6 Residential Architectural Ideas for a Cozy Home
Fred Wilson, AIA
Founding Partner at Award Winning Chicago Architects, Morgante Wilson
Dec 5, 2023 - 5 min read
Our homes are the backdrop to our daily lives, so of course we want them to be welcoming havens where warmth and connection thrive. In a world that can make us feel we’re constantly on the move, the desire for a home that not only shelters but embraces us with open arms becomes increasingly important. As residential architects, the MWA team knows plenty of ways to create homes that feel like the equivalent of a warm embrace. Here are six of our favorite residential architectural ideas to turn any house into an inviting retreat:
Window seats
There’s nothing quite as charming as a little nook in front of a window, where natural light can stream in as you enjoy a book, chat on the phone, or just gaze outside. Little architectural moments like these harken to slower, easier times – and are so easy to incorporate!
Fireplaces
A fireplace might seem like an obvious idea – of course they warm a house, both literally and figuratively. But you know us – we like to go a little deeper than the obvious! That’s why we suggest incorporating fireplaces into outdoor spaces. Or making them two-way fireplaces, so people in, say, a dining room and a living room can both enjoy the sight, sound, and smell of a crackling fire at the same time. Or even giving them round openings instead of the expected rectilinear shapes. Any of these are ways to up your fireplace game and add comforting ambiance to your home.
Banquettes
Why not bring the inviting drama of your favorite restaurant booth to your own kitchen? We love it when our clients forgo a standard table and chair arrangement in favor of a banquette. It’s an easy way to elevate your kitchen design and make a unique statement at the same time – not to mention envelop your family and enhance your togetherness.
Ceiling treatments
We refer to a ceiling as the fifth wall in a room – which is why it deserves the same attention as every other wall. We love to paint ceilings, wallpaper them, add rustic beams for visual heft and warmth, apply silver leaf them…. the list of ways you can embellish a ceiling is practically endless. Not only does an embellished ceiling yield decorative interest, but it also creates a cocoon effect that we highly recommend.
Built-in bookshelves
From a practical point of view, integrated bookshelves provide a means of storage and display. From an emotional point of view, they can also elicit joy, since many people take pleasure in seeing their book collections – especially when they’re arranged alongside personal mementos such as family photographs and treasured objects. They evoke a sense of permanence, tradition, and gentility. Beyond that, bookshelves remind us of the enjoyment of quiet pursuits and the pleasure of time spent in reflection. That’s a lot of mental health benefit from an architectural element, wouldn’t you agree?
Not-so-big rooms
“Intimidated” and “exposed” are words people sometimes use to describe the feeling they get when they enter a cavernous space. That’s the exact opposite of how you want to feel in your own home. Generous square footage is great and offers many benefits in terms of functional space. But sometimes, more is too much, and less is just right. Many of our clients enjoy spacious kitchens and gathering rooms, but then ask us to give them smaller, more intimate “away” rooms – places they can escape to when they want to feel cocooned. Sometimes, they’re not even rooms. They’re more like unexpected surprises that add immeasurable charm and character to a house. And yes, coziness! Think about jewel box powder rooms, bars tucked beneath staircases, offices large enough to fit just a desk, a chair, and perhaps a loveseat – you get the idea.
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