When a Day Care Owner Retired, These Parents Did an Amazing Thing
Watch a California community thank Dina Saari for taking care of its kids by surprising her with a renovated condo
Mitchell Parker
28 September 2018
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Dina Saari spent more than two decades lovingly looking after children at the day care she ran at her home in Mountain View, California. Her warm, caring demeanor — she’d always greet the kids every morning on her knees with open arms — made her seem like a family member to the parents of the children she watched. “It’s like sending them to grandma’s house,” says Jennifer Friedman, who had two of her five kids attend Saari’s Kids for Tomorrow day care.
So when Saari recently announced that she was retiring and downsizing from her home to a two-bedroom condo, a community of about 35 parents who’d sent their kids to Saari over the years got together to surprise her with a renovation of the kitchen, living room and main bedroom, and updates to her master bathroom. “We wanted to make sure her retirement goes smoothly and she’s actually in a home as special to her as her home was to us and our children,” Friedman says.
So when Saari recently announced that she was retiring and downsizing from her home to a two-bedroom condo, a community of about 35 parents who’d sent their kids to Saari over the years got together to surprise her with a renovation of the kitchen, living room and main bedroom, and updates to her master bathroom. “We wanted to make sure her retirement goes smoothly and she’s actually in a home as special to her as her home was to us and our children,” Friedman says.
Photos by Nick Klein
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Dina Saari, a recently retired day care owner
Location: Mountain View, California
Size: 1,037 square feet (96 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Emily Ellis and Jemy Massie of Studio Revolution
Watch now: See more of this surprise makeover for a retired day care owner
Project at a Glance
Who lives here: Dina Saari, a recently retired day care owner
Location: Mountain View, California
Size: 1,037 square feet (96 square meters); two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Designers: Emily Ellis and Jemy Massie of Studio Revolution
Watch now: See more of this surprise makeover for a retired day care owner
The parents let Saari know they wanted to give her something for her new condo, but Saari, pictured here in her newly renovated home, originally thought she’d walk in to find just a new rug or sofa.
Instead, she walked in to newly painted kitchen cabinets; new appliances, countertops and backsplash tile; an updated bathroom; and new furnishings for the living, dining and main bedroom. “I never thought that people would do this for me,” Saari says.
The parents collectively hired designers Emily Ellis and Jemy Massie, whom they found on Houzz, to help determine Saari’s style preferences and tackle the project. Ellis and Massie sat with Saari a couple of times and swiped through photos on the Houzz app.
At that point, Saari still wasn’t aware of the scope of the project, but from those photos, the designers were able to glean what Saari likes and dislikes. They learned, for example, that she prefers a neutral palette but loves the color blue, that she likes midcentury modern-style furniture and that she would love a reclining chair.
Instead, she walked in to newly painted kitchen cabinets; new appliances, countertops and backsplash tile; an updated bathroom; and new furnishings for the living, dining and main bedroom. “I never thought that people would do this for me,” Saari says.
The parents collectively hired designers Emily Ellis and Jemy Massie, whom they found on Houzz, to help determine Saari’s style preferences and tackle the project. Ellis and Massie sat with Saari a couple of times and swiped through photos on the Houzz app.
At that point, Saari still wasn’t aware of the scope of the project, but from those photos, the designers were able to glean what Saari likes and dislikes. They learned, for example, that she prefers a neutral palette but loves the color blue, that she likes midcentury modern-style furniture and that she would love a reclining chair.
That personalized info led the designers to stick to a mostly neutral color palette with pops of blue. The designers bought the furnishings from Houzz, including a vibrant blue sofa and two gray reclining armchairs for the living room.
The walls were originally dark gray. Ellis kept the walls gray, another one of Saari’s favorite colors, but lightened the color several shades to make the home brighter.
A large mirror adds style and helps make the room look bigger.
Reynolds velvet sofa in navy: Mod; Marston recliners in gray tweed: GDF Studio; G-plan walnut coffee table: Design Tree Home; Marcie accent table and Marjanna rug in ivory and silver: Safavieh; Grantola arched mirror: Uttermost; Wickham Gray wall paint: Benjamin Moore
Watch now: See more of this transformation
The walls were originally dark gray. Ellis kept the walls gray, another one of Saari’s favorite colors, but lightened the color several shades to make the home brighter.
A large mirror adds style and helps make the room look bigger.
Reynolds velvet sofa in navy: Mod; Marston recliners in gray tweed: GDF Studio; G-plan walnut coffee table: Design Tree Home; Marcie accent table and Marjanna rug in ivory and silver: Safavieh; Grantola arched mirror: Uttermost; Wickham Gray wall paint: Benjamin Moore
Watch now: See more of this transformation
The designers knew that Saari had enjoyed keeping a garden at her former home, so they made sure to leave plenty of room throughout the condo for Saari’s plants.
Pharmacy floor lamp: Cal Lighting
Pharmacy floor lamp: Cal Lighting
Before: The dark, worn-down kitchen cabinets and the multilevel countertop made the kitchen area look heavy. The designers also were concerned that the step up to the dining area was obscured by the matching flooring materials that continued from the living room.
After: The designers had the cabinets painted white and added more recessed lights and pendants to brighten the kitchen.
They removed the multilevel countertop and replaced it with a single level of white quartz. A new white tile backsplash also helps lighten the room. A pop of blue paint on the peninsula adds color and interest.
Stainless steel appliances replaced the old white ones.
Trinsic collection faucet in champagne bronze: Delta; Urban Renewal collection kitchen pendant light in oil-rubbed bronze: Feiss; Simply White ceiling, trim and cabinet paint and Century collection Blue Muscari accent paint on peninsula: Benjamin Moore
They removed the multilevel countertop and replaced it with a single level of white quartz. A new white tile backsplash also helps lighten the room. A pop of blue paint on the peninsula adds color and interest.
Stainless steel appliances replaced the old white ones.
Trinsic collection faucet in champagne bronze: Delta; Urban Renewal collection kitchen pendant light in oil-rubbed bronze: Feiss; Simply White ceiling, trim and cabinet paint and Century collection Blue Muscari accent paint on peninsula: Benjamin Moore
Ellis noticed that Saari had commented on how much she loved a white-and-gray checkered kitchen floor in one photo she saw on Houzz. Ellis used 12-inch white and gray tile to create a similar pattern and help signify the level change.
Subway tile: via Houzz; Delilah armchairs in platinum: Mod; Standard Excelon Imperial vinyl composition floor tile in Soft Gray and Polar White: Armstrong Flooring
Subway tile: via Houzz; Delilah armchairs in platinum: Mod; Standard Excelon Imperial vinyl composition floor tile in Soft Gray and Polar White: Armstrong Flooring
A tufted-back banquette bench turns the dining area into more of a lounge for Saari.
Montmartre dining bench: Design Tree Home; GroVert living wall kit: Shop Living Walls; curtain panel in Aspen White: Exclusive Fabrics & Furnishings; Cappa curtain rod in brushed black: Umbra
Montmartre dining bench: Design Tree Home; GroVert living wall kit: Shop Living Walls; curtain panel in Aspen White: Exclusive Fabrics & Furnishings; Cappa curtain rod in brushed black: Umbra
The designers painted the fireplace mantel, which had been the same wood tone as the existing kitchen cabinets.
Iron Mountain fireplace paint: Benjamin Moore
Iron Mountain fireplace paint: Benjamin Moore
A new bed, rug, bench, bedding and midcentury-style dresser and nightstand made Saari’s bedroom more comfortable and welcoming.
The designers removed the existing carpet in this room and replaced the flooring with wood that matches the rest of the home.
Kennedy chevron metal bed in black: HomeFare; Diana dresser: Tvilum; Pratt desk lamp: Globe Electric; Evoke rug: Safavieh
The designers removed the existing carpet in this room and replaced the flooring with wood that matches the rest of the home.
Kennedy chevron metal bed in black: HomeFare; Diana dresser: Tvilum; Pratt desk lamp: Globe Electric; Evoke rug: Safavieh
They also updated Saari’s bathroom with a new blue vanity, mirror, sconce, faucet and towel bar.
“She opened her home to us all these years for our kids,” Friedman says. “We wanted to create a home for her that was all about her.”
Kendall vanity in blue and Petra mirror: Mod; Positano faucet in matte gold: Avanity; industrial-style wall sconce in antique brass: Funnelye; Carraway towel bar in brushed brass (seen in mirror reflection): Maykke; Egyptian cotton towel set in white: Blue Nile Mills
“She opened her home to us all these years for our kids,” Friedman says. “We wanted to create a home for her that was all about her.”
Kendall vanity in blue and Petra mirror: Mod; Positano faucet in matte gold: Avanity; industrial-style wall sconce in antique brass: Funnelye; Carraway towel bar in brushed brass (seen in mirror reflection): Maykke; Egyptian cotton towel set in white: Blue Nile Mills
With a completely updated condo, Saari is ready to enjoy her much-earned retirement — in style. “I’m overwhelmed,” she says of her new home. “It’s so beautiful.”
If you hired a pro from Houzz and have an amazing design story to share, reach out to us at casting@houzz.com.
Watch now: See Dina Saari’s tearful reaction to her new home
Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
If you hired a pro from Houzz and have an amazing design story to share, reach out to us at casting@houzz.com.
Watch now: See Dina Saari’s tearful reaction to her new home
Get the look: Shop for products from this makeover
Your turn: Find a professional and get started on your own project
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Amazing
Absolutely lovely, starting with the shared commitment to caring and giving back!
What an awesome group of parents who recognized that Dina was more than a caregiver to their children and wanted to do something to celebrate and thank her.