Finishes & Furnishings

The owners of Healing Waters Spa have requested that I use furnishings and finishes that reflect the natural beauty that is found just outside their doors in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina.  To accomplish this I have chosen materials that are both natural to the area, sustainable and long lasting so they won’t have to replace things anytime soon.

Throughout the spa and the residence will be a foundation of hand-scraped walnut flooring.  It will create a unified look between all the spaces except bathrooms, pool area and exercise area.  In these spaces I have identified a natural cork flooring that will be both water resistant for those environments and soft underfoot for the exercise area, the natural slip resistance will be appropriate for both of these areas. 

 

For the pool surround I have chosen a smooth stone mosaic that is reminiscent of the stones found in the local streams.  Natural slate mosaic tile will be found in the bathrooms of the spa and the residence.  Both of these materials will bring together the color scheme of muted blue, green, rose, grey and gold.  The walls will be painted with no-VOC paint or covered in grass cloth for a bit of texture.    

Whenever possible I have sourced locally made furniture that is crafted from local wood and upholstered in natural fibers such as cotton and leather.  This will include a custom made retail case and transaction counter in the lobby.  In the residence I will be working with a local artist on custom made pieces such as end tables. 

I believe by using these colors and textures from the local area Healing Waters Spa and the residence will be a tranquil and inviting space for the clients and the owners.

Healing Waters Spa

Healing Waters Spa is a holistic med-spa that specializes in the treatment of clients with multiple sclerosis.  It is located in picturesque Lake Lure, North Carolina just a short drive from urban area of Asheville. 

Because of this location I have chosen to use a color scheme of muted blue, green, rose and gold that can be found just outside the spa’s doors to create a calming atmosphere where clients can focus on healing.  Natural elements such as stone, water and wood will be used extensively throughout the space to acknowledge the gorgeous park-like setting that the spa is set in. 

The furnishings will be simple and clean-lined in design to focus on the organic materials being used.  Lighting in the treatment rooms will be soft and relaxing.  Soft sounds, such as running water, will also be used in the areas to help drown out the conflicting outside noises. 

The Helf’s residence will also be located in the spa building.  Their modest, but well-designed home will feature the same color scheme to allow them to relax when they are not at work.  Mrs. Helf requests using sustainable and environmentally friendly materials throughout the spa and the residence, so this will be accomplished by sourcing local materials whenever possible.  By using these products the Healing Waters Spa and the Helf’s home will be a calm and relaxing space where the clients and owners will be pampered daily.

When finished, the Healing Waters Spa and the Helf’s home will be a relaxing space to find nurturing within this beautiful environment.

Furniture Library Visit

Since I am entering the Bienenstock Furniture Library competition I thought it would be good to visit the library itself.  It is located in High Point, NC and features over 5000 books on furniture, interior design and subjects related.  I did some research on the Arts & Crafts movement.  Here is what I learned.

The Arts & Crafts movement began in England in the late 19^th century.  It was a revolt against the mass produced designs of the times.  Its roots were in the tremendous cultural changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution.  At that time work had gone from the farm to the factory, homes moved from the country to the city and some thought the world had changed from a place of beauty to a place of sweat and squalor.

                In England, William Morris founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. in 1860.  They produced tapestries, tiles, furniture, wallpaper and stained glass.  He believed:

“The new idiom of Arts & Crafts was strong and simple in form, rich and intricate in craftsmanship, with a fresh mortality based on fitness for purpose … These elements were combined in a new, eclectic style that stressed simplicity and an honesty of construction based on first hand understanding of the materials employed .." (Ansccombe, Arts & Crafts Style, p. 54)

                In America, Gustav Stickley was a central figure in bringing the Arts & Crafts style to everyone.  With his four brothers he established The Stickley Brothers Company in 1888 in Binghamton, NY.  After a division he created The Craftsman Workshops in 1898 in Eastwood, NY.  There he sought to make furniture that was “simple, durable, comfortable and fitted for the place it was to occupy and the work it had to do.”  His furniture features simple wood forms that were elegant with exposed joinery and plain or leather upholstery.  In 1903 he hired Harvey Ellis whose designs were more graceful and lighter in color and proportion.  (He died suddenly in 1904).  By 1915 the catalog only slightly resembled the original Arts & Crafts style, including Colonial reproductions and other decorative pieces.  In 1915 Mr. Stickley filed for bankruptcy.

                The Arts & Crafts style can also be seen in architecture, lighting, building materials and accessories as well as furniture.  All of these featured a hand-crafted look with simple, straight lines and angular designs.  In a book of Arts & Crafts architecture the homes were described as comfortable, plain, convenient, pleasant, inviting and simple.  Stained glass used a lot and featured nature inspired themes.

          

      I personally really enjoy the designs of the Arts & Crafts period.  The simplification of design and life itself is a very pleasing idea in this busy life we live in now.

Spa Visit Field Trip

For research for my med spa project I visited Bella Bleue Savvy Spa and Salon in Mebane, NC.  This spa has been in downtown Mebane for about 9 years.  It is located in a historic, two story building.  The first floor is mainly the salon section with hair and nail stations right past the waiting and retail area.  It has a very glamourous feel with crystal chandeliers, sparkly mirrors and a black, grey and light green color scheme.  Upstairs is the spa area for facials, massages and permeant make-up.  The waiting area upstairs is undergoing some remodeling but was a living room type space with leather sofa and chairs centered around a faux fireplace.  The facial room I was in was painted a bright red (an odd color choice I thought for a relaxing space) with black accents and a fake tree.  All of the products and instruments to be used were sitting out in the open.  I think it would have looked neater to have them tucked away until they were needed.  She did have soothing music playing in the background.  I did enjoy my facial very much and would love to be able to treat myself like this more often.

Commercial Competition

For my Commercial Design class, this semester I will be working on my entry for the 2015 Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library Interior Design Competition.  This event is open to over 200 Interior Design programs across the United States.  Each year there is a new design problem to be solved.

This year's design is for a medical spa that specializes treatments for Multiple Sclerosis patients.  My spa, Healing Waters Spa, will be located in a park-like setting in Lake Lure, North Carolina.  In this beautiful location there will be a 4600 square foot building that will house the spa as well as a residence for the Doctor and his Physical Therapist wife.  They have asked that both spaces reflect the natural environment they are located in a holistic way.

I feel that this project will be very challenging, but rewarding at the end.  Keep checking back to see the progress of my design.