On her 13th birthday, Karen Kulberg opened her bedroom door to reveal an enchanted world. Vibrant red and white striped wallpaper adorned the walls, while a crimson dormer boldly framed the window. An enormous, red grosgrain ribbon topped a red-and-white-skirted antique vanity, filling her with girlish delight. This colorful, cheery space was the room of her dreams.
To her gleeful surprise, Kulberg’s parents had swiftly and exquisitely redecorated her old, drab room while she was at school. She never forgot how loved and special the new room made her feel or how proud her parents were of their creation. “I saw the joy in their eyes too,” she recalls.
Her vivid memory of this day still burned bright in December of 2020 when the first anniversary of her mother’s death found her reminiscing. An idea blossomed in her mind. Wouldn’t it be great to create this same magic for kids facing hardships? A seacoast realtor since 2002, Kulberg had long searched for a way to give back. At last, she found her answer.
In 2021, Kulberg started Room for Love (RFL), a nonprofit dedicated to making over bedrooms for needy kids ages 6-16. The organization helps children from families facing economic hardship, homelessness, substance abuse, and health challenges. RFL collaborates with nonprofit sponsors like Big Brothers Big Sisters and New Generation, who nominate children for makeovers.
These makeovers provide much more than a beautiful room. They enrich these kids’ lives, improving health and healing and boosting confidence. For Kulberg, her drab childhood bedroom made her self-conscious. She didn’t invite friends over, which left her feeling isolated. “These kids feel the same way,” she says. “They are embarrassed by their room, but after the makeover, they stand a little taller.” Parents notice that their kids behave better at home and their grades improve. “It really impacts the whole family and community,” Kulberg says.
Room for Love provides four to six room makeovers a year, but the eventual goal is one per month. Kulberg’s core group of volunteers includes designers, organizers, painters, carpenters, and a junk remover—all donating their time and products.
The makeovers start with designers and organizers meeting with the child and caregiver to learn how they envision using their room, favorite colors, and what they’re into. The objective is to create a space that reflects the child’s personality and provides a haven where they feel secure. The transformed room gives them pride, joy, and a new outlook on life.
For 7-year-old Luna of Dover, the younger sister of a 2023 makeover recipient, it was finally her turn. Luna’s dejected expression didn’t go unnoticed during her brother’s room reveal. Four weeks later, RFL unveiled a beautiful pink space complete with a full-sized bed and vanity. “She was thrilled,” Kulberg says, smiling. “She felt seen and loved.”
Braelyn, a terminally ill 13-year-old from Hampton, needed a room that accommodated her mobility, sight, and hearing limitations. Her renovated room included organizing containers for toys and special room lighting to dispel frightening shadows. Volunteers painted her favorite character on the wall, an image the joyous Braelyn pointed at excitedly during the reveal. “The new room has made such a difference in her life and her mom’s,” says Kulberg.
The biggest challenge of these makeovers is keeping the child and family out of the room during the 4-5 days of remodeling. When finished, photographer Greg West captures the big moment on video, and it is always memorable. “The kids are overwhelmed and speechless at first,” says Kulberg. “They can’t believe it’s happening. The whole experience is bathed in light and love.”
Rooms for Love | roomsforlove.net
These local businesses are longtime supporters of Rooms for Love: Dover Honda and Chevrolet, Bryant Paving, Heather Nadeau Interior Design, Home Setup by Sarah Eaves, New England Pickers, Studio 333, Bridges Bros Movers, Coastal MI-BOX, Rothrock Kitchen & Bath, Feng Shui Lifestyle, Tyler McAniff Painting, and Greg West Photography.