Home, Sweet Cocoon

When Ann Hyman moved from a roomy single-family home in Avondale to a two-bedroom condominium on the St. Johns River, the Jacksonville author was sure of two things. First, she wanted her new home to be uncluttered, reflecting her semi-retirement commitment to a simpler lifestyle. Second, she wanted her surroundings to be comfortable and restorative.

She accomplished the first objective by giving some furnishings to her adult son and sending other superfluous possessions to the family beach house in St. Augustine. Accomplishing the second objective, however, took a little more thought.

"I'm not a conservative person, but my taste in furniture leans toward the traditional," says Hyman. "I kept the dining room table and sideboard that had been my grandmother's, even though the pieces are fairly large, because it makes me happy to feed friends and family at that table. But I didn't want the condo to feel stuffy or overdone."

Hyman furnished her living room, which enjoys stunning river views, in soft shades of sage, muted gold and gray, with the occasional spark of burgundy. A large sofa and two oversized, overstuffed chairs with ottomans invite guests to linger, and a variety of small tables accommodate drinks or books.

Artwork includes whimsical folk pieces as well as a painting of sea grapes-inspired by the trees at Hyman's beach house-by Orange Park artist Marilyn Taylor. Sheer white drapes frame the glass doors leading to the small garden and the river beyond, bringing the light and magic of the setting into the living room.

"I had some concerns about moving," Hyman admits. "The old house had a lot of memories. But once everything fell into place, it felt like I'd lived here a long time. It felt like home."

Trendwatchers say Hyman typifies the prevailing American attitude toward home and hearth. Whatever their tastes, people want their homes to provide a respite from the increasingly scary and stressful world outside. There's even a word for it: "cocooning."

Consequently, interior designers say the word they now most often hear from clients is "comfort." Some covet a sumptuous, spa-like bathroom while others dream of a sprawling country kitchen or a serene library. The common denominator is the desire for a nurturing environment.

"Everyone is looking for comfort," says Louise Fontaine of Jacksonville-based Fontaine & Fontaine interior designers. "They're interested in developing a retreat for themselves. For some people, it can be one particular room-but for most people, it's the entire home."

Fontaine says she establishes a sense of comfort by creating "touchable spaces" within the home, using furniture and fabrics that are both functional and inviting. Depending upon the client, those spaces can be calming or vibrant, ultra-chic or homey. "Comfort doesn't reflect a particular style or period," explains Fontaine. "A home can be modern, transitional or filled with antiques."

Fabrics and colors are useful tools, Fontaine says. For example, a mix of textures-think cottons, woven fabrics, decorative stitching and leathers, both soft and slick surfaces-can create a sense of comfort. And a mix of colors-cool, warm or hot, depending upon personal preference-can establish a mood and even affect emotions.

Surfaces and finishes also play a major role in the comfort equation. At the most recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, modern creations boasting curvy lines and tactile finishes-including doily-inspired cutwork tabletops, bentwood chaises, nubby pillows with crewelwork designs and globe-shaped lampshades with zigzag pleats-dominated the show.

Faith K. Mellar, a Jacksonville-based interior designer, says that chenille, a plush fabric that exudes comfort, has become popular for furniture coverings and accessories. Buttery-soft leathers can be used to add a sense of permanence and security to a room, although Mellar warns against buying cheaper split cowhide. "Real leather becomes warm very quickly when you touch it," she explains. "Less expensive versions remain cold and that's not very comfortable."

Although cozy furniture and inviting surfaces are important, other less obvious factors contribute to the home-as-retreat scenario. "For example, lighting adds warmth to a room," Mellar says. "There should be no dark corners."

Mellar and other designers say types of lighting, ranging from tightly focused spots to softly diffused lamps to chandeliers on dimmers, can create mood and give character to a room. Even the type of light bulbs used can make a difference. Some bulbs cast a clean white light while others contribute a gold or pink glow.

In some cases, convenience is the ultimate comfort factor. For example, if your family lives to play board games, you should invest in a proper game table with good lighting and adequate storage. If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen, a layout that's both inviting and fits the flow of activity may be more important than exotic appliances and dramatic quarried countertops.

In other words, make it easy to take it easy. Whatever you like to do to relax, outfit your home so that you can do it easily.

Rita Scholz of Amelia Interior Design notes that comfort goes beyond obvious factors such as furnishings, lighting and accessories for hobbies and interests. Sometimes, as the song says, little things mean a lot. "I have clients who had never slept on high-end cotton sheets," says Scholz. "They could afford them, but just never thought about buying them. I included a set of really good cotton sheets in a design package, and they didn't want to sleep on anything else after that."

High thread-count cotton sheets may strike some as a bit overindulgent. But Scholz contends that not all comfort-related purchases have to be expensive. Often, she notes, something as incidental as the right blind for a window or a warm, soft throw for a favorite chair can do the trick.

Of course, sometimes even a home furnished with all of your favorite things can feel out of whack. That, insists Scholz, is when it's time to call in a professional. "When a room is arranged using the principles and elements of design, there's a feeling of comfort that you don't get when a room is out of balance," she says. "If a room is not functional, then it's not comfortable."

Chris Casson Madden, host of HGTV's Interiors by Design and author of 13 books, agrees with the local experts. "Home life continues to be centered on comfort and ease," Casson says. "It's the denimization of fussy fabrics and furniture and a paring down of anything that doesn't suggest comfort or utility."

Jacksonville area homeowners have the great advantage of beautiful surroundings-ocean, river and marsh views and the lush gardens-to nourish souls and make home seem even more like a comforting retreat.

Hyman says she's happy with her condo décor. But now that she's experienced the mesmerizing tranquility of the river outside her door, she believes she'd be as happy with a just a comfy chair, a footstool, a good lamp and a place to rest a book.

"Well, maybe that and my grandmother's table," she says with a smile. "People have to have a place to eat."