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This story originally appeared in MSPCC’s 2025 Impact Report. To read the full report, click here.
When Mike Wilson moved from a studio to a two-bedroom apartment, he did so with one primary goal in mind: having enough space to meet the requirements for becoming a foster parent. He achieved his goal and was a placement for several children. Then, in June of 2025, Mike welcomed five-year-old Luke* and three-year-old Hannah* into his home for a long-term foster placement.
As Luke and Hannah settled in, Mike, a social worker, was determined to ensure they felt safe and supported and were able to enjoy all the fun that should come with childhood. Through MSPCC’s Kid’s Net program, which provides support to foster caregivers, the family has participated in events like back-to-school celebrations and holiday light shows and has worked with a Foster Care Specialist. Mike says, “MSPCC provides such great opportunities for our family, and the support we’ve received has made this transition that much easier.”
Mike worked hard to ensure his home was a safe, welcoming place and that Luke and Hannah felt happy and supported, but he knew their shared bedroom could use some creative flair. “I made sure the room was nice and clean, with all the necessary furniture and brand-new mattresses,” he says, “but it didn’t feel very personal. I hadn’t even had a chance to find anything to put on the walls.” Enter IA Interior Architects! For the past several years, the team at IA has generously provided an MSPCC family with a custom room redesign to make sure that kids have a space that genuinely feels like their own.
Mike’s first request to the IA team was that the room be a place where the kids could truly be kids. “I wanted the room to be a fun, safe place for them to kind of go wild,” he says. “No nice glass frames or shelves on the wall, for example, because they love to do things like play pickleball and jump on the bed. I also shared that both kids love things that have their name on them.” Beyond that, he says, he trusted the team to use their expertise to design a space the children would love.
The IA team quickly got to work, creating vision boards and working with Mike to design something that worked for his family. “We listened carefully to both Mike and the kids around practical needs and imaginative wants,” said MSPCC Board Chair and IA Managing Principal Reetika Vijay. “We then custom-curated a bedroom experience to satisfy both.” The end result: a bedroom with whimsical art on the walls, easily accessible storage for toys and books, and, of course, plenty of space to play.
Luke and Hannah are now thriving in their new space. They have dance parties with their new disco ball, lounge on customized pillows with their names on them, and keep their toys organized. Mike says, “Their sweet little brains can’t quite comprehend why they received this bedroom redesign, but I keep emphasizing how amazing they are and telling them some really nice people wanted to do something special for them.”
Reetika commented, “A place of their own does so much for children. It is a solid launchpoint for development, provides a safe haven, and an affirmation of personal identity. We were so thrilled with the delight on these young children’s faces.”
*names changed for privacy
