The Phoenix Dream Center acts as a safe haven for girls and women who have been rescued from a life of sexually based exploitation through human trafficking. In the spring, Arizona Foothills Magazine, Jerry and Carol Meek of Desert Star Construction, local authors Mark and Chrissy Donnelly and 10 of the Valley’s finest interior designers partnered to make the world a little brighter for the Dream Center’s residents via The Rescue Project. The good-hearted designers and their sponsors donated time, talent and materials to transform rooms in the center into beautiful retreats full comfort and creativity—and you were invited to vote for your fave bathroom, closet, theme and more on AZFoothills.com. Here are the stunning spaces that captured the top number of tallies.
Amelia Kizerian Interiors: “The Victoria”
Best Furniture
Named after one of Amelia Kizerian of Amelia Kizerian Interiors’ most charitable clients, “The Victoria” makes a statement—thanks to its knock-out furniture—while still remaining homey for its three residents. “Our goal was to keep the space as light and as simple as possible, but more than just a place to sleep.” Still, one of the most important aspects of the room to Kizerian is the sleeping quarters. “I feel that sleep is an important part of recovery,” she says. Utah-based Craftsman Upholstery created ornate beds, each fit for a princess, while artwork by Kyle Cody and sparkly Hinkley’s Lighting chandeliers add interest. www.akinteriors.com.
Ownby Design: “Serenity”
Best Overall, Best Bathroom and Best One-Person Room
With a name like “Serenity,” it is no surprise that Ownby Design’s one-person room comes off as a soothing sanctuary to anyone who passes through. “We allowed this to become the theme of our room by using a calming neutral palette,” says Scottsdale-based designer Claire Ownby. “We also wanted to encourage the girls’ healing through meditation and reflection so we incorporated images of nature on the walls for inspiration.” Though four canvas-wrapped photographs donated from Suzanne Mathia and a cushy upholstered king bed with integrated nightstands (Classic Custom Upholstery donated time to make the headboard and surround while Western Millwork donated theirs to fabricate the floating nightstand) make for a dreamlike dwelling, it is the room’s bathroom that really spells out r-n-r. Large rectangular porcelain tiles and smaller glass tiles, all donated by Longust Distributing, are used on the walls, floor and ceiling to create a spalike wet room where the girls can linger a while. “My favorite part of the room is the bathroom,” Ownby says. www.ownbydesign.com.
Vallone Design: “Kathy”
Best Three-Person Room
Though creating a three-person bedroom was a challenge, Scottsdale’s Vallone Design was able to pull off a beautiful and functional space suited for a trio. “We managed to fit three full-size beds in our room, create a sense of personal space for each girl, provide more than adequate storage, a fun, funky bathroom and a great living space that all three girls can use comfortably,” says designer Berkley Vallone. Bathroom tile from Waterworks, fabric by Designer’s Guild and Diane Von Furstenberg bedding for Bed, Bath & Beyond were all used to fashion this stylish space. “Kathy” was named after Kathy Audette, a friend and co-worker the Vallone team lost several years ago. “Kathy was a bright, spunky spirit, a fighter, full of love and a true inspiration to us all,” Vallone says. “We felt it appropriate that Kathy should we watching over these girls.” www.vallonedesign.com.
Janet Brooks Design: “The Bungalow”
Best Comfortable Design, Best Living Area, Best Space Utilization and Best Two-Person Room
When it came time to craft this colorful two-person space, Janet Brooks of Scottsdale’s Janet Brooks Design put herself in the shoes of the young women who reside at the Phoenix Dream Center. “We imagined that this girl needed peace and comfort far more than glitz and glamour, and we strove to create a homelike experience,” she says. Though the femme custom-made sofa from European Custom Upholstery (the firm also donated the fabric) and quilt-topped custom storage beds by F1 Cabinets are sure to make the girls feel comfy-cozy, it is the surprising kitchenette tile backsplash that is Brooks’ favorite design element in the room. “In a way, it represents the experience of the girls who will occupy the rooms,” Brooks says. “It is put together from leftover pieces of tiles from a local tile manufacturer [Tabarka Studio]. None of them were meant to go together to form a
pattern, but together all of the odds and ends make a beautiful and interesting presentation.” www.janetbrooksdesign.com.
SAVE THE DATE
Want to contribute? Reserve your spot for Where Hope Lives, a breakfast benefit, on Friday, Nov. 2. The event takes places at the Arizona Biltmore from 7:30 to 9 a.m. For more information, call 602.346.8778 or visit www.rescueprojectphx.org.
Overstreet Interiors: “The Wings of Love”
Best Room Name and Theme and Best Closet
“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalms 17:8 “Inspired by this verse, [“The Wings of Love”] suite was designed to be a safe haven and calming resting place,” says Terrie Overstreet of Overstreet Interiors, “knowing the hearts of the young women to come would be healed in the sanctuary beneath his wings.” Using hints of wings throughout the room, like the oversize peacock feathers on the wall by artist Marsh Nolen, Overstreet brings home the winning theme. The space excels at layering textures, colors and accessories, and Overstreet even created a design-within-a-design for each resident. “The wall finishes, bedding and linens, and personal spaces were different from each other in order to define an area she could feel was her own,” Overstreet says. The freeing two-bed abode is rounded out with a custom-made sofa donated by Creative Leather, millwork (including an every-girl’s-dream closet) by Cabinets by Blas, living room accessories by West Elm and, on the walls, attention-getting art entirely by local artists. www.overstreetinteriors.com.
With Gratitude
Thank you to the five other brilliant Valley design firms that donated its time and talent to the Phoenix Dream Center project.
Palm Design Group: “Believe.” www.palmdesigngroup.com.
Karen Rapp Interiors: “Hope Haven.” www.karenrappinteriors.com.
Treken Interiors: “Grace.” www.trekeninteriors.com.
TM Design Studio: “The Jewel.” www.tm-studio.com.
OZ Architects: “The Treehouse.” www.ozarchitects.com.
TO LEARN MORE
To find out more about the Phoenix Dream Center, visit www.phxdreamcenter.org.
