In today’s fast-paced world, the importance of creating restorative spaces within our homes to promote well-being, relaxation, and rejuvenation cannot be overstated. “More and more, wellness is becoming part of the conversation around design,” says 210 Design House Senior Designer Alexander Adducci. “Our clients want their homes to be a peaceful place where they can shut off the world, relax, and recharge.”
At 210, we believe that good design inherently improves lives, but we’re always looking for ways to take it to the next level. In every space throughout a home — but especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and closets — 210’s team prioritizes creating wellness through designs that look beautiful, but also create a sense of ease through thoughtful, innovative, and technologically advanced design elements.
Bathrooms as Spa-Like Sanctuaries
In bathrooms, homeowners are taking cues from luxury spas and hotels. “Much like in hospitality design, we’re trying to create a true experience for a homeowner,” says 210 Director of Projects Erika Klimenko. “But for residential designs — like the penthouses we created at the St. Regis, Chicago — we can layer in more elements that are reflective of the individual homeowner’s personality.”
While some 210 clients find self-care through a spa tub equipped with chromatherapy — color-changing technology that taps into the power of light and color to calm or stimulate — others might find calm through the use of natural materials and textures.
210 Design House project at St Regis Hotels, Chicago
“We’ve had clients request a river-stone floor, which can naturally massage the feet, and heated-stone floors, which provides under-foot warmth all year round, are a popular choice,” Adducci says. “It all depends on the particular client’s approach to wellness, and the possibilities are really endless. We can add a warming drawer for towels, and we always incorporate multiple types of lighting — dimmable, vanity, under counter — that can be layered to create a desired mood.”
Snaidero at the Residences at St Regis, Chicago
Adducci cites Noorth’s Touch vanity as a visually soothing bathroom element, thanks to its integrated drawers, which make the unit appear to be one solid piece. Additionally, the backlit mirrors with shelves complement the integrated or stand-alone washbasin units available in various shapes. From surface tops crafted with fine materials to containers featuring different layouts, Noorth offers a blend of closed and open-fronted units, all constructed with unique and environmentally friendly materials.
WET System Wallpapers by Wall&decò in Floralia design
For those who delight in color and pattern, Wall&decò‘s WET system wallpaper collection offers a plethora of designs and highly customizable options for the bathroom. Incorporating these wallpapers adds aesthetic appeal and allows for personalization to suit individual tastes and preferences. Additionally, Adducci says incorporating elements of sound therapy and scent into the bathroom is becoming increasingly popular. “Whether it’s through a favorite candle or a system that’s pumped throughout the home, aromatherapy is a key component to creating that spa-like feeling,” Adducci says.
Closets as a Space for Self Care
Closets are no longer just simple spaces for storage. “Clients want a large space they can really spend time in,” Adducci says. “They want a piece of furniture to lounge on, good lighting, a whole mood.” That mood is often reflective of the experiences found in a homeowner’s favorite retail shop.
“With wellness as a strong guiding force, residential design has answered the call of those who crave retail-therapy relaxation without leaving home,” according to an article published by Sherwin-Williams. “Homeowners are crying out for closets that take cues from the fitting areas of today’s luxury retailers.”
Luxury walk-in closets by MisuraEmme
Key components: well-displayed clothing and accessories, ample, flattering lighting, and even a signature scent, which can be directly integrated into most MisuraEmme’s closet systems. “We recently installed a MisuraEmme Palo Alto I-box system closet, which can be built with scent cartridges within the paneling,” Adducci says. “Clients can pick a favorite fragrance, and replace the cartridges when necessary.” The same MisuraEmme’s system also purifies the air inside the closet through a process of ionization and ozonation, eliminating up to 99 percent of harmful agents, including VOC, bacteria, viruses, mold, and allergens — a true wellness boost.
Palo Alto I-box system by MisuraEmme
Kitchens Prioritize Ease of Use
Creating a sense of well-being in what is frequently a client’s most often-used space — the kitchen — is all about personalization, says Adducci. “We really assess each client’s individual needs and how they’re going to use their kitchen. Maybe they’re an avid baker and need plenty of counter space, or maybe they entertain a lot and need storage for large trays and platters. Those unique needs dictate the design, and our partners like Snaidero and Plain & Fancy offer endless opportunities for customization.”
Plain & Fancy kitchen at 210 Design House
Snaidero kitchen at the Residences at St Regis, Chicago
Beyond personalization, technology provides an additional layer of convenience and therefore, well-being. “Technology is becoming very wireless,” Adducci says. “We can integrate charging elements into countertops that charge your phone when you place it on the counter. You can preheat your oven or turn on your venting hood directly from your phone.”
“All of those options might seem like small luxuries,” he continues, “but combined, they add a sense of ease, comfort, and well-being to your life.” For more information about how 210 Design House can better your sense of wellness through home design, please visit our River North showroom.
