The Madison House - nursing home

Nursing Homes, July-August, 1996 by Annemarie Kretschmann

Throughout the atrium, we also incorporated a series of banquettes to provide convenient resting places for those traveling through and quieter conversation nooks for smaller groups. Planters also serve a double purpose. The trees soften the atrium's ambiance, and the wheelchair-height boxes with handrails can be used to foster garden club activities.

The largest public space is the recreation room in the central core, shared by both wings, for which we selected several kinds of chairs and sofas, arranged in living room-size configurations.

The room's centerpiece is an 8[feet] x 10[feet] fireplace. The fireplace itself is a standard 3[feet] x 4[feet] unit, but to provide dimensions appropriate for the room, we raised the hearth approximately 12 inches above the floor, framed it with European tiles, and added a wood mantle. To increase proportions horizontally and vertically, we flanked the unit with artificial pilasters.

Details at Work

Close attention was paid to often overlooked details:

Carpeting. The entire facility, except the dining rooms, bathrooms and utility spaces, is carpeted. This reduces reverberation in hallways, and in the bedrooms, provides a soft landing spot from bed.

Molding. As a decorative and scale-reducing tool, moldings and chair rails break up large spaces. For example, handrails mounted to moldings create a chair rail effect.

Pictures. We make very deliberate choices about pictures, selecting a variety of themes, from landscapes to children on the beach, and a range of sizes for other than predictable arrangements. The same distinctions apply to frames. To eliminate an institutional cookie-cutter look, we try to select a frame specifically for the picture.

Lighting. Lamps and sconces are small details that make a big contribution to reducing a space's institutional feel - vanity lighting in residents' bathrooms and, in the smaller lounges, a small, casual chandelier to add ambiance without customizing the space.

Ceiling Heights. In large spaces, varying the ceiling height creates a sense of space within a space. In the corridors between public spaces and bedrooms, we raised the ceilings to mark the transition.

All in all, a very thoroughgoing design, with a heavy emphasis on physical attractiveness. Was it worth it? One family member's comment sums it up best:" Your home is very attractive... I think it is the best place in this area."

Annemarie Kretschmann is principal of Annemarie Kretschmann Interior Design (AMKID). Based in Westport, CT, AMKID specializes in Interior design of health-related facilities. Ms. Kretschmann has designed a wide range of facilities including Alzheimer Special Care Units, medical offices, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and long-term living centers.