TRANSFORM LIVES

ITALIAN SHEETS or WORLD PROBLEMS?

I have seen a lot of blog material from designers, and while I do think Italian Sheets are beyond compare, I have to say that this Designer really has captured my attention: Emily Pilloton. Emily is an architect, and I have read several of her blogposts about environmental issues, but this latest Project is by far the most meaningful thing I have seen recently.

In 2008 Emily created Project H Design, a non-profit group focused on design solutions for humanity's problems. Project H has designed and created school playgrounds from North Carolina to Uganda that teach children math, built computer labs in impoverished school districts, and helped women transport water in Africa.

IN 2009, Emily published a book, "Design Revolution: 100 Products that Empower People." She was featured with her book and several of the inventions on the Colbert Report. To read all about Project H, visit the website: http://projecthdesign.org

in 2010, Emily put together a roadshow that is visiting about 25 high schools and universities, showing the products and educating young people in the potential that Design has to transform their worlds. To follow the progress of the Roadshow, see their blog :http://designrevolutionroadshow.com/
They were here at NC State this past Monday, and had a huge impact on their audience. Be sure to check older posts to read about NC State, and also SCAD in Savannah.

But as cool as all this is, the most touching thing to me is that Emily and her partner have recently committed to moving from San Francisco to Bertie County, NC, to teach a year-long, part design, part shop class to students in the county's agricultural vocational school. They will teach high-level math and science by engaging the students in design projects, and then coaching them through the "build" process. The result will be that young people from one of the poorest school districts in the state of NC will have the skills and inspiration to tranform life in their environments. HOW COOL IS THAT?????????????????

The above picture is not Emily! Please visit the roadshow url to see a YouTube clip of Emily describing her humanitarian goals; also you can click on the Colbert Report link on her site to see that video. It's quite humorous!

The Project H site has detailed info about the project in Bertie County. There is a link to Paypal if you would like to make a donation.

So what about the Italian Sheets? For those of you who thought this post would be about luxury linens, Yes, I do have several sources for exquisite bedding that feels wonderful against your skin. As a matter of fact, I have several price points available in Italian bedding. Why not go middle of the road, and donate the difference to Project H!

TRANSFORM A LIFE....

TRANSFORM A KID'S ROOM

A couple of years ago, one of my favorite clients called me and said "It's time to do my son's room. This young man was beginning to express his individuality, and like many of his peers, he did a fair amount of "gaming" in his free time. He entertained his friends in his room, and his room was devoid of personality. Here it was:






The bed was to the right of the door,
and a large media bookcase
was right in front of the door.


The first thing I suggested was a
change in floor plan. Let's put the bed
in the window alcove, and let's increase
the bed size from the existing twin to a
double. Done!


The young man loved the items in the
current Pottery Barn for Teens
catalog, so I interviewed him and his
mother to find out what functions we
needed to provide for.




Here's what we came up with. Where the bed used to be, we installed a media wall, with colorful storage bins, and a new flat screen TV.











The new bed went into the alcove,
with a Pottery Barn bedspread
and decorative pillows.

A reclining gaming chair went into the
corner, with a mini-frig to keep soft drinks
for his friends.

A colorful contemporary rug
brightened up the space,
coordinating all the Pottery Barn items.





But the "Piece de Resistance" was this:

His mom provided me with some photos taken on a family ski trip, and asked me to design his room around one of them. I chose this one, and she had it blown up to wallpaper. When you walked into the room, this photo filled the wall to the left. His bed is to the right in this photo: