When 5-year-old Claire wished for her very own cubby house to escape between hospital treatments, little did she know carpenter Adam Dovile (of House Rules and Better Home and Gardens fame) would make her Starlight Wish come true.
It’s fair to say every kid dreams of a cubby house – a space where they can let their imagination run wild and escape from reality, and Claire from south-western Sydney is no exception. Born with a chronic kidney and bladder illness Claire is regularly in and out of hospital, and for her Starlight Wish, she wanted nothing more than her own space to relax between hospital treatments.
Starlight Children’s Foundation (Starlight) collaborated with Adam and Australia’s leading woodcare brand, Cabot’s, to make Claire’s once-in-a-lifetime wish come true. “Granting Claire’s wish is such a humbling experience especially after hearing about her story and what she has to go through on a daily basis,” explains Adam. “She’s a really tough kid and it’s an absolute honour to build Claire her own dream cubby for her to enjoy with her family.”
As a qualified carpenter Adam was the perfect man for the job. In addition to his creative talents he was armed with Cabot’s decking products and accessories. The cubby house design was inspired by Claire’s love of the outdoors, especially gardening and picking flowers. A sturdy Colorbond roof was included to protect Claire from direct sunlight, to which her medication makes her sensitive, and a craft table was included for Claire to explore her passion for arts and crafts.
For a beautiful finish, the cubby was painted with Cabot’s Timber Colour in Oxford and Lexicon. Little window boxes and plants were added. And as the final touch, the flooring and furniture were finished using Cabot’s Deck and Exterior Stain European Beech.
The gorgeous cubby house was recently revealed to Claire and her excited family just in time for Christmas. The project is the first in Cabot’s Dream Decks for a Cause, which brings together charity and creativity for worthy recipients.
