On a cold evening, I had a lengthy conversation with my wife about how to stay focused during hard times. We agreed that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by so many external forces that we have no control over… like this current pandemic that’s literally halted the world.
Being confined helps us to better understand the purpose of our homes. We now see that our interiors are not only for living but an essential space to find calm.
Calm is not like a passion where clarity, drive, and determination are the fundamentals for succeeding. Calm is finding a space to trust that reflects your personal memories of strength and wellbeing.
Calm is by far holds greater importance during times of despair. Calm is remembering the peaceful moments that attribute to your happiness and positive outlook.

My calm moments are the times I spent growing up in Australia. My connection to nature and to family celebrations are the building blocks to my memories associated to specific colors like this aqua sea blue color.

My theory of Human Sense Connectivity explores the relationship between memories and external influences (see previous blog on Human Sense Connectivity). Therefore, the initial stage of design should focus on personal experiences and lifestyle.
The first steps to finding meaning within your interiors are to start isolating your thoughts and start filtering the memories that have had a positive impact. These flashbacks become the roadmap to your style and design direction.
If you are fortunate to design your home from the initial programming phase, it is important to accumulate enough details that will help you move forward into the next phase. The preliminary design phase begins the filtering process of materials and to start emphasizing the balance of color and contrast of texture.
Having room to breathe does not mean you need more square footage. You need to prioritize the efficiencies of each room and how your organize objects and furniture. I typically visualize each space before I decide on a design direction. Having floor plans and elevations are a great source to help visualize.

Having a courtyard is the new backyard. I grew up in Australia but my family was from Italy. I remember the courtyards in Italy that allowed for neighbors to gather and for children to play. My concept of this courtyard will be accessed by the kitchen and dining room for entertainment.
I will be using large slab porcelain tile for the flooring in the entertainment spaces and hardwood flooring in the living spaces. The tile will then flow into the outside courtyards to obtain consistency between spaces. The holistic combination of stone and wood represents nature and a connection to the environment. The horizontal surfaces are reflective and neutral. A wood ceiling provides a balance to the neutral tones.
First impression is everything, so having a strong looking corridor and a front entrance will then be the catalyst of the remaining spaces.
Bathrooms are very personal. Tile plays such an important factor to the design which is why Design Elemental Studio has an exclusive range of porcelain tile available for our homes.





Changing the way we think about our interiors
Designing your space is a process and requires a mentor who can retrieve information from your memories to build a more meaningful and impactful solution to your home. It’s not just about the aesthetic appeal but how you find calm amongst a hectic and consuming world. This is a new approach to design and an assertive process to build a sustainable and efficient luxury lifestyle.
