MMID was honored to design bedrooms and shared spaces for the Ronald McDonald House Stanford as part of the ‘Where Hope Has a Home’ initiative. From the studs out, we created interiors where families can rest, recharge, and focus on what matters most: their loved ones’ care. This project hit especially close to home, not only because I grew up in the Bay Area, but I also received care at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital as a child. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to design these spaces as a small way to give back and help provide peace of mind to parents who are facing some of the hardest moments of their lives. 

The Challenge: A refuge for all in need of care and peace. 

In the Bay Area, we are so lucky to have the amazing care of Stanford Hospital & the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital as an established part of our community. People travel for hours to ensure their loved ones receive the best care possible at these state-of-the-art facilities. However, housing is often a challenge, especially for families with young children receiving treatment for chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

That is where RMHC comes in. They provide affordable housing for the families of children receiving care at LPCH. While a suggested donation is requested to cover expenses, no one is ever turned away for their inability to pay. 

In this RMHCS interior design project, our goal was to create interiors that went beyond beds and walls: they needed to feel like a true refuge. We hoped to lift some of the burdens off the shoulders of these families so they could focus on getting well. 

The Answer: Designing Healing Spaces That Feel Safe and Hopeful

We believe that the atmosphere you live in has a significant impact on your mental health and emotional well-being. Through healing space design, we curate these spaces to promote healing from the trauma that often accompanies medical emergencies and extended visits. By layering cheerful details, selecting calming colors, and sourcing functional furnishings that balance beauty with practicality, we aimed to provide a restorative yet fun atmosphere for these families. 

Every detail was chosen to make families feel seen, supported, and at ease.

The Result: A space for healing and hope.

We made sure guests had everything they would need, from fun wallpaper that encourages play to cozy seats perfect for cuddling and functional furniture that makes it easy to tackle life’s everyday tasks. We also included a bookshelf with diverse books, so everyone could truly feel seen in the pages. Every element was layered with fun details to allow guests to discover something new, even on extended stays. 

Kind words

“Over the past year, Melinda and her team have designed and furnished three peaceful rooms in the new building, completely pro-bono! Her rooms offer a place of healing and hope for families in a turbulent time. From the outset, the goal set by MMID is that these rooms give families going through stressful and physically taxing treatments a sense of home, safety, and hope.” –Rue Daily

Special Thanks To Our Trades & Vendors 

While MMID was proud to provide our services at no cost, it was a significant investment for us emotionally and financially. Our friends, family, and vendors showed up in huge ways to make these gorgeous rooms possible. From donating fixtures to painting and moving furniture, it truly took a village. 

Special thanks to our vendors and sponsors…

Baker Furniture McGuire FurnitureMakeLikeDunn Edwards Paints Sonneman Light All Natural Stone Granite & Fine Tile Katy Skelton Valet Custom Sun Valley Bronze Riitta Herwitz Mark Albrecht Studio Chairish Allison Hennessy Modern Resale Black Crow Studios ugallery Vahe Yeremyan JD Staronde sousa hughes  Romo Kravet Lee Jofa Kravet San Francisco Fabricut

Serena & Lily Chairish Michelle Morin Katie Vernon Art & Illustration Botanical Gluttony Serena & Lily Baker/McGuire de sousa hughes JD Staron Riitta Herwitz Sonneman Light Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets

Sun Valley Bronze (AMAZING closet hardware!)  Dunn Edwards Paints All Natural Stone in San Jose Sonneman Light  Vintage Bath House of Rohl Cambria Toto Brown House Design @laughingglass Adair Design Group The Nail Bar Grace Silicon Valley Fabricut Robert Allen Design Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams  Visual Comfort & Co

And an even bigger thank you goes out to all of the volunteers, friends, and families who donated their time, sweat, and tears to bring this wonderful project together. 

If you’d like to learn more or donate to RMHCS, you can visit their website. You can also check out in-depth stories on our Instagram and search the #RMHStanfordbyMMID. Rue Magazine was so kind as to cover the project and bring more awareness to the work being done to support families with this story, which you can read HERE. 

Want to learn more about our healing spaces design philosophy? Explore the MMID Journal for project stories, client testimonials, and design insights.