Design for the Greater Good

I love it when designers are able to take their mad skills and put them to a good cause. My wonderful friend Bridgid (I met her in interior design grad school) was involved with Upward Bound House, an emergency shelter for homeless families. The project was spearheaded by Vanessa De Vargas, designer/blogger of Turquoise fame (she was also recently profiled in Lonny - the amazing online design mag.) Each designer was responsible for the design of a small converted motel room, and let me tell you, with a limited budget and donated items, they were able to produce some STELLAR rooms. Thank goodness - these families have gone through so much, they deserve a wonderful place to call home.

Bridgid's room was phenomenal - a really serene and calming place to come home to.

I really love the inspiration sayings she stenciled on the wall.



Great color palette. Amazing breakfast nook with banquette seating. She also had (as you can slightly see in the photo below) some really thoughtful storage solutions. Hopefully this inspiring room will help out a family in need.

Vanessa also had a great space -- I took away some great ideas from the opening!

Great breakfast nook.


Love the wallpaper headboard. Wallpaper + Moulding = Budget friendly custom headboard!



Great use of wall decals and colors


I was really impressed by Kelly LaPlante's space - chic and serene with a great pop of red

(that's me in purple the mirror - my apologies for the lackluster photos. iPhone PLUS the electricity was not on for the opening.)


Another great space with a serene color and pops of red - this one by Lynnea Schwieters.



She had a great wall mural painted -- nice alternative to wallpaper!

LOVED this one by Rachel Winoker - all those pillows are luscious!

This designer, Nadia Geller, had some fabulous tricks up her sleeve. She mounted a ceiling track to create a canopy/privacy affect around the bunk beds.

She also has this fabulous wood plank headboard (another great budget idea) and a funky chain motif painted on an accent wall.

Cozette Coffman had STUNNING bedding.

And this genius painted motif around a doorway. Great idea!

Love this sweet breakfast nook in her space... wonder what the wall color is?

Melissa Capehart had the brilliant idea of putting a white painted tree branch in front of her drapery rods. It was amazing to see how creative people got when doing these rooms on such a tight budget.

All the rooms were wonderful - it's people like these who make me proud to call myself a designer.