Home Town: The Colors of Hope

Erin and Ben created this bright, colorful and inviting home, restoring a deteriorating 1930s home in one of Laurel's older neighborhoods. But this project is one that goes beyond merely a home renovation. It's a story with a special human component and one that provides tangible help to individuals in need.

The newly restored and updated home will ultimately serve as transitional housing for women who have children and are transitioning out of rehab. Given the special purpose of this particular restoration, Erin's chosen color palette that relies on soft pastel shades of blues, coral and yellows to create an uplifting feel, both inside and out.

Going beyond the complementary objectives of saving an endangered historic home and enhancing a neighborhood, this particular project will also have a specific charitable purpose and a direct impact on individuals in need. "It won't be a permanent home for anyone," says Erin. "It'll be for people who are trying to find their footing after a really hard time."

Lisa and Mike Cochran (right) established a nonprofit called Dwell that provides transitional housing for women who are coming out of their rehab or prison. "It's just something to help them get started on the right track," says Mike.

The restoration of this home will be part of the mission of the Cochran's charitable non-profit organization and is in line their roots in the community. "I grew up in Laurel," says Lisa. "Been here for 55 years. And as we've seen this community develop, we decided that we wanted to use some of our resources to help revitalize some neighborhoods — and to give back."

Erin shows the Cochran's her sketch of how the renovation would enhance the home's exterior and overall appeal.

Erin and Ben take the Cochran's on a tour to inspect the home and envision what the restoration might include.

Erin works on some of the final staging in the Cochran kitchen — which now boasts a vibrant and cheerful color palette and a modern and functional design.

Ben checks the details on one of the desks he custom-made for the combined kitchen and living space.

The Sherman House was home to William and Jean Sherman who lived here from 1965 to 1990. The home has essentially stood vacant since then. It was built in 1935. It has an interior of 1,800 square feet and includes three bedrooms and one bath. It listed at $25,000.

The exterior restoration included clean-up of the brick, a new porch railing and a new front door in a vintage style in keeping with the home's period. Erin's color palette provides a bright and uplifting feel, incorporating coral, aqua, light blues and light yellows. "These colors, in color psychology, are playful and cheerful," says Erin. "I think that's going be important, especially for the women who are going to be moving in."

The home had been vacant for some years, and demo had been done on some of the rooms prior to Ben and Erin's renovation — including the living room. Though there was much work to be done on the interiors, prior demo did help reduce construction costs.

The wood flooring in the living room gets re-stained and refinished, and the brick fireplace painted in fresh white.

"We focus on making this whole house comforting and cheerful," Erin said, describing the renovation strategy. "Shades of white and light grays, but then come in with color with the furnishings. Keep it kind of feminine and kind of playful."

The living room would require a good bit of work to pull off a thorough facelift, including new treatments for the floor, walls and ceiling."I hate an acoustic tile ceiling," said Erin. "Nothing feels less like home."

The acoustic-tile ceiling was removed and replaced with new sheetrock. The wood floors are restored and the wood trim cleaned up and painted in bright white.

The new living room now boasts freshly stained hardwood floors, custom upholstered chairs, and a custom entry bench built by Ben.

The new kitchen and dining room, which forms the main combined living space fore the home, now features an ornate and colorful wallpaper backsplash, all new fixtures and two custom-built desks made by Ben.

The renovated main bedroom now features freshly painted walls, new window treatments and stained hardwood floors.

Defining new features on the exterior include a new porch railing, refurbished and now-functional windows and a light blue accent color for the upper siding.

"They want to find a house that needs to be saved and a community that's down on its luck," said Ben when he and Erin first took on the Cochran project — referencing it's community-spirited and charitable underpinnings. "It's like a three-fold good story. And I like that."