History on a budget.

New facility gets homey, antique atmosphere for less

WHEN SONNY AND BRENDA COX, OWNERS AND ADMINIS-trators of Cypress Place, a 37-bed facility located in the small historical town of Jefferson, Texas, needed help with their new assisted living facility, they called Health Care Furnishings to get involved. The Coxes had worked with the design firm before on a renovation project of their 68-bed nursing home, Magnolia Manor, also in Jefferson. Now they needed an interior design firm that specialized in senior living projects and could do a "turnkey" job for this new grand facility. Sonny and Brenda were nervous about the assisted living project: How could they make it elegant on a budget of $249,900 and still have antiques incorporated with senior-friendly furnishings?

The budget presented a challenge to the design firm, but it went to work on establishing a plan that would bring to life a new facility in this historic town that would create a homelike environment for the residents.

First, it added the architectural elements such as tall ceilings, traditional molding, and French doors in the interiors to create a sense of history. The design team selected a yellow base color scheme. It wanted a light and airy feeling so the residents would experience a cheery environment.

Lighting was very important, too. It had to be functional but budget-conscious while fitting the decor. For instance, instead of crystal chandeliers, brass fixtures were used as the cost-effective but elegant alternative.

The design team studied the history of the town and stayed in numerous bed & breakfast inns to get ideas to incorporate antique reproduction furniture. By using antique reproduction accent pieces, it stayed within the budget and still preserved the elegance and history throughout the assisted living home.

In the large entrance and sitting rooms it created small groupings of furniture to create and satisfy the need for privacy. It created flow for social activities such as dancing, and spaces for dining in elegance in cozy groupings. Artwork of men, women, and children from the 19th and early 20th century were used throughout the facility to stimulate the residents to reminisce of their youth.

When you walk through the door into this assisted living facility, it is more like walking into the living room of an old southern antebellum home. The carpet and wallpaper are in a neutral palette, accented by the vibrant floral and damask prints of the drapes, and upholstered seating arranged in five distinctive groups, allowing for intimate conversations. A large mahogany antique reproduction table, the focal point of the room, sits in the center of the living/sitting area, accented with a dramatic floral arrangement. A three-door cabinet sits full of antique crystal and figurines. A hall tree sits ready to receive hats and canes. Two French chairs are waiting and inviting. The room is partially separated by a half wall and columns to add architectural appeal. The sitting room with the fireplace is outfitted in a similar fashion. This room also opens onto a beautifully landscaped courtyard.

As you walk down the hallway, you will notice each assisted living resident room is decorated with neutral carpet and wallpaper with burgundy, rose, green, or blue border. At the end of the east hallway is a warm wood-paneled library with a round mahogany table that is surrounded by four French tapestry upholstered chairs.

At the end of the east and west hallways are small, relaxing sitting areas with curio cabinets filled with crystal accents. These sitting areas were added to allow for socialization here instead of necessitating a walk to the front lobby for interaction.

On one end of the south hallway is the spacious dining room to seat 50. Two large marble-top buffets with floral arrangements are centered in the room to add a touch of warmth. Each dining table accommodates wheelchairs and has Chippendale-style chairs with arms that are a bit higher in seat height for seniors.

So by keeping both the budget and the final look in mind, the company was able to do its homework and deliver antique reproduction furniture, artwork, and accessories while still coming in $10,000 below budget. The construction cost was approximately $68.79 per square foot. Total construction cost came in at $1.9 million excluding furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

Client: Cypress Place Assisted Living, Jefferson, Texas

Interior Design: Health Care Furnishings Inc., Little Rock, Ark. 501-221-2033

www.healthcarefurnishing.com