Cedar Counseling & Wellness Project Reveal | the Waiting Area, part 1

When it comes to any space that we design, we want people to walk in and immediately feel safe and at peace. This is especially true for the counselors offices that we regularly work on but even more so for Cedar Counseling & Wellness. A 3,000 sq. ft. counselors office based in Annapolis, MD this expansive space boasts two waiting areas and seven counselors offices. With such a large space, it could easily feel overwhelming for clients walking through doors, but with our strategic and thoughtful design, we were able to make it into a calming retreat. Today, we are walking you through the design of waiting area 01!

BEFORE:

Before, the waiting room was scary and confusing, to say the least. There was a lot going on. Between the charcoal grey walls to the gold “elevator”, this waiting area needed A LOT of work!

When you first walked in, there was a receptionist desk at the front, along with some seating however it felt awkward and enclosed.

We toyed around with keeping the walls but then it left us wondering how we would best utilize the rest of the space. It felt like it would be a waste.

AFTER:

In the early stages of designing Cedar Counseling & Wellness, we knew that we wanted the waiting area to be especially warm and welcoming. Despite it’s expansive scale, the sage/olive green-colored walls almost envelope you when you walk in and the warmth felt through the woven basket pendants and wood, slat dividers help to put you at ease. The soft curves of the modern, white sofas were quite intentional, as we wanted pieces with “curves” to off-set some of the “harder”, more direct elements in the room. All of these “softer” elements help to create a safe and welcoming environment.

Taking our inspiration from the name “Cedar”, natural elements played a major role in the over-all design of this counselor’s office. It was this, along with the owner Carrie’s minimal and modern style, that led to the overall aesthetic.

In coming up with the furniture plan, it was important to us that when Carrie’s clients came through the door, they immediately knew where to sit. They could take in the space (through the wood slats) but feel “safe” as they wait for their appointment.

We know it was a bit bold, going with white sofas in a waiting area, however we were really looking for some contrast against the green walls! For the most part, Cedar primarily sees adults, so we were hoping that they would be mindful when sitting on the sofas. We made sure to select a fabric that is performance grade, so ideally, the pieces should hold up for years to come.

When designing counselors offices, we have yet to have had one with a receptionist. Being the case, we wanted to make sure to have console table with all of Cedar’s information and promotional material on it, right off the main entry.

One of the most important elements in waiting area 01 is the wood, slat dividers. While we were all for tearing down the previous walls, we still wanted some sort of division between waiting area 01 and 02. These dividers were the perfect choice because of the warmth that they bring and the ability to separate the two spaces while still providing some visibility.

INTERIOR DESIGN: Making Room for Peace | PHOTOGRAPHY: Jenna Miller Photography