Well, you can stick a candy cane in it, because one of our favorite seasonal projects ever is officially done!
To recap, we were invited to help with a very special project: decorating a family waiting room at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. They contacted us in the hopes that we could volunteer our time to warm up the room so it’s more cozy and homey year-round, as well as to add some festive touches for the holiday season. Not only did it sound like a fun project, it had such a deserving purpose that we couldn’t wait to get started. Here’s what it looked like when we first visited.
We set our sights on giving the space a living-room-like feeling for all of the children, parents, and staff that are spending the holidays at the hospital. One major change was a new paint color (Gargoyle), which was inspired by staff members who requested something enveloping and cozy since so many other rooms there are super bright/clinical. Although it might read as gray, it’s actually a mocha/brown/taupe color in person (it’s the swatch on the right of this image). And adding touches like a cozy armchair next to a big bright tree, some soft window treatments, and a bunch of holiday additions (like a little parade of wooden trees around one side of the room) hopefully brought in more of that homey vibe.
The room will also be getting new hardwood floors, a white door in the place of that blonde wood one, and some updated furnishings in a few months – but they didn’t want to wait when it came to making the room feel festive for those families spending their time in the hospital this season, and we’re so glad they asked us to jump right in.
There’s so much that we want to tell you, but let’s kick things off with a recap video that the hospital put together. It pretty much sums things up (and they thankfully cut out the parts where we got all misty-eyed).
Heather, the Senior Child Life Specialist at the hospital, states it perfectly in the video when she says we want families to feel cared about when they come into the room. Decorating for the holidays is a tradition that lots of us treasure, but when you’ve got a child in the hospital it’s probably the last thing on your mind. So we wanted to incorporate a lot of handmade touches to hopefully make it feel more less corporate or cold and a lot more like home.
We already shared four projects in the room – including the faux fireplace and paper garland which, by the way, has gotten even prettier since we first left them thanks to some of the young artistes on the floor. So let’s dive a bit deeper into some of the things you haven’t seen yet, starting with the Christmas tree. We went with white to not only pop against the freshly painted walls, but also since there were lots of traditional green trees elsewhere in the building. We grabbed our pre-lit tree from Garden Ridge, but most of the ornaments came from Target and JoAnn Fabrics.
Presiding over the tree was Bucky, the big cardboard deer, er, reindeer that was sent over by Cardboard Safari. They’re based nearby in Charlottesville, VA so they were excited to help us holiday-up the space for the hospital. We’re told Bucky was quick to earn admirers as soon as we hung him, so we’re glad he’s making friends. Cardboard Safari also donated a few of their snowflake trees to help spruce up (ha! pun!) some of the tabletops. You’ll start to notice that trees are a theme in this room.
Speaking of trees, one element that was super fun was our metallic tree forest that lined two walls of the room. We knew very quickly that we wanted to line something up along the wall panels, but whatever it was had to be thin and lightweight. The idea of a “forest” popped to mind, but we couldn’t figure out a way to execute it.
Then we remembered a cool local shop called Big Secret who uses a laser cutting/engraving machine to make all sorts of stuff. They were super excited to help out and offered to donate their time and materials to cut us a bunch of trees in varying sizes (we just sent them some free clip art that we found online for them to use as their template). Then we coated them in a variety of metallic spray paints so they’d pop against the painted wall and secured them with 3M removable velcro strips (so they can slip right off the wall without damaging it after the holidays).
Another local company that jumped in to help us pull the room together for these awesome kids and families was U-Fab. They made two custom valances for the two big windows in the room out. We liked how the pattern looked kinda festive and seasonal, yet it can still work in the room year-round.
And since there wasn’t time to have a chair custom upholstered, they kindly offered one up from their showroom floor – and boy was it a hit! People didn’t want to get up once they sat in it, and Santa even paid a visit to the kids and had a nice big armchair waiting for him. There’s also talk of U-Fab recovering it with durable/wipeable vinyl if this fabric doesn’t hold up down the line, but all of the staff and kids seemed really excited to have a cozy place to sit by the tree in the meantime.
You also may have noticed the big chalkboard between the two windows. It was one that we built out a piece of plywood and some leftover chalkboard paint. For a fun twist we mixed up some white chalkboard paint too (by adding a couple teaspoons of light colored non-sanded grout to white paint) and painted a house on a hill along the bottom of the board. We thought it’d be a fun way to spice it up beyond your traditional black square, and that it might encourage people to draw a scene – like a wreath on the house or a kid sledding down the hill.
Once we hung it, Sherry wintered it up by dragging some white chalk down the surface on its side (so the natural wood grain came through). We figured until it got doodled on, it was a nice, almost snowy, texture to start with. And we hear it has already filled up with cute drawings and holiday wishes.
One of our favorite details of the room is something that you guys helped us with: the two cork boards that we filled with cards, letters, and crafts that you mailed to our PO Box full of warm holiday wishes for these awesome families. We were completely overwhelmed by how much care and love showed up, and the families are having so much fun looking through the stacks and stacks of other items that couldn’t even fit on the board (we left a basket full of the other sketches, cards, snowflakes that will be rotated in, but can be read from that basket in the meantime).
We originally planned to pin things up to these cork boards – but after learning that pushpins are a no-no in hospital-land AND realizing the room could use some white on that wall to balance the tree in the opposite corner, we painted them white. They could still be used to hold things up (the hospital is known to staple things in lieu of using pins), but we just taped things up with patterned washi tape to get things started, so they can easily be rotated out and enjoyed.
We got stuff from all over the country (Hawaii! Alaska!) and even the world (Canada! the UK! New Zealand! Australia! Switzerland!). Seriously, you guys blew us away. Even a couple of notes from Google showed up! So thanks to everyone who took a second to make these families’ days a little brighter. We saw them soaking up the love firsthand, and it really was the best part of the entire experience.
Those wood wall hangings between the two boards are a little art project that Sherry made using some wood plaques purchased at JoAnn. She just primed a nice wide oval on each one (to cut any wood bleed), painted those ovals white, and used paint pens to sketch some leafy vines on the top and bottom of each one.
Then she drew one little holiday-ish item or object on each one. As much I liked her mittens and her little house, my favorite was the stick-figure reindeer. I kinda want him on a t-shirt. She even took some step-by-step photos for anyone else who might want to make one at home:
Even though they’re not shaped like trees, they seemed to fit right within our cozy, lodge-like vibe – and it was fun to hear the families talk about which ones they liked best.
There’s also an adjacent kitchen right off of the living room area, so we added a little bit of cheer in there as well. This corner is pretty busy and with limited wall-space and heavily used counters, so we just hung some gold glitter wreaths (from Target) on the upper cabinets. They’re locked, which means they’re rarely opened, so the staff actually recommended that we hang something there since other areas of the kitchen are used so frequently (for example, anything on the counters would just get in the way).
An amazingly sweet reader from Australia named Belinda also sent us this canvas print from her shop Poppy Love to Groove, which has a Peter Pan quote on it. The staff wanted it in a place where they could see it all year round – and what better place than right above the caffeine station?
As pleased as we are with how the room looks, the best part has been witnessing the reaction to it. During the span of days that we worked on-site over the last few weeks, we got to meet lots of patients, parents, nurses, and administrators whose sincere appreciation was so heartwarming to witness. It was really rewarding to hear them echo words like warm, cozy, and soothing – which had guided us through this project.
I think we’re really the ones who are the most thankful in all of this, though. It was a fun assignment and an interesting challenge, but more importantly it just felt good to not be so wrapped up in our own home decor and holiday stress (which frankly seem silly by comparison anyways). And of course there are the kids. They really are The Best. Here’s a little proof, courtesy of a fun holiday video that they made. Really, I dare you to watch this and not have a smile plastered on your face:
So we’re sending out one last thanks to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and all the people who helped this come together – especially the folks who donated items to the makeover and all of you who took the time to send a little cheer to Richmond for these sweet families. We certainly have lots of blessings to count this season.
P.S. – You can help the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU spread cheer by texting HEALTH to 50555 to donate $10 to support the children. To learn more you can visit CHoR on Facebook.
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
melissa says
Your involvement is this project is so moving and your ability to transform such a sterile-seeming place into something so comfortable and warm is truly a gift. Also, Sherry you could NOT look cuter!!!
Vivian says
Well done! What a lovely happy place. I’m sure glad I didn’t put mascara on yet … the video at the end made me smile and cry at the same time. Roar!
Rebecca S says
Wonderful!!! The Roar video had me in happy tears. I would venture to guess this project is your favorite DIY to date. Keep on keepin on! Merry Christmas????
Evie says
Just beautiful! I never would have believed that dark wall color would work in that room, but it is so cozy and warm and welcoming in there in! You guys are amazing. My favorite parts are the forest of trees around the ledge and the white reindeer on the wall, who never had to give a life to become a decoration and can just calmly preside over the room. Oh, and the wonderful quotation over the coffee area, too–so good a reminder for everybody to think of happy things!!! Thanks for doing this and for sharing it with all of us!
p.s. I forget–when is your tall baby coming? So exciting!
YoungHouseLove says
We hear this spring is tall baby season, haha! It’ll most likely be the middle of April, but I’m being monitored due to complications with Clara’s birth so it could change depending on how things progress. Thanks to my amazingly short torso, I’m looking pretty pregnant these days!
xo
s
Rebecca S says
Oops…I guess emoji does not work
That was not supposed to be question marks lol
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I knew what you meant.
xo
s
Annie says
This made my day. That video! Your room!
VickieL. says
Sobber here. My goodness, those children are precious. And the people that serve them so faithfully, too. And you guys, thank you for blessing those little ones and the parents who long for a happy and healthy child. That video served to remind me not to take my own children’s health for granted. Praying your new precious little one is healthy as can be. Oh, and the room is lovely! Nice work guys! Merry Christmas!!
Andrea says
The new space is amazing, and it will be such a blessing to families while in the hospital. I love that the goal of the Children’s Hospital is to make it into a living room like space, even the smallest touches like that can help make the waiting a little bit more bearable. You guys created such a beautiful space for families to enjoy not only this holiday season but for years to come.
Laura @ Sneakers and Spatulas says
The room turned out so great and it’s so awesome that you two donated your time to this project!!
Sheri says
Great way to spread the joy! A little goes a long way for a child! LOVE, LOVE the video, brough tears to my eyes! Happy Holiday’s Young House!
Amber says
This looks like such a great room for families to enjoy! Spending hours at a hospital is no fun, especially during the holiday season. Thank you for taking the time to make the holidays a little brighter for families like mine- we’ve spent many months in and out of hospitals in the past and I’ve never seen anything like this!
Lisa B says
Wow! You guys are amazing. Wonderful job on the room and the video at the end is awesome. Yes smiling, and crying. Just beautiful. xo
Alissa says
Absolutely fantastic, from every little detail of the room to both videos (obviously I cried through the second one!).
Our older daughter was born a few days before Christmas, and instead of coming home on Christmas Eve she spent her first week in the NICU. That Christmas Day a NICU support group gave little gift bags to all the babies, and I remember how touched I was by such a happy gesture in a place that can be so scary. I always think of all the families in hospitals around Christmas, and I can only imagine how loved and cared for the families at VCU must feel in that room.
Thank you for doing such an amazing thing.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet Alissa! I love that story. And I hope your daughter is doing awesome now!
xo
s
Annie says
Absolutely amazing! And the video with the kids…yep! Water works on this end! Merry Christmas and God bless!
Erin C says
Wow, you guys are amazing! What a wonderful cause! Children in the hospital breaks my heart, let alone children in the hospital at christmas. You guys inspire me so much. Thank you!
Gabbi @ Retro Ranch Reno says
You guys did such a fabulous job!!
cyn schmidt says
I got a sneak preview last week and was amazed at the transformation. thanks to YoungHouseLove these kids and their families will have a warm, caring place to enjoy this holiday season.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, so glad you’re enjoying it Cyn!
xo
s
Jeanna says
I felt so warm and blessed after reading your post, and watching those wonderful videos! Thank you for that. I used to work in a hospital some years ago, and I remember when a family who had been with us a long time donated the most beautiful nativity you have ever seen, and we put it up every Christmas. All of the families loved spending time in that corner of the room, and all spoke about the beauty, and the reminder of what the season meant, so I know how very much your wonderful efforts mean to the families and all the staff. So thank you so much, it means more than you will ever know :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s amazing! I love that story Jeanna!
xo
s
Karen Schravemade says
Beautiful. I think interior decorating can be such a noble profession. People may trivialise it, but creating a warm and welcoming environment for someone going through a crisis can make all the difference to them. It can’t take away the source of the pain, but it can change the way they feel while they’re in that space and enfold them in love and warmth. I was privileged to do a project like this for a hurting family member recently, and it meant the world to them. This is so close to my heart. Bless you guys. xo
Mamaw says
Amazing! Great job! Thank you for your giving self and doing this for the hospital. I cried watching both videos. Thank you to the companies who donated and helped you and John create this beautiful winter wonderland for the kids. Merry Christmas!
Cheryl says
*Sniff* You guys (and the people who work there, and the kids and parents who go through these things) are awesome.
JoniB says
Fantastic job you guys! That second video totally made me crysmile. Blessings to you all.
Heather says
It seems such a silly thing to say to two grown adults I’ve never actually met, but I’m sitting here in my living room far away feeling so proud of you both. As a parent who has spent some scary days at a children’s hospital I would like to thank you for doing this project.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much everyone! Your comments are making our day, and seriously, the honor was all ours. This project was the best gift we could have asked for this season. Talk about putting things into perspective!
xo
s
Amy says
Amazing work warming up the space, making it so inviting, comfy and cozy. Who doesn’t like sparkly, shiny things at Christmas!? :) And that last video with those basketball players – oh, man, are they great guys for doing that! Love it all, you guys!
Lindsay says
I am a blubbering mess after watching that video. Thank you. Seriously. That just pulled me out of my holiday stress and reminded me what’s important. <3
Love the room and all your hard work for such a good cause.
Ursula says
I love it. I have been in the old waiting room in person and it was pretty drab. This probably changes the whole feel of the place, it doesn’t even seem like a hospital!
Kim says
Loved the VCU video. Kudos to the VCU athletes and cheerleaders for making these kids a priority in their busy day!
Melanie P says
The room looks so fabulous (Not that I ever doubted you guys!) It’s perfectly Christmas-y without being over the top. It’s practically perfect in every way :)
Natalie says
I needed this post today! I’d been having kind of a rough (kiddo) morning, and reading this post/seeing those videos (especially the lip dub–can you say sobbing?!?) was EXACTLY what I needed to realize how incredibly blessed my life is. It’s awesome that talented people like you two give of your time and talents to help a worthy cause. Amazing job! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Julia says
<3 <3 <3 <3
The room is lovely and the "forest" is my favorite feature. Wonderful job, you two!
As the mom of 5 year old who's been a Shriners patient since birthday (including a couple inpatient stays), I can't tell you how important it is to have those comfortable family spaces to make things feel a little more "normal" and homey. This will be such a wonderful respite for those kids and their families.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Julia! We’re sending so much love to you and your five year old!
xo
s
Pre says
The room looks fantastic! I’m in love with the cut-out forest along the ledge!
Carrie-G-from-Alban-Y says
This brought tears to my eyes. What a beautiful thing and I love the donations that came in as a result… (Love those trees! And that chair!). My neice was in the hospital in NY for her 1st Christmas, at just 10 months old, and what a beautiful spot this would have been for her and her family. (She’s fine now, almost 3 and back to good health! Thank goodness!). I am sure it is appreciated more than you know.
YoungHouseLove says
So glad to hear she’s doing so well now Carrie G!
xo
s
Rachael says
What an absolutely gorgeous space this turned out to be! You two are angels for doing this and putting so much love into it. I love the sneak peek at the prego belly too! So cute! Happy Holidays!
Reem says
Thank you for making this start of my Monday. You guys are the most amazing duo, more power to you. You deserve all your success.
JG says
Bucky totally needs an ornament or two hanging from his antlers!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love it!
xo
s
amy c says
i had a heard time smiling through all the tears. thanks for sharing this with us, it was really special.
sue j. says
that video knocked me out. kudos to you both for bringing something beautiful into the lives of the kids who need it most.
Crystal says
That video – can’t stop crying. Such a sweet project for the holidays.
Andrea says
Oh my gosh you guys this is so awesome!! I am an ICU nurse (adults though) and will be spending my Christmas working. While I would love to be with my family, seeing my patients is a healthy dose of perspective and makes me so grateful for health and happiness around the holiday season. I would love for someone to do this to our waiting room. I don’t know if you’ll ever know how much of a difference this will make for families. Giving someone the gift of feeling home during the holidays is priceless. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Andrea! Merry Christmas to you too! We are so grateful for all the things you do to help people. Heroic doesn’t even cut it for the people in your field.
xo
s
Kathleen says
Wow, it’s amazing! Your video made me teary, thinking of how wonderful you made that room for families to enjoy. My 5 year old son was in the hospital for 2 weeks last year around Halloween (which is why this post made me so teary, thinking back to that time) and as a parent who spent a lot of time away from home in distressing circumstances, this space would have made me feel comforted and happy. Bless you for bringing a place of peace to these families and children.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Kathleen, I hope your son is doing awesome now! So sorry you had to go through that.
xo
s
Joan says
Oh my gosh — I’m typing through tears after that final video! I love the room, and it’s an amazing gift for those fierce spirits.
Whitney Dupuis says
Ok, I am a hot mess after watching that last video. The tears just streamed down my face. The kids and their families are so strong and amazing – I don’t know how they do it.
The room looks wonderful, you guys. I know that everyone appreciates the effort you put into it. Isn’t it amazing how much doing for others puts so much into perspective? Such a humbling experience, I am sure.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It really is funny how you can walk into a project worrying about all the wrong things, and walk out of it with a giant dose of perspective, and a whole lot of gratitude to the sweet people who do such amazing things everyday!
xo
s
Jennifer says
Outstanding!
Amy says
Thank you. You two bring me inspiration every day as I build my home, raise my daughter and save my pennies. But I don’t think any of your posts have overwhelmed me as much as this one has. You two have the biggest and warmest hearts of anyone I have ever ‘met’. Thank you for providing us the privilege of glimpsing into your world on a daily basis – I know each one of your readers are better people for ‘knowing’ you.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh Amy, thank you so much! You guys are so sweet, and we couldn’t wait to share this experience with you guys!
xo
s
Mia says
I hope they keep the deer head and trees along the wall up after the holidays. They add to the lodge motif, which ups the cozy, calm factor. But if they did do palm trees for summer, what might be good in place of the deer?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! Cardboard Safari also makes things like rhino heads (we hung one year-round in our living room) so that could be a quick switch!
xo
s
hollyloo says
you two. y’all are just, wow. you are heaven sent. truly. merry christmas.
Rachel says
Amazing on every level! Thank you so much for sharing that last video. Seeing those smiling kids is such a special reminder of what is important this time of year. And it makes me extra proud to be a VCU/MCV alum. Go Rams and thank you for your hard work and dedication to this project!
Sarah says
OMG — that last video of all the kids! Adorable!
AlisonG says
Your two are special people, it shows everyday and in everything you do. Blessings to you. Sounds like a great Hospital. We could use more of those. Is this the place where you gave birth and will do so again?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Alison! I actually gave birth at another local hospital (which I love as well) but when this one contacted us to help with their room makeover we couldn’t say yes fast enough! We have a bunch of friends who have had their kids there, and even know a little boy who spent weeks in the Children’s Hospital after being diagnosed with a brain tumor – he’s now a super healthy and happy four year old!
xo
s
AlisonG says
Sounds like you have great local Hospitals, I wish I could say the same. You are fortunate.
YoungHouseLove says
We are so thankful.
xo
s
Marie says
As someone who has worked in the medical field for many, many years I know the impact your project has made. Hospitals can be very dreary places, especially at the holidays. Thank you for taking on this project and bringing joy to those around you. I defy anyone to get through the “Roar” video without needing a tissue!