Lifestyle
Homesick
The need to remain at home during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shift of priorities regarding people's homes. Although vaccines may lead a return to more normal work-life patterns, a recent survey by estate agents Savills showed that 49% of respondents expected home working to endure post lockdown.
Interior designers across Latin America have never been busier, the owner of one interior design firm in Peru told us, "We have noticed a change in clients needs. Those working from home have developed new needs and requirements: the kitchen might need remodelled, a spare bedroom may be transformed into an office for two, or perhaps they just need to move and renovate a new property. We have seen a boom in business since lockdown restrictions were put in place."
"We have seen a boom in business since lockdown restrictions were put in place."
Owner, interior design firm, Peru
A Miami based designer who works on high-end property across Latin America had noticed a similar shift, "Before the majority of my work was improving social spaces, such as the dining room and the living room, now we have been working only on working spaces for parents and children. There is greater demand for private spaces in the home too."
A lawyer in Peru confirmed, "We have converted our dining room into a gym and all our bedrooms have been remodelled to accommodate workspace for us and the children. We even replaced the kitchen because now we eat at home three times a day, we realised how old the kitchen had become."
The designer also saw more demand for practical requests, "Many homes in Latin America, even large properties, do not have sealed windows and doors like in Europe. This meant the houses would let more dirt in, but people didn't care because they had cleaners. Now that many people are having to clean their own homes, there has been huge demand for sealed windows and doors!"
"This is a huge opportunity for us to win many new clients but also reconnect with old clients whose needs have changed."
Interior designer, Mexico
The work-home balance has shifted for nearly all of us and for many the previous norms will never return. An interior designer in Mexico was hopeful, "This is a huge opportunity for us to win many new clients but also reconnect with old clients whose needs have changed."
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