ESCAPE HOMES - Finding your inner peace…

Escape Homes

Finding your inner peace...

Home. Escape. After 3 lockdowns and what seems like an endless number of elastic days stuck at home, these two words are in direct contradiction.

They are our havens from the outside world, yet we cannot wait to leave our homes. Get away, be elsewhere, travel, find escape – seek new sights, sounds, smells and comfort. When we have access to a holiday home, the perfect combination awaits: of home, comfort and escape.

How to ensure this home away from home is always comfortable yet stylish, durable yet elegant, exciting and timeless?

As holidays bring out the best in us - the free spirit, embracing of craziness and pushing of limits - holiday homes call for a heady mix of vernacular, functional and style absolutes, along with personal, whimsical touches. This is true whether your holiday home is a seaside escape or a mountain retreat, a city pied- à-terre or a vineyard estate.

How do we best tackle a holiday home at Galuchat? It is always about who uses it, when and how.

Are you only catering for yourself and your family, or do you lend or rent it out part of the time? The latter may prompt conversation around durable materials, surfaces and fittings, lockable storage and modular use of space. Perhaps a dividing partition that allows a luxurious suite to become two adjoining rooms, or a bathroom with a bath alongside some more flexible shower rooms would be useful? Perhaps you need a more neutral palette combined with eclectic style, to appeal to all and offer something for everyone? With a few touches of colour, conversation pieces and personal touches, you can subtly add character. Is the home used seasonally or year-round? Does it have to provide for varied activities or extreme weather conditions? If so, then it’s about ample, accessible and dedicated yet unobtrusive storage, holding specific outfits, tools, accessories and coverings for each of the options.

Is it likely to host extended family gatherings as well as romantic escapes, bachelor parties and yoga, or creative

“When we have access to a holiday home, the perfect combination awaits: of home, comfort and escape.”

retreats to finish writing that novel? That might require sturdier cutlery and crockery, extendable tables and trundle or bunk beds; extra layered and mood lighting; a (hidden? lockable?) well-appointed bar or wine cellar or tasting room; temperature-controlled and versatile storage; a dedicated TV, cinema or multi-purpose games room; a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a pool, seating with a view, parasols, cloud-soft towels, furry blankets, candle holders and storm lamps…

Designing and sourcing for a holiday home is about setting the scene and creating a versatile, modular décor which anticipates the multiple scenarios you or your guests want to slip into for a few blissful, oblivious days or weeks of escape. Close your eyes.

You could be there...

BY MARIE NOELLE SWIDERSKI

Galuchat Design