In 2018, Vi at Palo Alto will begin a multiyear, multimillion-dollar renovation of the community’s common spaces including the Great Room as well as formal and casual dining venues. “We want to reflect the energy of our current residents as well as our future community,” said Misha Mann, Vi’s Director of Interior Design.

Great Room Brings Nature Indoors

Residents already receive a warm welcome upon entering Vi at Palo Alto. “Now we want to add a ‘wow’ feeling,” said Mann. Soaring views, all-new furniture and a custom-designed carpet in colors and textures inspired by the Palo Alto landscape will do just that.

The carpet’s designs are inspired by indigenous plants and flowers found in the community’s gardens, while shades of blue and green draw from San Francisquito Creek and native grasses. Additional hues of local fruits and berries will also be integrated throughout the new great room. “It is important for us to reflect the region and keep the community connected to our beautiful surroundings.”

Opening up the floor plan will showcase the 30-foot tall windows that give breathtaking views to the fountains, ponds and landscaping around the property. “It’s a postcard view right outside our living room,” said Mann, “and now residents will have greater visual access to it.”

Making Dining a Destination

As with the recently renovated Creekside Lounge, all three of Vi’s restaurants will be remodeled to make dining within the community more of a destination. Even the hallway that leads to the Colonnade and Club Room restaurants will be transformed into an art gallery, making a night out at Vi feel like more of an event.

In the formal Colonnade restaurant a new opulent crystal light fixture will sparkle overhead, evoking the elegance of fine restaurants and high-end hotels. A variety of traditional seating mixed with two-top and four-top tables will create a lively space that encourages socializing. “We didn’t just want a sea of tables like in a banquet hall. We want to create a unique vantage point from every seat.”

Residents looking for a relaxed venue can dine in the more casual Club Room, where upgrades to the furniture and color palette will create a fresh and contemporary ambiance that rivals the Palo Alto restaurant scene. “We are telling a story with every feature, color and texture we have selected; one that we want people to keep uncovering. We don’t want everything to be noticed at once, but discovered slowly over time.”

In the Bistro Café, meeting friends for light fare and warm conversation will be as inviting as any restaurant on University Ave. Decorative partitions will be incorporated to create more intimate seating arrangements, and as with the other restaurants, acoustic ceiling panels will be added to contain noise and allow for more comfortable conversation while enjoying an incredible garden view.

Live Your Life in Every Room

This multi-million dollar investment is set to make Vi at Palo Alto a destination for years to come. “We want residents to feel free to live their lives in every room,” said Mann. “These spaces exist purely for them, so they have been designed for residents to use and enjoy every day.”