attention all treasure hunters…and do-gooders. I’m so thrilled to share this home with you today. A few months back I was contacted by a talented young woman with a big heart, Lisa Robison, about her new and fascinating project Dwell with Dignity. DWD is an organization supported by designers and like-minded helping hands from retailers to volunteers who come together to bring a fresh start for those in need. This group organizes, designs, shops, creates, negotiates, rethinks, repurposes and installs an entirely brand new designed living space for families working to escape poverty and homelessness. I met Lisa and her equally amazing partner Kim Turner in East Dallas to photograph her latest project with the Inter Faith Housing Coalition. I was fortunate enough to get to run into the lucky DWD dweller on her way out the door. It lifted my heart to see the impact this environment full of style has made on her life. She was not only touched but so willing to help and get involved! I have been anxious to spread the word ever since.

** I received an email this week from another one of my favorite gals, Leslie at Again and Again, and this Saturday is the 1st annual “shop your garage or someone else’s” starting at 8:30. There will be a list of garage sales and you can head out by yourself or with friends.** Pick up a couch, a table, a chair, a set of light bulbs, pots, pans…anything. Set a budget that you’re willing to donate $10? $100? And just see what you can find that is fun. It goes to a good cause and it’s shopping!! Stop by around lunch and grab a hot dog. It’s going on all day so feel free to bring by your goodies anytime.**

Read more to check out the apartment I visited and to see the before and incredibly savvy + creative afters.

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Take a look at all the details and pay close attention to the clever solutions to art. The tinker toy art and the spinner art by the Girl Scouts are genius, cost effective and - ps - happy! solutions!!

total budget and all the bright ideas below {I tried to bold + italicize each element to give an idea of the amount of items that were pulled together in this terrific effort.}

…straight from founder Lisa Robinson herself…

LIVING ROOM:

-The red sofa was a Craig’s list find for $300. It is a sleeper sofa, and the back cushions were so out of shape that we purchased one pillow from WestElm for $39.99 and posted that we needed help with the others. Someone (Amy Houdek) donated them! The bird pillow was $24.99 from DwellStudio Target. The paisley pillow was at Pottery Barn on Sale for $23.97.

-WestElm donated the dresser

-DSI donated the TV

-The frames above the sofa were from IKEA (19.99) ea, the artwork donated by (Terrie Meider)- my mom (check out her art at this link)

-The storage ottomans were donated by a friend (Lynette Scruggs), and came from Marshalls

-The Daybed is the TROMSO from IKEA at $99.00. I slip-covered it with donated fabric and made grommets so it could be assembled as intended. The daybed coverlet and shams were found at Anna’s Linens for $49.99. Two sheet sets for the daybed also found there for $14.99 ea. One workroom donated the fabric for the bolster pillows, and the trim. Another workroom (Stitches by Carmen) donated the labor to sew the bolsters and sew the trim on the pillows. A volunteer (Hilary Degroote) sewed the trim on the shams and on the drapery. The paisley pillow was at Pottery Barn on Sale for $23.97.

-WestElm donated the dresser

-The drapery was a Home Depot painters cloth 8′9 x 11′9. $20 I cut it down the middle along each side of a seam; threw them in the washing machine to fray the edges, and Hillary sewed on the donated trim. We clipped the tops with IKEA drapery clips $4.99 from the back and hung them from a donated bamboo drapery rod with twine that was in our tool kit. Designer Reagan Nickelson designed it on the spot.

-Kim Turner (my partner) and I assembled the bookshelf we purchased from Target for $129.99. The baskets were on sale for $6. The woven bottles found “thrifting” for one dollar a piece. The pagoda on top was donated.

- The black chairs came from a hotel liquidation showroom for $45 each. Originally from a Ritz Carlton Hotel, we reupholstered the seats with donated designer fabric (Reagan Nickelson) and spray painted the chairs glossy black.

-The panel above the Tv/dresser was donated by local contractor, von Gillern Construction. Fabulous seagrass wallpaper was donated (Brooke Berman) Kim, Reagan and I cut and wallpapered it; volunteer Charity Cornelious bolted it to the wall!

approx cost $989 (no tax included)

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BEDROOM:

-Bed-Inspired by the donated (Lisa Evert) wool pink and orange throw. Matelasse coverlet was donated. Shams from Marshalls $14.99, sheets from Target and Anna’s Linens $35. Pillows made by Kim and I with purchased fabric $75. Iron bed purchased for $50.

-Drapery fabric from IKEA $8.99 per yard, labor donated by (Stitches by Carmen) ,rods (donated by Kim Turner) dragonfly hooks purchased at RoundTop for .75.

-Dresser/wardrobe -Kim found at a garage sale for $50!

-Mandala art donated (Terrie Meider)

-Vase donated

-Crib/daybed/toddler bed purchased at Target for $159.99,(Assembled by volunteer Jessica Stevens.) Orange throw from IKEA for $4.99, monkey pillow from IKEA, $7.99, faux bois pillow donated by Gypsy Wagon, sheets and pillow case from IKEA $20, bumper from target $34.99

-plastic frame from IKEA $3.99, art free from DaFont.com, tinker toys donated

-Bedside table from estate sale $15.00-painted by kim and I with Montana spray paint

-Lamp from Interfaith Housing Coalition storage- Kim and I painted it with Montana paint and put trim along the shade.

-Artwork-donated and created by GirlScouts Troop

-assorted pillows from Anna’s linens $50

approx cost $635

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KITCHEN:

-Dining table found at a consignment shop and donated ( Lynette Scruggs)

-Chairs $20 ea from hotel liquidation showroom. We re-upholstered the seats (volunteer Terrie Meider) with designer donated fabric. and painted the chairs espresso ( volunteer Natalie Dollar)

-I found the bulletin board while garage sale shopping for $1 and covered it with donated fabric and linen. The trellised metal pieces on each side are gutter guards ($2.99 ea at Home Depot). We adhered magnets to clothespins for hanging notes

- The 3 boards on the back wall are 24″ square wood panels from Lowes $7.99 ea. We covered them with donated fabric; then hung clip boards that we spray-painted with chalk board paint from the top. The ribbon on top was to hide the “office Depot logo. It was donated too.

-Chandelier from IKEA $29.99

-Botanicals in the kitchen came from Kim’s old Calendar. We cut out the images, mounted them on butcher paper, and placed them in glass clipped frameless mounts from Hobby Lobby for $9.99 ea.

-Kim Turner upholstered above the cabinets with tacks $5.99 from Joannes, and donated fabric.

-Donated place mats from Dwellstudio target

-Assorted kitchen essentials donated and purchased $50

approx cost $304

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BATHROOM:

-2 towel sets for 3 people- $100

-shower curtain from Walmart- $24.99

-rug-$14.99

-donated framed art

-trash can, $12.99

-donated shelf and accessories

approx cost $153

We also supplied the residents with food and cleaning supplies

Project cost not including supplies and sales tax is approx $2,091.

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Thanks Lisa! If you would like to get involved in this magnificent effort contact Lisa via the Dwell With Dignity website.