Room to Renew | Now Accepting Nominations!

Last year, we were honored to get involved with Room to Renew, a non-profit organization led by local interior designer, Deidre Remtema, who uses her professional design skills to redesign one room in a caregiver’s home, giving them a place of rest and relaxation. We are happy to partner this worthy organization again, as Room to Renew is currently accepting nominations for the 2019 recipient (deadline for submissions is Friday, April 26).

“Our mission is to uplift, restore and rejuvenate those who have dedicated their time and energy to taking care of someone with a special need or illness,” Remtema said.

Remtema was inspired to help caregivers based on her own experience as a child. Her mother, a nurse, took full-time care of her grandmother, who had multiple sclerosis, in their home.

The inaugural 2018 Room to Renew recipient was Liz Collar-Baar, a nurse at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital. She was nominated by her fellow nurses. She cares for her 11-year-old son Tristan. Tristan has congenital heart disease and has endured over 50 surgeries. Liz and her husband work opposite shifts so they can care for Tristan.

After insisting that the room makeover should be for Tristan and not herself, Liz finally conceded and accepted the gift for her own bedroom.

“I wanted to treat Liz’s bedroom remodel just like any Deidre Interiors project. Working with a designer is fun and I wanted Liz to have that experience. Her bedroom is a custom design of the highest quality thanks to our many partners. This room will look great and function for many years to come,” said Remtema.

The renovated room included a more functional walk-in closet making it easier to put laundry away. A makeup station as a special treat for Liz. An updated master bathroom, custom upholstered headboard, window treatments, color and lighting. Many partners came on board to help make the renovation happen. We at Scott Christopher Homes were honored to lead the charge as the builder partner.

“The room means a greater sense of peace and relaxation,” said Collar-Baar, “It brings a sense of calm and organization in my life. As a caregiver, you don’t think about that for yourself but to have 10 minutes of putting clothes away in the new closet is so peaceful and so effortless, it’s wonderful.”

The transition from not only caregiver at work and home but also to the recipient of this gift has been a learning curve for Collar-Baar.

“Every caregiver deserves a few moments to take a few breaths and a timeout. It’s OK to have that space. It’s OK to have peace and quiet and it’s OK to feel that peace,” she says.

If you know a caregiver that could use a place in his or her home to rest and relax complete the short nomination form online HERE.


Photography: Johnny Quirin, Room to Renew is a registered 501(c)3.

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Room to Renew

Recently, we have had the opportunity to partner with a worthy cause called Room to Renew. It is a non-profit arm of Deidre Interiors that renovates one room in the home of a person who provides care for someone with a special need or illness. The intention is to give that caregiver a space in their home for much needed respite and rejuvenation.

We are thrilled to be partnering with Deidre on this year’s Room to Renew project for a well-deserving mother who selflessly cares for her 9-year-old son with medical needs around the clock.  To find out more about this great organization, this year’s project and how you might be able to get involved, please visit Deidre Interiors’ website or check out the media attention this honorable organization is receiving:

mLive

EightWest

Fox 17

WZZM 13

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One Wild Night 2016 | ArtPrize 8

We had the pleasure of partnering with ArtPrize again this year to host their annual kick-off event – ONE WILD NIGHT. It took place on the grounds of one of our favorite lakefront projects, Lakeside Chic.  The delightful fare was as good as it looked, courtesy of Chef Steve at Mr. Eat Right and Doorganics, with some amazing sweet treats by Cakabakery and refreshments by The Crushed Grape. We got a little taste of what is to come during ArtPrize 8, as artist Joey Ruiter displayed his stunningly creative sculptures throughout the property. There wasn’t a dull moment as guests and hosts alike were entertained by a stunt water skiing group, an opera singer and fire dancers. It truly was one wild night! Peruse through a few photos from the evening, as captured by the talented Amy Carroll Photography.

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Scott Christopher Homes Donating Large, Lavish Children’s Playhouse to American Cancer Society Charity Event

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 9, 2010  – After more than a quarter-century of building luxurious family homes, the latest project at Scott Christopher Homes is a unique, high-end children’s playhouse being built in the name of charity.

The Grand Rapids-based homebuilder is donating the 12-foot-high playhouse, valued at approximately $18,000, to the fight against cancer. The “House of Hope” will go to the highest bidder during a fundraising auction at the American Cancer Society’s eighth annual Cattle Baron’s Ball, to be held Aug. 13 at the Steelcase Town Hall, 1111 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids.

“It was a way to come together as a team to produce something good for the community and for an individual, but also as a way to help the American Cancer Society raise money,” said Matt Reinsma, director of operations at Scott Christopher Homes.

Scott Christopher, who founded the company in 1982, has a personal stake in finding a cancer cure. His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer about two years ago. After receiving medical treatment, her cancer is now in remission.

“It’s an opportunity to give back,” Christopher said of the playhouse donation. “Everyone’s lives have been touched by cancer.”

Company employees are volunteering their time to construct the playhouse, which will measure about 10.5 feet by 12 feet when completed and feature a loft, a seating area with a table and chairs and a deck. There will be a kitchen appointed with facsimiles of appliances. Even landscaping will be included.

“We wanted to build something that was really going to generate some excitement out there,” Reinsma said. Kids who go to the company’s website at www.scottchristopherhomes.com/playhouse can win prizes by entering a playhouse coloring contest.

As it has many times in the past, Scott Christopher Homes turned to Via Design in Grand Rapids for help. The company donated its design services for the playhouse.

“We approached them because they’re very competent at what they do and asked them if they’d put together a design for us, and I’m glad they did,” Reinsma said. “This thing’s pretty cool.”

Scott Christopher Homes has a long history of making anonymous charitable contributions but decided to openly promote its donation of the playhouse in an effort to inspire philanthropy at other businesses.

“We really want others to follow,” Reinsma said. “We hope people are fighting to build a playhouse next year.”

The homebuilder’s generous contribution of the playhouse to the fundraising auction is appreciated, said Linda Powers, distinguished events specialist with the American Cancer Society.

“Their passion for the fight against cancer is inspiring,” she said. “We are confident that the ‘House of Hope’ will not only generate valuable funds to support the society’s mission in west Michigan, but also serve as a reminder of the progress being made toward creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”

Employees of Scott Christopher Homes as well as its sister companies, Surpass Renovations and The Custom Shop, are encouraged to volunteer for community service because it boosts morale and builds teamwork, Reinsma said. Some workers have previously donated their skills to such organizations as Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland.

“Some people have an office party or they go bowling or they have a golf outing or something like that,” he said. “Well, we’re coming together to build something cool for some lucky kid somewhere. In the process, the American Cancer Society’s going to raise some money.”

The company specializes in constructing larger homes worth more than $1 million but also builds well-appointed cottages and smaller houses worth upward of $500,000. Its homes stand throughout greater Grand Rapids, and as far north as the Traverse City area and as far south as South Haven.

Scott Christopher Homes always has two primary goals when constructing a home, Reinsma said. One is to provide its clients with the most accurate upfront cost estimates. The other is to complete the work more quickly than other companies by being more organized and avoiding construction delays.

“Many organizations in town will sell the client low in an effort to get them drawn in and then proceed to charge them for extras along the way,” he said. “That’s a philosophy and approach that, long-term, just doesn’t work. If you’re presenting them with a cost increase every other day, that’s not fun.

“Our goal is to produce a project where the only surprises are pleasant ones.”

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