## Tangram Partners With Once Upon A Room to Transform Children's Hospital Experience
When children face extended hospital stays for serious illnesses, their surroundings can significantly impact their healing journey. Recognizing this reality, Tangram Interiors recently partnered with nonprofit Once Upon A Room to bring personalized design experiences directly to young patients at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
## Beyond Standard Healthcare Design
The five-week initiative demonstrated how commercial interior design expertise can extend beyond traditional corporate spaces to create meaningful impact in healthcare environments. Each patient room received a complete transformation tailored to the individual child's preferences—favorite colors, beloved characters, and personal interests all guided the design decisions.
Patients were surprised with custom bedding, pillows, and accessories that they could keep after their stay. This approach goes beyond typical healthcare design by creating spaces that feel personal and comforting rather than clinical and institutional.
## Collaborative Community Effort
The project brought together multiple industry partners, including architects from One Nine Architecture and Boulder Associates, contractor Austin Commercial, and Women in Health—a professional group for healthcare workers. This cross-industry collaboration showcased how different specialties can unite around a common mission.
Tangram also hosted a puppet-making event at their downtown showroom, extending the experience beyond room decoration to include interactive activities that brought joy during a challenging time.
## Design Impact in Healthcare Settings
For commercial design professionals, this partnership highlights important considerations for healthcare projects:
**Personalization Matters**: Even in institutional settings, incorporating individual preferences can dramatically improve user experience and emotional well-being.
**Collaborative Approach**: Complex healthcare projects benefit from diverse professional perspectives—architects, contractors, designers, and healthcare workers each contribute valuable insights.
**Community Engagement**: Design firms can leverage their expertise for community impact while building relationships across industries.
## Building Long-Term Relationships
"Partnerships and community are in everything Tangram does," said Kellie Reed, Director of OC Sales and Healthcare for Tangram. "We are at our strongest when we give back and lean in to serving places in need. Philanthropic commitment not only brings fulfillment, but it also creates a strong web—connecting different industries, people and organizations."
Jenny Hull, Principal of Once Upon a Room, emphasized the value of finding like-minded organizations: "It is always a humbling experience to meet organizations like Tangram who pride themselves on serving. We look forward to future collaborations!"
## Tangram's Ongoing Community Commitment
This partnership represents part of Tangram's broader community engagement strategy. Over the years, the company has supported organizations including the Orangewood Foundation, Orange County Rescue Mission, The Samueli Academy, Susan G. Komen, and The Boys and Girls Club through furniture donations, college scholarships, and volunteer time.
## Lessons for Commercial Design Professionals
This project offers several insights for design professionals:
- **Healthcare design benefits from residential sensibilities**: Comfort and personalization can coexist with clinical requirements - **Community partnerships create unexpected opportunities**: Working with nonprofits can lead to innovative project approaches - **Cross-industry collaboration strengthens outcomes**: Different professional perspectives enhance project success - **Social responsibility enhances business relationships**: Community involvement builds trust and opens doors to new connections
As commercial interior design continues evolving, projects like this demonstrate how design expertise can create positive impact beyond traditional business environments while strengthening professional networks and community relationships.
