« What Would Kelly Wear: Room 1 (Guest Blogger Katherine Brown) | Home | Your New Friend »
Portfolio: Upward Bound House, Part Three
January 30, 2010
After two weeks of living in my painting clothes, I finally pulled it all together, finished the project and donned a civilized outfit today for the opening ceremony at the brand new Upward Bound House in Culver City. It has been a wild ride and I am tired but it was worth it when I think of all of the families who will be helped by what we did.
I’m just going to come out and say it. I did not manage to make my project 100% green and I have to admit that I am having trouble with that. I bought my comforters and duvet covers at Ikea– the normal cotton kind with no special eco properties– because, at the end of the day, I just simply did not have enough money or time to do it right.
That hurts.
It hurts because, while I always tell people that “there is no such thing as eco-perfect,” I sort of like to believe that I am the human exception to that rule, that I am the girl who can make an eco-miracle happen. But, as it turns out, I am not eco-perfect either. Walking through the aisles of Ikea yesterday, my yellow and blue bags stuffed full of bedding, I felt like I had lost my religion. I failed myself and, as I watched Taylor layering the organic Coyuchi sheets with the non-organic Ikea stuff, I realized that it is going to take me some time to process that failure.
If you are not utterly disgusted with me at this point and ready to stop reading my blog forever, I will now share three things that my team and I WERE able to accomplish.
1) Re-purposing. We really went to town with this basic concept. Chairs and tables from Craig’s list, mirrors and chandeliers from our favorite junk store, rugs drapery, lamps and seating from clients and friends. We spent an entire week painting and re-upholstering (with low VOC paints and remnant fabrics) so that it would all go together.
2) Doodling. We stole the concept from one of our favorite French magazines and had a great time drawing all over the furniture– which allowed us to keep the walls simple and to infuse a bit of naughtiness into an otherwise cutesy design concept. We even had help from a local Venice tattoo artist (the wings on the headboard.)
3) Support. I was extremely lucky to have received support from some amazing individuals and companies. Because of them, I was able to make my project 95% eco-friendly and that, despite my self-deprecating diatribe, is really nothing to shake a stick at. I thank you guys, truly, from the bottom of my heart.
Matthew, Heidi and Mia LaPlante
Rick and Linda LaPlante
Robert Kwak and Eunhak Bae
Amber Trueblood
Lori Swanson
Rachel Kuppinger
Sydney Shapiro
Elena and Bob Krail
Diane Solomon
Reynaldo
and, most of all, Dennis, Taylor, Mike and Stas.
Topics: Uncategorized |
January 30th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Kelly - It was great meeting you yesterday! You did an amazing job, your room was functional, fun & beautiful. Congratulations on this fabulous project!
Thanks,
Candice Noble
January 30th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Kelly,
It looks amazing! Before I was introduced to your work, I would think “how am I going to be 100% eco-friendly in my design approach”. I’ve always been an all or nothing kind of person so, to be only halfway eco-friendly was out of the question. However, you taught me that nothing’s perfect and do your best with the best intentions! Congratulations on the project! You made it 95% perfect!
Natalie
January 30th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Looks awesome! We’re digging the red lamp, gray shade combo and wish we could have seen it in person. So happy that a part of The Green Life is included.
See you soon,
Scott & The Green Life
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:49 pm
[…] of the project. Additional photos of Kelly’s work for the Upward Bound project can be found on her blog. To learn more about the organization and make a contribution, check out the Upward Bound […]
February 15th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Kelly, the room turned out so great! you were even able to play off that brown carpet and give it new life. The mirror and table look so beautiful together. And I love how the artist drew around the lamp base on the side table. I’m sure you’re space will bring a happy feeling and a fresh start to the family that gets to occupy it. well done!