Prior to the recession, when supersized McMansions were de rigueur, size often came at the expense of style.

Now, a decade later, today’s luxury homebuyers are passing up opulence in favor of something else: authenticity. WhenUnique Homes reached out to Taylor Johnson for insights on how designers are adjusting to this “new normal,” we connected writer Camilla McLaughlin with client Mary Cook Associates. Founder and President Mary Cook emphasized consumers’ desire for increased functionality in open-concept designs. Read the full story, which also includes insights from TJ client KTGY Architecture + Planning, here.

A model home designed by TJ client Mary Cook Associates.