Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

Toledo Geller Orchestrates Design Makeovers for Three First Responders

Toledo Geller Orchestrates Design Makeovers for Three First Responders

Here's how an Instagram post ignited a chain of giving back.

As the coronavirus pandemic raged in early spring, Next Wave designers Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller of Toledo Geller, like many of us, were left feeling helpless. And, with many of their design projects put on hold as shutdowns and travel bans were enacted, the duo found themselves with some extra time on their hands. So, they decided to put their talents to good use. "We were seeing all these first responders, and we wanted to do something to help," says Toledo. "And we thought, well, the only thing we're really good at is design. So how can we use that to give back?"

            

To start, Geller and Toledo took to a familiar platform: Instagram. On March 30, they posted a call for first responders deserving a home makeover. Within days the duo was flooded not only with suggestions for deserving recipients, but with other design teams and home retailers who wanted to help in some way. Ultimately, what the duo envisioned as one modest makeover became three projects-one by them and one each by fellow New Jersey design firms Decorated Interiors and JBT Designs-with over $10,000 worth of furniture donated by designer favorite source Ballard Designs, Stark providing rugs, and a slew of other vendors chipping in on furniture, fabric, and more.

"We realized very quickly that we weren't the only ones feeling like there was something to be done," says Geller.

While the team had originally planned to work with items from their inventory, the brand sponsorships allowed them (and the other two design teams) to spec some new furniture specifically for the spaces.

After selecting three recipients, the designers worked with them over the course of the summer to envision their dream spaces and what they needed from them-then oversaw installation this fall.

See the three projects below!

Toledo Geller


                                                                 

                                
Toledo Geller's own client was an ER doctor who had recently moved into a new apartment and-thanks to a demanding work schedule-hadn't really gotten around to decorating it. "It was almost a blank slate," says Junior Designer Janine Colicchio, who worked closely with the client on the project, outfitting her bedroom.

As they do with all clients, Toledo Geller began by sending a style assessment plan to determine the client's likes and dislikes, which laid the foundation for the design. These answers led the team to opt for a peaceful, neutral space.

First, they painted the room in Benjamin Moore's Iceberg, a cool white, then incorporated a bleached white headboard and added texture with a gray dresser and woven accent chair from Ballard.

The result was a bedroom that isn't only fully furnished (finally!) but fully reflects its resident. "In our industry we take this for granted, so when you're able to turn that around it's really incredible," says Toledo. "She was so emotional, just that she had this space and that it was done for her."

Decorated Interiors


                                                        

                                                    

"We wanted to create a space where she could just kick back, relax, and unwind after a long day," says Campbell Minister, founder of Decorated Interiors of the New York City living room she redesigned for an ER nurse.

The anchor of the room is a Ballard sectional covered in a Sunbrella Indigo fabric for a design that is both chic and super durable. "We wanted this to last for the family over time," explains the designer. Along the same lines, she also added a fabric protector to the neutral Stark carpet.

An ottoman provides useful storage space for the family, while a swivel chair covered in donated Stout fabric adds a bit of texture. For the final touch, Minister enlisted GCB Palmer to create a custom art piece that ties together the colors in the room.

"We are so honored to be a part of this and feel lucky we have people like this on the ground helping us get through this crisis," says the designer.

JBT Designs


                                            

                                

For the bedroom of a pediatric ICU doctor and mother of two, JBT Designs principal Jamie Toporovsky created a "peaceful and uplifting bedroom to offer a respite from her stressful workday."

In addition, the designer was tasked with incorporating a work-from-home space that felt more like a home and less like a cold office.

To achieve this, Toporovsky paired a Lulu and Georgia upholstered bed with campaign-style nightstands from Ballard that provide ample storage. A colorful Lulu and Georgia rug lightens up the space, as does the white Ballard desk—which also provides ample storage. A standing mirror and glass table lamps from Ballard finish off the space, which is now a favorite room for the doctor and her family.

"This was a way to show our utmost appreciation for her going above and beyond her call of duty," says Toporovsky of the project.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
×