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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