It's officially time for some happy around here.  And nothing says 'happy' like a well organized space.  Ok, it might not be everyone's version of happy, but it's mine.

  We are actively searching for a new home now.  We are looking in a different neighbourhood with a different architecture.  The homes are mostly back splits or side splits with large lots and mature trees. Along with this different architecture comes a space that is better organized for the way a modern family lives.  Larger bathroom vanities, closet and storage spaces, and a garage.

I love this amazing broom closet.  A place for everything and everything in it's place!

Pull out organizers under the sink - great idea Martha!

A pegboard in the closet to hang belts and jewels.

 Most people don't have a garage in our current area.  A garage would be a huge deal to us, since we currently have a storage rented where Jay keeps his large tools and extra materials.
   I really love the idea of an organized garage space - for all the sports equipment, tools, bikes, recycling, not to mention the car!

Just looking on the bright side.  House hunting is actually pretty fun.  We aren't in any hurry since our house was just listed and hasn't sold yet.  That means we can take our time in making the decision.  

xo Meg

Ringing In 2012

I simply don't know where this year has gone.  So many things have changed for our family in the last 12 months.

   The biggest change is that we bought our big old house in July.  I feel so settled and happy here.  I love this home and so do the people I share it with.  The rooms are just the right size and we have everything we need.  No more, no less.  The layout is just perfect for us.  I really think of it as our forever home and I really hope we get to stay here.

  I wonder though... what really makes your house a home?  I know it has a lot to do with the people who share it with you and the experiences you have in it.  But there is something to be said for designing and decorating a space to completely reflect your personality.  It's funny though, the only room in this house that is done is Elliott's. All the other rooms are works-in-progress messes!  So why does this house feel like home to me?

What makes your house a home?  

What space in your home reflects your style the most?  

What do you love most about your home?

I'm working on a series of guest posts about this.  Let me know if you're interested in posting.

xo Meg

Bye Bye Fall Decor!

Ok, I really didn't have enough time to do much Halloween and Fall decorating this year.  I didn't string garlands of leaves or put branches into a vase on my mantle.  I didn't really do much at all.  I did put out the white mini pumpkins, carve a few jack-o-lanterns and made my front porch look a little scary with spiderwebs and giant spiders from Dollarama.

I took all that stuff down first thing Tuesday morning.  This might sound crazy but I think I enjoy the removal of decorations almost as much as I enjoy putting them up in the first place!  I like how everything looks clean, fresh and simple once the decorations are put back into their tubs in the basement.

(my house before we moved in)

That being said, I'm already thinking about my plans for Christmas decorating this year.  Our house seems made for Christmas: the big bay window at the front begs for the tree to be put there, and the peak on the roof will look so pretty with lights on it!

I've been pinning some of my favorite ideas onto my Holiday Board on Pinterest.

First up, the front door:

     These wreaths are all lovely and I really like the idea of using an initial on the front door.  I happen to have a silver 'T' that would work perfectly but I would really love an aged bronze one.  I usually get my wreath from Costco.  They are made of several different types of greenery - simple and inexpensive.  Then I add my own personal stamp with ribbon, berries, etc.  I will also make a pair of festive planters to flank our front stairs.

The Mantle:

  
    I like the look of natural and simple holiday decor.  I know, lots of people go for the bling at this time of year.  I do like some bling - in the form of strictly white twinkle lights.  I love the little berry branches on the mantle above.  They add a little touch of red and the garland is perfectly simple.  These mason jars are filled with epsom salts - it really looks like snow!

One last shot:

Just 'cause I love the overall vibe of this room.  We have a huge galvanized tub to put our tree in too.

I might be insane for posting about Christmas on November 2nd.  But considering how late I was in decorating for Halloween, I need to get started right away!

xo Meg

Our First Home

I was searching through my image files to show you guys the kitchen in our last home and I ran across some photos I wanted to share.  

We've lived in several homes over the last 8 years.  Some were really ours and others were projects we flipped.  

Our first home was definitely a 'starter home'. It was on the very edge of the neighbourhood we really wanted to live in.  And it was in really bad shape when we bought it - needed some serious love.  In fact, it was filled with grad students and, looking back, I'm not sure how we saw past all the dishes and mess everywhere!

We lived in this teensy bungalow for 6 years.  I still think it is so pretty. We bought it while we were still in university - so our reno budget was non-existent.  We did the home on elbow grease, garage sales and Ikea hacks.  But we loved it so.  It was ours and we were really proud of it.  Of course, we outgrew it quickly.  But it will always have a special place in my heart.  

Entrance and Living Room

Dining Room

We did this tiny kitchen reno near the end of living in the house.  I was sad we hadn't done it sooner.  We essentially finished the kitchen in order to sell the house.  For most of the time we lived there, we used the original 1940's cabinetry and laminate counter-top.  This kitchen was small - but the reno used up every possible bit of space.  

Here are the three bedrooms:

I still love the fabric we used on the curtains and throw pillows in our master bedroom.  In fact, I am currently using those pillows in our living room!

The only tiny bath in the house!

Basement Family Room 

 Office

   When I look back on these photos, I'm sentimental, of course.  But what really strikes me is how done everything was.  Especially now, looking around this big, old, disaster of a house.  There is just so much work to do.  Top to bottom, outside and in.  I feel frustrated at the slow pace of things and overwhelmed at the sheer amount of work.  

   I have to remember to be grateful for this house.  For the perfect size of it and the generous yard.  For the location we have always wanted (it's prime in our neighbourhood).  Grateful.  And happy for the things I have, rather than envious of the things I don't have.  That's a hard one for me right now.  

We'll slowly get things done here, just like we have at all our other houses.  The difference is, we're here to stay.  

xo Meg

Buildin' A Room for Elliott

    Oh,  Elliott.  He is the boy who willingly gave up the largest room in the house to his little sister.  All because he is the sweetest 10 year old I know, and because his teeny room has a teeny closet door which we have dubbed 'the hobbit door'.

(This is from before we moved in.  Note the 'hobbit door' to the left of the window)

    As we have begun to settle, we have determined that Elliott's room isn't really that small, especially in terms of an old house.  Old houses have small rooms and small closets.    I have no problem with the decorating of the room.  We're going with a sort of nerdy, ivy league, Canadiana kind of feel.  It's exactly Elliott.

This is my original design board for his room:

     Much harder than the decorating is the function of his small space. We have started to figure out just what Elliott's room needs to function.  It needs a captain's bed and built-ins including a desk and shelves.  So Jay and Elliott drew some designs up.  And this weekend, we're going to start building!

So, some inspiration for Elliott's bed, from my pinterest:

I love the built-in bed and desk with shelves above in this image.  We are considering doing two sets of stacked drawers under the bed.  This will raise the bed up some, but give Elliott more storage.

We are also planning a trip to the salvaged lumber shop that Jay uses for work this weekend.  We are thinking of panelling the wall behind his headboard with salvaged wood.  

Should be a busy weekend.  I'm excited to tackle this room though, cause it is such a disaster right now.  And I want Elliott to love it and feel like it's special, even though it's the smallest room in the house.

 My first task:  strip the painted-over wallpaper.  Ugh.

xo Meg

The New House

    So, if you've followed me over at Duchess & Howard, you will know that my husband is a contractor with a renovation firm in London, Ontario.
  We've had a really busy year this year.  We have bought, worked on, and sold a flip house with our partners Aron and Tracey.  We did all the work ourselves and created an amazing home for someone else to live in.

Now it's my turn.

Our current home, in Wortley Village, is for sale:

   That's because we have bought a new house!  We are moving to a home I have dreamed of living in for a long time.  In fact, we tried to buy the house from the little old couple who currently live there three years ago but they weren't ready to sell.  Then, in December, a little sign went up in their window!  'House for Sale by Owner'!  I was so excited but I didn't think Jason would be on board.  He surprised me by being completely ready to jump.  Even though the house we live in now is great and it has almost enough room for everything we need.  Almost. 

So, why do I love my new house so much?  Here it is:

   There's an intangible quality there... that certain something.  It has great bones, high ceilings, leaded glass and beefy trim.  It's an older home also but has a decidedly different, unique architecture than any other home in the neighbourhood.  Most of the houses are in the style of our current house.  I guess there's a certain charm to that - to being unique.

  And... the inside is a total mess.  That means we get to plan and reno the home and create exactly what we want.  That's the part I'm most looking forward to.

  So for now, I'm working on the design of my new blog along with washing windows and vacuuming and dusting to get ready for our open houses this weekend.  Watch for the next post about the very first renovation we are doing!

    Meg