by Edith Barrera González

Most of us know how emotionally attached we can get to our belongings.  Whether they’re clothes, jewelry, photos or furniture, we attribute meaning and memories to our things: our wedding dress, our engagement ring, the photo of our baby’s first steps, or the blue velvet sofa in the living room that has witnessed so many joyful gatherings with loved ones and dear friends.  They’re all part of us. They’re part of our story.  And we cling to them.  Maybe it’s our wishful way of holding on to the most precious, yet elusive gift we’ve been given in life… time.  When I design interiors, I keep this thought close to heart and remember the importance of creating an emotional connection between people and their space.  And for the past week, I’ve seen how much more powerful and challenging this emotional connection can be when designing a personalized space for the elderly.

A few days ago, I got a call from a client whose elderly mother is being transitioned from her beloved spacious home into an assisted living facility.  Never mind that the move-in date at the facility was only two weeks away; she was obviously struggling with the emotional aspects of being the one in charge of coordinating that difficult transition for her mom. I wanted to help. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her mom for years and have always been especially fond of her.  She has fine taste, and her home is full of beautiful antique furniture.  We’ve always had fun flipping through fabric sample books until we find the most gorgeous fabrics to complement her lovely furnishings.  So when I heard the news about the move, I knew the process of going from a spacious, beautifully furnished home to a smaller space would be challenging for everyone involved, especially her mom.

I knew what my design concept would be. I wanted to recreate the look and feel of her current home.  This was easier said than done, of course. It was going to be the mother of all downsizing projects!  First, I spoke with her daughter about how her mom spends her days in the house, what her favorite activities are and which pieces of furniture she uses most and holds dearest.  Then I sat down with her mom and spoke with her at length about these things, too.  As expected, she wanted to take everything she could to the new apartment, but realized (reluctantly, of course) this was impossible.  So the filtering process began (and so did the emotional struggle).  During that first visit, we discussed which furniture pieces were most important to her and why.  We also discussed the design concept, a possible color scheme and even looked through some beautiful fabrics (her favorite part).  It was a productive start, and we would meet again in a couple of days, which would give me time to present a design and potential furniture plan for the new apartment.  When we met again, furniture plan in hand, we all knew that the beautiful, 84-inch, royal blue velvet sofa in her current living room might look too heavy in her new apartment.  So I suggested some possible alternatives, perhaps a smaller settee or love seat that could be reupholstered in the same fabric to give her a similar look and feel.  But she just couldn’t tear herself away emotionally from that sofa.  And although she never sat in it herself, it was her favorite piece in the house.  It had memories.  It was part of her life, her story.  She was keeping it.  And I completely understood.  So I knew I had to include it in the new space; I had to make it work!  It was important to her, so it was important to me.

In addition to downsizing, accessibility, another aspect of personalizing the new apartment, had its own emotional challenges.  The new space had to look and feel like home, while at the same time be safe and practical for her.  When designing for the elderly, everything is considered in terms of safety first.  Rugs are trip hazards; some floors can be dangerous; hallways must have minimum clearances; there must be plenty of lighting; furniture placement must be well-thought-out.  Basically, everything in the space should be easily and safely accessible for someone with limited mobility. Here, we had another challenge.  She was particularly fond of an Asian Bombay chest of drawers she currently has in her sitting room in the house, and she wanted it in the hallway of her new apartment.  However, because the chest was too deep, it would not allow the standard 36” clearance needed in the hallway, and there was no other place for it.  Fortunately, she agreed to let me place another one of her favorite pieces in the hallway, a half-moon chest with only a 19-inch depth.  Problem solved!

The project isn’t over yet.  But everything is designed and planned. All fabrics and additional custom furnishings have been ordered, and the painters are going in this week.  The emotional challenges may not be over yet, but we’ve come a long way in just a few days.  I can’t wait to witness the transformation of the new space.  But more importantly, I can’t wait to hear her call her new place home, as she sits across that royal blue velvet sofa.

As an interior designer, I know first-hand the emotional challenges of designing a personalized space, especially for the elderly.  I’m not just working with walls, windows, furniture, colors, fabrics and accessories.  I’m working with people.  I’m helping them connect emotionally with their most intimate surroundings.  Because everyone knows… home is where the heart is.