Institutional

These photos represent several areas in a home for psychologically-damaged children. Formerly, all these areas, walls and ceilings, were plain white, with pale colored doors, which all together created a hospital-like feeling. Helga Simmons Interior Design researched the color psychology and came up with a color scheme, a small part of which is evident here. Fun-shaped custom-designed built-ins like this TV cabinet (below left) also make the children feel more at home than in an institution. The "random" placement (a well thought out pattern!) of the colored floor tile encourage children as well as grown-ups to hopscotch along the hallways. Since the project was completed, the children have been much less difficult and much happier.