How to Display Your Passions at Home, The Designer Way
I love to design homes that are beautiful — but what I love even more is to design homes that add beauty, functionality, AND a peek at the personalities of the people who live within. No matter what a family (or solo homeowner) is like, I always make room for their hobbies to shine through. Whether they love music, sports, books, or travel, you’ll find elements of these passions in every AKD project.
Today, I’m sharing a bit of advice for displaying hobbies and habits at home… without sacrificing high design.
First, Decide What to Prioritize
Though I’d never want to box my clients into just one label or identity, I do like to have conversations with them early on regarding their priorities. You might be surprised at how many clients have requested libraries and music rooms — they’re prevalent in so many of my projects! While a whole family might enjoy watching movies together (therefore making a home theater a huge priority), we might also have a parent who loves golf or who paints. Together, we determine which hobbies and passions reflect the family best, and how much we want each hobby displayed. A game room might take top billing for a family of five, but we might make sure to add some art and decor that speaks to a son’s love of hockey in his own room.
Next, Determine How Much Space Is Needed (And Where)
This is where my team and I get to work. So much of designing is actually about dimensions and sizing, and this comes particularly into play when designing for hobbies. While a home library needs ample space for custom bookshelves and oversized armchairs, a music room’s sizing is dependent on how it’ll be used. Does the family need storage for their growing record collection, or do they need open space for large instruments they’re playing themselves? Golf simulator rooms have become more and more common lately, and these have some pretty specific requirements for space. I had one client choose to dig over 15 feet into the ground to allow for the largest possible basement golf simulator!
Regardless, this is where Team AKD shines — we’ll focus on the dimensions, so you can focus on your swing.
Then, Add In Appropriate Lighting and Furnishings
I’ve said it time and time again — one of the easiest ways to elevate a space is to customize its lighting. A room filled with books can be turned into a library with the simple addition of a dimmer switch and/or ample task lamps. A room dedicated to painting requires plenty of natural light, so we might add in some large windows or knock down unnecessary walls. It’s key to look into the future and predict how exactly a room will be used, then tailor the lighting accordingly. For example, a travel lover’s wall of collected artifacts deserves a spotlight — and we can ensure that’s done with taste top of mind.
In addition to the logistics of lighting, we also have to think about how furnishings and fabrics relate to a space. You may be surprised to learn how much we consider acoustics when designing living spaces — whether for music rooms or otherwise. We make selections with acoustics in mind for music rooms, libraries, home theaters, home gyms, and more. When considering details such as these, we’re able to ensure that homeowners’ experiences in each room are not only beautiful but also meaningful and functional. Who wants to listen to their hard-earned record collection in a room that echoes? Not me!
Finally, Get Creative
It should come as no surprise that my favorite part of the process is finding ways to creatively customize. Sure, you can frame some favorite photos from a trip to create a gallery wall — or we could frame flags, scarves, or documents detailing favorite events or memories instead. Glass cloche domes also offer a museum-like quality to stones found on a favorite hike or figurines with sentimental value. As a travel lover myself, I’m incredibly passionate about showcasing your travel memories in ways other than what’s expected… and my Tribeca Loft project offers a perfect example of this. Pieces selected from travels around the world are artfully displayed in a place of honor, a spot worthy of how special they are to the home’s owners.
To Continue Reading:
Tour The Tribeca home of a travel-loving family
Tips for sourcing with storytelling in mind
Tips for styling with storytelling in mind
