CompanycontributesmaterialstoHabitatforHumanity

Initially distraught at the diagnosis, Grist said she was blinded by tears and tripped over a boy in a wheelchair

The experience enabled Grist to put her condition into perspective, she said

“I embraced it; I’m bald who cares?”

Although she hasn’t won the award yet, Grist acknowledges that the nomination is an important recognition of her contributions to the industry and the community

“When you get nominated for that you have to show your volunteer work you’ve done Talk about how you support young people in the industry”

Grist employs four people, many of them BCIT graduates, as well as retirees who want to keep their hand in the business

The company’s volunteer commitment include contributing materials and sweat equity to Habitat for Humanity

“We go swing a hammer,” said Grist

HAVAN also looks at the environmental contributions of interior design companies, and Grist said her company is championing that as well by dismantling kitchens, rather than destroying them and re-purposing cabinets

“We encourage people, and let them know we can recycle their kitchens, by getting them excited, and taking them [cabinets] down to Habitat for Humanity”

Laura Grist Design Inc also plans to purchase carbon credits to make up for GHG emissions used in the construction process

In addition to her nomination for interior designer of the year, Grist’s design team has multiple projects up for awards

Three luxurious kitchens were among the nominated projects and Grist said she, too, was pleased with how they turned out

Many of the renovations that are being nominated were done in 1990s-era homes where rooms are divided up and clients want more open space, as well as modern fixtures

Grist said her design team works hard to meet the needs of clients while also ensuring that builders have all the paperwork and specs before a project starts

Occasionally something comes up, such as a pipe in a wall that wasn’t supposed to be there

“But we pivot,” Grist said, noting it’s important to immediately provide the client with a solution

As for the nominations,

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