The problem with senior living design is? The focus is on the word senior not the word

design!

Here is a living room in an assisted living facility.

A living room in a home

The difference

• A sofa made for a senior living facility

• A sofa made for a home

When I design for senior I ask myself, what would I want?

An add for senior living furnishings

An add from a home design magazine vs the senior living bedroom ad.Which room would I want?

I often here, sure that looks good, but senior living needs durability

and functionality!

A dining room in skilled nursingsame function improved form, form and

function can co-exist in senior living

This ad is for a hospital bed that “Doesn’t look like a hospital bed.” We are getting

there…be could we go further? I think so.

Old products and new products.

KATHY’S COLOR RULES

• All rules are susceptible to change

• Stay away from Old people colors

• Look for colors that inspire

• Make sure to contrast your trim

• Don’t assume all ceilings need to be white.

Beige is boring for seniors too!

Same lobby with color

A little paint, some fabrics will make a room

How do you decide on color?

What do you Want the space to Say?This is the men’s Club.It needed Darker colors but The contrast makesIt pop.

The color in this space was used to transport residents to a lakeside cottage

=

I often hear,

How do I know what colors are in?

Using colors that are

“in”mean they

will go out.Can you guess when

this was done?

Look for timeless schemes

Look for colors you find in nature, that inspire memories.The blue of the sky the green of the grass

Same room different attitude!

Some yellow will bring sunshine to a room.

The use of contrast adds punch.

A before and after

Be braver in some areas less used

One space flows into another, yet each hasa unique feel.

This was one of those schemes that raised some eyebrows at conception,

But the doubters became believers at completion.

Staff areas can be inspired rooms by simply adding color. This conference room shows an example of

unique color pairing.

An appointment in the beauty shop should be a destination to look forward to.

Now this is a destination! A beauty shop that is a beauty!

Make each space an inviting and unique destination. Two

sitting rooms one is a room the other is a destination.

A fun destination.

A hospice hallway, that transports you to a seaside retreat.

In existing facilities, you have elements that can not change. These door at the end of the hall were

a dismal dark brown and looked institutional.

The question is…What would I

want?

Two rooms where people live.Yet they say very different things.

This was the first impression of this facility. What did it say?

Same room.What does it say now?

A warm first impression