Monday, July 18, 2011

Foster Care Visitation Room: Before & After

The foster care visitation room is finally complete! B and I put the finishing touches on it this weekend, but it has been being used by families for a few weeks now. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, I encourage you to read this post. Basically, I was given $150 to redesign a local foster care visitation room. After receiving material donations from artists, blog readers, small business, and friends, we now have a fully functional, kid-friendly room for foster children to visit with their birth parents. This was undoubtedly a labor love and could not have been completed without so many people's generosity (and B's talent with a drill and hammer). Read more about the process that got us to this point here, here, here, and here.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:

Before:
After:
Before:
After:
A huge thanks to these awesome folks that donated good for the project:
1) wall & chalkboard paint- Sherwin Williams (thank you Melinda for setting this up!)
2) bloom & love will save the day prints- Field Trip
3) love candy print- MadeByGirl
4) photographic prints- Our City Lights
5) flapperdoodle prints- Flapperdoodle
6) dandelion wall decal- Cut it Out
7) love bunting- White House Black Cat
8) crate & barrel indoor/outdoor rug- Ike & Jane Cafe and Bakery
9) ferm living fox pillow- Ana from on dressing up
10) scandinavian geese mobile - Lauren from Pegeen 
11) doily framed art- Robayre 
12) hand painted light switch plate- Idillard
13) Ikea storage, mirrors, and extras- my awesome mother-in-law
So, what do you think about the transformation? 
p.s. Check out my flickr page for more photos.
p.p.s who knew taking photos under fluorescent light could be so stinking difficult? Ugh. 
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27 comments:

  1. Kate KieferJuly 18, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    it's perfect! you did an amazing job!

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  2. RhianneJuly 18, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    it looks great, I love the colour on the walls and the gallery looks fantastic

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  3. UnknownJuly 18, 2011 at 9:23 AM

    Wow, that's so lovely and inspiration - what a great new space. Commercial building rooms are normally very depressing - same with counseling waiting rooms - but this is so beautiful! Its going to mean lot to a lot of kids :)

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  4. Elizabeth@rosaliliumJuly 18, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    The transformation is great. I love how positive and interesting the new look is. And yey for all that generosity too.

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  5. Paige @ Little NostalgiaJuly 18, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    It looks amazing! And how generous of everyone (including yourself)!

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  6. KristinJuly 18, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Christina - this is beautiful! I can tell you put so much work and thought into this space. I love that you not only focused on improving the space visually but you obviously made a big effort to make sure the space would function better, too - giving children something fun to do and giving parents and children opportunities to interact in what might be a tense or uncomfortable situation.

    Great work - you should be really proud of how it turned out!

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  7. SilverLinesJewelryJuly 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM

    it looks awesome!!!you did a wonderful job :)

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  8. StephanieJuly 18, 2011 at 11:19 AM

    It looks SO good!!! So much more cheerful than before. :-) Great job!

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  9. Diana July 18, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Christina, your decor skills are as big as your heart. I love the room, it looks amazing!!

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  10. carly maryJuly 18, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    christina, you are brilliant.
    everyone who contributed is brilliant.
    you must be so proud! it turned out to be amazing. my heart breaks for the families that have to be there but to know that there is a nice space for them to go... it's really sweet.
    congrats. i wish they had something like this for kids when i was younger.

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  11. 17 PerthJuly 18, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Freaking awesome!! It really looks amazing, such a huge transformation. And the space is so warm and cozy which I would imagine is only helpful given the need to the room. I love all of the artwork used and the layout of the room is fantastic. Great work.

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  12. Claire KieferJuly 18, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    It looks incredible--so proud! They're lucky to have had you. :)

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  13. off switchJuly 18, 2011 at 4:15 PM

    it looks amazing christina! you (and the sponsors) knocked it out of the park :) not to mention, that striped dress is so cute on you! xo.

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  14. flynnJuly 18, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    this is such a great space now. it's so welcoming and friendly. oh christina, i'm so proud of you! it is indeed a job well done.

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  15. klgallandJuly 18, 2011 at 7:36 PM

    Well done, Lady! You did an excellent job! Congrats!

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  16. LesleyJuly 18, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    so happy! i can tell you poured so much love in to that room. what an absolutely perfect way to leave your mark on athens. <3

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  17. herecomesthesunJuly 18, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    What an incredible transformation!! Wow you've got a great eye for it. Well done. Now come decorate my house for me please? hehe :)

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  18. Naomi BulgerJuly 19, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    What an amazing space! I love the soft, calming blue, and all the beautiful, positive touches, plus the interactive board. You have created a space that says "we care about you" and "you matter to us." So beautifully done, and so generous of you and everyone who donated time and pieces to this project.

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  19. KarleneJuly 19, 2011 at 3:36 AM

    Wow...what a great job you've done! Love the blue walls and the red chairs - looks great! Your photo wall is fab too.

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  20. jamieJuly 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    SOOO wonderful! love it! :) good work!

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  21. beauty commaJuly 27, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    christina, this is absolutely fantastic - in all senses of the word. everything looks so, so delightful - i'm sure this makeover will make things so much easier for the people who are going to use this room. and it's wonderful to see people working so hard doing something for those who need it. well done, we're proud of you!!

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  22. Callie GraysonJuly 27, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    Awesome! You did a wonderful job!! it looks calm and welcoming. Love the colour on the walls with all the artwork and that chalk board wall looks fun!

    xx
    callie

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  23. our big busJuly 29, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    Just found your blog. I love what has been done to the visitation rooms. We have been doing foster care for 9 years and have adopted 9 kids over the last 15 years. I know the kids will be blessed from your work.
    Thank you.

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  24. nicoleAugust 2, 2011 at 3:37 PM

    I just happened upon your blog. So inspiring! Is that Sherwin Williams color called "Bluebell," by any chance? My husband and I just pained our living room in that exact shade. I love it! (And I may need the "love will save the day" print). Thanks for sharing! xo.

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  25. ChristinaAugust 2, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    @nicole- the sherwin williams color is actually called open sky. i bet your color looks great in the living room.

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  26. LizMarch 13, 2012 at 5:38 AM

    so wonderful!

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  27. AnonymousDecember 5, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Thanks for the inspiring post. Great job & lovely to read about the generosity too!

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