Blakely Interior Design Brings Children's Charity to RI

• Wickford-based Blakely Interior Design has established the Rhode Island Chapter of Savvy Giving by Design™, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide comfort, support, and healing to families with a child facing a medical crisis by transforming the child’s bedroom at no cost to them.
• Nominations are open now for the first project by Savvy Giving by Design Rhode Island at https://savvygivingbydesign.org/nominaterhodeisland. Any Rhode Island family with a child facing a medical crisis will be considered. The inaugural project will be selected by August 1 and rolling nominations will be accepted for future projects.
• Recipients will receive a transformed bedroom in their home to improve the health, function and design at no cost to them.
• Savvy Giving by Design Rhode Island is the first initiative under Blakely Gives Back, a commitment to on-going philanthropy by Blakely Interior Design.

To a child, their bedroom is a place to be themselves, feel loved and safe. To a child facing a medical crisis, their bedroom is where they gain the strength and comfort needed to heal. Savvy Giving by Design Rhode Island is now accepting nominations for a free bedroom makeover to be granted to a local family with a child facing a medical crisis. The Rhode Island Chapter of Savvy Giving by Design was established by Wickford-based interior design firm, Blakley Interior Design in Spring 2018 and will select a family and transform their bedroom to improve the health, function and design at no cost to the family. Siblings’ rooms may also be transformed in the process. Nominations are open now at https://savvygivingbydesign.org/nominaterhodeisland.

Rhode Island design community comes together to create a healthier home

Blakely’s team of designers will work with the family to create a vision for each room. The aesthetic preferences are front of mind in developing the design as well as addressing any new mobility requirements and physical enhancements to create a healthier environment. When the design is complete, the design team collaborates with local contractors and suppliers, donating their time and materials. Once the project is complete the family will enjoy a big reveal, captured visually and shared with the community.

“To be able to give our time, energy and resources and help a family going through one of the hardest experiences that will face is our honor. A child’s bedroom should be their safe haven but when facing a medical challenge, fitting a home to meet the needs of recovery can provide additional stress on the family,” explained Janelle Blakely, President, Savvy Giving by Design Rhode Island. “By re-designing the children’s rooms to improve the health benefits as well as form and function, families will experience not only a physical impact on their healing but an emotional one that is beyond measure.”

Small ways to help, can make a big difference

In 2015, the community came together to make one little boy famous, his dream, as he battled through nearly four years of pediatric cancer. Dorian Murray’s mother, Melissa Murray established The Dorian J. Murray Foundation to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to support kids during their fight. Murray is one of five women serving on the Rhode Island chapter’s Board of Directors.

“You never feel more helpless than when your child is sick. It’s not for lack of a love and support - many people want to help but aren’t sure how. The road can be long and in between trips to hospitals and doctors offices, to have a place to come home to that is healthy and brings happiness makes a difference,” shared Murray.

Any family in Rhode Island with a child facing a medical crisis is eligible for nomination. The inaugural project will be selected by August 1 by the Board of Directors and rolling nominations will be accepted for future projects. In addition to Murray, the Board includes Christine Marinello, Marinello Law; Danielle Medina, Owner & Executive Producer, Mad Fusion; Missy Walker, Rocky Hill School; and Janelle Blakely Photopoulos, Owner and Principal Designer, Blakely Interior Design.

Savvy Giving by Design began in San Diego, in 2014 by designer Susan Wintersteen. Rhode Island is the 4th chapter and is the first initiative under Blakely Gives Back, a commitment to on-going philanthropy by Blakely Interior Design.

Savvy Giving by Design is a 501c3 charity. All donations are tax deductible and can be made to the Rhode Island chapter through its donation page: https://www.classy.org/give/182348/#!/donation/checkout. Contractors and suppliers looking to get involved can contact janelle@blakelyinteriordesign.com. Follow the progress on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/SGBDrhodeisland/.

About Blakely Interior Design

Founded in 2010, the award-winning team at Blakely Interior Design pride themselves in creating beautiful spaces that are truly livable. Specializing in luxury residential properties, the Wickford, Rhode Island based team of designers is led by Janelle Blakely Photopoulos, who cultivated her interior design skills at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). A sampling of residential and commercial designs can be found on http://www.blakelyinteriordesign.com/.

About Savvy Giving by Design

Savvy Giving by Design is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide comfort, support, and healing to families with a child facing a medical crisis by transforming the interior spaces of their homes at no cost to them. www.savvygivingbydesign.org