Photo Credit: Leandro Lujan

Duoma Atelier recently shared a wellness study regarding the increasingly normal trend for companies to allow (sometimes prefer) employees to work from home. The following are some of the key concepts that promote a healthy home office with wellness at the forefront.

Air

Since we spend most of our time indoors, the air quality of our buildings is extremely important. There are easy ways to improve the quality of the air you breathe at home. A good place to start would be to make sure that the HVAC unit filter has a high MERV rating. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is a measurement scale which reports the effectiveness of air filters.

Other than that, the next course of action would be to add an air purifier to rooms which you use most, including bedrooms, and in this case, home offices. Adding indoor plants also contributes to air purification.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Comfort

Above all else, your home office should be a comfortable environment which allows you to work in peace. It's recommended to invest in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones - you won't regret it. If you share a home office, or if your home office is located near a space in the house which tends to be noisy, a great idea would be to add materials such as carpet, felt or fabric-wrapped panels in order to absorb sound.

When it comes to lighting, it's a good idea to have a variety based on different uses and needs. General lighting ought to be considered as the first layer, accompanied by individual desk lamps for personal use. When taking zoom meetings into consideration, good illumination is a huge facet of any great home office.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Mind

Mental wellness and physical wellness are equally important and they go hand in hand. Natural light should be at the top of the list when it comes to working from home. Try incorporating views to the outside or at least set up your office in a room that has windows to help with your circadian rhythm.

Next, add items that stimulate the senses. This can be through aromatherapy, a speaker which can emit sounds of nature in the background, or even some form of a miniature Zen Garden. The idea is to provide your mind with sensory cues to remember to breathe and relax from time to time.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Water

Hydration is key to your overall health. However, drinking the appropriate amount of water for your body can be easier said than done. While a brief walk to the kitchen can be a good break from work and good way to avoid staying stationary for too long, it's a good idea to keep a water station nearby within your home office. Consider it a visual cue to remind you to stay hydrated.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Movement

There are several ways in which your home office can be designed to promote wellness. Investing in a good ergonomic chair is a good place to start in order to promote good posture when you work.

But it doesn't stop there. Research shows that remaining seated for extended periods of time is just as dangerous as smoking. An adjustable standing desk has become popular for good reason. They have been proven to promote mobility, aid prevention of back pain and regulate blood flow.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

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Photo Credit: Doug Birnbaum

Hafsa Burt recently took the time to discuss matters of well-being and health with Haute Design.

Haute Design: Being successful in any line of business takes plenty of sacrifice and even more time. In the field of design and architecture, "work hours" are not necessarily uniform or standard. How do you find ways to make time for yourself?

Hafsa Burt: It isn't easy. I certainly can't work out every day, but I try to schedule it on my calendar. I realized early on that if you're not taking care of yourself, the demands of your business and life will take a toll on your health and well-being and you may become a nuisance to be around. I worked for larger firms before starting my own business and noticed many unhealthy lifestyle patterns in my senior colleagues, which resulted in a tense work environment. I try to use holistic therapies such as sauna, cryotherapy and acupuncture as needed. I also take care of what I eat to stay in optimum health in order to meet daily demands. A three-minute cryo session or a 30-minute sauna are easy to squeeze into my schedule.

HD: The topic of self-care has become ubiquitous in the past two years, in large part due to the pandemic and its consequences. What was the biggest lesson in self-care you came away with after lockdown?

HB: One of the biggest lessons from the pandemic is that life is fragile and given the consequences of globalization and climate change, our lives can transform drastically overnight, and with that, certain industries and businesses can become obsolete, leaving a lot of families economically vulnerable. Therefore, measures for resilience and flexibility in both the personal and business world need to be at the forefront of everybody's mind. The age-old notion of filling your cup so that you can be there for others has never been more relevant. Also, in the age of information, carefully editing what enters your mind can do wonders for your well-being.

Photo Credit: Doug Birnbaum

HD: In fields like design and architecture, which require so much creativity and perspective from the designer/architect, is the work partially an extension of yourself? If so, how much do you value your rest or solitude? Do you have any practices you recommend in order to rest and recover at the end of the day?

HB: I would love to be that parson who can fall asleep on a tour bus or in an opera performance! At the end of the day, I read fiction or historical biographies. It's a great way to give my mind a break from business activities and to enter someone else's imagination. I am just as careful about what I let into my mind as I am with what I eat. I also paint and sculpt to give the left side of my brain a break, which I wish I could do more often. In the middle of the day, a 30-minute spinning session can also be a good break to allow oxygen into the bloodstream and come back more focused and refreshed. I tend to use these techniques more than caffeine.

HD: Does health and wellness go hand in hand with design consciousness and ecological practices? If so, how?

HB: Yes, of course! Everything starts with the individual. I strongly believe that our spaces can contribute to our physical and mental health. Besides products specified in a project, access to daylight and positive air flow can all contribute to our well-being. Deliberate design choices that include green belts/corridors in our developments to allow access to nature, filter the air, are conducive to walking and biking, all create healthier micro-climates. Since the outdoor/indoor environment can be very polluted, we need to be careful about what we put into our bodies to cope with external stressors in order to remain in optimum health and focus on all the great socio-environmental work.

The post How Hafsa Burt Translates Awareness In Design To Health And Wellness appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Rafaela Simoes & Laila Colvin

Photo Credit: 2id Interiors

Founders and Creative Directors Rafaela Simoes and Laila Colvin have established Miami’s premiere luxury interior design company, 2id Interiors. Regarded for their relevant and skillful approach to design, 2id Interiors in Miami is an award-winning leading interior design firm servicing clients which are among today's well-known names in professional industries and entertainment, spanning across South Florida, the U.S., and around the world with projects in Canada, Europe, and Brazil.

The dynamic duo behind 2id Interiors sat down with Haute Design and spoke about an eclectic array of topics which covered subjects from collaboration in design to what inspires their work.

Haute Design: Both of you are from Brazil. Do you think part of the Brazilian culture or design criteria carries over into your work?

Rafaela Simoes: Yes. I think the use of wood and organic, essential materials are always present in our design and I think that really comes from the Brazilian style of design. The desire to use natural and organic textures, I think, is very Brazilian and we always apply that into our work.

But because we also cater to so many cultures here in Miami, not just the Brazilians, I think we have learned how to be very diverse. For example, we have Russian clients who like a bit more 'bling-bling,' Brazilian clients who are more 'Earth-y,' and love the use of wood, but then we also have German clients, who have a totally different taste.

We have so many different clients and you can see that in our portfolio because it's so eclectic. We don't only follow one trend or one style. We cater to different cultures, different clients, with different backgrounds, and I think that is definitely reflected throughout our portfolio.

HD: We would agree! You mentioned the use of natural elements within your design. Have you noticed a shift with clients in regard to requesting more environmentally-conscious materials and design principles?

RS: Yes, I think so. Not specifically ecologically conscious material, but definitely more design aspects geared toward nature, more blues and greens. We are doing a lot of green walls on the exteriors of homes, so I do feel that people want the outdoors reflected inside their homes a little bit more. That said, I wouldn't go as far as saying it would be ecologically-friendly thinking.

We do have clients who really want to go in an environmentally-conscious direction and make sure the materials are responsible, but that's rare. That does not happen much.

Rafaela Simoes

Photo Credit: 2id Interiors

HD: That's interesting. Switching gears a bit, considering all the time most of us have spent indoors over the past year or more, do you think clients have reconsidered how much they value their interior living spaces and home design?

RS: We definitely felt that at the beginning of COVID. We were a little bit worried about what was going to happen, as everyone was. So, everyone was remaining indoors and trying to contact us for potential projects and we couldn't do construction. But clients were ready to improve their homes right away.

From the beginning of lockdown, clients wanted to change furniture or change the layout of their homes that we had recently worked on and make things more comfortable. The first thing we did, before lockdown was over - we were already sending proposals to existing clients and new clients . It seemed everyone was desperate to improve their homes because it was a new way of life. No one had ever stayed home for this long so it was an interesting shift in the way people lived.

Everyone wants a comfortable home and they always have. But now, this idea of a comfortable home is really at the top of the list for requests. The requests have definitely shifted toward a more cozy and inviting home because people are working from home, the kids are studying from home, so comfort is key.

HD: To that point, something that has been rightfully addressed often throughout the year has been mental health. Have you noticed this awareness of mental health affect the clients' requests?

RS: I totally think so. But with us, we always thought about that when we started in this business; using materials we love, natural materials, bringing nature inside, including wood and raw materials inside the home, which does not happen in Miami often.

I think the Miami style is very shiny and cold and not very home-y. It's glossed whites and a pearly kind of style. Which, in my opinion, is not the most mentally healthy because it's so cold rather than warm and cozy like one should want their home to be. We are always designing with that in mind. We totally think that the house can be chic and elegant but still include some nature in the home.

We want the home to be beautiful but still feel cozy and warm and I totally connect that to mental health. I think that having a home that is not so cold and stark is very important for mental health.

Laila Colvin

Photo Credit: 2id Interiors

HD: If we had to ask you to name three main principles throughout your design, what would those be?

Laila Colvin: I think our main principle is definitely to design for the client. As Rafaela mentioned, we have clients from all over the world and our portfolio is so eclectic because of that. I don't think we have a specific style. We do have some things that are always present, but we really try to embrace the client's dream home.

We really try to follow their vision and try to put that together for the client. If the style is more traditional, we will keep things more traditional for that project. If the taste is very modern and contemporary, we embrace that. So, whatever dream the client brings to us, we try to really embrace that.

We are not designers that say, 'you know what, that's not my style, go find someone else.' We really love having been able to work on such a variety of projects because that is an asset when trying to satisfy the clients to create their home, not our home.

HL: So, would you say in this case the client can be regarded as a secret weapon within your design team?

LC: Yes, that would be a fun way to say it, yeah. We definitely listen to them. There are a lot of exchanges between us and the client so that we have a better understanding of their desires. I do not understand how other designers can have a style that is so specific. You know, some designers have a style that once you see the work, you know it's them right away.

I don't know how they do it! Because they either need the client to totally buy into their personal vision so the client agrees to everything they recommend, or they say no to a lot of clients. We cannot do that. We actually love the difference between our projects and clients.

If you would like to learn more about 2id Interiors, CLICK HERE to visit their website.

The post 2id Interiors’ Rafaela Simoes and Laila Colvin Talk To Haute Design About Their Design Philosophy appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The design of your home is essential for improving and maintaining your mental health and productivity. 

With the Coronavirus pandemic affecting people all over the world, quarantine and stay at homes orders were a major concern. The feeling of being outdoors with nature, and having human interaction in larger social settings was truly missed. Quarantine made people realize what interior designers have known to be true for a long time: The importance of being inside an environment that makes you feel good. 

We have all experienced heading home from work after a stressful day and finally getting to the comfort of our living room. Encountering a cluttered kitchen, an office full of files and laptops, or decoration that you cannot stand to look at anymore does not contribute to relaxation. 

The pandemic lifestyle required people to rethink the spaces in their homes, when more than ever a functional space to work or study at was necessary. Organization is often looked over when it comes to interior design. The truth is that the organization of your space is just as important as the looks, and they often come hand in hand. An organized space plays a great role in your mood, productivity, and well-being. Designing a space that allows you to functionally maintain the space organized is essential. 

Lighting and colors can also have an impact on your mental health and productivity. 

The right palette choice is individual to every person’s taste. However, it is important to choose colors that resemble peace and calm, and that you will not get tired of it over time. The psychology of colors is very effective and should be followed for optimal relaxation results. If you want to have a space that transmits a sense of peace and simplicity, then a blue and white color palette is your go-to. 

Having the right amount of windows in a room is also a must. It is proven that sunlight can reduce depression and increase productivity levels. More natural light in a room can boost your mood and happiness, while a dark room can trigger sadness and anxiety. 

It is important to think strategically about how space is used every day and how you want the space to feel. If you have kids and pets, it is worth investing in furniture that can handle frequent wear and tear. If you have a big family, having a big couch and seating spaces for every family member can avoid stressful situations. 

After taking care of organization, the next step is to choose objects and pieces for the design that makes you feel good, and that really connects to you every time you look at it. 

When so much in our life is out of control, our home is a place we have total authority over. Our homes should be our sanctuaries and happy places. Investing in a design that makes you feel good is crucial for your well-being. 

The post How Interior Design Can Improve Your Mental Health And Productivity appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.