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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 hardwood and the laminates used. Collectively, they were a hodgepodge. The tiles in the high traffic areas – the entrance, the bathroom, the kitchen and the laundry room were fine. The different laminates and hardwood side by side were not. I realize that this was probably due to budget constraints. Doing an entire…
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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 #1 is to take a photo and assess your shelves… By taking a photo you will be able to see it with fresh eyes. You will notice things that you have become oblivious to because you see it every day. Ask yourself: What you like? What is working for you? Is there anything…
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Laundry Room Decluttering and Organizing Tips
Decluttering and organizing my new and improved laundry room was one of the first priorities this year. All good organizing projects start with decluttering – that’s usually the hardest part. Then comes the fun – re-organizing the items to keep in a functional way. I also like things to be aesethically pleasing to the eye. Why not make it beautiful too? Laundry products to sort and declutter Sewing items and accessories Household supplies and accessories Decluttering Tips for the laundry room… Laundry rooms tend to be multi-functional rooms. They may be combined with a bathroom, a storage room or a sewing room, like mine. At the very least, they are likely used to…
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Laundry Room Makeover Phase One
For over six years I have been biding my time, waiting to redo my laundry room. Other priorities always took precedence. This year I decided it would finally be the year I would tackle it. I actually did this at the start of the year so I apologize for waiting so long to share it with you. For the past couple of years I plotted and planned, buying a barn door and a chandelier I liked when they were on sale. By taking my time, I was also able to change my mind about a few things – namely the pass-through on the back wall and the paint colour. Laundry Room Before –…
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Car Detailing & Organization 1-2-3
Every spring and fall my car needs a thorough cleaning and detailing to get rid of the winter or summer debris. Usually, I would take it to someone else to do, but this year I decided to do it myself. Last year I was forced to buy a carpet cleaner when, because of the healthcare crisis, the store wouldn’t rent one to me. Since I recently semi-retired, I had more time to do this. My needs have also changed with my new found freedom. I am able to help out more with my grandkids and I don’t need all the items I did before. Step One…Remove everything. Like all decluttering and organizing projects,…
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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 that, was to have an electrician put in a mini sconce chandelier. Step #1 is always to declutter… I had to remove everything from the closet to remove the popcorn ceiling and repaint anyway. My mother’s photo albums were being stored there so I had to find a new home for them. If…
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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 a budget. Guest Room Budget Tip #1…Have a plan… Know what your budget is and plan accordingly. If you are unable to do everything you want all at once, plan the project in stages. The next stage in my guest room makeover will be to add more shelves to one of the closets…
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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 any decorating project the function of the space is the number one priority. Tip #1…Define your master bedroom needs… Obviously bedrooms are for sleeping. But they may also be a romantic retreat, a home office, or place to get away from others. Having a TV in the bedroom is not ideal and I…
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The Lazy Person’s Guide to Get Organized
Let’s face it! We’re all lazy! We want to do the least amount of “work” – expend the least amount of time and energy for maximum benefits. In our home we just want to have our things available and ready to use whenever we need them. Being overwhelmed, stressed out and uncomfortable in our own home is not what anyone desires these days. I won’t lie to you. The initial process to get organized does take some time and energy. How much depends on how much stuff you have. After you have gone through the steps though, you can be as lazy as you want and get on with living life. With the…
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Organizing An Airbnb Housekeeping Station
My back hall finally got a mini-makeover and my Airbnb housekeeping station was re-organized. The goal was to make the process easier and more efficient to save time. This area frequently became a dumping ground for items that didn’t have a home or I hadn’t gotten around to putting away. Back Hall Before Back Hall Pass-through The pass-through hole to the laundry room had to be drywalled over first. (I’ll show the laundry room makeover in another post.) The walls were painted light gray, the same as the dining room and kitchen adjacent to it. Creating the organizing zones for Airbnb supplies and tools… The taller shelves fit in where the pass-through used…
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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 Master Bedroom Mini-reno begin and Tip#1…Update. A drywall valance spanned the east side wall of the room. It also was the last room that still had the “popcorn ” stucco ceiling. The drywall valance was a popular architectural feature in the sixties and seventies. Tip #1 To update a room and visually make…
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How To Be A Great Airbnb Guest – Top Ten Tips
Whether you have to travel for work or education, or if you are lucky enough to live in an area where leisure travel is allowed again, you might want to stay at a short-term rental such as an Airbnb. Unlike most hotels and motels, these are usually in someone’s home, or cottage and can be like a home away from home. Here are the top ten guest tips to ensure that you will get a good review and be welcomed back again or welcomed in any other Airbnb. The #1 Rule To Be A Great Airbnb Guest…Leave the space in the same good condition as it is when you arrive. Leave the space…
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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 a stay-cation. I know many people have been making improvements on their back yards, and swimming pool sales have been up. New office chair Home office haven…. I bought a more comfortable office chair since posting IKEA Built-In Office Organization 2020. The grey velvet and studs also go well with my sofa. Click…
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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 done a few years ago in Zeppelin Grey. Last year I had made over the fireplace wall so all I really wanted was to rearrange the furniture and update the decor. (One corner of my living-room is also my “office”.) You can see my fireplace makeover here. You can see my built-in “office”…
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The Minimalism Game – a Fun Way to Declutter
Are you looking for a fun way to declutter and simplify your life? This can be done for a week or two, a month or whatever time frame you decide. The original minimalism game is for thirty days, created by The Minimalists – Joshua Fields Milburne and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists. I recently decided to try it! Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored. The Rules of the Minimalism Game… The rules are simple. Game Rule #1… Start by decluttering or discarding one thing on day one: two things on day two: three items on day three and so on. After thirty days, by following this simple direction you will have got rid…
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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 or at least painted every inch of it at least once. Please join me to see the transformation of this century home which was built in 1910. The big things done this past year were… the basement drainage system, new wiring, framing, drywall, new shingles, a lot of new windows, insulation, insulation and…
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Start Your Own Airbnb Guest Suite -Top Ten Tips
Are you looking for tips to start your own Airbnb guest suite? Read on for my top ten tips. Last year when my long-time tenants moved out of my apartments in my home I turned them into guest suites and listed them on the Airbnb site. It continues to be a learning experience for me but I thought I would share some helpful tips. Airbnb Tip #1… YOU MUST LIKE PEOPLE!!! Airbnb Tip #2… Be prepared to do a lot of work – cleaning and laundry, or hire someone else to do it. Tip #3… Think about what you would like when staying overnight somewhere. Tip #4… Use as much furniture and accessories…
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IKEA Office Built-in Organization 2020
A few years ago, I had an office built-in made with IKEA cabinets and custom shelves, in the alcove beside my fireplace. The other side already had a built-in for CDs and DVDs so that was designated the “entertainment side.” It had to look nice but ultimately it had to be functional. It had to store books and supplies and also be easily accessible for the items that I used most often. Semi-custom IKEA office built-ins were created… Two IKEA SEKTION kitchen cabinets were used for the base units for the office built-in, and the upper shelves were made to match the existing built-ins on the other side. For these shelves I wanted…
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“The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” – a Review
It has been a long time since I have done a book review so I think it is time. I read “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” (Margaretta Magnusson) a few years ago and decided to re-read it. She is somewhere between eighty and one hundred, and with her life experience has many practical tips on downsizing. What is Swedish Death Cleaning?…aka. dostadning Swedish death cleaning is the process of going through your belongings and deciding what you no longer need or want and getting rid of them so your family doesn’t have to do it after you are gone. It is also about “creating and maintaining organizing systems that make your…
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Cleaning versus Disinfecting – A Quick Guide
Now, more than ever, it is important to make sure our home environments are clean. It is in the news and on government websites that we need to disinfect, but to do that properly you need to clean first. The difference between cleaning and disinfecting… Cleaning removes visible dirt, grime and impurities and reduces the amount of micro-organisms. It makes everything look pretty. Disinfecting, after the initial cleaning, will actually kill all micro-organisms, which helps reduce the risk of spreading infection. That said, you cannot disinfect without cleaning first! You will just be moving the micro-organisms around that are hiding in the dirt. Cleaning entails… At home, regular cleaning may involve vacuuming, “mopping”,…
