The Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women & Children at Los Angeles opened its doors last summer to tours of 30 rooms beautifully decorated by leading designers in Los Angeles. These designers worked pro bono with the donations of numerous inside design organizations to create beautiful environments.
The Good Shepherd Charity Project has been managed by the gifted Vanessa De Vargas and Vanessa Kogevinas, who plan to organize a similar charity job every year. Erika Bierman and Laure Joliet given their professional photography solutions. Join the tour almost and hear about the chambers from each one of the designers.
Erika Bierman Photography
Erica Islas of EMI Interior Design: “My vision for this
space was supposed to create a brand new, organic, uplifting space that felt like a home for the resident of this room at Good Shepherd, instead of just a room. It was also important to keep in mind that this room would need to maintain the evaluation of time as it’s transitional housing and many girls would utilize the space.”
Erika Bierman Photography
Islas wanted the furniture to be multi-functional from the little space and to bring a few architectural detailing and texture. Using burlap with multi-colored paint, the delicate glossy wood of the desk combined with acrylic/metal seat, the rich organic woods in the vanity with the shimmer of mirror provide the room a timeless, natural, and simple texture.
Erika Bierman Photography
Attempting to find a place for all the donations received was challenging! There was a lot of donated items that she was unable to utilize and was constantly editing. In the end, it all came together and Islas was delighted be part of this and always ready to give back.
Erika Bierman Photography
Kelly Schandel of Think Pure:”The design intent was to create a cheerful yet equally relaxing refuge which also reflects my layout style: clean, modern, warm and inviting. With two big windows at the little (12′ x 14′) room, positioning the bed was crucial. I made a decision to place the headboard in front of one of the windows to allow the area’s new resident to savor a number of the skyline views of Los Angeles’ downtown high rises through another window. Placing film over the bottom half of the windows obscured the less inviting view right out. Two blown glass lampshades out of Neptina in Venice, CA. Helped determine the colour scheme.
“Attention to detail is important in small rooms because the details are more noticeable — they must co exist,” Schandel says. Making the details multi-use makes sense too: the ribbon look wall sculpture is in fact a coat hook” Holly Hunt given the Christian Liaigre high-backed armchair. Minotti given the slim, elegant dining table lamps. Classic Design made the ultra-suede platform bed. The cloth of the curtains, which originated from Diamond Foam & Fabric in LA.. The Parsons desk out of West Elm is stunning finished in high gloss white lacquer. And two distinct backgrounds were donated.
Erika Bierman Photography
“Mixing high design items with bits from IKEA and West Elm is part of their fun,” Schandel says. “It’s something I do with my own home, and with all the clothing I wear. The IKEA Malm vest is almost a design classic.”
Erika Bierman Photography
Jen Porter of Chic Living LA:”My idea for designing my area at Good Shepard was going to create a monochromatic traditional refuge. A room with soothing taupe colour, warm textures of silk, and a sprinkle of classic chic. I wanted the room to have a luxurious sense of Eloise At The Plaza.”
Erika Bierman Photography
“I integrated a draped canopy bed made from silk, a classic French chandelier and a shagrin desk,” Porter says. “I wanted the girls who remained in this area to be motivated by beauty and serenity.”
Erika Bierman Photography
Shirry Dolgin of ASD Interiors:”The most exciting aspect about designing a room for your shelter was fantasizing about that the girl would be that would get the room. I arrived to the conclusion that the most important thing is that she feels the care and love I put into this room. I wanted her to walk and feel like this is a space she could feel completely safe in and I wanted it to warm her heart! My aim was to alter this uninviting dorm which every detail would make her feel like she was in a different place and in a different nation. I chose to make a headboard at a romantic green cloth with a gentle shape and very sweet womanly bedding. I contrasted this with very rich drapery within an aubergine colour. Following the colour was decided, it was essential for me to create a space program which was symmetrical so as to highlight a hotel feel.”
Erika Bierman Photography
“I didn’t need everything to be made from the same material,” Dolgin says. “This is the reason why the headboard is made from cloth, the dresser is whicker, the seat is covered in lace, and the writing desk includes a white painted finish. My approach in providing comfort and a sense of warmth was supposed to incorporate items in the design that a woman would really like to surround herself with, like exquisite stationery, candy and chocolates, scented candles, and a gorgeous selection of perfume bottles that were donated by friends and family.”
Erika Bierman Photography
Jessica Bennet of Jessica Bennet Interiors:”The moment I understood what the job was about, I knew I wanted to create a refuge for the girls who’d be calling the room home for years to come. It had to be light and airy, tranquil and bright. As people walked through during the open house, the term overheard most frequently was,’It’s so fresh!’ Hearing that, I knew my goal was realized. We created a little slice of paradise that the residents of the Good Shepherd Center could go to to find refuge and comfort from an otherwise insane lifestyle ”
Erika Bierman Photography
“I had more than a dozen friends and family members contribute over $3,000 to furnish the room in addition to very generous donations in my family company, Ebanista and my long-time drapery supply, Hyatt Custom Draperies,” Bennet says. “The paint was given by Lowe’s and the custom made artwork was painted especially for this room by Jordan Thomas Art.”
Erika Bierman Photography
Charmean Neithart in Charmean Neithart Interiors:”We plan to create a space that is a marriage of beauty and function. In this breezy corner , our aim was to design a calm retreat that has been both cozy and calming, a location where its resident could feel relaxed, pampered and enabled. The beautiful bedding graciously given by Serena and Lily functioned as our colour inspiration with its stunning combination of coral and turquoise. When Charmean found the treasured classic flamingo artwork at a local antique store, the space took off and we were soon transported to the shores of south Florida. The woven basket light-fixture complements this beachfront appearance. Two stunning Roman shades donated by gloomy Draperies add dimension and intention to the bedroom, although the lavish decorative cushions supply a touch of sophistication and elegance.”
Erika Bierman Photography
Based on Lewis and Neithart,”Our attempt at whimsy is observed in the enjoyable papier-mache zebra mind by Anthropologie that keeps watch on the woven cane-paneled bed from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child. Our intent would be to fashion a cheerful haven in the middle of downtown Los Angeles that would function as a refuge for a brave woman attempting to make positive changes in her life.”
Natalie Myers
Kelly Edwards:”I was so in love with the concept of creating a room that felt comfortable and unassuming. Since we weren’t told who was going to get our room ahead of time I wanted it to appeal to everybody, kind-of like a little vacation bundle”
Natalie Myers
“With crops, natural textures like the Cliff Spencer wood dining table and a mixture of soft and vibrant colours was precisely what I wanted,” Edwards says. “I chose to utilize Lucite and mirrored furniture bits from Z Gallerie to make the room feel light and airy while the crops made the room feel more alive (I believe every room should have something that’s”alive”).”
Natalie Myers
“A gentle gray on the walls out of Glidden, comfy bedding from Dwell and pops of colour in the throw cushions, carpeting and artwork was intended to create an inspiring, yet relaxing home away from home,” Edwards says.
Erika Bierman Photography
Tamara Honey of House of Honey:”Girlie glamour meets modern whimsy! The space is an artful mix of old and new. In true House of Honey style, the space juxtaposes ornate lines with contemporary fabrics and sparkles with metallic paint and hanging lucite. The texture is complicated and timeless with bold wallpapers and lively with antique portraits and busts. Ladies are constantly pretty in pink, which is a fantastic opportunity to use the luminous blush color in an enjoyable and unexpected fashion,” Honey says.
“We were lucky enough to receive stunning donations from Cosmetic Carpets, Osborne & Little, Cole & Son, Bungelow 5, Serena & Lily as well as many classic finds directly in the House Of Honey showroom.”
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