GoodHeart | Spaces Jamaica brunch for home, heart

As paddles went up and pledge cards were signed and returned amid the clinking of glasses, bursts of laughter, and chatter, it was clear that Spaces Jamaica’s 18-year milestone held an especially dear place in Janelle Pantry-Coke’s heart. The brunch, held on Sunday at the Jamaica Food and Drink Kitchen in Barbican, St Andrew, was initially planned as a simple celebration but took on greater significance following the hurricane, prompting the team to add a charity auction to support families and homes affected.

“Life, as you know, has a way of reshaping our priorities. After Hurricane Melissa, it became clear what this celebration had to be. Our theme, ‘Rebuilding with Heart’, captures the very essence of what we do [and] who we are,” Pantry-Coke said. “[The focus is] now on rebuilding lives, restoring dignity to those who have lost so much and creating spaces that nurture hope.” She added that building Jamaica will take everyone, regardless of sector, coming together and lending various skillsets.

If you asked this founder and creative director where she saw Spaces Jamaica going just 18 years ago, no words could fully capture what the brand and its community have become. Speaking with GoodHeart post-event, Pantry-Coke said that reaching 18 years is “both humbling and deeply reflective”.

“It’s a true testament to the incredibly talented team I’ve had the privilege of building over the years. Staying relevant in an industry often dismissed as being ‘driven by trends’ is not easy, but what keeps us grounded is purpose,” she explained, adding, “This milestone reminds us that we’re not just decorating homes, we’re shaping how people live, feel, and express themselves in their spaces.”

Amid the hum of conversation, the brunch also marked the unveiling of The Spaces Edit magazine, the first edition celebrating Jamaica’s evolving design culture. The publication showcases not just beautiful spaces, but the people, stories, and communities behind them.

“My hope is that readers, even those who may not think much about design, feel inspired, seen, and connected. I want them to feel a sense of pride, to recognise themselves in the pages, and to walk away with a deeper appreciation of what it means to create ‘home’ in a Jamaican context,” Pantry-Coke explained, teasing that there may be a second edition on the horizon.

As guests flipped through the magazine, the philanthropic purpose of the day came into focus. Spaces Jamaica is collecting and providing 100 complete sleep kits – each including a mattress, bedding, and essential household items – to families who lost their homes. Through this hurricane relief initiative, the team aims to help households re-establish even the smallest sense of peace, pride, and comfort at home.

“Care packages are meaningful,” Pantry-Coke said, “But we wanted to do something that restored a sense of home, the kind of comfort that allows a family to breathe again, sleep again, and feel safe again. We kept asking ourselves: What would give someone back even a small piece of normalcy? And, for us, the answer was simple: a bed. A bed represents rest, stability, dignity, and the beginning of rebuilding. Staying true to what we know, making home a place of comfort allowed us to give in a way that felt authentic and impactful.”

The silent auction ran quietly in the background, but the live auction quickly became the afternoon’s highlight. Guests huddled in the room eagerly as standout pieces were unveiled, including Gene Pearson’s 2005 black clay bust called Madonna and Kianne Patrice’s digital artwork Waterfront Boys. Patrice, present at the event, explained how the bubbles surrounding the boys capture a moment suspended in joy, a nostalgic nod to Kingston waterfront Sundays, drawing even more attention from art lovers and collectors.

Not all the excitement was on the art. The iPhone Air, initially offered at US$150, sparked a playful paddle battle before ultimately being claimed by bidder number 27 for US$920. Every bid contributed directly to the Rebuilding with Heart initiative. Pantry-Coke noted that early estimates indicate the team is already well on its way to securing at least 30 sets of sleep kits, bringing comfort and stability closer to the families who need it most.

Looking ahead, Pantry-Coke said that community outreach is not a side project for Spaces; it’s woven into the brand’s DNA. The focus will be on creating long-term, sustainable initiatives that go beyond one-off donations. That means forging deeper partnerships, expanding annual charitable projects, and creating programmes that give families not just items, but real pathways to stability.

“For us, design has always been about more than the pretty things. It’s about people, dignity, comfort, and belonging. Our outreach will continue to reflect that,” she said.

rollesha.laing@gleanerjm.com