Interior Design : More than Just Paint
While the warm colors and inviting furniture draw people in , so much more than just color goes into putting the puzzle pieces of interior design together .
Interior designer Anne Peterson says the first step is to sit down with her client to talk about the desired look – and what can be done within the given budget .
“ Often senior living managers are looking for a warm , inviting environment , so we ’ ll go through the palettes to choose what style they ’ d like , such as modern , traditional , etc ., that fits with the location or community where the building will be located ,” Peterson said .
She said safety is one of the biggest considerations when designing for senior living communities . For example , as people age , eyesight weakens , and the lens of the eye tends to yellow . This can cause an unsteadiness among seniors at floor transitions because they are unable to read depth properly . This is especially true in memory care wings , where a strong contrast in color could also be difficult for dementia patients , who might mistake light-to-dark transitions of materials as a step or a hole in the floor .
I look to the architect to say , ‘ I hear what you ’ re saying , and this is what we can do to get you there .’ And then to be creative along the way , and if there ’ s something that ’ s a challenge , help us to fix it . Matt ( Frisbie ) did a very good job at that . He just gets it .
– Jill Nokleby Kaiser
Peterson said long-term durability and cost is also something she takes into consideration . “ Due to all of the traffic from residents and staff , the flooring wears quickly . We select durable luxury vinyl tile and low-level pile carpet and work at minimizing transitions between different flooring types ,” she said . “ Not only do I want to save my clients money in the long run by choosing materials that won ’ t have to be replaced in a year or two , but I also want to make sure that nothing creates a trip hazard .”
She said that while there are plenty of trendy products out there that are fun to look at , they don ’ t actually wear well in a senior living environment . “ Senior living managers want the building to look home-like and stylish to attract residents and their families , but we need to walk the line between what draws people in and what is going to last ,” Peterson said , noting that in addition to being attractive and durable , fabrics need to be anti-microbial , moisture and stain-resistant , in budget , and meet flammability code for the building type . “ This can really narrow the list of possibilities ,” she said , “ but so far I ’ ve always been able to find something that will complement the design .”
“ Anne did a miracle there ,” said Jill Nokleby Kaiser , the housing development director of Ebenezer Management , Red Rock Senior Living ’ s management company . “ She got the goal of what was needed , she was easy to work with and didn ’ t bog us down with the details , which helped move us forward .”
Peterson said that while she enjoys putting all these pieces together , at the end of day , her favorite part is seeing the residents use the spaces she and the team have created . “ It ’ s satisfying to see residents take the big step of leaving their home and making this their new home ,” she said . “ It ’ s fun to see how they use the spaces – even if it ’ s differently than we originally envisioned !”
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