Iconic, Local Recreation Area Inspires Interior Design of Loves Park’s New Senior Community
When planning for the development of the new Courtyard at Loves Park Senior Community, interior designer Amy Back, RID, NCIDQ, with arcDESIGN architecture + interiors, looked no further than Loves Park’s own natural gem—Rock Cut State Park.
“For the design of the new Courtyard at Loves Park, I took inspiration from natural elements found at the neighboring and picturesque Rock Cut State Park,” says Back, who turned to textures, colors, and materials that mimic the feeling of various natural elements found in the state park’s:
- blue, sparkling waterfalls and ponds
- layered, grey textured rocks
- green trees, flora, and mosses
- and natural and varied wood tones.
It is a familiar scenic backdrop for those who frequent the picturesque 3,092-acre state park nestled along Pierce and Olson Lakes.
Back’s attention to the local, natural beauty and her two-plus decades of experience in interior design combined to create a nature-rich palette and comfortable home for both seniors and their families and friends who come to visit.
“As an interior designer, my goal is to tailor the lighting, colors, materials, fixtures, and arrangement of these spaces to promote comfort, hospitality, and wellness,” says Back. “Integrating natural elements into the built environment creates a calming, restorative, and stimulating aesthetic that can be beneficial, not only for seniors, but for all of us.”
And, as The Courtyard at Loves Park construction crew completes the building’s framework, Back’s art boards, fabric swatches, furniture selections, and vision paint a gorgeous landscape for what is sure to become a vibrant and inviting home for area older adults.
FABRIC AND FINISHES SELECTIONS
DECOR SELECTIONS
In addition to her natural selections, Back also aims to erase stigmas and stereotypes of “senior living” by designing exactly the opposite of perceived, outdated associations and replacing them with a sense of a dynamic, socially vibrant community.
Much more than a simple difference in terminology, Back talks in terms of a whole shift in mindset about this category of housing in which interior design plays an important role.
“Designing spaces that encourage social engagement is crucial,” she says, noting that senior living is all about “feeling comfortable, living well, meeting friends, and creating community.”
The Courtyard at Loves Park’s communal spaces—like fitness centers, art rooms, libraries, restaurants, and theaters—provide residents with diverse venues and opportunities to connect and engage in meaningful activities. “My job is to set a tone throughout the community that invites those relationships to thrive,” says Back.
And, thrive they will!
For more information about The NEW Courtyard at Loves Park, call 815-420-0384.
