Oh Cici, how I love you!
This special Birchwood Blog Renovation was for my dear sweet Georgia-Mom. We call her Cici. She really is like another mom to Drew and I. And she is definitely a bonus Grandma to our daughter. Cici has the biggest heart on planet earth. Literally. Anyone who knows her, knows this is true.
Cici only thinks of others. Her gift is serving and her home is always open to anyone who needs anything. Her first impulse is to give, in every situation. She gives of herself and her talents and her home. We all should aspire to be more like her.
In April, Cici's mom became very ill with the hideous malady of end-stage cancer. Cici and her husband moved in to her mom's home immediately. They set to work on making her mom comfortable at all times. They never left the house, never stopped cooking, cleaning, and caring. Her mom's nails and toenails were always painted, the house always smelled amazing and was full of food, flowers and fresh air. Hundreds of friends and family came through the house over the course of the summer, enjoying time with the entire family. Cici's parents, are, after 60+ years, still in love. They insisted on sleeping together in their master suite. So Cici bought a baby monitor to be sure her mom was safe every moment she slept. I've never seen such love and selfless care. Cici's own home, during that time, was completely neglected. And Cici didn't care. She didn't waste one moment with her mama still on this earth.
Not one month after her mama went to be with Jesus, Cici contacted me. Cici's son-in-law is returning home from his second tour in Afghanistan. He will be joining Cici's daughter in welcoming his first child, Cici's first (blood-related) grand-baby into the world.
In typical Cici fashion, she promptly moved out of her gorgeous master bedroom suite (again) and into her own basement with her sweet hubby. Giving her son-in-law soldier and precious daughter, the master bedroom in their own lovely home.
Cici's basement is... quite a place. The family has lived in the home for years, and the basement is exhausted. When the girls were in high school, the family hosted Bible Study in the basement. Along with soccer slumber parties, get-togethers, church events, and housing for others. I say housing because Cici has allowed several families to live temporarily in her basement. The basement overlooks the beautiful in-ground pool, boasts a wet bar, a large seating area and many large windows. In addition to all of this is the very famous "Signature Wall". From students to celebrities, there are hundreds of signatures on the wall. People that are very special to Cici and her family have signed the wall. Included in the "Signature Hall of Fame" are pro-atheletes like Josh Bynes of the Detroit Lions (a dear family friend) and the governor's wife. Cici's only request for the basement? Don't you dare paint over that beloved wall. She cares more for people then anything else in this world.
The dilemma in the room? The room has been used HARD by teenagers and the neighborhood for years. The walls are covered in nail holes, wires, water marks, old sports memorabilia, and spit balls. The floors are stained and filthy. The wet bar is covered in old boxes and hasn't been used in decades. All the decor is out-dated and completely exhausted.
Cici contacted me because she wants to give her son and daughter some much-needed quiet time upstairs. She wants them to bond as a family and have serene evenings together. Yet SHE needs a cozy place to crash in the evenings with her darling hubby. Cici is still living almost full-time at her dad's house since the passing of her mama. She runs all day for him and others. She takes him to doctor appointments and gives him his medicines. Even when she is gone, she has the go-pro-camera monitoring him at all times so he is safe. My heart breaks for Cici. I want, no, I NEED this to be a very special "soft place to land".
Below are the BEFORE photos of the Basement:
So as you can see, the basement is pretty pooped. Cici's budget is tight, but she has a lot of heirlooms from her mama that need to go into the space.
Enjoy my "AFTER" photo tour below, my loves!
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We were able to accomplish:
Refinishing Cici's mom's heirloom breakfast table as a place to sit and enjoy a meal
Recovering Cici's mom's heirloom chairs for the breakfast nook
Adding in a comfortable sectional and tufted ottoman that fits the relaxed atmosphere of the basement and provides maximum seating
Giving Cici a custom @thebirchwoodblog island, 2 bar stools for seating and expanding the wet bar/kitchen area
Giving Cici a custom @thebirchwoodblog TV table
Using new rugs to create warmth
Highlighting a functional kitchen wall with antique cutting boards and a custom @thebirchwoodblog mug rack and incorporating her mom's antique working refridgerator
Incorporating Cici's love of rustic flare through found treasures, vintage pieces, and original antiques from her mom and dad