REIKO LEWIS, PRINCIPAL, VENTUS DESIGN (LEFT) WITH SMART CHOICE COUNCIL MEMBER GINA NIXON, WHO PRESENTED ALL 11 SMART CHOICE AWARDS
Honolulu interior design firm Ventus Design was one of 11 winners of 2013 Smart Choice Awards, presented by the 55+ Housing Council. The awards recognized 55+ housing industry trendsetters in the fields of innovation, green and sustainable living, energy efficiency, technology and design concepts that allow baby boomers to “age in place.” Ventus principal Reiko traveled to Irvine, California for the awards ceremony and meeting of the 55+ Housing Council and the BIA Remodelers Council.
Ventus Design was the only firm from Hawaii and the only interior design firm to win a Smart Choice Award in 2013. It was honored for its “Your Home for Life” concept.
“We’re excited to have had our distinguished honorees present their innovative solutions, services and concepts at the meeting of the 55+ Housing Council and the BIA Remodelers Council,” explained Valerie Hardman, president of the 55+ Housing Council. “Guests learned about the award-winning concepts and products firsthand, and had an opportunity to ask questions of the winners.”
The 55+ Housing Council, established in 1990, is the largest of its kind in the country, providing networking, education and partnering prospects for the professionals involved in every aspect of housing for persons age 55+. Many baby boomers who will be retiring in the next two decades will wish to live independently at home for as long as they can.
“As baby boomers reach retirement age, they often realize that living in a nursing or care home may not be a desirable option,” said Lewis, who noted that Hawaii’s baby boomers are expected to live longer than those in other states. “As a growing number of families explore ways of updating their homes to meet their emerging needs, aging-in-place design becomes increasingly relevant. Ventus Design’s ‘Your Home For Life’ concept illustrates options for seniors to live in a way that is not only functional, but elegant and attractive.”
