UPDATE 10/18/2013: Colette's health has now been pronounced stable!
*As featured in 
Magazine
Colette was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. She was given a few months to live. This Miracle Makeovertm occurred a short time later. As part of the makeover, Kelee Katillac began working with Colette using color and art therapy. For the past four years Colette has done beautifully and credits her room makeover and the therapy techniques with helping her to survive and thrive. She has even taught the "color method" to other cancer patients. Here is a link to her Pinterest post. To view another recent makeover go here.
WATCH THE VIDEO FULL SCREEN: You can watch "The Makeover Reveal Video," above, on your full computer screen by clicking on the white asterick icon on the lower right of the video screen.
TO EMBED THIS VIDEO, SHARE OR EMAIL IT: Click on "Inspired Home/Miracle Makeover in the top left corner -- it will give you Vimeo and you can click and embed there.
Design Changes Things: When a room is falling apart, and we are also feeling physically or mentally down, it's easy to believe that things are hopeless. For Colette Gauthier, a cancer patient, this was especially true. So, in two and a half days, and on a tiny budget, we set out to change things. Transforming her rental house bedroom from bleak to beautiful helped her through chemotherapy. The restored and renewed space filled her with hope. A visual reminder that healing is possible for our homes and lives....that miracles do happen. For all of Colette's story go to Guideposts Magazine on-line or go to Target or Barnes & Noble for the monthly edition. See the dreary "before" of the room -- and the challenges we faced -- on the reveal video.
Yes, the bed you see transformed here, is Colette's hospital bed, shown left. We started with a thrifty wood headboard. After tracing the shape, I cut batting and fabric to upholster the inner edge.Using a stapler I fixed both in place. The edge was finished with trim. The full tutorial is in the Guideposts' feature story. New bead-board cabinets and wainscoting were added to create the "canopy niche," and to establish a cottage feeling. Eric Thomas handmade the charming cabinets.
A New Focal Point: The canopy bed wall is certainly the "design" focal point of the room. However, when you are spending a lot of time in bed, recuperating, the ceiling becomes the literal focal point; where the eyes go most often. And, the ceiling was a patched together mess. We used linen drop cloths and 1" x 6" boards to create a fresh cottage background for Colette's "light of hope."
Photos Copyright Design Gives Back 2011
The Power of Words: The doctor told Colette that she had a 5-15% chance of survival. How dare he! I set-out to replace his negative pronouncement with life affirmations. I asked Colette to list her life values and intentions. We then incorporated them into the design. Watch the process on the makeover reveal video. Thank-you Hobby Lobby for these "positive plaques" that became valances.
Colette and I thank-you, with full hearts, for your kind thoughts, prayers, cards and comments. Readers, we appreciate that you took the time to share this journey with us. Our host bloggers originally brought so many good comments and shined light on this project. Thank-you. Thank-you. All of your positive energy gave us courage and creativity when we needed it the most. This project would have been impossible without the help from our donors and volunteers. Please note all the credits on the video. A special thank-you to Jennifer Hanson and Theresa Lemke. The two were heaven sent. Thank-you also to the team from Masonic Pathways that helped with the remodel. See our featured volunteers below.
HEADBOARD DIY STEPS: Click on photos to enlarge. Pattern making, batting added, fabric and trim. Thank-you Jennifer Hanson for your help demonstrating these steps!
Thank-you to the bloggers and blog hosts that made this possible for Colette.
Visit and read about them HERE.
The Pink Saturday Blog Event and Spiritual Sundays Event are happening now.... Thank-you, again, Design Angels for your efforts to help Colette! A special thank-you to Beverly, Sherry, Erin and Charlotte.
