I + D - March/April 2021 - 32

Crossing Over - By Diana Mosher

John P. Cialone

Similarly, when working with residential clients, Tom Stringer Design
Partners focuses on comfort, according to Cialone, and he describes the
firm's bespoke interiors as client-centric. " Before COVID, we already were
putting desks in bedrooms because we liked them as a nightstand, " he
explains. " When a guest comes, it's great for them to be able to pop open
their laptop or take a Zoom call. When there's only one home office-or
there's only one desk in a house-then the dining table becomes the second,
third, or fourth desk. People are realizing quickly that every room needs to
have some sort of work surface, even if it's not an official desk. "

(Image: Jorge Gera)

At the custom level, Cialone says he can make even the most elegant desk
height adjustable. Anything is possible. " You could have a farmhouse table
go up and down, because technology is amazing, " he says, adding that
people are very attuned to comfort. They worked in a very comfortable desk
chair at their office, and now they want the same kind of hard-working chair
when they work from home. " It's lovely when the gray, blue, and white room
has a navy blue desk chair to match, " he says. But now, it's more important
to have the extreme comfort that an ergonomic desk chair can offer.

Comfort Drives Luxury

In the home overall, Cialone believes open plan layouts will continue to be
popular, but homeowners also will want private spaces that can be closed off
temporarily as needed.

Comfortable seating, soft lighting,
rich textures, and fine art lend
a luxury residential feel to Alinea,
a restaurant in Chicago.

Chicago restaurant Alinea boasted minimalist interiors, designed
by Tom Stringer Design Partners, when it opened in 2005. The
dramatic space provided the ideal backdrop to its modernist
cuisine. Ten years later, Alinea's owners Nick Kokonas and Grant
Achatz unveiled a sophisticated redesign-also by Tom Stringer
Design Partners-that has modern elements but is much
more traditional, according to John P. Cialone, partner and vice
president at Tom Stringer Design Partners.
" The furnishings are clean and contemporary, but the
interpretation of the space is like a 1920s Parisian townhouse.
There are layers of crown molding, and it's very elegant, " says
Cialone. Alinea comprises a series of rooms that open onto
each other much like they would in your own residence, where
the dining room is related to the entry or to the living room or
the kitchen. The residential vibe is reinforced by soft lighting,
carpeting that keeps down the noise, and original artwork.
" Sitting next to a painting that's potentially valuable and unique
doesn't happen in a lot of restaurants, " says Cialone. " That's
a very residential experience. It feels like someone's dining
room to some degree, even though you're eating with six other
tables in the room. " Depending on the pairings and courses,
the Alinea dining experience can last up to four hours. It calls
for comfortable seating, and many chairs were tested by the
design team before a decision was made.

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Cialone further observes that hospitality spaces will need to revisit residential
ideas regarding comfort, as hotel guests will be spending more time in their
rooms than before COVID. " Do you really want to sit at the desk when you
have the mirror that reflects your bed? Can you and your partner both eat
in the room-most times there's only one chair. Is the lighting good? I think
these things will need to be addressed, " he says.

Creating Zones for Work
When designing home offices,
the team at HBx Studio brings
their commercial design
expertise to the projects. In both
scenarios-commercial and
residential work-they pay a lot
of attention to lighting. " Natural
daylight is the best, and window
treatments should encourage
as much light as possible, " says
Brittney Herrera, co-founder,
principal, and director of design
at HBx Studio and founder of
Wildwood House. Task lighting
at the desk-and wherever
paperwork will be done-is also
important. Herrera adds that ring
lights have become very popular
for online meetings, and HBx is
now using soft light diffusers for
clients with glasses who don't
want the reflection of the ring
light to appear on camera.

" Working and learning from
home has been our reality for
more than a year now, and
many design clients appreciate
the flexibility that comes
with it. We are expanding
our procurement services
into Wildwood House, a retail
store that will focus on the
work-from-home experience, "
adds Herrera. " Our clients are
demanding a seamless home
office that provides them with
the functionality of their former
workplaces and an aesthetic that
fits into their personal style. "

i+D - March/April 2021

21-03-30 17:18
I + D - March/April 2021

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