Boy's Bedroom....After Photos....

Okay, I'm done the boy's room...almost! A few minor details like shelves inside the closet and installing their new burnished bronze door handle and hinges, but I can wait! If you read my other posts on this room, you will know that it has been a long process! When you renovate, delays are the norm! You can check out the before pictures here.

When we built our new houses, you go in, and you can pretty much do a room and walk away fairly quickly...but renovating...nothing is simple! In this room, we replaced all the trim, the flooring, closet door, electrical switches, outlets, heater, patched & painted. I won't go into all the petty things that can and do go wrong!

We are all pretty happy with the way it has turned out...we compromised on hardwood floors and settled on laminate. Someday we absolutely will go with hardwood throughout the upper level...but for budget reasons and doggy reasons, this is a great solution! I love the blue paint colour in their room...I have used it before and do not grow tired of it. It changes with the sunlight and the room always looks sunny and fresh!

One thing I am proud of is the price I paid for a lot of items...I bought our closet door for $5 at a yard sale! All the trim and laminate we got on sale, and I will add little comments about prices beside the photos so that you can see how great yard sales can be if you are on a budget!


Okay, we had the bed, but the bedding was only $20 on clearance...that is a complete bed in the bag and it looks great! The metal lamps were $7 at Walmart, the map on the wall $2.50 at the Great Canadian! The shelf above Sam's bed was a yard sale find for $1!




Solid Canadian maple bedside table $10 at Value Village, I painted the drawer fronts only! The lamp was from my favourite american store The Christmas Tree Shop...I think it was $9!



The window shows of a few of our vintage dinky car collections! The blinds are wooden and would retail for approx $70 for this size window but I paid $5 at Kents on clearance because they were cut wrong! They don't quite fit the window, but the yard sale curtains hide that fact!

The solid pine shelf bought at a yard sale for $1 featuring our rock collections and one of Sam's many trophies and one of my favourite dinky cars! Oh, and Sponge Bob...another kid favourite!




This is one of two shelves that I bought at the Christmas Tree Shop for approx. $4 with an original painting by my 10 year old son Jack! One of our bobble heads! We are hockey fans!



Another original artwork by Jack with a Toronto Maple Leaf bobble head on my other wicker shelf!


This is Jack's side of the room! I managed to find a headboard similar to his brothers at a yard sale though it does not have the drawers under the bed like Sam's. I do have wicker baskets under the bed to hold his odds and ends.




Here you can see my $5 closet door and $2 pewter handle. The wire shelving we had and we had to shorten it. I did a different colour on this wall to focus in on the angles! One big reason why I love capecods...they are not your traditional boxy square rooms! You can also see our laminate...when you compare it to the yucky carpet we had before...this is lovely!!!!



This is a shot of my favourite thing...and the photo does not do it justice! This is a woven wool rug that is silky soft and feels so good on bare feet! I found this at a yard sale for $2!!! I actually have to give the credit to my mother...she knew I was on the look out and she spotted it first...I am so grateful! It was spotless and almost seemed brand new!


Okay, this is by the door goint out. I still have to paint the book shelves and add some art to their wall but otherwise it looks better in real life. I wish I had a wide angle lens...someday! The tree hooks is a favourite of mine and the kids hang their towels in their room...otherwise the bathroom is overwhelmed with towels. The shelf beside the door holds Jack's pj's and stuff...I found that at Walmart for $20!



Another shot of their room. I bought them this doodle board and listed their daily duties and weekly duties to help them keep the room clean! They are doing a great job so far. The lamp was a yard sale find for $2...and it is a tri-light!

Almost Finished...

Well, my boys room that we started way back in early June...is almost done! We worked in between my husband's shift work and a busy summer schedule. What we thought would be quick and easy...wasn't! However, the floor is laid, a new closet door installed, new trim throughout, new electrical outlets, new heater and many little nail holes (some not so small) are filled, patched and painted. I think the reality when you redo an older home is that it will always take longer than you anticipate. We are used to working in new construction conditions, minus flooring, furniture, etc...you go in and you create the room you want without many extra steps in between.

The room isn't a decorating wow by any standards! Especially compared to what I see in blog world. But, I do think it looks really good and the kids like it! I will fine tune the decorating as I go along. I think what you will enjoy about seeing the room is how cheaply we did it, yet I don't think it looks cheap! I really am a yard sale, on sale only shopper and that works great for us!

My other big fear in decorating is ever owning something that I consider more precious than my kids! You know what I mean, the stuff that can't be touched, sat on, set a drink on, etc.. Plus, the pressure to keep things perfect does some weird things to my personality, so I avoid perfection like a disease. I always like a little kitch or "huh"...why did she do that??

So, the room needs only one final coat of paint on the doors and then I am done for now. I still need to paint or remove the dresser and I may repaint the kids bookshelf. But moving hundreds of books doesn't inspire greatness in me, so that will stay as is for now!

So, hopefully within the next day or two I will put photos up of all my deals including prices and you can maybe be inspired by my thriftiness...

Shade Gardening

My house is tucked into a mini forest in the suburbs...my own private oasis, my little private slice of paradise...with trees all around, towering high above us, maple trees extending their big long branches dripping in full lush green leaves...to dapple the sunlight and protect us from the heat of summer. I have apple trees flanking both sides of my u-shape driveway, I have huge pine trees, cedar trees and the towering (my mind went blank here) trees...

However, with all these great trees comes the challenge to garden. I only have certain areas with full sun... one huge bed along my garage, which is loaded with plants. I have a herb garden, garlic bulbs growing, rose bushes, and loads of perennials. I am working on taming the other side, it is a beast...it really does need to be dug up and replanted but the job will be huge, so I have been holding off till we do some other work around the garage.

I have been busy working on thinning the branches in the trees that seperates my property from my neighbour. I started trimming almost immediately when I moved in just over a year ago. I find it very relaxing to trim the branches and remove dead wood. I want the kids to be able to walk or run through the trees without taking an eye out. Plus, I am hoping to improve my chances for the ferns and the woodland flowers to have more sunlight to grow. I am removing the wild buttercups that have tentacles that stretch for miles, I take great pride in ripping them out! I have also started transplanting shade loving plants to the bed I am creating along the tree line.

I discovered I have lots of beautiful moss covered rocks scattered throughout the woods. I also find them beneath the soil as I plant my new flowers. I also snagged some great deals at my local grocery store. It was closing the garden center for the season. They were giving away the tall grasses for free and you could fill one of those large trays with any amount of plants that you could squeeze in for the grand price of $2.00!!!! My kind of gardening!

I have also enjoyed planting some succulents into my rock borders. I also created some nice, low maintenance containers. I used different succulents then finished it off with moss from the woods which looks so pretty! Once the fall comes, I will plant the succulents into my rocks that border different beds and start fresh with new pots next year.

My house...my plans....subject to change!

My house as it is...today! (well early spring 2007)

Just thought I would share some of the styles, colours or items that are on my wish list for the renovations on the exterior of my home...hopefully next summer...though a new tent trailer might delay it by another summer! We plan to build a nice sized deck just off the mudroom entrance with wrap around stairs which avoids needing a railing. The front steps will also be replaced with new ones that my husband will build...we hope to do these two projects this summer...though they will not be attached to the house until the siding is completed.

I really want to add the middle gable. It would add so much light into our staircase. Plus, this shows again two windows on each side...far more balanced.

I love the red!!! We also plan to add sidelight windows to the front door.


I have pondered a linen to light yellow colour..but I know I won't go with that. I want something light but earthy to fit into my woodsy landscape.

Colour scheme I am considering...plus that is my siding profile that I must have...no compromises there!

This is a faux stone product that I plan to put on my foundation.

This is how I plan to update the garage.

The red door is one of the front door styles I am considering.

This is a cape cod that is as old as mine but has been updated. I plan to reshingle our roof...purely cosmentic...and I like this colour and style. Plus, I like this colour a lot...but it only comes in the profile shown so it isn't really an option. My dream is wooden siding...but it is more than double the price!

We also plan to "maybe" replace our two picture windows with two individual windows to balance the house on each side. However, I just don't know if I can sacrifice my view...you feel as though you are outside when your sitting inside...I love that! So, this is a big struggle for me.

Not the best photo...but my view takes up the whole wall and looks out on a very private woodsy lot in the middle of suburbia!

I will add more photos as I find them on my computer...I am a sloppy photo person who has no order to her pictures!

Sam & Jack's room continued....

Okay, so we are still working on their room....my hubbie managed to get the floor down on Saturday and paint the accent wall. We still have lots to do...but hopefully you will get an idea of the room.

The accent wall is still the old colour yellow. The colonial closet door I snagged at a yardsale for $5 and the cool computer chair was $2!

Yes, the dresser is being painted...notice the ugly carpet!

These steel frame shelves were so cheap...only $20 at Cotsco and you can build them in whatever configuration you want. Very heavy duty too!

Just another shot of the old colour.

The bunk beds are going! The Canadian maple bedside table I got at Value Village for $5 and it is retro 70's! I do have to paint the drawer fronts but I will keep the hardware.

So, this shows you the ugly....hopefully the next posts will show a new and improved kids room!

Ella's pretty in pink bedroom...

Here are a few photos of my little girls room. The room originally was dark and gloomy. This is what I call a make-up renovation. We still have to replace her windows....summer 2008 and add new flooring and trim which will hopefully be this fall. I have reconciled myself to getting laminate for upstairs until we can replace it later with hardwood. I can't live with the old carpet and it kinda freaks me out that it maybe harbouring dust and dirt. We have a woodstove so I prefer surfaces that can be wiped down.

The wooden kitchen set is a favourite!

Her bed I bought at a yardsale for $20!

Gifts from people we love!

Desk & Chair from Value Village for $20!

A closer view of her kitchen! She uses a vintage china teapot!


Lousy photo but it shows her beloved Jasmine lamp.

A couple of photos proving Ella has actually slept in her bed...even if it was just pretend!


I will add more photos later of the other side of her room....the room was messy that day from renovating their brother's room. So, I just moved all the junk around till I couldn't take any more photos. I wish I had a better camera with a wide angle lens...did I mention I hate my camera!

Diningroom again....

I am finally painting the inside of my diningroom china cupboard! It has only taken me months to get around to it.....I will share the after pictures later...I am also trying to weed out some dishes or glassware....but I find it so hard! As the photos show, I have lots of jugs, dishes, glasses, even a soup toureen...and I love every piece.

I have a temporary book-shelf in the diningroom and the stuff on the top is my maybe pile.....the worst thing is the painful headaches I get when I paint....horrible! So, I have to muster up the enthusiasm to endure another bad headache as I add another coat of paint!


However, it will be nice to get this project done and then finally move onto the dining table...I can't wait to paint it and add new material to the seats...well actually I can wait on the work, but I can't wait to see the end result!

The Boys Room...

We are planning on redoing our son's room. It is simply...disgusting! It has carpet that has to go and we plan to widen the entrance into the closet to make it more practical for storing clothing and odds and ends. We will replace all the trim and closet door and paint.

Their room is a lovely spacious room that has full sun during the day...that is why you see Finnigan lounging on their armchair. The room holds bunkbeds, a fullsize comfy armchair, a steel shelving rack for their television, music and baskets of junk plus their dresser and a computer desk. All that, and the room is still spacious!

Since our house is a capecod, you get lots of neat angles that can also be tricky. Inside their huge closet, the ceiling slopes...that is why we plan to widen the closet door entrance to take advantage of the wasted space. Andy loves building closet organizers. He has always built really nice custom fit ones in all our homes. Plus, it will be fun to paint the angled wall a nice contrasting colour.

My biggest dilemma is the flooring. I have always preferred hardwood. My second choice is berber then it would be laminate. It isn't that I don't like the look of laminate...I do....it is the feel...I'm weird like that...maybe a bit OCD...but the feel under my foot or the sound that muffles up has always irritated me somewhat.

But, when I compare the cost between hardwood and laminate, (carpeting isn't an option as maggie our dog has accidents) laminate makes sense. Especially right now with Sam and Jack being so rough on their surroundings. You see, we live in our home 24/7....since we homeschool. Sam might be upstairs doing his work or reading, or Jack might drag out his lego or they may have friends over to hang out...and inevitably, drinks are spilled, markers are stained onto the floor or scratches appear from who knows what. Plus, the other big positive to using laminate is the fact that I can replace the carpet in Ella's room which would be wonderful!

We are thinking of putting it in temporarily till they move out...which surprisingly is only five years away or less for my older two....that way when we do sell we will have nice new hardwood floors...I wish I knew what to do. I want to be financially practical and get the most bang for my dollar...but at the same time, I don't want to wish for hardwood everytime I am in their room....

Am I being silly....seeing this photo of Jack fast asleep, half on the bed half off...makes me wish I could just do berber. But, with Maggie it just isn't an option.

Help!!

Yard Sale Delights

Life is good again....I have managed to go out twice this month to a few yard sales. It is a slow start this year....today it poured rain, it was cold....but we were up and out by 7:30am.

Today I found some nice jewellery that I am most pleased with and some pretty pillows.
Last week I found this most beautiful green tinware baking set. I imagine making rice pudding in it as my Aunty Jean used to bake her rice pudding in these lovely old yellow tinware dishes. I also found a lovely old glass pyrex dish...that I will get a lot of use out of. I want to try to get away from storing all my leftovers in plastic. Having dishes like these means you cook, serve and save all in the same dish.

I also found this lovely old wicker purse..though not at a yard sale. I found it uptown at Roy's Army Surplus. I love his store as he has so many neat things. I used to take Sam my middle son to his store as Sam has a major army memorabilia collecton. It was such a nice surprise to find this wicker bag tucked onto the shelf as I have been collecting them for many years now and they are hard to come by. I love them and I have quite a collection. This is a pretty one...though not overly impressive...but because they are harder to find I couldn't leave it behind...


Already I can't wait for next weekend...

My Dirty Little Secret

One area that seems to bring lots of quick jokes at my expense is my need for my dishwasher to be loaded in a very specific way! Discovering the secret of loading a dishwasher is only entrusted to certain unique, highly intelligent, fairly organized individuals like myself. I can take a sinkful of dishes and make them fit into an already full dishwasher!

So, when I see a plate on the top rack or a knife facing upwards or a cup in the wrong section...then I have to fix it! Now, I am even so bold to correct Alli and Shane as they attempt to load the dishwasher since I consider them family and not guests...so it is fair game when it comes to my dishwasher! Though correcting them means I am the butt of many jokes...I still can't resist fixing their blatant errors in loading a machine that brings peace and harmony to relationships! My marriage would have been over within two years if we hadn't gotten a dishwasher! This is serious stuff!

It's Spring because I said so....

At supper tonight Andy informs me that we are about to get a big storm...upto 20cm of snow and high winds. I just felt resentful, wanting spring to burst forth because all of us are so sick of winter. We have a serious case of the winter blues!

So, what do I do to cope with this news....I take it upon myself to go clean my two huge picture windows from the outside. I drag my kitchen chair outside, grab my bounty and windex, balance my chair on my frozen flower beds and climb up and get to work!

I realized how silly I looked, but I wanted to wash away the grime from the winter, the dirty snow balls that the kids throw at my two windows...depending on which room I'm in...they never tire of scaring me!

So, I have to say that I felt a sense of satisfaction knowing that in spite of ole mother winter...this mamma was moving forward ignoring completely the impending storm!

Easter Musings...

Well, today is Good Friday and it really has been! Last night, Shane & Alli text messaged me that they had booked their tickets to Canada and would arrive in Halifax on April 16th! I'm still smiling as I write this because I'm still a bit in shock and feel like the air is filled with so much promise.

They still have so many more decisions ahead of them...but I admire the guts it takes to make big life changing decisions with no safety nets below them other than their deep faith that guides their path. I have good vibes that New Brunswick will be kind to them and pivotol in shaping their future goals.

Oh, and I noticed from my kitchen window today that my garlic is sprouting...I am so excited! I imagine myself braiding my garlic in the fall and cooking with my own fresh garlic...yumm! So many promises...



I also started prepping our front window today so that I can paint it and get one more thing ticked off my to do list. I felt I had to wait for the cold snap to break because it has been so bitterly cold. I worried that the paint along the glass wouldn't cure properly.

I am working on my easter eggs for the kids. I will fill them with candy and hide them outside in the garden...no matter what the weather! If it snows...which it might...the kids can have fun searching in the snow...or enjoy easter eggs for the next week or so as they reappear amidst the melting snow.

Andy will be at work on Easter which is new for me. It feels strange not having him here...even though he never actually does any of the easter kid stuff, except to steal some of their chocolate, it will feel odd not having him here. Plus, he is the one who would normally cook our big breakfast and help me with the dinner...

I also don't feel up to hosting a big huge family dinner so I am going to make a very small turkey breast and some mashed potatoes for me and the kids. Andy got us the new Charlotte's Web movie and we will watch that after dinner.

Oh, and as I sit here I realized the other job I hope to tackle soon is my glass cupboard in the diningroom. It needs painted and all the bits and pieces of old china, pottery, glasses, etc., needs organized and displayed properly. This will be fun because I am painting it a pretty colour to make it pop.


As you can see, I haven't touched it since we moved in just over a year ago. It is organized chaos and that's about it! I have lots of old vintage china and glassware, a pretty good sized pottery collection that for the most part comes from yard sales over the last 20 years! Why pay retail if you don't have too!

Beautiful Kitchens....

One area that I look forward to renovating is my kitchen. As it stands, I am actually very happy with my kitchen as the cupboards are really nice and well made. However, as much as I am enjoying my time with natural wood cupboards, I will be ready to go back to cupboards that are painted a nice light, airy colour.

We plan to replace our old tile backsplash with something new and fun. I love the new glass tiles on the market and I would love to use them....but in reality, I will probably try to choose a tile that will stand the test of time and trends, but the other side of me wants to do something wild and fun in my kitchen because I don't plan to move anytime soon!

When I want inspiration, I tend to look at old houses and see what looks good today as much as it did back then. Then try to update it with a fresh approach, with my own take on it.
I don't know what colour we will paint our cabinets or what tile we will pick but we will have fun planning it as it will be a big job...probably the biggest one in this house before we move outside to tackle the exterior.

The pictures here are of my sister's kitchen which is amazingly beautiful and really showcases her talent! Her husband Paul made all the cabinets himself. He has built Linda many pieces of beautiful furniture that I can only dream of...though I have to mention that he has built me some beautiful pieces too... He also built her kitchen island which she had in her last two houses. She loves it so much that it is never included in her house sales....smart girl! The island is reminiscent of ones found in old shops with the lovely aged wooden top.

I can't recall if Linda painted the cupboards herself or if she hired this job out. Another time, I will show the cupboards that my dad built and they painted theirs as well. There isn't a paint stroke to be found as they are both beautifully done.

Her tile is a subway tile with a glass tile border to break it up and add some sparkle! She has open shelving and her lighting is the old fashioned school lights which look so vintage and fun!

These pictures do not do justice to the feeling you get sitting in her kitchen. Even on the dullest day, you would feel like it is a nice sunny, happy day!