Imagine remodeling a home with a 1,000 sq. ft. living room, 800 sq. ft. dining room and a mile of halls. For Valerie McGhee, Larksfield Place president and CEO, updating the look and feel of campus interiors was a welcome challenge.

“Our community members rightfully expect a certain level of style, and I am pleased to see the beautiful transformation taking place,” she says.

The overall look is meant to mirror sophisticated hotels and other premier retirement communities. “It is important to be on par with similar facilities throughout the country. Those in the hospitality industry update interiors every seven years. We were well past that mark and due for a change,” says McGhee.

While the look is traditionally formal, it is also comfortable. Armchairs, sofas and tables are softened with warm wall colors and rich textures in drapes, pillows and carpets. Eclectic elements such as curved iron-work chandeliers in the lobby exude charm.

Not all changes are purely cosmetic. A remodeled reception desk is more welcoming for visitors. A new movie system is being installed in the auditorium. Additional mailboxes provide for a growing community.
Megan Kice, a designer with local firm Total Installation, is coordinating the remodel. “We understand this is a home, and we have incorporated the preferences of community members,” says Kice. “We’ve also been mindful of safety and functionality.”

Renovations are part of the overall budget, with no costs passed on to community members, and design choices are made with fiscal responsibility in mind, says McGhee. “As a not-for-profit organization, we stretch our dollars as far as they can go.”

Finishing touches are on the way. Kice will assist community members as they place personal wall décor along the Apartment Home hallways.

As new construction begins on a new wing of Apartment Homes, exteriors will also be upgraded with expanded gardens, and new signage.

“We hope community members will talk about how pleased they feel to live here,” says McGhee. “We want every person at Larksfield Place to be proud of their home.”