A design vision that can change the motherhood experience

As I started brainstorming ideas for the new year, I wrote down my vision statement for this new year. It took me a few minutes to write the first sentence but as I started to write, I honestly couldn’t stop. This vision search went to a new level. I asked myself who I was and what I was really passionate about. 

This was my answer - I’m a dedicated woman who is driven to help, serve and inspire others. I have a desire and passion to use design to change someone’s heart. I know I’ve said it before, but I truly believe that design is more than colours, plans and decor.

For some time now, I’ve been feeling this prompting in my heart. It’s simple to use interior design to help women in need. BUT HOW? Well, here it is. I want to redesign a woman's shelter.

The fact is, there are many women, young to mid-age, who have been trafficked, suffered conjugal violence, have unplanned pregnancies, and have been isolated. These women need a place to go. That’s when shelters come into place, but because of budget, most of these places look and feel much like a motel or institution rather than home. 

So far my community design project, I decided to transform an abandoned heritage building and transform the ground floor into a community centre for young women.

I started with lots of research and case studies of existing women's shelters. Once I started to understand the basic services currently provided, I was inspired to push toward the design and concept of a home instead of a centre.

There are prominent studies showing that the design of an interior space has the ability to affect one’s sociological and emotional health (both positively and negatively). Therefore, I knew that I couldn’t take this project lightly. I had to go in-depth with my research and functional programming.

Of course one of the first things I did was google “women's shelter interior design”, and guess what? There are designers who have dedicated their time and work on such places…Isn’t that AMAZING!!!! I came across interior designer Vanessa de Vargas and design consultant Vanessa Kogevinas featured in Woman’s Day Magazine. They redesigned Los Angeles' Good Shepherd Centre for Homeless Women & Children, giving them a place to temporarily call home. This project took them six months to complete, with the help of 30 local designers who worked nights and weekends to transform this space. They were also blessed with donated furnishings which they used to complete the makeovers. 

Seeing the finished product of this project, gave me great joy and sparked my vision even more.

Fast forward to 2019 - My vision became a reality! I was privileged to partner with Daughter Project Canada on a similar project!!!