Interior Ins and Outs

His’n and Her’n

In: His and her rooms are making a big comeback. Beson says that designing a bathroom is a chance to create a jewelbox—a little piece of perfection—so it’s not surprising if Mr. and Ms. prefer different ones. Bathrooms are also becoming more like spa retreats than purely functional cubes, featuring luxurious additions like separate shower and tubs, steambaths, and even TVs. His bathroom might feature dark cherry paneling and ponderous furniture for a masculine feel. Her bathroom incorporates light finishes and a pretty vanity for a feminine atmosphere. Some are even set up with a barber’s or hairdresser’s chair for visits from hairstylists and makeup artists. It’s a reminder of the days when “toilette” referred to the rituals of grooming, dress, and coiffure rather than the porcelain throne.

Another Victorian comeback is separate master bedrooms, or a single master bedroom with a “snoring room” alongside.

Out: A separate room for the dog. But according to Strangis, he may get his own heated shower area in the garage, along with other luxuries unheard-of in the space formerly devoted to derelict bicycles and oil-stained floors. High-end garages feature tiled and heated floors. For many car-dependent Minnesotans, the garage is the first point of entry to the home, Strangis adds, and ought to make a good impression.

In: Hiring a professional. This is a perennial In and an eternal Do.

Out: DIY á la TV shows such as Design on a Dime and Trading Spaces, where homes are transformed in 24 hours on $2,000 budgets. Ramsey Engler refers to it slightingly as “design in a can.” Although such shows are fun to watch (Beson is a fan), they give people unrealistic expectations about what can be accomplished within a short timeframe and a parsimonious budget. “Designers don’t do makeovers,” LaMendola states, adding that these shows make designers look shoddy and unprofessional. “It takes a month to do a five-by-seven bathroom, and it’s not because designers are delaying things. You really don’t want to live in a home that has been redesigned overnight.” So, as with soap operas, DIY makeover shows are good fun to watch, but you don’t want to make any life decisions based on them.

In: Peaceful surroundings with a limited number of elements and an attention to negative space. “Neutral backdrops and fewer pieces of furniture give spaces room to breathe,” Beson says. “Life today is more chaotic and complicated—homes should counter this by being simpler.”

Strangis and Ramsey Engler applaud living areas that are multi-use, with retractable TVs and movie screens, rather than dedicated home theaters bristling with audio-visual equipment. “Things are getting scaled back without people having to give up the necessities,” Engler says.