NKBA Ottawa Transforms Women's Shelter Kitchen with Generous Community Support

Ottawa, April 2025 – In a remarkable display of community collaboration and generosity, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Ottawa Chapter has successfully completed a kitchen renovation for Chrysalis House, a 25-room inclusive women’s shelter that provides a safe haven for women escaping abusive environments.

This initiative began in 2022 when NKBA Ottawa set out to find a shelter in need of a kitchen or bathroom renovation. After months of searching, Chrysalis House reached out, describing the challenges posed by their aging and inefficient kitchen. Recognizing the critical need for a functional, welcoming space, NKBA Ottawa mobilized a team of dedicated designers, industry professionals, and sponsors to bring this vision to life.

The design phase was spearheaded by [Deborah Gervais, AKBD, Aviva Ben Choreen, CMKBD and Natalia Pierce, CMKBD], who worked closely with the shelter’s staff to create a highly functional, efficient kitchen layout tailored to the needs of the residents and staff. However, transforming the space required more than just a great design—it needed funding, materials, and skilled tradespeople.

After 30 months of fundraising and planning, with significant contributions from the Canadian Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of Saint Maurice and Lazarus of the Royal House of Savoy and the incredible generosity of significant industry partners, the dream became a reality.

Key contributors for whom we could not have done this without their support:

• Laurysen Kitchens – Donated all the cabinetry for both the kitchen and lockers
• Dynastic Order of Saint Maurice and Lazarus of the Royal House of Savoia - $20,000 donation
• Jeff Picard  - for his excellent craftsmanship and hours of commitment
• Cosentino – Provided the granite for the countertops
• Urban Quarry – Contributed expert craftsmanship and fabrication
• Kean Plumbing – all rough and installation work of the plumbing fixtures
• Distinctive Bath and Kitchens – Supplied high-quality sinks and faucets
• Supreme Paint – paint and labour to paint the kitchen and dining room
• Lumen – supplied the pot lights
• Detail by Design – provided pendants and interior accessories
• Centura Tile – backsplash tile and installation materials
• Trade Partners – Special thanks to Jeff Thompson of Thompson Electric, Giuseppe Castrucci,  Mariano Ranallo, Domenic Ricci, Dave Chuka, Claudio Santini and Natalia Pierce for their invaluable expertise and commitment to bringing this project to life.

The renovation included brand-new cabinets, granite countertops, upgraded sinks and faucets, interior cabinet accessories, and a new fridge and freezer. In addition to these major upgrades, the project also enhanced the kitchen’s lighting, refreshed the space with a new coat of paint, and improved the adjacent dining area.

The generous cash donation from the Dynastic Order provided critical support to repair the shelter’s range and cover additional materials, ensuring that the project could be completed without impacting the shelter’s operating budget.

Throughout the process, the project was overseen by NKBA Ottawa Chapter President, Natalia Pierce, who expressed deep gratitude to all who contributed:

"This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the generosity of our industry partners. The new kitchen will provide a warm, functional space where the women of Chrysalis House can cook, gather, and rebuild their lives with dignity. We are incredibly proud to have played a role in this transformation."

The NKBA Ottawa Chapter remains committed to using design to improve lives and looks forward to future opportunities to give back to the community.