New opening
feature manifestations depicting rows of trees.
The aim from the outset was to bring local inspiration into every aspect of The Applewood’s interior design. To quote from Dessy and Sarah’s original design presentation for The Bletchley Lounge: ‘The lounge has been designed to promote
relaxation and enjoyment during meal times, and is inspired by the architecture of Bletchley Park. The colour scheme incorporates shades of pale blue, pink, and French grey, which are inspired by the estate’s mix of Georgian, Victorian, and Art Deco design elements. The lounge area will feature comfortable
armchairs and sofas, with pastel-hued cushions and throws adding a pop of colour and texture to the space. Geometric patterns inspired by Art Deco design are incorporated into the design through the use of wallpaper and accent pieces. Throughout the space, touches of brass and gold accents add a touch of glamour and elegance, while natural wood finishes bring warmth and texture to the design. The overall effect is one of understated luxury, with the colour scheme inspired by the historic and elegant design of Bletchley Park. This lounge creates an inviting space for
residents to come together, share a meal, and enjoy each other’s company in a beautiful and inspiring environment that pays homage to the history of the area.’
This approach continues into the abundance of local artwork on display, which again depicts local landmarks and locations. The Applewood is full of colour, with each area clearly distinguished from the next. From what Dessy and Sarah tell me, it is clear that choosing colours for each space was something they put a lot of thought into. While some colour combinations might not have been immediately obvious, there is a clear and consistent methodology behind them, as Sarah explains: “If you look at a lot of things in nature,
they don’t just have one colour in them. The lounge on the ground floor is red and pink and green, and you wouldn’t [necessarily] think ‘I’ll do a room in red and pink and green’. But if you look at an apple, you’ve got those colours running through it. So we brought that palette together for the room.” Ana-Marie tells me that the use of colour in the home is something that gets a lot of positive feedback from visitors.
Sensitive use of colour
When it comes to the memory/dementia floor, Dessy and Sarah explain that a
July 2025
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calmer, more muted colour palette was used, with potentially confusing patterns (as can sometimes be found in wallpaper, for example) avoided. Resident doors are painted different colours, which again aid wayfinding, especially for those living with dementia.
“The door colour will reflect the colour of the room,” says Sarah, “so for residents with dementia, it makes it easier for them to identify their room.” Between the intelligent and sensitive use of colour, the manifestations on lounge doors and elsewhere, and the use of clear but discrete signage on activity rooms and so on, residents will find plenty of useful wayfinding prompts to enable them to make their way safely and confidently from one part of The Applewood to the next. On their travels, they will likely come across interactive ‘life stations’ dotted around the home – themed activity areas containing, as Ana-Marie puts it, “something real; something from their day-to-day life,” such as hats or handbags to try on. Another key consideration was to ensure that The Applewood has lots of smaller, more private spaces that residents can enjoy on their own, or perhaps with a friend or loved one. Reflecting on one of these tucked away spaces, Dessy points out that: “[In] a lot of care homes, there’s few little lounges, few little spaces – everything tends to be very open. But if you’re visiting your loved one and you want a bit of privacy, this would the perfect environment to do it – a smaller space for just a couple of residents. So, rather than everybody in the lounge in front of a television, we tried to create different
areas where people could have smaller, more personal gatherings.”
Definitely not bog standard Finally, Ana-Marie, Dessy and Sarah are very keen to show off The Applewood’s rather spectacular visitors’ toilet on the ground floor. Dessy tells me they wanted to make it “… as wacky and wonderful as possible,” even going so far as to complete the look with a chandelier. “The idea was to make something extraordinary,” Dessy continues, “and that’s what we did. We’ve made a one- of-a-kind loo.”
The attention to detail on display at The
Applewood is extraordinary, with every aspect of the interior design having been meticulously considered and implemented. With such a beautiful space, and with a highly dedicated home manager in place, it is clear that HC-One has another success story on its hands with The Applewood, and we wish Ana-Marie and her team every success.
Suppliers list
Contractor – Lawrence Baker Architect – RDT Interior designers – Sarah Coley and Dessy Spencer (in-house) Furniture – Shackletons (communal areas); Renray (bedroom cabinetry) Flooring – Altro (vinyl); Danfloor (carpet) Mechanical and electrical – Harniss Kitchen – Qube Catering Laundry – Girbau
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