For this project, the objective was a cosmetic update for the entire home. We started by removing an interior wall that had separated the kitchen and dining room, followed by installing new wide plank Oak flooring.
We then created a two-tone kitchen using Merit Cabinets with the navy blue cabinetry for 2 islands in the center of the footprint for a defined contrast. Marble-looking quartz countertops were installed and paired with a neutral-tone, high variation glossy subway tile. For the now joining dining room, we designed and installed bench seating with drawer storage and custom upholstery, followed by custom built-in bookcases in the living room and grey stacked stone on the face of the fireplace. This brought continuity to the entire main floor update.
The powder room incorporated a sophisticated and timeless look, with a matte black floating vanity, modern pendant lighting, a quartzite countertop and subway tile. The master bathroom underwent a change of foot print and included a stand alone tub, a larger shower with a custom glass enclosure, floating bench seat with a quartz top and included the finishes of marble tile with a black chevron tile accent installed as a focal point in the shower niche and picture overlay behind the stand alone tub.
It also included a makeup vanity area with seating. White shaker cabinetry was installed with a honed black quartz to match the matte black cabinetry hardware and matte black plumbing fixtures.
The update not only brought a element of elegance throughout the home, it most importantly brought functionality to each space to be well utilized and enjoyed.
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
