“Philanthropy is not about the money. It’s about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.” Melinda Gates
With an understanding of and empathy for those who have their own struggles, Kate Walker has always envisioned that one day she would be in a position to help those who truly needed it. In 2021, Kate’s dream became a reality with the launch of KWD’s ‘My Happy Space Movement’. This philanthropic initiative grew from the depths of COVID-19 lockdowns with one single aim, to brighten the lives of children in need.
The inspiration came during lockdown when Kate and her family began renovating their home, Biscayne. Impacted by the turbulent state of the world and living in limbo, Kate realised her daughter needed her own happy space. It wasn’t until the family moved into their renovated home, and her daughter had a beautiful room that was all hers, that she began to smile again. Having her own happy space helped her find her identity and gave her a sense of pride and self-worth.
All of this led to Kate developing a philanthropic program that would create happy spaces for children in need. The ‘My Happy Space Movement’ initiative invited nominations for a boy and a girl student who would be the recipient of a KWD design consultation and bedroom makeover. Explains Kate, “We wanted to give these children some control back in their lives, because COVID-19 had taken so much of that control away. They couldn’t control what activities they did, where they went or who they could see – but with this opportunity they could control how their private space looked and felt.”
The initial brief was for Kate’s children to each pick a recipient from thousands of nominees. The My Happy Space Movement launched with our inaugural recipients, Jack and Kane Lunny. Their father, Darren Lunny, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and when Kate’s son learned about what his two young sons were facing, he encouraged Kate to get her team and sponsors involved in renovating both of their bedrooms.
Darren Lunny and his wife Melanie were so humbled when they discovered that Jack (then seven) and Kane (then 10) had been selected to have a very special bedroom makeover, to bring them some joy and help support them through the emotional challenge that lay ahead. Darren’s diagnosis with stage four pancreatic cancer proved inoperable. Renovating the boys’ bedrooms proved a wonderful distraction and a bonding experience for the whole family.
Creating a bedroom that friends could easily stay in was important to both boys. For Jack, multiple beds were just the ticket, with space on the wall for a climbing frame. “Kane wanted a bit more of a mature space. He had always loved the ritual of his father reading to him before bed, so the reading nook under his loft bed created a space for connecting with this precious memory,” says Melanie.
Designing and installing the rooms for Jake and Kane was far more challenging than one might imagine. From the initial brief and site visit, to creating the design response and presenting to concept, to discussing with, meeting with and collaborating with amazing supply partners who helped to bring the final room together, this project was huge. It definitely took longer than expected, with trials and tribulations and an emotional roller coaster that meant this project was a far bigger undertaking than anticipated.
Design projects do take time. However, whilst eager to have their dreams bedrooms expedited, it was in fact the time taken to design these spaces and the resultant delayed gratification that was the unexpected reward which amplified the joy. Whilst Darren sadly passed before the final reveal, he was a vital part of the process and was involved in every touchpoint along the way. “The project, whilst my husband was ill, buoyed him up and filled him up with energy,” says Melanie.
Explains Kate, “I never expected the emotional ripple this philanthropic endeavour would have through my family, and the connection we would develop with the Lunny family. My son Charlie in particular was so invested in creating a positive experience for Jack and Kane. He spent hours with them teaching them about gaming, helping with the technical side of their set up and being on call for guidance and assistance. I was immensely proud of his selflessness and his commitment to the cause. And my team donated their time, of their own volition, after hours and on weekends to help complete the project. I am so grateful for their support and their belief in what we are trying to achieve.”
For Kate, the unexpected blessing was the joy that this process not only brought to the boys but to Darren and Melanie and their extended family, where the grief of an ending was sprinkled with the hope of a new beginning. The final result shines with love.
Our heartfelt thank you to the incredibly generous and supportive supply partners were worked with the undertake the first two heart-felt projects for our My Happy Space Movement. The scale of these renovations would not have been achievable without the collaborative assistance and selflessness of so many trades and companies who walked with us every step of the way.
A very special thank you to:
Magnus Construction: magnusconstruction.com.au
DMA Kitchens: dmakitchens.com.au
Vansellar Kitchens: info@vansellar.com.au
Lynch’s Window Fashions: lynchswindowfashions.com.au
Elliot Clarke: elliottclarke.com.au
Cutting Edge Wallpaper: cuttingedgewallpapering.com.au
Hepburn Hardware: hepburnhardware.com
Arthur G: arthurg.com.au
Diane Bergeron: dianebergeron.com
Carpet World Mornington: carpetworld.com.au
The Montauk Lighting Co.: montauklightingco.com
Jai Jai Upholstery: jaijai.com.au
MSW Windows and Doors: mswwindows.com.au
New Vision Electrical: rohan@newvisionelectrical.com.au
Tait Mitre10 Somerville: mitre10.com.au
Schuurman Project Builders: schuurmanprojectbuilders.com
ES.ES Painting: esespainting.com.au
Lighting Edge lightingedge.com.au
Beacon Lighting Frankston: beaconlighting.com.au
Wilson and Bradley: wilbrad.com.au
Mapio: mapiodesigns.com.au
Polytec: polytec.com.au
Albedor Industries: albedor.com.au
Wortley Group: wgshowroom.com.au
Mattress Builders: mattressbuilders.com.au
Apparition Media: apparitionmedia.com.au
Electric Confetti: electricconfetti.com
Provincial Living: provincialhomeliving.com.au
Codu Home: codu.com.au
Bed Threads: bedthreads.com.au
Few and Far: fewandfar.com.au
Life Interiors: lifeinteriors.com.au
TRIT trithouse.com.au: trithouse.com.au