Sounds Good: Design for Audio Clarity
Have you ever been inside a grand, beautiful home, but it has an echo-y sound that ruins the effect of the space? There are now many modern solutions to this challenge. Let’s take a tour!
![4 types of sound reduction fixtures. Walls, ceilings, baffles, dividers.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Sounds-Good-Carnegie-4-up.png)
There are generally 4 types of applications for sound-reducing design elements: Walls, ceilings, hanging baffles, and room dividers.
![Multiple triangular shapes in different colors of grey with and without patterning up on a wall to reduce excess sound.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Sounds-Good-Carnegie-Xorel.jpg)
When thinking about residential materials, you want something cool and creative with flexible applications, such as this beautiful Xorel Artform from Carnegie that can create multiple shapes and patterns on any flat surface.
![A sound-dampening hanging lace created by embroidered hexagonal shapes filled with thread and connected together, with some hexagons left open.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Sounds-Good-Carnegie-Veil.jpg)
This beautiful material called Veil forms a delicate textural lace that also absorbs sound and keeps it from bouncing between spaces, especially good for open plan rooms and lofts.
![A set of 3 sky blue unconnected hanging screens with wavy-shaped cutouts that get smaller toward the bottom in a room with a set of table and chairs in front of the screens, and an armchair and side table behind, against a white wall. The screens separate the two spaces visually.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/KImball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Sounds-Good-EchoScreen-Current.jpg)
Another solution excellent for lofts are these patterned screens from Keirei. Despite appearing open, Echo Screens easily absorb and soften sound while providing structure. Use them to separate your dining and kitchen spaces, for example.
![A set of connected panels in an earthy mud/brick color but more orangey with a series of connected geometric lines running horizontally and vertically, connecting in the center and creating boxes and rectilinear shapes. A pile of rolled towels sits on the grey carpeting in front on the floor.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Sounds-Good-Keirei-Santa-Fe-Panels.jpg)
If you admire solid walls instead of open panels for your loft, these beautiful etched Santa Fe designs from Keirei are simple and stylish.
![On the ceiling are grey hexagonal shapes that are pushed in to meet in the center, creating a geometric pattern. Where there are no ceiling tiles, a black background shows through, and some lights hang down.
This is in an open space with purple chairs next to a grey rectangular table with white edging and white pedestal. A matching sofa table is behind an angular grey sofa with more chairs and tables beyond. At the back of the space is a hallway and several glass doors to small meeting rooms. In the wall are two cutouts that allow a person to lay or sit down in and on them. The cutouts are orange with wallpaper on the inside walls.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Sounds-Good-Keirei-EchoStar-Ceilings.jpg)
When you want a dropped ceiling but not the boring, department store-look, you’ll love these EchoStar hexagonal ceiling panels, especially good for lofts with their high ceilings. You can even leave them unfinished for an industrial look.
Kimball Starr designs custom acoustic solutions for fabulous homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.