I’ll just say it: sometimes it’s hard to watch the news and see all of the brokenness going on in our world, and then turn on my computer and write about where to find the best farmhouse wreaths.
I truly believe that when we make our house a home, and we make it a place that our families feel safe, cherished, and comfortable in, then we can set the foundation for raising children who can change the world. I also love working on projects that fit our budget and I love teaching you to do the same!
But a few weeks ago, I prayed for God to use me in a different way. And the day after I prayed that, I got a call from Jaime of FizlDizl. She was working on a community service project and she needed help. Of course it was a crazy time and things were super busy, but this seemed like a pretty direct answer to my prayer! I was excited to say YES and jump on board!
Here’s the details:
- This makeover took place at an inner city elementary school
- This faculty room hadn’t been touched in 30+ years
- We had a few short weeks to pull all of it together before school started
Jaime already had a group of wonderful people who were committed to volunteering their time and talents to the project. It was just such a big job in such a little time, and I was excited to partner with them to help!
Here’s a breakdown of the projects that were done in this room (Some affiliate links are included. This means I receive a small commission – at no extra cost to you – if you choose to purchase a product. Thank you for supporting my family and business!)
- Paint cabinets, hardware, backsplash
- Paint walls
- we had an *interesting* choice of 5 approved colors (think: 80’s baby nursery). The blue wasn’t our first choice but I think it looks OK in the end!
- Paint countertops
- Make new tables
- Buy new chairs
- Make a seating/lounge area
- Get new appliances
- Make the center column functional & attractive
- Get new floors (the school district took care of this)
- Accessorize!
I wish I could have gone out to the school more to help – but having 2 little kids kind of makes that difficult! When I went, my productivity was less than amazing, because this is what I looked like:
But Jaime and her amazing volunteers worked so so hard to finish up this room!
To really appreciate this makeover, you have to see the before & after transformations – check out this video (and like/share on Facebook here!)
Woah the room has come a LONG way! This column was a pretty big eyesore in the middle of the room – but now it should be functional *and* look better:
modeled after our office wall storage // free printable // oversized clothespins
One of my favorite parts of the room was the farmhouse tables that were handmade by a man from Jaime’s church (these plans were loosely followed)
The kitchen was a labor of love – painting all of those cabinets, hardware, countertops, backsplash…it was a LOT of work! I’m glad we chose to open up a section of the cabinets to add some little decorations. World Market generously donated some decorative accessories to the space, and I love how they pull the room together!
Globe // mugs // free printable // I made the sign using this technique
I found a man on Craigslist who made these boxes out of reclaimed wood – they’re just so pretty on the new tables!
It was HARD to find chairs within our small budget! We ended up getting the best deal at Wayfair for all of these dining chairs. They also just pull everything together!
But by far, my favorite part of the room is the little lounge area we made! We were able to find some really good deals online and make this such a pretty space:
Settee // coffee table // pillows // Rug
The teachers seem to love their new space. We pray it will be a room they can relax and recharge in after teaching those sweet little kids! See their reactions and more of how this project came together in this video:
I was honored to be a part of this project and give back to these wonderful teachers!
Make sure you visit FizlDizl to see more details and how you could get involved with upcoming community service projects!
The make over looks fantastic! I know it was lots of hard work done by many. What a beautiful room! My favorites were the glass wall and how you softened it with the lounge area…and the beautiful tables!
This turned out great! I love the coffee station!
This is precious and amazing and the best way to use the gift God gave you! I love it and am sharing 🙂
Thank you so much, Kim! It was a really special project to work on – thank you 🙂
As a teacher I am deeply touched to see this done for teachers. I cannot imagine what a boost it was to their morale.
So glad, Donna! As a former teacher, I know how hard you all work <3