GG's room

My design plan for Grace's room.  I think I can overhall her room for under $200 bucks....

Wish me luck!!

Burlington Bungalow Complete

PLEASE read my comments and don't just scroll through the pictures!!  I have a lot of explaining to do!!!

I did a final walk through of the property a few weeks ago and took some pictures.  I really didn't want to share them since the property wasn't complete.  But, after another drive by today, I realized that this is probably as good as it's going to get.  The home owner has gone over seas for the summer, so not much more will be done with the property anytime soon.

This project took way longer than I anticipated, and it kills me that the house just didn't make it to the level I wanted it to.  I pushed the home owner to include details that would give the home that extra umph and designer touch, but it always came back to lack of time and money.  Two things I was under the impression we had a lot more of, than we actually did.  

In the end, I feel like I was led in the wrong direction as to what the purpose and value of this house was meant to be.  I feel like I really let this house down because of the lack of communication and honesty.  This house has great potential, but designing it for resale is so so so so different than designing it for an older couple from over seas.  Which one is it???  I still don't know!!  Oh, how I have learned so much from this project!!!!

Before!  This was one of my first days visiting the property

After!

This was my original plan for the exterior.  Original post found here.

I really wanted to incorporate some wood details.  A wood gable bracket, door trim, garage door etc...  Still can.... hint hint!!!

Some extra exterior pics....

Desperately needs landscaping.  Some nice tall cedars to fill up the empty space between the front windows.

Still missing a light fixture.  And I'm not sure what happened to the gable.,  It should have been way more recessed to allow for a wood gable bracket.  But I LOVE the stone columns.  They turned out amazing.

Oh that chimney is killing me!!!  Take it down.  Plllllease.

I'd like to see the garage doors trimmed in wood.  Hopefully that gets done.  In my opinion, the garage doors should have been faux wood to match the front door.  But that costs $$$!!!

Really happy with the colour of the siding against the stone.  But OMG.  When I saw these windows, I just about had a heart attack.  There are no words for this.  Someone, please just paint the white trim before I fall over.  

You can get a nice view of the stone detail.  Lots of colour and texture.  I love it.  

I couldn't get a good shot of the deck since the sod was just laid and a muddy mess.   My original deck design here... yea, not even close?!?!?

Look at that back yard!!!  

Pool, pool, pool!!!

I love this front door.  My goodness it took hours, upon hours to order that sucker.   I really didn't want the side lites to be framed.  I wanted it to be one huge piece of glass.  Not sure what happened there, but whatever!!!  And, the colour is a little off.  Should have been slightly lighter.  But you have to admit, that's a bloody nice door.

Left side

Cedar deck.  Remember my design?  What happened!!!!????!!!!

Front Entry

Kashmir Gold granite tiles.  That's not the right light fixture (That's actually the exterior fixture!).  There was a mix up.  Hope the right one was finally installed because it's gorgeous.

Powder Room

My original powder room design.  Click here for original post

Powder room almost complete!  The tiles are onyx from Pakistan (which is where the home owner is from).  They are gorgeous!

Master Ensuite....

My Original ensuite design.  Click  here for original post.

No marble allowed in the ensuite (~tear~), so we decided to go with a calm, neutral palette using porcelain.  

Unfortunately, the cabinet maker took it upon himself to redesign my custom vanity and really made the ensuite a mish mash of styles.  It's so disappointing when you work hard on a design, and it's just not executed properly.  It was too late and too costly to get the vanity fixed, so it's going to stay for now.  My advice is to change the knobs to something more delicate, and possibly paint it white.

Master Bedroom

I'm obsessed with the wall colour!!!  Love it.  BUT AHHHHH, who put up those black curtain rods.  BLACK??? noooooo

Fireplace

Fireplace BEFORE!!

Fireplace After!!!  I painted the insert black.  You can't really see it in the pics.  

Kitchen

My original kitchen design.  Click here for original post

Wow, my pictures suck!!!  sorry!!!

Wet bar.  I'm so happy with how it turned out!

Missing the other 2 hanging lights!!!!  There should be 3!

I LOVE the herringbone backsplash

So that's about it.  Now you've seen the end of my project.  It was a lot of work, but fun.  I love designing new homes, it's by far my favourite thing to do.  I love working on floorplans and designing  from scratch is amazing.  It was certainly a challenge working with this home owner, but I have learned sooooo much.  I'd love to jump back in the house and change a few things, but there comes a point where you just have to let it go and be.  I can only voice my opinion so many times, and it's up to the home owner to take it or not.

All in all, who ever ends up living in this house is lucky.  It's a beautiful home, on a beautiful lot, and has the bones to last forever.  

Repurposing Antique Farm Shutter

When we lived on the farm, Ryan found this old shutter in the barn we eventually burned down.  I have a feeling it was original to the farm house.  So it must be over 100 years old.  Ohhhh, I love stuff like that!!  

Anyway, I love, and miss my stupid farm and this is one of my favourite pieces from it.  I decided to add it to my powder room because of it's scale.  But first, I had to add my own touch.

I wanted to incorporate chicken wire and some fabric.  So first I gathered my supplies.

Measured out the chicken and cut it to size

Stapled it to the back of the shutter - I didn't want to use too many staples.

 Now I have to decide - no fabric, fabric???

Going with the ikat from my moms.

Shit balls.  I hate it.
Remove the fabric....
Much better.

 Who doesn't want to look at my adorable babies while they pee :)

Powder Room Complete!

Having a party at my house was the kick in the ass I needed to get this powder room complete.  I gave myself 5 days, which I assumed was a ton of time, until I realized exactly what I was getting myself into.  I hammered in my last nail literally seconds before my party started.  BUT, I finished!!!  (well, close enough.  I still need to add some molding at the ceiling and finish caulking the backsplash...)

Here it is!

What I did!

- Removed ugly wallpaper border (BRUTAL!!Took me hours for this one dinky boarder)

- Moved light fixture down 12" and replaced.. well, I didn't move it, our electricians did.

- Spray painted vanity (semi gloss white)

- New countertop (carrara marble), mirror, faucet

- Replaced knobs

- Painted trim and door

- Painted Walls (Behr Evening Haze)

I originally painted the walls Behr Ancient Marble - the same colour as my family room.  But, it turned out this nasty, mint, 70s green.  Horrible.  Bland.  Ugly.

So off to Bouclair to pick up some wallpaper.  Even more horrible....  Worst, cheapest, wallpaper EVER!!!  It is so thin, it tears and rips so easy.  

Too bad, since the pattern was so beautiful!

So I ripped it all off, headed to Home Depot, and decided on Evening Haze by Behr.  I love how it turned out.

Some more Before Pics..

You can really see the nasty wallpaper border in this pic.  And who puts a light fixture 2" from the ceiling??? LOL

I traced the kids shadows on the wall!!!  They loved it!!!

And the after pics!!!

Old shutter from my farm.  I'll DIY it into a cool picture holder later!!!

Love the contrast between the white and dark colour.

Barn Board towel rack from my farm. 

The old shutter above the toilet is from our farm.  It's a DIY project for a later date.  I'm thinking a photo holder.... fabric, chicken wire and black & white photos!!!!

The towel hook is also an old piece of wood from my farm that I DIY'd. You can see that tutorial here.

Hope you like it as much as I do!!!