Quiet Spaces: The Sound of Style

Pings of mobile devices, flashy videos on giant screens, the clang of the construction site next door. The sights and sounds of modern living can overwhelm us on a daily basis. Sometimes we just need to escape from the noise, find a quiet space and unplug so we can hear each other, and ourselves, clearly again. Some of our favorite quiet spaces, while breathtaking in design, are ones that remove the noise and allow us to breathe slowly and savor each moment we are there.

Designed by architect, Miguel Ángel Aragonés, the Mar Adentro Hotel in San José del Cabo, Mexico is a minimalist masterpiece. Designed in pure white from its walls to its furnishings, visitors are transported to a blank canvas floating over the water that meanders gracefully in and out of the complex. There is nothing to distract you from the stillness except whatever nature may billow over the blue horizon.

A series of white box-like buildings, that open out towards the sea through glass walls, but hide what lies inside from each other with concrete walls.

Yet for some, this aesthetic may be too stark and a sense of quiet is interpreted differently. Turning to a little cabin in the woods surrounded by trees may offer the sense of peace like this space designed by WSD Architects in London. Oddly enough, it lies in the center of the city, but was designed for the owner to provide a retreat for his writing. It’s a tranquil place to escape with thoughts. With a cedar exterior and whimsical shape, the idea was to offer a sense of a mythical hut ducked deep within the forest. The hallmark wood burning hearth anchors the bookshelves that fill the solid wall while the furniture is kept to a minimum, a simple desk set and reading chair. Sometimes that’s all we need.

While we can’t all have a cabin in the woods (or in the city for that matter) we can take elements of quiet living into our own daily lives. Here, we’ve created a perfect balance with this soothing design. It’s not just the clean lines of the Jackson sofa that bring this space into alignment. It’s also the soothing tones of taupe and gray mixed with stripes on the Gordon chair. Design balance is achieved with the addition of the Stewart Chair and Pinebrook cocktail table.

Ultimately, the last place we seek quiet at the end of a long day is the sanctuary of our own bedrooms. The spot where we lay our heads and drift off into a peaceful slumber definitely warrants a calming design.

This modern design by architect Rick Joy for a Manhattan loft features a redesign on what a canopy bed means. With indigo and white linen curtains that hang from the ceiling, they can be pulled closed to make a room around the simple platform bed. Angular reading lights and a clean white paneled wall make this space a unique and quiet space in a 1,000-square-foot apartment.

Whether it be views of the great outdoors, minimal color or soothing furnishings, a quiet retreat is often what we need in order to come back to our lives stronger, more inspired and ready to affect positive change in our worlds.

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