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Getting emotional at home

Spaces that reach beyond esthetic appeal and meet our functional desires make emotional quotient a design priority

ELAINE SMITH

When Oomesh Patel designed his dream home in Oakville six years ago, he was focused on ensuring his family’s living spaces were comfortable. Once the pandemic hit and the five of them were at home 24/7, his perspective shifted toward the home’s emotional quotient — and he found it lacking.

EQ is an intangible yet very real measurement of a space’s ultimate suitability for its occupant’s needs and desires. A home’s emotional quotient takes into account its usefulness for living, working, playing and entertaining. Patel realized, as Ontario moved into lockdown last year, that it was time to finish his home’s basement to allow everyone more space to spread out.

“As soon as COVID-19 hit, I realized we were missing some common hangout areas,” he said.

The renovated basement now has a kitchenette, with fridge and microwave, which his three teens enjoy while Patel makes regular use of the home gym around the corner.

“If you’d asked me about the layout before, my answer would have been different than it is now.”

Patel sought the assistance of designer Red Barrinuevo, principal designer at Redesign4More.

“Especially because people are cooped up — more than being pretty, a home should be functional,” said Barrinuevo.

“Prior to COVID-19, downtown condos, for example, were just there for people to sleep in; they never thought they’d be staying there 24/7 and never bothered to maximize their balconies or outdoor space because they didn’t need to,” Barrinuevo said.

Scott Russell, a realtor with the Oakville office of Engel & Völkers, a agrees with Barrinuevo.

“People would work long hours and go out; they never previously took note of their living space,” Russell said. “If you’re not there much, your space doesn’t play as significant role in your life.

“But if you’re going to spend so much time there, it has to feel right. With changing lifestyles come changing needs.”

Russell says EQ was an important part of the home-buying process, even before the pandemic.

“Ever since I started selling 13 years ago, I quickly realized that people had an emotional reaction when they walked into a home,” he said. “It’s not something you can put into the search criteria; you either feel it or you don’t when you go to see a home.”

Barrinuevo agreed: “Good design means a space isn’t just pretty; it should work well. If you can’t be comfortable, you’re not making good decisions.”

He said he asks clients to consider how they will use the room; whether it is a long-term or selling-feature change; ad which age groups will be using it.

The Patels had planned to their basement as a bedroom and large storage room before the pandemic. Then, with Barrinuevo’s assistance, the large space now features a family room where the five can spend time together; a gym; a kitchenettewith a refrigerator and a microwave; and a washroom/changeroom. The family room includes a large sectional sofa, a popcorn-maker, an 85-inch TV screen and a heated floor.

“It’s self-contained, so I can even have a customer come over through the separate entrance,” said Patel.

“In the past, when I used Red’s services, I’d ask him to make things look beautiful and wonder about function later. Now, it’s function first and then style.”

“I wondered if I spent all this money on the space, would it go to waste?” said Patel of the $200,000 renovation, “but it’s worked out great so far.”

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2021-07-31T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-31T07:00:00.0000000Z

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