Daughter remodels room into showcase for aviator dad

Photo by Adam Testa

In this May 7, 2014 photo, a collection of military patches and medals is displayed in Carbondale, Ill., in Tom Engram's study, a room his daughter established to showcase his historic memorabilia and for him to work on art projects. Her father, retired Lt. Col. Thomas B. Engram, trained in B-25s and was a pilot and member of B-24 units that drew 36 missions, dropping explosives in Japanese harbors during the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. (AP Photo/The Southern, Adam Testa)

CARBONDALE, Ill. Cheryl Francis has taken a cluttered, outdated room in her fathers house and transformed it into a showcase where he can relive his World War II service aboard bombers.

I thought about this for a long time. I wanted to transform the space so he would have things around him his accomplishments and awards, his paintings, computer space and book cases, Francis said about the 10-by-12 room.

Her father, retired Lt. Col. Thomas B. Engram, trained in B-25s and was a pilot and member of B-24 units that drew 36 missions, dropping explosives in Japanese harbors during the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II.

She had the entire space gutted and did the remodeling by phases with some of the work done by private contractors.

New carpet was installed. Walls got sanded and repainted. Francis wanted to highlight a new room layout around a special feature a window.

This is very serene. The window looks out on the backyard, she said.

In addition to getting the floor plan organized and the various items in place, such as her fathers history books in new cases, Francis applied her creative touch as an educated interior designer.

She had track lighting and new file cabinets installed. Family furniture got refinished.

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Daughter remodels room into showcase for aviator dad