Small Space, Small Budget: Learning from The Upward Bound House
Recently a talented and generous group of Los Angeles interior designers got together to transform a motel into The Upward Bound Family Shelter, an emergency shelter for families with minor children. Each designer adopted a room for a year, donated his or her time and expertise, drummed up donations from vendors and benefactors, and worked around the clock to finish on a tight deadline. The rooms needed to accommodate families, with space for eating, sleeping, doing homework and storage. The designers also decorated the bathrooms.
Family Shelter provides short-term housing for families in crisis. In addition to secure, safe accommodations for each family, the program features intensive wrap-around case management, counseling, a food program and other stabilization services. For more information, visit upwardboundhouse.org.
As I clicked through all of the rooms, I realized the portfolio of rooms that was sent to me was chock full of brilliant designer tricks and clever ideas. The designers had to raise all of the money for the room, and worked with items that were donated. They repurposed, resurfaced, and gave new life to vintage and donated pieces. They came up with space planning that keeps the rooms from feeling cramped. And finally, they accomplished all of this with great style. Without further ado, let the lessons in stretching a dollar and squeezing all that furniture in begin.
all of the Upward Bound photographs are by Laure Joliet.
Family Shelter provides short-term housing for families in crisis. In addition to secure, safe accommodations for each family, the program features intensive wrap-around case management, counseling, a food program and other stabilization services. For more information, visit upwardboundhouse.org.
As I clicked through all of the rooms, I realized the portfolio of rooms that was sent to me was chock full of brilliant designer tricks and clever ideas. The designers had to raise all of the money for the room, and worked with items that were donated. They repurposed, resurfaced, and gave new life to vintage and donated pieces. They came up with space planning that keeps the rooms from feeling cramped. And finally, they accomplished all of this with great style. Without further ado, let the lessons in stretching a dollar and squeezing all that furniture in begin.
all of the Upward Bound photographs are by Laure Joliet.
Were you lucky enough to score half a roll of wallpaper? Here, it demarcates the "master bedroom" zone of the room, and provides an extended headboard.
"The artwork are vintage frames that have cork board inserted instead of glass. This way all the different families can create their own masterpieces and customize the space." - Nadia Geller
5. Use chalkboard paint in clever ways. Here the family can leave each other notes, leave up vocab words, draw maps, write up schedules, or just have fun doodling. The possibilities are endless.
6. Decals are another inexpensive way to make a wall interesting.
7. So are paper cranes!
...as are these with the shadow boxes.
12. There really is no substitute for fresh flowers in a room. When money is tight, find somewhere you can pick them!
13. A branch can serve as an interesting curtain rod.
14. You can stay green on a tight budget. This headboard is made from repurposed boards, and the pillows are sewn from old pairs of jeans!
16. Curtains provide privacy and are crucial in small spaces.
17. If you can't afford fancy moulding, paint it on! and..
18. Find furniture that can multitask. Here when you pull up a dining chair, the cabinet can be transformed into a desk.
18. Find furniture that can multitask. Here when you pull up a dining chair, the cabinet can be transformed into a desk.
22. Mix and match bedding and work with whatever you've got.
23. If you have open shelving instead of cabinets, think about what the stuff stored on it will look like. The orange and brown items look great against the blue wall in this makeshift kitchen.
Can't afford wallpaper? Here the wall was painted in a striking graphic pattern. No expensive wallpaper needed!