Calm Is a Design Decision

Modern hospitality isn't waiting for permission to lead with 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮.
It’s already underway.

I was sitting in the lounge before my AI massage (still thinking about it!) at Remedy Place in SoHo when I picked up Calm by Sally Denning, a publication by Simon and Schuster Books.

As expected, everything at Remedy Place felt intentional... soft lighting, earthy tones, curved forms. Even the book didn’t feel like decor; it felt like part of the space.

And it got me thinking:
𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗼𝗱. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.
A form of 'quiet leadership' that Remedy Place truly understood.

In places like New York, we often associate “good design” with high contrast, sharp edges, visual drama.

But there’s a quieter power in:
• softened textures
• beautifully curated details
• tranquil views and natural light
• tones that ground and restore
• materials that slow you down
• interiors that ask nothing of you

These choices shift the way a space feels without needing to say a word. And the best places understand: calm is a competitive edge, a design strategy.

As Dr. Jonathan Leary, founder of Remedy Place, says:
“We wanted to keep it as minimal as possible. Simplicity is the key to our design.”

That philosophy is now shaping more than just spaces, it’s shaping collaborations.

Remedy Place recently partnered with Kohler Co., a brand known for its design-forward approach to wellness.

As Kohler Co. puts it:
“We believe homes should be sanctuaries of rest, recovery, and renewal.”

Their partnership marks a growing convergence between hospitality, wellness, and intentional design. And when you apply that lens to hospitality, two things become clear:

𝟭. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲
Design that soothes builds trust. Guests stay longer, engage deeper, and remember how it made them feel. In the noise of modern hospitality, silence becomes a way to stand out.

𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴
Because when everything is designed to ease... lighting, layout, texture, tone, the guest can finally release. That’s the power of calm.

This is where design × intentionality converge:
Not louder, but softer.
Not bigger, but more considered.
Not to overwhelm, but to offer relief.

Calm reminded me:
What you subtract is just as powerful as what you add.

If you’re in interiors or design, Calm is worth a read.
And if you’re in SoHo, try the Ice Bath by Kohler Co. x Remedy Place
Together, they make a strong case for where wellness and hospitality is headed next.🖤