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These past five years, a new design and lifestyle approach began to take shape in my mind – one that, despite its name, is actually very forward-thinking. I call it ‘Modern Nostalgia.’ $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
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SZ: On the Boards | March/April 2021
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Five years ago today (March 31st, 2016), I proudly swung open my Design | Build doors on Mercer Island, with an idea towards changing the way I approached my profession. My talented team and I ventured down the creative path with a diverse array of residential clients, and while each home was as unique as their owner, commonalities emerged. Slowly but surely, a new design and lifestyle approach began to take shape in my mind – one that, despite its name, is actually very forward-thinking. I call it ‘Modern Nostalgia.’
Though the pandemic helped to accelerate my outlook, it occurred to me that the fast-paced, ever-changing demands of modern living can be tempered by our collective longing for simpler times through thoughtful design. Think about all the things you ask of your home - especially these days. Does it nurture you, or sap your energy? Do you move through your daily routine with ease (even when the outside world is turbulent and stressful)? Or is your home hectic instead of restorative?
The brave new world of post-pandemic America will demand our time and attention in unprecedented ways. Lines will continue to blur between our personal and professional lives. As an Architect and Builder, I feel the urgency to create authentic spaces that allow us to heal, regroup and emerge stronger and more grounded.
Home is as much a state of mind as a physical space. In shifting our design focus towards the intangible, ephemeral, soulful qualities of our built environment, we make room for the transformative impact our homes could have on the quality of our lives.
In honor of our Five-Year Anniversary, here are five recent works that exemplify the Five Tenets of ‘Modern Nostalgia’ Homes.
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No less an American icon than Walt Disney himself was drawn to Smoke Tree Ranch, a ranch-style housing community in Palm Springs. He loved it so much he built not one but two homes there, several cabins, and a community recreation center. In fact, every statue of Walt and Mickey Mouse holding hands (this statue is called “Friends,” and it’s in every Disney park) features Walt wearing a necktie with the Smoke Tree Ranch logo on it. Smoke Tree Ranch had been long established as the winter home of some of America’s most prominent families, and some feared that Disney’s admittance to the laid-back, cowboy and girl way of life there would change it forever – that Walt would bring too much Hollywood glitz to the area. But he quickly proved himself to be a perfect fit to the grounded, western lifestyle, and found genuine solace, healing and harmony in the community. When it came time for me to design a modern ranch within Smoke Tree, I was intent on integrating the architecture with its natural surroundings - creating a space where your shoulders instantly drop when you enter. This single-story rambler grows out of the ground, anchored by thick stone walls and a heated concrete floor. It opens towards the Southern light and views, with enough shade to make it comfortable year-round. This environmentally sustainable home more than respects Mother Nature, it tries to emulate her.
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There is synergy to beauty. It resonates on multiple emotional and aesthetic levels. It makes your life richer and meaningful…
What does it mean to make a home soulful? In the case of the King residence, it was about creating an environment that enhanced and amplified the art featured in the space. The Kings had a wish - they wanted to see the art no matter where they sat or stood. This was a great opportunity to design for the art rather than to buy art that fits the design. Jennifer’s parents were both artists. Much of the work is by them or is work that they cherished, and Jennifer grew up with. The large painting in the living room/ dining room was painted shortly after the house was built, so it feels right at home there.
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When I first purchased this house in West Seattle, I did so not because of what was there, but because of what the property could support, and what the existing structure could help create. In other words, for its transformative potential. When I think in terms of the transformative potential of an existing structure and its land, I’m primarily occupied with the idea of a shift in lifestyle. It’s not an exercise in what I can get away with, but rather, how the occupants want to live in their new environment. In other words, what’s the best way to achieve their new lifestyle with the resources at hand. How can a well-designed home transform you?
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The idea of an authentic home, to me, has everything to do with the powerful intersection of artistry, lifestyle and sustainability. How do you maximize the elements of a space while also bringing out its creative potential? Authenticity is when design and intention harmonize, as with this Addition / Remodel in Leschi. There’s an honesty to how this home was tailored to fit their lifestyle, in a practical sense. Every square inch of space is used, including a loft space that features a climbing wall along the sloped ceiling. The structure (exposed beams) and hand crafted finishes, like the Heath tile backsplash and Formology shelving, offer warmth and genuine self-expression. This house was designed for authentic living, and the outcome was stunning.
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The term Sexy but Practical occurred to me many years ago and immediately struck a chord because, in spite of seeming contradictory, I realized that, if I could create a home design that met both aspects, it would be attractive to an incredibly large audience. But how difficult is it really to meld sexiness with practicality? Consider the difference between a sexy high-heeled shoe and a sensible, practical flat. How do you combine the best traits of each without cancelling each-other out? How do you find that sweet spot of both sexy and practical? I might not have the answer for shoe design, but I became dedicated to creating Sexy but Practical house designs when creating a collection of tailored (semi-custom homes).
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Celebrating 5 years on Mercer Island, cheers!
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