A collaborative relationship between designer and owner results in a modernist chic loft style with warm and healing touches.
Dr. Ann Gershkowitz has taken the unique concept of the Dental Spa and made it into a full family practice that goes beyond expectation. While other practices concentrate solely on cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Gerhkowitz has created an environment that holistically cares for the entire family.
While some practices are restricted to practicing dentistry in an office environment that has not strayed in design over the past decades, the client incorporated details of a spa in order to create an environment that fully considers her patient's mental state.
The client compares this business and design endeavor to the birth of an elephant - "a big, solid beautiful elephant whose gestation period needed the nurturing of my dream and Susan's design."
"I was simply stuck in terms of my design decisions until Susan came along…I was impressed that Susan felt every single client."
The client first came to contact American & International Designs, Inc. when, during the construction phase of the project, the Interior Design piece had to be instituted and Dr. Gershkowitz felt she "was stuck. I was trying to analyze the psychology of the colors and analyze all of my choices and I was stuck and afraid to commit since this is my dream."
The client interviewed Susan Huckvale Arann to get the benefit of her thinking and was impressed, knowing that, "Susan felt every single client."
A number of people had recommended the design team and the client reviewed past projects. She then called Susan Huckvale Arann and they walked through the projects together.
The client fell in love with the interpretation of the color palettes and shared that although she, "is the pickiest of patients, I'm very happy with the end result and overall picture. This design realized my intent."
Choosing tile and stone created some anxiety because, as the client shared, "you can't get a feel for it until it's done - but this process is simply about trust and the outcome is tremendous. It's just beautiful and that's because Susan was here, on site, as the job was being done and she literally was moving tiles around to get the best design, flow and edge color matches."
The client had very defined views on how lighting would play with the space. "Susan's realization of how the lighting would play throughout the project was exactly as I dreamt it to be - and then it became extremely personal regarding my office and Susan encouraged my individuality - I needed some color in my private work space. The lighting and the colors are all about soothing the patient- and in my office the unexpected color in the chandelier gave some hint to my personality."
The client continues, "There is timelessness to this design - design professionals that I consulted before had misunderstood the concept - I was simply stuck until Susan came along. In terms of technology - we are ahead of our time - we are prepared for any innovation especially in digital radiology where a patient is exposed to less radiation."
The design team's intent was to show the potential and creative appeal of dental care to the patient while realizing the holistic vision of the client. With a kid friendly spa space on the horizon, the client has just begun to realize a dream of marrying a family practice to holistic dentistry and with the help of an innovative design team that listens to each client and joins them in this passionate pursuit, the dream will come true.
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