The Helen House
Mike and Lisa Cochran are two of the most incredible human beings that you will ever meet and have lived in Laurel for a very long time. They do everything with the purpose of restoring the lives of others and their home town little by little....the two just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and to celebrate, they bought an old 1986 airstream to restore. They thought it would be great to use it to travel but also have as an option to temporarily house someone that could be in need. How incredible are they?! That brings us to their journey with Erin, Ben, and the hometown crew. They had a vision to restore a home that would house women coming out of rehab - The Helen House. Lisa named this home after her own mother that died of heart failure just a few days after coming home from a rehab facility. Her vision for the space is beautiful...
"In life God gives us the opportunity to choose how we use our stories and brokenness. Instead of being angry at her for dying...We chose to celebrate her life by helping other women coming out of rehab."
This story on #HGTVHomeTown is one for the record books. The Cochrans knew that this was a very unique project, as they would be renovating with the knowledge that they weren't actually moving into the home themselves. They wanted something that felt warm and inviting - nice, yet not too extravagant. In any normal home, you may look for something with a ton of storage but they were intentional in picking a space that wouldn't leave a ton of empty cabinets for the family moving in, in case that made them feel like they didn't have the means to fill the space for fear this could lead to unnecessary purchases for a family that is starting over. The heart behind every single thought going into this project was intentional.
Erin and Lisa share a love for the intentional and purposeful details so Lisa felt very confident throughout the whole process that Erin would understand and execute her vision perfectly.
"I loved letting go and trusting Erin's vision. ( Lisa). I am one that likes to add special touches to things and I knew Erin would do that as well. I looked forward to all her intentional touches and ideas. For Mike, seeing the house completed and the craftsmanship that we could not personally do was his favorite."
The home is so warm and welcoming. It is also energy efficient. The layout is open to allow the family to function separately but together as well.
"We plan to continue using the home for women in recovery. We know that we are changing the future of the mother and the children living in this home. That drives us daily." - Lisa
Since the completion of their renovation, a mother and her small children have moved into the Helen House. They reported back that they have utilized the desks and table Ben built so often during this past year - they've had lots of learning time from home!
Also for the Cochran family, they also had a unique opportunity to purchase one of the oldest buildings in downtown Laurel and open up another business with purpose called The Remnant. It is an upscale clothing and furniture resale store and the proceeds help continue the Cochran's work in the community.
