Maintaining Family Rituals In the Face of Illness

This project addressed a need that a whole family had while the mother was recuperating from a serious physical injury.  This family enjoys meals together in the dining room as an important part of their ongoing family life. It is during meals that they stay connected, share what’s going on, discuss things, listen to each other, laugh, make plans and more. The design problem was “how to include Mom in the family meal time, when she was unable to sit at the table.”

The solution was to create a space in the dining room just for Mom. The choice of furniture required that it be comfortable and supportive in a way that worked with her physical needs and limitations, while fitting into the home’s decor and satisfying her aesthetic sensibilities. The design also needed to make sure that the items she needed and wanted nearby were easily accessible and within her reach to allow for maximum independence in a limiting situation.

While a chaise lounge is not a typical dining room furnishing, it was the perfect solution to this family’s very particular need and everyone was happy with the result!

“I believe that by taking control and re-creating new living spaces people can re-gain a sense of control over at least some parts of their lives and gain a sense of mastery and competency. This is so important to healing and recovery.”