The renovation might be valued at more than $200,000, but it’s hard to place a complete value on what FLOOR360’s recent makeover of Madison’s Yahara House program means to the people it serves.
This fall, FLOOR360 and its local “Design for a Difference” design team revealed the makeover results at Yahara House, a nonprofit program of Journey Mental Health Center. Yahara House offers mental health services at a historic mansion on Gorham Street in Madison.
FLOOR360, which provides high-fashion flooring and designs, is part of the national Design for a Difference program sponsored by the International Design Guild, and FLOOR360 participates in Madison as a part of the guild.
Brad Schlough, director of Yahara House, said his team and members are grateful to have been chosen for this makeover, which is made possible by donations and volunteer work.
Yahara House’s mission is to transform the lives of people living with mental illness and it does so by trying to replace the despair, stigma and isolation associated with mental illness by creating access to employment and social opportunities.
Much like medical facilities whose recent redesigns have moved away from cold, institutional environments, Schlough believes the makeover will have a soothing, calming effect on the community of people served by Yahara House.
With a limited budget, previous upgrades involved small, piecemeal projects, but the makeover has added warm, uplifting colors throughout. This included the removal of dark, commercial grade carpeting and refinishing floors to their original hardwood.
“Everything now, it feels like it’s purposeful, like it’s organized and the colors have a kind of calming effect,” Schlough said. “It bothered me for quite a while that we had some pretty vibrant colors in there, but you would go from one room into another room and there didn’t seem to be any cohesion.”
Among the spaces renovated is a third-floor cafeteria, where lunch is served each day to enhance the sense of community among members.
The result has been higher daily attendance and a sense of excitement that builds hope for the future of the program, which serves about 140 active members. Another 200 come at different times of the year such as its annual Day of Giving Thanks where traditional Thanksgiving meals are served the day before the holiday.
Schlough said the makeover helps convey a sense of respect because people with serious mental illness often don’t have access to nice, well-maintained places that many take for granted.
“One of our members commented that we would clean and clean prior to the redesign, but it just didn’t feel clean or we couldn’t get the floors clean or then you would see the chipped paint or the gouges in the drywall and those types of things,” Schlough said.
“That is all gone now, and it kind of takes away some of the anxiety about how are we ever going to be able to get this place looking nice and respectful and welcoming in the way that we wanted to.”
All-volunteer army
The redesign work started in June with an all-volunteer group of interior designers who worked with nearly 50 local businesses — including suppliers, installers and painters — to plan and provide a much-needed interior design makeover.
The estimated value of contributions and donations exceeds $200,000, and they cover almost 3,000 square feet inside the building.
Each year, FLOOR360 coordinates the services of local interior designers and business partners to help a local nonprofit make over their space so it can focus on its mission.
Since the program began in 2015, there have been over 500 Madison and Milwaukee volunteers and businesses involved, and more than $2.75 million in labor and materials donated in both communities combined.
Michelle Belgiano, director of residential sales for FLOOR360 in Madison, said the company leads the selection of the design recipient, and then coordinates the work of volunteers.
“It’s great because it’s our interior designers as well as the community of Madison interior designers, which I think is amazing because it’s a great connection point for all of us in that world,” Belgiano said. “And then we work to facilitate the relationship between the nonprofit and their team with all of the designers.”
According to Belgiano, Design for a Difference has gained a lot of traction in the Madison community since its inception 10 years ago.
“A lot of people are looking to give and be a part of the Madison community, and this program just helps us give a chance to those people to join and jump in,” she said. “It’s not difficult to get volunteers and funding, but we always welcome more people who want to join and more funding. We would love to have that.”
Schlough said another makeover benefit is the increased awareness for the Yahara House program and what it does to not only help members but employers looking for labor.
“We’re sometimes referred to as the best kept secret in town,” Schlough said. “So it’s also about bringing attention to our program, to our nonprofit and what we do, and paving the way for folks who are looking to support our type of program where we’re helping people with mental illness reconnect and avoid isolation and get back to work.”
