Each community tells a story, a story of the residents, the staff and the surrounding neighborhood. A large part of that story involves the style of interiors and architecture. Interior design styles can range from rustic to coastal to modern to traditional and more. We’ve used a variety of styles in our senior living projects and have even mixed a few to create truly unique experiences. Travel with us down memory lane as we examine different styles we’ve used and our inspiration for each.
A Timeless, Classic, Understated Elegance
The Farms at Bailey Station, a Life Care community in Collierville, TN, offers rich amenities, luxury apartments and custom homes with comprehensive health services. Despite facing over a decade of reassessments and redesigns due to the 2008-2009 recession and other market factors, we achieved an elegant style that matches the community’s upscale offerings and honors the area’s historic homestead while incorporating modern flair. The timeless, classic décor ensures the community remains fresh and inviting.
Key design choices include designing a focal fireplace for the lobby and a feature wall for the steakhouse, both of which bring the building’s exterior stone and brick inside; curating antiques throughout the lobby; and using a muted palette with warm, inviting and rich tones.
Traditional Meets Contemporary
Tamarisk NorthShore in Deerfield, IL, is a six-story, vibrant, luxury independent living community designed for the active cultural senior. The idea of mixing traditional and contemporary interior design styles was influenced by this ideal resident seeking high-impact amenities juxtaposed with low-key living. Residents can escape the downtown Chicago lifestyle while enjoying high-end amenities like an indoor pool and wellness suite, a library and Expressions lounge, a movie theater, and multiple dining options. The community is also close to shopping, health providers, houses of worship and O’Hare International Airport.
The design team drew inspiration from a morning vista off Lakeshore Drive, the blue waters of Lake Michigan and a summer sunrise reflecting off Chicago’s skyscrapers. We mixed the vivid colors of cerulean, navy and copper with urban metallics of gold, silver and bronze and softened the space with rich wood veneers and plush furnishings. The lobby finely introduces the mix of design styles through custom light fixtures, artwork, millwork and carpets, bringing attention to the custom, two-sided asymmetrical stone-clad fireplace with custom art pieces that provide a contemporary take on stained glass.
Casual Coastal: Breezy, Beachy and Beautiful
The Preserve is a three-story senior living community in Fort Myers, FL, that offers assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing services. The building features an inviting soft ivory and sand-colored exterior. Matching the beachy vibes on the outside, our team found inspiration in the nearby coastline and Gulf of Mexico waters to create a relaxed and comfortable casual coastal interior that doesn’t sacrifice elegance. The color palette includes sandy neutrals and cool sea blues warmed with pops of sunset orange to evoke a sense of rejuvenation when relaxing on the beach. This is greatly illustrated in the assisted living dining room.
Aged and distressed wood luxury vinyl plank flooring winds through the lobby and reception toward a focal wall of bleached shiplap enhanced with a framed coastline canvas and live palm trees. This shiplap is carried through the reception desk and Inlet Reef Market with an aquatic fish-like mosaic wall tile. Across the way in the waiting area, window drapery and pillows feature a floral pattern with hints of orange, pairing well with the teal upholstery on the lounge chair and sandy-like carpet.
The diverse interior design styles in senior living communities reflect the unique stories of their inhabitants and create environments that inspire and comfort. From timeless elegance to a vibrant blend of traditional and contemporary to breezy, beachy charm, each design choice is thoughtfully crafted to enhance living experiences. The communities we design are more than just places to live; they are spaces where residents can thrive, connect and explore new interests in what genuinely feels like home.