Lounge Makeover

BayouLife Magazine partnered with Progessive Bank to makeover the teacher’s lounge at Good Hope Middle School. With the help of local vendors, this lounge was transformed into a retreat perfect for a tranquil break from the bustle of day-to-day school activities. BY CASSIE LIVINGSTON  |  STYLED BY TAYLOR BENNETT  | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

There’s nothing I love more than a makeover – I could watch HGTV all day long. So when the opportunity presented to makeover a local teacher’s lounge in this month’s issue, Taylor Bennett and I jumped on it. As the daughter of a retired educator, I understand the personal and financial sacrifices that teachers make to provide their classrooms and students with the best opportunities. 

We reached out to local schools to submit their wish list for a teacher’s lounge makeover. The thought was to provide teachers with a place to unwind during lunch, or take a quick break. We also wanted to create a beautiful space to gather to celebrate achievements and milestones among the staff. We approached Progressive Bank to help partner with this makeover, and they graciously obliged. 

Most of the furnishings that were in the space were donated to the school and just needed to be updated. This was the application that Garrah Rankin, Curriculum Coordinator at Good Hope Middle School, sent: “I have had the pleasure of calling Good Hope Middle School home the last 17 ears. The 2022-23 school year is extra special for us as we will be celebrating our 20th year of serving the families in our community. It is also unique for us in that we will have seven new members join our staff family in the wake of a tumultuous three years. I have been working to refresh our school throughout the summer so that this beginning to our 21st year would be just as promising as our first. With very little funds to work with, the gift of a lounge makeover would be such a blessing to us. The Good Hope family has a long standing tradition of cultivating meaningful relationships among staff and the families of our students. I see this lounge as a place for our staff to bond, make memories, and collaborate. It is the heart of our school home, and I believe that it should be as warm and vibrant as those who have the pleasure or working and learning at Good Hope. I would love to see more up to date, comfortable seating. A large table would be nice. We love to share meals and lots of laughs together! We could also use a new refrigerator. Our current refrigerator has no handle, and it can prove quite tricky to open. It, like many other pieces in our lounge, may actually be original to the school. So, before we begin this year of recalling our school’s rich history, reuniting with former Colonels, and forming lasting friendships with current members of our staff and student body, nothing would be more meaningful than honoring this school we call home by having you help us “feather our nest” and bring it into the next 20 years! Thank you so much for considering us. Taylor Bennett chose an accent wall in Hale Navy and a neutral color, White Dove, to use on the remaining walls.

Painter Leo Gonzalez transformed the space with donated Benjamin Moore paints from Harrison Paint Co. A coffee station was created with a beautiful wood table donated from Walsworth & Co and black and white floral artwork from Material Things. In the sitting area, a large sectional from Ivan Smith Furniture pairs with a custom art piece from Lissy Compton. A private donor supplied the refrigerator, while Palette House and Plume offered hand soap and an abstract art piece from Margaret Moses. Progressive Bank and BayouLife Magazine partnered to provide florals from Fine Folks, rugs, an extended table and chairs, pillows, a coffee table and numerous accessories to complete the space.