A Tree Grows on Webster

I can now say, with a contented sigh, that the work on the Habitat for Humanity houses is (with the exception of one tiny touch-up) complete. The houses have been photographed and are featured in the next AT HOME, in your mailboxes in a mere matter of weeks.

But more work was done than you will see in those pages. After the designers had finished up, word trickled down through the grapevine that a job remained. So, some friends and colleagues of mine headed back to the neighborhood and we finished off Courtney Sims' basement. Bill Croghan, president of Boa Construction, proved to be a man of unbelievable action. After hearing that I was looking for a drywall donation, he buzzed me from the baseball game on a Thursday night asking what needed to be done. On Friday, a Boa crew was there to frame out the basement and put up the drywall. All day Saturday, they finished the basement, while my buddies, a couple of family members and co-workers painted. Not one to be left out of the fun, Bill Croghan was there as well, with his wife, Rhonda, and the oh-so-cool co-worker Mallory Edwards. In fact, he was there both Saturday and Sunday wrapping it up. For the second day, he had nabbed his fine friend, Tony Forsythe (below),

(who brought along his incredibly kind father-in-law, visiting from Mexico and pictured here with Bill). (Photos taken by The Designing Block's Susan Block.)

But there was still yet more coats to be applied so the next day, he quietly sent a dynamic duo of painters to wrap it all up. The finished product is (in a word) FABULOUS. There is now a den in the front, a playroom in the back and a closed off storage area to the side.

And after the building and painting work was complete,  St. Louis magazine's own assistant art director, Danny Elchert, came in and worked his magic on the wall. Six-year-old Mykalah had her heart set on having a rainbow (and a leprechaun, pot of gold and portraits of her family) but was happy with the amazing tree (we all made the leaves, including Mykalah and her brother, Mekale, by coating our hands in paint). Here are both of them, in their brand-new playroom and in front of Danny's art.

But there was still yet more final touches to be done and here is Tom Manche at work. He says they are people out there who would never believe he can be the master of a drill and in this case, hang a headboard.

He can. He did. And here's the proof.