DESIGN LESSONS
Creating a sanctuary with Katie LeClercq
In every project, Seattle-based interior and architectural designer Katie LeClercq likes to create spaces that can serve as personal retreats – whether it be carving out a reading nook or designing a spa-like bathroom. So when DWR asked her to design this guest cabin in the woods as a private getaway, she embraced the opportunity.
“Sometimes, the smaller the space, the grander the opportunity! We don’t need as much space as we’ve been trained to think,” says Katie. “My goal is to treat every room as a place to recharge and foster imagination.”
“Sometimes, the smaller the space, the grander the opportunity! We don’t need as much space as we’ve been trained to think,” says Katie. “My goal is to treat every room as a place to recharge and foster imagination.”
A place to be inspired
Katie designed the narrow living room, which opens up to a view of the forest, as a space for daydreaming, research, and sketching out new ideas. She stocked it with inspiring books and selected pieces that echo the surrounding natural materials and palette. “The Saarinen Table has the ability to elevate any room. I opted to use it as a desk, versus the typical dining table,” says Katie. “In order to keep the compact space from feeling cluttered, I chose minimalist Folk Ladder Shelving to vary heights, and pared-down chairs that allow light to filter through. Tom Dixon’s Copper Shade Pendant appears almost weightless in the small space while adding a soft, warm glow.”
“The word ‘sanctuary,’ for me, means a space where I can immerse myself in things I love and reconnect with what keeps me inspired.” — Katie LeClercq
Invitation to gather
“Similar to indoor living spaces, outdoor spaces
need a focal point, something to gather around – in this case, the Deco Fire Bowl. And I pulled in comfy seating around it with the cushioned Terassi Sofa and airy Hee Lounge Chairs,” united by a black and neutral palette.
A cozy nook for escaping
The tiny attic nook “is about everything we need and nothing we don’t. Sculptural stools improvise as space-saving side tables, Italian linens drape softly over a mattress, while Dot Pillows in my favorite color echo the wooded surroundings.”
