My little bit of time off from work was just the ticket. I got to putter around the house at a leisurely pace and get those little things done from my reno I just didn't have time to do. I finally put the last shelf up in my closet and organized it perfectly. My spice rack is now completely done and up on the inside of my cupboard. (I really think some IKEA should be in every home) It's the best spice rack ever, even though I think it's a bit pricey, its sure saves on space!
Surprise!.....I spent a whole lotta time on Craigslist searching for deals. I found a bed frame (which I have been looking for for months) that is low profile. My dream was to have a teak mid century bedframe with a headboard and attached side tables but it would have been way to cramped in my bedroom. I opted for a bedframe that makes my bed look like it's floating off the floor. I snagged it off Craigslist and I've attached the picture. I definitely think it was the right choice for my room. I'm leaving the large Challignac Ceramic and Velvet framed art above my bed as a headboard (another great find on Craigslist). I also sourced another white shag rug of Craigslist for $25 for my bedroom. I now feel my bedroom is complete.
Another great find was a 1960's blonde headboard for my daughter's room for a measly $5. I couldn't pass it up even though what I really wanted was a teak or walnut one. For $5 I can still have it and if I want keep looking on CL for an alternative. When she moves out in December I will be decorating her room as a guest room.
My hand rail has been lifted on my glass stair railing to pass code, although I haven't called for final inspection as yet. I'm waiting until my contractor comes back to install my kitchen backsplash tile the second week of December and then I'll call. I figure that since my stair railing was supposed to be totally finished by June 1st and it's taken the railing company until mid November to get it done (and right) I'll take my sweet time getting my final inspection and he'll just have to wait for the final balance I owe him for the railing.
I put my Christmas lights up on the weekend, all white. I chickened out on putting them up on the top eave. I got vertigo when I tried to do it up top. I still need to pick up some more lights for my Maple tree and it should be good.
Well that's about it for now.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
OK, it wasn't and isn't officially over
The railing is still an issue. Tried to get my final inspection on my house and unfortunately it failed. The reason?....the railing is too low. Unbelievable! After talking to Ron from Craftwell he said he knew it was too low but thought it would pass. News to me...thanks for telling me. He now has to make new brackets to raise the railing. They are still not ready. It's now November and still it's not completely finished. I haven't paid him and he won't get a dime until it passes. He has lost so much money on this project. The good news is it looks pretty awesome. There are a few things I'm not thrilled about but all in all its pretty cool. At least it's up and no one can fall off the top ledge.
I ordered my kitchen backsplash tile last week. I wanted penny tile but in Canada it's really hard to find. I settled on white tiny hex tile which almost looks like penny tile and the great news is it's relitively inexpensive. My contractor still owes me his time to install so there will be no charge for that. I'm hoping the tile arrives near the end of this week. I'd like it done before December if possible.
I'm off on holiday this week from work so I'll get some of the little things done I haven't had time for like organizing better and little things like putting up my spice rack on my inside cupboard.
Fall is definitely here. I mowed my lawn for the last time last week and it looked great until a little bit of wind came up and blowed all the leaves from the neighbors trees into my yard. I'm going to wait until they all drop and then do the raking.
I can't believe Christmas is almost here. I'm looking for white string lights to put on my white Christmas tree I found on Craigslist in the summer. It's going to look fabulous!!!
;)
I ordered my kitchen backsplash tile last week. I wanted penny tile but in Canada it's really hard to find. I settled on white tiny hex tile which almost looks like penny tile and the great news is it's relitively inexpensive. My contractor still owes me his time to install so there will be no charge for that. I'm hoping the tile arrives near the end of this week. I'd like it done before December if possible.
I'm off on holiday this week from work so I'll get some of the little things done I haven't had time for like organizing better and little things like putting up my spice rack on my inside cupboard.
Fall is definitely here. I mowed my lawn for the last time last week and it looked great until a little bit of wind came up and blowed all the leaves from the neighbors trees into my yard. I'm going to wait until they all drop and then do the raking.
I can't believe Christmas is almost here. I'm looking for white string lights to put on my white Christmas tree I found on Craigslist in the summer. It's going to look fabulous!!!
;)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
October...1 year anniversary
It is now officially over....well, the railing that is. I will post pictures soon. It was completed last week and I recieved the papers from the engineer yesterday at dinner time. I can now call for final inspection. Never did I think I would have to wait this long for my final. My railing was supposed to be completed by June 1st. This company, Craftwell Construction, has been a nightmare. I will be phoning the city to get my final this week. The railing company wanted pictures of the railing which I will not be giving them. Why should I?
I spent last weekend powerwashing my front and back patios so I could coat them before winter. I did get the back garage area exposed agregate coated with glaze but the back patio I just didn't have time before the weather changed. My front walkway also got coated which looks great.
I finally had my real estate agent come in on Friday to look at my house after the reno. She hasn't seen it since I first moved it. Lets just say she was absolutely flabbergasted at the final result. I was pleased to hear that she thought I'd get all the money I sank into the house plus a lot more if I put it on the market. She also said it was the biggest transformation she had ever seen a house go through. She thought I should contact a magazine. I just may do that. Atomic Ranch Magazine are you reading this? That comment in itself made my night!
October 4th was my one year anniverary living in my house and I'm so glad I bought it! It's a pleasure to come home from work, walk through the door and heave a heavy sigh of contentment... :)
I spent last weekend powerwashing my front and back patios so I could coat them before winter. I did get the back garage area exposed agregate coated with glaze but the back patio I just didn't have time before the weather changed. My front walkway also got coated which looks great.
I finally had my real estate agent come in on Friday to look at my house after the reno. She hasn't seen it since I first moved it. Lets just say she was absolutely flabbergasted at the final result. I was pleased to hear that she thought I'd get all the money I sank into the house plus a lot more if I put it on the market. She also said it was the biggest transformation she had ever seen a house go through. She thought I should contact a magazine. I just may do that. Atomic Ranch Magazine are you reading this? That comment in itself made my night!
October 4th was my one year anniverary living in my house and I'm so glad I bought it! It's a pleasure to come home from work, walk through the door and heave a heavy sigh of contentment... :)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
It's never over, is it?
Ok, enough is enough. My railing is still not finished. Oh yes the glass is in but the glass has been cut wrong, so it's not really done yet. The glass wasn't just cut wrong once...but twice...
Just yesterday the installer sent me an email asking if he had left my customer file at my house last week. The answer...and emphatic NO!. I'm guessing the glass has come back and he was checking the measurements and wa-la...no file. What an idiot! I have never been so exasberated with someone. EVER!
On to more possitive things... My painter finished my house. It looks fabulous. I love my turquoise door. In trying to save some money I painted my mailbox to match the door instead of paying loads of money for a new one. It will do just fine for now. I have new house numbers but won't put them up until the garage is finished as the door will have to be re-framed larger.
I'll be back soon when I have an update.
Just yesterday the installer sent me an email asking if he had left my customer file at my house last week. The answer...and emphatic NO!. I'm guessing the glass has come back and he was checking the measurements and wa-la...no file. What an idiot! I have never been so exasberated with someone. EVER!
On to more possitive things... My painter finished my house. It looks fabulous. I love my turquoise door. In trying to save some money I painted my mailbox to match the door instead of paying loads of money for a new one. It will do just fine for now. I have new house numbers but won't put them up until the garage is finished as the door will have to be re-framed larger.
I'll be back soon when I have an update.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Dream continues
Well as I write…my bloody steel railing posts are being installed. I need to cross my fingers here because I’m hoping that I’m happy with them (this time). This was supposed to be finished at the beginning of June and here it is almost September. After the posts are installed the glass will be ordered and I hear that it will be another three working days after that for the glass to come in. So, I’m thinking that means I should have my glass by next summer. I would be shocked if I received the glass by Thursday. Not just shocked but dumb-founded.
Speaking of stairs I finally found shelving that would work beneath my stairs. I purchased a glass store shelving system that can be built to fit under the angle of my stairs. I bought this off Craigslist of course I might add, for less than half the price it would have cost me to buy new. The unfortunate part is I dropped one of the glass panes and gouged my flooring. I’ll ignore that and say that I love the way the shelving looks under the stairs. I painted the wall behind a lovely turquoise color that will also be the color of my front door. And the light beneath the panes of glass lights up all my mid century treasures perching on the shelves. I have also lined up someone to make a nice cushion which will sit atop the built in cupboard shelving I purchased from Ikea. I still need to pick out the fabric for this.
The exterior of the house is supposed to be painted on Sept. 7th (weather permitting). I’m using a medium grey with darker grey accent and white trim under the eaves and on the beams. I don’t think I’ll accent the windows with more white and will just use the existing window for the white off-set. I will also do the brick and chimney the darker grey. I can’t wait to see how the front door looks dressed in turquoise.
Well, that about covers the update…be back soon.
Speaking of stairs I finally found shelving that would work beneath my stairs. I purchased a glass store shelving system that can be built to fit under the angle of my stairs. I bought this off Craigslist of course I might add, for less than half the price it would have cost me to buy new. The unfortunate part is I dropped one of the glass panes and gouged my flooring. I’ll ignore that and say that I love the way the shelving looks under the stairs. I painted the wall behind a lovely turquoise color that will also be the color of my front door. And the light beneath the panes of glass lights up all my mid century treasures perching on the shelves. I have also lined up someone to make a nice cushion which will sit atop the built in cupboard shelving I purchased from Ikea. I still need to pick out the fabric for this.
The exterior of the house is supposed to be painted on Sept. 7th (weather permitting). I’m using a medium grey with darker grey accent and white trim under the eaves and on the beams. I don’t think I’ll accent the windows with more white and will just use the existing window for the white off-set. I will also do the brick and chimney the darker grey. I can’t wait to see how the front door looks dressed in turquoise.
Well, that about covers the update…be back soon.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Mid Century state of mind
I've been Craigslisting again....I think I have a new addiction.
looking for deals is my new pastime and some of the deals have been amazing. I picked up a mid century sideboard for $75 and switched it for the G-plan sideboard which I've now placed in my kitchen with my mid-century coffee pots lining the top. It's a little large for the kitchen but I really like the unit and since I only paid $30 for it, it's a conversation piece. I've picked up quite a few cool things on CL and I can't see why everyone wouldn't buy this way. I've furnished my house for less than $500. I"m still on the lookout for a mid-century mirror and some kind of unique shelving that will fit under my stairs.
.....speaking of stairs.....my railing is STILL not in yet. They are supposed to come today and fix the mars that they did when they tried to install my posts. They better show up. Apparently now they are having trouble getting the engineer to tweak the design. This has now been going on since the end of May and this company is horrid. Stay away from Craftwell....they don't craft well and they don't know how to communicate with their customers. I will be surprised if my railing gets done before winter. Yes, that's how high my hopes are.
My ensuite tap finally came and both were installed on Friday. Jay the plumber came and installed them which made me happy. The vessel sinks had a tendency to be slow draining so he drilled the holes bigger in the drain and now it works great! I finally finished my grouting and sealing last weekend and could use my shower for the first time. It's awesome and I don't even like showers. The frameless glass it beautiful!
It's getting close to having the painter come and paint my house for me but now I'm wondering if I should just get the garage done before that. I'm going to think about it on my trip and make a decision before I get home on Friday. The house was supposed to be painted at the beginning of September.
Well, that's about all for now.
looking for deals is my new pastime and some of the deals have been amazing. I picked up a mid century sideboard for $75 and switched it for the G-plan sideboard which I've now placed in my kitchen with my mid-century coffee pots lining the top. It's a little large for the kitchen but I really like the unit and since I only paid $30 for it, it's a conversation piece. I've picked up quite a few cool things on CL and I can't see why everyone wouldn't buy this way. I've furnished my house for less than $500. I"m still on the lookout for a mid-century mirror and some kind of unique shelving that will fit under my stairs.
.....speaking of stairs.....my railing is STILL not in yet. They are supposed to come today and fix the mars that they did when they tried to install my posts. They better show up. Apparently now they are having trouble getting the engineer to tweak the design. This has now been going on since the end of May and this company is horrid. Stay away from Craftwell....they don't craft well and they don't know how to communicate with their customers. I will be surprised if my railing gets done before winter. Yes, that's how high my hopes are.
My ensuite tap finally came and both were installed on Friday. Jay the plumber came and installed them which made me happy. The vessel sinks had a tendency to be slow draining so he drilled the holes bigger in the drain and now it works great! I finally finished my grouting and sealing last weekend and could use my shower for the first time. It's awesome and I don't even like showers. The frameless glass it beautiful!
It's getting close to having the painter come and paint my house for me but now I'm wondering if I should just get the garage done before that. I'm going to think about it on my trip and make a decision before I get home on Friday. The house was supposed to be painted at the beginning of September.
Well, that's about all for now.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Well, here it is July 5th and the reno is still not quite complete. It feels done but there is a bit of tweaking to do. Some of my handles aren’t on my cabinets yet. My mirror and glass for my ensuite bath won’t be going in until the end of this week. My ensuite lights still need to be installed (waiting for the mirror). I haven’t got my tile yet for my kitchen backsplash yet. My stair railing still is not installed and quite honestly I don’t want to talk about it. I had it out with the railing company owner today and I’ll leave it at that.
I had my final garage sale this past weekend. I made a bit of money (believe me, I need it after this reno). I still want my garage revamped and the exterior of my house painted and my master bedroom balcony re-done with a topless glass railing but I’m guessing the railing will have to wait until next year as the moola is getting dangerously low. For my exterior paint I’ve now decided to deck out the house with a turquoise door. I think a grey exterior with white beams and a white eave outlined in a darker grey trim will be just what the mid century doctor ordered. My minds eye tells me it will look fabulous with the turquoise door.
I am very happy with the house! It looks like the photos from my coveted Atomic Ranch Magazine. When I look back at the reno pictures I honestly don’t know how I lived like that. I am proud to say “I did it”. So far the results are what I had envisioned right from day 1.
Things I am happy about most:
I have running water
I can cook on a stove
I don’t have to clean up a mess everyday after work
The bottom of my feet aren’t rough anymore
I don’t have to worry about my cats
And
I can now relax and have people over
I will add more photos when I can. I’m gaining more and more time as the days progress.
I had my final garage sale this past weekend. I made a bit of money (believe me, I need it after this reno). I still want my garage revamped and the exterior of my house painted and my master bedroom balcony re-done with a topless glass railing but I’m guessing the railing will have to wait until next year as the moola is getting dangerously low. For my exterior paint I’ve now decided to deck out the house with a turquoise door. I think a grey exterior with white beams and a white eave outlined in a darker grey trim will be just what the mid century doctor ordered. My minds eye tells me it will look fabulous with the turquoise door.
I am very happy with the house! It looks like the photos from my coveted Atomic Ranch Magazine. When I look back at the reno pictures I honestly don’t know how I lived like that. I am proud to say “I did it”. So far the results are what I had envisioned right from day 1.
Things I am happy about most:
I have running water
I can cook on a stove
I don’t have to clean up a mess everyday after work
The bottom of my feet aren’t rough anymore
I don’t have to worry about my cats
And
I can now relax and have people over
I will add more photos when I can. I’m gaining more and more time as the days progress.
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