DECOR FILE : FABULOUS UPDATE

PALM SPRINGS PROGRESS

Above: One of the old interior courtyards. Below- the new version

Above: The previous nurses station. Below - the new version

You can see how tidy the nurses are. not even five minutes later. oy!

In the past few days- a lot of progress occurred in Palm Springs at the nursing facility. We completed the interior courtyard renovations as well as rear nurses station. It has been a slow, and arduous task thus far. I think we forget just how far we have come until we see the before and after pictures side by side. To my best guess- this is because I see these things day in and day out...and I see them in all the separate components as well as the whole.

The interior courtyards underwent the least dramatic changes- although the impact is impressive. Seeing an opportunity to utilize these, once neglected , areas as an extension of therapy and enjoyment-- the first task was to rip out the entire pad and re-pour a level concrete pad so that residents could safely maneuver through out. Once that was complete it was on to the "decor" low level fountains that could be enjoyed even if one is confined to a wheel chair. Desert plantings that will grow over time to lend a "unplanned/wild" aspect to the areas with plants that will bloom winter and summer. The gravel was added because many residents have homes in the area that have gravel walkways and transitions. Here the therapists can rehabilitate residents to transition from concrete to gravel safely and effectively. The key is to combine form and function so it is seamless.

The nurses station is quite a transformation! We had an inspector out who said "wow, that's a pretty nice station!" He sees these day in and day out- so I took it as quite the compliment. I have to agree. The new station is a far cry from where we started. Its modern, chic, and has understated elegance. Cerused oak meets ivory colored Silastone and brushed bronze laminate counter tops. The standard plastic corner guards have been upgraded to antiqued bronze iron. The window pane grid walls conceal conduits of phone lines that come from the acoustic tiles in the ceiling. I also think they add a tiny bit of "privacy". Again- we needed to address function-- house wires-- and come up with a beautiful solution.

So, slowly but surely we move on.

Happy Tuesday!