IAHSP Community Worldwide Staging Service Week
Project:
The Washington DC chapter was pleased to have the opportunity to stage the Ronald McDonald House at the Fairfax Nova Hospital in Falls Church, VA.
Beautiful weather, coupled with great chapter support and enthusiastic response from RMH employees and volunteers made for a great experience.
The house was positively thrilled with the results and couldn’t believe the difference in the feel of the rooms.
We began at the entrance foyer with coordinated baskets to store the items they kept there. A lovely topiary in the corner was added for height and interest . Original art work was done on site by chapter members in a children’s theme. What a dramatic change it made upon entering, giving a happy feeling, welcoming visitors in.
Next was a seating area in the main hall that we created as we had noticed that visitors were standing. A tree was found elsewhere in the house and helped to block vision into the conference room which the director particularly liked. This vignette was made possible by chairs that were kindly donated by American Furniture Rental.
The conference room was filled with a variety of different colors and styles of art. The leather chairs were burgundy so we scoured the house for complimentary art. One of our members did several pieces of original art work that was the focal point of this room. Just keeping it cohesive was a huge change and improved the look significantly.
In the dining room the house had wonderfully colored tables and chairs and art work that matched the furniture very well. New floral arrangements for the tables were purchased from our IASHP donation to coordinate perfectly. The ledge along the wall and the toy box between the dining and living areas were staged with some purchased and some found objects including a shoe of Ronald McDonalds’s found in the toy box. How appropriate!!!!
The main living area was where the most dramatic change was made. The 2 existing sofas and credenza were taken out. A cozy seating area around the fireplace was made with 2 matching neutral sofas that were generously donated by Brook Furniture. The existing chairs were staged to offer 2 additional seating areas, one with an end table and lamp also donated by Brook. The art work donated by Personal Preferences was featured and we searched the house for complimentary pieces. Accessories finished off this transformed room. The house director said the room was now so much lighter and warm and couldn’t believe the difference staging made!!!!
In the family area we staged 2 rooms. One was for TV viewing and one for reading and playing games. American Furniture Rental also generously donated a matching sofa and chair for the TV room. This was so appreciated as the upholstered furniture in this room was very worn. We used part of the donation from IAHSP for ottomans and a beautiful silk arrangement to complete the new look of this room. Art work and accessories were brought in from other rooms and it turned out fabulously!
In the other room the furniture was in good condition. It just needed a fresh arrangement, art and accessories to pull it together, all of which was found in the house. A beautiful transformation!!!
In the basement was a game room. We found all the game art spreadout in different areas. By featuring it here, color and a theme was brought to that room as well.
Extra art was placed on hallway walls. Our favorite piece was of Ronald McDonald holding a baby. We brought him up from the basement and hung him in a place of honor near the main living area.
As we were closing down and just a few of us were left the director asked if we could work on the art in the family bedrooms. For the most part it was very mismatched. not hung in the most ideal places or missing entirely. We once again went on a hunt and redid several of the rooms. The color and composition was now similar and gave new life to these rooms!!
The staff was so thankful and inspired. They have new offices under construction and after seeing what we accomplished, primarily with their things, are determined to bring the same continuity to their offices.
It was a very productive day and the Washington DC chapter is happy to have been a part of making the life of the families that much better. It was a lot of fun to work with our fellow ASP’s and to share the joy of staging with such a worthy cause.
Thanks again to Brook Furniture Rental, American Furniture Rental, Personal Preferences, IAHSP, Stagedhomes.com and all who donated their time and talent for a very successful WWSSW.
Click here to see more photos!
Project Ambassador: Cindy Fortin
Chapter President: Gwyn Thorn
For more info on this chapter click here
