#25Project Transformation 2: Ottawa, Canada!

This time last year we were busy planning the #25Project, so it's incredibly rewarding to see it all come together a year later!

Today I'm sharing the transformation of the lounge and kitchen of 215 Wurtemburg Street in Ottawa, Canada - one of the buildings that Ottawa Community House (OCH) operate to home 120 people. OCH is Ottawa's largest social housing provider and provides homes to over 32,000 people with special needs in the city. As a large non-profit organisation they often have to prioritise structural repairs and renovations over aesthetic changes to the building, so the space had been left looking very tired and dated, with scratched and damaged furniture.

Katrina Barclay, my Stockist at Malenka Orginals in Ottawa lead the project along with volunteers from OCH and 11 of her regular customers. (Two of these actually participated in Katrina's first ever Annie Sloan workshop, 4 years ago!)

Initial ideas were brought together at a meeting between Katrina and OCH, discussing the wants and needs of the people who use the space, and then, on 8th September the transformation began!

They kicked off the transformation with words of thanks and support from the Mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, who stressed the importance of giving back to, and caring for the community. After the speeches were done, the work got underway. One team started by painting the main area in Paris Grey, and another smaller team worked on painting the walls of the kitchen in Duck Egg Blue. Others painted the furniture which included an old radio cabinet, a book shelf and 3 small side tables, which were all a mis-match of brown woods. Don't they look brilliant now that they've been brought together with Aubusson Blue?

Before and after of the lounge

Before and after of the kitchen

They finished the transformation by hanging a couple of new additions to the wall which had been donated by Malenka Originals. The map of Ottawa-Gatineau from a local shop who specialises in handmade goods now takes the pride position above the newly painted radio cabinet.

Katrina wrote to me after the event to let me know that everyone that took part had a fulfilling and fun day, albeit quite tiring! And I'm glad to hear that everyone loves the new contemporary looking space. Haven't they done a fabulous job?

This is the second of 25 transformations, so watch this space to see further transformations as and when they come in. Follow the #25Project on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to watch the projects come together.

Yours, Annie