What started as a plan to get a new couch and a few chairs for the Lakeway Activity Center ended as a fully redesigned space that annually serves tens of thousands of residents.

From new floors to wheelchair-accessible doors to multiple art pieces, the new additions to the Lakeway Activity Center elicited excited gasps when the new look debuted at the beginning of the year, according to Dallas Gorman, program coordinator of the activity center.

"It's always been functional, but now it's feng shui-able," she said of the activity center.

The Lakeway Activity Center is a multi-use facility owned and operated by the City of Lakeway that holds social, civic and recreational activities, according to the city's website. The center holds activities that are typically cheaper than at other locations for all ages.

Gorman originally planned to buy a leather couch and chair for the front lobby with $5,000 she had for facility improvements. But that plan drastically changed after she asked for advice from Sharon Miller, the owner of Calming Spaces Interiors, Design and Remodeling who teaches a class at the activity center.

Miller told Gorman that she could make the $5,000 go further than just a couch and chair. With help from donations from suppliers Miller works with, the redesign effort spread throughout the entire front lobby and front bathrooms with consignment furniture, new granite, window treatments, light fixtures and artwork from Miller's design team.

The Greater Lakeway Residents Association donated flooring for the main ballroom and ceiling fans for the covered patio.

"It's kind of a design virus," Miller said. "Once you get one room looking really good, then all the rooms around it don't look so good."

Miller, Gorman and their team did improvements such as painting the walls and bringing in art pieces in phases so residents wouldn't be shocked with all the updates at once. The activity center then closed to the public from Dec. 16, 2011, to Jan. 1 to implement the major updates.

"Having lived out here for 23 years, I know people don't like change very much," Miller said.

Miller said she wanted to redesign the center's lobby to look like an upscale hotel lobby.

The lobby now has a significantly greater amount of seating space, which Gorman said is useful on many occasions.

Pat Smith, a Lakeway resident who has been going to the activity center for 15 years, said the new decorations took her breath away.

"It is warm and inviting and very upbeat and has beautiful artwork," she said. "It's just an incredible transformation. They've done a fabulous job."

Going forward, Gorman said she would like to make improvements to the activity center's gazebo area. She said she is hoping to reinstate the arts and crafts show at the center if the City Council approves.

"The really special thing about this facility isn't the building or the new decorations but the people in it," Gorman said. "It is truly a wonderful place filled with wonderful folks and great memories and exciting times ahead in the future."

Upcoming classes

• Art Night Out – The class teaches students the techniques of famous artists. Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. $25 member, $35 nonmember
• Getting Paid to Talk – The class teaches students about voiceover work for TV, film, radio, audio books, documentaries and Internet work in the area. March 5, 6:30 p.m. $30 member, $35 nonmember
• Chair Yoga With Barbara – The series of four classes is a more laid-back yoga class of modified yoga postures and breathing practices. March 5–26, 9 a.m. $40 members, $45 nonmembers
• Do It Yourself Interior Design – The class, taught by Sharon Miller, teaches students how to create their own harmonious spatial environment for work or home. March 24 and 31, 1 p.m. $95 member, $110 nonmember