In 2007 Terry Grahls, an interior designer, visited a women’s shelter in Michigan. She went through the normal routine for a prospective project, taking “before” pictures, yet felt overwhelmed with the idea of a pro bono shelter makeover. Grahls put the visit in the back of her mind until she developed the pictures and noticed polka dots—her long-time favorite pattern—on a stained pillowcase laid on one of the shelter beds. She took this as a sign and decided to do whatever she could to help re-decorate the shelter. She began looking for sponsors, donors, and volunteers to revitalize the shelter into a beautiful, inspirational place.
The project at the first shelter was so successful that Grahls has continued this kind of work. In January 2009 Grahls’ original design company, Terry’s Enchanted Cottage, officially became Enchanted Makeovers, a nonprofit that redecorates shelters for women and children in Michigan with story-book designs that encourage dreams, possibility and hope for the residents. With a plan in mind, Grahls creates a wish list of supplies that must be donated or sponsored before the refurbishing can take place with the help of volunteers. Everything must be new or handmade, to make it clear to the women that they deserve the best. “They see how hard people work and how they care to take the time to make handmade items for the rooms,” says Grahls.
Grahls’ style is colorful and fun, evoking faraway lands. Through her makeovers, she hopes to evoke a make-believe world and share her way of coping with life’s hardships “which is really creating your own life visually.” In the redone rooms, she hopes the women are not constantly reminded of their difficult situation. “I wanted them to really feel like they have these hidden cottages tucked away in the forest” says Grahls.
