Mission Statement
We believe that everyone deserves a happy, well-designed space in their home. At One Room Wonders, we donate our talents and expertise to transform one room in the home of deserving individuals. Our goal is to create one of a kind spaces that positively impact lives, enhance well being and spark joy through the art of design.
Our Team
The idea for One Room Wonders developed during a time when the collective world was put on hold, dealing with a pandemic. It was during this time that, Founder, Sara Touijer, self-reflected and started asking the question: “How can one contribute and give back during such an unstable time, utilizing your crafts, talents and expertise?”
After assembling her team of individuals who share a common love of interior design and come from different professional backgrounds, they set to work at transforming spaces for deserving individuals. Combined with a strong desire to give back, they work towards a common goal of designing 1 room in the home of a deserving person.
It has been proven that a transformed interior -- whether a home or office -- positively affects a person’s happiness, energy level, productivity, and physical health. We believe that creativity and positivity breed happiness and success. It feels great helping others and we have fun doing it!
FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sara Touijer
One Room Wonders started as a small idea, rooted in the belief that interior design can have transformative effects on a person’s well-being and health. As the Founder and Executive Director, Sara Touijer oversees the operations of the foundation and its professional staff. She leads all operational efforts to build lasting relationships that recruit new sponsors and funding sources, manage sales and revenue as well as strategic planning for future growth.
Sara received her Interior Design degree from The Fashion Institute of Technology and is the owner of Touijer Designs, a design studio in Westchester county. Sara has participated in several charity showhouses in New York, using her creative talents to transform spaces. Her work has been featured in acclaimed publications and featured on several media outlets.
Sara is a member of the Architectural Review Board for the town of Harrison, New York. She is also Vice President of Education for the local Toastmasters chapter: Speakers With Authority.
CHAIRMAN
Bjorn Bjornsson
As Chairman of the Board, Bjorn Bjornsson's primary goal is to ensure that the board is effective in its task of setting and implementing One Room Wonders Foundation with a clear direction and strategy.
Bjorn Bjornsson is one of the United States and Scandinavia’s most renowned and successful interior designers. Born and raised in Iceland, he was educated in Denmark where he received his Masters's degree in Architecture/Interior Design at Copenhagen’s Fredriks-berg Technical School of Interior Architects. With more than 30 years of experience Bjorn has designed luxurious hotels and residences throughout the world.
He has distinguished himself as an elegant and sophisticated designer who responds to his client’s needs to create a home in which the client can call his own. Bjorn enjoys working in a range of styles including contemporary, traditional, modern and/or transitional.
Bjorn’s work has been featured in many acclaimed publications such as Architecture of Denmark, European House, Florida Design, Garden Magazine, The Icelandic House Beautiful, and The New York Times. He has also been interviewed by several media throughout the world. Bjorn is a former president of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) as well as AIA and has worked with multiple charities such as Kips Bay, Holiday House, Design on a Dime, the Phoenix House and the Altos De Chavon School in the Dominican Republic.
George Oliphant
George Oliphant is the popular Emmy award-winning host of NBC’s "George to the Rescue," a weekly national home improvement show. Oliphant and his team of contractors and interior designers travel the nation rescuing the homes of deserving people.
The warm and bubbly Oliphant said he got his start as a touring children's theater actor. He launched his TV career as a veejay for MTVu, MTV's college music channel, and then on MHD, MTV's first high-definition music channel. Eventually, he began working on an NBC show called "Open House to the Rescue", which led to "George to the Rescue". The show started out in New York, but has been picked up by NBC stations across the map. Each week, Oliphant and his crew set out to change lives by "rescuing" the homes of people in need.
Usha Saxena
Alka Jain Goyal
What We Do
- Our organization stands out in the interior design community as being a philanthropic organization, donating expertise, time, and furnishings in order to complete the design of 1 room in the home of the selected individual.
- Our vision is to bring our love of interior design into the homes of those who could not afford to do so themselves.
- 1 room in the home of a nominated/selected individual will be redesigned to accommodate a design need.
- A budget will be determined, based on the overall design and necessary items in order to fully style/furnish the space. The cost to cover the design items will either be funded with monetary or in-kind donations
- Our social impact with this organization is to help individuals who are unable to afford the luxury of interior design. The gift of a professionally designed space has the potential to impact deserving individuals in a positive way by affecting their well-being and attitude.