DESIGN & DECOR
THREE QUESTIONS WITH
the Fish Guy
Kurt Harrington, founder and CEO of Something Fishy, breaks down
why aquariums are valuable to the eyes, mind and soul.
E D I T E D B Y K A I T LY N M U R R AY
Kurt Harrington, a.k.a. the Fish Guy, started Something Fishy in 1993 at age fifteen by cleaning
his dentist’s fish tank for $12 per month. Nowadays, the aquarium service provider is known
throughout New England for its aquatic expertise, aesthetically pleasing exhibits and unmatched
customer support.
W H AT A R E T H E B E N E F I T S O F H AV I N G A N A Q U A R I U M I N M Y H O M E ?
When placed in the heart of the home and designed properly, an aquarium will quickly
become a conversation piece for family and guests. An exhibit also allows you to share unique
educational moments with your children. One of the best benefits is the level of energy it exudes.
In contrast, if you’re looking to build a leisure area in your home, such as a master suite or study
area, an aquarium will set the environment for relaxation. For the art enthusiast, aquariums
are truly living art for the home. Bringing live art into your collection brings a wider appeal
and can’t be duplicated — your piece is truly unique, right down to the personalities of the
fish! Furthermore, the aquarium exhibit designs span all interior styles including contemporary,
traditional and even antique (fun fact: personal aquariums date back to the 1850’s). Regardless
of your style, there is a design that allows you to have a home exhibit that ‘moves you.’
H OW ABO UT IN THE WO RKPL ACE?
Today’s most successful companies have anything but traditional workspaces. These environments
are built for collaboration, innovation and camaraderie. It’s no secret that if you want to attract
and maintain a talented and motivated team, you need to build an environment where your
team doesn’t mind spending one third of their life! Adding an aquarium exhibit to your workspace
will be a positive attribute with a very high ROI to the bottom line. A properly designed and
maintained aquarium exhibit will increase the energy in a space and motivate your team.
They’re perfect for those moments when you need to get away from your computer and clear
your thoughts. Quickly, you will be in awe at the peacefulness of the fish and other inhabitants
along with the gently moving water. Additionally, your aquarium exhibit will set the stage for
strength and stability within the organization for your clients and partners. The exhibit has a
story to tell and makes for a great icebreaker!
When someone develops a health complication, it can be a stressful time for that individual
and their family. During this time, it’s critical to keep stress as low as possible. Healing
environments such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers or any other medical treatment areas
(including homes!) can increase the tranquility and healing of their patients by including an
aquarium exhibit as part of the healing plan. For example, occupied time feels shorter than
unoccupied time and patients often lose track of time when their mind is occupied watching
the movement and energy of an aquarium exhibit. Also, white coat syndrome is a phenomenon
where individuals experience stress and elevated blood pressure in a clinical and / or sterile
environment. Aquariums are used in medical offices because they can reduce blood pressure
and calm anxiety. While an aquarium in a reception area may seem like it’s purely for decoration,
they are actually part of the philosophy of patient-centered care, creating healing environments
and improved patient outcomes. ◆
16 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST |
2020
H OW ARE AQ UARI U M S H E ALI N G?
SOMETHING FISHY, 1185 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick,
877-347-4825, somethingfishyinc.com