As you may already know if you live here in Ottawa, last week was Kindness Week. From the website: “Kindness Week Ottawa is a city-wide initiative that encourages community members to choose to be kind and recognizes those who engage in everyday acts of kindness.”. How awesome is that?! Of course, I think we should always strive to be kind, but I do love that our city sets aside a special week every year to really focus on making a difference in our communities!

Rewind a couple of months. I received an email from the talented Sonya of Sonya Kinkade Design. She had asked me if I would like to be part of a very special project involving herself and several other talented interior decorators from here in Ottawa. They called it ‘Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition’. She along with Lisa Goulet (Lisa Goulet Design), Kelly James (JAX Decor and Design), Donna Hargrove (DH Designs), Nicole Duguay (Solace Interiors), Mary Anne van Gaal (Otta Decorate!) and Maureen Coates (MODECOR) had decided to take on a project for Kindness Week which involved completely re-decorating the front entrance and reception area of The Good Companions Centre. From the website: “The Good Companions is a not-for-profit organization that offers programs and services in partnership with volunteers to promote, enhance and support the well-being, independence and zest for living of both seniors and adults with physical disabilities in the Ottawa area”. They needed a photographer to to help document some of the transformation as it was happening, as well as some photos of the finished space and the official reveal. Now I don’t typically photograph a lot of events since Families and Children are my primary focus, but it was all for such a wonderful cause, how could I not volunteer my time and skills!? I jumped at the chance!

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I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute of my time photographing this event. The staff at The Good Companions were incredibly sweet, welcoming and very appreciative of this entire project. And the designers themselves were all genuinely kind and motivated to make a difference as well. Oh, and funny! Seriously, they had me laughing many, MANY times! I really could not have asked for better people to work with. If anyone is looking for interior design services, ANY one of these ladies will knock your socks off with their talent and professionalism, I promise!

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Drumroll please….Here’s the finished space!

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The Store Area (Good Companions has a small consignment shop for their members)

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Small seating area.

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Another small seating area and a display case (display case holds various arts and handicrafts made by Good Companions members!)

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Main seating area.

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At the ‘Big Reveal’. I SO enjoyed the surprise on some people’s faces!

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There we also a number of other generous Ottawa businesses who donated their time, skills or who donated furniture or other supplies to help out. And without them, Extreme Makeover Kindness Edition simply could not have happened!

D.E. Kinkade Konstruction ~ Donation of ALL labor and materials.

Permanent Petals (Michelle VandenBosch) ~ Donation of floral arrangements.

Matt LeBlanc Art ~ Custom Art Piece.

The Upper Room ~ Donation of Furniture.

Ottawa International Airport Authority ~ Donation of Furniture.

Floor Coverings International ~ Donation of area carpet for entrance area.

Kravet Fabrics ~ Donation of Fabrics.

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries Ottawa ~ Donation of Furniture.

Premier Executive Suites Ottawa ~ Donation of Furniture.

Rockland Textiles ~ Donation of foam for bench seating.

Tamarack Developments ~ Donation of all paints.

Brent Kelly Painting (613-229-8665) ~ Donation of all labor for painting entire space.