The first Community Service Project I worked on was the one I brought to our chapter of ASID. I called the office and inquired about what kind of projects the committee was taking on, and the committee thought it sounded like a great project and welcomed me to join them as Co-Chair. At the time the committee was made up of ASID interior designers Mary Dworsky, Gigi Olive and Margaret Thompson all who had served on the committee for several years together.  Also new to the committee was Holly Bayer of Hauthaus.

The project was exciting: the old St Barnabas hospital building in downtown Minneapolis was being donated to Aeon (Central Community Housing Trust at the time) to renovate into apartment units for homeless youth. Our committee was asked to for design input on the main entrance/lobby, reception desk, waiting area, community room, computer learning center, counselor offices and bath rooms. The spaces needed to feel warm and welcoming, supportive and safe, inspiring.

We went to work and came up with a design concept: to unify the spaces through vibrant accents of bold color and provide an artistic sense to the space that would connect with the youthful spirit of the residents. We enlisted the help of a talented local artist Anna Berglin to create a full wall mural of tile mosaic. The impact was an immediate impact upon entering the space that drew you in, welcomed you home, and said this is a welcoming, supportive, fun space to be.

Our material boards for the project

Rendered sketch of mosaic tile wall elevation concept

Photos of the finished space

Aeon won a Children’s Leadership Award for the proejct in 2005 from The Sheltering Arms Foundation. You can read more about the project at

http://www.aeonmn.org/st_barnabas_apartments.aspx

I am currently serving as Chair of our local chapter of American Society of Interior Designer’s Community Service Committee. I initially joined the group in 2004 when my college friend approached me with a question: “Does ASID have a community service committee because I have a great project that needs professional design help!” When I contacted the ASID office the committee welcomed me in as Co-Chair that year. I am so glad they did!

For me serving on the committee has been about building relationships and discovering what is happening right here in our own community. It has been such a great opportunity to meet people and learn something new with every meeting, every encounter, every project. Anytime you get a group of volunteers  together that share a common interest wonderful things happen. It is exciting to be a part of the process. It starts with the initial dream when everything is just an imagined thought in our heads. Building relationships and learning along the way, the journey never really ends. The finished spaces are just the beginning in fulfilling dreams. The real magic happens when the residents move in and make it a home.

Our committee is made up of individual designers who are members of ASID. Our members have changed over the years but our mission has remained: to design a safe and inspiring environment for the less fortunate, providing a foundation for individuals to grow as members within a community by volunteering the time and professional education and experience of our committee members.

I am familiar with collaborating in design teams because that is how we work at LiLu Interiors. We collaborate within the office, with our clients, and with all the members of the design team: architects, builders, contractors, trade professionals. The process results in a better, well thought out solution and superior project overall. We approach our Community Service Committee work in the same way. Collaborating with fellow designers is always inspiring. We all bring different backgrounds and experiences to the table. We learn about new resources through each other. We share specific expertise. We all work together to accomplish our goal.

For more information on a few of the wonderful organizations in the community who are working hard to make a difference and building a better tomorrow check out the following websites:

Aeon: Homes for Generations

www.aeonmn.org

Youthlink: Youth Opportunity Center

www.youthlinkmn.org

Homeward Bound: Supporting Children and Adults with Disabilities

www.homewardboundservices.org

Boys and Girls Clubs

www.boysandgirls.org

I spent the long holiday weekend doing a variety of  things that Labor Day has come to signify to a lot of people: celebrating the last unofficial weekend of summer grilling with friends, shopping for the first day of school, meeting family for a picnic, and preparing our closets for the fall season.  The National Holiday was founded to honor and celebrate the American Worker and it got me thinking, what are we all working for?

In my work as an interior designer I help people realize their dream homes. I wanted to be an interior designer since I was in the fifth grade. I rarely think of what I do as work, it is something I enjoy doing. The biggest reason I enjoy what I do is my belief that your home greatly impacts your life. This belief has rung true for me hearing first hand the stories of people whose lives have benefited from their environment.

As the chair of our local chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers Community Service Committee, I have had the privilege of having this question answered for me from a perspective that really hit home. The first project I worked on was helping to renovate the old St. Barnabas hospital in downtown Minneapolis into housing units for homeless youth. Our committee attended the one year anniversary celebration to hear from residents about their new home. For a formerly homeless youth, a home provides safety. A home provides a foundation so they can ask themselves, what do I want out of life?

The Community Service Committee is made up of volunteer members of ASID who donate our time to help design spaces for people that haven’t had a place to call home. People who are working to build a life for themselves, working so they can own a home of their own.

My committee work has brought me many valuable insights. Learning from my colleagues. A deeper appreciation for the value of home. Understanding that the truest pleasures are the simplest pleasures. That what makes a house a home is the work, the effort and dedication that you put into it, not simply the stuff that is in it. The activities your space and your stuff allow you to share with people: cooking with family, reading with your child, dining with friends and the joy you share with people by having beautiful artwork in your home.

Between barbeques and cleaning, I discovered Labor Day is an opportunity to pause and recognize the importance of the work you do, and realize why you are working.

While our current intern Lauren Setum was studying in New Zealand she kept us informed of her experiences and sent us photos of her travels. It was always exciting to see an email in our in box with photos attached to see what she had been up to. It was a pleasure to have her be a guest writer for our blog this week.

Here are a few more AMAZING photos Lauren took that are a must see…

Akaroa

Elephant Rock – jet boating in Akaroa

Auckland

Dunedin train station

Horseback riding in Dunedin

On the way to Fox glacier

Hiking in Abel Tasman

Sail in Abel Tasman

Milford Sound cruise launching site

Milford Sound

Moeraki boulders

Cathedral Square in Christchurch

South Island Nelson

New Zealand was a great experience, but it felt good to return home as well. I even welcomed the sight of the mounted animal heads (which happen to include a turkey head, feet and all) that my dad seems to think of as art and displays throughout the house. Even my childhood bedroom turned into a display space post my moving to college. Ah, to share a room with turkey and deer! Nevertheless, the feeling of coming home to my family and friends after being away impressed upon me the importance of designing for a client and what makes them feel at home, instead of for the latest trend, and that is what LiLu is all about! Incorporating a piece of family furniture, or maybe…maybe…even an animal mount, with some new items can add a sense of familiarity and well, hominess, to a space.

As I mentioned earlier this week, it’s always fun to take advantage of local activities that are happening in the area and go see something new. So if you are looking for some fresh things to add to your home, I would recommend checking out the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts. It’s held every June at St. Anthony Main, usually around Father’s Day weekend, and the festival presents a great opportunity to check out some local artists and some from out of town, too. With everything from paintings to photography to pottery, you will not be disappointed!

I am very grateful for all the experiences I have had with design this year, both local and abroad. The one thing I might change about my New Zealand trip: travel method. I think I am going to invest in a pair of those red sparkly shoes…time efficient (three clicks and home), not to mention the great visual texture!

I admit, I did not bungee jump off a bridge, but I did find the style in it! The Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown is where AJ Hackett and Henry van Ash took the world’s first leap, and it is the only bungee in the area where a bungee jumper can choose to bob above the water, touch it, or be fully immersed. At 43 meters, the jump is intense even for those watching from observation decks, if I do say so myself! The first jump I witnessed gave me that roller coaster feeling in my stomach as I watched a person plunge head first toward rushing water, secured by nothing more than a string…ok, maybe something a little stronger than that. The site, however, is designed with the intention of evoking a sense of adrenaline similar to what a bungee jumper may experience.

The exterior design of the Kawarau Bungee Center encompasses some rather sharp lines and cool, hard materials that make it feel a bit  intimidating. If not for  its intriguing shape and naturally beautiful setting, one might not be as drawn to it. I imagine that this initial mixture of emotion mirrors what a bungee jumper may experience upon arriving at the site.

Another view of the bungee center and its natural surroundings

A visitor is greeted by the sound of rock music pulsing through the space, inside and out. To reach the check-in, refreshment cafe, and shop, one must follow this suspended ramp that stretches all the way around the building, starting at the top and ending on the ground floor. Though the visitor is confined to the walkway upon entering, he has the opportunity to experience the rest of the design simultaneously, as the plan is quite open. Again, the experience created by this design is similar to that of a bungee jumper…starting at the top and ending at the bottom, experiencing one’s surroundings, but connected to a base. In the bottom left hand corner of this photo, you can see the top of the gift shop.

The top right corner of this photo shows where visitors enter, and office windows can be seen among the wood slats. Until reaching the ground floor, a visitor is not exactly sure what he will encounter. Again, the feelings of a bungee jumper are incorporated into the design.

The Bungee Shop that the ramp wraps around

A wall of windows connects the interior to the exterior. The Bungee Shop is directly behind this seating area.

The bridge where the real action takes place! An obervation deck can be seen built into the bluffs on the right hand side.

It was quite a scenic area. This observation deck is set a bit lower in the bluffs.

1, 2, 3 JUMP! For some people it took a bit longer. The first person I saw take the plunge took about 10 minutes to be coaxed into jumping, although I can’t say I blamed her!

And this is how they retrieve you…

Upon leaving the Kawarau Bungee Center, I was struck by how much the design of the space created a mood for its visitors. If you are thinking about updating your home, remember to think not only about the colors and finishes you want, but also about how you want those materials to make your space feel. It will have an effect on you and your guests. I arrived at the bungee center declaring that I would only be an observer but left thinking that next time, I might take the plunge toward that rushing water. I guess the design’s focus on adrenaline worked!

I spent the first part of my year in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. This country of four million people consists of two islands, the North Island and the South Island, with the South claiming only a quarter of the population but an equivalent number of visitors who come to explore. As a whole, New Zealand is known for its vineyards, adrenaline sport activities, and love of rugby (watch out NFL fans, it gets intense!). Oh, and of course, once outside the city it’s hard to go far without seeing a sheep! Perhaps a less well-known trivia fact is that the country was the first to give women the right to vote, roughly twenty years before the United States.

Wellington is situated on the southern tip of the North Island, and on a clear day, I had a beautiful view of the harbor from my top floor apartment. The city has been called the political and cultural center of the country, and it more than lives up to expectations. Various sculptures adorn the city sidewalks, and the arts, sporting events, and political rallies and protests are anything but scarce.

An abundance of poetic quotes can be found around the city if you look closely. This was down by the harbor.

There was always something going on at the waterfront. Markets, ice cream, and water bubbles were only a few of the options!

A very artistic city! 

At a Hurricane’s game (Wellington’s rugby team)

Parliament; the round building on the left houses the Executive Wing and is referred to as ‘the Beehive’.  The building on the right was constructed years earlier as you can see by the difference in architectural styles.

Seashells on the sidewalk

 I was glad to have the opportunity to explore the country outside of Wellington as well. Most of my extended breaks from school were spent on the South Island. Hot air ballooning and hiking on a glacier topped my list of favorite activities.

Ferry to the South Island

Beach stop on our kayaking/hiking/sailing trip

Sailing past Split Apple Rock

Inflating the hot air balloon

About ready to hop in and take off!

View from the balloon

Fox Glacier

Hiking the glacier with all our gear!

This past February, I boarded a flight to New Zealand where I would spend the next four months studying abroad. As I settled into what would be my seat for the next twelve hours, the couple next to me, who I learned was celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary, asked why I was traveling to the other side of the globe. When I explained that I was an interior design student from the University of Minnesota, they asked why I chose to study in New Zealand. Why not Italy or another European country with a more extensive architectural history? Wouldn’t I be better suited as an aspiring designer elsewhere?

Having been to Italy a few years ago, their question was understandable. From what I’ve seen, it is truly a beautiful region, both architecturally and geographically. When it comes to inspiration, however, there is not one right place to find it. Architecture and design span the globe, and each culture offers a unique aesthetic and approach.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

–Mark Twain

Mark Twain’s quote regarding the impact of travel may be a little on the blunt side, but it encompasses the benefit of taking the time to appreciate the work of a new designer, practices of an unfamiliar culture, or beauty of a new landscape. I like to interpret it to mean that, local or abroad, there are new sights to see and experiences to be had!

I chose New Zealand because I did not know very much about it, and I felt that I could be inspired by this tiny country that was rumored to be quite breathtaking. As it turned out, the rumors were true, and I found the culture, land, and people of New Zealand to be a wonderful source of inspiration. Below are some photos from the first week of my trip.

Looking out over Auckland, New Zealand

Rafting down a waterfall

Maori village architecture

This native Maori village is thermal, and food is cooked in these boxes in the ground.

Traditional Maori ceremony

Okay, I know, enough about Dorothy Draper. One more design and then I promise I won’t bring her up for at least six months.  I just had to include the Greenbrier in my list of must see interiors. The hotel and Draper’s designs are worth the trip, but it is what lies beneath the Greenbrier that is truly amazing.

I realize there are many “secret ops” that go on in our country all the time. But it isn’t everyday that these secrets are revealed for us to see for ourselves. In the 1992 the Washington Post revealed in a front page article that there was a secret bunker or “Government Relocation Facility” below the Greenbrier. Three years later it opened to the public. Complete with 1,100 bunk beds and a television studio press conference room that mimicked the Washington DC design.

It’s amazing what interiors can imitate and even conceal. I love that it was all hidden away by a Draper designed panel, see below. Please stop me if this one of those crazy internet hoaxes, it sure feels like one.

The purpose of this week’s entries is to get our readers thinking about experience. Specifically experiencing interior spaces. How you experience a space is unique to you. There are millions of amazing interiors all across the world. Be it your living room or the lobby of the grandest hotel or a hole-in-the-wall restaurant you just love. Hopefully, you have experienced spaces that blow your mind or simply feel like home. We at LiLu make it our goal to create a space and experience that is unique to you.

We end our tour right here in our own back yard. Red Stag Supperclub was completed in 2007 as the first LEED-CI registered restaurant in Minnesota. The work of Rachelle Schoessler Lynn of Studio 2030, this space has been honored by numerous awards. The new restaurant has an instant history based on the previous life of its built components. Along with critically acclaimed cuisine from chef Jason Blair, this restaurant is a must experience!