NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Hatter Carrie Renshaw works Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 in her newly-renovated kitchen that was redone by a number of contractors in the community. Renshaw had experienced a 'nightmare' renovation earlier this year, and Medicine Hat tradespeople stepped up to redo the job for free.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
For most people, nightmares end the second they wake up.
For Carrie Renshaw, her renovation nightmare lasted months.
Earlier this year Renshaw hired a contractor she knew and trusted to renovate her kitchen, but he eventually ended up abandoning the project – leaving her kitchen with a bunch of jobs poorly completed and the rest not finished.
After Jackie and Jamie Taylor of Design Kitchens heard about the situation, they formed a super team of local contractors and tradespeople to finish the kitchen project for free. Everyone who worked on the job got together at Renshaw’s on Monday to mark the job finished.
“They all worked so hard and did so much for me,” said Renshaw. “They stripped the whole kitchen and did the whole thing from top to bottom.
“Even though they did so much for me, they still came in and had a smile on their faces every day.”
Several businesses got on board with Design Kitchens: Brost Developments, Concept Plumbing, The Electric Company, Creative Floor Coverings, Dulux Paints and Ply Gem Windows and Doors.
Jackie Taylor says it was important for her and Jamie to get involved in the project.
“We’re definitely a bit overwhelmed, but we’re so happy that this came together,” she said. “We had a vision of what we hoped it looked like when we were done and honestly it has turned out even better than we could have imagined.”
The original renovations began early in the summer and the team of tradespeople took over on Sept. 25. The kitchen was redone from top to bottom with new everything, other than faucet taps that were salvaged.
Renshaw says she will be forever thankful for the new kitchen.
“I’m 70, going through some health problems and I spend a lot of time alone,” she said. “What they did – it gave me confidence. I want to get up and get moving and to meet new people.
“They gave me hope and they made me feel like I mattered – I haven’t felt like that for years.”
Renshaw says she is excited to have people over for dinner and that she had been busy cooking in the new kitchen.
“I made lamb chops with gravy, potatoes, vegetables and a salad – and I had two glasses of merlot,” she said. “I sat at the dining room table and enjoyed a nice home-cooked meal and now I’m going to invite people to enjoy this with me.
