November 8, 2004

Riverside, Ca., - Iris Landa, La Sierra University director of advising and orientation, knew that she needed to change the den where she and her husband had spent many happy hours together. After a year of planning she knew that she wanted to create a happy room with her favorite colors—lime green, yellow, orange and red.

In the happy room Landa created she took out old carpeting and painted paneling to match the space. She took existing furniture and painted them in her color scheme and also hand-stitched 5 Thai silk wall hangings. “After each piece I would celebrate,” says Landa. “I would not put anything in the room that did not make me happy. Each toy and book holds meaning for me.”

Iris Landa

“After sharing in Iris' journey in the creation of her happy room, I left for one of my trips to Costa Rica.  When I returned, our bedroom had been painted autumn green, white curtains elegantly hung between our bathroom and the bedroom proper and a watercolor of the Eiffel Tower hung on an empty wall,” says Lourdes Morales-Gudmundsson, La Sierra University chair of the department of modern languages. “All of this courtesy of my husband, Reynir, our daughter, Carmen (she and I had recently returned from a visit to Paris) and her now-husband, James who were inspired by HGTV and Iris Landa's extravagant happy room! After that it was light green for my husband's office and a subtle fuchsia for mine (we're not as brave as Iris!).”

“When Iris showed me her room it struck me how bold it was and how the deep colors reflect her own exuberant spirit,” says Gillian Geraty, wife of Lawrence T. Geraty, president of La Sierra University. “When I redid my room upstairs I made a happy room. I concentrated on the deck and bought a large Daffodil yellow awning, I wrapped the banister in bright fuscia and planted red, pink bougainvillea. It really lifts my spirits and it defines a special place created for creative, thoughtful activity.”

“This was my extreme makeover, before programs on television,” adds Landa. “Students and older friends are so excited and happy to see my space. Children always know to go there. It is a joy to see children so happy there.”

Landa recently gave a presentation entitled “A Journey of Joy: Creating a Sacred Space and a Happy Room” to around 50 people at the Association of Adventist Women’s conference in Berrien Springs, Michigan in October.