Knightsbridge Furniture has played a key role in furnishing the newly opened Cygnet Elowen Hospital in Derbyshire, supplying 158 carefully selected pieces to help create safe and therapeutic spaces for individuals receiving specialist mental healthcare.
The new 24-bedded Cygnet Health Care hospital will provide specialist care for those living with eating disorders, personality disorders, and associated mental health difficulties, at a time when nurture and support is critical in their recovery To meet the needs of the individuals being supported, every element of the interior required thoughtful planning, and particularly the furniture, which plays a vital role in how comfortable, calm and safe the environment feels.
Knightsbridge was selected as a result of its long-standing expertise in designing furniture for mental health and specialist care settings. Working closely with Cygnet’s interior design team and one of its experts by experience, the company helped identify and supply pieces ‘that supported both the practical and emotional needs of the space’.
The Settle seating range, accompanied by the Hailwood coffee table, were selected for the lounge areas, with the Buzz tub and GoGo armchairs chosen for their therapy rooms.
Hannah Cooper, Interior Fit-out lead for Cygnet said: “Creating a safe, calming, and therapeutic environment at Cygnet Elowen Hospital was absolutely vital, and Knightsbridge’s input helped bring that vision to life. Their understanding of the unique demands of mental health settings, combined with their willingness to collaborate and adapt, meant we could design spaces that are not only functional and safe, but also feel welcoming and supportive for the individuals in our care.”
She continued: “ The interior environment plays a crucial role in recovery; it can reduce anxiety, support emotional regulation, and encourage engagement with our services. That is why it is crucial that the hospital manager and expert by experience were involved in selecting the furniture items.
Jason Brown, director of Design and Development at Knightsbridge, added: “We’ve worked with Hannah at Cygnet on a number of projects before, but the Cygnet Elowen Hospital is unique, and required something special, and furniture with a particular aesthetic/performance ratio. The brief was to create both a sanctuary and a safe space for particularly vulnerable service users. It was really rewarding having the Cygnet team in our factory for an open discussion about the team’s requirements, and to discuss solutions and possibilities ‘real-time’. The team’s understanding of the environment is invaluable, and I particularly enjoyed meeting one of its experts by experience, who brought up points that influenced the outcome. Working closely together to ensure we selected the right ranges for the correct spaces, and even introducing a few bespoke products, I really believe this is an award-winning result. It is always rewarding seeing our products in situ, but this is a special one.”