Testimonials

Dear Ms. Mackay:

Sincerest thanks for your donation to the silent auction organized by staff at the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of their Federated Health Charities campaign. Your support has helped FHC raise more than $2-million this year alone from current and retired Ontario Public Servants.

Every year, for the past 27 years, Ontario government employees have participated in Federated Health, a fundraising and health awareness campaign that provides valuable support for sixteen major health charities. FHC has supported vital research, innovative health education programs, and essential patient services.

Once again, many thanks for your contribution to the success of the campaign. We are grateful for your kindness and support.

Yours truly,

John Russell, Executive Director
Federated Health Charities

Dear Diane,

On behalf of Federated Health Charities and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s 2009 Federated Health Charities Campaign Team, we would like to acknowledge your generous donation to our Federated Health Silent Auction.

Thanks to your support, the silent auction raised over $4000.00 to assist 16 health-related charities across Ontario, such as the Alzheimer Society, Arthritis Society, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis, and the Lung Association just to name a few (visit www.federatedhealth.ca for complete listing of all the charities that are supported). The money fundraised from the campaign funds vital research, innovative health education programs, and the provision of essential patient services.

Your commitment to helping Federated Health Charities is sincerely appreciated, both by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as well as by the recipient charities. It means the world to us and all of the people that the charities support!

Sincerely,

Helen Stevenson, Dawn Ogram
Executive Co-Leads, Federated Health Campaign

Dearest Elegant Surrounding by Diane:

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous gift certificate contribution for Interior Design Consultations to the second annual silent auction in support of The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. This Oakville event which took place in April 2009 was made up of local business’s and volunteers who came together for a deserving cause. Together we successfully created and event for children and their parents to enjoy a morning of entertainment, comedy, crafts and shopping. Your gift certificates were both sought after and well received. Your donation helped raise over $2000.00 dollars for this particular one hour event. This amount was part of the over $200,000.00 dollar total that was raised in a combined effort for the Toronto Spring Sprint. The Brain Tumour Foundation’s ultimate goal is to make brain tumour’s history. In addition to raising funds for research this organization also raises awareness and has programs that support children and adults and their families that suffer from this illness. It is only because of community out-reach and business owners like you that this event was such a success. We appreciate your participation and hope you will continue to support this cause and others in your community in the future. Thank you very much Elegant Surroundings for making your community more beautiful inside and out with your creativity and generosity. Thank you, Diane.

Sincere Regards

Shannon Speers, Event Coordinator
Volunteer for the Brain Tumour Foundation

Hi Diane,

I just wanted to thank you doing a great job designing my Christmas planters, selecting a wreath, a lantern with red berries & greenery for my front yard again this year. Every one of my Christmas visitors commented how spectacular they were. Every year I look forward to seeing your creations in my front yard in the winter and in my backyard in the summer.

I also want to you to know that I especially appreciated when you rushed over to help me with my paint colours & carpet & countertop selections for my basement & kitchen. Without you, I could not have done it! Your extra personal touch is also recognized when you keep me in mind during your travels and contact me when you see a carpet, furniture, lamps that you feel would look great in my house. Thanks for a great year!

Carrie & Rob Furlan

Diane is excellent. She is creative, professional, warm and genuine. I just purchased a new home and she gave me great ideas and selected the paint colors and furniture to match. She really turned the house into a home. She has amazing taste and was always considerate of my budget. She made the whole redecorating process very fun and exciting. I highly recommend Diane, there is excellent value in the services she provides. She is the best no doubt!

Donna LaBrosse

Dear Diane,
Thank you so much for all of your help and advice! We very much appreciated you coming to our home and being honest about what were the best changes to be made in order for us to sell quickly and for the right price. You were very friendly and knowledgeable and we appreciated that you were able to work with our budget. After the changes were made, our house looked great and it sold in just 2 day! We look forward to seeing you again and helping us with our new place.

Laura Newman and Marc Blake

Thanks a Million

Dear Diane,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you again for all of your help. The colour you picked for my kitchen cabinets was bang on, even though you did it over the phone in 2 minutes! The slipcovers for the couch and chair in the adjoining family room look amazing too. I am so glad that you never tired of answering my hundreds of questions that I kept throwing at you.

You are one bundle of energy and worth your wait in gold! Can't wait to call you for my next project.

Greatfully,

Lisa H.

Diane is remarkable to work with! Her sense of style is current and tasteful. She works with her client’s own individual tastes while staying on budget. Yet she won’t hesitate to suggest something new, exciting and perhaps not explored by the client. From the paint colours she chose for our whole home, through to the transformation of our living room from blah to beautiful, her attention to every detail has been incredible. Even the smallest detail that Diane has suggested for every room in our home has made a significant difference. Most importantly, Diane is fun to work with and makes even the most difficult renovation worthwhile.

Lisa Jones

Working with Diane is a real pleasure! Not only does she have a great eye, turning spaces into what the target market is looking for, and she has the infrastructure intact. All her trades people are ready to work in a timely fashion, with top quality workmanship.

Santino Agueci (Realtor of 22 years)
Sutton Group Realty Systems Inc.

Diane’s natural talent in design allowed her to quickly see the potential in both my girl’s rooms. She took not of their personal style and interest and created a room of their dreams. They love their rooms and so do I.

Diane also came in and helped create a new kitchen without spending a fortune. With a keen eye to detail we created a new space that updated my house. Thanks for everything, and I look forward to us working together in the future.

Sue Hess

Thanks Diane for all your help. You came in and completed our bedroom so beautifully on such short notice and knowing that we had such little time to have it completed. It feels so great to go into such a calm and relaxing room now.

And a special thanks for completing Isabella’s play room, she has a beautiful room to go into, she sits in her little princess tent and reads her books on all the pillows, the walls are framed beautifully with all of her special art work. Your help came at the perfect time. Can’t wait to work with you again!

L & I Maguire
Oakville, Ontario

Very Satisfied

As a very satisfied client of “Elegant Surroundings by Diane” I would highly recommend Diane as an interior decorator. I found Diane to be extremely knowledgeable and helpful with “ideas and suggestions” as to paint colours, curtains, decorative rods and all types of accessories, always mindful to cost to the consumer.

She has a definitive eye for all sorts of minor changes in keeping up with to-days trends. Diane is energetic, enthusiastic, dependable and has contacts in every area of decorating.

I would not hesitate to call Diane for any future decorating needs.

Sincerely,

Linda Lawson

Diane Mackay was both professional and efficient. She gave my recording studio the creative and stylish feel that I was looking for. The attention to detail ensured a great result. Thanks Diane I was great working with you, everyone loves the new studio.

Harry Hess
Vespa Music Group

Working with Diane has been a pleasure. I had so many ideas and just could not manage to put them together, she helped me with a vision on my living room, and how it was going to look. I absolutely love my living room and have had nothing but complements. We did my guest bathroom as well and it is very inviting and warm, I really was pleased with all the changes in our home, it looks great!! Thanks Diane!

Diane Tuyl

Thank you so much Diane for your help.

Renovating an entire house can be overwhelming. We re-did all the washrooms, the kitchen, knocked down walls, replaced all the flooring and painted the entire house. Without having Diane there to help us, there is no way we could have pulled this all together. Her energy is contagious. She is easy to trust. We never needed to ask for a second opinion. We definitely recommend working with a decorator especially one as experienced and energetic as Diane. Trust us, avoid mistakes, and don't spend money twice. With Diane, you know it is going to be the right decision.

Karla Maya and George Lima

Dear Diane,

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for the outstanding contribution you have made to our recent home projects. Quite simply, we would not be in the place we are today without your creativity, drive and sense of urgency that you brought to the sale of our home and to the interior design recommendations for our new home.

You quickly became a vested partner in the sale of our home guiding us through the staging process with practical, effective design solutions. Additionally, we are thrilled with the professionalism and expert consultation you have provided as we work through the selections and decisions for our new home in St Louis.

Thank you again for all of the hard work and expertise you have delivered to our working relationship and we do look forward to engaging your services again when we return to Toronto.

Many Thanks,

Marilyn & Rob McCarthy