Silestone featured in Vancouver Easter Seals Home Renovation
The BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities is a registered charitable organization that operates the Easter Seals House in Vancouver. For the past 63 years, the Easter Seals House has been accommodating families from all over BC and the Yukon whose loved ones are in treatment at nearby medical facilities.
The home’s 3rd floor lounge was in need of an upgrade when the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association (GVHBA) stepped in to help with the renovation, raising over $82,425. The refresh included Silestone kitchen countertops, new flooring, appliances, cabinetry, furniture and paint.
We sat down with Mary-Lynn Hanson, Manager of Corporate & Community Development for Easter Seals BC & Yukon and Robert Capar, President of maison d’etre design-build inc., who managed the renovation, to talk about why this project was so important to all involved.
Tell us a bit about the Easter Seals House and its purpose.
Mary-Lynn: Easter Seals House provides low-cost accommodations and a home-away-from-home for people in over 700 communities throughout BC and Yukon who need to travel to Vancouver for medical attention and treatment. The House is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is located just blocks away from Vancouver’s best hospitals and treatment facilities. Guests come for both short-term and long-term stays, for pre-booked or emergency situations. For some it may be a two or three night stay, while others may stay for a month or more.
Why was the third floor lounge and kitchen renovation so important?
Mary-Lynn: After 30 years, with 30,000 bed nights and hosting 5,000 families each year, the Easter Seals House 3rd Floor Lounge needed refreshing to better serve the families who use it every day. The lounge is a space where families can go to relax and unwind after what can often be long, challenging and stressful days at hospitals and medical appointments. It is an area where families can connect with each other, offer comfort and receive support. Giving guests a lounge and common kitchen area that can feel feel like a home-away-from-home, is very important to their overall wellness and comfort.
What do you think visitors like the most about the new kitchen renovation?
Mary-Lynn: The kitchen has a fresh, clean and modern feel, which makes it a more inviting space to cook and prepare meals. Being away from home for medical reasons can be very stressful. Easter Seals House strives to offer guests all the comforts of home, including the option to prepare a home-cooked meal in a safe and comfortable environment where they can connect with others.
What did you choose Silestone for the renovation?
Robert: We liked Silestone’s Blanco Maple for the surface’s tone which offsets the cabinetry colour and backsplash tile. Silestone is practical in a multi-use situation and does not show streaks. We also liked it for its easy maintenance qualities.
Overall, are you happy with how the renovation turned out?
Mary-Lynn: We are so grateful for the support and contribution from GVHBA, suppliers and donors and all the trades people who worked on this project. The transformation is completely astounding and we’re thrilled with how the renovation turned out. Every detail was well thought-out and the entire space came together beautifully. The lounge is so much more comfortable and welcoming for guests.
Cosentino was proud to support the renovation and wishes the very best to all of the families who will visit the home. For more details on the renovation visit: https://www.eastersealsbcy.ca/gvhba-raises-82k-and-renovates-lounge-kitchen-at-easter-seals-house/
