Some people dream of the things they will do after they’ve retired, like stepping outside of their beach house to feel the salty ocean breeze blow through their hair and on their sun-kissed skin. Many Americans make special plans to visit the beach and stay in a beach house each year, and for some, the ultimate dream is to retire in one. StudioSIX5, one of the nation’s leading interior design firms in the senior living sector, made that dream a reality for seniors in Wesley Chapel, Fla. A 96,000-square-foot senior living community, Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch features 100 assisted living and memory care residences. Lisa Ann Scott, designer for StudioSIX5, worked with a design team to spice up traditional beach house designs to create a bold and dynamic community for residents to live in.
“Typical Beach House color palettes consist of pastel blues, greens and corals,” said Scott. “For Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch, we wanted to infuse more nautical flair, resulting in a neutral sand inspired color scheme with pops of red, navy and yellow throughout. The outcome is a bright community with energetic accent colors and strong visuals no matter where you are standing. We drew a lot of inspiration from the Tampa metropolitan area and local coastal elements.”
In addition to color, StudioSIX5 used textures and murals to add to the ambiance of Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch. Light colored wood-look tiles are reminiscent of boardwalks and driftwood. The reception desk, dining hostess stand, and display kitchen casework feature river rock accents. The mural was a special addition for this project as it depicts a sandy pathway to the ocean surrounded by soft seagrasses. This was designed to enhance the mailroom space as it opens to a multipurpose space in the wellness center.
“This client was particularly excited about the curated art package. Textural art, local historic photography, and custom sculptural installations provide the residents and vistors with a gallery experience within the community,” said Scott. “Additional nautical touches such as fishing and sail boat decor, blue green oceanic carpets, and marine inspired artwork can be found throughout.”
The senior living community is located within the Wiregrass Ranch master planned community in Wesley Chapel, which is full of activity and a culture that is uniquely its own. People of all ages will be viewing, using and enjoying the spaces, so it was for the design to capture local elements as well as providing flexible spaces. The operators plan to bring in local groups from the outside community, welcoming the public for various events and taking part in a wide spectrum of city events. The community opened in February 2018. The project was brought to fruition by The Douglas Company, Architectural Concepts Inc., LCS, Prevarian Senior Living and StudioSIX5.