Friday, August 13, 2010: Was still waiting to receive my client match… and was getting a bit nervous about the timeline. I checked online to see what fixtures the bath/tub supplier was offering. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety, but a bit concerned about the limitations. I wasn’t sure how "custom" these units could be, so I called and spoke to the supplier. It turns out there is ample room for creativity. My first happy ending - whew!
Tuesday Night Late, August 17, 2010: I finally received my client’s name and the bathroom photos. Wow! In the photo, their bathroom appears really dark and unfriendly. It’s hardly the bathroom for aging gracefully in place. I suspected an extreme makeover was needed desperately!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010: Initial contact with my clients always involves a sharing of my basic design philosophy and approach so they can feel truly comfortable with who I am and what skills I bring to the design table. In this case, I spoke with my paired client and shared a bit about myself, more about my passion for eco-friendly design, and lots about how long I have been working in the field.
George seemed very open to the idea of having a sustainable environment designed. He also shared what he and his wife Kate hoped for. Kate is facing issues with hearing loss and severe arthritis. We made an appointment for Friday, August 20, to meet in person.
I was already churning with ideas, but I needed to get them up to speed with what’s available in order to help them make the best choices for their home. Before our first meeting, I asked them to look at the various tub/shower options available for the contest. I like to engage my clients as soon as possible in design strategies. The collective energy of all of our creative juices really makes the process sing.
While Kate and George were looking at tubs and showers, I was thinking about the two of them. As they looked for man-made products, I was thinking in the opposite direction. I spent my creative time exploring the ageing process and what happens to our bodies and minds as a result. It's not fun getting old and having limitations. So my true challenge with this design was to make this space a retreat that heals and supports. Isn't that what our homes are about? My specialty in sustainable design is such a "natural" (pardon my pun) for aging in place. My motto could be, “the less fuss, the better”. And Green Design is really low maintenance. By that point I was almost vibrating with ideas, I couldn’t wait to meet up with my clients and see what we can create together.
Friday, August 20, 2010. The meeting was today. Driving to meet up with Kate and George, my head was swimming with all the new materials and products available for aging. Things really have come a long way! I truly believe that sustainable/green design supports the aging process and I was really looking forward to creating a sustainable aging in place space. I was so lost in those thoughts that I almost missed my turn. “Back to focusing on the road, Laura,” I told myself.
Waiting on the doorstep, it became clear to me that most likely they were currently or had been involved with San Diego State. I wasn’t sure how that would come into play, but it was another piece of the puzzle.
Kate answered the door and her husband stood behind her. After a quick exchange of pleasantries I quickly came to understand that this was “her” bathroom and they had agreed that she will have the final say. We chatted a bit more and I asked if they were involved with the university. It seems George was a professor and had taught dance. Instant connect! My passion is dance! We all commented on how we loved the movement of the body and the freedom it invokes. These are great people, I thought, and I know I can help them.
Kate shared her needs, the most important of which was to have a low impact, noise-reduced environment as her hearing aid picks up too many sounds which creates anxiety for her. My thoughts raced to all the softer materials that can be incorporated and yet still be functional for a bath. Merging the needs of cleanliness and sound absorption would definitely be a challenge. But I really love challenges!
The bathroom itself was dark; however, there was a wonderful light well just outside the door. I knew we needed to capture the light from the light well in the hall as well as maximize the light from the bathroom’s only window. This was going to be fun. Utilizing natural light is a key component in green/sustainable design.
I shared some of my thoughts on this and then asked them if I could be alone in the bathroom. I could tell by the expressions on their faces that they thought I was a bit odd. Maybe I am. But having time alone in that space allowed me to absorb the gestalt of the room and internalize both the positive and negatives of the room in its current condition. After a few minutes I emerged and shared with them the ideas that had come to me in the dark. They must have liked my initial design ideas because they suggested locking me in there for another hour to see what else I could come up with. We all laughed.
Back in my car, I smiled. I liked Kate and George and have definitely made some new friends. Now the challenge is getting my new friends the design that is going to make them beam.