Shades of Light was chosen as the exclusive provider for lighting for the rescue house by well-know interior designer Christopher Hyland. We are happy to be able to provide the homeowners with this donation. Images to come! Check out the Open House website here.
Ashton Harrison
President
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‘OPENHOUSE NYC,’ WNBC’S PREMIERE DESTINATION FOR ALL THINGS REAL ESTATE & DESIGN, GIVES HOLIDAY MAKEOVER MIRACLE TO SINGLE MOTHER AFTER DEVASTATING FIRE GUTS HER HOME
Renowned Interior Designer, Christopher Hyland, Teams Up with Home Improvement Guru George Oliphant, to Surprise a New Jersey Family with a Whole House Restoration Just in Time for the New Year
‘Open House-To the Rescue’ Airs on WNBC on Sunday, December 20
December 14, 2009—OpenHouse NYC, WNBC’s popular real estate and design series (that regularly outperforms its competition on Sunday mornings), is giving back this holiday season when the program’s home improvement guru, George Oliphant, partners with OpenHouse contributor and prominent Manhattan-based interior designer Christopher Hyland, to create a holiday miracle for one Parsippany, NJ family.
Over 20 local businesses, including lead contractor Stephen Fanuka of Fanuka, Inc., will come together to give Laurie O’Hara and her family what was taken from them just under one year ago—their home. The entire re-build and restoration, from start to finish, will be featured on a special half-hour, OpenHouse– To the Rescue on Sunday, December 20 at 8:30am on WNBC in the New York region, and nationally on all NBC owned and operated stations (check local listings).
On January 24, 2009, while Laurie O’Hara, a paralegal, and her two teenage children were out shopping for a new car to replace the one that was totaled in an accident just days before, a fire started in their laundry room spreading throughout the home’s three levels. The disastrous fire destroyed all of their belongings, including priceless heirlooms, photos and memorabilia. Sadly, one of the family dogs also lost its life to injuries received in the fire. As a single mother with a son away at college and a daughter in high school, the matriarch of the household did all she could to move past the tragedy and rebuild their lives. But when it came time to renovating her home, she needed help. As such, she wrote into OpenHouse asking if they would send host George Oliphant, who lives in nearby Montclair, for a “To the Rescue” shoot. While the popular weekend real estate show did get back to her and offer help, little does she know the extent that they’re stepping in! This holiday season, OpenHouse is giving the gift of rebirth to this deserving family.
“The ‘To the Rescue’ segments are always rewarding,” commented Oliphant. “But this one in particular, really pulls at your heart strings. I can’t wait until the family sees the final product!”
The six-room raised ranch is being outfitted with luxurious interior design elements and architectural detail. After months of work, the master bedroom will be decked out in old Hollywood glam; the kitchen will get an art deco refinishing with bright cabinetry; her son, who is an avid hockey player, will have a room decked out with official NHL paraphernalia; and every room will be wallpapered with varying grass cloth to add opulence and texture. Thanks to OpenHouse, they’ll be able to celebrate the New Year with a fresh start, in home that has been completely transformed by Oliphant and Hyland.
Hyland added: “This family has been through so much, I hope they find comfort and a sense of calm with the new look. Although the home is in the middle of the suburbs, the modern, yet comfortable, design style could live in any upscale setting – from an urban area to a beachside vacation home,”
