Understanding the unique needs of those requiring nurturing care, she applied the expertise she developed in designing hospital environments to the fast-growing senior living market. This includes developing the interiors of independent and assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities and Alzheimer’s residences.

Sharon’s attention to detail, her focus on the real needs and interests of each client-- along with her ability to achieve great value for each project-- enabled CURRIER to become one of the leaders in designing senior living residences.

This past year alone, we are pleased to have been able to help industry leaders—including BaneCare, Benchmark Assisted Living and The Northbridge Companies—in the completion of nearly 100 senior living projects.

One of the key topics in senior living is the increasing significance of the impact of Alzheimer’s disease.

According to Adam Frank, development officer of the Massachusetts chapter of the Alzheimer's Association:

• Now, as many as 5.2 million in the US are living with Alzheimer's.
• About 120,000 of those are in Massachusetts.
• 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's in their lifetimes.
• 1 out of 3 people are affected--either know someone or care for someone with Alzheimer's.

Sharon has taken a particular interest in sharing our knowledge within the senior living market about the importance of the environment on those living with Alzheimer's.

As an independent interior design firm, we have a unique competitive edge in the perspectives, backgrounds and talents of our design team. Our broad diversity of project experience is supported by the knowledge of four of our designers, who have worked for major architectural firms.

Additionally, we have a full-time design accessories' specialist who is gifted at selecting authentic antique merchandise and assembling it in a manner that evokes pleasurable memories for seniors, especially those challenged by Alzheimer’s.

Our architectural expertise allows us a deep level of understanding of the process of a project from its initial conceptual stages. We also know how a building is put together - enabling us to determine upfront which design elements are possible to manipulate.

Our designers are committed to the philosophy that the concept creates an experience for the user, making the environment be about them, versus the physical space. And, in leading teams of designers, I am always very conscious of the entire picture and conscientious about all the pieces coming together in the right way.

Questions we consider - In taking our design and architectural expertise to the senior living world, here are some of questions we consider in creating a healing environment:

• Does the building feel like a residence, “a home” versus an institutional setting?
• Is the furniture comfortable, and arranged in small, cozy groupings?
• Are we focused on the harmony of the human experience or impact of our design?
• Can we evoke feelings of intimacy?

Creating intimacy - Some of the techniques we use to create intimacy include:

• Bringing lighting down to eye level by placing reading lamps next to a chair.
• Using wing chairs and other scaled-down furniture that fit one person as opposed to larger sofas or long benches that seat several people.
• Accessorizing an area with displays of books and memorabilia by category such as sports and music; vases of flowers and greenery; and table lamps, which are secured to avoid being knocked over by seniors who may lack fine motor skills.

I think of the intent in creating our environments for seniors as being equivalent to the personal experience of being in a chapel, compared to the monumental impact of a cathedral.

As both an interior designer and experienced artist, I combine the innovative use of color and the features of nature to create healing, nurturing environments. I approach each project with an eye towards adding a warm, welcoming ambiance – changing facilities from appearing utilitarian or “institutional-looking” to feeling homey, yet sophisticated.

For example, when I designed the interiors for The Boston Home, a long-term care facility for patients with progressive neurological diseases, the challenge was to create a safe, emotionally comfortable and elegant environment for residents who were primarily wheelchair-bound.

Way-finding was an important issue in the design of this facility. Central indirect lighting, floor patterns and borders allowed residents to easily negotiate their way down corridors. Contrasting colors were used as a way-finding guide on every plane a resident might bump
into--door frames, corner guards, hand rails, chair rails, and even the wall base.

With the input of a behavioral optometrist, I pulled together several color options for these features, which were then presented to a select group of residents. Based on their feedback of which colors provided the best contrast in way-finding, I created the overall color palette for the facility, which included nature tones such as warm yellows, muted oranges and sage greens. Additional nature-oriented materials included textured wall covering and fabrics. The result was a stark contrast to the original institutional-looking pale blue and green environment.

The Boston Home had limited furniture to enable residents to move about more easily so I focused on providing additional warmth through boldly patterned flooring and tile patterns. To add a feeling of cheerfulness, we used brightly colored tiles in the shower rooms and in the large activity room. The key furniture pieces selected included drum-like cylindrical 20” tables covered in laminate and sturdy wood chairs.

Conscious of budget constraints, but committed to bringing in additional beauty, I selected unique artwork. I chose less expensive but visually appealing posters on canvas, which were made to look like real paintings.

Having lived and worked in the southwest for twenty years, I continue to be very influenced by color and nature as healing tools. Listening carefully to my clients, I know they appreciate the addition of these elements to their temporary or permanent places of stay - whether it be
a hospital, nursing home, independent/assisted living or Alzheimer's residence.

I also bring these concepts to my artwork, which I’ve been commissioned to do for Children’s Hospital, Fallon Healthcare and The Boston Home, all in Boston.

My painting of the "Mandala" (pictured to the right) hangs in the lobby of The Boston Home as a symbol of a community integrated with the world. The Mandala closed circle is considered a universal symbol of unity. I also wanted the artwork to represent the rotating nature of the spokes on the wheel (as in a wheelchair).

A few closing words from Art and Sharon….

We hope you have enjoyed our new bi-annual newsletter.

By selecting a key theme for each issue, and sharing our insights and depths of expertise on that topic, we hope to provide knowledge that will contribute to the success of our clients and stakeholders.

In future newsletters, we will be exploring issues of importance within the diversity of markets we serve. These include: health care (hospitals, hospice, medical office buildings), multi-residential (active adult, apartment complexes and condominiums), senior living (independent and assisted living, skilled nursing facilities and Alzheimer's residences), institutional, hospitality, commercial and corporate.

In this first issue of the year, we have highlighted our passion for bringing beauty into the senior living world because of its significance on the aging population. Complementing our design capabilities, our team is known for its in-depth understanding of the environmental needs of seniors.

On a personal note, we have two elderly parents living with us, and have many team members also who are caring for their loved ones who are seniors.

We believe educating others and sharing information is important to how we approach business.

Warm regards,


Art & Sharon