ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque woman received the gift of a lifetime. Renovate your kitchen for free thanks to our community. Those who know Debra Padilla say she is the most deserving person to receive something like this.
“She does so much. She helps with pick-ups and drop-offs. If there's an emergency, she's right there,” said Rosemary Pagliaro, Padilla's best friend.
So it was only natural that Pagliaro nominated her best friend, Debra, a single mom, for a chance to win a room renovation as a Mother's Day gift. Interior designer Emily Foster helped plan the prize and selected Padilla as the winner.
“She just takes care of everyone, so now it's time to take care of her,” said Foster, founder of Emily Foster Interiors. She enlisted the help of people and companies she normally works with, who she said were quick to help.
“It's just people I work with. When I told them about this project, they said it was kind of a give back. They were like 100% turned down,” she said.
This week, Padilla got a first look at the newly renovated kitchen. When Deborah Padilla saw it for the first time, she said, “It's beautiful.” She said: “You can cook and bake and roll out bread on this counter. That's the most amazing thing.”
“It just feels amazing to have so much love and so many people giving. I couldn't be more grateful,” Padilla said.
Kitchen renovations included new cabinets, countertops, light fixtures, and a new dishwasher. She also leaves behind meaningful touches, such as displaying her son's work as decorations and one of her beloved gnomes.
“The community came together and we all gave this kitchen to you,” Foster told Padilla.
Rocky Mountain Stone provided the countertops, Doc Savage provided the sink and faucets, Sergio's Drywall assisted with construction and painting, Paul Garcia of PG Electric provided all electrical work, and past customers of Foster's We provided the tiles for the kitchen backsplash. Jade Enterprises Inc. also provided cabinetry and was involved in the renovation.
“We have good people and over time that comes back. It's really refreshing… Our community is a really great community. No matter what people say, there's good there and I I know that, this proves it to me,” Padilla said.
She's ready to start making memories in her new kitchen with Foster, a new friend she made along the way. “I didn't get a new kitchen. I made new friends, and that was the most important thing,” Padilla said.
