i + D - January/February 2021 - 29

Change of Place - By Jesse Bratter

Watterworth Alterman's go-to space-saving trick is to
use a Murphy bed-which often makes its way into her
designs, pandemic or not. " This doesn't necessarily apply
to apartments only, " she says. " I am a big fan of putting
Murphy beds in the office or playroom to make a room
multifunctional. It's such a great option and so practical since
many guest rooms sit untouched except for once or twice a
year. You are able to give your guest a real mattress instead
of a pull-out (with beautiful bedding, of course). I use
Murphy beds frequently in my designs, and often I will
include built-in shelves and storage as part of the Murphy
bed installation to optimize the use of space. "
But in addition to maximizing square footage and finding
multipurpose uses for furniture to make working from home
more functional, McLeod also points to the power of color to
spark joy. With the amount of challenges and loss in 2020-
lack of socialization and staying inside at unprecedented
rates-color is an easy way to change up the home
environment. " I am already seeing clients moving toward
happy colors, " she says, making this prediction: " Whether
it's bold paint on the wall or a cheerful accent, color will be
brighter. My boldly blue living room was such a mood lifter
during 2020; it really made the difference for me. "

A redesigned condo
by ASH Interiors
and Design makes
maximum use of space
with cabinetry that
reaches to the ceiling
and extra seating that
tucks under the counter
when not in use.
(Image: Courtesy of ASH
Interiors and Design)

A serene yet uplifting
blue offers sanctuary in
a bedroom design by
Courtney McLeod that also
provides space for a desk.
(Image: John Neitzel/ Digital
Destinations)

Double duty:
When a house needs to
be more than a home
It's not only those living in apartments or urban areas who
have been affected by the change in the way we live. Single
family homes in the suburbs-many of which have made the
open floor plan so popular over the last decade-have also
had to adapt. With everyone in a household trying to balance
working and learning from home, dedicated spaces with doors
that close for privacy and quiet already have begun to emerge
as more important than ever. " Having dedicated spaces for
certain activities can be a blessing, particularly to find work/
life balance, " McLeod says. " And I think we will hold onto this
trend even as schools and offices reopen. "
Hysmith also believes learning- and working-from-home
spaces are here to stay. She has been fielding questions from
homeowners about where to set up their children's desks-the
answer: along the back wall in the family room to efficiently
keep everyone in the same area, with USB ports and lighting,
of course, or even within closet space so the desk areas
can be closed off when not in use. But it doesn't stop there.
" Functional sheds/tiny houses/all-seasons rooms are going to
be the norm moving forward, " she says. " I think clients will
also be open to making these spaces a place to entertain and
not just work. Being able to socially distance while keeping
people outside of your main home will absolutely be a priority. "

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