Introducing Andie Day – Part 1: Adaptable Design Philosophy
Interview conducted by Jenny Bagan of Sabrina, Inc.
Andie Day is not your typical designer. She wants to create beautiful spaces that her clients will love, but her true passion lies in designing with a purpose. Andie is on the forefront of the design philosophy called Adaptable Design (AD), which can perhaps be best described as the softer, more accessible, and aesthetically pleasing movement that encompasses both Universal Design and Aging In Place. AD is functional, environmentally responsible, and will be self-sustaining with little need for extensive remodeling and retrofitting to accommodate the different stages of life. All this and she wants to be sure that we all know that Adaptable Design can also be beautiful and sophisticated! I had the pleasure to interview Andie to find out about her philosophy and why her message is so important - especially now.
Thanks so much for speaking with me today, Andie. Let’s start off with how you got interested in design in the first place.
Back in 2000, my husband and I decided to build home. We had a blended family with five kids – all with specific needs. We needed a balance of public and private areas since we wanted to make sure everyone had their own space. It was challenging to find that balance and to create a home that was functional for everyone. We worked with a fabulous architect out of Ipswich - David Mehlin, AIA. He was relaxed, patient and he guided us through the process in a fun and interesting way. Through this experience it became apparent that I had the skill set to work in design. I had started taking design courses 20 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter but family life took over and it was put on the back burner. Working to design my own home re-ignited my passion.
You are really trying to take design to a whole new level by focusing on “Adaptable Design.” Could you explain what this means?
Yes, I believe it’s critical that we focus on Adaptable Design and adopt its philosophy as our new standard when building, remodeling and designing. Adaptable Design has a basis in functionality – so creating a home that can easily change with you as your needs change. Whether you are a young family with small children, a person with varying degrees of ability or a middle-aged couple trying to juggle kids in college while also caring for aging parents – your home should alleviate some of your burdens not add to them. It also encompasses the “Aging-in-Place” philosophy where the elderly can safely stay in their homes, rather than go to a nursing home or assisted living facility. Adaptable Design follows the circle of life by creating a space that is functional, beautiful and nurturing.
What led you to focus on Adaptable Design? Did you have an “aha” moment?
Yes, I did actually. Back when I worked at an interior design firm in the Greater Boston area, tragedy struck a colleague of mine. A gorgeous 57 year old and former model, my friend was extremely vibrant and outgoing. Sadly her life changed dramatically in one five minute span. While walking outside of our office, she was hit by a car driven by an elderly man. Although the man thought he was braking, his foot was actually on the accelerator. The momentum of the vehicle drove my friend through the exterior concrete wall. Had it not been for her height, it is doubtful she could have survived such an impact. My friend was rushed to the hospital where she remained for many months and lost her leg above her knee.
When my friend returned home the remaining devastation of the accident revealed itself; navigating through her beautiful two-story home proved to be very challenging. Fitted with a new prosthesis, my friend found her stairway too steep, her hallways too narrow and the appliances almost inaccessible. What she had once considered a haven from the outside world became a significant source of stress and anxiety. On my first visit with my friend, I witnessed her struggles firsthand. I saw the difficulty she had with daily tasks due to the home’s layout and I desperately wished to help her. This feeling became the basis for my philosophy of “design for life”.
Then, on the other hand, we have the elderly man who hit her. He should not have been on the road as he had a number of previous accidents while at the wheel. He accidentally over-medicated resulting in his extreme disorientation. Had the proper equipment been installed in his home; such as an automated medication dispenser, perhaps the horrific accident could have been avoided. This served as my second "aha" moment to my design philosophy. It is important to incorporate adaptable design concepts that will enable us to be more independent as we age.
We have no idea what we will encounter in the future. We plan for the best but we must also plan for the events that alter our life’s journey.
What do you see as the future for Adaptable Design?
I see it moving in this direction. I hope that new construction will eventually be mandated to be designed accessibly – so we’re not wasteful and don’t have to keep remodeling and retrofitting. However, in the near future it will all be retrofitting.
Continued in Part 2 ...
