Having her own business has been a successful enterprise for Belita Schindler of Belita's Commercial and Residential Interiors located at 211 Second St. NW. She has one full time employer, Donna Madison. Schindler has several sub contractors she hires out to help with her work.

"Donna holds down the fort for me," Schindler said.

Austin has been good for Schindler's business. She doesn't advertise except for having her business listed in the phone book. She is involved in several civic organizations and with her interior design business she has been able to lend her time and energy to help different groups with getting projects done for cost.

"That's one of the cool things we can do. When we help the groups we are involved with interior work, we have been able to get the material for cost. This really helps out and saves a tremendous amount of money for these projects," Schindler said.

At the Historic Paramount Theater, Schindler has been involved with the restoration. Through research and talking to life-long residents of Austin, the Paramount committee narrowed down the color of the original carpeting of the theater.

"We had a photo of the a carpet and over and over we were told that the original carpet was burgundy. Gene Slowinski will be laying the carpet at the Paramount," Schindler said.

The inner doors to the theater had heavy drapes that were tied back with gold tassels. Schindler has gotten these at cost for the theater. Her eyes light up when she talks about the details and colors that will be the finishing touches of the vintage theater.

Schindler recently resigned from the Austin Public Library Board after 10 years of service. She quotes former Mayor John O'Rourke in saying, "To give 10 years of dedication to an organization. I think that it is a good idea to get new blood and ideas in a group so that it doesn't stagnate."

One of the favorite projects that Schindler has been involved with is providing flooring for the Habitat for Humanity Houses. The families come in and choose their flooring from a pre-selected price range. This is exciting for all those involved.

"Sometimes the whole family comes in. We have had over a half dozen families choose their flooring. The mom always comes in. Keith Barnes was the driving force behind me becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity. He called me up and asked if I could help. This is a great program," Schindler said.

Being a member of St. Augustine's Catholic Church is an important aspect of Schindler's life. She has played the organ at church for 30 years. She started to play the organ in Fargo, N.D., at her home parish when she was 13.

"I was scared to death the first time I played at church. It was a small parish and everyone had an opportunity to get involved. The organist at St. A's chooses the music that will be sung. Father Nelson is very supportive of this as he says he is not musically inclined," Schindler said.

The carpeting at St. Augustine's was purchased for cost through Belita's. Schindler did all the measuring of the carpeting. She is seldom with out her tape measure and paper and pen writing down numbers and calculating them.

"It takes time measuring each little nook. We come back and put the measurements on graph paper. We know where each swatch of carpeting will go," Schindler said. Her favorite tool is her battery-operated hand drill and she always keeps it handy.

Besides sharing her knowledge of interior design with organizations, Schindler has been host to exchange students. This year she has a young woman from Paraguay. Her husband is Dr. Richard Schindler and he has had resident physician assistants stay with them for two weeks at a time. Schindler has been involved with the high school mentor program in having a student apprentice come with her on jobs and learn the ropes of design first hand.

"I get satisfaction from being a part of all these groups. It's the people that make these projects and the people are nice to be around," Schindler said.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at newsroom@austindailyherald.com