Designer Rugs created a family of designs inspired by nature that would bring colour and vibrancy into the otherwise mellow, natural-toned spaces. Variations in colour and design were chosen for each floor to reflect their uses and improve wayfinding for residents – vibrant and energising greens for recreational areas, rich blue hues for lounge areas, and calming pinks for the palliative care level.

The rugs were all handtufted in 100% New Zealand wool, known for its superior durability in high traffic conditions, its natural resistance to staining and its plush and luxurious feel underfoot. Custom Axminster carpet was also used to cover areas of large scale. Rugs were inlayed into the floor, creating a flush surface to minimize trip hazards. The designs were also carefully chosen to minimize the appearance of staining while still retaining the sophistication and elegance befitting of this project.

“Rugs and carpet were also an important element for Summit Care for adding a personalised touch to the space,” says Designer Rugs managing director Yosi Tal. “The beauty of custom work, and the reason we so enjoy doing it, is that it can put a signature stamp onto a space while reinforcing the overall interior design aesthetic.”

Designer Rugs made the process of translating CHADA’s design concepts into beautiful handmade rugs and carpet a seamless and creatively focused experience. “The rug expert they assigned to the project took our brief and helped select colours to achieve the look we envisaged,” says Ashworth. “A rug isn’t just a rug – we tweaked the colours and the scale of some of the patterns until we felt we had achieved the right balance. Designer Rugs really do give designers a very good resource in its level of expertise and the efficiency of the design process.”

The result is a spacious 186-room residential building with light, stylish and comfortable environments that owe much to the innovative textiles hand-picked and custom designed by Designer Rugs and CHADA.

“We have created beautiful living environments using new textiles and finishes that are high tech in their performance, environmentally friendly and, importantly, dementia friendly,” says Ashworth

“We feel confident residents and their families are going to love this new approach to aged care living,” says Ashworth. “While it is not a hotel, the facilities and feel are strikingly different to people’s preconceptions of aged care.”