a space where they have autonomy, support, and space to thrive.

The main playroom is designed to present a series of visual and sensorial experiences that help facilitate one-on-one play-based therapies within the home, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, infant stimulation therapy, and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) for a child with autism. Creating a child-oriented space that balances fun and order was essential in integrating therapy and play within the space. Color, texture, and lighting were thoughtfully designed to create a series of visual and sensorial cues that bring awareness of what is available within the space to a child with autism, empowering them to make their own selections and choices for activity based on their individual needs.

An inbuilt shelving system provides customized storage for various toys used in play-based therapies. Access to a wide variety of toys keeps a sense of novelty, and ample storage makes space for toys that are more complicated or contain many pieces, which can help build up play levels and skills during therapy. This storage creates an organized and clutter-free play space where toys can be chosen visibly and are easily accessible.

A nature-inspired palette of greens and blues throughout the main play space creates a visually stimulating environment. Stacked cork sheets from sustainably farmed cork provide warm accents on the treehouse and bookcase.

A custom rug made from wool and bamboo silk helps create a child-oriented space that naturally facilitates one-on-one floortime therapy and play by encouraging adults to play on the floor alongside children. The rugs incorporate biophilic design through a nature-inspired palette of green, grey, and blue patches that are woven into curved organic shapes resembling lichen or grass. This variation in texture contributes to a diverse sensory experience within the space designed to keep a child engaged with play and therapy.

A large cloud-like light hangs low within the room, demarcating a space on the rug at child height and helping facilitate one-on-one floortime play therapy. The height of this light creates a feeling of shelter and security under its soft, comforting canopy. The honeycombed paper they are made from also helps absorb reflected or sudden sound within the space. They create a fully dimmable soft glow from within their paper structure. Lighting controls are installed at a height accessible to children, and each light can be dimmed individually to determine the preferred lighting levels in the space.

The shape and placement of rugs throughout the space subtract parts of the wood flooring to help emphasize landing areas for therapy and play. This rug placement also creates a path of exposed flooring, which reveals a recreational running loop through the playroom, kitchen, and library, seamlessly incorporating a space for movement breaks between one-on-one play and therapy.

Modular, green climbing structures made from durable, commercial-grade textiles are incorporated into this play space. These textiles are durable, designed to withstand play, and sustainably sourced as they are made from 100% recycled poly, 75% of which is SEAQUAL fiber made from recycled ocean plastics. This material also contributes to healthier indoor air quality as it meets the Oeko-Tex standard 100, a rating that sets the benchmark for textile safety and certifies that this material contains no harmful substances. These soft forms offer opportunities for physical movement, enabling the child to climb and exercise their muscles. Additionally, they can rearrange the structures into various configurations during play, stimulating their imagination.

A custom-made bed was ergonomically designed to be low to the floor and suitable for child height to create a child-oriented space facilitating one-on-one play and therapy. A series of soft climbing shelves anchored to the wall give the bed a dual function as a soft landing during exercise and play.

A custom-made wipe-off magnet board creates a space for artistic expression and interactive play with magnets that picture different feelings and emotions. A series of plants installed on the wall above create a living green space that brings the serenity of nature into the playroom.

A custom indoor treehouse is split into upper and lower sections that present different textural and sensorial experiences so a child can independently choose from varied surroundings.

A circular padded doorway made from a durable indoor/outdoor textile serves as a child-sized chair and entrance to the downstairs nook of the treehouse. The child-sized doorway to this space doubles as an escape tunnel that connects with a parent's room next door. This option creates a sense of comfort and safety when interacting with therapists in the space, creating a retreat when breaks are needed. The smooth, dark green walls provide a pleasing sensorial contrast to the glass pebble tile floor made from recycled glass that mimics the look of Carrara marble.

The upstairs treehouse provides a space flooded with bright natural light, and the white walls feature a textured tree bark design. The window also provides a view of the trees outside, which can contribute to positive emotions and a sense of well-being.

A climbing ramp connects this custom-built indoor treehouse to the outdoor patio space, which, when used with adult supervision, incorporates the fresh air and sunlight of the outdoor environment into the main playroom.

Pink and lavender are incorporated into the library to distinguish this as an area designed for focused learning and therapy, separate from the blue and green main play space.

Bookshelves painted in a lavender hue provide accessible storage for toys and books, providing visual choice and making them easy to access for play, learning, and therapy.

Custom pink lily pad pillows made from a durable wool-acrylic blend and a custom rug crafted from wool and bamboo silk create a child-oriented space on the floor. This environment encourages one-on-one interactions and therapy, making it easy for adults to engage in activities on the floor.

The cabinetry of this kitchen was painted a lush nature-inspired green to visually connect with the existing countertops.

This contemporary five-light pendant chandelier provides bright, even lighting throughout the space. The round dandelion-like shape of its pendants works harmoniously with the chic white disc-shaped brass and marble hardware installed on the kitchen cabinetry.

This painting of an abstract landscape connects with this kitchen's nature-inspired color palette to bring the beauty of the natural world into the space.

Designing a space that blends therapy and play at home can have immense benefits for a child with autism. Being surrounded by visual and sensorial experiences that create freedom of choice and autonomy creates an at-home environment that meets them where they are, supports their individual needs, and encourages them to learn, grow, and thrive.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

California Craftsman: History Meets Nature-Inspired Design

The California Craftsman is an iconic fixture within Los Angeles. A popular style between 1905 and 1920, these homes were inspired by the arts and crafts movement, which pushed back against the prevalence of mass-produced goods made available by the Industrial Revolution to focus on personal, handmade, quality-crafted design that connects with nature through form and material. This ethos inspired the clean, functional design of the California Craftsman, intended to showcase quality craftsmanship and the beauty of natural materials such as wood and stone. Californian Craftsman homes were also designed to incorporate elements of the surrounding natural environment, featuring wide, low-slung, gabled roofs that provide plenty of shade and porch space to enjoy the warm, mild climate and an abundance of windows that capitalize on ample sunshine to flood these homes with natural light. The local availability of quality natural materials, such as California redwood and river rock from the Arroyo Seco, combined with a nature-inspired palette, creates an indoor-outdoor connection that inspires unity with the surrounding natural environment through biophilic design.

This 1912 Southern California Craftsman home, lovingly restored with salvaged materials from the surrounding community, blends historical charm with contemporary biophilic design. Honoring the tradition of Craftsman design, this home celebrates the beauty of nature through objects, materials, and finely crafted and restored family heirlooms to create a warm, tranquil, and mindful space.

Over the years, this house has seen a series of misguided renovations intended to modernize the home interior. Vintage photographs documenting architectural elements of the property that had since been modified or removed were used to guide the restoration of this home to its authentic original design, which incorporated many salvaged materials, such as windows and built-ins saved from historical houses that were sadly being demolished in the surrounding community.

The focal point of the dining room is a brick fireplace, which was restored after being non-functional due to earthquake damage. The drywall was removed on either side of the fireplace to uncover two windows, which were restored with historically salvaged frames to create a flood of natural light that connects the space with the natural world outside.

Wood is a material that is prominently featured throughout this home. A vintage burl root mirror shaped like the hollow of a tree hangs above the fireplace, complimented by a collection of beautiful moss-covered branches that rest on the mantel. These objects incorporate organic wood forms found within nature to connect the finished wood surfaces of the mantel, bookshelves, and window frames with the natural world from which they originated.

While not original to the house, the sconces on either side of the fireplace mantel are estimated to be from 1912 - 1920 and were salvaged from a bungalow court that was being demolished in the local neighborhood. The chandelier above the dining room table incorporates vintage Quoizel glass shades that emulate the spirit of craftsman style through their resemblance to hanging flowers.

Nature-inspired forms and imagery permeate the dining room bookshelves through a series of new and vintage objects. The grey/brown fat lava glaze of a vintage West German ceramic planter connects with the natural world through the texture of its glazed surface, which is reminiscent of rocks or bark. A vintage glass pelican and decorative silver tray depict birds in differing styles that celebrate the work of artisans inspired by nature.

An antique Legras cameo vase made from pink glass etched with floral motifs is a family heirloom that sits alongside a landscape painting of wildflowers radiating the joyous presence of spring.

The Queen Anne-style antique mahogany dining set from the early 1800s, a family heirloom, was carefully restored, with the dining chairs reupholstered in a luxurious green mohair fabric. This nature-inspired palette connects with the natural beauty of the wood used to craft this antique dining set.

The 1912 Hardman player piano, a unique addition to the dining room, was restored to play through its pedals or by being plugged into the wall, ensuring that this piano could once again fill the home with beautiful music. Hanging above the piano are a series of butterfly sculptures by Gwen Samuels. These works are made from images printed on transparent sheets, then cut and hand-sewn onto wire forms, merging elements of the natural and human-made world.

The living room combines vintage, antique, and contemporary objects to create a space that connects sustainable design practices, expert craftsmanship, and biophilic design. Many of the objects in this room have family history and personal meaning that infuses the space with memory and connection. A paper mosaic depitcing flowers by Karen Sikie hangs by the doorway, bringing the beauty and joy of nature into the space.

This Cuckoo clock, purchased in Munich, Germany, in 1972, was recently restored. This sculptural nature scene now hangs in the entryway to the living room as a timepiece of personal significance.

Some heirlooms have been repurposed as functional items within this home, such as this vintage rocking chair, a childhood object full of happy memories that now functions as a plant stand.

An Art Deco chandelier by the Muller Brothers of Luneville, France, hangs over in the center of the room. This light fixture's blue, cream, and amber glass emulates the feeling of a beautiful sunset, with wrought iron details that incorporate organic hanging shapes resembling Arum Lillies.

Wood flooring, paneling, and built-in cabinetry swath the living room in the beauty of natural woodgrain. This wooden coffee table is a beautiful piece of biophilic design that celebrates the natural beauty of wood through its shape, material, and process of being made. This table is a treasured piece of artisan furniture made by splitting an unmilled log of English walnut into two parts to create two unique table tops that mirror each other. The live edge retains the organic form of the tree from which it was made, connecting with the serene woodlands from which this tree was sourced. The entire surface is textured with chisel marks that poetically incorporate the process of hand-working the wood into its final aesthetic, drawing attention to the skilled craftsmanship of this bespoke piece.

A restored antique armchair was reupholstered with deep green linen velvet that echoes the textile of the dining room chairs to carry a lush nature-inspired palette throughout this home. This textile's soft and varied texture compliments the armchair's antique quality alongside a custom-made matching ottoman.

Throw pillows feature an artist-designed textile by Kale Tree that depicts blue-green Monarch butterfly chrysalises. The nature-inspired imagery of this textile connects with the joy of watching Monarchs form cocoons in our garden as they emerge and migrate throughout California.

Nature-inspired decorative objects are incorporated throughout the room in figurative and abstract forms. A beautiful vintage duck expertly hand-carved from wood connects with the wood built-ins throughout the home. The organic form of a German-designed, hand-blown, smokey taupe glass table lamp was created by merging two glass spheres to create soft, diffused lighting within the space. An antique American Art Deco vase made from frosted green glass features a patterned surface that depicts a beautiful nature scene complete with wild berries and grasshoppers, creating a subtle reference to nature. A paper mosaic by Karen Sikie that hangs on the wall above compliments these nature-inspired objects with a depiction of pink flowers on a lush green background.

The home office features a cherished vintage worktable that has been in the household for years. Its well-loved, prominent woodgrain harmonizes with wood flooring, built-in shelving, and cabinetry throughout the room.

A large-scale hazy landscape painting by Peter Burega hangs over the work area, creating a calming presence within the room. The green palette connects with the round organic shape of a plush upholstered desk chair and the many plants placed throughout the room.

A series of nature-inspired decorative objects are playfully scattered throughout the built-in bookshelves, bringing the joy of collecting personally meaningful objects into this home office. A collection of nature-inspired books, including a cherished antique volume of "Historie Naturelle Des Oiseaux," are artfully arranged. A vintage ceramic Maine wren perched alongside a vintage handmade pelican and wren play with scale, as some seem to be actual size while others are miniature. Other vintage items such as a handcrafted ceramic pitcher featuring an acorn and oak leaf detail and a hand-carved oak artwork depicting flowers, connect with the woodlands where we may expect to encounter these birds in the wild, evoking the sense of calm that we experience when birdwatching.

This intricately carved 19th-century French Black Forrest Oak wall mirror depicting a dog surrounded by leaf motifs marries fine craftsmanship with the beauty of natural materials and nature-inspired imagery to reflect the core components of craftsman design.

The 1960s bi-level walnut tambour door desk and contemporary globe floor lamp incorporate an element of the mid-century modern aesthetic to this workspace.

The materiality of wood is also incorporated into an artwork by Aneesa Shami Zizzo that hangs over the built-in work desk. Zizzo weaves thin strips of wood with fiber in this artwork to create a beautiful nature-inspired wall hanging.

The bathroom of this home features a combination of salvaged materials and reproductions that restore this space within the ethos of craftsman design. The antique bathtub and pedestal sink were salvaged from historical properties within the local community that were set for demolition. A stained wood wainscot was installed throughout the room alongside historical reproductions of traditional sconce lighting to create a sense of continuity and harmony between this room and craftsman design features throughout this home.

Natural materials are incorporated into the space through local Californian slate mosaic flooring. This stone's nature-inspired brown, white, and grey palette harmonizes with the warmth of wood throughout the room to create a cozy and inviting space. A shower curtain made from the Kale Tree Matilija Poppy Textile (Natural) introduces a timeless botanical print that evokes the joy of this Californian native wildflower. An antique cast iron boot scraper shaped like a cat serves as a playful doorstop. This folk art sculpture from the early 1900s is a playful link between the natural and the domestic world.

A basement in California is quite rare, unusual, and coveted. The unfinished basement of this home was transformed into a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, creating a separate living space downstairs. Natural materials such as wood are incorporated throughout the space to create the aesthetic of a handcrafted rustic cabin.

Two south-facing leaded glass windows and a large window in the door to the outside allow natural light to enter the space. A painting by Renae Barnard, which hangs over the bed, depicts a semi-abstract desert landscape based on the memory of a childhood photo. It fills the negative space around a series of Yucca trees with an earthy dusty pink palette to reveal the impression of their form.

Nature-inspired objects and bird motifs that decorate the bookshelves celebrate the joy of collecting throughout the space. Two vintage ceramic decorative quail statues are accompanied by miniature paintings of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, California Quail, and Scaly Breasted Munia by artist Vivienne Edwards.

Handmade ceramic vessels such as a Japanese Shigaraki mini flower vase bring organic forms and materials into the space while making room for biophilic elements such as plants and flowers.

The restoration of this California Craftsman is a testament to the enduring appeal of timeless design and the power of biophilic principles. This home pays homage to the past and fosters a deep connection to the present by honoring its original artistry and integrating biophilic design within the restoration. The warmth of natural materials and nature-inspired design combined with expert craftsmanship within objects and spaces spanning generations creates a beautiful example of how traditional architecture and modern design can harmonize to create a truly inspiring and rejuvenating living space.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Bibliography

“Architecture Series: California Craftsman Bungalow Tailor-Made for SoCal’s Mild Climate, Relaxed Lifestyle.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2017.

Alpert, Yelena Moroz. “Craftsman House: Everything You Need to Know.” Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2023.

Hohenadel, Kristin. “This Popular Home Style Features Wide Porches, Low-Pitched Roofs, and Lots of Charm.” The Spruce, The Spruce, 6 Feb. 2025.

2025 Color Of The Year

Nature-inspired color palettes can help ground us by connecting built environments with the beauty of the outdoors. These palettes promote the mindful practice of spending time in nature, a key aspect of biophilic design. Brown is a fundamental color found within nature, such as soil, clay, wood, and stone—materials also used to construct our homes. These elements provide shelter, warmth, security, and comfort, symbolizing stability, permanence, and resilience. The 2025 Colors of the Year, 'Moca Mousse' and 'Caramelized' from Pantone and Dunn Edwards, embody these qualities to create a grounding, comforting, and sensory experience within our homes.

Brown, earthy tones have a timeless quality that makes the old feel new, making them a confident choice for various design styles, from contemporary to modern to traditional or historical.

This Tudor revival bedroom features a warm, almost pinkish-brown shade in the carpet, drapery, and wall color. This tone highlights and celebrates the luxurious natural beauty of the darker wood furniture and built-in features throughout the room, such as the custom bed frame, handcrafted by an expert artisan from American Walnut, which evokes a Victorian-era aesthetic.

Brown is also often associated with feelings of warmth and comfort. Dunn Edwards describes "Caramelized" as a "warm terracotta brown" reminiscent of "sunlight on stone," evoking the pleasing sensation of leaning against a warm brick wall or laying on a beachside slab of stone. The name itself evokes the constant warmth that produces caramelization.

The brown furnishings and wallcoverings in this living room have warm undertones of red, orange, and yellow, which create a sense of coziness and intimacy, making the space feel inviting and welcoming.

Brown also has the potential to serve as a warm and inviting neutral color that adds depth and richness to a space while effortlessly complementing a variety of styles and decor. We often think of neutrals as the backdrop to a room. White, gray, and beige are usually popular choices due to their versatility, timelessness, and ease, but they are not intended to drive the stylistic tone of a room. Warm browns like "Caramelized" and "Mocha Mousse" offer a fresh perspective on what a neutral can be, bringing warmth and an inherent sense of sophistication that classic neutrals sometimes lack. Browns have an enduring presence through their connection with the natural world, giving them a timeless quality that transcends fleeting trends.

The warmth of the brown walls of this living room serves as a soothing backdrop, creating an inviting and cozy atmosphere that immediately makes anyone feel at home. These earthy tones evoke a sense of stability and grounding, providing a solid foundation for the room's overall design. The cooler grey tones of the sofa and the golden highlights of the artwork and upholstered pillows create a sense of balance, calm, and harmony through the interplay between warm and cool tones within the room. The golden highlights in the artwork and the upholstered pillows catch the light beautifully, creating a subtle glow that enriches the sensory experience within the room and introduces an element of luxury to the space.

Metallic browns, like bronze and copper, uniquely connect our interiors to the mineral-rich earth while infusing a touch of luxury. These earthy tones, reminiscent of copper ore and bronze artifacts, ground a space and add a sense of timelessness. The metallic brown tiles of this nature-inspired bathroom create a warm and inviting ambiance, elevating and transforming it into a sophisticated retreat that celebrates the beauty and richness of the natural world.

Incorporating shades of brown as an accent color can add warmth, depth, and comfort to any space or design. Brown is a versatile color that pairs well with many other hues, making it a fantastic choice for accent elements like furniture, textiles, and decorative accessories.

An earthy brown with hints of terracotta accentuates the doorways within this Victorian-style living room. This warm yet muted flush of color is in harmony with the nature-inspired palette of the room while creating a subtle and pleasing contrast that draws attention to the antique American walnut parlor set and Victorian marble coffee table.

Nature-inspired color palettes like "Mocha Mousse" and "Caramelized" bring the grounding comfort and stability of earth into our living spaces. These colors, which evoke the resilience and tranquility of nature, enhance our homes, transforming them into personal sanctuaries that harness the restorative power of the outdoors.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Solidarity and Support: California Wildfires

Dearest Neighbors, Clients, Family, and Friends,

Our thoughts and tears are with everyone impacted by the fires.

We appreciate all those who have reached out to check in on us. The SBD team, our families, and our pets are safe.

In this challenging time, please lean on us should you need anything. We welcome unconventional requests.

We will get through this together.

In solidarity and with love,

Sarah

Related information:

Los Angeles Fire Department Resources (link)

LA County Emergency Information and Resources (link)

California Fire Incidents interactive map (link)

California Disaster Help Center (link)

CA Department of Insurance Wildfire Resources (link)

Resources for SoCal fire victims, evacuees, and first responders (link)

Wildfire Preparedness: Home Hardening, Defensible Space, and CA Native Plantings. (link)

How to Rebuild After a Fire: Finding Opportunities for Improved Health and Happiness (link)

Interior Design for Grief: How our Homes can Help with Healing

Our homes are reflections of who we are and the lives that we have lived. These environments take on a new significance for those of us who are coping with grief through the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a significant life change as we are surrounded by objects and spaces that retain the memories of a former time. The sudden loss of a home and possessions due to a natural disaster brings a different form of grief as we grapple with restarting and rebuilding. However, redesigning our home can be a powerful and hopeful step that helps us transition into a new stage of life as we process our grief. 

There are many different forms of grief. Bereaving a family member or relationship, the onset of sudden illness, or injury are all significant events that can cause us to grieve our life that was. We all cope with loss in different ways, and the experience of processing grief is often not a linear path. As we move through this difficult time, a place or object may evoke memories that trigger waves of emotion.

While many of us may be familiar with the five stages of grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance), some researchers prefer to conceptualize these as "tasks of mourning" (1) that can help us gain a feeling of control over the destabilization that loss can cause in our life. These Four tasks of mourning include: "Accepting the reality of the loss. Processing the pain of grief. Adjusting to the world without who or what we have lost. Finding an enduring connection with who or what we have lost while continuing to engage in new relationships." (2)

Continuing to live in the home that we once shared with a loved one can, in some cases, feel challenging, as being surrounded by objects and spaces that are filled with memories can trigger or potentially prolong our grief.

For those of us in mourning, reserving spaces and holding on to objects may feel like a way to maintain a bond with the person we have lost. Or, instead, we may have an initial instinct to get rid of everything that reminds us of those who are no longer with us, as the memories triggered by these objects and spaces are too painful. But this is something that we may come to regret once we begin to heal. Alternatively, redesigning our home, letting go of some of these objects, and keeping a selection of meaningful pieces can be a healing step in grieving. It helps us accept the reality of our loss, honor their memory, and create a new path for ourselves.

When we share our home with someone for a long time, the space itself can become flooded with memories. In cases where we would like to stay in the same residence but the constant stream of memories is too painful, a complete remodel can be an empowering step. It allows us to reclaim our home, creating a new space to process our grief and pave a new way forward.

For some of us, staying in the home that we once shared with a loved one may prove too painful to endure. In this case, the process of deciding what to take with us into our new life and what should be left behind can feel overwhelming. We may need guidance on retaining the things we loved about our old life without triggering painful memories.

Inviting family and friends to help sort through these possessions can transform this task into a source of support and connection during a difficult time. Alternatively, enlisting the services of an interior design team can take what may feel like an overwhelming situation and break it into smaller, more manageable tasks.

For those of us experiencing a divorce or break up, the spaces and objects that surround us may contain painful memories of those who have hurt us that continue to cause us pain and slow the process of moving on. For some of us, purging our home of objects belonging to or that remind us of our ex-partner can be a powerful first step in reclaiming the space of our home. Determining what objects share the space of our home with us can feel empowering, making space for objects that have a significant personal meaning to us and bring us joy.

When continuing to live in the same home that we once shared with a loved one, replacing communal items that do not have significant personal meaning, such as dinnerwear, towels, bedding, and artwork, can support our healing and help make the transition into our new life more real, as these new objects do not trigger a flood of memories or a wave of grief.

Objects that existed from that period and still have personal meaning may be rearranged or reimagined within our new home in a way that pleases our personal tastes and allows us to claim ownership over how they make us feel. For instance, a piece of artwork could be given a new prominent place in the home, or a piece of furniture could be reupholstered to better fit our personal style.

For those mourning the end of a relationship, changing the space around us by rearranging or redesigning rooms can change how a space triggers our memories. A home remodel can provide a time for self-focus and self-care, where we can truly evaluate what our personal needs are without compromise, creating a home that is just for us.   Rooms or spaces once inhabited by our ex, such as a home office or reading nook, can be converted into whatever best serves us in our new life, perhaps a home gym, meditation room, or dedicated room for a collection. Moving plants, painting the walls a different color, buying new, or rearranging existing furniture can make a room feel less familiar and transition it from "our" space into "my" space, a place to make new memories.

For those experiencing grief from a sudden or significant change in life, such as illness, injury, or loss of mobility, being surrounded by interiors and objects that remind us of our life before this event can be a painful daily experience that hinders our ability to heal. Incorporating ergonomic design elements can create a highly personalized home that helps support us physically and emotionally through this difficult time. Custom design options that help facilitate accessibility and self-sufficiency reimagine our home to meet our new needs with comfort and support.

Kitchens and bathrooms can be redesigned to accommodate a seated user by incorporating custom sink and counter heights. Creating clear space under the sink ensures an unobstructed approach to the counter and ease of movement throughout the room.

Touchless faucets are easy to operate and have the additional hygiene benefit of a touchless surface. Cabinets can be customized to incorporate drawers with pull-style handles, making them easier to access than doors with knob-style handles, facilitating self-sufficiency and confidence in day-to-day tasks.

Installing a wheelchair-accessible shower with barrier-free entry creates ease of movement throughout the bathroom. Barrier-free showers have the same plane as the adjacent flooring, with no step, curb, or dam that would obstruct entry. Linear floor drains and grading can help maintain a level surface, and including a secondary drain elsewhere in the bathroom allows the entire floor area to be treated as a wet room. The shower should also be large enough to allow space to transfer to a shower chair and for the shower chair to turn around, facilitating freedom of movement.

When such changes may necessitate a home remodel to facilitate greater accessibility, updating our home's aesthetics alongside such changes can create a whole new space that supports our current and future selves. Some say the best way to work through our feelings is to feel them. We may wish to create a sanctuary of comfort and peace within our home to help process our grief. Automated lighting, window coverings, and design features that contain or mask environmental sound can all be customized and remotely controlled from a central system to create the ultimate environment of comfort and well-being with the push of a button.

The sudden loss of a home during a natural disaster leaves individuals and families grappling with immense grief and a profound sense of loss. A home is far more than just walls and a roof; it's a sanctuary woven with memories and an embodiment of our identity. When this is suddenly lost, the path to physical and emotional rebuilding can feel insurmountable, leaving us feeling displaced, powerless, and uncertain of the way forward.

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, we may suddenly find ourselves in a new home, starting from the beginning. As daunting as this may sound, shaping our new environment can become a powerful tool for healing and recovery. Creating a home that fosters emotional support and comfort can allow one to regain a feeling of control. Personalizing a new space with meaningful objects, our favorite colors and other elements that resonate with us is not just a design choice but a powerful act of self-assertion. This can help reclaim our sense of self and create a new home filled with hope and resilience.

Thoughtful design can help restore our sense of safety. Trauma-informed design considers our emotional and sensory needs to create restorative home environments that can help support recovery from grief and trauma. Our sensory experience of sound, color, light, and touch within a space can significantly impact our mental and emotional health. Enlisting the services of an experienced interior design team can provide support and clarity throughout this process, ensuring that every aspect of our home is designed with our well-being in mind.

Incorporating salvaged items such as ceramic objects, metal cookware, or decorative porcelain dishes and objects into a new space can help maintain a connection to the past. These objects can serve as tangible reminders of happy memories while providing a sense of continuity and resilience.

The loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a sudden life change can profoundly affect how we experience our environment, as our homes are full of memories that have the potential to trigger painful waves of grief. Practicing self-care and mindfulness can support our mental and emotional well-being as we move through the process of healing. Remodeling our home to incorporate biophilic design elements such as a nature-inspired palette, natural materials such as stone and wood, textiles, and wallcoverings that incorporate biophilic imagery can contribute to creating mindful, supportive spaces within our home. Biophilic design draws from our innate desire to be within nature, aiming to mirror the mindful effects of spending time outdoors to help us find moments of calm and peace. Remodeling and reclaiming our home after experiencing a loss is a sensitive process that must be handled with care and compassion. We have planned home remodels after a sudden loss, illness, or accident and supported individuals through the difficult task of sorting through a loved one's treasured possessions with sensitivity, discretion, and empathy. Reclaiming our space after a painful event can be a healing part of the grieving process; with an experienced interior design team at our side for guidance and support, we can honor our memories while charting a new path for our lives.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

References

1. “The 4 Tasks of Grieving.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers,www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-health-nerd/201911/the-4-tasks-grieving. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Bibliography

1. “What Is Grief?” Cleveland Clinic, 1 May 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24787-grief.

2. PDQ Supportive and Palliative Care Editorial Board. “Grief, Bereavement, and Coping with Loss (PDQ®).” PDQ Cancer Information Summaries [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 June 2024,www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK66052/.

3. Kademani, Maanasi. “How Does Grief Affect Your Body?” UCLA Health, 21 Feb. 2024, www.uclahealth.org/news/article/how-does-grief-affect-your-body.

4. “‘decluttering’ after Someone Dies: How and When Should You Do It?” Marie Curie, www.mariecurie.org.uk/talkabout/articles/decluttering-after-someone-dies/277411

5. Mckeough, Tim. “That Home You Made with Your Ex? ‘Say Goodbye to Everything.’” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Dec. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/12/01/realestate/renovating-after-a-break-up.

6. Longobucco, Alyssa. “How to Reclaim Your Space Post-Breakup or Just after a Big Life Change.” Apartment Therapy, Apartment Therapy, 16 Feb. 2021, www.apartmenttherapy.com/reclaim-your-space-after-a-life-change-36879162 .

Supporting Monarch Butterfly Habitat in Los Angeles

As the cool weather sets in, we look forward to cozying up inside our homes with friends and loved ones to enjoy some quality time together this season. During this time, our studio likes to reflect and make positive intentions for the coming year.

We love the opportunity to give back to organizations working to preserve the beautiful Californian landscape that inspires much of our design practice. Instead of sending our traditional holiday cards this year, our donation to Project Monarch LA, made in honor of our friends and Clients, will directly contribute to restoring Monarch butterfly habitat within Los Angeles. This is our way of creating sustainable holiday traditions, and we are thrilled to have you join us in this meaningful cause.

Launched in March of 2023, Project Monarch LA is leading the effort to restore Monarch Butterfly habitat throughout Los Angeles. Climate change and habitat loss have contributed to declining Monarch populations. This organization engages local communities to plant native flowers and milkweed that support the reproduction and migration of Monarch Butterflies to help build Monarch numbers and restore local biodiversity.

Sustainable, eco-friendly practices are at the core of what we do, and we are excited to celebrate the holiday by supporting this local conservation effort. May the spirit of the season fill your home with warmth and your heart with joy.

Have a very happy and healthy holiday season!

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Verdugo Mountains Retreat: A Nature Inspired Home among the Trees

The Verdugo Mountains are a unique natural environment in Los Angeles County, California. This mountain range, surrounded by urban development, is an isolated pocket of nature with abundant trees, flowering plants, and wildlife. Sarah Barnard Design recently transformed a ranch-style home in this beautiful, serene wilderness.

The garden surrounding this home was generously planted to provide beauty and sanctuary for pollinators and local wildlife, such as lizards, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, deer, and many birds who are regular visitors. This outdoor space is progressively rewilding with California native plants alongside beautiful ornamental plants that hold personal meaning to the household and grow well in this region. This green space blends the built environment of the home with its stunning natural surroundings, fostering an ecosystem that cultivates joy and mindfulness into daily life through simple acts such as coexisting with birds in the garden.

The beauty of the landscape inspired many biophilic design elements within the home, which was updated to reflect a connection between the indoor and outdoor environment.

The living room features large windows that look out onto a collection of succulents and cacti, with a beautiful view of the (sometimes snowcapped) mountains.

The living room furniture combines modern and antique pieces, including a restored antique armchair, reupholstered with a deep green linen velvet, whose luxurious and varied texture lends itself to the age of the chair while connecting with the lush greenery outside. A custom-made ottoman seamlessly compliments the armchair's antique quality. Integrating vintage and restored antique pieces within this home allowed the design team to incorporate sustainable practices in the design process while infusing spaces with pieces that held personal meaning through historical connections.

This unique wooden coffee table was made by splitting an unmilled log of English walnut into two parts. Its live edge retains the organic form of the tree from which it was made. The entire surface is textured with chisel marks that poetically incorporate the process of hand-working the wood into its final aesthetic. The shape, material, and process in which this coffee table was made make a connection with the surrounding woodlands, bringing the tranquility of forest bathing into this living room.

The living room flooring, which continues throughout this home, is made from porcelain tile that has the appearance of White Oak wood. This tile creates a harmonious connection with the surrounding woodlands while providing an excellent eco-friendly alternative to wood, as porcelain is a low-impact, enduring material that is easy to clean and maintain.

A hazy, calming landscape painting by Peter Burega hangs over the living room sofa. The muted earth tones of grey, brown, and olive green resonate with the deep green of the antique velvet armchair.

A large, wool, flatweave area rug demarcates a soft space for the sofa and coffee table within the living room. This rug features a minimal brown geometric pattern on a natural beige background, combining a nature-inspired palette to bring aspects of the outside landscape into this built environment.

The brick fireplace was painted white, integrating it into the light and airy feel of the room. A rustic hearth surface was created in plaster, reminiscent of the organic patterns in the dry earth of a desert landscape. A 1970s vase from West Germany coated in a bronze-like glaze and layered with grey fat lava rests on the hearth, providing a harmonious link with the brown and white palette of the area rug. Its uneven surface and the organic application of the glaze give it a unique handmade quality.

A pair of contemporary marigold yellow armchairs with custom arch-shaped ottomans create an area of warmth that brings out the earthy-toned highlights throughout the room. These ottomans blend components of the natural and the contemporary world through their round organic form and furry boucle-like texture, which creates a cozy sensory experience. The triangular side table is part of a nesting set and features an orchid resting in a soda fired tumbler by Heather Cornelius.

A German-designed, hand-blown, smokey taupe glass table lamp sits on top of a mid-century-inspired console table made in collaboration with a skilled woodworker. This lamp's organic form was shaped by merging two glass spheres and retains the malleable feeling of molten glass to create soft, diffused lighting within the space. A large Kale tree (Polyscias Guilfoylei) in the corner of the room is one of many indoor plants in this home that create a lush connection with the serenity of nature.

The dining area features a restored mahogany dining table that has been in the family for generations. This antique table features a central column base with claw feet and Queen Ann dining chairs with a ball and claw feet. A Scandanavian-inspired chandelier hangs over the dining room table; its minimalist style draws attention to low-wattage antique filament bulbs as a visible design feature that creates soft, warm lighting. A yellow ceramic mid-century modern dish creates a pop of color in the center of the dining table, while a fiddle leaf fig and monstera plant create green space on either side of the dining area.

The existing kitchen was transformed by painting the cabinets a deep black green and replacing the hardware with brushed antique brass round knobs to create a contemporary woodland feel.

The nature-inspired color palette also highlights the beautiful green tones within the quartzite backsplash and countertops. Luxury upgrades such as a touchless faucet and an instant hot water dispenser create a sense of comfort and ease that encourage convenience and joy in the simple pleasures of cooking a meal or enjoying an instant cup of tea.

The scenic mountain views from the living room windows inspired Sarah to create a one-of-a-kind mosaic design for the entryway floor. This elaborate hand-pieced design originated as a sketch by Sarah, which she then translated into a series of templates for the intricate angled strips of wood-like porcelain tiles. These were then arranged to form mountainous shapes inspired by the hillside views from the property.

The entryway features an Italian-designed hand-blown pendant light made from two glass spheres, one clear and one blue-green, that rest on one another to resemble a dew drop collecting on a drop of water. The transparent organic form undulates downward, emanating white light from below and a soothing blue-green glow from above.

Artwork by Renae Barnard makes textural reference to organic forms within nature by building up the material surface of the painting to resemble cracked earth or moss. This work is installed above an artisan-made bench, crafted using the traditional Japanese process called shou sugi ban, in which wood is finished by charring, washing, and applying natural oils.

The vintage hall tree features a collection of nature-inspired objects such as a pink glass antique vase with floral motifs, a Japanese bronze lilypad dish from the 1940s, and an antique ink well shaped like an owl.

The trim throughout the home's public rooms is painted the same deep black green as the kitchen cabinets, carrying this soothing tone throughout the home.

The hallway walls, closets, and ceiling are painted in the same deep black green dispersed throughout the cabinetry and doorways of the house. This immersive use of color is intended to create a sensory shift as one moves from the white, light-filled living room to the quiet sanctuary of the primary bedroom. The molten glass shape of the ceiling light fixture emits a golden meteoric glow that reflects across the dark walls of the space. A runner made from hand-knotted wool creates a soft detail underfoot, dampening noise from footfall to create a peaceful connection with home areas designed for rest and rejuvenation.

This light and airy home office looks out onto the lush green backyard with a view of Oak, Pepper, and Acacia trees outside. The walls are painted in Gardenia, a warm off-white with a slight peach undertone.

The subtle warmth of this color is accentuated by a dusty pink paint color used to highlight the baseboards, door frames, and window casing. This joyous pop of color connects with the Dhalias, Calliandra Eriophylla, and Hibiscus located in the surrounding garden.

This space was designed with multiple ceiling light options to provide ample and adaptable working light regardless of changes in furniture arrangement.

The bi-level walnut tambour door desk, Danish-designed grey leather chair, and Danish-designed secretary desk made from Rosewood are all 1960s midcentury pieces. The secretary desk includes a countertop that can be extended to create more workspace. A wall-based sculptural work by artist Renae Barnard connects the built and natural environment by constructing an abstract nest-like form out of found materials tied together with yarn and twine and then concealed within layers of paint.

A globe floor lamp positioned next to a large worktable provides a contemporary redesign of the mid-century modern aesthetic. The table and harp-backed chair are cherished vintage items that have been in the household for years.

A potted variegated Abutilon and a hanging Pathos plant bring in the lush greenery of the surrounding garden to create pockets of tranquility within the workspace. The hanging baskets outside the office windows create a joyous break from work to watch birds nesting and hummingbirds drinking from the Fuchsia flowers.

The design team incorporated butterfly stickers onto windows throughout the house to minimize bird strikes or collisions, supporting local birdlife and creating a space to enjoy birdwatching.

The home gym features organic linen curtains that frame windows looking out on the serene woodland.

The custom meditation pillow is made from the Kale Tree Matilija Poppy textile in Midnight, bringing this beautiful California native wildflower indoors in a palette harmonious with the home gym door. Elegant hardware is incorporated throughout the house in flat black with crystal disc knobs.

A mid-century-inspired wall sconce sits above a vintage burl root mirror shaped like the hollow of a tree.

The existing cabinets were updated with deep black green paint and round brass hardware with black U-shaped pulls.

The existing vanity was repurposed by painting it charcoal gray and installing new artisan-made hardware. The pewter finish of the leaf-shaped hardware creates a subtle nature reference. An Andy Warhol print of a green cat creates a pop of color in the room.

White linen curtains frame the bathroom window, and a pollinator house is installed outside. A pollinator house consists of a series of bamboo tubes designed to create a habitat for bees and insects, helping to support a biodiverse pollinator population within the household garden and the surrounding natural environment.

The primary bedroom color scheme combines Gardenia walls with deep black-green trim to create a nature-inspired retreat that connects with the serene surrounding environment. The dusty rose tones of the linen bedding, cotton blanket, and wool curtains draw from flowers in the lush garden outside, such as the California Wildrose, to create a cozy, inviting environment that resonates with the warmth of wood furniture throughout the room.

The grey upholstered bed and floor rug made from wool and jute help ground this colorful bedroom palette within soft, earthy tones. A cloud-like glass light fixture fills the room with soft, diffused lighting, and a pair of pink Roly Poly chairs can be seen in the garden through the glass sliding doors, creating a playful color connection between the inside and outside.

The natural beauty of woodgrain is featured in the live edge artisan-made walnut stool and the antique European Art Deco dresser, which incorporates a stunning decorative pattern created by mirroring woodgrain. A painting by Denes de Holesch depicts two frolicking horses.

A midcentury dresser and a French Directoire nightstand continue to carry warm tones throughout the room, connecting with the beauty of the trees outside. A vintage ceramic lamp in the shape of a partridge introduces a playful nature reference through its folk-like stylized form.

Custom pillow shams made from the Kale Tree Matilija Poppy Textile - Natural create a harmonious blend between the pink bed linens and Gardenia surrounding walls while incorporating the beauty of CA native wildflowers into the space.

Living within the beauty of nature brings joy and serenity into our everyday life. Incorporating elements of the surrounding environment into our home through biophilic design extends the mindful experience we encounter outdoors into our everyday living space, immersing us in restorative healing spaces.

Tech-free Sanctuaries: How an Un Smart Home Inspires Living Well

Home automation is all about efficiency, ease, and comfort. Smart homes intend to give us more time in the day by enabling lighting, climate control, window treatments, and appliances to be pre-programmed and remotely controlled by apps on our smart devices. However, the growing presence of technology in every aspect of our lives is causing some to opt out and switch off, preferring to live in what has been dubbed an un-smart home. Designed to reflect the grounded tranquility of an off-the-grid retreat within the comfort of our own home, an un-smart home takes a step back from our reliance on technology to simplify our day-to-day lives. Creating a space where we can enjoy the potential mental health benefits of living in a mindful, tech-free sanctuary.

Smart homes, in the context of our modern, fast-paced lives, offer comfort and ease. They automate everyday household functions such as lighting, climate, and window treatments and gather information on our daily preferences to anticipate our needs, potentially saving us time and stress in our daily lives.

Smart Security systems provide easy access to home surveillance and enable us to program unique entry codes for house staff depending on their needed level of access to our home. These systems also generate activity logs that allow us to keep track of individuals as they come and go.

Smart thermostats are designed to understand our living patterns and create a comfortable and energy-efficient home climate that meets our household's needs and preferences. Many smart thermostats have independent sensors that can be placed in different rooms to individualize their set temperatures.

Window treatments can be scheduled to open and close automatically at times that best suit us, regulating light levels within our home on our behalf throughout the day. Smart lighting enables us to control the lighting within our home from the convenience of our phone. Some obvious benefits include turning on lights as we approach our house so that we are not entering a darkened home or being able to adjust lighting from the comfort of our sofa. Smart lighting can also be pre-programmed to suit our varying lighting needs throughout the day through a series of scenes that adjust all lighting to desired settings. These scenes can also incorporate thermostats and window treatments to create a complete environment, such as a bright, airy good morning scene, a warmly lit cocktail hour, or a cozy goodnight scene that closes all window treatments and turns off the lights before we go to bed.

Smart appliances are intended to streamline and support us with day-to-day domestic tasks, saving us time and stress. For example, some smart fridges can generate grocery lists and send them to our phones or even let us view their contents at the grocery store. Smart ovens can sync with our recipes to ensure dinner is perfectly cooked.

Smart homes also have the potential to make our interiors more ergonomic as lighting, blinds, climate, and appliances do not need to be physically adjusted, making our home more accessible to guests and loved ones with limited mobility, giving them the freedom to interact with our home independently.

However, despite these advantages, there are some potential downsides to incorporating so much technology within our home. Installing and maintaining a centralized smart system is a substantial investment that requires the services of a professional home automation company. If a system is malfunctioning, repairs may be more complicated than those of an analog home, and there may be a delay while waiting for a crew member to come and fix the issue.

Smart locks rely on each individual to remember their entry code. With so many passwords and pins in everyday life, it is understandable that these codes are occasionally forgotten or misremembered, which can cause inconvenient delays or even trigger an alarm system.

Visitors, guests, or elderly family members unfamiliar with home automation may find operating systems within a smart home challenging or inconvenient. Automated systems will not work if there is an internet or power outage, for example, window treatments will not open and close, hands-free faucets will not work, gates will not lock or unlock, etc.

There are also elements of a low-tech home that have the potential to be less convenient. Key management can become complicated when sharing keys with staff and determining and coordinating primary and secondary keys that access different areas of our home. Whenever staff changes, or a key is misplaced, the entire property may need to be rekeyed, which can be costly and inconvenient.

Unsmart appliances can create more work within our home. For example, you cannot check the contents of an analog fridge while at the grocery store. An analog wine fridge cannot give detailed descriptions of the wines in our collection or help us locate that one bottle of wine we've been saving for a special occasion.

Having to physically get up to adjust lighting, close blinds, or adjust the thermostat may make a low-tech home less ergonomic and less accessible for those with different levels of mobility.

An analog home that does not have security cameras lacks the peace of mind that comes with being able to conveniently observe and check on your home while you're away.

However, in a world where screens, apps, and technology permeate every aspect of our lives, the simplicity and privacy of an un-smart home can be a welcome respite, creating a retreat where we can disconnect from the virtual world and be fully present in the physical one. Analog homes do not require the significant investment of buying, installing, and maintaining a smart home system, leaving the day-to-day operations of our home simple and uncomplicated. For instance, keys have been a reliable way to secure and access our homes for thousands of years. The simplicity of a house key allows us to enter our home with speed and ease without struggling to remember the correct entry code. Keys also continue to function regardless of whether there is a power outage. An un-smart home also offers the reassurance of privacy, free from cameras and data collection.

Tech-free window treatments can be easily opened and closed without understanding how automated systems work and continue functioning throughout power or internet outages.

Analog lighting can also be easily operated by those unfamiliar with smart systems. Instead of relying on preset scenes, analog lighting allows us to determine our creative lighting environments that highlight a favorite lamp or lighting statement piece.

Something is to be said about the grounding effect that small routines and daily habits can have on our lives. Simple tasks like opening the curtains in the morning, the ritual of brewing that first cup of coffee, or doing the rounds of the house turning off lights and checking doors at the end of the night before we go to bed help us start and end the day with a sense of connection and control, fostering a feeling of security and ownership in our homes.

The absence of technology within an analog home creates space to incorporate biophilic design elements that can help enhance the mindful qualities of our off-the-grid sanctuary. Colors inspired by nature, such as neutral earth tones or soothing blues and greens, can help create calming, mindful spaces within our tech-free home.

Textile and wallpaper prints depicting decorative patterns inspired by flora and fauna can bring the beauty and joy of the natural world into our home, creating stunning super blooms of California native flowers such as the Matliija Poppy all year round.

Natural materials, such as wood, can also create an indoor-outdoor connection that incorporates the mindful experience of spending time in nature into our homes. The warmth and natural beauty of woodgrain can create serene swaths of woodland within our home by cladding the walls and ceiling to summon the feeling of a cozy cabin sanctuary.

An un-smart home has the potential to create a mindful retreat from the constant presence of technology in our lives, incorporating biophilic design to help capture the tranquility of a mountain escape or an off-the-grid hideaway within our homes. To create a place where we can relax and unwind, uninterrupted by the hectic pace of the outside world. An analog home creates an environment where we take pleasure in the small daily actions and routines that connect and ground us in our surroundings, making space to be mindful, present, and connected within our home.  

Bibliography

Wilson, Abby. “‘Analog Spaces’ Are Making a Comeback – ’70s-Inspired and All about Cozy Vibes, This Is Why Designers Love the Style.” Homesandgardens.com, Homes & Gardens, 22 May 2024, www.homesandgardens.com/interior-design/analog-spaces.

Bateman, Kristen. “The Dawn of the Dumb House.” Town and Country, 7 Apr. 2024, www.townandcountrymag.com/style/home-decor/a60127394/dawn-of-the-dumb-house/.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Sarah Barnard's Nature Inspired Style: California Flowers, Birds, and Butterflies

Sarah Barnard, WELL + LEED AP, loves to incorporate the beauty of nature into her interior design projects. The Los Angeles-based designer believes biophilic design forms a powerful indoor-outdoor connection that can create healing, peaceful, and rejuvenating spaces within our homes.

This mood board, created while developing an original Matilija Poppy fabric print for Kale Tree (the product design studio of Sarah Barnard Design), captures the process of designing luxury home goods incorporating biophilic design. Kale Tree often works with local artisans to create textile, wallpaper, and rug designs inspired by native Californian flora, fauna, and the natural landscapes surrounding Los Angeles. Color, texture, and material all play a vital role in capturing the joyful beauty of a Matilija Poppy blooming in spring, bringing the beauty of the natural world within our home.

Much of Sarah's design philosophy is rooted in the joy and peace we encounter within nature and finding ways that biophilic design can mirror that experience within our home. Here, Sarah shares some of her favorite things that inform the core inspirations within her design practice.

1. Animals

Sarah loves all animals and is a dedicated dog owner who has adopted many pets over the years. Providing a loving home for mature rescue dogs is a rewarding and joyous experience; a great dane named Stevie (named after Stevie Nicks), a miniature pincher named Bean, and a toy poodle named Lucy, who was a beloved member of Sarah's family and the kale tree team for many years, have all held a special place in Sarah's life. In 2024, Sarah adopted a mini red poodle/labradoodle named Calliandra from California Poodle Rescue. Calliandra is named for the California native plant, the pink fairy duster.

2. Good Food

Sarah believes that good food should leave us feeling nourished in mind and body. Growing and preparing our own food is a meditative and fulfilling act that can contribute to a happier and healthier life. Our kitchens can be ergonomically designed to support this garden practice and other daily healthy habits but also facilitate and celebrate the pleasure of baked goods such as cookies, pies, and biscuits, which Sarah loves to make and share.

3. California Native Flowers.

Flowers, by their very nature, are beautiful and joyful. California is home to many unique species, such as the Matilija Poppy, Mallow, and the California Poppy, whose super blooms attract thousands of visitors each spring. Sarah loves to incorporate illustrations and color palettes inspired by some of these native wildflowers in designs by Kale Tree, such as the Matilija Poppy printed on Belgian linen in petal, putty, bluestone, and midnight colorways and the Mallow textile, printed on organic cotton in evening mauve, dusty dawn and midnight forest colorways.

4. Butterflies and Moths.

Butterflies and moths play an important role as pollinators within our local ecosystem while bringing joy and beauty into the natural landscape. The Moth textile from Kale Tree was designed to incorporate the color and texture of Belgian linen within the design, as this material is visible through the delicate moth silhouettes printed on top.

5. Birds.

Whether out on a hike or observing a birdfeeder in the privacy of our backyard, birdwatching can be a mindful and rewarding way to interact with our natural surroundings. As an avid birder, Sarah finds much joy in observing and photographing the birds that live in her garden and surrounding national parks. Sarah's favorite birds include the Hermit Thrush, California Quail, and Annas Hummingbird; each has unique characteristics that make them a joy to encounter. The Hermit Thrush sings a beautiful flute-like song.

The California Quail is a small ground-dwelling bird with a distinctive crest that curves in front of its face and is prone to sprinting along the landscape in small flocks.

Male Annas Hummingbirds initially appear dull brown or grey; however, they are revealed like magic in direct sunlight to have beautiful green and pink iridescent feathers.

6. Rock and Stone Formations.

Natural stone formations generated within the earth can be integrated into our homes as furnishings, countertops, and other awe-inspiring architectural elements. The monumentality of this material connects and grounds us within the enduring timeline of the natural world.

7. Sunset Color Palette.

Sarah's favorite color palettes are often inspired by pink, blue, and teal, which form in the sky as the sun sets in the evening. She loves integrating these colors into projects to capture dusk's stillness, tranquility, and beauty.

8. Silence.

Sarah makes time and space for silence, peace, and solitude as a mindful daily practice. This can be facilitated within design projects through furnishings that soften harsh sounds, interior layouts that prioritize private space, or a dedicated meditation or wellness room.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Wood in Interiors: How to Use Natural Wood in Interior Design

Incorporating the natural beauty of wood into our home creates a warm and tangible connection to the outdoors that can evoke the serenity of woodlands through biophilic design. A beautiful piece of wood in the hands of artisan woodworkers can transform our home into an environment that mirrors the experience of being in nature through expert craftsmanship that enhances the luxurious natural patterning of woodgrain within custom interiors and bespoke furniture. Custom-crafted pieces reflect our individuality through the care of local craftsmanship to create a unique home environment embedded with personal meaning. These pieces transcend their original purpose, becoming intrinsically linked to the territory from which they originate, the knowledge and values of their artisans, and the harmony of nature.

The coffee table in this oceanview penthouse is a hand-selected natural wood formation, meticulously crafted to preserve its organic shape and textures. It introduces an element of biophilic design while also providing a material contrast within the space. This rich, textured wood stands out against the clean lines and neutral tones of the surrounding furniture, connecting with green chairs and cushions throughout the space to create a lush arboreal reference that connects the serenity of the forest with the calm of the oceanscape outside. 

The un-milled edges of this wood dining table preserve the organic natural contours of a tree through expert craftsmanship. These details, complemented by contrasting butterfly inlays that prevent and stabilize the split from widening, turn the table into a stunning and unique piece that celebrates the beauty of nature. 

Custom cabinetry can be a beautiful way to showcase the unique patterning of natural woodgrain, incorporating swaths of warm natural wood tones that connect our home with the comfort and mindfulness of forest bathing. This cabinet, custom-made from spalted silver maple, includes unique details such as recessed outlets camouflaged by the same wood veneer and curved edges reminiscent of natural wood forms. These custom details are designed to limit built intrusions within the space and instead focus on the natural beauty of this woodgrain as it would be enjoyed outdoors.

Quality woodworking embodies slow design, providing a luxurious custom alternative to mass production, which demands beauty, quality, and timelessness in the process and the finished product. This handcrafted floating walnut console unit creates a sense of lightness within this beach bachelor living room. At the same time, the shift in wood grain orientation between the drawers and cabinet doors provides a gentle material contrast within this functional storage solution.

Wood is a very malleable material that can be crafted to suit any home style. The centerpiece of this Tudor revival bedroom is this custom wood bed frame made from American walnut that was hand-carved by an expert craftsman to evoke a Victorian-era aesthetic. The rich, deep tones of the wood, intricate carvings, and detailed woodgrain exude a sense of warmth and luxury that connects custom woodwork with the historical legacy of antique furniture.

Wood can also be combined with other materials to create subtle contrasts in texture. This handcrafted solid walnut dining table and throne-backed chairs are custom-made from Danish oiled walnut that harmoniously blends hard wood with soft leather to create a warm and inviting space to enjoy meals.

Incorporating expertly crafted woodwork into our home enables us to create highly customized spaces and objects imbued with personal meaning. Bespoke artisan woodwork connects our home interior with the beauty and serenity of nature by conserving and highlighting the beauty of woodgrain to create hand-made custom pieces that become personal heirlooms through the labor and care afforded this material.

www.sarahbarnard.com, www.instagram.com/kaletreeshop

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

How to Design a Bespoke Home Cocktail Bar

Bars have long served as a place of social connection, fun, and relaxation within local communities. First emerging in the 1920s prohibition era, home bars gained widespread appeal in the 1950s and 60s and are, again today, a popular way to create this social environment within the comfort of our homes. Whether looking to create a space to host frequent parties and gatherings, a unique lounge in which to savor a glass of fine wine or an herbal cocktail at the end of a long day, or a beverage center located in the comfort of our bedroom, creating a bespoke home bar gives us the creative freedom to design a unique space within our home specifically for leisure and enjoyment. A personal oasis that transports us to another time, place, or mood, where we can create unique memories within the privacy of our own home.

At-home cocktail bars are incredibly versatile and capable of being custom-designed to suit a variety of spaces, homes, and lifestyles. Whether you're a frequent entertainer needing a visible bar with seating or prefer a private, concealed, and personal bar, the adaptability of bespoke at-home cocktail bars allows you to design a space that perfectly fits your unique social habits, individual needs, and style. For those who enjoy a quiet drink at the end of the day, a home cocktail bar concealed within custom-designed furniture, integrated into media units, or kitchen cabinetry offers a perfect blend of comfort and convenience. These bespoke designs can create a beautiful focal point for the room or integrate seamlessly into cabinetry.

A bedroom bar can enhance the comfort of private spaces by facilitating convenient access to beverages as we relax and unwind. This beverage center can be equipped with an espresso machine to brew that first cup of coffee in the morning or a mini fridge with an ice maker to enjoy an evening nightcap, all without leaving the comfort and privacy of our bedroom.

For this California home, Sarah incorporated an at-home cocktail bar into cabinetry that connects the dining room and kitchen. This custom-designed cabinetry features space for wine storage, a hanging wine rack, and glass cabinet doors to elegantly store glassware. The style and color of the cabinets coordinate with those in the kitchen, creating visual harmony. The green subway-tiled backsplash designates the bar as a unique, stand-alone environment conveniently situated close to the dining area for social events.

A freestanding marble bar is an excellent option for those who enjoy entertaining gatherings at home for cocktail hour. These work well in social spaces such as living rooms or games rooms. A bespoke freestanding home bar can be a social hub encouraging connection and engagement. Sarah designed a custom bar of Calacatta gold marble with integral shelves to create a luxurious swath of stone displaying bottles. Two handcrafted bar stools with topstitched leather upholstery and oiled Walnut legs complete a social space where friends can sit, enjoy a drink, and converse.

Another option for those who love entertaining and often host large groups for parties and family functions is transforming an entire room within our home, basement, casita, or pool house into a bespoke cocktail bar. This home bar can be designed to complement an existing wine cellar, create a social environment around a wine collection, or be a stand-alone bar intended to create a unique experience within our home.

Perhaps one of the most important components of creating a bespoke home cocktail bar is the bar itself, which is usually constructed out of wood or stone, depending on the overall feel and design of the space. 

Antique bar interiors with stained glass and a bar canopy can be a great starting point. These give the experience of being out with friends without the noise of crowds. They can also be customized to include modern comforts within the ambiance of an authentic vintage pub. 

Stone counters are also popular as they provide a visually striking surface that is easy to clean and maintain. Natural stones such as marble and onyx contain unique patterning and color variations that display beautifully as wrap-around counters for a luxurious bar environment. Terrazzo is a very versatile material that can be customized into almost any color combination to create a unique and personalized design. Recycled terrazzo is also a sustainable option containing up to 80% recycled aggregates.

Sinks can be concealed/sunken within countertops, or terrazzo sinks can be custom-made to match or create contrast behind the bar.

Shelving and storage are vital in creating the desired mood or atmosphere within a bespoke home cocktail bar as they determine what is displayed or concealed. Open shelving can be constructed from the same stone as the bar countertop to create a space of luxurious harmony for displaying spirits and glassware. 

Glass shelves can create a feeling of lightness, cohesion, and spaciousness within a home bar, especially when mounted in front of a mirrored surface.  The color of mirrored walls can be customized to almost any shade or to include an antique patina, depending on the desired mood and feel of the space.

Custom display cabinets featuring glass doors are a great way to simultaneously store and display bottles and unique glassware. They also protect from dust and are easier to maintain.

Custom cabinets are also an excellent option for those looking to conceal bottles, ingredients, tools, and glassware to maintain clean surfaces while the bar is not in use. Built-ins can be customized to conceal freezers, glassware refrigerators, and temperature-controlled wine storage, creating a harmonious bar environment.

Lighting is a crucial design element that significantly influences the mood and atmosphere of an at-home cocktail bar. By combining ambient and accent lighting, you can create a warm, cozy, and inviting environment. Consider dimmable pendant lighting over the bar to control the overall brightness and mood of the space. Indirect lighting from lighting installed under the bar and within shelving can create moody accents, as backlit bottles give off a warm glow, creating a gentle focal point within the room. 

Furniture design is vital in creating a unique, personalized, and memorable experience within an at-home cocktail bar. Bar stools, for example, can be custom-designed to provide the perfect seating experience. Some options include traditional wood and metal stools or upholstered options for more comfort. Swivel chairs encourage ease of conversation within a larger group and are an excellent option for those who wish to create a socially active space.

Custom upholstered furniture or built-in seating, such as a booth, can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere for intimate conversations during larger gatherings. Tables and pendant lights can be placed throughout the room to make small social hubs.

A bespoke home cocktail bar is a great way to experience a bar's fun, social, and relaxing environment within the comfort of our own home. It's not just about the drinks but also about the company. Having a designated space to spend quality time with family and friends encourages us to do so more often, inspiring joy through designated leisure time. It's a place to connect, engage, and create lasting memories with our loved ones.

Bibliography:

Nash, David. “4 Pandemic-Inspired Design Trends That Are Sure to Stick Around.” Architectural Digest, 17 June 2021, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/pandemic-inspired-design-trends.

TCPi. “Impact of Lighting in BAR: TCP Lighting Solutions.” TCP Lighting, 7 July 2022, www.tcpi.com/how-light-impacts-psychology-mood-in-a-bar/.

WoodnLuxury. “The Story of Home Bars: 100 Years of Rebellion & Glamor.” WoodnLuxury, 31 Dec. 2022, woodnluxury.com/the-story-of-home-bars/.

www.sarahbarnard.com, www.instagram.com/kaletreeshop

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Prioritizing Privacy: A Simple Secret to Living Well

For many, the ultimate luxury is time. While time away from the usual sights and sounds can be restorative, time at home, in a space designed especially for us and our needs, may be the simplest secret to living well.

Crafting a home that mirrors our distinct values is a personal and private experience. This profound understanding and respect for individuality are integral to the studio's interior design process and a cornerstone of preserving client privacy.

Establishing a sense of safety and comfort with a home designer is an essential first step. For many of us, a crucial part of building trust is ensuring discretion. When we feel comfortable sharing our needs openly and honestly, our homes can be custom-designed to create supportive spaces where we can thrive.

Physical Comfort. Consider the possibilities of personalized ergonomic design. When our homes are meticulously tailored to fit our body dimensions and personal needs, the spaces within our homes can truly support us. The potential for personalization is vast, from the height of countertops and light switch placement to bespoke furniture built to support our bodies.

Emotional Comfort. Feeling welcome to be open about the reality of our traumatic experiences, grief, and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) through a warm, understanding, and private design process helps make it possible to design soothing and restorative spaces that support emotional needs.

Accessibility and Inclusivity. Spaces custom-designed to meet our specific physical needs can empower and enrich us in daily life. An experienced design team prioritizes creating a safe space during the process where we can honestly share any physical needs that home spaces can be designed to support, such as hearing impairment, vision impairment, color vision deficiency, mobility impairments, and memory loss.

Healing Spaces. Creating a safe space for open, empathetic communication within the process enables us to collaboratively examine the sensory effects of a space and create inclusive, supportive, and healing home environments designed to help neurodiverse individuals thrive. One of our most fulfilling recent projects is a multi-room living space custom-designed for a family with a neurodivergent child. The space includes an indoor treehouse with a tunnel into an adjacent room and play areas with custom climbing forms. There is a space for reading and focused therapies as well as a sleeping space that incorporates the tactility of soft surfaces connecting intimate and energetic spaces designed to help the child thrive.

Collections and Clutter. When we are hesitant to share our organizational challenges, sometimes things can feel overwhelming, making it challenging to begin a project. Fostering openness and trust clears a path for us to co-create a highly functional space that caters to our unique needs and lifestyle. Sometimes, it begins with a desire for a more orderly system for storing all of life's necessities. Other times, it's collected or inherited items that require sorting and cataloging. No matter the prompt, increasing order can help us reduce decision fatigue and increase a feeling of lightness.

When inviting construction crews, materials suppliers, and other workers into our homes, it is important to have the support of a designer who is sensitive to our personal needs. A privacy-conscious interior designer encourages trust and clear communication among the construction team to help ensure client privacy is respected at every stage of the process.

Sensitive Communication. Open communication helps designers inform other members of supportive teams so they might be sensitive to specific protocols, such as avoiding fragrances, removing shoes, and/or wearing booties. It's common to arrange meetings and site visits around family routines and children's napping schedules, which helps to make the design process as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Designer as Intermediary. The preferred level of engagement each of us chooses to experience with the design process and other teams involved in the project is a personal choice. Some folks find it enjoyable to get to know the workers, visit the construction site regularly, and be active participants in all of the project happenings. Other folks may prefer their design team to be the main point of contact with the general contractor, real estate agent, art handler, landscape architect, closet designer, engineer, and other specialty trades. Designers can act as intermediaries to create connections and facilitate conversations on a Client's behalf, meeting and communicating with crew and staff to help maintain the Client's desired level of privacy and anonymity.

Establishing private, personal space within our homes often begins with creating physical boundaries that foster a sense of comfort, peace, and well-being. Consider the simple pleasure of enjoying a bath with an inspiring natural view without concern for interruption. With thoughtful design planning, peaceful feelings can be continued throughout our homes.

Sound. Quiet space is something to consider when designing a home that offers the utmost privacy. Soundproofing insulation is a great way to create privacy and focus in a library, meditation room, or other personalized retreat. Some environments may benefit from sound masking systems that are fine-tuned to a room environment, filtering out specific frequencies and shielding noise from other home areas.

Automation. Motorized drapes, shades, and smart glass help us instantly and effortlessly shift between wide-open views and total privacy. Smart window coverings can be controlled by wall-mounted keypads, a cellphone app, or a customized prescheduled set of scenes.

Entrances. Design can determine what spaces within our home are accessible to guests and help to protect our personal space. This is easily achieved by creating a distinct entrance room from which the rest of the house cannot easily be seen. For example, a cozy waiting area for very short-term guests creates a polite boundary between visitors and residents.

Private spaces. Smart door locks can both allow and limit specific users access to predetermined areas within certain authorized times. For example, the gardening team has a passcode authorized to unlock exterior gates only, while the cleaning team has a passcode authorized to access interior and exterior spaces during their scheduled work times. Nannies, tutors, dogwalkers, chefs, and other household support staff can have unique passcodes that limit room access to their job functions.

Exterior privacy offers a sense of ease while spending time in outdoor spaces. Garden space well obscured from neighbors can create more comfort when gardening, swimming, sunbathing, exercising, or socializing. Outdoor privacy empowers us to make the most of our outdoor spaces and enhances our overall living experience by providing a peaceful outdoor retreat.

Landscaping. Strategically arranged outdoor elements can help limit our home's visibility, promoting privacy while contributing to a sense of peace and beauty. Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia) is one of Sarah's favorite hedge materials because it can survive with very little water and produces delightful small pink flowers.

Plant selection. Evergreen plants are ideal for privacy gardens as their leaves offer consistent foliage year-round; the California live oak is another one of Sarah's favorite plants as it supports native wildlife and provides year-round shade.

Outdoor Shade Systems. Minimalist, motorized shades may be installed on the exterior of the building any time window treatments are undesirable in the interior. These shades can be controlled by phone app, wall-mounted keypad or prescheduled to open and close during the work times of visiting professionals, like the gardening team or pool service.

Security. Incorporating gates at the property's entry can also contribute to elevated privacy and security. At larger estates and celebrity homes, it is entirely reasonable to design a private guard shack at the entrance for maximum safety and security.  

A guest house is an excellent option for those who enjoy entertaining but prefer to keep their primary residence private. Designing a separate dwelling dedicated to guests creates space for deeper connections with friends and family, making it easy to host parties, functions, and longer stays while also maintaining the comfort of personal space.

Separate social space. Events can be set up days in advance, creating an ease that allows focus on the fun, enjoyment, and connection of social events.

Privacy for guests. A pool house, casita, or bungalow are excellent options for visiting friends and family. The guest house can provide private personal space during their stay, while the pool can be a communal area where hosts and guests meet, relax, and socialize outside the primary residence.

Longer stays. A guest house is an excellent option for long-term guests, as it promotes independence during their stay, helping us maintain personal space and privacy while also enjoying time together.

Privacy is a critical component of well-being in our homes. Having space for ourselves, both physically and emotionally, can have an empowering effect on our lives. Collaborating with a designer who understands and respects the desire for discretion and privacy throughout the design process helps create a home that supports our best day-to-day living.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Interior Design For Empaths

Empaths often experience a heightened sensitivity to the feelings and emotions of others, a unique trait that forges deep connections with the surrounding community. Stanford University psychologist Jamil Zaki, PhD, describes empathy as the "psychological 'superglue' that connects people and undergirds cooperation and kindness."(1) However, it's important to remember that we must also care for ourselves. "The very capabilities that make someone an empath also make it more difficult when they need to protect themselves from emotional overload."(2) By creating quiet, restful, healing spaces at home, empaths can take time to decompress and circumvent compassion fatigue or burnout. This sense of control over our surroundings enables us to establish healthy boundaries while maintaining connections with the outside world. These restorative spaces are not just a luxury but a necessity for our emotional well-being, contributing to a balanced, joyful life.

According to Dr Ryan Sultan, principal investigator at the Sultan Lab for Mental Health Informatics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, "While it may feel difficult to be more sensitive than others... It's all about learning to set boundaries, practice self-care and use your empathy in ways that are healthy and empowering for you."(3) Many empaths may seek to create a mindful, restorative environment at home. As we are all unique individuals, it is essential that we feel comfortable sharing our needs honestly in a safe, inclusive environment. An awareness and sensitivity to the unique needs of empaths can be incorporated into the design process to create a joyful and enjoyable experience. Active listening considers another person's feelings as we listen, creating a space for open and honest communication. Slow design allows us to take time to thoroughly evaluate the custom design options that best serve us in our homes. 3D renderings, for instance, offer a tangible way to get the feeling of a space, a crucial consideration when designing for empaths. A design team can also act as the main point of contact within a project, communicating sensitivities and coordinating services with other teams and crews working on the project, creating boundaries that simplify and streamline the design process.

Neuroaesthetics studies how sensory experiences impact our minds and bodies as an "emerging discipline within cognitive neuroscience, concerned with understanding the biological bases of aesthetic experiences."(4) What we see, smell, touch, and hear can emotionally affect us, and our sensory experience of a space plays a significant role in our emotional wellness. For empaths, who often have highly tuned senses, creating a peaceful and mindful home involves considering the impact of color, light, sound, and touch. These elements can all contribute to creating a tranquil, healing home environment.

Window treatments and soundproofing can help create auditory boundaries. Sudden loud noises can also be buffered throughout our home by installing soft-closing cabinets and drawers, rugs, and carpeting, contributing to a quiet and tranquil environment.

Light levels can be easily adjusted and regulated to suit our needs by having a variety of lighting sources throughout our home, such as overhead lamps, adjustable dimmers, and window treatments. If we like, we can even adjust the lighting to mimic the shifts in daylight that occur naturally throughout the day, which can affect our circadian rhythms and overall well-being. 

For empaths seeking restorative sanctuary, it could be beneficial to incorporate small, intimate spaces within the home. These spaces can provide a sense of comfort, security, and respite. Custom cabinetry and furniture can create a variety of personalized spaces throughout the home, incorporating ergonomic design to create cozy, intimate spaces personalized to support our bodies. The ability to adjust lighting also enables the creation of darker, snug spaces to rest and recharge within the home. Furnishings and cushions made from textiles with soft textures or a custom weighted blanket all contribute to creating a space dedicated to comfort and relaxation. Decluttering our home with custom storage options can also create a sense of order and calmness.

Biophilic design incorporates color, pattern, texture, imagery, and materials from the natural world so that we may experience the mindful benefits of being in nature within our homes. It is an excellent option for empaths who wish to experience the beauty of the surrounding environment while seeking some time at home to recharge. Neutral, earthy colors can contribute to a calm atmosphere, and materials that celebrate the beauty of nature, such as wood flooring and finishes, can have a grounding quality. Unique stone countertops like marble and onyx connect with the natural world and exude a beautiful luxury. Wallpaper and fabric design inspired by the natural world and plenty of plants in the home can create a lush and tranquil green space. Using non-toxic wall and floor treatments that are low in VOCs throughout our home can also positively affect scent and air quality.

Homes designed to support emotional sensitivities give empaths a space to rest and recharge within healing environments, helping prevent emotional fatigue and burnout. These homes create a supportive space that empowers us to live mindfully and maintain balance. They become a catalyst for us to live our best lives by taking control of our emotional well-being.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Bibliography

1. “Cultivating Empathy.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, 01 Nov. 2021, [www.apa.org/monitor/2021/11/feature-cultivating-empathy][0].

2. “What Is an Empath? Plus 5 Signs You Could Be One.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023, [www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-an-empath/][1].

3. “What Is an Empath? Plus 5 Signs You Could Be One.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023, [www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-an-empath/][1].

4. “Neuroaesthetics.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Anjan Chatterjee et al. 23 Apr. 2014, [www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661314000758].

References

1. “What Is the Relationship between Stress and Empathy?” Greater Good, greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_is_the_relationship_between_stress_and_empathy. 13 Aug 2013.

2. “Individual Differences in Preference for Architectural Interiors.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, Academic Press, Oshin Vartanian a, et al. 6 Aug. 2021, [www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494421001213?via%3Dihub][3].

Deeply Personal Design Process

Our homes are incredibly personal and intimate; they reflect our personalities, relationships, passions, and goals. Inviting an interior designer into our home spaces and lifestyles can feel like a big step, but having someone to help navigate the many facets of our homes and realize them into a design concept can be a rewarding and fulfilling process. Many of us may have strong preferences or see images, colors, or designs that can cause a feeling of joy. What can be challenging is finding ways to integrate aesthetic leanings into our daily functional needs. Personalized design can create flexibility through customization and specificity, offering space for our design dreams to be applied to a home that can physically and emotionally serve us.

One of the foundations of a functionally supportive space is ergonomics. While ergonomics is often considered for workspaces, it's important throughout all living areas, impacting our comfort, energy levels, and interactions with our home. Some ways we can integrate ergonomic design into our home include custom furniture and counter heights that can encourage better posture and physical ease on joints. Arranging televisions and screens to avoid glare so we can watch entertainment unobscured and comfortably. Sensory elements such as soft close doors and cabinets can reduce abrasive noises throughout the home, contributing to a calm, serene, and mindful environment. And devising layouts that encourage movement or an organic flow of foot traffic can help to reduce mental and physical stress throughout the day.

Design is always a collaborative process, particularly in shared home spaces where multiple desires, needs, and personalities must be considered and supported under the same roof. Our homes can be custom-designed to support the specific needs of our family. For families with young children, designing a space for play and custom storage options for toys can promote tidiness, order, and quiet throughout the home. Carpeting and furnishings made from robust materials that can be spot-cleaned are ideal to resist day-to-day wear and tear. Custom kitchens can be designed for large families to contain additional cold food storage concealed neatly within specialized cabinetry.

Sensory details play an essential role when designing custom spaces for neurodivergent children. In past projects designed for children with hypersensitivity, window treatments were a successful way in which we could help diffuse and regulate both light and environmental noise to encourage a feeling of calm within the home. Past projects designed for hypo-sensitive children were very different spaces; here, we created an engaging and stimulating environment featuring bright colors and soft custom climbing areas designed to encourage play.

Our home can also be customized to support caring for an elderly loved one. Bespoke furniture can be ergonomically designed to lessen stress on the body and support ease of movement in day-to-day living. Smart lighting options that can be remotely controlled and bathroom modifications such as grab bars, lever or touchless motion-activated faucets, and custom counter heights can also help facilitate independence and wellness.

Trauma-informed design can help create healing, restorative spaces that support recovery from trauma and post-traumatic stress. With trauma-informed design, the process is intended to create a safe and inclusive environment where we can feel comfortable honestly expressing our design needs. Individual sensory needs are incorporated with our aesthetic tastes through design elements such as color, texture, and other sensory elements, incorporating biophilic design to create mindful spaces where we can relax and regenerate.

Pets are another member of the family to consider when designing our home, and pet-friendly fabrics can be a great way to incorporate their accessories. Consider a custom pet bed made from a favorite washable fabric or reupholstering furniture that could use a bit of a freshen-up. Sturdy materials that can be spot-cleaned, such as recycled fibers, are also an excellent option for rugs and carpeting in a pet-friendly home.

Hybrid work and working from home have become commonplace, increasing the need for dedicated spaces that create a boundary between work and everyday life. Some considerations for these spaces include noise reduction or soundproofing for virtual meetings and focus, ergonomic furniture, adequate lighting, color choice, and biophilic design, all of which can contribute to creating a mindful workspace.

When we consider our home spaces as reflections of ourselves, interior design can integrate aspects of our personalities, personal histories, ethics, and values. These considerations may include sustainable or vegan design or a home that reflects our desires for socialization or privacy. They may also include home spaces that reflect cultural histories or find ways to integrate important memories or personal milestones.

A holistic approach to vegan design moves beyond simply excluding materials made from animal products, creating a home that reflects a mindful connection and awareness of our place within the planet's broader ecosystem. Eco-friendly, ethically sourced materials such as bamboo silk or textiles and wallpapers made from cruelty-free plant-derived materials are free from animal products, can have low or no VOCs, and are environmentally conscious in their manufacturing. Re-wilding our yards with drought-tolerant indigenous plants is a great way to nurture and support our home's natural ecosystem by creating an environment that attracts and sustains local wildlife and pollinators. Biophilic design is a great way to enjoy the serenity of this natural environment within our homes. Incorporating materials and patterns that reference natural imagery can encourage mindful connectivity between ourselves and our surrounding natural environment. Also, incorporating technology that works with our local ecosystems, such as rainwater storage, greywater systems, and solar panels, is a small contribution that has the potential to make a positive environmental impact collectively while creating self-reliance at home.

Our home can also be designed to incorporate objects and collections that are important to us or reflect our cultural identity. Including these objects in a beautiful, functional, healthy home creates a self-portrait that reflects our uniqueness. Being surrounded by objects that contain cultural significance, happy memories and bring us joy has the potential to make a restorative, joyful space where we can authentically be ourselves.

Unique, one-of-a-kind home attributes can also be a valuable way to turn our home spaces into havens of joy and comfort. For those who find serenity in botanical spaces, a custom glass greenhouse that doubles as a wellness space can become a favorite retreat that adds a sense of wonder to the home. Having an indulgent space for privacy, like a personal dressing room, screening room, or in-home spa, can feel like a personal oasis.

A dedicated wellness space, such as a yoga or meditation room, encourages a daily practice of mindfulness and self-care that can benefit mental and emotional health. Sensory details such as color, texture, lighting, and noise can influence a room's emotional effect and comfort. Color has the ability to energize or soothe us; a cool neutral palette, such as soft earth tones, can contribute to a feeling of calm. Adjustable lighting, lamps, and automated shades can regulate light levels within a space. Soft-closing doors and drawers, high-pile carpeting, and rugs can be utilized to minimize environmental noise and help create a calm and quiet space. Custom storage solutions can also be used to declutter a space and create calm.

Having areas slightly separated from the home can also create room for a design departure, adding to the feeling of variety. Many may be interested in creating opportunities for connection in their home, with spaces for education or gathering. Rooms for meditation or sound baths with friends and neighbors or music and creative spaces designed to share with close friends and loved ones can help create feelings of connection for those who enjoy their homes as social spaces for gathering.

Slow design is a deeply personal design process that allows us to slow down, truly consider, and discover how our home can support us in living our best and most joyous lives. A holistic approach to interior design, slow design takes time to create a layered and highly personalized home design that considers how our home can support our day-to-day needs, creating a space where we can thrive.

Creating a home that profoundly reflects ourselves can be an enriching and fulfilling experience. Custom-made objects and designs for our home can be sourced from quality, eco-conscious materials intended for lifetime use. These highly personalized one-of-a-kind objects exude luxury through their superior quality; slow design fosters connectivity with the materials and craftsmanship of these heirloom objects and our home. Slow design is often better for the environment as materials can be ethically sourced, and objects that are made with intentionality can incorporate waste reduction into the process. Building relationships with local skilled artisans and craftspersons also creates positive connections and support within our local community.

Slow design also utilizes 3D rendering to help visualize how the home design will look and feel. While renderings take time to develop, they help alleviate stress or indecision when considering multiple options or directions for the design.

A holistic approach to designing personalized spaces can help create home interiors that feel like an extension of self, a space that promotes personal growth and fulfillment. Exploring opportunities to make home changes or incorporate customization can expand our ideas around restorative spaces to create a home environment that enriches our daily lives and brings us joy. Embracing personalized home space can offer room for exploration and peace, where we can celebrate ourselves, our loved ones, and our environments.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Soothing Blues for 2024: Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore color of the year.

Color is a powerful influence that has the ability to move us. The colors we choose to surround ourselves with every day can affect our feelings and emotions; they can energize, inspire, and soothe us. Color trends are a reflection of cultural moments and the needs that they create. We live in a hectic world with a 24/7 work culture, making it harder and harder to carve out time and places to take a breath and experience calm. In light of the fast-paced nature of contemporary life, Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore have recognized the desire for many to slow things down and create mindful, relaxing spaces in our homes by announcing Skipping Stones and Blue Nova as their colors of the year for 2024.

The color palette of the natural world can be utilized by biophilic design to bring the mindful experience of being in nature within our home, creating a calm, nurturing space. Dunn Edwards describes Skipping Stones as "a serene and steely blue with hints of green and gray….meditative and energizing like the sea." Seeking to evoke the peace and tranquility of the sea, Skipping Stones intends to create spaces of meditation, stillness, and calm. Similarly, Blue Nova is also evocative of the ocean as a deep blue-violet. Using color as a component of biophillic design, Skipping Stones and Blue Nova "emphasizes our connection to the natural environment, underlining the importance of our reliance on it for physical, emotional, and community healing."

The peace and tranquility we experience when exploring the natural environment surrounding our home can be mirrored in its interior through color selection. Living within proximity to blue spaces such as the ocean can encourage joy and wellness. The blue tones incorporated into this beachside retreat evoke the fresh, serene qualities of the surrounding oceanscape, creating space that enhances day-to-day living. Blue is used as an accent color against the white closets and cabinets throughout this home. The natural finish of the custom European white oak flooring alludes to driftwood's materiality. This light and airy palette of white and blue, evocative of the ocean landscape in which the home is located, comes together in a hand-knotted wool & silk area rug in the living room.

Shades of blue are utilized within this beachside home to reflect the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. Blue can capture the feeling the ocean gives us, creating a mindful living space that promotes happiness in everyday life. The entryway carries various shades of deep and grey blue, from the Dutch door to the painting of a heron and the ceramic lamp, whose shape alludes to an abstracted ocean inhabitant.

Blue is a focal point within the living room in the form of deep blue vegan-friendly upholstery and Danish oiled walnut sofas. Here, blue is used again as an accent color with the room's white walls and the natural finish of the wood flooring. The shape of these facing sofas creates an enclosed and intimate seating arrangement.

The selection of Skipping Stones and Blue Nova as the 2024 color of the year by Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore reflects the collective desire for peace and tranquility in our daily lives. This also signals the rising prominence of biophilic design as a way of creating mindfulness within our homes through utilizing images, colors, and materials that bring the tranquility of nature to us.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

I Work @ Home: book Review

Working from home has become increasingly commonplace since the Covid-19 pandemic. Adapting to this change has been gradual, and as temporary arrangements become permanent, more people are spending an increasing amount of time at home and require spaces that create a separation between work and everyday life. As a result, architects and interior designers have been increasingly sought after to design personalized home offices that prioritize private space for focused work. Some of the top considerations for these spaces include noise reduction for virtual meetings and focus, ergonomic furniture, adequate lighting, and economical use of space. I Work @ Home explores different creative design solutions from 30 architects and interior designers across the globe, highlighting numerous possibilities to help achieve an aesthetically pleasing, personalized, and productive home office space.

This publication's selection of architects and designers covers the diverse priorities and needs to be considered when designing a home office. Some of these include designers such as Sol Haus Design from Ojai, California, who specialize in sustainable design and smaller-scale projects such as tiny homes. California/Hawaii-based Craig Steely Architecture are known for crisp lines and clarity of vision, while Urbanology Designs, based in Texas, focus on relaxed modern interiors with longevity and lasting appeal that embody comfort and character.

Sarah Barnard Design has two projects featured in I Work @ Home, the Ocean View Penthouse and Beaming Bibliophile.

In Oceanview Penthouse, Sarah incorporated a preexisting wide floating desk by Hobstetter Architecture Studio into this workspace by pairing it with a sleek chair designed by Mauro Lipparini. The chair neatly tucks into the desk, offering minimal interruption to the spectacular sweeping ocean views. A deep custom sofa in wool felt sits opposite the floating desk, large enough to work, nap, daydream, or socialize; it is a focal point of this creative workspace. The sofa is flanked by side tables made of natural maple and steel. Subtle decorative elements throughout the office space, such as "Cumulous," a fiber sculpture by Renae Barnard, contribute to the overall sense of calm. This woven sculpture was made from wire, thread, yarn, rope, lamp cord, and an assortment of new and recycled materials commissioned to celebrate the natural environment.

Sarah created a nature-inspired contemporary office in Beaming Bibliophile, which features a neutral, earth-toned palette and agate-inspired grasscloth wallpaper. A fiddle leaf fig, air plant, and agave add greenery, and connect the outside with the inside space. A desk in black powder-coated steel was built to fit the homeowner's specific needs and is complemented with an ergonomic chair. Dark curtains create a calm atmosphere for more introspective work or a moment's rest in a hectic day. A sleek sofa adds a warm touch and offers a place to repose or a comfortable setting to read or review items away from the computer space. A pillow embroidered with illustrations inspired by Picasso gives an idea of the homeowner's creative interests, while a custom bookshelf provides ample space for books and artwork.

Given this shift in contemporary work habits, including a home office may be beneficial for many. It can offer a personalized space for restorative time from daily activities or the possibility of improving work-life balance. When planning home construction, consider including a dedicated workspace for each family member, one for each adult, and a dedicated space for the kids. By providing each family member with their own space for focused work and studies, a home office can offer the freedom to create the ideal workspace that suits each individual's needs and preferences. If renovating an existing home, consider potentially repurposing underused spaces to create a dedicated workspace within the home. With the ongoing, personalized design solutions created by designers far and wide, working from home will likely become a more balanced, creative, and productive experience.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Happy Holidays!

While it's far from feeling like winter in Southern California, the leaves are falling, and early nights make a good excuse for cozying up at home with a soft blanket and a warm cup of tea.

As the year ends, our studio reflects and sets intentions for the new year.

Sustainability has always been the foundation of what we do. While we love the process of designing and sharing our annual hand letter-pressed cards, this year, instead of printing holiday cards, we are opting to donate to the Arroyo Seco Foundation in honor of our friends and Clients.

The Arroyo Seco Foundation's mission is to protect the Arroyo Seco, a canyon and stream running from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Los Angeles River. The foundation advocates for the preservation of the watershed, works to protect and restore the native flora and fauna, and operates the Hahamongna native plant nursery.

We are excited to celebrate the season by supporting an organization that helps to preserve wildlife habitat. We hope you are spending the holiday season somewhere beautiful and finding ways to celebrate your interior and natural environments with those you love. 

Have a very happy and healthy holiday season!

With warmth and gratitude,

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Healthy Home Basics: How Paint Impacts Our Emotional, Physical, and Environmental Health

The presence of paint in our homes is so prevalent that it often becomes overlooked as a building material. Paint can significantly impact our home spaces, with the ability to affect our mood and personal and environmental health. Color has been shown to have the ability to influence mindset and energy levels, and the thoughtful selection of paint color can help create a home space that aligns with personal goals for wellbeing. Earth tones are often considered to have a grounding, calming effect, with naturals offering a sense of peace and calm. More vibrant, saturated colors can energize a space, contributing to warm social atmospheres or promoting invigorating creative or exercise spaces. Many colors can also have symbolic connections or personal associations that can be used to create a certain mood or atmosphere. Taking the time to sample and explore colors that align with personality and design intent can help create a space that improves wellbeing and supports emotional goals.

While color is an important factor in paint selection, the use of paint in our built environments goes beyond color, with different paint types and qualities affecting aesthetics and our home's health. The ingredients of paint can vary, and researching material makeup can be important when selecting paint that aligns with goals, whether that relates to durability or an emphasis on organic and safe materials.

In the United States, the majority of buildings use acrylic latex paints for their interior and exterior spaces, and it's what most commonly comes to mind when hearing the term house paint. However, a wide range of alternative paints is available, and even within the realm of latex paints, there are many options and considerations when purchasing paint. One crucial factor is the impact and presence of volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs are gases that many materials may emit, including chemical compounds that contribute to pollution and can harm health. Avoiding VOCs can be an essential step towards improving home and environmental health during the design and build process.

Fortunately, there are a variety of paint types suitable for a variety of needs and priorities.

Mineral Paint.
Mineral paints are a category of paints that use a mineral binder, typically lime or potassium silicates. Potassium silicate mineral paint can be an excellent interior paint for its natural makeup, endurance, and aesthetically pleasing attributes. When considering home health benefits, organic mineral paints typically have no VOCs and are permeable. Unlike acrylic latex paints, which can create a seal on walls once applied, the permeability of mineral paints allows air to travel, preventing moisture from being trapped in the walls and reducing the risks of mold and mildew. The mineral base of the paint also creates a beautiful quality of light, with color that responds to the lighting in the room, which can create an environment that is responsive to lighting shifts throughout the day. Because of their mineral base, these paints often respond similarly to concrete when interacting with other materials and substances, creating enduring benefits for the material and contributing to its longevity. As the paint manufacturer Keim notes, "Mineral paint systems are based upon penetration (silicification) of the binder into the substrate. A strong, permanent bond is created between the paint and the underlying substrate (e.g. render, natural stone, concrete). This potassium silicate binder is highly resistant to weathering, ensuring an extremely long-life protective finish, reducing the frequency of re-decoration cycles." 1 The material's rigidity makes it well-suited for masonry and most interior wall applications, but it may be less adequately suited for materials like wood or metal that may shift and benefit from a more flexible coating. Another consideration of the mineral base, particularly in bathroom or kitchen spaces, is that, like concrete, the color will darken when wet and resume its natural coloration once dried. When cleaning, it's best to soak and blot the paint gently to remove any marks or stains, as any aggressive scrubbing can polish the paint, leaving shiny spots on the surface.

Lime Paint.
Lime paints are very similar to silicate paints, with many overlapping qualities. The primary difference is that lime paints are often more of a wash and lack some of the more durable qualities of potassium silicate paints, requiring more maintenance over time. Limewash has a textured appearance and slight color variation, adding a lightly weathered, historied look that can contribute character to interior spaces. Like silicate mineral paints, lime wash is an excellent option for natural paint.

Milk Paint.
Milk paint is an organic option, favored for its non-toxic ingredients. As the name suggests, the paint uses casein, a milk protein, as one of its key ingredients. Milk paint is often sold as a dried pigment mixed with water shortly before use. Because of the powder base, the color of milk paint usually has less of a smooth consistency, which can be great when creating a more antiqued finish but is an essential consideration if hoping to achieve even color. Because the paint arrives in a powder, it's easy to personalize and mix colors by blending pigments, offering many opportunities for easy customization. Because of the paint's natural properties, it does not store well once mixed and should be used within a day or two after mixing. Milk paint has a matte, chalky finish, and the colors are often slightly muted, which can be great for achieving a historical aesthetic. The material is also helpful in creating a weathered look or an antique finish on furnishings. Milk paint is very safe to use and can be an excellent option for achieving specific aesthetic goals, though less durable than many mineral and latex options.

Chalk Paint.
Chalk paint is typically made with plaster of Paris or calcium carbonate and is water-based. The finish is very similar to milk paint's matte, soft appearance. However, it requires minimal preparation and applies easily to many surfaces. Unlike milk paint, chalk paint comes pre-mixed and not in a powder form and can be stored similarly to other liquid paints.

Acrylic Latex Paint.
Acrylic latex paints are the most common interior house paints. They are often selected for familiarity, durability, price point, and range of colors and finishes. While there are many benefits to using acrylic paints, they are derived from synthetic materials, significantly contributing to microplastic pollution, with many paint options impacting air quality. Parson's Healthy Materials Lab lays out some of these concerns in a blog post regarding paints, noting, "Most people know about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in paints and know to look for no or low VOC acrylic paints. But other materials in acrylic paints like binders, pigment, and other additives are equally as toxic. For example, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs)—a group of chemicals combined in acrylic paint for viscosity—are suspected endocrine disruptors, leading to hormonal dysfunction in humans and animals, and the disruption of marine life." 2 Many companies are now making an effort to address these concerns, with more companies offering no or low VOC options. More companies are also manufacturing hybrid paint options with high mineral content and synthetic binders.

Vegan Considerations.
If using vegan materials is a priority, it's important to look for companies or paint lines that explicitly specify that they are vegan-friendly. While options like milk paint may be more obviously non-vegan, some paints may use animal byproducts as an ingredient in their binders or pigments. Because there is often a more limited selection of vegan paints, it may be helpful to begin by first searching for vegan paints and researching the paint material and makeup from there if specifying vegan materials is an important consideration.

When designing an interior space, paint is an essential component, with considerations beyond color. With any project, it's important to consider personal priorities, research options, and sample products to learn what materials best align with goals and aesthetic tastes. With the wide range of paint materials available, there are now more opportunities than ever to find paints for a happy, healthy home.

Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

1. "Benefits of Using Mineral Paints." Benefits, www.keim.com.au/benefits.html. Accessed 22 June 2023. 

2. "Paint: Acrylic vs. Mineral." Healthy Materials Lab, healthymaterialslab.org/blog/paint. Accessed 22 June 2023. 

California Barbie Style: Eco-Friendly Interior Design in Every Shade of Pink

Barbie is making a splash this year, with pink taking center stage in 2023. From Pantone’s vivid magenta to the classic Barbie pink, the high-frequency pinks of childhood seem to be a central component of many recent design trends. For many, “Barbie” conjures a specific time, audience, and aesthetic, defined by playrooms evoking cotton candy in color and spirit.

While there is much to celebrate about these pop-perfect, joyous spaces, there is ample room in the Barbie zeitgeist for a subtler, more sophisticated approach, with more takes on pink available than there are lines on Barbie’s resume. Peach Fuzz, Pantone’s color of the year for 2024 is a great example of tones that emulate the joy and fun of Barbie to create calm and nurturing living spaces. 

Paler pinks offer a softer variant of more vibrant Barbie hues as if filtered through a cloud of nostalgia. These quieter shades provide more versatility, both in a practical design sense and in their approachability to a broader audience.

Although pink is enduring enough to incorporate into long-lasting design changes, textiles offer an opportunity to swap out shades throughout the year. Textiles can influence how we read color in a space while providing flexibility. Layering pink through throws, pillows, and window treatments can create a more significantly pink aesthetic while pairing with more neutrals and earth tones keeps it more muted.

For those that may feel tentative about a predominately pink space, opting for pink as an accent color embraces the more playful elements of the hue without overindulging in whimsy. Paired with pale, dusty shades of blues, purples, and greens, pink can still have a daydreamy effect while feeling more grounded and grown up.

Because of pinks prevalence in nature, looking toward more organic points of inspiration can create a space that feels more soothing than saccharine. Soft, floral, petal pinks and peach tones can feel ethereal and calming. When using nature-inspired patterns, these hues feel intuitively integrated into spaces that evoke natural themes or utilize organic materials.

Using pink or peach to break up a neutral-leaning space can also add warmth and a sense of comfort.

While Barbie has historically lived in a world of synthetics, the “Eco-Leadership Team” Barbie set released in 2022 reflects the prioritization and growing importance of sustainability and environmental preservation. Many of us may desire a more nature-driven space, both in terms of aesthetics and ethics.

There are many ways to incorporate pinks while utilizing natural and responsibly produced materials. Using sustainably sourced and produced products and materials can be a great way to incorporate bright and playful energy into the space while supporting eco-friendly solutions.

Peaches and corals also achieve some of the vibrancy of pink with a more approachable edge. These pink tones can also bring out the warmth in cream tones and woods, creating an environment that balances energy with an inherent sense of coziness.

Coral tones are also an excellent option for a fresh take on coastal spaces, straying from traditional blues and teals. Warm coral shades feel inherently beachy and offer a play on pink that’s grounded in nature.

While subtler takes on the traditional Barbie pink are often more practical in shared spaces, kid’s rooms offer the opportunity to fully embrace the vibrancy and youthfulness of pinks, with layered pink tones creating depth and texture.

Using a more neutral pastel base on walls and furnishings can give bedrooms flexibility as kids grow older, while saturated pink accents lend a feeling of youth.

When paired with other vibrant colors, pink can contribute to a high-energy space, helping guide the eye throughout a room when displayed on a neutral backdrop.

The joy of Barbie has always come from a place of creativity and world-building. If there is anything to take away from the recent Barbiecore trends, it’s to embrace a sense of fun and creativity around our spaces, to craft homes that reflect ourselves and what brings us joy.

Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a "Ones to Watch" Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).