Heart of a Home: Kitchen Renovation Embraces Dignity and Inclusion

Margaret enjoys the renovations to her kitchen that include brighter colours and a more open-concept design.

Margaret smiled as she led the way into her newly renovated kitchen.

A kitchen renovation at the Community Living Huntsville Supported Group Living home had been discussed for years. Typical household wear and tear had taken its toll since the home was built in 1988-89, and while staff members had tried to fix and refresh what they could, the kitchen was also in desperate need of accessibility modifications. Design work officially started in late 2023 with Refined Kitchen and Bath, who completed the renovations in early 2024.

Margaret, resting her hand on the new kitchen countertop, showed off the bright cupboards and open-concept design, while fellow residents Glen and Charlene offered greetings through the new pass-through window that opened into the living room.

Christopher Jordan-Stevens, Manager of Supported Group Living for Community Living Huntsville, said the staff team that worked at the home had advocated for a more open and accessible space to empower and include those who lived there.

“It was very closed off – it didn’t open up into the living room or anything – and there was limited space which made participation and inclusion in the kitchen and in food preparation difficult for the people in the home who use wheelchairs,” said Jordan-Stevens.

More broadly, though, Jordan-Stevens said a person’s home should respond to their needs: “Bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms have to be accessible to empower people and provide them dignity and safety,” he said. “Accessibility is inclusion and there is no sense of inclusion without being able to navigate freely and with choice in your environment.”

Margaret, Glen, and Charlene directed much of the renovation. For example, each made it clear they wanted to participate more in the kitchen, which influenced design decisions on space and sightlines. They also reviewed colour palettes and came to a shared decision on warm, comfortable tones. They then weighed in on what to do during construction, opting to stay elsewhere for a few days during peak work. “That said, Refined Kitchen and Bath were incredible – they had everything prepped off-site and it was really a very quiet process and very quick,” said Jordan-Stevens. “I was very impressed with that. People were able to get comfortably back into their home very quickly, which was important.”

Since the renovation, everyone is participating more in meal preparation – either by being physically in the kitchen or talking with staff through the kitchen’s pass-through window – which gives them more choice, control, and involvement.

Ed and Kelly Hammond, owners of Refined Kitchen and Bath in Huntsville and generous supporters of our not-for-profit organization, were eager to be involved. As owners of a family-run business, the couple said it was important to them to find opportunities to give back to their town – and the renovation reflected both their business and personal values.

“With the kitchen being the heart of a home, it brings family and friends together and creates a space of inclusion, discovery, and exploration,” said Ed and Kelly. “It gave us great joy to watch this project come together and see how engaged residents and staff were during the process, and the excitement that this new space offered them. We will always be proud and ready to support future projects with this incredible organization.”

Jennifer Jerrett, Community Engagement Specialist for Community Living Huntsville, noted that, while Refined Kitchen and Bath was paid for its work, Ed and Kelly, in addition to their own generosity, took it upon themselves to rally their suppliers to support the project through discounts and in-kind donations, too, which reduced the overall cost. “Their efforts and generosity allow us to do more for the people we serve,” said Jerrett. “We are beyond grateful.”

Jerrett noted community support and donations were vital to our organization’s work on housing for people with developmental disabilities and families who access our services. “Capital expenses like this aren’t necessarily covered, and yet there are other homes and other kitchens, plus driveway repairs, accessible vehicle purchases, and even new property purchases and construction to consider,” she said. “That means we have to be very strategic in our priorities – and ask the community for its support.”

She said our team and supporters are working hard to break down barriers for people with developmental disabilities.

“I often hear people thank us for the work we do. They see the difference we are making in people’s lives and our community, and they want to be a part of that because everyone in our community deserves to live with dignity,” said Jerrett.