Interior design


For these dining areas, we give thought to hard flooring with acoustic padding that limits the ability for sound waves to travel through it. As well as removing worries around spilled food, it also helps create a quiet and calming atmosphere by minimising noise transfer for relaxed meal times.


To maximise the safety of residents, flooring that is non-slip is essential. When it comes to carpets and rugs, we ensure all are impervious backed to repel liquid and limit any staining caused by spillages. To ensure that there is a clear divide


between walls and floors, and to set apart different spaces, we use neutral carpets with an understated pattern in homes that cater for people living with dementia. Using soft tones is especially important because designs with dark colours and heavy patterns can be disorientating, and comfort is always our priority.


Enhancing the little moments When it comes to spas and gyms, we ensure that there is enough room for people to move around freely without impediments to minimise fall risks. We also make sure that each spa has everything it needs – from anti-slip surfaces in wet areas all the way down to rails close by for those feeling unsteady on their feet, safety always comes first.


Often, handrails in particular are an afterthought and do not match seamlessly with the surrounding interior, so all of our handrails are incorporated within the broader aesthetic and designed from the


Our aim is to create spaces that are warm and homely but also highly functional


The Pinders Award-nominated Louth Manor


outset to blend with the space so they never look cumbersome. While the projects we work on usually come with amenities such as spas, hair salons, and gyms, it is just as important to us to simulate the experience of going to the spa in a way that is more localised. In fact, the assisted bathrooms in our Heron Manor Care Home project in Hampshire incorporate vanity and changing areas for residents, to allow the experience to resemble that of going to a spa. We are inspired by bettering the little moments, so this allows for a more immersive experience without having to dedicate an afternoon to the spa or swimming pool.


All about the details


We aim to ensure that soft furnishings and features resonate with the residents in any retirement living facility. It is a big


expectation for residents to feel at home in a brand-new space that is shared with a range of other people, but we do all we can to make that transition as smooth as possible. Each project starts with an in-depth


survey of the building’s environment and unique design needs – exploring local culture and history to find inspiration for the design. When working on historical buildings, it is important to take cues from the past. It is our job to preserve what has been before while incorporating modern elements to keep the design functional for ‘the now’. A good example is Audley Sunningdale Park – a retirement village located in Ascot, Berkshire. With one, two, and three- bedroom apartments, some of which are conversions of historical stables and lodges, all centred around a Neo-Georgian manor house named Northcote House, this project is one we are particularly proud of. Northcote House was constructed in 1930 by Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen, president of the British Tobacco Company and Chairman of Cunliffe Aircraft Limited. He and his wife Helen shared a deep love of horse racing and the property was used by the family to welcome and entertain guests during Ascot house parties. Therefore, it needed an interior design that reflected grandeur. In order to do so, we preserved the stairwell, which is one of Northcote House’s most notable features, and restored some of the original decorative wall lights. To reference the building’s equestrian


Spa at Scarcroft Park, West Yorkshire 24


past, we also added a horseshoe-shaped bar to the lower level of the building, providing


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com November 2023


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44