Welcome to the family edition

Have you ever designed a home for a family? I haven’t, but I know people who have. Robert and Cortney Novogratz, the US design stars whose series of home renovations cause a regular sensation in the States, each one a colourful, well-considered project rich with joyful detail and lots of striped fabric. But what astounds me is that when they design each of their home projects, they are accommodating a family of nine. Yes, that’s right – seven children and a thriving design business. Their renovation story on page 22 is an important lesson in fun and function.

Most of this issue is about making homes for families, with lots of clever ideas direct from our featured owners – mostly about how they got their incredible homes to fit the people who live in them – but my favourite story this month is on page 100. It’s a simple gallery of family nooks. What’s a nook? It’s a deliberately private, deeply comfortable space made only just big enough to snuggle in with the kids, squash up next to a lover, or lie alone in to take a delicious, quiet moment away from these crazy times. I’ve never craved calm and quiet like I have in 2020. That’s why a nook is next on my list…

Enjoy!