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Traditional Stairway & Hall Makeover Part One
Do you have a traditional stairway and entrance hall in need of a makeover? A friend reached out to me for some advice on paint colours to choose for her stairway and hall makeover. She already decided on the neutral Cloud White by Benjamin Moore for the walls, but wanted something different for the stairway. Keeping the traditional character of…
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How to Refinish Leather Chair & Ottoman
My latest DIY project has been refinishing my leather chair and ottoman. It had become worn, faded, stained and had extremely cracked arms. Although I think some natural wear adds to the patina, I wanted to restore them to prevent further damage. After watching some You Tube videos I decided to give it a try myself, and although they didn’t…
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Small Space Decorating and Organizing Tips
Do you live in a small space? Whether you live in an apartment or a small house, you know that having enough storage space for all your “stuff” can be a challenge. You may not be a minimalist, and your style may be an eclectic mix of different styles. What do you really need to create an inviting, comfortable, organized…
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IKEA Kitchen Update – What Worked & Regrets
It’s been a few years since I completed my Ikea kitchen and decided it was time to give an update. For the most part I still love it, but I do have a few regrets. Are you looking to do a kitchen reno? Even if you aren’t planning on using Ikea cabinets, you might want to consider the benefit of…
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Front Door Painting DIY (& What Not to Do)
Painting a door is easy – right? Well, that depends on the door. My front door had a large window in it and I think it was a custom made. The plastic frame had got yellow over time and I wanted to spray paint it. The wood parts of the door also had a lot of scratches and gouges. I…
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DIY Budget Walkway with Screening
Are you considering making a walkway on a budget? For many years now, I have wanted a walkway from my guest apartment #2 to their driveway. I had the path to #1 repaired last year. It was concrete…and very expensive. All of the quotes I got to add a little curved walkway from #2 were beyond my budget at this…
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DIY Chalk Painting Furniture Tips
Have you ever tried chalk painting furniture? It can be a time saving method…or not. The main benefit of using it is that sanding and priming the item isn’t required. I have used it for several pieces of furniture and recently transformed an old dresser that was given to me. My new old dresser… I loved the mid-century modern look…
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Beautiful Back Deck Makeover – Part Two – Before & After Decor
Do you like to spend time on your back deck? I hate to admit it, but I spent very little time on my back deck because…well… it wasn’t very inviting. It’s been a long time coming, but the time for my back deck makeover is finally here. I was inspired by my next door neighbors when they rebuilt their deck…
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Budget Front Porch Summer Refresh
Are you looking forward to enjoying your front porch this summer? With my porch looking a little tired and my budget being minimal, I needed a plan. This year I decided I would actually like to use the space for more than just for a pass-through to my front door. Front porch this spring. North side front porch before. South…
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Back Deck Makeover – Part One – Repair & Resurrection
Over the years my back deck started looking very sad with peeling paint. With the cost of lumber and building these days, ripping down the deck and doing a total rebuild were out of the question. So I decided to do it in stages, like I did with my kitchen. The deck floorboards were a priority. Next would be the…
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Exterior House Painting – What You Need to Know
Last year the exterior of my house underwent a transformation with a lot of paint. The year before, I had a few estimates to get it painted but unfortunately ran out of time before it could get done. So, I decided to tackle it myself (with the help of my son). Are you wanting to transform your house exterior? Read…
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Decorate Your Christmas Tree – Top Ten Designer Tips
For years I have struggled to decorate my Christmas tree to look beautiful and Pinterest worthy. I know it doesn’t really matter in the big scheme of things. There is beauty in all attempts to honor and celebrate this special time of year and I look back fondly on my childhood trees with bright coloured lights and sparkly garlands. I…
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Apartment Makeover Before & After
I recently gave one of my rental apartments a makeover to make it habitable for a new tenant. My long-time tenant moved out and the massive job of cleaning and “renovating” it began. We did repairs due to water damage and uncleanliness, and general “wear and tear”, as well as minor updates and paint. You may be faced with a…
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Budget Shed Makeover Before & After
Do you have a shed in need of a makeover? My shed was long overdue for some repairs and a facelift. It was a dilapidated, ugly brown eyesore with worn shingles, some rotten wood and damaged doors. Wanting to keep it budget-friendly, the repairs were done over time, some salvaged materials were used and a lot of DIY. Before Shed…
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Pre-Teen Boy’s Room Reset – Game On!
After doing his sibling’s back-to-school room resets, we finally got to my oldest grandson’s room. As a pre-teen young man, he is all about gaming and basketball. (He is a huge Raptor’s fan.) Closet cleanout already started. Room Reset Step One…Decluttering of course… It always looks worse before it gets better. The decluttering had already been well under way when…
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Boy’s Room Refresh – Less is More
After doing his sister’s room, my grandson was eager to get his room refreshed before going back to school. His room was twice the size, but he had some massive furniture and a MASSIVE Lego collection. To say it was a little overwhelming was an understatement. After scratching my head about what to do, where to start, we finally came…
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Decorate & Organize a Tiny Girl’s Room – Top Tips
With back to school just around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to help decorate and organize my grandchildren’s rooms. We started with my granddaughter’s tiny room which had already been painted in her favorite pink and purple. Organizing and decorating small spaces can be particularly challenging. Left side of room – Before Right side of…
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Back Patio Refresh 2022 (Budget-Friendly)
This year I finally got around to doing a refresh on my back patio for my guest suite #2. Everyone likes to have a nice place to sit and enjoy the sunset. What can you do to make a special outdoor area for yourself? Even small areas can be transformed to make your own special oasis and be budget-friendly. Back…
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How to Make a DIY Planter Patio Umbrella Stand
I came across this idea to make a patio umbrella stand with a large plant pot on You Tube. My backyard gets unbearably hot in the afternoon and my middle patio area really needed some shade. I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on it and wanted to re-use things I already had. Waste not, want not. Planter Patio…
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Airbnb Guest Suite #2 Updates Before and After
My Airbnb guest suite #2 had the biggest transformation over the last couple of years. From little repairs, to some new furniture and accessories, to a major kitchen renovation. As you enter my Airbnb guest suite #2… First the entrance door was replaced and I got a new screen door. Unfortunately, a windstorm wrecked the hinges on the screen door…
