3-2-1: Countdown to Kindness!

In less than 12 hours, our Extreme Makeover: Kindness Edition design team descends upon The Good Companions in downtown Ottawa to perform some serious design magic!

And it DOES feel like we’ve been performing tricks (no, not that kind!) to get to this point, because we’ve been working with a budget of $0. Yep, NO budget at all! Hmmm, maybe we SHOULD have considered those kinds of tricks after all ;-)

Thanks to an amazing group of individuals and companies, we were able to secure everything we need to perform the makeover, from construction to painting to furniture to artwork to flowers. They embraced the kindness concept and made everything we’re about to do possible. Without them, we literally would not be on the verge of creating a beautiful place where seniors and adults with disabilities can keep active and spend time learning and crafting and socializing with friends.

All the members of our team who have blogs will be blogging about everyone who’s helped us out on this project. So for the next couple of weeks, please be sure to check out our blogs and help us acknowledge the amazing generosity and skills of these fantastic people:

• D.E. Kinkade Konstruction LTD – All construction and materials
• Tamarack Developments – All paint
• Matt LeBlanc, Matt LeBlanc Art – Custom abstract painting
• The Upper Room – Furniture
• The Ottawa International Airport Authority – Furniture
• Floor Coverings International – Area carpet for reception area
• Brent Kelly Painting – Painting entire space
• Danielle Lynn Photography – Photography for entire event
• La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Ottawa – Furniture
• Premiere Executive Suites Ottawa – Furniture
• Rockland Textiles – Foam for bench seat
• Michelle VandenBosch, Permanent Petals – All floral arrangements
• Kravet Canada – Fabric for window treatment, pillows, and bench seat
• Mr. Duguay – Lettering for sign above the reception desk

And of course, I have to mention the awesome TBBs once again for donating their time to design and plan the space, as well as hit up everyone they could think of for donations! Plus an extra thank you to Maureen, Mary Anne, and Lisa who have created some beautiful cushions and window treatments using their super sewing skills :-) The TBBs are…

• Sonya Kinkade, Sonya Kinkade Design
• Donna Hargrove, dh designs
• Lisa Goulet, Lisa Goulet Design
• Maureen Coates, MODECOR
• Mary Anne van Gaal, Otta Decorate!
• Nicole Duguay, Solace Interiors
• And me, Kelly James, JAX Decor & Design

And also thank you to The United Way Ottawa and Yummy Mummy Club (Toronto) for spearheading this project.

Now please, please, PLEASE watch this beautiful video – it’s 3-1/2 minutes that will make you smile and want to go out and hug everybody! Spread the kindness!

Have you hugged a stranger today? :-)

The Good Companions is located at 670 Albert Street. The big reveal is happening on Saturday, February 19th between 10:30AM-12:00PM – if you’re in Ottawa, drop by and check it out!

Happy Weekend!