BoomerGirl Diary

Recently, I traveled to my home state of Minnesota and had an opportunity to visit the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. The founders of this prestigious facility were Drs. William J. and Charles H. Mayo, and their father Dr. William J. Mayo.

The Mayo is known for many discoveries including the 1920 numerical grading scale for cancer and the 1934 discovery of cortisone, a hormone that was later used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

But what I discovered was the brilliance in how the buildings were designed to meet the needs of their patients and how it could be translated to help consumers redesign their homes.

When you enter the main Mayo Clinic building you might mistake the grand corridors and beautiful decor for a five-star hotel. However, the massive complex was made even more appealing by the thoughtful design plan, which allows patients to keep warm during cold winter days while traveling through the subway system, a series of walkways that connect to other buildings.

During my visit I toured the Mayo Suite, a museum in the historic Plummer building that houses the original offices of the founding doctors. These suites displayed the original furnishings, photographs and early surgical instruments, some of which seemed a bit painful, I might add.

The brochure stated that internist Dr. Henry S. Plummer was responsible for many of the early designs of that building dating back to the 1920s.

Plummer installed cork floors in the exam rooms. Cork is naturally antibacterial and quiet. Some of the floors were parquet and others in the building were made of Art Marble, a mixture of colored cement and marble chips.

Other highlights include hand-painted ceiling tiles and a set of beautifully carved bronze doors that stand 16 feet tall and weigh more than 4,000 pounds each. Even the elevators and water fountains are works of art.

The Plummer building was designed to accommodate the needs of patients. But some of the ideas could certainly be used to update or redecorate our homes today.

Consider cork flooring for your next project. You can find cork tiles in a number of colors and designs. The antibacterial feature would be great for a nursery or a playroom, especially since the floors are soft and quiet. Children will be less apt to incur injuries and make less noise when playing. Another benefit is that cork is eco-friendly.

To create the "wow" factor in your entry way, add a wall of granite or marble tiles. You can find them in various colors and sizes at your local tile and granite store. If you can't afford the real thing try painting a faux marble design. Most paint stores have a do-it-yourself brochure on these techniques. If you're not up for that challenge, you can always hire a professional to do the job for you.