In the words of Leonardo da Vinci, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.
In an interior design context, simplicity means not only having fewer things in a space, but planning the space with purpose. Whilst it can be challenging to achieve, it is a true hallmark of living well. Good design is so much more than what we see, it’s how it makes us feel. It should be invisible in the sense that it facilitates an experience of a space rather than visually dominates it. We’re not just talking about minimalism. We’re talking about how necessary elements in a space can seamlessly combine to enhance a client’s living patterns, behaviours and emotional experience without them being noticed.
Regardless of whether we are briefed to transform a living room in a loft apartment in the heart of downtown Manhattan or reimagine a dining room in a Victorian terrace in Melbourne, our discreet design approach strives to create spaces that feel simple and effortless.
While every client’s idea of the perfect living environment is different, we define it as a peaceful, purposefully-designed space where everything has a place. It is this combination of practical planning and an intuitive understanding of how space functions that truly redefines the art of living well, enabling the transformation of a space into a sanctuary.
For some people who tend towards decorative and ornate interiors in their homes, the mention of words like simple or minimal may be cause for concern. Minimalism, in a stylistic interior design sense, is often perceived as being bland, boring and lacking character. However, we consider minimalism to mean planning, arranging and filling a living space according to the elements and assets that are necessary to enhance the lived experience within it. When the interiors of a home have been designed to anticipate a client’s lifestyle and living patterns without them being conscious of these design principles at work, the power of invisible design is experienced first-hand.
A purposeful design approach is only possible through a deep understanding of how clients interact with different living spaces in their homes, and what they consider to be most important. We refer to this as understanding their patterns of living.
This begins with a primary exploratory phase during which designers must learn how a client will use a space and what they desire from it. This can range from navigational accessibility, to mood-enhancing colours and natural light, as well as devising bespoke storage solutions. We are committed to designing living environments that authentically respond to client’s daily lifestyles, without them necessarily being aware of how design is fulfilling this need.
At Nexus Designs, we applied this signature approach to ‘Apple Eyed’ — a US-based client’s loft apartment in a former wrapping-paper factory in Tribeca, New York City. Devising a diverse series of interior updates across the property, the new flexible design anticipates the client’s behaviours and patterns of living. A successful professional couple with a beloved dog, and a passion for hosting, the space now meets the needs for when it’s just them and when they’re entertaining.
Enlarging the kitchen and making it the focal point of the communal entertainment space, we left the upper spaces clear, and installed concealed kitchen appliances and an integrated cooktop to allow for a cleaner, more expansive look. This, alongside the provision of ample custom storage including a new discreet ‘mud room’ at the entry, as well as a bespoke dressing room demonstrates a purposeful approach to discreet design that is felt in the way it not only anticipates the client’s lifestyle, but actually enhances it. From the smallest textural details that stimulate the senses, such as the rift-cut oak used in the custom-joinery to the kitchen bench upholstered in super-soft leather, and the sizeable space interventions, including the exposure and accentuation of the original columns that run the length of the apartment — all of these design-choices facilitate connection and interaction, creating a space that feels logical, simple and effortless.
Discreet design facilitates a visceral experience of a living space when the focus of interior planning shifts from how design looks to how it makes a client feel. Shifting the emphasis away from filling a space with furnishings and decoration to instead creating an atmosphere, through light, colour, acoustics, air quality and ergonomics are all ways of shaping the ‘invisible’ design of a space.
When designing to elevate or transform a space in the home, we consider how to maximise these existing elements in order to create a sanctuary that facilitates both a visceral and emotional experience for clients. Nexus Designs’ transformation of the two-level ‘Lofty’ apartment project in East Melbourne is a further example of how we design according to discreet design elements like natural light, acoustics and spatial ergonomics, elevating the living experience for a busy family of four.
Our purposeful approach to spatial planning created different living zones across the apartment for respective family members, as well as carefully considering factors like acoustic separation, usability and privacy across spaces. The inclusion of custom glass sliding doors throughout the apartment allowed for maximum light permeability, while the addition of high-gloss finishes reflect light and create joyful ambience across the residence.
The role a well-designed home can play in supporting people’s wellbeing has been at the core of Nexus Designs’ approach since the studio’s founding, over fifty years ago. Spurred on by the pandemic, this concept is rightly now being more widely acknowledged and discussed. As public-perception shifts, we work with our clients, across residential typologies to deliver beautiful functionality — planning spaces with purpose, and intentionally filling them with less — demonstrating our commitment to redefine the art of living well. We will continue to champion an approach that realises designs that facilitate the experience of spaces rather than those which visually define them.
