Luxury interior design has evolved. At Atelier Roux, we believe that true luxury is not just about aesthetics—it’s about creating spaces that enrich your daily life while reflecting your unique story. This approach is livable luxury: a seamless blend of elegance, functionality, and personal expression.
Our work tells our clients’ stories, reflecting their lifestyles through designs that balance sophistication with practicality. In this article, we’ll explore what livable luxury means, how we prioritize it in our projects, and how this philosophy transforms the homes we design.
What is Livable Luxury in Interior Design?
At its core, livable luxury is about balance. It’s the art of merging refinement with function—spaces that radiate beauty but remain approachable and usable for day-to-day life. It’s the velvet sofa in the living room where family movie nights unfold, the custom kitchen island where guests gather during dinner parties, and the luxurious rug that can withstand the footsteps of children and pets.
How Atelier Roux Brings Livable Luxury to Life
Our process begins with one essential step: understanding you. We approach every project as a collaboration, working closely with our clients to uncover the essence of their lifestyle and translate it into a design that feels authentically theirs. Here’s how we make it happen:
Client-Centric Design
Our approach centers on understanding and translating our clients’ lifestyles into authentic, timeless, and personal designs. Every step of our process reflects this ethos.
From Consultation to Collaboration
Our journey with clients begins with a working consultation (60-90 minutes). During this meeting, we walk through the space, discussing what works, what doesn’t, and what clients envision for their homes. This sets the foundation for a seamless collaboration.
Once clients are officially onboard, we dive deeper into the kickoff meeting, reviewing detailed questionnaires and inspirational images to understand their needs, preferences, and aspirations. This allows us to design spaces that are not just beautiful but meaningful.
This dialogue shapes every detail of the design. For example, in our Henry Street townhouse in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, a family wanted a home seamlessly transitioning between entertaining and everyday living. We crafted an open-concept kitchen with a custom island, creating a space equally suited to hosting dinner parties and enjoying family breakfasts.reating a space equally suited to hosting dinner parties and enjoying family breakfasts.
Designing for Function First
Functionality is the cornerstone of every design we create. Before selecting materials or furnishings, we plan layouts that maximize flow, usability, and practicality.
In our Clinton Street apartment renovation in Brooklyn, for example, we faced a uniquely angular living and dining area. The challenge was to ensure the space felt cohesive and navigable. We opted for a pill-shaped dining table that encouraged easy movement between the kitchen, living area, and the rest of the apartment.
By designing with flow and functionality in mind, we ensure that every space is beautiful and effortless.
Timeless Materials: Luxury That Lasts
Materials play a pivotal role in achieving livable luxury. Every texture, fabric, and surface is chosen to balance sophistication and durability. At Atelier Roux, we believe that luxury doesn’t have to mean expensive. Instead, it’s about selecting timeless, elevated materials while standing the test of time.
For instance:
- Performance fabrics that resist stains without compromising on softness.
- Quality-crafted furniture that is built to last a lifetime.
- Natural materials like stones and woods ground a space with timeless beauty.
The right materials not only enhance the aesthetic but also contribute to the longevity of the design.
Custom Pieces for a Personalized Touch
Livable luxury is deeply personal. We incorporate custom elements that reflect each client’s personality to create homes that tell unique stories. Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind art piece, bespoke furniture, or custom finishes, these details transform a house into a home and could be heirlooms.
For example:
- In our Clinton Street apartment, a custom-designed bar cabinet was crafted to fit the space in size and style and displays a curated spirit collection while serving as a functional yet artful statement.
- Commissioned artwork can serve as a focal point, tying the design together while celebrating the homeowner’s taste.
Customization allows you to gain pieces made specifically for your space, elevating them from simply stylish to truly special.
What We Prioritize in Every Design
Drawing on our experiences in New York, Paris, and beyond, we have identified key elements that make livable luxury a reality in every home we design:
Storytelling Through Design
Every home we design is as unique as its inhabitants. Through careful curation, we infuse personality into every corner. Some ways we might do this are by:
- Incorporating heirloom furniture into a new design scheme.
- Using artwork as a focal point to tell a story.
- Choosing custom finishes that reflect the homeowner’s tastes.
Practical Elegance
We approach design with an understanding that life happens. A luxurious white sofa is practical only if wrapped in performance fabric; a sprawling dining table is valuable only if it withstands the mess of a family feast. We bridge these gaps, ensuring every element serves both form and function.
A Holistic Experience
Livable luxury extends beyond furniture and decor. It’s about how a space feels, sounds, and interacts with those within it. We carefully consider acoustics, transitions between spaces, and even the scents that might define the home.
How We Help Clients Achieve Livable Luxury
At Atelier Roux, our role is to turn aspiration into reality. From start to finish, we guide our clients through every step of the journey:
- Design Discovery: We begin with a collaborative process to uncover your vision, needs, and preferences.
- Concept Development: Our team presents tailored design concepts, material choices, and layouts that align with your goals.
- Execution and Oversight: Every detail, from custom millwork to the final accessory, is handled carefully and precisely.
Our expertise ensures that each project is handled with the care and precision that luxury demands, leaving our clients with spaces they love to live in.
Experience Livable Luxury with Atelier Roux
Livable luxury isn’t just a design philosophy—it’s a way to transform your home into a space where elegance and everyday living coexist. At Atelier Roux, we specialize in creating homes where memories are made and cherished, designed to reflect your story and meet the needs of your life.
If you’re ready to reimagine your space, we invite you to:
- Explore our portfolio to see our work.
- Learn more about our services and process.
- Book your complimentary discovery call and let us help you achieve livable luxury.
For more inspiration, read our Minimalist Apartment Design blog post to explore how simplicity and luxury can coexist.
Atelier Roux is a full-service design firm run by Manon Roux. We’re dedicated to crafting bespoke interiors that harmonize with the rhythm of our clients’ lives, seamlessly merging sophistication with purpose in every narrative we create.
Interested in working together? Fill out an inquiry form here and let’s talk about how we can help!
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