Kitchen & Bath Design News

JAN 2015

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January 2015 ForResidentialPros.com | 39 WORKING TOGETHER Over the past summer, the project at Audubon Elementary took shape. Shannon started talking with people in the immediate community, a well- kept Chicago neighborhood known as Roscoe Village flled with shops and eateries. "I live in an amazing neighbor- hood and the community puts a lot into the school," Shannon says. "But they are always short on money." While a teachers' lounge might be low on the list of most pressing pri- orities, the group felt it was time to provide a livable space for the teach- ers to relax in. Shannon donated the cabinetry and started making calls: "I was able to get a contractor who I work with who just happens to live in the neighborhood," she says. "I got him involved, and he paid for the paint and painters, and installed the cabinets." Another neighborhood merchant, the owner of a furniture store, donat- ed furniture. Yet another local man, the uncle of a student, installed new fooring. The local Home Depot gave Friend of Audubon a good deal on a foor model refrigerator to replace the old "disgusting" one. "I was able to repurpose a piece of granite pulled from the island of another job (pictured above), and another expert comp'd his labor," Shan- non notes. "He came and installed it." Shannon was surprised by the willingness of the community to pitch in. "It turned out to be fun get- ting all of those businesses involved; we had a sense of community and it could spark even better things for the future," she enthuses. If the job had been done retail, Shannon estimates the cost would've been about $30,000 in materials and labor. Instead, the job was completed with about $2,200 from the Friends of Audubon for out-of-pocket expenses. Working as the pro-bono general contractor was Bill Bigane, another community businessman and Audu- bon parent. The installation and the fnishing touches were completed just in time for the return of school in September. The FOA held a surprise party for the grand opening of the new teachers' lounge. Not surprisingly, the teachers were thrilled. Now t he new refrigerator is packed with paper-bag lunches and teachers have that place to recharge between classes. The school project is a mirror of Shannon's business philosophy: "I passionately believe that great design enhances your overall well- being by encompassing all fve senses and improving the functionality of your environment," she states. "I fnd it incredibly rewarding to see how life-changing a properly designed space will become. At the end of each project, I feel great satisfaction when the reward of this transformation is achieved." Giving back to the community also taught Shannon some valuable life les- sons, which she feels are applicable both to her business and her life. "It started out as a simple paint job and a few new pieces of furni- ture," she remarks. "What it taught me is not to be afraid to ask for help. We were foored by the amount of goods and services we received and, if we had more time, it could have been even bigger. "It was amazing how we asked people to give us things for free and how many people were willing to give. Whether their time, their service or a product, it was amazing. That made it really fun, and it went a long way for those teachers," she says. In November, Shannon revisited the teachers' lounge and found her vision transformed into something entirely new. "What we've created is a meeting spot; a place to celebrate birthdays, host baby showers and col- laborate on lesson plans," she explains. "It has been incredibly rewarding to witness some of these moments frst hand." Circle No. 23 on Product Card Circle No. 22 on Product Card Design that maximizes function while encompassing all of the senses is a hallmark of Shannon Davis Johnston's projects, as seen in this kitchen.

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