Before there was turkey on Thanksgiving, we sat down at an intimate Sunday Supper series with Nest to nosh on boquerones and ham-wrapped artichokes, prepared by the talented chef Alex Raij (La Vara, Txikito). While we made this eclectic group of designers, entrepreneurs, architects, and foodies feel at home with a warm kitchen and rustic touches, Nest invited them to have a conversation about their home—a topic best suited to our design-savvy guests. While we listened, we couldn’t help but think of our own obsession over home and design. Here’s what we learned from our guests.
On a design aesthetic for your home:
The best designs in a home have an emotional story attached and do not just look like an interior designer came in and picked it all out for you. One guest fell in love with Danish Modern furniture when dating his wife and now their house is filled with teak wood. Added bonus: it lasts forever so they can pass their furniture down to their children, namely a dining table set and rocking chair.
Another guest shared, “My house is a home because of its personality and I think that every house has to have personality.” Have your home reflect your adventures and interests. Everything within sight should be an open invitation for inquisitive friends and guests to start a conversation with. If a home is laid out well and designed well, it can say a lot about who that person is.
On design versus function:
We’re big believers that every room should serve a purpose. But that doesn’t mean it can’t look beautiful or have great design. The kitchen should be more about function than design but it can also be Pinterest-worthy with interesting fixtures and small touches, like these finishing salt dishes. Drool over these designs for further kitchen inspiration.
For a kitchen, function matters because it should be intuitive for a cook. Whether you’re whipping up a quick snack or cooking an entire holiday feast, make sure to have your pots, pans, and other kitchen tools tailored to your cooking style. Here’s how we would design a better kitchen.
On making a house a home:
Creator of Sunday Suppers, Karen Mordechai stated, “Home is comfort for sure. What you need at the end of a long day...it's family and it's coming together, having a meal together, and just being calm and hopefully shutting off your phone, and just being in the present moment.” That means designing your home to make sure it fits with your family needs and what you love.
For us, the kitchen is our favorite room and where everyone gathers. No surprise there. Our new BA Kitchen has tons of natural light, which we’re in love with and could really make a room inviting. Also, open layouts and modular seating can provide great flexibility to any space, especially when you have a lot of guests over – it’s what we love best about making a house a home.