Penthouses thrive on bringing the outdoors in. Because they are located on roofs, they came to have large open spaces around. The...
Read MoreLiving life with a virus in the midst requires much creative thinking. In the wake of a pandemic, the homefront is as fundamental to our health and well-being as nutrition and exercise.
Interiors innovate, evolve, adapt and improve after a global crisis. Today, the fundamental purpose of design is no longer to reflect the zeitgeist, but to respond to it with solutions to the spiralling expectations of the everyday.
Moving forward, discomfort begets the new comfort. Be braver, bolder and create your own interiors narrative. Understand that the best homes are about the feeling they give you and not the stuff they contain, the trending colours or looks.
“Like the rest of your home, your work space should be a sanctuary.”
As we are all products of our environment, let’s create more supportive spaces in which to live, and reflect our authentic selves. A hardy and honest home is more able to weather the unexpected curveballs of life itself. Isn’t this the true purpose of home?
Here are three mindful ways on prepping the home front with a virus in the midst:
1. Home as the new office
For many, working from home has gone from a rare perk to a company mandate during lockdown.
Understandably, the arrangement of the workplace at home deserves a considered look. Quite simply, the home must multi-function and serves as an efficient space.
Now, home offices are souped up with large work surfaces, comfortable task chairs, and expanded storage space to support much heavier usage.
It’s time to create the right surroundings for letting a new home concept grow into a stroke of genius. Sort out your thoughts and ideas and let your office become a space of inspiration. Smart storage and beautiful details turn your office around from being a space you long to leave to a room, in which you long to be.

Multi-functional and versatile, the Plant Box can be used for decoration all over the house, as temporary storage in the hallway or as a divider to create cosy corners in larger rooms. They are suitable for flowers, plants, books, toys and magazines – or maybe a little of each. Enquire at Ferm Living.

More than 15 years when architect Antonio Citterio designed the Groundpiece sofa, it has changed our way of sitting on a sofa, making it less formal, lending itself to new functions. It is comfortably deep, particularly low, and originally deconstructed with large goosedown cushions. Available at Flexform.

These Arita containers by Neri&Hu and inspired by Chinese traditional wine bottles for cold or warm liquids where the cups for drinking can be stacked at the neck of the bottle to form a visually interesting and complete setting. The brass holder offers a graceful detail to the simple white shape. Available at Stellar Works.
2. Smart not sterile
An efficient home in the threat of disease doesn’t have to be clinical. The importance of being surrounded by objects, furnishings, finishes and materials that have personal meaning brings its own boosts to wellbeing. Homes in the future must be set for active rest and play.
Interior design and decoration can still be fun in the midst of a game-changing infrastructure. Touchless tech, handle-less doors, and knee-operated sinks are not exactly homely. But we can make our homes profoundly tactile as deliberate respite from the socially distanced world beyond our doors. In the pursuit of active rest in a beautiful and efficient space, we can naturally counteract stress, build resilience, and good immune function.

The Elysée shelving system was designed by French storage expert Pierre Paulin and is one of the most imaginative, eye-catching shelving solutions available. If you need a cutting-edge, minimalist way to store your items at home or in your office, it will be a great option to go for. Available at Magis.

The Arum Table Lamp is characterised by the black solid marble base combined with the organically shaped lampshade. With the matte, off-white inside of the shade, the lamp provides a soft, evenly distributed light, and the lampshade can be adjusted to ensure optimal light conditions in all situations. Enquire at Ferm Living.

he pillow-like cushions of the Magis Officina Armchair and Ottoman present an intriguing visual contrast to the minimal frames of welded iron rods. The wrought iron structure, with slight imperfections characteristic of artisanal forging, is available in galvanized finish or painted black. Cushions come in a variety of luxurious textiles. Available at Magis.
3. True blue
Blue has proven to provoke the feelings of trustworthiness and safety in people. So it’s obvious that blue is always going to make its way into our life in chaotic times.
With rich blues set to rise in prominence, the deep, immersive qualities of the shade from Lazuli to Cobalt can be particularly appealing on everything from plush textiles to glass, walls and metallic finishes.

Fabrics can transform the mood of any room and are an easy, effortless, and affordable way to add small doses of colour into the home. The printed cotton satin with beautiful botanical motifs from Aldeco use bold colors and expressive brush strokes, perfect for a lively atmosphere. Available at Goodrich Global.

The Rico Divan is a piece of furniture all its own. It could pass as a daybed, bears a resemblance to a settee, and gives off chaise lounge vibes. The curvaceous nature of the series adds a modern union of comfort and elegance to any room and makes you feel drawn into its motherly embrace. Enquire at Ferm Living.
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