Hello Sherwin-Williams National Painting Week.
Nice to meet you.
So happy it’s May and there’s sunshine and birds tweeting and cows lowing and crickets chirping and we’re having a fish fry in the country.
The fish fry is to celebrate our new re-furbished and re-painted and re-made over and re-furnished community center.
I can’t say thank you enough to Sherwin-Williams all the volunteers and individuals who helped to make this possible.
Ready for a little before and after?
Let’s remember where we started.
Here’s the outside before.
And here.
And here.
And now?
Are you ready?
Can we pause just for a moment to celebrate where we’ve been?
Because now it looks like….
It’s been power-washed and scrubbed and the entire outside has been cleaned.
The brick planters have been reworked and filled with new soil and plants and mulch.
The door has been painted the prettiest shade of red called SW 6594 Poinsettia.
And there’s new furniture from Wayfair and pillows and planters and ferns and it’s a party waiting to happen.
Now let’s open the door and move inside.
There’s a large central hall that needed to be kept neutral because it’s used for a variety of things.
Like weddings and meetings and festivals and community get-togethers.
And fish frys.
Here’s the before.
This is what it looked like when we started.
I chose a similar color to the existing wall color. It was just a little richer and opened up the space just a little bit.
And it’s one of my favorites.
SW 6155 Rice Grain.
We painted the entire room and the trim and cleaned it all up a little bit.
And now the space looks like this.
But why settle for reworking the main space and the outside when you have an office that needs cleaning and organizing.
It used to be used for meetings.
And then it turned into a storage space.
When we started the process the office looked like this.
And this.
Then it was cleaned and organized and we painted a vintage bench and added a rug and accessories and storage units from Wayfair.
And now?
It looks like this.
It was one of the most amazing makeovers I’ve ever had the privilege to participate in.
And as we painted we laughed and talked and ate yummy sandwiches together and told stories and the work didn’t even seem like work.
It seemed like fun.
And together we gave the community center so much more than a fresh coat of paint.
We gave it creativity and organization and joy and hope.
It’s true.
We started with a can of paint.
But we ended with gallons of friendship. 🙂
PS I just wanted to give a shout out to both Sherwin Williams and Wayfair for helping with this community project. All the outdoor furniture and the storage units were provided by Wayfair and they add so much to the make-over.
PPS If you want to see the entire community center makeover process. Here’s a fun video I put together.
disclaimer: This post and makeover was sponsored by Sherwin-Williams as a part of National Painting Week 2016.
.All opinions on the process and the makeover are my own.
Please see my disclosure page for more information.
Oh how I wish I had time to watch the video now -- I'll have to come back to it later. Packing the POD currently and just popped over here to get a quick Thistlewood fix. Love how the community center turned out, Karianne! You are awesome!!!
Wow! From ho hum to A-mazing!!! That is beautiful. A community center that the citizens take pride and enjoy for many years to come!
Good morning KariAnne, What excellent ideas you had to turn this Community Center from "Drab to Fab!" You all did a wonderful job on this project!!!! It just looks so inviting now. Congratulations on a job WELL DONE! Happy Saturday back at ya... Blessings, Jeanne
WOW........Just clean , neat, and now inviting. Looks like Carrsville has its own version of Joanna Gaines..... with the vision of Ms. KariAnne....and other helpers.
How wonderful! Bringing everyone together to create something that brings everyone together! The idea of community is so needed in our digital world.... What a privilege to be a part of this great project. Looks so cheerful and fresh!
The building, the porch and that office...Amazing!...but okay...I cried watching the video! Your narration was beautiful. You sooo got this one perfect! The time, heart and love you devoted to all of this is overflowing right through all you captured, my friend.
KariAnne, what a beautiful transformation and a lovely way to give back to the community. So wonderful to use your talent and skills to give back to so many in this way. Love the office space and the bright, airy new look of the large central hall and the exterior is so much more inviting with the vibrant red double doors and beautiful porch-like setting. This is truly a gift that will be enjoyed for many years to come. Bravo. Well done.
Wonderful transformation! Kudos to you and your community! ;)
So fresh & beautiful! I hope to be helping with a similar project for a women's shelter in Grapevine this summer....I plan to steal lots of your ideas. Love you!
Now that's what I'm talking about! A real reflection of a true community coming together and working for the good of all! We need to make sure that the politicians in DC sit up and take notice... They could use a little inspiration on how to work for the good of others,....just sayin'... I love the exterior. Absolutely beautiful, Miz karianne....everyone did a fantastic job. Great day to you all!
Your voice is just gorgeous on this video. I love the new look and the gallons of friendships.... And to think it all started with a can of paint!
SO nice to have a clean fresh place for neighbors and friends to come together . You did good girl. Way to go.
What a fabulous project and makeover. I love the pics and your video is so special. Well done.
KariAnne! What an amazing thing you have done for this community building! I am beyond impressed with the outcome. The town is going to absolutely love spending time here. Fabulous job, my friend!
Wow! You added the red lipstick! The makeover is stunning and your video is charming. I'm only buying Sherwin Williams paint from now on! Congratulations on a happy ending!
Well done. You have reinvigorated not only the community center but also the community
What a neat makeover! And you did a great job with that video as well!
Great job!!
WOW...just WOW...that is among one of the most amazing makeovers I've ever seen...like I couldn't even believe the difference to the outside...it was as if this was a brand new building entirely! And what a difference a coat of paint and some cleaning makes...look at how fresh and updated the central hall looks now...whoa! And how darling is the office now...it's just sooooooo very warm and welcoming now...I just love the heck out of that area rug and the red you used on the bench...just jaw-droppingly gorgeous! I loved your video, too, KariAnne...your narration is just so wonderful...your beautiful spirit comes through in your voice...you have a very uplifting way about you! I'll bet your community is all kinds of excited about these beautiful changes made to their centre and I have a feeling that the Carsville Community Centre will, once again, become the central place for all of the cool community events again! What a wonderful thing for you, the volunteers, and Shewin-Williams to have done...you all oughta be patting yourselves on the back over this makeover...it's truly awesome in every sense of the word...thank you for sharing it with us!
I was NOT ready for the reveal. It took me by surprise how well red brought out the "awesome" and how inviting it looks now! If I was passing by the 'before', I would keep on walking away but, passing by the red accents (and oh my how gorgeous is that door now?) I would gravitate straight in the community building. What a beautiful makeover and so important to the community.
Well, Ms Superstar, you did it again. Those folks are so lucky to have you living there. Love the video. Keep shinning
What color is the paint on the bench in the office? Love that rug. Where can I purchase? Cherrio!!! to you, the volunteers and the paint company!!!
Wow! That is one amazing transformation...it looks like a fun and such a happy place now :)
It looks so lovely and welcoming! The video is wonderful, Karianne!
Amazing !! Love all the pops of red ( especially LOVE that long vintage bench). It all looks so fresh . It must have been so much fun . I'm sure it will get hired so much now.
Absolutely Over-the-Top AWESOME!!! :)
WOW! Everything looks great...and that office is so pretty! What a fun project the whole community can enjoy ;)
Karianne, I read the post and was surely hoping you had help with this project. Then I watched the sweet video and heard our sweet voice and knew that everyone pitched in and helped. I love it! That's what community is all about.
Loved your wonderful works KariAnne. You are amazing and awesome. Would love to know where you purchased the gorgeous rug. I just have to have one like it . You did it again girl. Wish I had your talents and I am working on it thanks to you.
Beautiful makeover that will be appreciated, I am sure, for years to come. Love your last two lines - cans to gallons!
Well done KariAnne!! Your narration in the video is absolutely lovely!! I also noticed Mr. Twinkling Blue Eyes with a paint roller!! Love, love this project!!
KariAnne, I am so proud of you. What a great example you set for your family and others. Xoxo. Eva
Loved the video! Is there nothing you cannot do, girl? Sherwin Williams found a winner with you!
Wow, that turned out incredible! Especially the front porch and the office! I'm very impressed. :) Makes me want to buy new throw pillows for my front room, lol.
What a great facelift! I'm sure the community has been greatly enriched by having such an inviting and welcoming space. It's amazing what people can do when they have a guiding inspiration (you!) and a common purpose. Kudos to you and your team!
Nailed it!
Thistle!!! I love this !! What a beautiful makeover :) I am sure they adore it ! Nicely done friend.
Oh I teared up at the end! Fabulous KariAnne and it's got your signature all over it as if you'd painted your name in big letters on the front door! LOVE the red and white-
What can we say to Karianne of Thistlewood Farms and Sherwin-Williams? Thank you is hardly sufficient for first being chosen for their National Painting Week 2016 and second for the prettiest uplifting transformation desperately needed!!! As an all volunteer, 501c3 foundation, we depend on donations. We work very hard with few volunteers and get pretty tired. Your GIFT lifted our spirits and our community center's appearance. A real show stopper. The porch/entrance is so inviting. Our office is just awesome. Couldn't be a more cheerful and beautifully furnished place to work. Karianne's choice of paint colors, furnishings and accessories was perfect! We are still full of thanksgiving for this unexpected blessing! Don Walker President