On this project, we started by removing a load bearing wall, then modifying the roof trusses to match the vault in the connecting room.
We proceeded by adding 3 new skylights in the Kitchen to mimic the existing in the living room. With the living room and kitchen connected now by creating an open space with shared tall ceilings, it gave the main area gave an open concept appeal.
We proceeded by adding a laundry room in a small area of the existing garage, which enhanced the home’s functionality but still allowed for the garage to still be utilized for parking and storage. A French Oak flooring was installed throughout the home, giving a contemporary appeal, with new updated millwork, interior doors and windows through as well.
The kitchen was updated with a new layout, ample additional storage with tall pantry cabinets, an area for seating at the countertop and a contemporary hood vent over the peninsula that overlooks the living room. Both bathrooms were updated, including a floating vanity in the powder room and a furniture style vanity in the master bathroom.
By project completion, the home underwent a major transformation that not only increased the value and add efficiency, but what was amplified was the new aesthetic appeal that made it almost unrecognizable from its previous condition.
In design, we bring characteristics of the natural world into built spaces, such as water, greenery, and natural light, or elements like wood and stone. Encouraging the use of natural systems and processes in design allows for exposure to nature, and in turn, these design approaches improve health and wellbeing. There are a number of possible benefits, including reduced heart rate variability and pulse rates, decreased blood pressure, and increased activity in our nervous systems, to name a few.
Over time, our connections to the natural world diverged in parallel with technological developments. Advances in the 19th and 20th centuries fundamentally changed how people interact with nature. Sheltered from the elements, we spent more and more time indoors. Today, the majority of people spend almost 80-90% of their time indoors, moving between their homes and workplaces. As interior designers embrace biophilia.
Establishing multi-sensory experiences, we can design interiors that resonate across ages and demographics. These rooms and spaces connects us to nature as a proven way to inspire us, boost our productivity, and create greater well-being. Beyond these benefits, by reducing stress and enhancing creativity, we can also expedite healing. In our increasingly urbanized cities, biophilia advocates a more humanistic approach to design. The result is biophilic interiors that celebrate how we live, work and learn with nature. The term translates to ‘the love of living things’ in ancient Greek (philia = the love of / inclination towards), and was used by German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in The Anatomy of Human Destru ctiveness (1973).
Ready to elevate your home with our comprehensive construction services? Contact Malama Design & Build today to discuss your project and schedule a consultation. Discover how our expertise in fireplaces, countertops, flooring, painting, and outdoor living spaces can transform your home in Bellevue, Washington, and the surrounding areas.
10220 NE 1st Place #101, Bellevue, WA
