If you have stopped by lately or had recently joined us at the Spaghetti Supper, you will have noticed our beautiful new front lobby. It is beautiful indeed, but the story behind it even more so.
We are the recipients of this grand new entrance designed by a wonderful person named Bob Nowicki. Bob and his wonderful wife Bernice were Interior designers and had their own Interior Design Company in Kenwood for 25 years. Bob felt called to The Little Sisters of the Poor to serve and joined us as a Volunteer of the Home about three years ago. During this time, he saw the need to update the Lobby for the Little Sisters. He felt the existing Lobby contained unrelated furniture, lack of a color scheme, and resulted in a confusing atmosphere.
He presented Mother Francis with a few sketches of what could be done and this interested Mother Francis. He created two possible solutions in design, colors, and atmosphere. Mother Francis and the staff were thrilled with the ideas.
His goal was to have an entrance that was welcoming and soothing, and that the furnishings would have nothing to do with today’s trends and feel very comfortable for visitors, Residents, and future Residents. The color scheme is sedate compared to current wild color schemes. The room will be timeless forever.
The furnishings vary from an antique chest to reproduced French chairs and modern touches in upholstered furniture. Some of the furniture may look like it came from a religious background.
Bob also shared his gift as a painter. God gives him the picture, whether realistic or abstract and Bob can visual, conceptualize, and paint it with wondrous ease.
Bob created two panels that flank the antique picture of our Mother House in France. While his paintings are titled “Windows of Clifton”, they were done to repeat the color scheme. If you look intently at his paintings, you see the gold crosses throughout, like the different church steeples that the Residents see out their own windows.
I often here the Residents say, “We live at The Little Sisters of the Poor, but we don’t feel poor at all.” And they never should, because the Lord always provides.
Thank you Bob Nowicki for making the front lobby feel like we have arrived home and a warm place that makes us want to stay and visit for a while.
“Give us the house – if God fills it, God will not abandon it!”
“We must always say: ‘Blessed be God. Thank you, my God. Glory be to God.’” St. Jeanne Jugan
A Place Like Home