Spring is a time for growth and renewal, which is easy to see when we step into our beautiful blooming garden. But this spring, we also decided to grow and renew inside to give our guest families the best possible place to relax, eat, work, play and do all they need to do while caring for a loved one during a medical crisis.
With the help of Laura Winter, who generously shared her amazing talent and 30+ years of interior design experience with us, we were able to renew some of our shared use areas, and we love them. Laura shared with us the key aspects of the transformation happening around JW House:
“JW House is a unique place from a design perspective. It’s not a hotel but certainly has to be furnished in a way that can withhold a lot of use and is also very functional. It’s not a home, but it must feel like one. It has to be warm, serene, and inviting. The challenge was on, and I was thrilled to use my passion to help provide a respite for people who are caring for a loved one and going through a stressful time in their lives. Our physical environment has a tremendous effect on our emotional wellbeing, and I knew that even a few changes could make a difference for families staying at the house. So here is what we did:
Day-Use Room
What changed: A new daybed and a desk.
Why it matters: This provides a lot of flexibility for our guests. The day bed could be used to either lay down after a full day at the hospital or sit to read and relax while another family member is working in the desk area.
Living Room
What changed: A very comfortable and stylish sofa, club chairs, lots of small tables and a desk.
Why it matters: The living room has all the pieces needed to relax while still leaving plenty of space for people to move around. The neutral colors and style of the furniture provide the simplicity that people need during tough times.
Dining Room
What changed: New 36″ square tables with a pedestal base, each with four easy-to-clean chairs.
Why it matters: The square tables with a pedestal base provide a lot of versatility. Families can easily pull tables to dine together if they wish. They could be arranged in any desired form to build community during events or give people the privacy they need.
This project was possible thanks to the generosity of the Sharks Foundation and the Knights of St. John. We are extremely grateful for their support!
