04/22/2026
A few months ago, we put out a call across multiple platforms looking for a child in need of a bedroom makeover—courtesy of DFX Painting.
Our goal was simple: find a deserving kid who could use a fresh, safe space to call their own.
What happened next… we weren’t fully prepared for.
Almost instantly, we were flooded with comments, messages, and texts. In total, 29 incredible kids were nominated—each with their own story.
That’s when two things became very clear:
1. This was something our community truly needed.
2. This was going to be much bigger—and much harder—than we ever imagined.
We kept nominations open for two weeks. After that, I sat down and wrote out every single name, along with a brief summary of their story and what they were hoping for.
To be honest… it was heavy.
Stories of families overcoming homelessness, kids battling cancer, parents lost far too soon. Some of them were so heartbreaking I had to step away just to regroup.
There was no way I could make this decision alone, so I brought in my team to help.
One story stood out to almost all of us.
A young girl named Annmarie had recently lost her older brother, Ray, to a fentanyl overdose. She had been staying in his room—almost exactly how he left it.
When we met Annmarie, her smile said everything.
She’s been through more than most, but she still carries this light about her. That kind of strength… we connect with that deeply at DFX Painting.
So we got to work.
We transformed her space into a modern rocker-chic bedroom, featuring a custom kaleidoscope accent wall (had to have a little fun with that one).
She’s a huge fan of The Weeknd, so we added a few personal touches inspired by him, along with upgraded LED lighting to bring the whole room together.
And to honor her brother Ray, we left a piece of his original paintwork on the window trim.
Now, every time she looks outside, there’s still a little piece of him shining back at her.
