Every now and then an organization comes along that speaks to your heart.
You know.
The one that gives everything it has and accomplishes great things and wakes up every day and makes this world a better place. We have one of those organizations right around the corner in our town.
It’s called The Samaritan Inn.
The Samaritan Inn is a comprehensive homeless program that helps willing people gain dignity and independence.
My father once said, “If you give a man a fish, you will feed him for a day. If you teach a man how to fish, you will feed him for a lifetime.”
The Samaritan Inn is all about fishermen.
This week I’m joining Sherwin-Williams® to celebrate National Painting Week. It’s one of my favorite weeks of the year. For four years, I’ve been lucky enough to partner with Sherwin-Williams to lift up and come alongside and encourage a local nonprofit by brightening up one of their spaces with a makeover. You can see how together we transformed a community center, cancer survivor center and a school lobby.
And this year?
We chose The Samaritan Inn.
Are you ready for a little before and after that will literally make your heart smile?
Oh, good.
Me, too.
Here’s where we started.
This is the before.
This is the central office of The Samaritan Inn. They have an amazing thrift store that helps benefit the Inn and most of the furnishings in the space came from the thrift store.
Here’s the other side of the room.
Everything is a little mis-matched and the walls needed painting and the room needs a little organization.
And a little brightening up.
I set up a meeting with the director, Rick Crocker, and here are some goals we agreed upon for the project.
- New paint for the walls and hallway
- New furniture for the lobby space
- Lighter and brighter and more modern aesthetic to match the look of the new Inn they just finished
- Space for coffee station
- A mural for the wall where donors could take pictures
So here’s where we started.
This is what the front lobby looked like just a couple of weeks ago.
And now?
It looks like this.
And this side?
It looks like this.
Can you even BELIEVE IT?
It all started with our number one goal. A new coat of paint for the interior.
A GIANT shout out to our neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store. They volunteered to come in on a weekend and paint the entire space.
The challenge in the space before was that the cream was fighting with the white ceiling. The floor has white specks with a creamier, whiter base and I knew a beautiful white paint color would make both of the look a little brighter and whiter.
The room was painted one of the most perfect, neutral whites on the planet, Extra White SW 7006 and the product Emerald® Interior Satin.
It provides amazing coverage and can change the whole look of a room in an afternoon.
Just like this one.
The new painted walls completely changed the look of the space.
Remember our goals?
Number one: New paint for the walls and hallway.
Check.
Next, I put together a design plan for the space.
I knew we needed seating, so I chose these modern, faux leather and chrome chairs that are super sturdy and would hold up in a lobby space.
I paired them with a glass coffee table to hold brochures and fresh flowers.
On the other side of the room, I found these fun mid-century modern console tables.
They are going to use one for the coffee station and the other one for a welcome center.
They are simple and functional and clean and classic. Above each table, to reflect light into the space, I found these incredible over-sized round brass mirrors.
The mirrors give depth to that wall and streamline the look of the room.
In the center of the room, I found the PERFECT rug for the room. It’s modern, yet classic, yet fun with a little bit of sass and it brings so much color to the space and anchors the room.
All that was left was to bring in a few fun accessories.
Like this fun message board and white geometric vases and a couple of fiddle leaf figs and some baskets and flowers.
Goals number two, three and four?
New furniture for the lobby space. Check.
Lighter and brighter and more modern aesthetic to match the look of the new Inn they just finished. Check.
Space for coffee station. Check.
Oh wait? Did I forget to mention this?
Goal number five: A mural for the wall where donors could take pictures.
Here it is.
This incredible puzzle mural is the conversation piece in the room. Each of the puzzle pieces were drawn on plywood and then cut out, painted and installed on the wall.
(Just between us, I was crossing my fingers they all puzzled together correctly).
Here are the colors that we used for the puzzle pieces:
And yes. They all puzzled perfectly.
After we installed the mural, I painted the logo directly onto the puzzle.
I think I’m going to write another post about how I created all of this.
But for now?
Here’s a sneak peek behind the scenes of how to paint a puzzle mural.
The reason why I chose a puzzle?
The reason why we spent hours planning and drawing and creating a mural made completely out of puzzle pieces?
Because that’s how The Samaritan Inn was built.
Puzzle piece by puzzle piece.
There are so many things that The Samaritan Inn does.
They teach life skills and self-sufficiency.
They provide a safe haven to help individuals get back on their feet.
They listen and provide meals and educate and show how to take the first step on the journey.
They have an incredible program where you can sponsor a child for the summer to give them educational and recreational activities that they have been missing out on.
All this and so much more.
But truth?
It’s really hard to see the mission of an organization if you just look at one piece of the puzzle.
Everything looks a little blurry.
It’s hard to understand how your piece fits together with others.
But when you put all the pieces together?
When we join the puzzle pieces and put them into place?
When we lift up organizations that are making a difference and come alongside them to create a community where everyone is welcomed and loved and encouraged and given the tools to help them succeed?
The final picture is beautiful.
Disclosure: This post was written in collaboration with Sherwin Williams®.
All opinions are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
Love this! You are a big Piece of the PUZZLE for making such a warm and inviting space not seem so intimidating! I'm sure there are many more smiles and folks filled with a "trust the process" feeling than the space before! Brilliant.
It all looks so pretty and i know that the people who work there loved it too. You have made a lovely space for those who enter to smile and know this is where they will get help.
Great job! Where can I get the rug?
Thanks friend! I got it at Wayfair! KariAnne
Amazing transformation--very cheerful and welcoming!!! Admire so much your talent and creativity, KariAnne!
This is an amazing transformation for such a great cause!!! Don't you just love helping those organizations you feel truly do make a great difference in the world?!? Great job!!
How absolutely wonderful that you were able to contribute your amazing talent to this project, Karianne!
Your generosity has no bounds. I am sure the Samaritan Inn, a worthy local agency, thanks you tremendously. PS Was that your bench from your living room displayed in one photo?
I absolutely love this! So refreshing to see someone using their skills for good, something outside of themselves! What a valuable organization. The space looks so professional, you do modern very well!
So so wonderful dear one! And that is also why I love Sherwin Williams as well! If we cannot give back in this world, what good are we? In every town there is a place just like this. We have Pilgrims' Inn in our town. So thankful for what you have done and what you continue to do.....make this world a better place. GOD bless you all!
Wow!!! What an amazing organization doing incredible things for the community. Now it looks equally amazing 👍. Well done 🥰
BRAVO!!!!!!! What a transformation! What a great cause, too. And you may assure SW that I LOVE their Emerald paints., I have been painting a great deal lately and it is a great quality paint. I only use SW paint in our home. Good going, KA - it really looks amazing.
WONDERFUL!!! Love what was done- as they say "light and bright" -and your expertise shines! The blues are so uplifting too. Bravo!
You have such a kind heart.
Awesome!! What a great organization that you chose! Thanks for sharing the photos. I love the colors you used!
Kudos to you for a job more than well done, to Sherwin Williams for their donations of paint and labor, and especially to Samaritan Inn for supporting the homeless in the community! Love the puzzle mural, a perfect expression of how everything can come together.
👏🏻Hats off to Sherwin-Williams 👏🏻 Great idea to help a nonprofit and You did an outstanding job for the Samaritan Inn.
What a fabulous idea with the jigsaw puzzle, and how all the pieces come together to help everyone be all they can be💕 Great paint choice and that rug is lovely. xo Pat
Oh, what a wonderful transformation! The puzzle mural is my favorite piece! No pun intended....
What a happy space you created for a worthy organization! I bet they are so thankful!
KariAnne, you continue to share all your gifts God has bestowed on you. A beautiful mural puzzle and a bright room where many people will obtain guidance and services.
This is so fabulous!!!!!!!!!! love how fresh and relaxing the room seems now. You have matched the goals of The Samaritan Inn with your design!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your design inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Huge Shout Out to Sherwin Williams for donating their time, product and talent! What a great idea to use your voice Karianne and share this project. What an example for all uf us who get caught up in the clicks and likes and follows. If we follow our hearts the community benefits! love the puzzle! xo laura
What a great example you have set for your children by becoming involved in each of these projects. It's obvious that your heart is as big as your smile. Wish we had a million just like you.
The final picture IS beautiful!! I love this!!! xoxo