Festive Fix-Up
The festive season is a joyful time of year. We embrace the wintery weather, twinkly lights flood our streets, and the Christmas magic is enjoyed by most during this euphoric period. The holidays are a time to spread love, happiness, and to give to the people who truly deserve it. With that in mind, our goal this season was to give back to those who do so much for our community, and who selflessly put others before themselves. In the hunt for a noble charity, a lovely citizen of the community opened our eyes to Hopes and Beams, and we soon learned they were a perfect match for our Festive Fix-Up project.
Hopes and Beams was founded in 1993 by the wonderful Jane and Iain. Since then, they have expanded and developed a multi-award-winning charity helping a wide range of worthy people. Their unique skills allow them to coach young people with physical, sensory, and learning difficulties, as well as help the older generation stay active, providing a safe space for everyone to grow and thrive. Some of their biggest achievements are teaching people to interact with society, infusing individuals with the confidence to approach and secure jobs, as well as coaching many athletes in disability sports to British, national, and world championship levels. The team at Hopes and Beams is made up of selfless volunteers who rely on generous donations to help provide such unique services in a fun, safe environment.
Amie, Sales Director here at SBI says, “When we were first introduced to Hopes and Beams, we knew they’d be a perfect contender for our Festive Fix-Up project. Once we finally visited their space, we instantly fell in love with what they do and what they give back to the community, and we were thrilled to hear they’d accept our help with brightening up their space!
The team at Hopes and Beams works tirelessly to support everyone who walks through their door, constantly bringing positivity and happiness to every day. Their upbeat attitude is contagious, and they truly influenced our entire team”.
Our goal for the festive Fix-Up project was to use our expertise to provide a well-deserved refresh to Hopes and Beams space. When viewing their headquarters, we decided it was best to focus on the entryway and the Games Room, embracing the natural structures of the space, and incorporating designs that were influenced by the energy provided from the work they do. It was important to us to include colours that not only look good, but also benefit the people who frequently use this space. With this concept, we knew that colour psychology would play a vital role in the design. Collaborating with Crown Paints, SBI were able to grow their understanding on how colours affect mood, and which colours would be suitable for this space. Alongside knowledge, Crown generously donated all the paint used for this project. This incredible contribution allowed us to choose unique colours, as well as use high-quality paint that would withstand the activeness faced at Hopes and Beams.
Jemma Saunders, Colour Consultant at Crown Paints, states: “Show Business Interiors are an inspirational company delivering beautiful show home designs for national housebuilders. It was only natural to want to team up with them on this project. Not only have we built up a good relationship with the team, there is a synergy with own ESG programme, Project Possible.
Crown has a long history of supporting charities and community projects and as Christmas is all about giving, we wanted to support Show Business give their time and expertise to transform Hopes and Beams, a charity aimed at creating fun and worthwhile experiences for children with disabilities. What is not too love - a creative, colourful and caring project.”
For the entryway, our team wanted to use abstract shapes to infuse the space with fun and playfulness. We chose a muted colour palette ranging from burnt ochre, lilacs and sage greens to create a calming, welcoming atmosphere. Using our wide range of creative skills at SBI, we hand paint Hopes and Beams logo onto the wall, adding a personal touch to the space. Practicality was also an important factor when designing, which is why we included shelving which is sheltered by a paint arch to clearly section the storage from the rest of the room.
The Playroom is a multifunctional space used by many people. There are mirrors for dancing, a projector for movie nights, as well as a pool table and an ice hockey table for enjoyment. Because of its fluorescent green blinds, this room is also nick-named, The Green Room. We wanted to embrace its name, creating a sage green paint band around the entirety of the room. Not only will this maintain the well-known name, but sage green is also known for its relaxing and soothing elements, perfect for such a multifunction space. Pictures of the children are displayed throughout the walls, as well as recognisable images of Crewe like the old Rolls Royce factor and the railway. This creates personal touches for all people who use this space, sparking conversation. We also added more subtle changes such as swapping the broken blinds, colour-washing the hallway, changing the seating and cushions, and adding a rug for movie nights. All these changes implemented a huge impact as well as making it easier to use and navigate.
Alongside Crown Paints, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Roof Plus LTD and A. Lench Building Contractors LTD for providing us with the scaffolding, roof repairs, and even a set of hands along the way! Thank you, as well, to Birkdale Design Limited for the generous donation of a stylish yet practical sofa that is now placed in the entry way,
The work Hopes and Beams do truly influence our entire team, inspiring us with their positivity, inclusivity and ability to create joy in any situation or circumstance. We are so grateful to be in the position to help such a worthy charity and are thankful for all the donations given during this project. We look forward to continuing working with such an amazing organisation full of influential people and are proud to see our Christmas gift to the community has made such a difference.