Save Time, Money, and Headaches: Hire the Architect, Interior Designer, and General Contractor At The Start of Your Project

Do you want the best outcome for your new building or remodel project?  Then it’s important to hire the architect, interior designer, and general contractor all at the same time at the very start of your design process.  Many people hire an architect first, bid out the project to different contractors once the construction drawings are complete, then hire an interior designer when construction is near completion.  This approach results in numerous costly changes to the drawings, contractor change orders, and schedule delays.

When you hire the interior designer at the same time as the architect, they can work as a team to ensure the interior layout is functional and drives the exterior design.  The furniture should be placed on the floor plan to help determine location and sizes of windows, locations of electrical outlets, lighting, and more.  The interior designer will develop their interior construction drawings at the same time the architect develops their architectural plans, providing the general contractor with the exact scope of work, so the contractor can get accurate bids from subcontractors which will eliminate guesswork and “fat” in their budget as well as save the contractor a lot of time in coordinating design efforts between the client and cabinet, tile, flooring, and electrical subcontractors.  The savings achieved from this will more than cover the interior designer’s fees, as well as result in a smoother, less stressful process.  Also keep in mind that most publications will not publish a completed project unless an interior designer is on board. 

When the general contractor is brought in at the same time as the architect and interior designer, they will be a resource to both and will help keep the project on budget so drawings don’t have to be revised after bids are received resulting in additional fees and time delays.  Many clients will assume they won’t get the best price unless they bid out the project to several general contractors, but that means a contractor can’t start until after the construction drawings are completed which is too late in the game.  When bringing in a contractor at the start of the project, their profit and markup, general conditions, and supervision fees can be negotiated up front, and they can still bid out all the trade work to subcontractors when construction documents are complete. 

Start by hiring one of the three professionals who will be able to recommend several options for the other two companies for you to interview to see who feels like the right fit.  You’ll be married to this team for a long time, and it’s important that personalities jive.

How Companies Need to Change Their Office Design in The Face of Covid….Effective Immediately

As the country starts to think about going back to work in the face of this Covid-19 pandemic, our corporate clients are already calling us to say their attorneys are advising they modify their office spaces before employees return to work in order to help prevent the spread of the virus.  Employers have the responsibility of providing a safe working environment.  If they have not taken precautions to keep their people safe, they could be liable if they get sick or, worse yet, die.  Since it will be impossible to provide a 100% safe environment, many employers, if they take the advice of their attorneys, will ask their workers to sign liability waivers in order to return to the office.  They are also considering requiring their employees to regularly fill out questionnaires regarding their current health status and potential exposure to the Corona virus.  Going to work sick will no longer be allowed.  Furthermore, pandemics in general are now on everyone’s radar, and it’s clear that our way of life must adapt to mitigate potential future outbreaks.

In the past few decades, the vast majority of companies have adopted an open office floor plan with open workspaces or desking.  This was done to foster collaboration.  As a design firm, our goal on many projects have often been about getting co-workers to come together in open lounges, informal meeting spaces, and open break rooms to share information and get creative.  But an open, collaboration-focused floor plan is the absolute worst type of layout for physical distancing.  So now what?

Corporate attorneys are advising our clients to eliminate break rooms where people share coffee makers, refrigerators, and sinks, as well as perhaps even meeting rooms.  Solutions that may be less obvious to non-designers are modifications to the HVAC system so there’s negative pressurization, the addition of an air filtration system, the replacement of high-use surfaces with anti-microbial and smooth, cleanable materials, and the addition of high-quality walk-off mats at entry doors. Touch points can be replaced with touch-free devices wherever possible.  Automatic doors on sensors may become more prevalent. Temporary plexiglass dividers between workspaces might be installed until more permanent solutions can be ordered and installed.  Perhaps plexiglass or glass dividers will even get installed in meeting rooms as well.  Furniture will need to be rearranged, and new furniture may be required. 

Many companies will choose to continue to use Zoom and other web conferencing services for group meetings instead of meeting in person.  More people will continue to work from home and many landlords will find themselves with vacant space.  How all of this will affect company cultures, communication, teamwork, and a sense of belonging will be interesting to see.  Companies will have to come up with other methods for fostering these important aspects of their business.  Web-based collaboration software, and perhaps even the use of computer avatars, will increase.  Jobs and systems will be redesigned along with physical spaces.  Some companies may stagger the days that staff members come into the office so that it’s possible to keep people at least six feet apart.  Janitorial procedures will change.  The use of ultra-violet light to disinfect may increase.  We designers have a new challenge ahead of us.  We must completely re-think office design to continue to meet the goals of our clients while protecting their staff from infection.  

Elisa Garcia, AIA, is the lead designer and construction manager at Statement Design.  Her email address is elisa@statementdesignstudio.com

Design Your Space & Design Your Life

Living and working in well-designed spaces can make the difference between living a happy life or an unsatisfactory one. 90% of our lives are spent indoors.  A well-designed space is one that supports and promotes the lifestyle people desire through both functional and aesthetic design elements. Moreover, our health and wellbeing are deeply affected by space design.  Most people understand that living in a cluttered space can cause stress, or that a dark house can be depressing, but there are many other factors to consider when designing for overall wellness that many designers don’t consider.

This article covers just a few of the ways design can influence the quality of our lives, and we’ll begin with light.  Exposure to adequate levels of sunlight is critical for health and well-being, for physiological, psychological, and neurological reasons. Proximity to windows, outdoor views (ideally some nature), and daylight is paramount. Daylight should be the primary source of lighting, if possible, instead of artificial lighting. Ideal lighting involves proper exposure to diffuse daylight as well as careful design of windows to avoid excessive glare and heat gain.  It is important to control glare while in bright light to avoid eye discomfort, fatigue and visual impairment. Glare from windows can be controlled with adjustable window coverings, external shading systems, or other strategies. To prevent glare from artificial lighting, the lighting should be diffused or indirect.

In addition to facilitating our vision, both daylight and artificial light influences our circadian rhythm. Light greatly affects the quality of our sleep. 50 to 70 million American adults have a chronic sleep disorder. Such disorders and sleep deprivation are associated with diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attaches, hypertension, stroke, and other illnesses.  Multiple physiological processes – including those relating to alertness, digestion, and sleep – are regulated in part by the hormones influenced by our circadian rhythm.  Since we spend so much time indoors, artificial lighting has a huge impact as well. To maintain our internal clock optimally, we need periods of both brightness and darkness at the correct times. However, our need for adequate light levels to perform activities such as reading, eating, and other tasks must be balanced with the right lighting that keeps our internal clock on time. Being in bright light during the first part of the day, and lower and lower light levels in the latter part of the day is important. Staying away from artificial blue-ish light that mimics daylight after the sun sets is crucial for good sleep. Certain light bulbs, computer screens, phones, and TV screens emit blue-ish light. There are now lighting products on the market that change intensity and color throughout the day to keep our internal clock better synchronized.

The light level in a space contributes to the perception of spaciousness and overall appeal of a space. Light color also impacts the appeal of space and can either contribute or detract from our eye comfort. Poor color quality can make objects difficult to see correctly. Foods, skin, and plants may appear dull or non-appetizing. Outdoor spaces are also important to soak up some direct sunlight and vitamin D. They should be aesthetically pleasing, quiet, and free of unpleasant odors, so people want to use them.

Physical inactivity poses one of the biggest modern threats to public health. Most of us spend the majority of our time indoors in a seated position. Prolonged sitting is associated with a number of adverse health conditions including obesity, cancer, back problems, and fatigue just to name a few. Sitting more than 3 hours per day is associated with a 2-year lower life expectancy. Regular exercise doesn’t negate the health consequences of long periods of sitting in chairs, so it’s important to create opportunities to reduce sitting and promote movement.  Sitting on the floor or standing are much healthier than sitting in chairs or on sofas. Using standing desks is helpful. Having fewer TV’s is one way to discourage TV watching.  Placing fitness equipment in front of a TV in an aesthetically pleasing way or keeping hand weights and resistant bands in a cabinet near the TV are other ways.  The layout of the space can also affect the amount of movement needed.  Having a TV room next to the kitchen promotes eating while watching TV. Having a bathroom further away from the TV room promotes a little more movement than having it directly off the TV room. 

Noise can be a source of stress. Noise from traffic creates a higher risk for hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and heart attack. Internal noises from electronics, HVAC systems, mechanical equipment as well as the occupants themselves can also be sources of annoyance, distraction, and decreased productivity. The layout of a space should allow for separate loud and quiet zones. Walls should have the appropriate insulation and construction detailing and doors should have gaskets, sweeps and a non-hollow core to mitigate sound transmission between rooms. The noise produced by reverberation can decrease speech intelligibility and cause additional stress. It’s important to use sound-absorbing materials and other design elements. Footsteps and voices can bounce off hard surfaces making them louder. But carpeting and throw rugs can also be a source of dust and germs. Ceiling height also affects indoor noise levels. High ceilings create visual appeal, but to mitigate noise, other design features are necessary. 

This article certainly doesn’t cover all the ways space design can influence our lives, but begins to touch on the key points. For more detailed articles on how design affects health and wellness, go https://statementdesignstudio.com/links-to.  We hope you find this helpful, and don’t hesitate to let us know if you need assistance at https://statementdesignstudio.com/contact.

A summary of The Longevity Diet, Discover the New Science to Slow Aging, Fight Disease and Manage Your Weight

The Author, Dr. Valter Longo, PhD is the Director of The Longevity Institute at UCS and one of the top scientists in the world studying aging and how to stay young for as long as possible. Below is my summary of his book. 

The root disease of all other diseases is aging. If we solve for that, we will solve the other diseases so that we can be healthy for longer and die healthy. Longevity is controlled by genes and lifestyle. Among the factors in your control, what you eat is the primary thing that will affect your health and longevity.

The food you eat can determine how you look and function, whether you sleep well at night, whether you’re thin or you gain weight, and what the shape of your body is. It determines whether your brain will use glucose or ketone bodies to obtain energy. It determines your chances of becoming pregnant if you’re female. Food ingredients are molecules that can cause remarkable changes in your body, and can reprogram the function of our cells and organs. 

What follows is the optimal diet for minimizing disease and maximizing a healthy lifespan:

1. Follow a mostly vegan diet with a little fish. Aim for a diet that is close to 100% plant and fish-based, limiting fish consumption to two to three portions a week and avoiding fish with high mercury content (tuna, swordfish, mackerel, halibut). If you are past age 60 and start to lose weight and/or muscle, eat more fish along with other proteins such as eggs and certain cheeses (preferably feta or pecorino) and yogurt made from goat’s milk. 
2. Consume a low amount, but a sufficient amount, of protein which is .31 to .36 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. If you weight 130 pounds, that comes to about 40 to 47 grams of protein per day, of which 30 grams should be consumed in a single meal to maximize muscle synthesis. Someone who weighs 200-220 pounds should eat about 60-70 grams of protein per day. Intake should be increased slightly (about 10-20% or 5 to 10 grams more per day) after age 65 in people who are losing muscle. Animal proteins (red meat, white meat, cheese) should not be consumed at all with the exception of fish. Plenty of legumes (beans, etc) and nuts, which are high in protein, should be eaten instead. 
3. Eats as little bad fats (saturated, hydrogenated, and trans fats in animal fats and processed foods like mayonnaise) and sugars (pasta, rice, bread, fruit, fruit juices) as possible, and eat as many good fats (3 tablespoons of olive oil per day, salmon, avocados, and 1 ounce of nuts per day) and complex carbs (whole bread, legumes, vegetables) as possible. 
4. Eat foods with lots of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients. The author provides an appendix listing foods rich in important nutrients but it’s too long to include here. As extra insurance, take a multivitamin and mineral pill plus omega-3 fish oil from a reputable company. 
5. Select healthy food among those discussed above that your specific ancestors would have eaten. This will help you avoid foods that you may be intolerant or allergic to based on our geno type. 
6. Eat only twice a day plus one small snack. It’s best to eat breakfast and one major meal per day plus one nourishing, snack per day that has less than 5 grams of sugar and 100 calories. Skipping breakfast is associated with increased risk for diseases in many studies. If your weight or muscle mass is too low, then eat three meals a day. Don’t graze all day. In the elderly, it may be necessary to break the one major meal into two smaller meals to avoid digestion problems. 
7. Follow a time-restricted eating protocol. Confine all of your food intake to a window of less than 12 hours per day. A shorter resting window less than 10 hours per day is more effective for weight loss. Do not eat within 3 to 4 hours of going to sleep. You can drink water and tea or coffee without milk or sugar outside of the feeding window. 
8. Do a 5-day fasting-mimicking diet (see below photo) under the supervision of a trained professional assuming your are under age 70, are neither frail nor malnourished, are not pregnant, or an athlete in training, and are free of major diseases. The frequency depends on your current level of health. 
9. Follow the above in such a way that you reach and maintain a healthy weight and abdominal circumference (less than 33 inches for men and 27 inches for women). 

Fasting has many benefits but also some negative side effects. The fasting-mimicking diet keeps the benefits of fasting while eliminating any negative side effects. It tricks the body into a starvation mode, activating a regenerative self-healing program within the body. In addition to increasing lifespan, people will lose abdominal fat without loss of muscle. Bone density, stem cells and immunity increases. Damaged cells are also destroyed.

Genes are the most powerful factor in determining lifespan. Good genes can often offset a less than ideal diet. Scientists are trying to figure out how to change our genes to live long healthy lives but for now, the food we eat is the most potent intervention available for disease prevention and treatment. 

The second major factor we are in control of that determines lifespan is exercise. What’s important is working all your body parts until you breathe rapidly and sweat for five to ten hours a week. Exercising too hard and too much is detrimental. 

The following are exercise guidelines to increase longevity:

1. Walk fast for one hour every day. 
2. Do moderate exercise 2-1/2 to 5 hours per week with some in the vigorous range. Most of the benefit is derived from the first 2-1/2 hours if that’s all you have the time or energy for. 
3. Use weight training or weight-free exercises to strengthen all your muscles to the point of mild soreness regularly. 
4. To maximize muscle growth, consume 30 grams of protein in a single meal one or two hours after a relatively intense weight-training session. 

Following all of the above can reverse existing health problems and diseases in addition to preventing problems in the future. Much of the book goes into detail about how prevent and treat specific diseases. 

Staying close to family and friends, belonging to organizations, and volunteering to help others are also helpful for a long and healthy life.

That concludes my summary. I think this author is very qualified and I’m definitely going to incorporate as much of his advise as possible. However, in my non-qualified opinion, it seems he’s downplayed the importance of social connections compared to other studies and experts. Moreover, many studies I’ve read indicate that genes only account for 20% of how long we live, yet the author indicates genes are the biggest factor which I feel could disincentivize people from taking control of the lifestyle factors which contribute to longevity. He also doesn’t mention anything about getting lots of good quality sleep or drinking lots of water, which seem crucial to good health and longevity. I’m very curious as to why he left those out. 

Elisa 

Wellness Room Design 101

Wellness rooms in both the workplace and residences are becoming popular and more necessary.  What's a wellness room?  It's a space to take a pause from the stress of daily life to meditate, work on a craft, practice yoga, relax, and get healthier. 

There are many factors to weigh when creating a wellness room.  You will need to consider your wellness room's primary use, the type of lighting, flooring, wall finish, and other amenities desired.  First and foremost, the materials and furniture specified should be non-toxic, with no fermaldehyde or VOC's. If the wellness room is for your own personal use, the design can express who you are and what makes you unique.  If it's for employee use within an office space, it can be more neutral so it appeals to a number of people.  If this is the case, it's recommended to get employee feedback on what it is they want before starting design.

An empty room with plain white walls is less likely to help you de-stress. This, however, doesn’t mean that you should fill your wellness room with unnecessary accessories. Keeping your wellness room clutter-free will prevent you from getting distracted.

Color plays a significant role in stimulating the eye and the mind, since studies have proven that colors can influence human emotions. Specific colors are considered to have healing qualities and can help create a cozy and nurturing vibe. Warm colors evoke a relaxing and homey feel, perfect for those who are looking into breaking away from artificial lights.

Be careful when painting your wellness room white. Many white tones could be warm and inviting, while others are too stark and harsh for relaxation. A warm off-white shade is fine when you want to paint your wellness room white; other neutral alternatives include creamy beige or dove gray.

Green is an excellent color to look at when you want to rest your eyes. Green has also been proven to be helpful in soothing anxiety and is closely associated with optimism. Blue is also the perfect color when you want to evoke a peaceful ambiance since it reduces stress and creates a sense of tranquility and order.

Ultimately, color schemes are only guides when designing a wellness room. It still depends on what kind of vibe you want to elicit—whether it’s a warm and cozy relaxation room, a fresh and neutral room for meditation, or a balanced mixture of both. 

Lighting is perhaps one of the most important but overlooked aspects of space. Many of us don’t get enough natural light, and this is a health risk. The amount of natural light is an important consideration when designing your wellness room, but make sure that the lighting level can be adjusted. Ideally, a wellness room should receive a lot of natural light with the ability to darken the space with black-out curtains or shades.  If you’re looking into a more ambient relaxation room, you could opt to put warm, dimmable lamps inside.

Furniture in your wellness room should be comfortable. Use seating made of fabrics that are soft and plush. Recliners and massagers also work well.  In wellness rooms specifically targeted for relaxation, remember the tips we’ve discussed above regarding color. The furniture should coordinate with the overall design scheme ideally.  Curved lines, as opposed to straight lines, create a more psychologically soothing space. 

If you’re preparing a meditation room, it’s better to substitute the couches with plush rugs and thick mats instead. You can experiment with texture as well if you want a more dynamic experience for those seeking a few minutes of quiet mindfulness. Accessories like scented candles are also a nice touch when setting up the mood in your wellness room.

When it comes to wall finish, do not be afraid of having an accent wall. Use texture and interesting but soothing wall finishes. Remember that neutral colors are always the safest bet. The most important thing to remember is still your comfort and well-being.

Flooring is another design aspect to consider. Plush furniture goes well with laminated wood flooring. Wooden floors are also easy to clean. Supplement your choice in flooring with a throw rug to warm up the space.

In the case of fitness spaces and yoga rooms, a different kind of flooring is more appropriate. Typically, fitness gyms have interlocked rubber mats as flooring, which serve as a cushion during exercise. However, remember also that you may sweat a lot during exercise. Make sure that the flooring is easy to clean and disinfect. Rubber wears out quickly, so be prepared to do maintenance and replace them as needed. Storage for things like towels will be an excellent addition if you have the budget and space.

The ideal wellness room is private and secure so you can freely “turn off” and recharge. Using plants also goes a long way in improving the overall ambiance of a room. A little bit of nature never fails to create a relaxing vibe. Additionally, plants improve the air quality inside the space. Other specialty features can include soundproofing, a bathtub, infrared and near infrared lighting, oxygen therapy, an air filtration system, lighting that supports your circadian rhythm, moist or dry heat, a Himalayan salt wall, a living plant wall, a sound system, and more. The sky is the limit and is only dependent on your priorities and your budget. 

Statement Design specializes in wellness spaces.  We spend 90% of our time indoors. The spaces we inhabit have an enormous effect on our lives. The time has come to elevate human health and comfort to the forefront of building practices and reinvent buildings that are not only better for the planet, but for people as well. Wellness-focused design harnesses the built environment as a vehicle to support human health, well-being and comfort, and involves specifying appropriate lighting, materials, products, furnishings, air and acoustical systems, color palettes, biophilic design elements (connecting architecture and nature), outdoor-indoor space integration, space layout, and more. As architects, we have the required technical knowledge as well as creative design skills necessary to design healthy, functional, and beautiful interiors. As experts in the biological and psychological effects the built environment has on people, we design spaces that truly enhance people's lives while being mindful of the project budget. Contact us via www.statementdesignstudio.com

Wellness at Work: Relaxation Room Ideas to Increase Productivity

Whether you're the employer of hundreds of employees at a big office or you work from home, promoting wellness at work is important. Too much stress in the workplace is bad for you, your employees, and your business. One way to combat tension and fatigue at work is to create a wellness space where you or your employees can go to relax. Keep reading for some relaxation room ideas you can implement to encourage office wellness and boost productivity at your workplace.

What Is a Wellness Room?

A wellness room is a quiet, private space where employees can go to temporarily escape work-related stressors without leaving the workplace. Ideally, it is a room that is separated from the main work area, but it can also be a curtained-off alcove or corner. These spaces should be comfortable and free of work-related items.

While wellness spaces are beneficial to all employees, they are especially valuable to working mothers who may need to nurse while on the job. By law, any workplace that employs a breastfeeding staff member must provide a lactation room – a private space for nursing.

By accommodating your employees' or your own relaxation needs, you can promote productivity and improve the health and morale of everyone at work.

Relaxation Room Ideas

Comfort is key when creating a relaxation room, so keep that in mind when designing yours. Below are a few tips to help you create an office wellness room as well as a few lactation room ideas.

Comfy furniture is a must. Tired employees or employees who feel unwell will greatly appreciate comfortable furniture on which they can lie down and rest. Consider a futon or convertible sofa that can do double duty as a couch and a bed – it'll be just as functional for sitting as it will be for sleeping.

Keep the space free of work-related distractions. Employees will go to a relaxation room when they want to briefly escape from work, so the last thing they need is computers, printers, and other office machinery around to remind them they're at the office. Encourage them to escape through meditation by filling the space with floor mats, throw pillows, and poufs.

Decorate with serene accent pieces. An office wellness room is the perfect place to embrace Zen decor. You can decorate with live plants to improve the air quality, but artificial plants will have a similarly relaxing visual impact. Salt lamps provide beautiful ambient light while also purifying the air. If you work from home, candles are excellent for creating ambient light and soothing aromas. You can even use a small indoor fountain as a coffee-table centerpiece – there's nothing more tranquil than the sound of a bubbling creek.

Install dimmable lighting. Bright office lighting and screens can be harsh on employees' eyes. Give them a break by installing adjustable lighting that they can dim with ease.

Keep nursing mothers in mind. Breastfeeding at work without the proper accommodations can cause a new mother even more stress that she doesn't need. Make sure she is taken care of by ensuring that she has access to electrical outlets and comfortable seating. Keep a small refrigerator in the space for milk storage. If your relaxation room doesn't have a lock or if you think many employees will use it at once, consider putting up privacy dividers or curtains.

The physical toll of work isn’t the only health-related concern for workers. Mental health awareness has become a forefront figure in the ever-changing workplace culture. Increasing demands at work have exacerbated the rise in mental health-related problems among workers. Thus, mental health has become a relevant concern in maintaining a humane and healthy work environment for your employees.

One of the best and easiest ways (not to mention cheapest) to address this concern is to set aside a quiet space for employees to retreat to as needed. When their stress levels at work have peaked, a calm space can go a long way in providing them an avenue to decompress before going back to work. They could also take short naps there and wake up refreshed and full of new ideas, maybe a more effective solution to a problem.

Furniture Selection for Senior Housing Facilities

Creating a homelike setting with materials that are industrial strength and function well for the elderly is a challenge.  Social interaction significantly contributes to the quality of people’s lives, and a building’s design should promote easy social interaction.  Appropriate color, texture, and furniture arrangement can increase meaningful social activity. 

When it comes to seating arrangements, being seated at right angles to another person has been shown to be more psychologically comfortable than being face to face or side by side.  For older adults, seating arrangements are especially important because many have hearing impairments and mobility limitations.  Seating shouldn’t be too far apart.  In large rooms, smaller seating groups are more comfortable than one large one.  For people with dementia, it’s important not to rearrange furniture, because they rely on a familiar environment.  Older people often find it difficult to rise from a sofa, particularly from the center of a sofa where there’s no arm for support.  The same is true of chairs.  They’re often too low, too soft, and too deep. 

Aging unfortunately involves arthritis, loss of balance, fatigue, loss of hearing and eyesight, and other issues.  It’s very important for older people to remain as active as possible for good health. Designers should incentivize people to move with opportunities to socialize and visual interest as one moves from place to place.  For residents to feel secure in moving about, designers must provide lots of places to sit and rest. 

The elderly tend to sit for extended periods of time, so good chair selection is crucial. It’s important to specify chairs with the right seat height, pitch of back, and arms that extend beyond the seat that make them comfortable and easy to get in and out of.  A variety of chair styles and sizes should be specified for people of different sizes.  Rocking chairs can stimulate circulation and stimulates the vestibular canal in the ear which gives people a sense of balance and creates a calming effect.  Hip fractures often result from elderly people trying to rise from a chair that is too low, too soft, too narrow, and too deep.  Ideally, chairs should have an opening under the front of the seat to allow one foot to be placed underneath it to push off from when rising out of the chair.  Seat heights should be between 18 to 19-1/2 inches.  Seats should ideally have smooth edges, rounded corners, and have plenty of space for a person’s body to fit.

Dining chairs should offer arms for support while rising, and they should fit under the table.  They should have continuous back support from the seat all the way to the top of the back.  They should be lightweight and easy to pull away from the table.  Casters are too unstable.

When selecting tables, the base should allow wheelchairs to fully fit underneath them, so the person can get as close to the table as possible.  A standard table height is 29 inches, but needs to be 34 inches high to accommodate wheelchairs.  A 42-inch table provides adequate room for wheelchair accessibility.  For socializing, tables seating two or four residents are preferable.  Square or rectangular configurations allow combining tables when needed.  Straight sides to a table allow residents to have their own territory unlike round tables.  Placemats help to define the space even more.  Elderly people often use furniture for balance and support, and dining tables should not tip when someone puts weight on its edge.  Having a contrasting color border to a table is helpful.  All edges should be bullnosed or rounded.  Tables with a raised, rounded rim prevents spills. 

In bedrooms, a bedside table with a light is important next to a bed.  Headboards provide a home-like feel.  Dormitory beds are not appropriate for the elderly.  They are longer than a twin bed and not as wide.  Because they’re a slightly different size than what people are used to, they create a risk of falling off the bed. 

Moisture barriers prevent penetration of fluids that are a source of odor and mildew.  Since upholstered fabrics must serve as fluid barriers and still meet fire codes, furniture manufacturers provide many options to meet this need.   Crypton is a new type of fabric that is water and stain resistant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, extremely strong, and breathable.  It’s not a coating, but is encased in every fiber of the material.  The major advantage of Crypton over vinyl is that the fabric breathes and fire blockers and moisture barriers are laminated to the back of the fabric, leaving the fabric face with the original texture.  Fabrics retain the look that feels more home-like.  The fabric performs best when laminated in Intek Firegard or Kevlar.  Crypton passes the the California Technical Bulletin 116 and 117 which applies to care facilities, and dictates flammability standards for upholstered furniture.  Only the manufacturer can certify that the upholstered product meets California TB 116 and 117.  Other states have similar standards. 

Furniture for a residential care facility should be “contract” quality which is sturdier than residential furniture and can tolerate more abuse. 

Learn more at www.statementdesignstudio.com