A “Cocoon Room” Is a Nonnegotiable in Your Home, According to This Designer
In theory, relaxation is the whole point of a vacation home. In practice, designer Anita Yokota believes dedicating some square footage of your space to restoration and relaxation should be nonnegotiable. To that end, every element she selected for this cocoon-like “recovery room” in our 2024 Whole Home was intended to cultivate a calming environment, most importantly the Harlequin x Henry Holland wallcovering: “The blue tones help our brains unwind, reduce our cortisol stress levels, and promote a peaceful atmosphere,” Yokota explains. Inspired by clouds, she chose hues, shapes, and furnishings that promote feelings of levity. “I wanted it to be a very intentional place for quiet connection.”
A cream sectional sofa from Wayfair Professional features swivel seats on both ends for ease of conversation. Opposite the sofa, a large-scale lounge chair and mirror triptych anchor the reading corner. A yoga chaise has been slipped in as exercise “equipment” to promote stretching. Even the lighting has a soothing ethereality: Two bubble-like flush mounts from Visual Comfort & Co. float overhead, while sconces are hung symmetrically outside a shallow alcove with display shelving designed by Architectural Grille. The lack of windows was, in this case, a plus: It’s the perfect spot for a rejuvenating nap. “Short and restful breaks are essential to sustainable productivity,” Yokota says. “The goal of any vacation is to come back refreshed.”
Architectural Grille created art panels illustrating wind for the walls and brass shelves to hold greenery and art. Pillow fabrics and wallcovering: Harlequin x Henry Holland. Furniture: Wayfair Professional. Rug: Fibreworks. Light fixtures: Visual Comfort & Co. Paint: Parma Gray (ceiling), Farrow & Ball. Art: Claire Duda, Jessica C Nugent, and Baumbirdy, all from Minted.
In the cozy reading corner, Yokota added a triptych of mirrors to create the appearance of light in the windowless room. Furniture and accessories: Wayfair Professional. Art: Jinseikou, from Minted. Floor lamp: Visual Comfort & Co.
A yoga chaise looks like extra seating but is actually designed for stretching. Furniture and accessories: Wayfair Professional. Art: Debra Pruskowski, Melissa Walls, Jennifer Hallock, Creo Study, Marabou Design, and Phrosne Ras, all from Minted.
A small concrete space off of the recovery room gets recast as a recording studio. “The wonderful thing about podcasting is self-expression of your thoughts, stories, and ideas. It’s a therapeutic and creative outlet,” Yokota says. Sofa and draperies: Wayfair Professional. Tables: Serena & Lily. Rug: Fibreworks. Wallcovering: Spoonflower. Paint: Chinese Blue (ceiling molding), Farrow & Ball. Art: Alison Jerry, from Minted. Lamps: Visual Comfort & Co.
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