A Very Special Makeover For My Friend’s Place
The holiday season is a time for giving – not only to our friends and family, but also to those in need. And this year, I was honored to be able to really give back – and use design to help improve lives – with a very special makeover for My Friend’s Place.
For this project, I once again partnered with Lowe’s and their Hometowns campaign, a 5 year initiative that gives back to communities in need (creating over 100 improvements in hometowns across the US!) This makeover, in particular, was also very special to me, as I was able to help out a worthy organization that I’ve had the pleasure of working with for many years. My Friend’s Place is a non-profit in Los Angeles that works with youth experiencing homelessness, assisting and inspiring them to build self-sufficient lives. And thanks to Lowe’s, I was able to really give back to an organization that gives so much! So keep scrolling for a behind-the-scenes look at all the improvements – including some amazing before and afters.
Check out another very special makeover from the Lowe’s Hometowns campaign: Creating A Memorial Garden For Ronald McDonald House
My Friend’s Place
Behind The Makeover
Earlier this month, I joined 40 volunteers from 12 Lowe’s stores to tackle a major renovation to the My Friend’s Place facility in Los Angeles. The organization serves over 1,000 youth each year, and in the 29 years since they moved into the current location, the building has taken on a lot of wear and tear. Working closely with My Friend’s Place for the past few years, I’ve seen firsthand all the vital services they provide – from education to health and well-being – and how the facilities were definitely in need of a refresh.
First and foremost, we needed to make some repairs to the building exterior. After years of dealing with leaks every time it rained, we started by replacing the roof. (On the day of the makeover, it happened to be raining, and the staff was thrilled with no more leaks!) We also gave the exterior a brand new coat of paint for a fresh new look.
My Friend’s Place
Behind The Makeover – The Interior
In addition to the exterior improvements, we tackled a number of projects inside too. The kitchen got brand new cabinetry, counters, and appliances to help the staff and volunteers prepare meals, and the laundry room was given a major upgrade. But the biggest transformation would have to be the bathroom. For many youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, this is the only access they have to a hot shower. And since it gets a lot of daily use, I knew we needed to use materials that would be heard wearing and easy to clean. So I opted for a durable (and non slip) 2″x 2″ black ceramic for the floors, a clean white tile for the walls, and a fun patterned tile for the shower walls. It definitely took this bath from dingy and dated to a welcoming and bright spot that the youth can really look forward to using.
Keep scrolling to see the bathroom before and after!
Amazing work for a great cause! THANKS FOR ALL YOU GUYS ARE DOING!
Thank you!! My Friend’s Place is a project very close to my heart so I was really thrilled to have been a part of this makeover. xx -B