CHICAGO – June 01, 2006 - This summer, students at the Harrington College of Design will get first hand experience – and school credit – for truly making a "house a home” for a deserving Chicago family. Five Harrington students will be using their interior design skills while interning at Design at Home, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 by Harrington graduates Bree Burkette, Rebecca Scrivener, and the late Maria Bruno. Design at Home works in conjunction with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) and CHAC, a private company created to administer the Chicago Housing Voucher Program, to reward and support Chicago families who have broken the cycle of public housing by purchasing their first home. 

Overwhelmed by the widespread elimination of public housing in Chicago, the founders of Design at Home were eager to help families in easing the transition from public housing to home ownership. "Our education at Harrington stressed the value of interior design for creating comfort in the home,” said Burkette. "We knew we could use our expertise to help families through this difficult social change.” The families benefiting from the efforts of Design at Home are carefully chosen by CHAC, and have put forward an extraordinary amount of effort to obtain their first homes.  

"I am excited to own my own home and I am thrilled that Design At Home is going to renovate the basement,” said Marcia D. (her last name has been omitted due to confidentiality), who has selected this room to be renovated this summer into a more functional and entertaining space.  "I do not think that I could have taken that project on myself.  This is going to be a great place for my family to get together.” 

By allowing the family to choose the room in their home most important to them, Design at Home assures the family will play an active role in the project. After Design at Home presents the family with two proposed designs, the family is able to choose which design fits them best. "By involving the family in decisions right from the beginning, we ensure that this new room will make a real difference in their lives. We want to make sure the family is able to get the greatest amount of satisfaction from the process—and the finished product,” said Scrivener.

While the organization was created with the recipient families in mind, Burkette and Scrivener are thrilled to receive the support of their alma mater and to give back by providing an educational opportunity for today’s Harrington students. Ingrid Fay-Groke, Angela Meskauskas, Kevin Moran, Stanley Rutledge, and Michelle Petersen are the five Harrington student interns working with Design at Home and the Douglas family this summer.

"Having this rare opportunity to work directly with a client as a student is wonderful,” said Petersen.  "It will help me enhance both my interpersonal and interior design skills, while benefiting the community.”

 "I am thrilled to see Harrington students and alumni collaborating on this project to benefit such a worthwhile cause,” said Erik Parks, president of Harrington College of Design.

The "Caribbean-themed” progressive dinner will take place on July 21, 2006, with attendees starting the evening at 5:30 with cocktails at Manifesto, located on Wells Street. The next portion of the dinner will be held at Bulthaup where design boards will be on display to provide a glimpse into the students’ proposed design for this summer’s family, and the night will finish at Lightology. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased prior to the event by sending checks made payable to Design at Home to: Harrington College of Design, 200 West Madison St., 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, attn: Nelson Sears. Additionally, anyone who is unable to attend the event but is interested in supporting the project and the efforts of Design at Home is asked to submit donations, also made payable to Design at Home, to the address listed above.

About Design at Home

Design at Home is a not for profit organization dedicated to rewarding and supporting families who have broken the cycle of public housing and purchased their first home.  Design at Home provides them with interior design services, including designing one room of their new home for them.  This helps these families jump start their new life by creating a deeper sense of ownership and place. 
For more information, call 312-697-8044 or visit www.designathome.org.

About Harrington College of Design

Located at 200 W. Madison St., Harrington College of Design is a four-year college that offers flexible scheduling for a bachelor of fine arts degree in interior design, an associate of applied science degree in interior design or digital photography and a new bachelor of fine arts in communication design. Founded in 1931, the college celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Harrington seeks to foster an environment that maximizes students’ intellectual and artistic potential.  The majority of its faculty are practicing interior designers, architects, photographers and fine art professionals.  Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.  Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).  Harrington is also recognized as a private college by the Illinois Board of Higher Education.  The bachelor of fine arts in interior design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, formerly called Foundation for Interior Designer Education Research (FIDER). 
For more information, call 312.939.4975 or visit www.interiordesign.edu.

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