Contest winner Chloe Stack has a room fit for a princess

The young winner of a City Building room makeover competition has the bedroom she dreamed of – now Chloe Stack has one simple request for her mum.

“When can I have a sleepover?” she asks…

Chloe, from Knightswood, won our sister paper the Evening Times' contest thanks to her courage and spirit in the face of a serious health battle.

The seven-year-old was recently diagnosed with DKA - diabetic ketoacidosis - a severe, life-threatening complication of Type 1 diabetes, after a dramatic rush to hospital.

It means she has to be very careful about what and when she eats, and her mum Robyn and dad Paul have to get up three times a night to check her blood sugar levels.

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Despite everything, Chloe never complains, and she works hard to raise funds for diabetes charities.

As well as organising bake sales and taking part in fun runs and sponsored walks, she attends conferences and speaks in class to raise awareness of the condition and how it affects people.

Her mum nominated her for the competition, and she was gobsmacked to be told her daughter had won.

“I never enter anything, or put people forward for competitions so I am just very glad I decided to do it this time,” laughs Robyn.

“The new room is amazing.”

Chloe agrees. The normally chatty Knightswood Primary pupil was speechless when she walked into her new room for the first time.

Her reaction delighted interior designer Lynsey Scott and project manager Natalie Macpherson, who worked closely with the little girl and her family throughout the project.

Chloe visited the team at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi), City Building’s manufacturing site in Springburn, to discuss ideas and meet some of the people working on the project.

RSBi provides a range of high quality products, all made on its site in the north of the city, including office and educational furniture, kitchen and bathroom units, timber kits for houses and schools, student accommodation and beds and soft furnishings.

There are 260 staff on the site, more than half of whom have a disability, including visual and hearing impairments and learning difficulties.

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Chloe met sewing section supervisor and machinist Inderjit Gill, who showed her some ideas for soft furnishings, cushion covers and curtains, and manager Ben Kerr who said: “Everyone is very excited about this project. Chloe has had a very tough year and she deserves something special.”

Lynsey and Natalie went out to Chloe’s home to measure the space available and draw up plans for everything from movable furniture - such as the pink fluffy chair which now has pride of place in the room - to portable storage.

They even managed to incorporate most of Chloe’s imaginative ideas, from the bunk bed slide, to the Hollywood-style mirror and the fantastic castle storage area.

“I love every bit of it,” beams Chloe.

Chloe shares a room with her sister Sophie, who is four. She also has a little brother Liam, who is nearly one. The girls’ old bedroom was cramped and desperately in need of a makeover, and the two girls said they had ‘outgrown’ the Little Mermaid mural on the wall.

Chloe’s design brief included glitter, glamour and lots of pink – and the thoughtful big sister even asked for a special writing and drawing area for Sophie.

Robyn says: “The room is amazing, it’s Chloe and Sophie’s dream bedroom! Now Chloe is desperate to show her friends and have some sleepovers.

“They absolutely love the slide – and I am very, very happy with all the storage.”

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She adds: “Natalie, Lynsey and the team of guys from City Building were brilliant. Chloe deserves this so much, after everything she has been through this last year, and Sophie just as much for being a supportive wee sister. Everyone’s over the moon with it.”

Dr. Graham Paterson, executive director of City Building, was full of praise for the team and delighted Chloe was so happy with the end result.

“We were delighted to be part of the initiative which created excitement for all those involved,” he explains.

“Chloe has shown great determination and strength in dealing with her illness, but also in trying to spread awareness to other children.”

He added: “I am proud the work showcases the talent and skills of our workforce at City Building and RSBi. The positive reaction from Chloe and her family made it all worthwhile.”