Good Works Makeover

Affection and affirmation may permeate the air, but St. Helena's decor couldn't escape being budget- and durability-driven. The bland living room—brightened only by photos of the girls, tacked to one wall—was Elaine's challenge

"Group homes and hospitals tend to have the same institutional furniture," concedes St. Helena's program director, Emily Collins. "It's all meant to be functional, not pretty." Out went the industrial carpeting and in came a glistening wood floor, as well as the subtle architectural detailing of new radiator covers and baseboards.