Giving Back: IFDA New England Renovates a Bathroom for Wellesley ABC

The New England Chapter of IFDA recently completed a home improvement pro bono program at the Wellesley A Better Chance residence. Community service is a key component of IFDA NE programming. Since 1972 Wellesley ABC has opened doors to greater educational opportunities for academically talented and promising young women of color. These scholars attend Wellesley High School and live in a family-style home with tutoring, meals, and medical and social/emotional support. The program is overseen by resident directors and an army of volunteers.

Jacqueline Becker, Vice President for Community Service for IFDA NE, chooses philanthropic projects and presents them to the board. Once she learned about the program from another IFDA NE member, Becker suggested assisting Wellesley ABC. During Phase 1 of the project, Becker added donated artwork to the living room-turned-study hall. Phase 2 was the design and renovation of the second-floor bathroom at the house, improved lighting and exterior painting.

“Imagine a household with six teenagers, two resident advisers and one usable shower! IFDA’s highly collaborative spirit and expertise in all areas of home building and design was uniquely equipped to solve that and a few other pressing problems”, says Becker.

Renovating a bathroom is the largest project IFDA NE has undertaken, and Kevin Cradock Builders stepped up to oversee the entire project – from securing donations of materials and services from vendors and subcontractors to donating the KCB team to handle carpentry and construction.

“The KCB team welcomed the opportunity to give back to the community, and lead the renovation of this bathroom at Wellesley ABC. We are really pleased with the end result, and thank everyone involved,” said Kevin Cradock, Founder, and President of Kevin Cradock Builders.

Bathroom Transformed

The original second-floor bath had a single sink, one toilet, and one bathtub/shower combination. A plan to renovate the bathroom coincided with IFDA NE seeking a community service project. Jess Chabot, former IFDA NE President and currently Design Director and Interior Architect at Katie Rosenfeld and Company donated her design services to create a multi-use bathroom with a double-sink vanity, and two separate water closets with showers. The doors leading into the water closets were repurposed from a KCB job in Boston, and jambs were custom-made in the Cradock Woodworking shop. A custom set of cubbies, crafted by Materia Millwork, provides storage for the residents’ toiletries.

Additional work was added to the original scope of the project in Phase 2, installing an exhaust fan and recessed lights in the bathroom below and painting additional areas including the front door, donated by John Speridakos, owner of Cosmos Painting.

The project kicked off in July 2022 with planning, permitting, and demolition. Materials provided by vendors and extensive work including electrical, plumbing, tiling, painting, and carpentry, was all donated by the following companies:

Art of Tile and Stone

August Interiors

Benjamin Moore

Bryson Electric

Clark Fine Art Services

Cory Manufacturing

Cosmos Painting

Designer Bath

IFDA NE

Installations Plus

Jacqueline Becker Fine Arts Consulting Services

Katie Rosenfeld and Company

Kevin Cradock Builders

Lavallee Systems

Light New England

Makkas Drapery Workroom

Materia Millwork

Metropolitan Cabinets & Stone

Oasis Shower Door

Oliver Plastering

Skinner Demo

Stanhope Framers

About IFDA NE

The International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) is the only all-industry association whose members provide services and products to the furnishings and design industry. This organization is the driving force, through its programs and services, to enhance the professionalism and stature of the industry worldwide. As the “voice” of the industry, IFDA provides its members with the tools and resources to take their businesses to the next level. Members are executives and companies professionally engaged in the design, production, distribution, promotion, communication or education in the furnishings, design and/or related industries.

Our mission at IFDA New England is to provide quality relationship building for our membership. We offer Education, Grant, and Philanthropic opportunities for our members, as well as quality programming.

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