Ten years ago, Lakewood neighbor Lisa Robison started refurbishing furniture in her garage to give to families escaping homelessness and poverty. With help from her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and dozens more volunteers, her nonprofit Dwell with Dignity is now celebrating a decade of work designing home interiors where families can thrive.
“When you have a home environment that supports a healthy lifestyle, you don’t want to lose that,” Robison says. “People stay put, and it’s a launching ground for them to project their lives in a positive direction.”
From refurbished furniture to local art and cooking utensils, Dwell with Dignity has supplied more than 130 families with everything they need in their new homes. Interiors are stocked with donated goods, and the overstock is sold at the nonprofit’s annual Thrift Studio fundraiser.
The 30-day pop-up shop will feature showrooms created by local designers and stocked with original work from area artists. All items will be available to purchase at significant discounts from wholesale, with all proceeds going to Dwell with Dignity.
Get a sneak peek of the furniture and artwork for sale from these participating East Dallas artists.
Christi Meril: Color-infused wood
Christi Meril is a self-taught mixed-media artist who works on wood, canvas and paper.
The M Streets neighbor says she strives to create art with purpose through colorful and whimsical pieces. “My goal is for (my art) to inject joy and positive vibes in whatever space it ends up,” she says. “We need more of that these days.” For the Thrift Studio, she will donate color-infused wooden pieces that will appear to float when mounted on a wall.
Meril is also working on pieces that incorporate words and phrasing. One of her favorites is a canvas with the words “Love is Louder” painted in colorful letters on a white background. She painted the piece after talking to a woman who saw the phrase on a slip of paper at the site of the Boston bombing. Her vision came full circle when a Boston designer purchased the canvas.
Eddie Maestri: Vintage Italian lounge
Founded in 2008 by principal architect and owner Eddie Maestri, Maestri Studio specializes in new construction, remodels, historic restorations and interior design. The firm is known for its modern designs with hints of fashion and mid-century inspirations. The Lakewood Hills resident has completed projects in almost every neighborhood, including Lakewood, Forest Hills and Hollywood Heights. “I grew up in New Orleans, and I was drawn to this area because it has an older neighborhood feel, and it seems like a small town,” he says. “It’s eclectic.”
Maestri’s vignette for the Thrift Studio will be a vintage Italian hotel lounge with several cocktail chairs in jewel tones, a curved sofa, colored glass, bold graphics and punches of brass and metals.
Thrift Studio
Snag donated furniture, housewares, accessories and high-end designer finds at the 2019 Thrift Studio.
When: April 5-May 4
Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: 1250 Slocum St. Suite 550
Cost: Free
More info: thriftstudio.com
