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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 8, 2001
Here is Patricia Conklin's prize-winning essay:
Why does my house need a "Drab to Fab" makeover? One word: beige! Five years ago I bought my house from the estate of my deceased, elderly great-aunt and uncle. The exterior is beige and the interior is beige. When I tore up the carpet to accommodate my wheelchair-bound foster child, I was greeted by a terrazzo floor that was, yes, you guessed right . . . beige! The only colors in my house are the crayon marks on my walls left by the various foster children who have resided with my daughter and me over the years. Much of the furniture came with the house. I actually own a davenport (it's like a couch if you're too young to know what one is). I'm a single mom and I make my living doing medical foster care. Finding the funds, time and help to do home projects is a real challenge. I am desperate to make some upgrades to my overwhelmingly beige habitat. I need help! Sometimes I have trouble finding the kids because they blend in with the walls. A makeover would be a blessing to this family.