INTERIOR DESIGN IS THE BLENDED ART AND SCIENCE OF ENHANCING THE INTERIOR OF A STRUCTURE TO ACHIEVE A HEALTHIER AND MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PEOPLE USING THE SPACE.
Amy Ahearn is a “change agent” in her Williamsburg based firm, Decorating Den Interiors. She views her profession as having a responsibility to not only lead trends but spot them before they break. Her professional radar is tracking the emerging field of Wellness. While she claims not to be a subject matter expert, a few minutes of discourse with her may have her audience thinking otherwise. In the interior design process, as changes are identified, they are in a response to a pain or inability to meet a need. People are pursuing peace, focus, solitude, and mitigating anxiety disorders all by changing the space they occupy. Simply working from home requires creating the best environment to complete necessary tasks well. Living space that is designated for schooling or professional development becomes viewed through a different lens, and means something entirely new to us. Amy asks thoughtful questions of a client at their first consultation to distinguish the clients’ actual needs and wants versus perceived needs and wants.
“Are they taking care of elderly parents? Are they asthmatic or arthritic?” Questions like these reveal a myriad of lifestyle factors to consider. Determining whether noise or light pollution are affecting the space in a negative way will help determine what materials may be employed to correct the issue, or what existing ones are contributing to the disturbance. “There is a lot more to Wellness than just white paint, light, and moving a few plants around,” Amy states. Wellness is a by-product of Biophilic Design, which focuses on the blending of nature, and natural elements into an environment. The practice entreats a connection to nature, and has dated back to the earliest history of mankind. From the simplest solutions, such as cozy blankets, candles, plant life, or a water feature to radiant floor heating, touchless faucets, towel warmers, and steam showers they are all intended to enhance the individual wellness and comfort for the intended use of the space.
