This property was developed in the 1950’s with a relatively bare landscape. The rear yard was nothing special, but had some privacy. The owners set out to create mini gardens around the entire house. A koi pond was added first. Over time, plants were added that began creating pockets of spaces that gave each area a room-like feel. With each hole dug, rock was removed from it to install the pond or install a plant. The rock in the ground became the same rock used around the pond and used for stone walls. There is sun, shade, privacy, and the sound of water that stimulates the senses. The latest section of the master plan was to develop a more formal area (seen from the living room) with the diagonal blue stone set into the lawn. A picket fence separates it from a vegetable garden. A new fire pit is nestled among a row of hemlocks and rimmed shrubs. Photo by Daniel Contelmo Jr.

When designing joining rooms, or whole houses, we at Lila Ray Designs understand the necessity of unification. This traditional living room is connected to the dining room, as well as the foyer, and family room. When we design, we do not simply reflect the same aesthetic and push it throughout every space. We embrace elements and create a harmony of visual stimulation.

**Featured Baltimore Sun's Dream Home** In need of a place to call home in the States, this Australian family with a primary residence in Hong Kong needed a turn-key residence, complete with kitchen utensils and linens. We carefully designed each room with a color scheme that matches its function. The children's room features stimulating primary colors. The kitchen utilized bold blue to inspire creativity. Warm and relaxing tones are used in the living room and bedroom. Assisted by Jenny Wohl of Turner Design Firm

The Jason Alba Playpark is designed as an extension of the client's mission statement: To unite the mind, body, and spirit. Students work in specially designed areas (zones) alongside therapists to support individual needs with sensory-seeking and avoiding tendencies. • Acoustic –Embracing rhythm during vibration and sound therapy can lead to dance: a physical embodiment of emotions created by sound. • Tactile - Sensory exposure is expressed through different textures, colors, and surface temperatures of materials. A tactile wall and pathway allow students to encounter varying surface conditions, strengthening their ability to react to changing conditions encountered every day. • Active – Promoting healthy minds through activity: the active zone encourages the use of adaptive and accessible equipment, social engagement through physical activity, and inspires confidence through play. • Color - Each color evokes different feelings that can calm, soothe, invigorate, and excite. • Nature - A calming space with a greenhouse and sensory gardens establishes a welcoming environment for therapy sessions. Aromatherapy in the gardens stimulate one’s senses engaging in all aspects of therapy through the selection of safe plant materials. • Water –Features such as harvesting, cleaning, and reusing rainwater teach sustainability and permeable surfaces facilitate save play.

The idea of this project was to create a special environment that stimulates all senses in the human body, an environment that is vibrant and most importantly interactive for all ages. We began by searching for the right materials to create a specific feeling of time and space. Placement of the water feature was designed by studying how the customer used their home. The waterfalls and streams connect separate outdoor spaces and accommodate for all views outdoors and indoors. A sense of mystery is designed into every detail in this water feature. The layout of the ponds play accordingly with the sun for excellent reflections, and each rock formation has time designed into it. The environment is inviting, and interactive. Each person that walks out to explore the environment has his or her curiosity rewarded by discovering plant life, trickling streams, and several waterfalls only to be discovered by the inquisitive explorer. Photos by: Linda Oyama Bryan

We worked around the style of the bed to stimulate a subtle mood that stands firmly on the thin line between contemporary and minimal. We created custom walnut nightstands that help certify the bed as the rooms throne. By pushing the kitchen walls further to the center of the apartment, we were able to grant the residents with their own personal hallway. Within this hallway we maximized the amount of space available for storing clothes and shoes. The recessed lighting and walnut flooring in the hallway encompasses the essence of a modern day boutique. The walk in closet is merely an extension of the same materials and quality.

Upon acquiring the property, the homeowner faced a compact backyard dominated by a neglected lawn that offered little usability. The ambition was not only to enhance the outdoor space's utility but to inject it with vibrant aesthetics and dynamism through the hardscape. To bring this vision to life, we embraced a palette of colorful materials, choosing multicolored concrete, pavers, and tiles that introduce a playful yet sophisticated charm. Further creativity was applied in the design through the use of curvy lines that flow organically throughout the space, leading the eye and inviting movement. Beach rocks were thoughtfully embedded into decorative bands, adding a tactile and visual texture that complements the curvilinear approach. This strategic combination of color, texture, and form transformed the backyard into a visually stimulating and highly functional outdoor living area.

The mammoth phalanxes of white-brick apartment houses that proliferated in the 1960s occupy an architectural purgatory; generic, with boxy interiors devoid of detail, many aren’t even interesting enough to excite a raised eyebrow. Our solution for this exemplar near Astor Place, which fortunately was blessed with premium skyline views, was to relieve the interior ordinariness by stimulating the senses with tactile variety. Axis Mundi created a complexly layered textural palette that injects visual adrenaline into the architectural envelope: a television set into a waxed steel panel topped by clerestory windows with a built-in planter for grasses; wenge wood walls rising from richly figured walnut floors; white subway tile surrounding a subtly colored penny-tile mosaic tub and wall; in the kitchen, Venetian plaster, steel, stone and wood mix harmoniously as a surprisingly spiced exotic concoction. The interiors exude a confident masculinity that challenges the complacency of bland, white-box living. Project Team: John Beckmann and Esther Sperber | Studio ST Photography: Andrew Garn Contractor: John Marsh © Axis Mundi Design LLC

This homeowner’s outdoor living area was redesigned to add some elegant characteristics. In order to do this, various materials were used. The retaining walls found along the property were made from PA Fieldstone Wallstone. The textures and various colors found throughout this stone easily enhance the outdoor area and offer visual stimulation. Ashler pattern brownstone was used throughout the patio, creating a clean and polished look. This patio surrounded a beautiful swimming pool that was aligned with brownstone caps along the border.The materials that were used in this landscape exterior created a relaxing and enjoyable space, perfect for the family.

This property was developed in the 1950’s with a relatively bare landscape. The rear yard was nothing special, but had some privacy. The owners set out to create mini gardens around the entire house. A koi pond was added first. Over time, plants were added that began creating pockets of spaces that gave each area a room-like feel. With each hole dug, rock was removed from it to install the pond or install a plant. The rock in the ground became the same rock used around the pond and used for stone walls. There is sun, shade, privacy, and the sound of water that stimulates the senses. The latest section of the master plan was to develop a more formal area (seen from the living room) with the diagonal blue stone set into the lawn. A picket fence separates it from a vegetable garden. A new fire pit is nestled among a row of hemlocks and rimmed shrubs. Photo by Daniel Contelmo Jr.

This homeowner’s outdoor living area was redesigned to add some elegant characteristics. In order to do this, various materials were used. The retaining walls found along the property were made from PA Fieldstone Wallstone. The textures and various colors found throughout this stone easily enhance the outdoor area and offer visual stimulation. Ashler pattern brownstone was used throughout the patio, creating a clean and polished look. This patio surrounded a beautiful swimming pool that was aligned with brownstone caps along the border.The materials that were used in this landscape exterior created a relaxing and enjoyable space, perfect for the family.

Beautiful dining room with waterfront views and a red accent wall to stimulate the appetite.
Inspiration for a large tropical medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo remodel in Other with red walls

2 years after building their house, a young family needed some more space for needs of their growing children. The decision was made to renovate their unfinished basement to create a new space for both children and adults. PLAYPOD The most compelling feature upon entering the basement is the Playpod. The 100 sq.ft structure is both playful and practical. It functions as a hideaway for the family’s young children who use their imagination to transform the space into everything from an ice cream truck to a space ship. Storage is provided for toys and books, brining order to the chaos of everyday playing. The interior is lined with plywood to provide a warm but robust finish. In contrast, the exterior is clad with reclaimed pine floor boards left over from the original house. The black stained pine helps the Playpod stand out while simultaneously enabling the character of the aged wood to be revealed. The orange apertures create ‘moments’ for the children to peer out to the world while also enabling parents to keep an eye on the fun. The Playpod’s unique form and compact size is scaled for small children but is designed to stimulate big imagination. And putting the FUN in FUNctional. PLANNING The layout of the basement is organized to separate private and public areas from each other. The office/guest room is tucked away from the media room to offer a tranquil environment for visitors. The new four piece bathroom serves the entire basement but can be annexed off by a set of pocket doors to provide a private ensuite for guests. The media room is open and bright making it inviting for the family to enjoy time together. Sitting adjacent to the Playpod, the media room provides a sophisticated place to entertain guests while the children can enjoy their own space close by. The laundry room and small home gym are situated in behind the stairs. They work symbiotically allowing the homeowners to put in a quick workout while waiting for the clothes to dry. After the workout gym towels can quickly be exchanged for fluffy new ones thanks to the ample storage solutions customized for the homeowners.

Contemporary walnut and paint kitchen with terrazzo style countertops. Pocketing doors hide a wonderful "stimulant center" - caffeine in the morning, alcohol in the evening!

This family room was designed to bring in the sun in creating an over-all contemporary familyroom with a relaxed touch. The space draws you in to it's conversations and surrounds you with it's warmth providing a promise for a light stimulating family and friends interaction.

This garden stimulates all the senses. The birds especially love it. Photo by Jennifer A. Emmer
Mid-sized asian backyard concrete paver patio fountain photo in San Francisco

Mid-sized elegant light wood floor and beige floor bedroom photo in Other with purple walls and no fireplace

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN LOOKING FOR BIOPHILIC WALL ART While you’ll never go wrong by choosing nature-based images, there are particular scenes, colors and styles that will produce the greatest biophilic impact in your space. First and foremost, realistic photographic images of nature or nature scenes tend to produce the most robust biophilic benefits. Realistic scenes stimulate a person’s imagination in a gentle and comforting way, allowing his or her mind to calmly wander through a familiar view. When people look at photographs, they think to themselves, “I’ve never been there before but I know that this is a place that exists and I want to go there”.

For many, professional interior design is a luxury. Whether your home’s design project is large or small, having the ability to transform your house, apartment or condo into a beautiful, unique space is a wonderful opportunity for self-expression. Even if it is a just simple accent wall painted in a color that speaks to you, or a complete renovation of your cabinets to achieve the kitchen of your dreams, interior design allows you to create an environment that is both personal and comfortable. That is exactly how interior designer and founder of Design Exchange Sean Carlson Perry feels about what he does for a living. “The reason that I love designing spaces, and value the impact of space design on people, is the way the spaces make us feel, the visceral appeal of good design. Good design should stimulate the senses and generate an emotionally engaging experience. As a designer, I get to massage and sculpt people’s experience of space!” Perry shared with us. In late 2017, the Paintzen team connected with Perry regarding a very special design project he was working on. Design Exchange was renovating, redesigning and re-furnishing The Ali Forney Center. The Ali Forney Center, based in New York City, is the largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to housing homeless LGBTQ youth. Nearly 40% of the homeless youth population is LGBTQ. Homeless LGBTQ youth are eight times more likely to experience violence, discrimination, and suicide. AFC houses 124 youths each night and provides services to over 1,400 homeless young people per year. Although the organization does an incredible job to provide safety and shelter to homeless youth, Perry and his team felt the space itself could use some updating and could feel more welcoming. Rooms were dark, cold, and lacked proper storage. Furniture was in poor shape and didn’t work. The rooms were being under-utilized; overall, there was so much more that could be done within the walls of the AFC that could be improved using interior design & paint! We at Paintzen were excited to partner with Design Exchange to do our part in this transformation. The dark, paneled walls were re-painted white. This entirely opened up the space, making it brighter, warmer and more welcoming. The white walls also served as a much better backdrop for smart lighting, as well as for the furniture, wall decor, and new flooring. Beyond painting, Perry and his team used FLOR carpet tiles for durability in a bright Fuchsia shade for a pop of color. They created a more functional layout to maximize the space and make better use of its architectural details and added new furniture including lamps, tables, throws, a sofa, a TV and a Roku to make the space beautiful, and even fun. “Design increases connection and community,” Perry told us. “When we revamp a shelter space, history tells us that the residents spend more time in the space, more time with their peers, building connections and community; a greater sense of home.” Perry’s goal was to create an environment that set its residents up for success by improving their quality of life, outlook and self-esteem. “This isn’t extreme home makeover (although I wish I had that budget!). It’s about improving the aesthetics of the space to create a better environment and experience for people who are going through challenging times. I’ve been lucky enough to have an amount of work that allows me to donate a portion of profits to Design Exchange Projects.” Sean Carlson Perry founded Design Exchange as a way to use his talent, passion, and skills to help those who are struggling, or in a place of immediate need. He was searching to bring deeper meaning and a humanitarian component to his work. Perry has worked with clients in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. “Good design—functionally, aesthetically and ergonomically—promotes a better quality of life.” This is a mantra that describes why Perry does what he does through Design Exchange, working to help the underserved of New York City and other cities across the country. “I grew up gay in Nebraska, and have gone through some hard times when I was younger, but I can’t imagine going through what these kids go through – rejection from family, being kicked out of the house for being who they are, homeless and having nowhere else to turn,” said Perry. “Luckily, there is The Ali Forney Center. Doing these projects for AFC strikes close to home for me, so they are extra special and close to my heart.”