“My goal is trying to hit an aesthetic that the designer will be attracted to and yet have it very functional for the hospital and the patient who will be using the furniture,” she says. Frequent conversations with healthcare designers and caregivers inform her ideas and solutions: “I hear their frustrations, and I try to design around what I hear, based on what we think the industry actually needs.”
Carpenter-Smith's designs for SleepOver illustrate her approach, with innovative seating solutions that accommodate guests in the patient's room. These highly functional pieces that support sitting and sleeping come in a variety of styles that complement a broad range of environments.