My story starts last October when I was asked to "write down 50 things you would do if nothing could stop you" as part of a class to become Certified to Train other Home Stagers. So that night I gave it serious thought.....
If nothing could stop me, if I had no barriers what would I do??? Hhmmmmmm...
#1 On My List: To start a Non-Profit that would decorate homes or spaces for women who were coming off the streets and out of abusive situations.
As Nate Berkus says "Your home should rise up to meet you".
I believer that is for everyone...no matter what your situation or where your "home" is. Home could be a women's shelter where you feel safe for the first time in years, a subsidized housing project that is all your own, or one room in an apartment shared by others in your situation. So, I wrote it down.
"I want to start a Non-Profit to bless women coming into perhaps their first safe living space ever."
I had visions of what I would do with it when I retired. Receive donations, refurbish a worn out table by painting it a fun color, bringing new life to an old chair with fun fabric, have a list of volunteers to assist me. I could visualize it in the future.
So....guess what I did a couple weeks ago??
I decorated a three bedroom apartment for three women coming off of the streets from sex trafficking and prostitution.
Did you hear that?? A couple weeks ago. And I haven't retire yet!
I won't go into the details but this happened quickly. Someone at my local church knew what I did for a living, called me and asked if I would be willing to get involved. I called the charity and was told the women were moving in Friday and they needed help "pulling it together".
I went down there Wednesday morning and a large local furniture store was just pulling away from donating BRAND NEW FURNITURE!!!!
But, there were no 'girly things'. I went to my warehouse, picked out lamps, artwork, and girly things that I could donate.
Oh....I forgot the best part. When I told my sister what I was doing she came back to me a bit later with this:
"For these women the bed has never been a safe place. They need to know it is now safe and they need to be blessed with some nice new linens, not used.". I must mention my sister is a psychologist and volunteers with women who have been sexually abused or part of sex trafficking.
So...off to Target I went to buy new bedding that she was going to donate. New sheets, new comforters, a fuzzy blankets for cuddling. All coordinated with their room's paint color of course. Any good designer would have the paint deck samples with her. LOL.
I realized I needed help and needed to rearrange my schedule to meet the time commitment. With a one day notice I was back decorating the space with a wonderful woman named Sandy.
We worked for six hours cleaning, arranging furniture, making beds, hanging artwork. Boy were were exhausted but oh so blessed.
We left each woman with a brand new towel and wash cloth along with a box of chocolates and fresh flowers.
I think these women will have their home "rise up to meet them" when they walk in.
What do you think?
Bedroom 1: The taupe room
Bedroom 2: The lavendar room
Bedroom 3: The blue room
The common area:
The Hallway Garden:
So....do you have a dream for the future? God may have something in mind sooner.
I don't have my own Non-Profit yet to help numerous organizations assisting woman but hey....this is a start and it happened quicker than I thought.
What's your dream?
Shar Sitter, owner Rooms With Style Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis MN.
