About a month ago Lori Gano, a teacher at South Sioux City's Middle School in Nebraska asked me for some ideas about making over a teachers lounge. Of course Millennial Living is going to help beginning with some ideas. You can too, because this project is just beginning. In fact, you're invited to activiely participate and help complete the project. The teachers need painting supplies, wood laminate flooring, local talent and of course your moral support. So take a look and actively take part in the makeover. We promise you'll learn a lot and you'll have the satisfaction of helping the very people who have a positive influence on our kids..

Houston, we have a problem

Lori Gano's initial email to me went something like this:

"Hi, I am a teacher at the South Sioux City Middle School. We REALLY need to have a make over in our teacher's lounge!  We are wondering what colors might be great to use and any ideas that you might have. Of course our budget is VERY low and a couple of teachers are planning on actually doing the make over ourselves this summer-or before would be great. Any ideas that you may have would be greatly appreciated!!"

From the photos of the teachers lounge, it's not hard to see why Lori and her colleagues would like to make over their teachers' lounge. The room receives no natural light and it adjoins a common area. As the photos show, the lounge is devoid of furniture, has wood paneling and some old cabinets that have seen their day.  

What you can do
You'll find my ideas below, but that is not the end of the story. We're just beginning and will detail all aspects of this project and hopefully the makeover. 

I thought that the South Sioux City Community and local and national merchants of home improvement products and services might wish to help out too. No harm in asking. The Millennial Living website will promote the project and list the names of the companies and individuals who donate advice, supplies, labor and materials for the project. Also if you are an interior designer or decorator please offer your advice as well. It's a good idea to join Millennial Living to do this (it's free).

So please off your advice and comment on the project. All requests to assist Lori and her colleagues with materials, supplies and should initially come to me at Ask Tom. We'll put you in touch with Lori. 

My Suggestion for Low Budget Makeover
Based on the photos provided, the intended use of the room and the limited funds for this project, I would propose the following:

1. Painting the walls, including the wood paneling.
2. Replacing the carpet with wood laminate flooring,
3. Replacing the curtains with wooden shutters.
4. Replacing the fluorescent lights with soft/warm compact fluorescents that are energy efficient.
5. Hanging pictures or some art from Art Classes
6. Color coordinate walls, flooring, pictures/photos, and lighting.

Choosing Colors
We're going to start by coordinating the colors for all the walls, flooring (item 6). Lets begin with paint since it going to be the major element of change in the room. I think that a light-warm color would be very good in the teachers lounge. There are plenty of color choices for the room. Our favorites are Ralph Lauren Cottonwood and Ralph Lauren Tangier Island. There are many others. You can download some spreadsheets that have paint colors that go well with most rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.

 

What the teachers need to do is to get paint samples and paint test boards to see how the colors look in the lounge under the glare of those fluorescent lights. We're hoping that our friends from Tru-Hue Paint Test Boards will send Lori and friends some product and that Myperfectcolor.com will send them some paint samples once the teachers choose some initial test colors. Of course we are hoping that the Home Depot, Lowes, Tru Value or other home improvement stores will donate some samples for the teachers to use along with some painting supplies.

Do the following:

• Select two or three different colors. To get the name of the paint your can put your cursor on any image above and right click it.
• Then get down to the local paint store and find the paint chip.
• Get a quart of paint and paint either a paint test board or some poster paper.
• Hang the paint colors on the wall. Live with the colors and see which one appeals to the group after a few days. Don't make a final decision quite yet.
• Now get some samples of laminate flooring. Laminate is easier to clean than carpet and since you eat our lunches in the lounge it should be healthier. We prefer the glueless variety that snaps in place. Most home improvement stores carry this. Also check out Costco who normally carries it. Personally I think that a light stain is better but would not be opposed to a darker stain that is popular today. We want to create some contrast between the paint on the walls and the color of the wood laminate flooring. 
• Compare the paint color test boards to the wood laminate flooring in the teachers lounge. You may want to recruit some students who have artistic talent and get their "expert" opinions. If you want to add a bit of "drama" to the lounge, select your primary color and paint it on three walls. For the remaining wall, choose a darker color in the same family. In other words look at the paint chips which are usually grouped in families of colors and choose the next darkest to your primary color. 
• Tip: If know one steps forward and donates the paint color, you can save some money on the paint by having the Home Depot or Lowes Stores mix your choice in their own brand--Behr or Valspar. MyperfectColor will do the same.

Ideally the cabinets and cabinet doors should be sanded and painted. If you do this take the cabinet doors off nd remove the hardware. Soak the hardware in some 409 cleaner. You don't have to sand or paint the inside of the cabinets or their doors. Also the countertops could be changed with some inexpensive stock countertops from Home Depot, Lowes or other home improvement stores. This is an option and if funds or donations allow it I would do it.  

If you do paint the cabinets, then choose a darker color that will make them stand out. Stay in the same color family of your paint color. See some suggested colors for the kitchen cabinets, especially the darker colors. Remember to use the same process to select the cabinet color that I outlined above if you decide to paint the color.

Instructions, Products and Supplies Needed
The order that you will tackle this project is important. First start on the walls, then cabinets if you do them, and finally the flooring. You may have to touch up with paint after the flooring is done.  

1. Download the Detailed Instructions for How to paint which is attached below.
2. Flooring
   Use sharp razor knife to cut pieces of the exsiting carpet and padding in small sections. Roll up and dispose of them
   Install glueless wood laminate floors. Glueless is easier to install and not messy. Buy kits that contain either plastic or padding that goes on bare floor and installation blocks. Note, some wood laminate flooring now comes with the padding and finished surface in one plank. All you have to is lay plastic on floor and lay the planks on it.
   
   Make sure that there is about 1/4 inch spacing from the wall all around the room. The floor has to float (move with the changes in temperature). The space will be covered by quarter round which will be purchased separatedly. Have your students calcuate the quantity of flooring (area) and linear feet of quarter round you will need.
3. Shutters
   Choose faux shutters. These will allow light to come in the room or can be opened to the adjoining room.
4. Lighting
   Budget may limit changing the fluorescents, but at least replace the bulbs with compact fluorescents and choose a warm or soft white instead of the typical blue light.

Share your thoughts with Lori and friends by commenting below.