What Is a Perfect Home for an Aquarius?
/SOURCE: Sotheby’s
Our monthly series asks: What decor best suits each zodiac sign? Visionary Aquarians need a room with a view—and a dose of eclecticism, writes Jill Krasny
Every sign of the zodiac is said to have its own character. So what kind of homes match up with people based on astrology? Wise Capricorn’s eye for detail serves them well when house hunting, and Sagittarians prize spaces that feel expansive and unique. Aquarians are known for their independent streak, so as their new zodiac season gets underway (January 21-February 18), it’s time to ask: How do you design the perfect home for an Aquarian?
As an air sign, Aquarians naturally gravitate to light-filled rooms where their minds can wander, says Anthony Perrotta, an astrologer and interior designer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Retractable doors that maximize indoor/outdoor living have great appeal, and Aquarians may happily spring for a bright and airy five-bedroom house in the tony Bosques de Santa Fe neighborhood in Mexico City. Here, every room seems to flow elegantly into another—and the home brings nature inside with a tree rising through the stairwell. Large windows let in natural light and offer sumptuous views outside. The sunny terrace, which overlooks the clipped yard, leads to a private park.
Homes that feel stuffy in every sense of the word turn off Aquarians. They’re a cutting-edge sign, says Perrotta, so somewhere traditional with time-capsule features like galley kitchens, window muntins, and dark corridors will make them feel cloistered. Designs that feel more of-the-moment, with open floor plans, rich materials, smart home technology, and ample gathering space, are more their speed. The picture-perfect Hesperus estate, on the northern coast of the island of Crete, sets the stage for get-togethers for this sociable sign. A wraparound terrace leads to a private beach, while a former artist’s workshop in the garden is now a magical sanctuary for overnight guests.
Aquarians have a knack for blending old and new designs in inventive ways. As visionaries, eclecticism is often their thing, says Perrotta, and they’re not shy about breaking the rules. A sprawling adobe compound in Scottsdale, Arizona, melds southwestern style—dark wood beams, terracotta tiles, and a kiva fireplace—with contemporary gestures like pendant lighting, minimalist ivory walls and sleek material finishes. “You can’t expect [Aquarians’] design tastes to stay in a box,” says Perrotta, and this home defies conventional style silos. The glass on the wood-framed front door riffs on Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, a home-studio in Wisconsin that exemplifies the Prairie School style of architecture. Meanwhile, the kitchen’s colorful LED lighting shifts playfully according to the owner’s mood.
Aquarians want a home that stands out, so they’re drawn to offbeat jewel tones or “deep space colors” like indigos, violets and emeralds, says Perrotta. Lighter shades may also attract them, as would cool metals, given their penchant for cutting-edge tech. “They aren’t afraid of color or going out on a limb either,” he says. In terms of furniture, anything oversized, traditional or clunky won’t be for them, so “leave the La-Z-Boy at home,” says Perrotta. Low-slung sofas and loungers are worthwhile investments, as they help them stay literally grounded.
“If I were to take Aquarius away from the ultra-modern or futuristic elements, I would put them in a home that feels quirky and vintage,” says Perrotta. “Almost like a movie set from the 1970s with ‘modern for the times’ accents.” A London home on a quiet, tree-lined street in St. John’s Wood is defined by a retro-meets-contemporary vibe. Standout features include distinctive wood paneling and palm-tree-shaped lights in gathering spaces such as the bar, a pool lounge, and carpeted sunroom. As Perrotta puts it, “there is a kitschy, playful vibe that [Aquarians] can’t deny.”
SOURCE: Sotheby’s
