Workplace Resource Donation

Workplace Resource came through with a generous Target gift card! Thank you SO much. We are so grateful for your support and what this can do for Vanesha and her son Branden!

Workplace Resource is a Certified Herman Miller Dealer creating solutions for new space configurations, reconfiguring or expanding existing space, selecting products ranging from seating to systems to freestanding furniture to storage, suggesting colors and fabrics, providing options for purchase, leasing and warranties, managing budgets, scheduling and installation.

SoCO Designs Donation

Thanks you SoCO Designs for donating a rug for the LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge!!!

Located at on 2nd St bewteen Guadalupe and San Antonio.

SoCO Designs, Inc. is a boutique flooring showroom and source for hand-crafted traditional and contemporary rugs from all over the world. They are the exclusive Central Texas dealer of custom textile collections from Asmara, and Noreen Seabrook. SoCO carries a wide selection of carpet from manufacturers including Saxony and Schumacher; natural fiber textiles from Merida Meridian and Design Materials; hardwood, cork, and bamboo flooring; and finally woven vinyl products from Chilewich and Bolon.

Lifeworks storage- Found furniture!

One man's donation is another man's treasure! This morning we had the good fortune of being the first team to search through the Lifeworks storage unit for used furniture, houseware, etc. We found some really great pieces that will enhance our design and keep with the theme of "Design on a dime and keeping it green". Now all these items need is a few coats of low VOC paint!

Items found include:

• Queen bed- headboard & footboard
• Dresser
• Night stand
• Crib
• Accessories
• Children's books

Kendra Scott Jewelry Donation

Local desinger, Kendra Scott, has taken the fashion inustry to a new level, offering high-end jewlery that everyone can appreciate and afford. Her pieces are featured in fashion magazines and high-end department stores world-wide.

OBVIOUSLY- we were extatic when Kendra agreed to donate a beautiful necklace and bracelet to our deserving client; a single mother who always puts her child first and rarely has the opportunity to treat herself.

Thank you, Kendra Scott, for supporting Lifeworks and giving our client, Vaneesha, a gift she will never forget!

Design Inspirato

When we asked Vanesha to describe what kind of feel she wanted in her space, she said she wanted a calm, casual, and bright environment with mature furniture and accessories. She likes the ocean, natural daylight, neutral colors as well as blue, red, and lavendar. These are some images that give us inpiration when designing her space.

Going Green

The mantra of GREEN design and GREEN living can be heard everywhere. We'll be taking this LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge GREEN! Reduce,Reuse, Recycle!

Some of the ways we'll achieve this are:

1. Reuse our clients existing furniture and supplement with used furniture where we can. This furniture can be spruced up with new paint, or reupholstered for a fresh look.

2. Replace incandescent light bulbs with new energy efficient fluorescent bulbs.

3. Install a new programmable thermostat to help control temperature and save energy.

4. Use natural fibers in our upholstery and other fabrics. Cotton, wool, and bamboo are all suitable fabrics.

5. Sherwin Williams has already generously donated their ProGreen 200 series paints for our apartment. It is low VOC and low odor and can be used in occupied spaces. THANK YOU SHERWIN WILLIAMS.

6. Consider candlelight. Make sure you're not burning synthetic scents or wicks with lead which can release harsh polutants. Look for soy candles or other natural ingredients.

7. Provide our client with 'green' cleaning supplies.

8. Buy reusable grocery bags.

9. Make a list of tips to help conserve for our client, including items such as turning the water off when brushing your teeth. Simple ways to reduce natural resources.

LifeWorks HIC 2007 Before & After

Living Room - After

Living Room - Before

This was our 2nd year to be involved in the LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge. Oh the lessons learned! We attempted to take on a whole lot that in the end, ate away from our 8 hours to complete the space and we didn't finish it all in time and stayed late to finish - what a mess!

1. Replacing the flooring: We took on replacing all the flooring in the apartment. Even with professional help, this took away from 2-3 hours we couldn't be in the apartment doing other items.

2. Repainting prefinished wood cabinets: Oil Based Paint! We used latex paint (duh), which didn't work...then tried to sand the wet paint off, which just created a sticky, gooey DISASTER. Needless to say this was a lesson learned. In 2008 we had a Schnurr Painting donate their services to paint them - great luck!

3. Painting the ceiling: In an 8 hour makeover, this is ambitious. We didn't finish the bedroom ceiling.

4. Replacing Appliances: This was an older complex - you'll need to verify outlet types. For this makeover, I'd suggest stepping away from this!

For 2008, we decided to concentrate more on the items the client could take with them. As great as new tile backsplashes, granite counters, new carpet, new vinyl, new appliances, and new faucets are - they can't take this with them. AND we only have 8 hours to do this makeover and that flies by.

Interview and Apartment

The team sat down with Vanesha to discuss her interests, needs, and...wants for her and her busy 10 month old Branden who was scurrying around us. Fortunately this was the same apartment that we had last year, so we could spend more time talking and less time measuring since we already had the floorplan inputted into AutoCAD. Last year's client wanted a dark environment, and Vanesha wants a much brighter space, so we'll be making a total overhall on the feel of this apartment. Some of her interestests include the ocean, dolphins, art with jazz singers, music, and reading. Our list is much longer, but overall in her challenges of being a single working mom, who is trying to get her GED in order to go to college, she wants a casual, relaxing space that she and her son can retreat to.

In addition to our challenge of design and securing donations, we are aiming to be as GREEN as possible with reusing furniture, materials used, and other initiatives we'll chronicle.

MEET THE CLIENT

Yesterday was the HIC Kick-Off 2009!

We got to meet our client Vanesha (22) and her son Brandon (10 months). Venesha grew up in the foster care system and became a part of LifeWorks Care Transitional Services Program after she aged out of foster care at 18. She had a job and her own apartment and things were going well for her until injuries from a car accident changed her life; leading to job loss and homelessness for her and her son. She then entered LifeWorks Supportive Housing Program and it was not long before she and her son moved into this apartment in March.

This is where we come in!

LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge BEGINS

This is Sixthriver Architects 4th year to be involved with the LifeWorks Home Improvement Challenge (HIC) with our corporate team sponsor American Campus Communities. Through LifeWorks HIC, corporate and community teams partner with designers to design the space of a LifeWorks client. LifeWorks clients are former homeless youth and teen parents who need a "getting on your feet period", and are offered subsidized housing by LifeWorks. Our job is to transform their apartments with a dramatic makeover, as well as providing items to help them get a fresh start.

We are excited to meet our client Vanesha and her 8 month old son Branden today at the official Kick-Off of HIC '09! This is our only opportunity to interview the client, take pictures and measure the apartment. Then we will have 1 MONTH for our team (Sixthriver Architects and American Campus Commuitites) to get donations, create a design scheme, and prepare for the 8 hour makeover on September 25th, 2009.