When I was preparing for my kitchen makeover, it seemed everyone had a home renovation “horror” story. But thanks to careful planning, excellent trades and the design expertise of RS Field Design, my story was one of success and satisfaction. The professional staff offered services that included everything from structural and design solutions, to decorating consultation.  Without their assistance, I’m quite sure I would have had a “horror” story of my own. I was so pleased with our collaboration that I have since used their services for an exterior house facelift. I expect our partnership will last for many years to come.

Jane M.

Tea for Two... Hundred or So...

2009-10-28

 

Tea for Two... Hundred or So was held on Sunday, May 31st at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario to raise funds for the Canadian Women’s Foundation's Women Moving Women campaign. Guests enjoyed High Tea, a keynote address by Janice Rubin, the National Women Moving Women Committee Chair, and a series of Life Enhancement "Funshops" featuring topics ranging from Top Ten Trends in Interior Design to Ten Ways to Recession Proof Your Career. There was also a one-of-a-kind Market Place featuring items hand-crafted by women. The event was an incredible success and raised $55,000.00 for the Women Moving Women Campaign.

A special thank you to the Burlington Tea for Two... Hundred or So committee, co-chaired by Roxanne Field and Daphne Jaques.

Tea for Two...Hundred or so

Local event raising funds to move women out of poverty.

Roxanne Field, Daphne Jaques and Naomi McEwan have joined together with a group of women from Halton to launch the first Tea for Two...Hundred or so on Sunday, May 31, 2009 at the Royal Botanical Gardens. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Women Moving Women campaign of the Canadian Women's Foundation. Guests will enjoy Afternoon Tea and a series of "funshops".

Women Moving Women is a national campaign created by the Canadian Women's Foundation to change the face of poverty in Canada. The Foundation is enlisting 2500 women to donate $2500 (over five years) to move 2500 women out of poverty. Each $2500 donation will launch one woman on her journey out of poverty by funding her participation in a life-changing economic development program funded through the Canadian Women's Foundation.

The Tea for Two...Hundred or so is looking for local area sponsors who would be interested in supporting this event. Guest tickets will be available on April 1 at a cost of $50 and can be purchased through the Canadian Women's Foundation.

The Canadian Women's Foundation (CWF) is Canada's only national public foundation dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. The Foundation researches, shares and funds the best approaches to ending violence against women, moving low-income women out of poverty, and building strong, resilient girls. More information on the Canadian Women's Foundation can be found at www.canadianwomen.org.

Why a Designer's Credentials Matter

However distinctive or distinguised your custom home is, the space isn't really your own until you own it. And as counterintuitive as it might seem, sometimes you need someone else to share your vision in order to make it real: an Interior Designer. Enter the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO). The organization enjoys the distinction of having legislation named after it. Under the ARIDO Act, only those interior designers who meet said organization's stringent standards are entitled to use the professional title of Interior Designer in this province. (Interior Designers of Canada - IDC - and the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications - NCIDQ - are similarly discriminating national associations.) A measure of professional respect, it gives added heft to a field that relies on intangibles - the art and science of light and colour, texture and scale - as much as a command of ergonomics, building codes, and technology and environmental issues. True, you can find some amazing design talents outside of professional designations, but you can sometimes risk a lot as well. Registered Interior Designers are old hands at problem solving. Trained to meet demanding prerequisites, they're ready to offer creative and technical solutions as they manage the assembly of your interior environment. And should things go awry, they carry liability insurance. Hiring based on word of mouth? As friends, family and acquaintances for names of designers they would recommend. Take time to interview a variety of candidates, quiz them on their design process, schedule and price point, and take their questions about what you're hoping to achieve. You should be extremely comfortable with their design thinking - check their referrals and trust your gut. But however natural the pairing seems, take steps to ensure that the project and process is of the highest quality. Always sign a contract prior to any work commencing. And before that, call the governing organization to verify that you're dealing with a pro. After all, you wouldn't let just anybody into your home.

Reprinted with permission from Hamilton Magazine's Interiors, Fall 2007 issue, www.townmedia.ca.

Living Green

RS Field Design Inc. produces a quarterly newsletter, Living Green, which provides information on green design. To sign up, complete the information on the Home Page.

Publications

RS Field Design Inc. has been featured in the following publications: The Hamilton Spectator, West of the City, and InBurlington Magazine. Roxanne Field is the former Design Editor of InBurlington Magazine.

Community Involvement

RS Field Design Inc. has been a local sponsor of YouthFest and has hosted an Evening of Interior Design to benefit the Burlington Youth Wellness Foundation. In addition to contributing through hosting events and volunteerism, RS Field Design Inc. has made auction donations to The Carpenter Hospice, the Burlington Art Centre, the Burlington Firefighters Association, Appleby College, the Rotary Club of Burlington, the United Way and the Halton Children's Aid Foundation.

RS Field Design Inc. is proud to have donated our expertise to the breast Cancer Support Services offices, the Palletta Estate Project, and the Carpenter Hospice. Roxanne Field and Daphne Jaques have volunteered as co-chairs for the "Close to Our Hearts Gala" in 2005 and 2006 and sat on the steering committee for 2007. We are very pleased to have contributed to the 2007 "live" auction component of the gala, raising the largest single amount through an auction prize. RS Field Design Inc. has also been a long time supporter of the Burlington Art Centre and of the Children's Clay Studio project.

International Women's Day

Women's Day breakfast at Holiday Inn on Friday

The International Women's Day Breakfast is back in town this Friday.

The 12th annual edition of the forum about women's issues is slated for February 29 from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Burlington, Holiday Inn, 3036 South Service Rd.

Once again former Burlington Member of Parliament Paddy Torsney is sponsoring the yearly presentation.

The Canadian theme for International Women's Week 2008 is Strong Women, Strong World.

Sarah Takaki, education coordinator from Engineers Without Borders Canada, will be this year's breakfast speaker.

Two students from each Halton high school will be attending the event for free through sponsorship by Diane Gaudaur of Royal Lepage Real Estate, Rosemary Fisher of Simpson Wigle and Roxanne Field of RS Field Design Inc.

Established by the United Nations in 1977, International Women's Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in advancing women's equality, to asses the challenges facing women and to consider future steps to enhance the status of women in society. Each year on March 8 hundreds of Interional Women's Day events occur around the world.

Anyone can attend the event. Tickets cost $14 and must be purchased in advance from A Different Drummer Books, 513 Locust Street.

For more information, call 905-637-8909.

Reprinted with permission from The Burlington Post.