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'We
wanted the feel of home'
It's a coming-out party with plenty of heart and cutting-edge design. It's a radical transformation of a weary two-storey house that has provided caring and compassionate health care and shelter for men and women battling the advanced stages of AIDS. For the past 12 years, the former manse on Evered Avenue has offered -- in secret -- clean beds, good food and unconditional support to some of the forgotten and sick members of our community. "It was a safety issue surrounding AIDS hospices that went back 20 years," says Martha Scott, the compassionate, effervescent and solid professional responsible for raising $105,000 to renovate Bruce House and raise its profile. "Most organizations have dropped the secrecy, and it seemed like a good moment for us to do it all at once," says Scott. Doing it all at once meant inviting contractors to gut and expand 461 Evered Ave. and then asking six leading interior design and decorating firms to take on a room each and combine top, durable design that will comfort some of our city's most vulnerable citizens. The federal government has funnelled $400,000 through the city to partly finance the renovation, and it is up to Bruce House to come up with an additional $105,000. When all is tabulated, the final bill will be higher, but it will be covered by donations from the design teams, their clients and suppliers. The hard renovations are almost complete, and by the end of September the six firms will descend on the house, buffing the spaces for a three-day Designer Showcase in October. "The house was old and very, very weary, with bathrooms that were incredibly poky. You couldn't get a wheelchair into them," says Scott, who is bouncing from excited to ecstatic, buoyed by the enthusiasm of the design firms and the generosity of suppliers. "This has been a dream project," says the development consultant for Bruce House, which was founded in 1988 and now offers 24-hour care at the hospice and oversees 24 apartments with more independent living across the city. Scott, a self-confessed homes junkie, came up with the idea for a designer showcase last fall. She made the first call to Ernst Hupel, co-owner of 2H Interior Design, who quickly said yes and gave her names of other firms. Five calls later, Scott had her dream design team. She was flabbergasted. "We had six rooms. I made six calls. And everyone said yes immediately. The energy is incredible." "This is an incredibly great cause," says Hupel, who aimed for the stars, insisting on cutting-edge design. Hupel took on the kitchen, linking up with Astro Design and Universal Appliances to create a space with the flair of granite counters, the toughness of stainless steel backsplashes and the charm of glass and beadboard cabinetry. When the numbers are totalled, it's likely the kitchen will cost $80,000, but that is being covered off by Astro, Universal and the generosity of Hupel's clients. "Ottawa is a fantastic community and knows what to do when needed," says the award-winning designer, who sent letters to clients asking for support. "They quickly said yes." Michael Courdin got similar support when his firm took on the living room. Hubert Heating donated a fireplace and Ron Boivin, owner of Suede, Phillip Van Leeuwen and Norwalk all donated sofas with durable fabric coverings that will clean up easily and still look good. "This is a worthwhile cause because, frankly, I have had many, many friends who have passed along this long journey. It is devastating to the whole community," says Courdin. The renovation has won the support of the gay and straight communities: Penny Southam, owner of Southam Design, called on her contacts to renovate the bathrooms; Gerhard Linse has plans for the foyer and multipurpose room; the Creative Friction team is making over the dining room; and Griffin Kennedy Design is adding a caring side to the bedrooms. There were only a few rules laid down for the renovation, which will boost the number of beds to seven from five, replace the wiring, plumbing and heating and introduce living spaces dressed to the nines. "We needed good design that could also meet special needs," says Courdin. "The fabrics had to be non-toxic and it had to have a residential, not an institutional, feel. We wanted the feel of home." Sheila Brady is the Citizen's Homes editor. You can reach her at sbrady@thecitizen.canwest.com. WISH
LIST:
You can donate with a credit card by calling Bruce House at 729-0911; online at www.brucehouse.org or by mailing a cheque to Bruce House, 312 Parkdale Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y 4X5. Tax receipts will be issued for donations over $20. - - - BRUCE HOUSE DESIGNER SHOWCASE When: Friday, Oct. 21, Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Where: 461 Evered Ave. How much: $20 in advance by calling Bruce House at 729-0911 or $25 at the door. There are 1,500 tickets available. © The Ottawa Citizen 2005 |
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