For aged care design, Order & Grace’s ethos is primarily to create a ‘home.’ It is fit-for-purpose but with a real sense of warmth to welcome residents. Fairlea Aged Care at Rosehill was completed in April 2021 and Order & Grace focussed on several design elements:
- Colour and texture
- A carefully curated selection of furnishings
- Styling
- Artworks
- Critical way-finding
The Brief
To create a warm, elegant, and functional home. The facility required accommodation for 50 residents, including a dementia wing. The interiors needed to be uplifting but also functional and sensitive to the needs of the residents.
Aged Care Design Choices
“When I was growing up, my parents owned a very successful, boutique, private aged care home in the UK,” explains Denise McIlwaine, Owner & Principal Designer. “I remember each resident’s room being tastefully decorated and the residents were proud of where they lived.”
“Little did I know I would end up in the industry as a designer! Ultimately, the sense of home is always at the forefront of my mind and I ask, “Would my mother or father like to live here?”
“You want families to walk through the front door and fall in love with the spaces because it is that sense of warmth which resonates with the level of care provided. It’s a big decision deciding where to send your loved ones.”
Materialised Products
“We mostly selected Zircon Zem base cloth due to its waterproof backing which is important in aged care design,” says Denise. “We also selected complementary vinyls to sit with our chosen fabrics because they are practical for the facility without compromising the look. Who’d have thought we’d get excited about vinyls!”
“Materialised’s colour customisation is a fantastic way to ensure our scheme was cohesive throughout and it really helped give Fairlea Rosehill a bespoke look. A favourite of mine is the vibrant custom Floral Dancer on Zircon Zem, which we paired with a stripe and a vinyl seat for the dining chairs. It sits beautifully with the outside courtyard. The other is the custom plaid on the wing chair in the sitting room, which oozes warmth.”
The best thing about aged care design that feels like home? It’s that it has a real sense of warmth to welcome residents, making the transition to an aged care facility as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
The Team & Credits
Interior Design and Styling: Order and Grace
Photographer: © Simon Whitbread
Other Key Manufacturers/Suppliers: Crown Furniture, Reilly & Associates, LightCo, Godfrey Hirst Commercial, Polyflor.
