Permits Before the renovation could begin, we had to do what’s called a “site plan application”. Basically, if you are trying to do something that doesn’t conform with your site’s by-laws, say trying to build too close to the street or too high, you must amend your site plan. The steps we had already taken, included the design approval (you read about that last week). We also had to get an updated survey, grading plan and submit our final drawings. Once the town was satisfied that we had what we needed (took almost 3 months for them to let us know), and we got the official letter stating that our application was ok to submit, we happily submitted our site plan application. It was mid-January. At this point you should know that in 1971, the previous owner had built a 400 sf addition onto the main floor at the back of the house. That’s the photo from last week with the living/dining room. He had done so without a permit, and illegally because it’s too close to the property line. The north-west corner of it is actually about 3 feet from the property line. About 2 feet short of conforming […]
Good morning! How do you like the title? There’s No Place Like Home. It’s true, isn’t it? And not just for Judy Garland, but for all of us. Our home is a safe zone. A place where after a long day of work, we go to throw our shoes off, eat our meals, hug our families and hide from the reality of our stresses. I say this in jest. I have 7-year-old twins. You get it. A renovation feels like it might just threaten that safe zone. Over the last 15 years, I have been invited into countless homes. Some just want an opinion on colour, others want a total renovation. And many, want to build new houses. What they all have in common, is the desire to improve their home, and the bone-chilling fear that they will pick a shady contractor, a snobby designer or some other unpalatable trade. Scope of work has little to do with it. As does budget. It’s their home. So, here’s a behind the scenes look at all the stuff your designers, contractors and other trades do, so you don’t have to. And the best part is, that while you may experience some of […]
All the beauty of life is made up of light and shadow -Leo Tolstoy “Shadow”. It sounds so dark, exotic, sexy. It’s Benjamin Moore’s colour of the year. And it’s a good one. Can I be tacky for a second? It’s like an aged grape. Hints of gray, notes of neutral. A smoky, warm aroma. Goes well paired with a “dark burgundy” dressed with a pale “porcelain”. The muted shade honestly goes well with almost anything. I think a powder room completely enveloped in this shade would be dramatic and rich. While I am pretty much done with painting a feature wall (wallpaper and plaster finishes are much more inviting), I could imagine a staircase cove, or library. This photo by Benjamin Moore displays it perfectly. A slightly brighter tone of this colour, would be amazing as a velvet sofa. How luscious would you feel lounging on this? Wallpaper, as I often suggest! One here, uses golds to offset the darker grape hues. It’s modern AND classic in design, and injects the colour without over-committing. The second wallpaper, a complimentary shade. Imagine using this one a wall, and shadow on the ceiling. Talk about an intense and dynamic paring! […]
To renovate or not to renovate? Well, let’s look at some stats, shall we? This is an average of what you will get back if you renovate. To be honest, it’s very timid. In my experience, kitchens and bathrooms bring you almost 100% return on investment. AND, the overall value of your home goes up if it’s awesome as opposed to okay. AND, you sell quicker, much MUCH quicker. AND, 1 last thing….renovations should end up costing you less than moving. We are booked with renovations consistently all year round. It’s great for business. So why am I so angry??? I have reached my boiling point. Or, as Malcom Gladwell would say, my Tipping Point. I recently heard yet another horror story about a couple wanting to renovate their home. Well, bulldoze their home on their nice property, and then build their dream home. They met a contractor who they thought was nice, and did good work. The guy totally sandbagged them. To start off with, they had a terrible contract full of empty promises. The timeline was hogwash. The contractor ran out of money early on and dragged the build for over 2 years. 2 YEARS!!!!!! And now […]
Well, let it be said that design occasionally reflects on past trends (dreaded stirrup pants and neon pink t-shirts), but design’s true calling is moving forward: bigger, bolder, inspired and, well, ALIVE, to be honest. With so many designers being focused on greige the last few years, it is a welcome breath of fresh air that Pantone has released some awesome, bright and, dare I say, happy, forecasted colours for 2016. Not one greige in the deck. It’s a designer’s dream. It truly is! FINALLY, something awesome to play with! It’s like giving a kid a million dollars and letting them loose in a candy shop. And not some variety store, but like a serious, of Disney proportion, candy shop. But alas, what to do? More toss cushions? I might be sick if one more person puts twenty different toss cushions on one sofa and calls it good design. Are we not bored of toss cushions? White walls, greige sofas and twenty toss cushions. Just add in a white kitchen with a black island and your house will look just like everyone else’s house! So let’s inject some personality into our homes. They are our homes, after all. Let’s stand […]
The Yonge Lawrence Kitchen It was inevitable. They renovated their bathroom, see https://www.monacointeriors.ca/portfolio/yonge-lawrence-bathroom/ and the kitchen was to follow a couple of years later. They had called a few times, we had looked at it and discussed their options and their budget, and then, when they were ready, they pulled the trigger. And what a journey we took! The existing kitchen was likely over 40 years old. It was not only dated, but cramped, dark and totally inconvenient. It was a small box, closed from the rest of the house, with little storage and zero social value. They complained that two people could not be in there at the same time, and dinner parties weren’t great as not only was the kitchen difficult, but the adjoining dining room was also small and cramped. That it! We proclaimed…down with that wall!!! Or so we thought. When the contractors got into the wall, they found all kids of pipes and electrical wiring. But, with a little imagination, they were moved and the wall came down. The kitchen boasts white painted shaker style cabinetry with a classic yet more contemporary edge. The handles, the Caesarstone counters and backsplash, and stainless appliances […]
I’m always game when the world of design moves in the direction of good wine. What? Oh, sorry, did I write that out loud? Marsala, a wine produced in the region surrounding the Italian city of Marsala, AND, the Pantone colour of the year (#18-438). An earthy brownish-red that is described by Pantone Color Institute Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman as “nurturing and fulfilling…Marsala is a natural fit for your kitchen or dining room, making it ideal for tabletop, small appliances and linens throughout the home.” That’s it? NO WAY! It’s an amazing colour. Filled with the true essence of warmth and nature, sophistication and timelessness, this colour is definitely making my 2015 a very exciting year. Modern Marsala Think clean lines, awesome colour, lots of light. Using Marsala in a modern space, against white walls, or light gray furniture creates a warmer effect to a colder modern design. Funky white Butterfly chairs, as in the image below, against the contrasting wall shows off the chairs lines, and keeps things interesting without going overboard. The key in more modern design is to keep the “accent” colour blocked, such as an accent wall, some toss cushions, or a pop from a […]
I love doing crafts with my kids. And holiday season gives me lots of opportunity. I also find that it helps me my “control freak” a bit of a break. I mean, there is no way 5 year olds are making perfect ornaments with straight lines and pretty lettering. So it’s a free for all with lots of shiny stick on thingys and crazy paint patterns, and some painted shiny stick on thingys. And once we’re all done, the kids get to help me hang them up. What a joy it is to see the pride on their faces. The best part? Well, when company comes over, everyone gets a guided tour of the decorations and who made what. It’s a veritable tourist attraction! I start early, putting my decorations up so they’ve got a month of ‘show time’ before packing them up again. And every year, we make some more. We keep the best of the lot for ourselves (yes, we’re greedy), and then we give them away as little gifts for friends and family. It’s a tradition in our home. We do the same with cookies too (the kinds you can eat). I sort of wish that […]
So I suffer from severe Christmas envy. I grew up with a minister’s daughter for a best friend, and every year, I got to go over and do up the tree and get a present. (Read my last post for more of this mushy stuff) So, as a modern 2014 Jewish mommy, my goal is to make this holiday as fun and festive as Christmas. To start off with, they have this advent thingy. It’s a luscious cardboard box with daily tabs that open up to reveal yummy chocolates. WELL!!! I love chocolate!!!! So, why not make a Hanukkah one? And maybe fill it with not only some Hanukkah Gelt (wrapped chocolates that look like coins), or some little gifty items like lip gloss, or even a yo-yo I picked up for my son! I’ve got hair clips and Kinder Surprises, and all kinds of cute dollar-store-type items that my kids will just love. Imagine getting to open one of these little packages every single day of Hanukkah!! That’s 8 days of fun!! Things you’ll need: Fabric dye in a colour you like A really crappy bowl you don’t care about A few branches Some twine Muslin baggies (I […]
