Artwork has been slowly changing in assisted living communities from paintings of children and puppies to a more sophisticated pallet of abstracts, graphics, landscapes, etc. But maybe we have gone too far in trying to make assisted living interiors relevant and hip. Creating a Crate & Barrel interior leaves little interest for the resident that will view the walls 12 hours a day for the next 2-7 years....
As we move toward the baby boomer customer model, some may be wondering what exactly “homelike” means to interior design. Is it a hotel lobby, country club, bed and breakfast? Or do traditional interiors simply updated with the latest colors suffice?
Fountains are beautiful, calming, and unique when placed in the interior environment. Here are some key factors to ensure a successful fountain installation goes as planned:
During the typical audit of a long-term care building, we find that when we ask the question, “Who do you have in which offices?” the administrator often responds with a blank stare. What should be a simple exercise turns into a treasure hunt for people and their spaces. We then walk the halls and open doors finding that behind most of the locked ones, the spaces have been taken by...
Americans have moved from the cane to the wheelchair to the walker and now the mobile scooter to assist them in mobility. While the cane and the walker are considered only for those with minimal assistance needs, wheelchairs and motorized scooters have developed into big business, but have become challenges for the design community and...
There are many green products and options when it comes to interior finishes for long-term care. The industry, however, is limited greatly when it comes to furniture, artwork, drapes, and signage. As designers, we are restricted when it comes to finding green materials that look residential and will hold up in a long-term care facility.
Designers are sometimes challenged when using the design that is the most appropriate might not be compliant with current codes. A perfect example of this is using an “ADA handrail” compared to using a lean rail.
Lisa M. Cini, ASID, IIDA, PMP, is the President & CEO of a Long-term Care Interior Design firm specializing in Interior Design, Space Planning, Capital Assessments, Alzheimer’s and Dementia planning, F&E Specification & Turn-Key Renovations. Mosaic’s mission is to improve the quality of life by design. She has presented nationally regarding designing environments to improve the quality of life for residents.
Lisa M. Cini, ASID, IIDA