A fun and meaningful bedroom makeover project for Make-A-Wish
Earlier this year, the Make-A-Wish, Mid-Atlantic chapter approached my friend and Home Decor, DIY, Lifestyle and Product Stylist, Sara Raak and me to see if we’d be interested in working with 15-year-old, wish child Hannah, who requested a bedroom makeover as her special wish. To say the experience was an amazing one is simply an understatement.
Sara kindly agreed to share our experiences working to give Hannah what we hope is a peaceful oasis that provides her with some much-deserved rest and relaxation. As part of my responsibilities, I helped provide support in the form of measuring the space, drawing out the room blueprints and helping Sara determine the furniture layout. I also coordinated efforts with the contractor we worked with during the remodel, as well as communicated with professionals on the lighting and a new closet insert.
This post features Sara’s story about our journey:
As many of you may know, Make-A-Wish is an amazing organization that grants the wishes of children diagnosed with critical illnesses. Thanks to Make-A-Wish, a wish is granted every 34 minutes! When Kaki and I initially heard about Hannah’s request, without hesitation, we were both excited to help make her wish a reality.
Hannah wished for a more sophisticated bedroom that included a larger bed, a make-up vanity and a Lovesac. For the overall ambiance of the room, she hoped for a touch of “glam” with a soft pastel color palette.
A Teenage Dream Room, With a Touch of Elegance
After our first meeting with Hannah, we pulled together a mood board, and following a few edits and additions, she approved the design and as they say, “we were off to the races.”
Kaki and I wanted to display a piece of unique art in Hannah’s room that made a statement, and also could serve as the focal point of the room. Elizabeth Snodgrass Art kindly donated a beautiful painting featuring the pastel palette Hannah desired. Placing the artwork above her bed created the perfect centerpiece to the room. We also incorporated a beautiful Park Harbor chandelier – graciously donated to the project by Ferguson Kitchen, Bath and Lighting Gallery– that added to the elegance of the room. What girl wouldn’t want a chandelier in their bedroom?
Wayfair worked with Make-A-Wish to offer discounts on a new bed frame, nightstand, vanity, bedding, accent pillows, stools and curtains. The upholstered bed softened the room and allowed us to pair her neutral bedding with sequined and bright-colored accent pillows to give the room a younger teenage vibe. We also added accent stools at the foot of her bed that can be transformed into acrylic side tables by taking off the fur shag pads on top of each stool.
Because Hannah spends so much of her time in bed resting and recovering right now, we wanted to give her a quality mattress. We approached the Better Sleep Council and asked if they would be willing to donate a mattress. Not only did they contribute to Hannah’s wish, but they also went above and beyond and created a custom mattress just for Hannah based on her specifications. They completed the mattress by stitching her name in purple to match the colors in her room. Another bonus: They also included a mattress topper, custom pillows and another set of pillows for all of Hannah’s family members!
Devising the Layout
When we designed Hannah’s new bedroom, we divided it up into “zones.” The first zone is for sleeping, the second zone is for her makeup, and the third zone is for hanging out and watching TV. We created a make-up corner framed out by two windows with beautiful gray curtain panels.
Hannah specifically requested a mirror that featured big round bulbs – the kind you often see in backstage dressing rooms. We were able to find this style on Amazon and paired it with an Ikea Micke desk so she could have ample storage for her brushes, makeup and sponges.
Opposite of the make-up corner is the lounge corner. We mounted the TV so Hannah can easily see it from wherever she is in her room. Lovesac generously donated not only the comfortable, plush beanbag Hannah wanted but also an ottoman and a beautiful throw blanket.
It Takes a Village
We are so honored that we had the opportunity give Hannah the bedroom of her dreams. Much of our efforts would not have been possible without the help of the amazing partners who donated their time and products.
A tremendous amount of credit goes to Fred Urrutia, owner of FGS Construction, who donated his valuable time and materials to paint Hannah’s room, mount the TV, build furniture, hang the chandelier and install the closet system. Not only was Fred a joy to work with, but he and his company have such a giving spirit – we are so thankful for his willingness to partner with us. We simply could not have accomplished our goal without FGS Construction.
Seeing Hannah’s face on her bedroom-reveal day was such an awesome and special experience! We owe a big thank you to all of our partners and donors who made this room possible, as well as to Make-A-Wish for giving us the opportunity to make Hannah’s one true wish come true.
Source List for Hannah’s Room
Makeup Table: Micke Desk
Vanity Mirror: Chende White Vanity Mirror
Makeup Chair: Costway Swivel Chair
Bed Frame: Destiny Upholstered Bed
Bedding: Queen Sized Bed Combo
Sequin Accent Pillows: Saffold Throw Pillow
MultiColor Throw Pillow: Embroidered Cotton Throw Pillow
NightStand: Tina Wrapped Two drawer Night Stand
Table Lamp: Daunt Table Lamp
Acrylic Benches: Faux Fur Acrylic Stools/Side Tables
Curtains: Loar Solid Blackout Curtains (Gray)
Love Sac: One Person Adult Eskimo Swirl Phur
Chandelier: Park Harbor 4 Light Chandelier
Wall Color: Sherwin Williams WallFlower
Sleeping Pillows: Best Pillows Options
Mattress: Choosing the best mattress for you
Maybe it’s the kitchen breakfast nook where you enjoy your first morning coffee, the back porch where you curl up with a good book, or your guest bedroom where you practice yoga or do crafts. These places provide respite, a sense of calm and they are “your spaces”. Well, not anymore!