As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I am a participating designer for Room Service Atlanta which will be making over some of the rooms of Nicholas House, a local shelter for homeless families. (More details can be found on this post.) The install is only a few weeks away and I’m getting things pulled together for my room.

I’m working with a palette of blue with reds and yellows and so far, I’ve bought new bedding, rug and pillows. I’m going to try to squeeze in this red leather chair so the occupant has at least one place to sit other than the bed.

To recap, this is the room:

As you can see it’s really small so there aren’t a lot of options for furniture placement but I’m going to do my best to make it flow better.

I’m having new doors made for the armoire:

I’m also going to have this dresser touched up, painted white and find replacement handles:

It’s going to move against a wall and I found a pretty gold mirror to go above it.

So the plans are coming together and I can’t wait to see it all executed!

Nicholas House has served the Atlanta community for over 28 years, helping over 1,500 homeless families reach self-sufficiency. In 2010, it helped more families than ever before and could use your help to continue its work. If you would like to make a cash donation, you can send a check made payable to “Nicholas House” to:

Nicholas House
Attn: Yvonne Druyeh
830 Boulevard SE
Atlanta, Georgia 30312

If you’d like to earmark it specifically for my room please note “Room Service-Ally” in the memo section.

I’ve also set up a Paypal button in the sidebar if you prefer to donate directly to me.

Thank you so much for your support!

I am absolutely thrilled to tell you about a new project I am participating in. Room Service Atlanta is an organization founded by two local blogger friends (Dayka and Erika) that will be revamping the interiors of Nicholas House, a transitional shelter for homeless families. The mission of Nicholas House is to provide “a temporary place to live while identifying and addressing the root causes of homelessness, so they never become homeless again.” We had the chance to visit it yesterday, learn about the amazing work they do and see the spaces we will be working on.

This is the room I will be making over:

I’ll be blogging about the project as it progresses over the next couple of months so please stay tuned. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be combining my love of design with community service and I commend Erica and Dayka for creating this special project.

Before I leave you today, I’d also like to introduce you to some new and old sponsors of FTRB.

Pixelimpress makes “seriously cute paper goods” like calling cards, calendars, bookmarks, gift tags, and place cards. Owner Pam loves paper. She loves patterns and colors. She loves modern and traditional. She loves trying to find the unexpected yet beautiful way of mixing all of the above to create a look that’s unique.

METALdecor was created by French interior designer Nathalie Wessier to bring you the simple idea of decorating your walls with metallic designs.  A big hit among the interior designers circle in Lyon France, she has now brought METALdecor stateside.

Katy, an interior design student who loves art, fashion, photography & interior design has launched Pink Mascara, a brand new blog about all things artful, where she shares creative photography and decorating inspiration.

Finally, for UK folks, if you’re in the market for a new bed, Time4Sleep is your source for selection and guaranteed lowest prices.

If you’d like to advertise your blog or business on FTRB, you can find details here.

Merry Christmas from my house to yours! (Here is our tree that I forgot to include in yesterday’s post.)

Thank you for reading and for your friendship and support. See you in 2011!

(Photos: From the Right Bank)

We take a break from design today to bring you this:

Yesterday in my exhausted, punchy state, I decided it would be a good idea to put wreaths on my poor Frenchies to pose for a Christmas photo. They were not pleased. If there were a thought bubble above his head, it would say:

And just how long must I endure this humiliation, pray tell?

Okay so it’s not the best idea I ever had. (I’m very, very tired.) How are you all holding up during all the holiday madness?

It’s time to start thinking about Halloween, right?

This year, there’s a great way to enjoy the holiday while also giving back.

The FEED Trick-or-Treat project is a FEED/HSN partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in honor of the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. HSN will be donating 100% of its profits from the “FEED Trick-or-Treat” bag to UNICEF. Moreover, for each bag purchased, HSN will donate $3.50 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support micronutrient supplement powder programs which help children under the age of five with a high malnutrition risk.

By carrying a FEED Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF bag, you can help spread the word and play a role in helping feed a child in need. The bag costs $13.20 and is available exclusively at hsn.com/hsncares now through Halloween.

FEED Projects is one of my favorite charities. It’s a simple and effective idea: every “FEED Bag” sold provides school meals for one child for one year through the United Nations World Food Program. This is the bag I have:

Visit the Feed Project site to learn more.

I’m also delighted to welcome a new sponsor here at FTRB.

Discover METALdecor, a collection of exquisite modern aluminum wall stickers designed and manufactured in France. Get inspired and sign your walls today at www.metaldecor-usa.com.

Wow, this week just flew by. Can you believe it’s fall already?

It’s been a busy week for me and from what I’ve read, everyone else too. Coming home from a trip is always great but there’s the inevitable backlog of things to do. So, those are my big plans for the weekend. But first, I’m off to meet a friend for lunch and a little wine tasting. Yup, wine in the afternoon. Just like the good old days in Paris! (See why nothing gets done around here?) What about you? Have any fun plans?

(Photo: Saipua)

Greetings from Rio! I know I’m not supposed to be here but I wanted to let you know about a few things.

First I made a couple of guest appearances this week. I guest blogged at Down and Out Chic with an installment of Orange Crush for Christina who got married earlier this week (congratulations, Christina!).  Also, my monthly post at Seattle Homes & Lifestyles is about my latest crush, checkered floors.

Second, I wanted to tell you that there’s some very exciting news coming on Monday from one of my blog friends. I’m about to burst but I’m sworn to secrecy.  All I can say is you’re going to be just as excited as I am when you hear it!  The announcement will be made on Design Sponge and as soon as the news breaks, I’ll link to it on Facebook and Twitter.

Alright, that’s enough from me. The beach is calling!  Have a great weekend and be sure to tune in for more great guest bloggers next week!