By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Four Fort Hays State University seniors in interior design created a spa at the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art.
"Essence" is the annual interior design senior exhibit. The seniors — Holly Linenberger of Hays, Brianna Miller of Spearville, Chloe Hibbs of Concordia and Aundrea Madison of Ulysses— were the first group to design a commercial space for their senior project.
The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 18.
Hibbs worked on the reception area of the spa.
"We went with lighter colors because when you think of a spa, you think of clean and also elegance and also the organic feel," she said.
The students chose soft tones of green and blue, as well as neutrals to give a clean, calming feel.
"This year we wanted to go more commercial," Linenberger said, "and have a spa with more a relaxing, sensory and elegant theme to it, but also incorporating biophilia with the plants and everything. We just wanted to give the community a relaxing spa, especially in times like this."
Biophilia is the human instinct to connect with nature.
The students also incorporated eucalyptus scents and the sound of water for a further calming effect.
The students created a light fixture using copper sheets, clear Christmas ball ornaments and fairy lights. The students also used candles throughout.
Ashley Furniture provided the furniture for the exhibit and other local sponsors provided other accents.
Madison and Miller composed the center seating area.
"It's really serene is what we were going with, so we have bamboo and the furniture from Ashley's we tried to make it very organic and very round and soft," Madison said.
Linda Ganstrom, FHSU ceramics professor, lent her sculptures of women to the exhibit.
Underclassmen made pillows for the massage beds and covered the chairs for the changing rooms.
The students created a tea bar, which included a living moss installation on the wall.
"We chose to do commercial because it's different. We wanted to give Hays a different feeling and a different feeling of the spa — an organic one and a natural one," Miller said. "We really just wanted to change it up."
Miller will graduate in May. She hopes to live and work in Kansas City after graduation.
Linenberger will graduate in May with a degree in interior design with certificates in construction management technology, architectural technology, drafting and design, and painting. She said she hopes to eventually own her own interior design company.
Madison will graduate with her degree in interior design in December. She hopes to work at an architectural firm.
Hibbs will be graduating in May. She said she would like to work for a contractor or architectural firm after graduation.