Soothing Blues for 2024: Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore color of the year.

Color is a powerful influence that has the ability to move us. The colors we choose to surround ourselves with every day can affect our feelings and emotions; they can energize, inspire, and soothe us. Color trends are a reflection of cultural moments and the needs that they create. We live in a hectic world with a 24/7 work culture, making it harder and harder to carve out time and places to take a breath and experience calm. In light of the fast-paced nature of contemporary life, Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore have recognized the desire for many to slow things down and create mindful, relaxing spaces in our homes by announcing Skipping Stones and Blue Nova as their colors of the year for 2024.

The color palette of the natural world can be utilized by biophilic design to bring the mindful experience of being in nature within our home, creating a calm, nurturing space. Dunn Edwards describes Skipping Stones as "a serene and steely blue with hints of green and gray….meditative and energizing like the sea." Seeking to evoke the peace and tranquility of the sea, Skipping Stones intends to create spaces of meditation, stillness, and calm. Similarly, Blue Nova is also evocative of the ocean as a deep blue-violet. Using color as a component of biophillic design, Skipping Stones and Blue Nova "emphasizes our connection to the natural environment, underlining the importance of our reliance on it for physical, emotional, and community healing."

The peace and tranquility we experience when exploring the natural environment surrounding our home can be mirrored in its interior through color selection. Living within proximity to blue spaces such as the ocean can encourage joy and wellness. The blue tones incorporated into this beachside retreat evoke the fresh, serene qualities of the surrounding oceanscape, creating space that enhances day-to-day living. Blue is used as an accent color against the white closets and cabinets throughout this home. The natural finish of the custom European white oak flooring alludes to driftwood's materiality. This light and airy palette of white and blue, evocative of the ocean landscape in which the home is located, comes together in a hand-knotted wool & silk area rug in the living room.

Shades of blue are utilized within this beachside home to reflect the beauty of the surrounding natural environment. Blue can capture the feeling the ocean gives us, creating a mindful living space that promotes happiness in everyday life. The entryway carries various shades of deep and grey blue, from the Dutch door to the painting of a heron and the ceramic lamp, whose shape alludes to an abstracted ocean inhabitant.

Blue is a focal point within the living room in the form of deep blue vegan-friendly upholstery and Danish oiled walnut sofas. Here, blue is used again as an accent color with the room's white walls and the natural finish of the wood flooring. The shape of these facing sofas creates an enclosed and intimate seating arrangement.

The selection of Skipping Stones and Blue Nova as the 2024 color of the year by Dunn Edwards and Benjamin Moore reflects the collective desire for peace and tranquility in our daily lives. This also signals the rising prominence of biophilic design as a way of creating mindfulness within our homes through utilizing images, colors, and materials that bring the tranquility of nature to us.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Can the Design of Your Home Aid Recovery From Past Trauma? Research Says 'Yes'

As interior designers, we operate from an awareness that because we create the built spaces that our clients inhabit, we exercise tremendous influence on their lived experiences and the ability to make a tangible difference in our clients' mental, physical, and emotional health. (1) While it is easy to accept this as a given in more passive terms, there is an increasing necessity around the active, rather than incidental, cultivation of safe and healing built spaces. At Sarah Barnard Design Studio, we aim to bring an inclusive and trauma-informed approach to home design.

Between 1995 and 1997, Kaiser Permanente conducted a study looking at the health effects resulting from the trauma of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). (2) The parameters around this study were narrow, focusing primarily on abuse, neglect, and domestic strife, without including factors such as trauma due to racism, deportation, illness, or war. The study's participants were also far from a broadly representative group, with nearly 75% of participants identifying as White. Yet, even within these minimal boundaries, the findings were stark—approximately 66% of the study's participants reported ACEs in their personal histories.

If we consider the types of trauma the study excluded and the adverse experiences that occur in adulthood, the implications of this study are significant. It is fair to assume that traumatic experiences are widespread among adults. Particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the mental and emotional fallout of which we are only beginning to understand and measure, addressing the effects of trauma has taken on a new urgency.

Much of the discussion around trauma-informed home design has focused, understandably, on public and institutional contexts often directly connected with health and social services (3). As understanding around the way that physical spaces affect our mental, emotional, and physical health have expanded, so too has demand for spaces designed with health and healing in mind. Where once function and safety were the primary concern in, for example, mental health facilities, home designers are now looking at how to make these spaces soothing and restorative.

Knowing what we know about how widespread the experience of trauma is, it is reasonable to expand our thinking beyond institutional spaces and apply the principles of trauma informed practice to home design, as well as to the way we interact with clients. Our goal is to create spaces that manage the effects of trauma by reducing sudden sensory arousal, while also being actively healing and restorative.

This process begins with creating a safe and inclusive environment for our clients from a project's inception to completion. While it may be safe to assume that most adults carry some form of trauma with them, we don't know what a client's background is unless they feel safe to tell us. We aim to approach our clients with a sense of inclusiveness and sensitivity, allowing ample space to voice their needs. A certain amount of vulnerability and humility lies on us as designers as we hold ourselves accountable for maintaining this safe space for our clients. This accountability allows us to create homes that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also personalized and inclusive to each individual and their needs. As designers, we must keep an open flow of communication between ourselves and our clients, ensuring that communication remains understood on both ends. 

Creating an inclusive space starts with mindfulness and care around the way we communicate(4). There is no default listener. Our intention is to allow people from all walks of life feel heard and understood. We are committed to educating ourselves on inclusive language, as certain words may carry racist or ableist subtext. Finding alternatives to non-inclusive language is one component of this, and it helps to avoid language that presumes the ethnicity, gender identity, or experiences of the listener. To maintain our goal of holistic inclusion throughout our studio, we apply these communication values to our client interactions, internal conversations, and interaction with vendors. By holding ourselves accountable even out of sight of clients, we ensure that inclusivity remains a core principle of our studio.

Painting by Michelle Jane Lee

When we begin each project, our goal in taking a trauma-informed approach to home design and decorating includes finding ways to reduce sensory overstimulation. Sensory triggers can be hugely disturbing for neurodivergent people (particularly those on the autism spectrum), as well as people with chronic migraines, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Alzheimer's, and other chemical or sensory sensitivities (5). Spaces designed with inclusion in mind for neurodivergence and disability will create an environment that feels safe for all users along various spectrums of need. However, even neurotypical people can experience stress from sensory overstimulation, impacting their health and emotional resilience (6). We address this need in home design by creating varied paths to shelter from intrusive sounds, odors, and light. In addition, we empower our clients to limit and customize their exposure to sensory stimuli (7). One way to achieve this is to create smaller sensory retreats within the home, balancing the calming quality of openness with the comforting sense of being enveloped. We use color psychology, textures, and other sensory elements to comfort our clients. Some of this may overlap with general design knowledge of what is considered calming, and some may be specific to each client's taste and sense of comfort.

Painting by Kevin Moore

Our goal as a studio is to create spaces where clients can relax and restore their senses. We achieve this in our projects by intersecting the client's sensory needs with their aesthetic tastes. There is much importance in including art in the spaces we design. At Sarah Barnard Design Studio, art is considered an integral part of home design. Great care is taken not only in the selection of art but also in how and where it is displayed. That said, while there are general notions of what makes a piece of art soothing for a viewer, from the color to subject matter. Ultimately, the most crucial factor is what the client wants to see every day. Clients will benefit most from seeing art that evokes a sense of calm or happiness; however, what that can look like varies widely from person to person. As designers, we offer our guidance and expertise in selecting art for the home.

We can achieve restoration through home design by providing access to nature and integrating natural themes into the spaces themselves. The biophilic design movement has focuses on making nature an integral theme in the home. Biophilic design has tremendous benefits for our emotional, mental, and physical health (8). Views of nature, particularly ones that provide a sense of continuity with the indoors and outdoors, can be one way to achieve this. Prioritizing the use of natural and organic materials can also promote restoration and wellness for our clients. A connection to nature can be undermined by toxic materials that are produced in ecologically harmful ways. On a more symbolic level, we can incorporate nature into an indoor space through organic imagery that evokes the natural world through shape, texture, and color.

Recently, our homes have become even more of a center point in our lives. For many of us, our home has become a workplace, school, and place for recreation all at once, increasing the need for therapeutic and restorative spaces within the home. Unfortunately, mental and emotional restoration has become harder to achieve now that our homes serve more functions than ever. As designers, we must be creative in our approach. We can create boundaries in the home without putting up walls, for example, using a screen to designate an area as a workspace, where the day's stressors can remain out of sight when it's time to relax. We can place extra care and attention into places in the home that offer privacy, letting them act as retreats from the rest of the living space. Thinking beyond a room's most basic function in this way can open up opportunities to create calming, restorative environments in less traditional spaces.

As designers, we have a tremendous opportunity to alleviate trauma by creating healing spaces for our clients while implementing a warm, understanding, and inclusive design process. We may never know or see our clients' struggles, but we can approach each project with empathy, compassion, and practical design knowledge to address their needs. As gratifying as having our clients appreciate our work, it is even more gratifying to know that we can make a tangible difference in their health and happiness.

Ceramic slug by Joseph and Marjorie Lake 

Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah’s work has been recognized by Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Real Simple, HGTV and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).   

Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments that support mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah’s work has been recognized by Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Real Simple, HGTV and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was recognized as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Works Cited

(1) https://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/OEO/training/2019/Trauma-Informed.pdf

(2) https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html

(3) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/05/business/mental-health-facilities-design.html

(4) https://www.linguisticsociety.org/resource/guidelines-inclusive-language

(5) https://www.hksinc.com/how-we-think/research/sensory-well-being-for-adolescents-with-developmental-disabilities-creating-and-testing-a-sensory-well-being-hub/

(6) http://universaldesign.ie/What-is-Universal-Design/The-7-Principles/

(7) https://www.asid.org/lib24watch/files/pdf/8477

(8) https://www.fastcompany.com/90333072/what-is-biophilic-design-and-can-it-really-make-you-happier-and-healthier

The Inclusive Kitchen: Universal Home Design Improves Quality of Life

Interior Design by Sarah Barnard. Photos by Steven Dewall. Originally published in LADESIGN Quarterly, by the Los Angeles chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Universal home design is intended to improve the quality of life for all users, regardless of age or ability. When applied to the kitchen, these principles should ensure safety, efficiency, and comfort. The term was first coined in the 1970s by architect and disability rights advocate Ronald Mace. Since then, universal home design practices have been rising steadily due to its inclusion in formal design education and support from professional associations like ASID, who provide research and case studies for universal design and aging in place.

In my practice, as a WELL and LEED accredited designer specializing in healthy, sustainable interiors, I often find that planning for the future can be intimidating for clients, but doing so ensures they will be happy spending a lifetime in their homes. 

I recently completed a home remodel for a retiree, who wanted the kitchen to function well when cooking for one. However, she often hosts friends and family, so it also had to be designed with entertaining in mind.

Knowing the kitchen would be widely used, we considered universal home design principles to increase its functionality. The aesthetic was inspired by the cool, collected nature of the home's coastal locale and the utility and simplicity of Scandinavian design.

I specified a U-shape layout to provide unobstructed traffic flow and ample counter space. The kitchen is open to the dining area, and there are no barriers, such as steps or a doorway, to separate them. It's a confined space, which reduces the amount of back and forth travel. 

I find that most clients are unwilling to plan for a mobility challenge they may never have. While we can't always get them to agree to a design that accommodates a wheelchair, clients are often comfortable with a clearance of 54 inches for mobility aids such as a walker or cane. If designing for wheelchair mobility, knee to toe clearance allows for easy access.

I used both upper and lower cabinets to give the homeowner plenty of storage. Keeping countertops clear, in turn, mitigates safety risks. The slide-out drawers are gentler on the back — she doesn't have to bend over or reach up high to access what she needs.

A large window provides views of the outdoors and welcomes natural light. Connecting with nature, even through a window, positively impacts our wellbeing by reducing blood pressure, slowing down our heart rate, and alleviating stress. Natural light, combined with the recessed lighting and oversized pendants, relieves eye strain and helps the homeowner safely perform tasks like chopping or peeling. 

For the hardware, I chose large, integrated pulls instead of knobs because they're easier for stiff or shaky fingers to grasp. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 54.4 million Americans are affected by arthritis, the majority of whom are 65 and older. While a knob requires the user to bend their fingers to latch onto it, a cabinet with a pull can be opened with limited dexterity using only one or two fingers. 

The homeowner preferred a single-lever faucet; however, if increased accessibility is the primary concern, touch-less faucets can be an excellent alternative. Clients may be hesitant to select this high-tech feature if their experience has been limited to unreliable public restrooms. Fortunately, more and more stylish options for residential spaces are becoming available. 

If the homeowner were to change her mind, the electrical components could be concealed in a base cabinet or behind an access panel. It's essential to consider your surroundings when installing a touch-less model as some products will not operate correctly if they are in proximity to other metals, like a copper sink or stainless-steel backsplash.

The French door refrigerator can be opened without much exertion thanks to its oversized pulls, and the efficient design means everyday ingredients are displayed for easy access. It has a well-lit interior to aid those with vision loss.

The kitchen countertop is white engineered quartz with subtle gray veining. This human-made material is durable and stain-resistant, requiring less maintenance on behalf of the homeowner. People with impaired vision will be better able to identify the kitchen tools and ingredients in front of them, as the brilliant white creates high contrast. I sourced a cream-colored matte glass tile backsplash to prevent surface glare.

Natural French oak flooring was used throughout the open-concept space, eliminating any unsafe transitions. The material has a matte finish and was designed to be slip-resistant — an absolute must in the kitchen where spills are common. It also feels comfortable underfoot and has more spring to it than other flooring types, which is easier on the joints.

Open shelving on the back of the peninsula adds a pop of color to the space. This bookshelf created an opportunity to display some of her most treasured collectibles, which spark joy each and every time she sees them.

The antique rosewood dining table, sourced from Thailand by the homeowner, is located within close reach of the kitchen, so heavy platters of food needn't be carried far. The open floor plan makes it easy to converse with guests who are seated at the table while she's whipping up hors d' oeuvres in the kitchen. The built-in server provides an additional surface to set down dishes and clears up the dining table to prevent any accidents.

Universal home design can and should be both stylish and seamless. Reexamine the products, materials, and finishes you already use, and consider how they might be implemented in a way that supports people of all abilities. With this project, the homeowner was conscious of her potential future needs and entrusted us with creating a healthy, natural, and minimalist space that would suit her well in the long-term.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP, and LEED AP designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that connect deeply to nature and art. Empathy and mindfulness are the foundation of her practice creating healing, supportive environments that enhance life.