London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 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

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×