Small Space, Small Budget: Learning from The Upward Bound House

Recently a talented and generous group of Los Angeles interior designers got together to transform a motel into The Upward Bound Family Shelter, an emergency shelter for families with minor children. Each designer adopted a room for a year, donated his or her time and expertise, drummed up donations from vendors and benefactors, and worked around the clock to finish on a tight deadline. The rooms needed to accommodate families, with space for eating, sleeping, doing homework and storage. The designers also decorated the bathrooms.

Family Shelter provides short-term housing for families in crisis. In addition to secure, safe accommodations for each family, the program features intensive wrap-around case management, counseling, a food program and other stabilization services. For more information, visit upwardboundhouse.org.

As I clicked through all of the rooms, I realized the portfolio of rooms that was sent to me was chock full of brilliant designer tricks and clever ideas. The designers had to raise all of the money for the room, and worked with items that were donated. They repurposed, resurfaced, and gave new life to vintage and donated pieces. They came up with space planning that keeps the rooms from feeling cramped. And finally, they accomplished all of this with great style. Without further ado, let the lessons in stretching a dollar and squeezing all that furniture in begin.

all of the Upward Bound photographs are by Laure Joliet.