As we approach the third year of the coronavirus, it’s clear that the pandemic that has changed the world has also changed the way we live – and work – in our homes.
People had to adapt their living space into a classroom space for the kids, a workspace for themselves and perhaps a spouse and a space for recreation and recreation when everything else was closed off. Entertainment that previously took place inside or in restaurants has increasingly moved to the backyard.
With no immediate end in sight, the pandemic has already had an impact on architecture and interior design. So what is the projected design blueprint for 2022? We spoke to several Bay Area and Sonoma architects and designers who highlighted some common themes: People increasingly want their homes to be flexible, with functional spaces for work, learning and leisure, while also providing a quiet haven.
Melanie Turner, director of residential design for Perkins & Will residential studio with Pfau Long Architecture in San Francisco
small home office As more business owners move to the work-from-home model, homeowners are looking for a more permanent office space.
At the start of the pandemic, people suddenly went home in a remote annex space wherever they found it, whether it was a guest room or a kitchen table, thinking it was only temporary. But Turner said many people now want a more defined and permanent workspace, away from the typical open floor plan that offers no privacy.
It anticipates more demand for small home offices, small private workspaces hidden within a room as large as a den or library. Consider placing bookcases, hidden doors, and sliding walls on a pivot.
“Separating work from home doesn’t have to be about physical distance,” she said. It’s more about creating a “mental journey”. Turner, who works from home in a small San Francisco apartment she shares with her husband and son, made her work nook in a walk-in closet with a window for natural light.
Smart Storage Solutions: People who live in small to medium sized homes look forward to maximizing their space for all the purposes the home needs to serve.
Turner said one way to find extra space is to condense your storage, freeing up space for a small work area in a closet (or mudroom or laundry room). This may include installing new shelves or cabinets. Use your wall for shelves and go high, even from floor to ceiling, and/or go deeper. Put things you rarely use in the back or on top.
clean materials: Turner said the pandemic has focused more on indoor air quality, health and well-being. People pay more attention to what they bring into their homes, the safety of paint finishes, and potential cleaning or toxicity products.
Turner said she is working with a client who is building a home near Occidental and is committed to using as much timber from their land as possible for projects like the dining room table and outdoor furniture.
Indoor/outdoor living: The pandemic has made many people more interested than ever in creating great outdoor spaces to relax, play and socialize safely and bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors.
hidden tv: For decades, television has been the focus of family and entertainment rooms. No more, Turner said. In 2022, we’ll see a shift away from this, with TV screens obscured or camouflaged.
Samuel Lowe, Director, SDL Residential Designs, Sonoma
Brought: Lowe, who has offices in Sonoma and other parts of the Bay Area, said there has been a significant rise in demand for so-called ancillary housing units, enabled in part by a relaxation of their construction requirements in Sonoma County.
Also, the need for a place to self-isolate in case of exposure to the coronavirus or to work from home during the pandemic has fueled interest in creating separate, independent studios and cottages.
“Just having another space on your property where you can isolate it has been very interesting to me personally,” said Lowe, who does architectural and interior design work.
“We built an ADU for friends in Sonoma County, and then right around Christmas, when the omicron started, we stayed there at the ADU because we were spending Christmas with them and that allowed us to quarantine until we got the test results.”
External rooms: The trend towards landscaping for outdoor living. People want outdoor rooms with some cover, such as a gazebo or pergola, where they can cook, eat and talk to friends with easy access to the house. These outdoor rooms are equipped with permanent bottom heaters. Fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and comfortable lounge furniture are still very popular for those long hours and days confined to the home.