2019 Design Challenge

10/3/2019

[The Reveal]

What happens when you take 10 local designers, split them into three teams, give each team an empty apartment at Pioneer Place, $500 in cash, and 24 hours to create a beautiful space?

Down Home, 2019 Design Challenge, Midwest Nest Magazine

Glorious designs for a great cause. In our second annual Midwest Nest Design Challenge, each team competed, everyone voted, and while one team may have taken home the coveted trophy, it was local non-profit, Down Home who took home all the furnishings to help local families in their transition from homeless shelters to homes.

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Host with the Most!

When we choose a Design Challenge location, we like to get feet in the door at places that are sure to impress, like Epic Management's Pioneer Place. With the revitalization of West Fargo's Downtown Sheyenne Street, their luxury apartments and rooftop patio were the perfect backdrop for this year's challenge!

Design Challenge Rules

This year, 10 designers were randomly placed into three teams, and each team was asked to create their most spectacular dining room design, plus a welcome basket intended for Down Home families. With $500 in cash from Midwest Nest and their Team Sponsor, Rigel's Appliance, designers got ready to wow us, and hit the streets asking local vendors to contribute. Midway through the contest, with furniture donations far exceeding expectations, they chose to extend their designs into the living room. This meant even more work for the designers, but also, a lot more donations for Down Home!

Thank you to our Team Sponsor, Rigel's Appliance, and our Down Home Family Sponsors - Carpet World, Home Builders Association of F-M, McNeal & Friends who donated welcome baskets, $150 in cash or $150 in gift cards to Down Home!

Special Thanks to the Dining Table & Chair Donors!
Furniture for Less
Hom Furniture
Wayfair
Eco Chic Home

Grateful by the Crateful!

Thank you to Grateful Cratefulls of West Fargo for helping gift the 10 designers with beautiful baskets to show our gratitude for donating their time and talents to this year's Design Challenge!

TEAM COLOR CRUSH

Kari Langsdorf Rasmus, Designingwomen2
Leah Martin, SCHEELS Home & Hardware
Lindsey Christie, Lindsey Grace Interiors

"The driving force behind all decisions was the fabric chosen for the tablecloth (donated by Stout) and grey hues of the dining set donated by Furniture for Less. It was a freewheeling, creative process with all design contributions considered. The result was a collaborative, respectful, imaginative and original design."

Kari Langsdorf Rasmus, Designingwomen2

"As each choice was made, we continued to think of the client. The gift basket was filled with useful items to help a family create a new home; bath towels, hot mitts, toilet paper, light bulbs…the list of practical items goes on.

In addition, we considered the children in our selections. We hope the child who receives our teepee can lay down on the sheepskin rug, look at the twinkling lights, feel safe and dream of all that is possible in life."

Kari Langsdorf Rasmus, Designingwomen2

"It was fun and exciting for us strangers to come together and work as a team to support Down Home. Our design plan was to pull together a rustic modern space to complement the architecture. We looked for pieces with lots of texture and colors of blue, gray and mustard. We were proud of the fun and beautiful space we pulled together, and couldn't be more grateful that families in need will get to enjoy all these comforts in their new homes soon."

Leah Martin, Interior Designer - SCHEELS Home & Hardware

TEAM COLOR CRUSH: DONATIONS & VENDORS

Furniture for Less - Dining table & four chairs
SCHEELS Home & Hardware - Two accent chairs
Designingwomen2 - Two dining chairs, cash for thrifting, supplies & artwork
Stout Fabrics - Tablecloth
Jen's Bakery - Cookie dough
Beagle Books of Park Rapids
Original skull art – Kate Baldock Art
Floral arrangements - Sadie Events and Floral
Leah Martin – Decorative items, chargers, side table & rug
Lindsey Christie – Mirror, candles, candlesticks, & many items for the welcome basket
Kari Rasmus – Cookbooks, teepee, art, Rourke pottery, vintage glassware, wooden table runner, floor lamp, glass vases, & throw blanket
Additional decor - HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby, Tuesday Morning

TEAM MMA:

Maria Bosak, Eco Chic Home
Melanie Iverson, Mosaic Design + Build
Amanda Rydell, The White House Co.

"It was such a fun day getting to reconnect with other local designers. We are always so busy with our own projects we don’t get time to spend together. The creative energy bubbles over and the end result is so fun to see. Then to top it all off, a great charity is supported."
Maria Bosak, Eco Chic Home

TEAM MMA DONATIONS & VENDORS

Eco Chic Home - Table & chair donation
White House Co. - Velvet chair & decor donation
Mosaic Design + Build - Rug, lamp & decor donation

And The Winner Is...

TEAM QUAD SQUAD

Monica Hart, Monica Hart Interior Design
Katie Sullivan, Pretty Domesticated
Kendra Steffes, McNeal & Friends
Trever Hill, Trever Hill Design

"I was so honored to be a part of the design challenge. As soon as the teams were drawn, we began meeting and had so much fun planning and collaborating! We were fortunate to have many generous donors/donations. Not only did we laugh a lot, enjoy our time together doing a little designing, but the fact that everything would be donated to Down Home made every minute so worth it."

Monica Hart, Monica Hart Interior Design

"It was a ton of fun working alongside other designers in the challenge. It was great to team up and create beautiful spaces for such a special cause. The highlight of the competition was knowing that no matter who took home the winning prize, all furniture and accessories were donated to an amazing organization to provide families with a functioning home. Keeping this in mind, it motivated us to go above and beyond and donate everything a family would need to feel at home."

Kendra Steffes, McNeal & Friends'

TEAM QUAD SQUAD: DONATIONS & VENDORS

Wayfair - Dining table
Hom Furniture - Chairs
McNeal & Friends - Welcome basket
Katie Sullivan, Pretty Domesticated - Sofa & decor
Loloi - Living room rug
Boutique Rugs - Dining room rug
Cait Courneya - Abstract art
McGee & Company - Accent pillows
Trever Hill Design - Tree & chair
The Historic Union - Console table
Shelly Neal - Love Always Floral arrangement
Additional decor donations by Monica & Phil Hart and Kendra Steffes

From Down Home's Director, Jenessa Fillipi

Down Home, Design Challenge, Midwest Nest Magazine

"Midwest Nest’s Design Challenge is truly a highlight for Down Home. This year, we marveled at the talent of the design teams and their ability to fiercely work together to transform empty spaces into awe-inspiring dining and gathering oasis’ - fresh flowers, dainty dishes, puffy pillows, comfy chairs, Down Home decor and “painted the night before” masterpieces! At Down Home, we know the power of the environment in which we live, and we recognize the value we each feel when a space is created with the dignity of the person in mind. The basic necessities of a table and couch are lovely, yet they become magical when pillows, blankets, dishes, silverware, and décor appear."

"A humble thank you to Midwest Nest, and all the designers, sponsors, and donors for their generosity. Over the next year, we cannot wait to use the items from the Design Challenge to transform 30 more empty spaces into comfortable homes for families transitioning from homelessness into housing in our community. Thank you for being a part of the Down Home story."

For more information on how you can help, contact:

Down Home | Jenessa Fillipi