By Dianne M. Pogoda

Company News

SKS in Aspen: Luxury appliance brand SKS served as the official appliance sponsor at the 2025 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, CO, in June. This was the brand’s first appearance at the annual festival. Attendees saw live demos, product showcases, and conversations with culinary personalities including Stephanie Izard and Mark Bittman, who hosts the SKS “True to Food” film series. Bittman and SKS Executive Chef Nick Ritchie hosted a demonstration of sous vide cooking on the brand’s 48-inch dual-fuel pro range, which includes a built-in sous vide, gas, and induction on a single cooktop. More detail here.

Cyncly Taps Harper: Jon Harper has been named SVP of Professional Services for Cyncly, a leading global provider of design software and solutions. Harper has more than two decades of experience in SaaS (Software as a Service) businesses including leadership roles at Protiviti, Johnson & Johnson, and Smartsheet. In his new role, he will drive adoption and deployment of Cyncly’s software to help designers, retailers, and manufacturers grow their businesses. Learn more here.

California Faucets Promotes Gripp: Veteran financial executive Rich Gripp has been promoted to Vice President of Accounting and Finance at California Faucets, Huntington Beach, CA. He joined the company in 2023 as Director of Finance. Most recently, he held that title at Newlight Technologies, and previously served in the same role at American Woodmark/RSI Corp. Learn more about California Faucets here.

Chapter Updates

Hoedown in the Rockies: The Rocky Mountain Chapter will host its Summer Hoedown at the Ferguson Showroom, 1880 W Oxford Avenue in Sheridan, CO, on July 17, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Enjoy country music, great food, camaraderie and “boot-scootin’” as the NKBA community kicks back to celebrate summer. The event is sponsored by Samsung and Ferguson. NKBA members are $25, non-members are $35. More info here.

Sail Away with Minnesota State: The Minnesota State Chapter is hosting a MemberSHIP event, “A Toast on the Coast,” on July 23 at the Port of Wayzata, 402 Lake St E, Wayzata, MN. Mix, mingle, and cruise Lake Minnetonka while enjoying light bites, drinks and great company. The event is $35 and runs from 4 to 7 pm. Register here.

Industry News

Housing Sentiment Rises: Fannie Mae’s most recent National Housing Survey® shows that consumers displayed a more favorable view of buying a house in May. The Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HSPI) was up 4.3 points to 73.5 over April, and up 4.1 points year over year from May 2024. HSPI is a composite index that includes buying and selling conditions, mortgage rate outlook, home price outlook, concerns about job loss and changes in household income. Overall, 26 percent of consumers said it was a good time to buy, up 7 points from April, and 61 percent said it was a good time to sell, up 6 points. A strong real estate market is one indicator of a robust remodeling market. See the survey here for more detail.

Housing Starts Fall Nearly 10 Percent: Construction starts on private housing fell 9.8 percent in May from April, and were down 4.6 percent from May 2024, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The number of starts fell to 1.26 million from 1.39 million, the lowest level since May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Single-family starts edged up 0.4 percent in May from April. The agencies said building permits for private residential construction fell 2 percent compared to April, and dipped 1 percent compared to May 2024. More detail here.

The Chrysalis House leveled up with a long list of helping hands from across the industry.

By Nicholas Tamarin

In a remarkable display of community collaboration and generosity, the NKBA Ottawa Chapter has successfully completed a much-needed kitchen renovation for Chrysalis House, a 25-room inclusive women’s shelter that provides a safe haven for women escaping abusive environments in Western Ottawa. The initiative, almost three years in the making, has transformed a worn-out, inefficient kitchen into a highly functional and welcoming space, symbolizing a significant step forward for the residents.

The inspiration for this ambitious project struck Natalia Pierce, CMKBD, and current NKBA Ottawa Chapter President, during a Chapter Star Awards event in Orlando in 2022. “The NKBA BC Chapter had done a community outreach project where they had done some significant renovations for one of the community centers,” Pierce recalled. “It was kind of an inspiration, and I thought, we’d all survived the COVID era, much better than others. We had abundant projects and activity throughout those more difficult years. I just felt it was an inspiring story from the BC chapter that led to the inspiration to do something for our community.”

The Ottawa chapter began its search for a shelter in need of renovation in 2022. After months of outreach, Chrysalis House responded, detailing the challenges posed by their aging and inefficient kitchen, which was over 20 years old and showing signs of extreme use. Recognizing the critical need for an improved space, NKBA Ottawa mobilized a dedicated team of designers, industry professionals, and sponsors.

The design phase was spearheaded by Deborah Gervais, AKBD, Aviva Ben Choreen, CMKBD, and Pierce, who worked closely with the shelter’s staff, including Director Aaron Badick, to create a layout tailored to the needs of its high-use environment. This included adding a second large single-bowl sink, increasing counter depth to accommodate a large sanitizer unit, and maximizing pullout storage with all drawers on the bases. Addressing a significant pain point, the team also relocated an inconvenient commercial grease trap.

After 30 months of dedicated fundraising and planning, the dream became a reality. The project’s total value exceeded $80,000, made possible by significant contributions from various partners. The initial fundraising effort kicked off with a silent auction at the chapter’s Design Excellence gala in May 2022, which raised $4,300 even before a specific shelter was identified. Subsequent fundraising efforts continued through 2023 and 2024.

A pivotal contribution came from the The Canadian Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, which provided a substantial $20,000 donation. This cash contribution was crucial for repairing the shelter’s range and covering additional materials, ensuring the project could be completed without impacting the shelter’s operating budget.

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

The impact on the residents was profound. While the renovation was underway, residents had to adapt to a temporary kitchen setup. Pierce noted, “We were so shocked at the support and the gratitude that was so obvious from the residents while we were doing the project; it was just really heartwarming. You just really felt that we were making such a positive impact.”

“This project is a testament to the power of collaboration and the generosity of our industry partners,” Pierce continues. “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.”

“We had such a fantastic experience with Natalia and the NKBA Ottawa Chapter,” Chrysalis House Team Manager Erin Baydak says. “We are a Violence Against Women shelter and like any house, the kitchen is the heart of our home, where so many of the residents and children gather daily. After 20 years of heavy use we desperately needed a new kitchen and Natalia and her team made our dream come true. Everyone who worked on the project was so kind and committed to the project. We really felt valued and respected by the volunteers and donors who made sure all of the materials were of excellent quality and the work professionally done. It was truly transformational. Having a beautiful and welcoming space is so important to us, and this new kitchen is the star of our shelter. We feel such pride and gratitude when we use it.”

As Pierce steps down as Chapter President after four years, this project stands as a crowning achievement for her and the NKBA Ottawa Chapter. “It was kind of a nice thing to leave in our legacy,” she reflected. “I know it left me with just an incredible feeling of gratitude, and to have been able to be part of such an impactful project really meant a lot to me.”

Other key contributors whose generosity was indispensable to the project include:

• Laurysen Kitchens – Donated all the cabinetry for both the kitchen and lockers.
• Jeff Picard – Recognized for his exceptional craftsmanship and hours of commitment in installing the entire kitchen renovation.
• Cosentino – Provided the granite for the countertops.
• Urban Quarry – Contributed expert craftsmanship and fabrication.
• Kean Plumbing (K.E.A.N.) – Handled all rough and installation work of the plumbing fixtures, providing significantly discounted services and materials.
• Distinctive Bath and Kitchens – Supplied high-quality sinks and faucets.
• Supreme Paint – Provided paint and labor for painting the kitchen and dining room.
• Lumen – Supplied the pot lights, enabling an upgrade to the kitchen’s lighting.
• Detail by Design – Provided pendants and interior accessories.
• Centura Tile – Donated backsplash tile and installation materials.
• Thompson Electric – Provided invaluable electrical work and gave a huge amount of time, with significantly discounted services and materials.
• Giuseppe Castrucci (formerly of L in Kitchens), Mariano Ranallo, Domenic Ricci, and Claudio Santini were also key trade partners providing expertise and commitment.

The NKBA Ottawa Chapter remains committed to using design to improve lives and looks forward to future opportunities to give back to the community. For more information about this project or how to support future initiatives, please contact the NKBA Ottawa Chapter at nkbaottawa@gmail.com.