Laurence Carr
New York, New York
Wabi-sabi is a worldview rooted in Japanese origin all about taming desire for perfection in design, freeing us to live more sustainably and impart truly authentic style in our homes. To seek it is to honor the patina and character of our spaces and collected pieces, find harmony with nature, honor simplicity and do away with excess clutter. I help clients seek wabi-sabi through utilization of the seven Zen principles—one of which, for example, is incorporating unique pieces from our clients’ own collections. This practice shifts focus from trendy items, which will ultimately end up in a landfill when tastes change to those that have been built lovingly, and with noble materials. Together with our clients, we identify character-rich pieces and intentionally place them in different rooms as the sturdy roots of our interior design approach. laurencecarr.com
PHOTO BY EVOLVED IMAGERY
Macelle Albeda
Pasadena, California
Biophilia stems from Greek as “Love of Life” and is about our innate human need to be connected to nature. Biophilic design focuses on how to layer nature into interiors, whether that’s through actual elements like plants, stone, wood, water and natural light, or “biomimicry,” which are shapes and patterns that remind us of being outdoors. The benefits are substantial: Close proximity to nature triggers a dopamine response in our brains that promotes well-being, lowering blood pressure and stress. Starting from the most basic ways to inspire biophilia, you can paint walls in colors we find in nature, like green, blue and brown. Then move on to adding motifs and plants. Advanced options include stone walls, water features and changing the building’s access to natural light. studiomahal.com
PHOTO BY ROBIN FOLEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Nina Magon
Houston, Texas
One way of fostering well-being at home that I believe in and have used with great results is Vastu Shastra, an Indian system of architecture similar to feng shui. In Vastu Shastra, there are 5 elements: Earth (Bhumi), Water (Jala), Air (Vayu), Fire (Agni), and Space (Akasha). The central part of a house is ruled by the space element. As all directions meet in the center, it is the holiest and most powerful zone. So when possible, I like to ensure that the most-used room—often the living room—is located in the direct center and designed with a minimal aesthetic for less clutter and low furniture to allow for plenty of natural light. This approach harmonizes the flow of energy throughout the home, in turn facilitating good health. contourinteriordesign.com
