CWEE Gets a New Boutique

Do you remember when you were a kid, dressing up the basement to make a clubhouse? Well, that's what we've been doing lately--converting a basement storage room into a funky place for a used clothing boutique for CWEE--the Center for Work Education and Employment. Check out their website to learn more at http://www.cwee.org/.

We chose an industrial theme--since it is a basement room, with chain link fence dividing each storage area--we decided we would just make the most of it.

On Saturday, Conor and Liz used black ABS pipe and fittings to create the framework for three dressing rooms. We made side walls out of faux-leather and curtains from funky black, white and gray fabrics. To hang the curtains, I bought U-bolts that would fit around the pipes.

CWEE staff, Key Bank volunteers and Zonta volunteers cleared the room on Monday and Tuesday and cleaned it from water pipes to the cracked concrete floor. Then the painting began--one brick wall was transformed from dingy white to crisp, spring green.

My Grandma said, "Many hands make light work." Well, it wasn't light work, but many hands did some heavy-duty work and really made this project come together.

I've attached some pictures of the first stages and will post the rest when the project is finished. We're pretty proud of it!

A Little Help from a Friend

Here's a note from our friend and client, Jan in Denver. She has fabulous taste in furniture and art! She just wanted a little help with her bedroom and office.

Last year I had my bedroom painted--three walls are orchid and the accent wall is salmon! I lived with this for a year, wondering if it was too bold, not sure if the colors were right at all. This is a departure from my usual choices of warm, neutral colors. I needed help, though, pulling the room together. My spare room was also dismal. It lacked a purpose. It was Lois to the rescue. She lent me the push I needed to finish both rooms.

For the bedroom, we went shopping and chose funky fabric for a chair that really works with the room. We found a metallic framed mirror to hang above the dresser, checked on lighting and an area rug and decided to remat and reframe a print from my trip to Singapore to pull the colors together. I'm still looking for a trio of prints to mount above the headboard. All the accessories really brought harmony to the room! It is a wonderful place to read and tuck myself into at night.

I had already chosen paint for the office, a gold/brown, an Elfa shelving unit for the wall above a simple desk and a great paprika chaise for reading. Lois painted the office and helped arrange the books and accessories on the shelves so that it looked artful, not just functional! We shopped for an area rug, hung artwork, positioned the chaise perfectly so that this room says "this is my space to work and relax!" I love it!

Thanks, Lois!
Jan H.

Everywhere We Look There's Work To Do!

If you haven't heard, we've moved. Liz and Conor moved to a new condo and then I moved two days later. We helped each other in both cases and therefore didn't get our own houses in order as fast as we usually would. Now, everywhere we look, there's work to do!

Moving to a new home is physical, but it's also very emotional. If you're downsizing, you miss all the comforts you had in your bigger place. If you're combining households, compromise brings harmony, but also the pain that comes from relinquishing control. On the other hand, moving to a new home can be a thrilling experience--full of anticipation for the new life ahead that it symbolizes.

My move is a temporary one--so that brings a different set of emotions. I'm unsettled and feel like I don't belong here. I'm nesting in, but not too much. I miss having all my things easily accessible. I focus on the white walls and want oh-so-badly to paint so the rooms don't feel so bland so I can feel at home.

No matter what the emotions you experience, I go back to my old rule. Hang your pictures and create familiar spaces with your things in the new unfamiliar place. Invite friends over--they will help you feel familiar and at-home in your new habitat. I know I will feel at home eventually--just about in time for the next move!