A New Space for Highbanks Society

It was exactly one year ago that I blogged about Highbanks Society, a non-profit organization providing affordable housing for young mothers finishing high school and creating a career path. My interior design firm was asked by Highbanks to help design an addition that was being added onto their existing building. My team was excited to get involved and lend a hand to such an incredibly valuable organization. You may remember the previous article I wrote called Calgary Interior Design Firm Helps Highbanks Society, which featured our conceptual design and sample boards. Our job was to create a teaching kitchen, lounge space, mudroom and administrative office. Well finally, after construction stalls and permit holdups, the project is finally complete, and I can’t wait to show you the finished product!

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Of course, we couldn’t have done this without the incredible support of our fabulous suppliers and tradespeople. We were overwhelmed by their generosity of both time and product! Our wonderful friends at Maria Tomas donated the lamps, accent tables and barstools. They also contacted one of their furniture suppliers, Vogel Canada, and arranged for the donation of the sofa and loveseat. Amazing!! Poplar Hill Interiors generously sewed our toss cushions and window coverings and Textile Trimmings provided pillow fills. Robert Allen Fabrics donated a sweet printed fabric for the mudroom bench. All the other wonderful fabrics in the room were contributed by big-hearted Kravet Fabrics and I can’t thank them enough! I am thrilled with the results and left speechless at the kindness these companies bestowed upon us.

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

Interior design by Corea Sotropa Interior Design

One of the first suppliers I contacted about this project was Denca Cabinets because of they are my favourite kitchen cabinet company. I was absolutely over the moon when they agreed to get involved and donate the millwork for the kitchen and pantry! Another of my go-to resources, Icon Stone & Tile, partnered up with Caesarstone Canada to provide the countertops – thanks so much!! That incredible glass mosaic backsplash was contributed by Daltile and the hardware is courtesy of Banbury Lane. The plumbing fixtures and decorative lights are from Robinson Lighting & Bath Centre. Carrington also pitched in and donated tons of pot lights for the space. Old Country Hardwood donated and installed new flooring and refinished the existing vintage oak boards. For the mudroom, we used some durable and stylish porcelain tiles generously given to us by Julian Tile.

The administrative office was spruced up with some fabulous wallpaper from Crown (who also donated fabric for some of the window coverings) and our talented paper hanger, Pineau Decorating Ltd., who kindly offered to install it for free! Big Print Signs provided the vinyl window covering for our donor wall. These old chairs were graciously reupholstered by Red Eight Workshop, who we routinely use for custom furniture. And I can’t forget to mention Anilin Decorating Centre for the donation of Benjamin Moore Paint, and NuWay Floor Fashions, along with Beaulieu Canada, for supplying the carpet for the staircase and hallway.

I also have to mention the tireless efforts of one of my design assistants who handled the project management and coordination of this project. Great job, Cheryl! Also, the very talented Kelly (of 6 Degrees General Contracting) was the contractor on this job, and he was an absolute delight to collaborate with!

Thank you so much to all these generous, thoughtful and talented people who made this renovation a dream-come-true for Highbanks. The residents are enjoying the space daily and it has really improved their sense of community. I am so happy that we were able to provide our design services, and so incredibly grateful for all the support we received in this endeavor. It really astounds me how eager everyone was to get involved. Thanks a million!

Cheers!

Jacqueline