25 bhgrecollection.com | 24 | THE DISTINCTIVE LIFE® Volume 14 Vacation home design focuses largely on aesthetics, but it also considers practicality. You should feel overwhelmed by a sense of calm and rejuvenation from the moment you enter your vacation home until it’s time to depart. Color, texture, and style, as it applies to furnishings, fabrics, and paint, greatly aid that goal. So does flow within the home’s floor plan and the functionality of what you choose to fill the space with. Luxury living in a vacation home is about creating a resort-like environment away from the noise and busyness of the outside world, yet in ways reflective of the surrounding environment. Approaching design ideas for this type of haven should start with questioning what you hope to gain from your time in seclusion. FURNISHING YOUR VACATION HOME When furnishing your vacation home, strive to bring in as much as you need, especially if you stay for extended periods. A vacation home that’s too bare doesn’t feel livable. One that’s too packed, though, doesn’t lend itself to simplicity. As you go from room to room, choosing furnishings and creating a design scheme that promotes easy living, you’ll want to make sure your space remains clutter-free and low maintenance while also being nurturing and uplifting. LIFE & LEISURE LIVING ROOM Instead of designing a formal living room, create a setting you’d want to linger in. Choose a sofa you can sink into over one with purely visual appeal. Consider a plush chair or two in case you want to entertain and opt for a larger coffee table with enough space for coffee mugs, books, and flowers. Add an end table for your glass of wine or a reading lamp. Don’t forget a cozy rug to keep your feet warm and a bookshelf or entertainment center for games, puzzles, and whimsical knick-knacks. DINING ROOM The dining room in your vacation home might be where you enjoy quiet meals alone or lively gatherings with extended family and friends. However you use the space, ensure you design it to meet all your needs. It’s wise to go with as large a table as you can fit and with the maximum seating for the room. Consider a bar cart or China cabinet to make dinners seem exceptionally luxurious when entertaining guests. BEDROOM The mattress may be the most important part of the bedroom in your vacation home, so don’t pick one with the idea that it’s good enough or you won’t use it much. Opt for a mattress that makes you feel like you’re lying on a cloud and choose pillows that promote dreamy sleep. If your vacation home is located where it’s frequently cold, ensure you have plenty of warm linens and blankets. If it’s in a warmer area, choose lightweight sheets and a simple duvet to dress the bed. Additionally, avoid the temptation to put a TV in the bedroom. Instead, leave this space free of anything that could distract you from revitalizing slumber. However you use the space, ensure you design it to meet all your needs.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDYwNg==