VT Home: 3 Ways To Add “Zen”

In 2015, VT is pleased to announce our entry into home. Our motto has always been image, identity, clarity, and defining your style type gives you a place to begin. Once you have reached that clarity, it is a natural evolution to translate that into your environment as an expression of your authentic self.

Designing your home based on your style type (or at least infusing the elements) allows you to create the perfect space that represents the best version of you. Join us each week as we share our point of view on the incredible world of interior design, applying our principles and philosophies to everything from art and architecture to current trends and designers.

At VT Home, we constantly strive to bring to our clients and readers inspiration based on the principles which we have realized through successful client relationships and over 20 years of work in luxury services. One of our favorite sayings when we work with a client on personal styling is that your closet or dressing room is your inner sanctum–it should be a Zen space, not a torture chamber. That very idea inspired me to look at the concept of what Zen means in the home and explore various elements of design that evoke peacefulness and harmony. Here are three ideas to inspire a more Zen home.

ZEN HOME TIP #1: Minimalism

Minimalism is one concept that can bring an instant sense of calmness. The idea ‘less is more’ can simplify our lives. At the same time, less clutter, less furniture, less decoration and less color can also mean less warmth and less comfort or coziness, so this concept is not for everybody.
What we do for some of our clients is design an opulent and/or colorful primary home and a separate minimalist country or beach house. Of course, not everyone has the means or the desire to manage multiple homes, but we can use some of these elements of zen in the design of our primary residences combining minimalism with luxury to create a peaceful oasis in an otherwise sometimes hectic world.

This townhouse is quite cool and calming, and the architectural design has made an otherwise challenging style of vertical living quite livable.

This bathroom is incredibly zen with the sunken sculptural tub and the use of natural materials.

This example of urban minimalism is still warm and inviting because of the soft, warm tones.

Vera Wang’s California home is perfectly tonal and minimalist.

I love that this is all about the view with less emphasis on whats in the room.

A divinely cold example of minimalistic luxury atop New York City.

ZEN HOME TIP #2: One with nature

Being “one with nature” is another concept that appeals to many when designing a home. Nature tends to calm us and is the perfect backdrop for any home. When I think of Zen living, the idea of indoor/outdoor living is most appealing for any climate. Whether you are living on top of New York City, in a suburban sprawl with a modest sized garden, the middle of the desert or the edge of the sea, using glass in the design to be one with your natural surroundings is ideal. If you can incorporate nature through a water feature or by highlighting a fantastic tree, go for it!

The Japanese have always taken nature into account in design. This bathroom is a lovely example of inviting the outdoors inside.

Living on the edge of Zen is the main idea of this oceanfront home.

Creating a feature in the home that connects you with the outdoors produces a wonderful sense of harmony.

An oasis in the middle of the desert makes the most of a beautifully natural terrain.

This gorgeous outdoor living area in Interior Designer, Paul Davis’ East Hampton home works perfectly for 6 out of 12 months of the year with the fireplace and outdoor grilling area.

ZEN HOME TIP #3: Tonal palette

Whether you choose something chic and luxurious or rustically bohemian, tonal palettes are always soothing. Choose a tone that you feel the most comfortable in. A good way to gauge is to ask yourself if you like to wear the color cream or bright white – cream is warm, white is cool.