Make-A-Wish Princess Bedroom

Bedroom design by CCS Design Studio Inc., 28 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1020 No. C238, Chicago, IL 60604, (708) 720-0364, www.ccsdesignstudio.com

Through the years, interior designer Cynthia C. Smith has worked on countless projects, each with their own special meaning. Yet, the bedroom makeover for a special little girl named Carmell stays close to Smith’s heart. Partnering with the Illinois chapter of Make a Wish, Smith was approached to volunteer her time to help transform Carmell’s bedroom. Diagnosed with a rare heart defect, the little girl was thrilled at the possibility of getting a bedroom makeover. “Up until this point, this 7-year-old girl was sleeping with her mom,” Smith explains. “However, we were able to come in and transform a storage room into her very own bedroom.”

Partnering with a number of other local companies, Smith worked alongside the little girl to make sure she was given every design detail she desired. “She wanted everything to be pink and purple,” recalls Smith, who finished the project in February of this year. “We gave her a makeup princess area, tall mirrors and a dollhouse built just for her. We wanted to make the space customized to her, so we created pillows with her name and painted her name on the walls.” Storage was also added so everything could neatly be put away at the end of the day. “I watched this little girl’s whole attitude change when she walked into her new bedroom,” concludes Smith (photo of Carmell’s first impression above, inset). “It felt so good to give back, and it was an all-around rewarding experience that I will never forget.”