Legacy Kitchens is partnering with Corpus Christi Male Chorale again this year for the 11th Annual “Music for a Winter Evening” concert. Over the past 10 years, this event has raised over $950,000 for Calgary charities. This year all proceeds will benefit The Calgary Dream Centre.

Join host Darrel Janz at Epcor Center’s Jack Singer Concert Hall on Monday, December 19th at 7:30pm to support this worthy cause and hear musical performances by Corpus Christi Male Chorale, guest artist Tom Jackson and Foothills Brass Quintet.

1. Style – upgrade to a contemporary look.
2. Atmosphere – add color and lighting to make the kitchen more welcoming.
3. Layout – make better use of the space in and around the kitchen.

Here’s how we accomplished the transformation from dark, cramped and outdated to stunning, inviting and practical:

1. Style – we replaced the old cabinets with a clean, modern style in maple.
2. Atmosphere – we worked with our client to discover her favorite color palette and then applied it to the quartz countertops, cabinets and walls. The ceiling was raised and then practical and dramatic lighting was added in layers: overhead lights, in-cabinet lights, LED task lights and LED accents under the counter.
3. Layout – at one end of the original kitchen there was an odd space bigger than a pantry but smaller than a sitting room. This space was awkward and separated the kitchen from a great source of natural light. We removed the wall to bring the window into the kitchen and added a window seat between a built-in pantry and a bar. Our client loves to entertain, so we removed the old peninsula to make room for a large island that offers plenty of space for cooking and seating for guests.

Here’s the latest update from Astrid, manager of Opportunity International’s Roof & Floor program that we support in Cartagena, Colombia. She sent us this story about Wilfrido who was able to build his new home with the help of the Roof & Floor program:

Wilfrido Pérez Lucas, is married to Saudith Carpio have a daughter and a baby on the way, Wilfrido is a client Opportunity international, at this time the have six loans in the trust group “Amigos del Progreso” Wilfrido’s he is the President of the trust group.

He began his business selling coffee in the street with a small box where had a few thermos with coffee, but 3 years ago he bought a bicycle he installed a tent and adapted a support where accommodates 10 thermos that have traditional coffee, chocolate and coffee with milk and additionally sells sandwich, with this transport called Café Charly Wilfrido can go to different areas to sell their products.

Wilfrido’s works in the morning from 7:00 am to 11 am and in the afternoon from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In the neighborhoods around, he always alert with a horn and people know that came Charly Café, this way is as Wilfrido wins the provision for his family and also wants to achieve the dream of learning English with this hope was that he came to this city to work and study another language.

Wilfrido applied to the Roof and floor for home program, he lived with another family in a small house of wood in a small room, Wilfrido had a property where he began the construction of his house by placing wood which would functioned as columns and also bought part of the roof, he needed buy wood and make the exterior walls and Interior, today Wilfrido enjoys his new house in wood, this is a space in which they now live more comfortable with his family, and he is grateful with God and with Opportunity International that he could apply to this credit that improved their quality of life.

Astrid

Watch the first documentary from our trip to Cartagena during the Summer of 2008.
Watch the second documentary from our follow-up trip to Cartagena during the Winter of 2010.

Visit the Legacy Kitchens YouTube Channel

Opportunity International is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the working poor. They provide small loans that allow poor entrepreneurs to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. Opportunity International also offers savings, microinsurance, business training and many more services to 1.1 million working poor in 28 developing nations.

www.opportunity.ca

Kitchen designer Tim Huber talks about what makes a kitchen Contemporary. Tim tours a kitchen display at our Affinity Kitchens showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona to introduce the elements of Contemporary design and to show off the display’s special features including soft close cabinet doors, unique storage solutions, LED lighting accents and Kohler Karbon faucet. See more Contemporary kitchens in our Photo Gallery.

Visit the Legacy Kitchens YouTube Channel

Legacy Kitchens, co-hosting with RedPoint Media Group, celebrated the launch of Avenue Magazine’s 8th Annual Food Issue featuring Calgary’s Best Restaurants as voted by readers and judges throughout this great city. The event featured 7 of the top 10 restaurants including Catch Restaurant and Oyster Bar, voted Calgary Best Restaurant of the Year and Best Business Lunch runner-up. Other participating restaurants were:

• Blink – voted “Best Business Lunch” spot
• Notable – voted “Best of the Burbs NW” and “Best New Restaurant” runner-up
• Chef’s Table – voted Best of the “Worth the Splurge”
• Alloy, Bistro Piq Niq, Saint Germaine received “Judge’s Recommendations” from the voting panel

Highlander Wines and Spirits was also in attendance and showcased a number of their award winning wines, including the champagne served to the Hollywood Stars at the Golden Globes!

It was an extremely cold winter’s night, but we had a packed house and it was great to have actual cooking in the kitchens throughout the showroom!

Pick up a copy of the March issue of the Avenue Magazine and head out to some (or all!) of the top voted restaurants. Celebrate food and support our local talent!

A big Thank You to all who helped with this event: Noel Pilon, Thuan Wedel, Steve Kunz, Angela Carr, and Arno Switzer.

Photos by Avenue Magazine

Opportunity International’s Roof & Floor program manager, Astrid, sent us an update about Carmen, a participant in the program that we support in Cartagena, Colombia. Astrid is learning English; here’s the update in her own words:

Carmen is married to Diocletian and have 2 children who live with her.

Carmen has worked with opportunity for 6 cycles in the Group’s confidence “God is love” is a very enterprising women and it is known in his Trust Group program to be very responsible with their financial obligations and is currently the President of the group. She is happy to work with this organization because it sees the opportunity to progress and improve their quality of life, also she has learned to work in Group and to share and help in fellowship with the members of his group.

Carmen has a small restaurant that serves in his house for 14 years, the husband also works independent business making wood furniture and together have been able to maintain his family and to their children, it is a family United and very special.

Carmen she apply to the “Roof and floor for my home” program with the hope of improving the bathroom of his house in unfavourable conditions, the loan was made and she was able to make a new bathroom, now Carmen and her family are very happy to be enjoying this benefit him they enjoy Opportunity with this program; The benefits that she sees have this new bathroom is that you have good presentation and at the same time you can enjoy better health and comfort.

Astrid

Watch the first documentary from our trip to Cartagena during the Summer of 2008.
Watch the second documentary from our follow-up trip to Cartagena during the Winter of 2010.

Visit the Legacy Kitchens YouTube Channel

Opportunity International is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the working poor. They provide small loans that allow poor entrepreneurs to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. Opportunity International also offers savings, microinsurance, business training and many more services to 1.1 million working poor in 28 developing nations.

www.opportunity.ca

Legacy Kitchens hosts FREE Renovation Seminars throughout the year

If you are interested in attending a future seminar you can sign up for our mailing list using the form below and we will contact you as soon as our next seminar date has been announced.

We’re closely involved with the non-profit microfinance organization Opportunity International and their work in Cartagena, Colombia. Recently the Roof & Floor program manager, Astrid, sent us an update about Mrs. Rosa, a participant in the new program. Astrid is working hard to learn English so we were encouraged by Mrs. Rosa’s story and appreciative of Astrid’s efforts to share the story without the aid of a translator.

Let me share with you the story of Mrs. Rosa Elizabeth Acevedo, is that such stories can to help you understand the work that you are playing to raise funds and worth to help the families of our clients here in Colombia, so thank you for what you do for this program and you dispocision to contribute to this noble cause!.

Mrs. Rosa is married and has 3 children and…currently belongs to the area PEACE trust group that belongs to the zone…Mrs. Rosa is currently in the eighth cycle and payment behavior is excellent trader of clothing, cosmetics through magazines.

When we did the promotion of the program in this village she was encouraged to make a loan to improve his home, had a house in Clay, had begun to change the cement block walls of a room and the challenge was to finish around the house with walls concrete block, her husband had some savings but were afraid to start construction because I thought that was not enough, but Rosa encouraged him and told him she was willing to make the loan and that God would begin and step by step was so they decided to request $ 400 US earmarked for the zinc roof, came out a loan and they continued with what they had started, I was after two weeks and were in the process of construction.

They currently have the house built in concrete block walls and a new roof, was a blessing after re-visit and oversee your project and find a new home with defined spaces between those of the kitchen, and so it see the joy of our client Rosa Isabel satisfied and happy with his family are looking forward to further progress in the total construction of your home.

So I attached the format handling improvements with photos, this emotion in me that I need to share it with work for this program.

Blessings and greetings to all!!

Astrid

Watch the first documentary from our trip to Cartagena during the Summer of 2008.
Watch the second documentary from our follow-up trip to Cartagena during the Winter of 2010.

Visit the Legacy Kitchens YouTube Channel

Opportunity International is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the working poor. They provide small loans that allow poor entrepreneurs to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. Opportunity International also offers savings, microinsurance, business training and many more services to 1.1 million working poor in 28 developing nations.

www.opportunity.ca

Legacy Kitchens is partnering with Corpus Christi Male Chorale and The Mustard Seed again this year for the 10th Annual “Music for a Winter Evening” concert. Over the past 9 years, this event has raised over $700,000 for one of Legacy’s charities of choice: The Mustard Seed.

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 at 7:30pm
Epcor Center’s Jack Singer Concert Hall, 205 8th Ave SE, Calgary
Hosted by Darrel Janz with Juno Award Winning Guest Artist Steve Bell.

Tickets cost $25 for Adults, $10 for Students & Children. All seats reserved. All proceeds will benefit the Mustard Seed Affordable Housing Development.

Click here to see the 2010 “Music for a Winter Evening” concert poster

Affordable Housing Development Campaign

In addition to the concert, we are participating in an exciting fundraiser initiative that will help furnish apartments in The Mustard Seed’s Affordable Housing Development. Your gift will multiply as Legacy Kitchens matches your donation by providing a full kitchen for every unit that is fully furnished. Over the past two years, your support has furnished 128 of the 224 units. We need your help to furnish the remaining 96.

Click here to download the 2010 campaign brochure for more information

Watch the videos below to learn more about The Mustard Seed.

Celebrating 25 Years

What is the Mustard Seed?

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The Mustard Seed Street Ministry is a non-profit Christian humanitarian organization that has been providing services for the homeless, street people of Calgary since 1984. It began by offering meals and a place of spiritual worship and comfort and has grown to provide a range of food, clothing, and shelter needs, along with education and employment services. The Mustard Seed strives to provide care, restore hope, and transform lives through its programs and services.

www.theseed.ca

Watch the first documentary that we produced after our trip to Cartagena during the Summer of 2008.

Visit the Legacy Kitchens YouTube Channel

Opportunity International is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the working poor. They provide small loans that allow poor entrepreneurs to start or expand a business, develop a steady income, provide for their families and create jobs for their neighbors. Opportunity International also offers savings, microinsurance, business training and many more services to 1.1 million working poor in 28 developing nations.

www.opportunity.org