Room Candy

June 13, 2014

Transition House Makeover: RESA gives a HAND UP to the Cridge!

Cridge Transition House for Women Hands Up! Project 2014



Our RESA Vancouver Island ( Real Estate Staging Association) group connected with The Cridge Centre for the Family this year. With our 3rd annual Hands Up! project we were once again looking for a way to give back using the abundant array of resources, local connections and the plethora of talent from our group of designing women in Victoria. 

The Cridge Center for the Family has been serving Victoria since 1873, the oldest continuously operating charity in Western Canada. The Cridge Transition House for Women provides safety for women and their children who are escaping violent or abusive relationships. These women are fleeing sometimes with only the clothes on their back. The house gives shelter and support for up to 30 days, along with counselling, information, advocacy ,connections to community supports, and outreach services. Every woman and every child deserves safety and shelter.

The house is old ( 101 years old in fact!) with great character but like so many social service houses, there is always a dire need for upgrades, maintenance and supplies. Sometimes non essentials that make a house feel like home get pushed to the bottom or off the list completely due to budget constraints and cut backs. The Cridge provided a wish list of some items and updates that would really help with the comfort of the house and in turn help these women feel safe and secure.

We connected with Island Savings Credit Union and with their amazing cash donation through their GIFT program we were off to the races. We <3 ISCU!! 
Trades donations were secured along with paint and painters, landscapers, all new lighting, electricians, fabric for drapes...this list goes on and on! Even dinner for the house on installation day.

Here are some before and after photos of the a few of the rooms were able to give a little update to. Its really hard to capture the makeover is photos...in person the house "felt like a home"... goal accomplished!


Dining room: A great refresh with paint , new dining chairs and a 
wonderful newly built and painted storage hutch

Before


After






 Living Room: 
Fresh Paint, new drapes all around, new pillows 
and a refresh of the layout

Before


After!


Before


After!



Kitchen eating area: We refreshed the space with paint & new memo boards. 

Before



After!





Entry : functioning but not so welcoming.

Before


After!


Outside Entry: :(
Before


After .WOW!



Bedroom:
This is where Moms can stay with their kids in a private secure room.

Before:


After! New flooring, paint and drapery 




Art donation by local artist Pauline Dueck




Installation day! Ladies at work ( but its kind of play too!)






 Fruit Bouquets from Edible Arrangements!




 A few of us RESA members at the end of the installation day...still smiling. 
Such a great project and worthy endeavour.






This project could not have been completed without the generous donations (financial, goods and labour) from our amazing community partners. 
Please recognize visit and patronize these local retailers trades and
 businesses when you have a chance! 
We THANK YOU all!

Another special Shout Out to The HOUSSE’s Murray Cuff (Handy Mur!) who spent
the day hanging mirrors drapery rods and a million other bits.
Thanks Mur!                                         




** Our VISSR group is transitioning to 
RESA- Vancouver Island (Real Estate Staging Association). 
Watch for many more projects and community initiatives.
LIKE and follow us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/RESAVancouverIsland

Cheers!
~ Tracey