More Than a Wish: MacNeil, DesignWish Team Seeking Nominations

Certified interior designer Patty MacNeil knows the value of transforming spaces. As a DesignWish team member, this Branford resident also knows the joy and privilege of giving her time and talent to help create peaceful retreats for deserving community members.

The DesignWish team's a collaboration of shoreline interior design consultants who annually gather the donated support of retail sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and craftspeople to give a complimentary room makeover to a deserving individual or family-from unsung heroes to those experiencing life's extenuating circumstances, whether personal or financial.

Now through Dec. 18, DesignWish is accepting nominations for a fifth year of giving back to a deserving recipient (for details, visit www.designwish.org). As always, the recipient will be notified by a surprise DesignWish visit on Dec. 24.

"We see the space when we visit them for the first time on Christmas Eve. It's a really exciting and emotional moment for everyone," says Patty.

The design team consists of Patty (staff interior designer, Madison Furniture Barn), Lisa Leonardi of The Room Doctor, Kristen Wall of Wall to Wall Home Concepts, LLC, Robin Reed of Robin Reed Ltd., Julie Cousins of Let's Get Organized, and Olena Murphy of Vesna Interiors. Lisa originated the concept, which she shared with Kristen and Patty in year one.

"It started with Lisa with her business, saying, 'I want to give back to the community.' You would think interior designers would be competitive, but we all get together and share and help each other, because we know the work we're putting in is worth it," says Patty.

In each case, the team works to meet recipient's needs with creative, embracing spaces.

"We take into account functionality and we're also very sensitive to their interests. We want to give them a peaceful place they can come home to after a busy day; a place to take away any stress they may have and soothe what they're going through," says Patty.

The makeovers are planned out in eight weeks' time, then executed in as little as one day's flurry of activity. DesignWish team members go out into the community to generate donations, contributions, volunteers, vendor support, and more.

"Even when it's harder for business to give us all the supplies we're requesting, they'll always say, 'We'll give you what we can,'" says Patty.

Of course, selecting just one deserving individual or family from the heartfelt, 500-word nominations received each year is always agonizing.

"The difficult part is reading the nominations and deciding our top choices. They can be nominated for very different reasons," says Patty, adding, "If a nomination's not selected, it can be resubmitted."

Last year, the DesignWish team and a small army of volunteers, vendors, craftsmen, artists, and others created a haven in the home of the Roberts family of Stony Creek. A family member nominated Deb Roberts and her four sons after they lost husband and dad Stephen Roberts to cancer.

"Deb works from home, so we gave her a really awesome home office space. We were able to include elements of Steve in the space, too. It was a really emotional 'reveal,'" says Patty of the moment the family returned home to the results.

The warm, welcoming, and personalized transformation stretches across the Roberts's main-floor family spaces. It includes renovated hardwood floors, custom construction of a mantel and storage, a personalized paint scheme, new couch and other furnishings, custom drapery, many decorative touches, and much, much more (to see the incredible transformation, visit www.designwish.org and click on "The 2011 Reveal").

"We are always amazed at what's created," says Patty. "So many people do so much to make it happen. It's really about getting the community involved. We want DesignWish recipients to know the community cares."

To determine this year's honoree, DesignWish is asking the community for nominations; the deadline is Dec. 18. All submissions are strictly confidential. The support of local businesses and volunteers makes DesignWish possible. For more information or to nominate someone, visit www.designwish.org.