For the past two decades, our homes have been designed to maximize flow, and spaces connect from one to the other, often without interruption. And while the popular open-concept floor plan isn’t going away, attention has turned to creating innovative individual spaces with both charm and character. What used to be considered secondary, utilitarian rooms hidden behind closed doors for only a few to see are now being brought into the open. Not only that, they are being bestowed the same level of detail that was once reserved for a home’s most important rooms.
“Historically, spaces like the butler's pantry and mudroom were purely functional,” says Charleston-based interior designer Tammy Connor. “But, today, homeowners appreciate that it's the small moments in life—like grabbing your umbrella on the way out the door, making yourself a cocktail at the end of a long day, wiping your pup's paws on the rug by the back door—that come together to make a life,” she adds. “And why shouldn't these moments - and the design that facilitates them - be as well-considered as the rest of the house?” For Connor, these bespoke spaces provide her clients more of a sense of organization and ease in daily life. “Having things organized in a beautiful, thoughtful way gives people a sense of calm and control and just makes life more pleasant.”