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Guest Suite #2 Makeover – Part One Bathroom Refresh
This year I began to get my guest suite #2 bathroom refreshed, starting with some subtle repairs and maintenance. Bathroom Refresh Part One… You can’t see it, but the original fan was so noisy it sounded like an airplane upstairs when it was on. I looked into getting a new one but all the new ones required different venting. The…
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IKEA Kitchen Stage Four – Finally Completed!
I didn’t think the day would ever come when I could say the kitchen was finally done, but it is here! If you have followed my blog you will know that I have been renovating it in stages. The big thing I was waiting to do was the floor and then I could finish off the kickboards and trim and…
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Flooring Update! What Not to Do!
When I bought my house seven years ago, it had had a lot of renovations – some good, some not so good. The previous owners had done all of the flooring and they did a very good job with the installation. However some of the selected materials were not so good. Individually they were fine – the ceramic tiles, the…
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Bookshelf Styling Tips 101
My built-in bookshelves in my living-room had gradually turned into a cluttered, over-stuffed mess. Bookshelf styling, to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, is something I have always struggled with. If you too have struggled with organizing Your bookshelves, read on to see how I did mine and find tips to transform your shelves. Bookshelves – Before Bookshelf Styling Tip…
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Master Closet Makeover on a Budget
A few months ago when I made over my master bedroom I also did a makeover in the master closet. To keep with my low budget theme I repurposed things I already had and did a little DIY. The popcorn ceiling was removed and the closet was painted a fresh white. My one splurge, if you want to call it…
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Guest Room Makeover on a Budget
Does your guest room need a makeover and do you have a very small budget to do it? After living in my home for six years I finally got around to re-decorating. There are a few of my son’s personal things kept here as he sometimes comes on weekends. Read on for some tips to redo your guest room on…
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Top Ten Master Bedroom Decorating Tips
Are you thinking of redecorating your master bedroom? How do you want it to feel? Do you like light and bright or more cozy and dark? Most bedrooms require a calming, peaceful, vibe to aid in a good night’s sleep. If you work shift work, having a darker room with good black out blinds or drapes might be needed. In…
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Master Bedroom Mini-Reno Tips
My master bedroom finally got a mini- reno this past winter. The drywall valance was finally removed and the “popcorn” ceiling is now history. I also painted over the original tan colour on the walls in a dark grey and white. Read more for a few tips if you are considering doing a mini-reno yourself. Drywall valance before Let the…
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Making Your Home a Haven (Reflections on 2020)
Well 2020 didn’t turn out the way I planned it, and probably not for anyone else too. Looking back, the most prominent theme has been to make your home your safe place, your haven. Many people are working from home and children have been home schooled. Vacations away have been cancelled and if you did get time off, it was…
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Living room Refresh & Tips to Refresh Any Space
My living-room was in a state of upheaval (aka. a mess) while I was busy working on my other property that I recently sold. Some parts were okay but others were desperately needing attention. I was behind on my “spring” cleaning and I was ready for a refresh. The walls didn’t need to be painted, fortunately, as they had been…
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Transformation of a Century Home 2020
The transformation is complete! Last year when my long-time tenants moved out of my former home, I began the transformation 0f the century. What started out as a simple project ($25,000 to $30,000 and six to eight weeks) grew to be substantially more. I had lived in this house for over twenty years. Over that time, I had fixed, renovated…
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Welcome to Church Hill Haven Guest Suite #2
I finally got Church Hill Haven Guest Suite #2 ready in August. I had already painted the main areas last year in neutral greys. The main kitchen, living, and dining room had red and green accent colours. Guest Suite #2 Entrance and Mudroom… Guest Suite #2 Furniture Transformation… I commandeered a couple of pieces I had in my shed, left…
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Church Hill Haven Guest Suite #1 (Before and After)
Recently, I decided to turn my basement apartments into guest suites. (I’ve always loved an excuse to decorate.) During my travels I stayed at some accommodations on Airbnb and I was impressed at how easy it was to use the site. They handle all the payments in a safe, secure manner, submit the taxes where applicable, and then pay the…
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Before and After Whole House Makeover
It’s finally done! As some of you know, I have been renovating one of my rental properties for several months to get it ready for sale – giving it a complete makeover. Ninety percent of it took four months with the help of a few different contractors. Unfortunately, due to the untimely death of my mother and some other unfortunate…
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How to Make a Shadow Box Display
Honor your sentimental mementos in a shadow box… If anyone has little mementos or sentimental items in storage, it’s time to bring them out. It is time to honor those precious items and display them where you can see them and enjoy them every day. A shadow box is a display box with a glass-fronted picture frame that is deep…
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How to Make a Roman Shade
I recently made a Roman shade for my kitchen window and thought I would share how I did it. It was not the first one I made, but it was a vinyl clad window which required it to be mounted differently. The way the window was trimmed also made it a challenge. I didn’t find out until after I put it…
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Decorating for Seniors and Moving Mom
Decorating for seniors can be challenging to balance safety and personal style preferences. It can also be an emotional time for seniors with changes in their health and mobility, their routines and leaving friends behind. Moving Mom… This past month has been insanely busy for me. I have prepared my basement apartment for my elderly mother to come to live…
