Homes Beyond the Ordinary: Unique Design Features That Wow!
Stepping into a truly unique home is an experience that lingers, whether it’s a home you visit or where you live. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about spaces that spark curiosity, ignite conversation, and reflect the personalities of the homeowners. In today’s design landscape, where trends come and go, embracing your own personal style through distinctive features has become a goal for many of our clients.
Our home designers here at Residential Designed Solutions are ready to inject your home with that special “wow” factor when creating your plan. Unique design elements, both structural and stylistic, can transform your home into a conversation starter.
Curating Space with Light:
Photo courtesy of structuretech.com/solar-tubes-rock/
Hidden Skylights: Forget what you know about predictable roof windows. Gone are the days of leaky, plastic bubble skylights. Many styles are low-profile and are hardly visible from the street. Others are vented and open by hand or electronic control. Tubular skylights (long tubes meant to catch and reflect light) are perfect for small spaces, like bathrooms, closets, and hallways. A strategically placed skylight in a walk-in closet or reading nook bathes spaces with natural light. An added benefit—see the sky from inside your home!
Light Sculptures: Conventional lamps are a staple in many rooms of a home but consider integrating light as an art form. Cleverly designed custom art features can double as sculptures, cascade down a feature wall or are suspended like glowing constellations. A chandelier that appears to be the veins of a leaf, or bubble lights that mimic a glowing streetlight might be just what a space needs for a bit of art.
Connecting with Nature:
Living Walls: Breathe life into an interior or patio wall with vertical gardens. These lush green tapestries purify the air and create a mesmerizing connection with nature. A moss wall in the office, a cascading herb garden in the kitchen, a mass of ferns on the patio, or a vibrant flower wall will create a natural design element.
Living Wall | 2019 BIA Parade of Homes | Built by Sierra Custom Homes
Secret Gardens: A hidden oasis in your home is possible. Transform an unused corner into a courtyard accessible through a concealed doorway or at the end of a hallway. Step into a miniature zen garden complete with a cascading fountain and serene greenery— a sanctuary within your own home. There are many possibilities to create green space in your home! How about a courtyard in the center of your home?
Indoor-Outdoor Flow: Seamlessly blend your living space with the outdoors with retractable doors. You’ll be able to move from inside to outside easily, creating an entertaining drool-worthy space. Expansive windows give the illusion of outdoor living, while keeping bugs and bad weather at bay.
Tech-Savvy:
Smart Homes: Homes are becoming increasingly intelligent, while seamlessly integrating technology into all parts of the home. Voice-controlled lighting, automated temperature adjustments, self-watering gardens, smart appliances that tell you what groceries you need and how to cook food, are all part of our reality. Smart appliances monitor energy usage and optimize performance, and security systems give us peace of mind. Hidden projectors and screens disappear when not in use but create expansive viewing for those movie nights or important football games!
Photo courtesy of me-syst.com
Hidden Storage: Furniture with concealed compartments, hidden rooms, storage we don’t see, and creative solutions maximizes space and keeps things out of sight. Built-in bookshelves can double as room dividers or under-stair drawers. A Murphy bed transforms your office into an extra bedroom with a simple pull on the “wall”.
Playing with Perception:
Floating Elements: Who says everything must be anchored on the floor? Furniture and shelves can appear to hover mid-air, while anchored to walls. A platform bed, anchored with a single leg (or no legs at all) adds a bit of mid-century modern feel and uniqueness to a bedroom.
Photo courtesy of onekinddesign.com
Hidden Rooms: A secret passage or a hidden room behind a bookcase or hidden door adds surprise and delight for your guests (or your kids!). Imagine a hidden playroom behind a cabinet in the kitchen! A wine room behind a panel or bookcase in the family room! Or a reading nook tucked away behind a door under the stairs! When designing a home, creating hidden spaces is a fun and interesting idea.
Photo courtesy of onekinddesign.com
Photo courtesy of onekinddesign.com
Remember:
Uniqueness is personal and should reflect your passions, hobbies, or design aesthetics. Let your home tell a story!
Seeking expert advice from a skilled designer will help you translate your vision into reality, ensuring that it is structurally sound.
Embrace sustainability by choosing eco-friendly materials to be kind to the planet. Rainwater harvesting and solar panels are two ways to incorporate this idea.
Designing a home that transcends the ordinary is about pushing design boundaries and embracing your own sense of style. These ideas are just a starting point. Are you ready to create something interesting in your home? Give us a call and let’s get started. Our Columbus, OH based office is the place to start the conversation. We have so many ideas for your bold and creative choices!