A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN — Cont’d from page 58
important so we don’t have a fluorescent light blinding us. Just try to think of all the senses and how they play into our mental health.” Beyond the bedroom, Kosman stresses the importance of keeping the home tidy so physical clutter doesn’t lead to mental clutter, especially during these trying times. “There are a lot of studies out there that contribute to this way of thinking,” she says. “Keeping things organized and clutter free really does have an effect on us in a positive way, so just try to keep that in mind as we’re embracing a new (ab)normal.” THE THREE-SEASON SUNROOM IS A MUST-HAVE FOR MANY NEW HUNTINGTON HOMES BUYERS. This includes your makeshift home office (and perhaps the kids’ makeshift home classrooms), which you should aim to turn into comfortable spots that are at least somewhat separate from personal and recreational areas. Kosman suggests turning a small corner of your own or your child’s bedroom into a workspace with a laptop table, for example, rather than allowing the dining room table to become a cluttered command centre. Even before the pandemic shook up our lives, Kosman says a lot of her clients were longing for more closed spaces. Trendy minimalistic designs often have a lot of hard surfaces (like granite countertops and hardwood floors) that provide little in the way of sound absorption. Separate spaces with carpets and other cozy decor items can reduce the need for parents to wear earplugs when their little ones forget to use their indoor voices. “Where people would have been considering opening up a living room to the rest of the house, maybe we’re keeping that one space as that one quiet area of the house,” she says. Swan says another popular option for a hideaway within the home is the flex room — a separate
HUNTINGTON HOMES — 661 Bridge Lake Drive — Bridgwater Trails
space that can be morphed into a playroom, office, workout room, you name it. The three-season sunroom is a must-have for many new Huntington Homes buyers. Half-walls and dual-sided fireplaces that straddle two rooms are also options for folks looking to create a customized quarantine space. “We talk with clients about what their expectations and needs are and then we tailor each room to accommodate that,” he says. A more close-minded approach to new homes might not be the only innovation brought on by the pandemic, Swan says. We might start seeing more automated features not unlike those in The Jetsons’ futuristic abode. “I see amenities like taps that turn on by electronic eyes in the guest bathroom as a possibility,” he says. “We may see more automatic things within the house, especially in the common areas.”
POH
60 Parade of Homes Fall 2020
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