Photo by Lisa Hughes www . lisahughes . ca
Over 25 years ago , Natalie Lagace got involved in the building industry by accident . After buying their first home in Calgary , Natalie and her husband Kelly Coghill decided to tackle a remodel to create their dream home . This quickly led to the discovery that they had a talent for building and design . Creative Innovations & Designs Inc , a Baeumler Approved builder , began by building luxury homes in Calgary ’ s inner city . Ten years later , they added a custom cabinetry shop as well . The cabinet shop has given Natalie and Kelly an advantage in the building industry , allowing them to offer a truly custom service .
CANADIAN HOME TRENDS What advice would you give young women interested in entering trades ?
NATALIE LAGACE Don ’ t be scared off by a male dominated industry . I think it ’ s important to stay confident in your knowledge and true to your integrity .
CHT If you could have lunch with any one person in the world , who would you pick ?
NL I would choose Bethany Frankel . She created her Skinny Girl brand from nothing and although she faced a lot of hard years , she stayed true to her brand and her vision . She has built the brand into something unimaginable . I would love to know what her turning point was from struggling to success . What kept her going before the brand was a success ? What obstacles did she face ?
CHT What is your favorite room in your house ?
NL My favorite room in my house is my bathroom . It has a gorgeous freestanding tub surrounded by glass on all walls . It overlooks a heavily treed , private golf course . It feels like you are in a tree house . It is so relaxing and the perfect place to unwind after a long day on site ! - Creative Innovations & Designs INC . www . creativeinnovations . ca
While attending university , Matthew Blanche worked for a landscaping company and developed a passion for hardscape . This passion led to the launch of Epic Interlock and Landscape in 2001 , serving residential and commercial customers in the Durham Region , Whitby , Oshawa and The Greater Toronto Area . Matthew takes inspiration from people that persevere under difficult circumstances . Having been born deaf , he had to find unconventional ways to perform simple tasks as a business owner , such as answering client ’ s phone calls before text messaging or email were common place , ordering materials , etc . Matthew believes it is important to educate young people about hardscaping as a viable career option . He also aims to educate homeowners on how to navigate an unregulated industry fraught with inexperienced , uneducated and unqualified hardscapers . Matthew strives to bring a new level of excellence to the hardscaping industry as a member of Landscape Ontario . Epic Interlock is Baeumler Approved and a Unilock Authorized Contractor .
CANADIAN HOME TRENDS If you could have lunch with any one person , who would you pick ?
MATTHEW BLANCHE My Mom passed away from cancer a few months ago . I ' d love to tell her I ’ m doing OK and that the Leafs lost in the first round again .
CHT What advice would you give your younger self ?
MB Keep wearing your heart on your sleeve . All the heartaches will be worth it .
CHT Name one thing on your bucket list .
MB Take my family on a trip to Europe or Australia . I may never come back though .
CHT What is your favorite room in your house ?
MB My kitchen because I love to cook ! - Epic Interlock & Landscape , www . epicinterlock . com ,