Upcycling is taking something or group of things that previously served one function and turning it/them in to something else. Remember that episode of Friends where Rachel kept bringing items home to the apartment she shared with Phoebe and lied to her about where they came from? They were all from Pottery Barn, but Rachel lied and said they were from a second hand store. Remember it? Anyone? Anyone? Anyway, what I'm getting at is—unless you want your place to look like page 25 of the ...
DIY
DIY Wood Finishing Project
It's been a while since I've stained and finished anything. I remember the process being really messy, time-consuming and involving a long wait time between steps. No wonder it took me so long to work on another project! When I heard about a product that was a stain and finish in one, and didn't involve messy liquids, I wanted to find out how to get my DIY on with a new project! Here, I'm testing out the Maple finish Minwax Wood Finishing Cloths on a piece of wood, which can be used to hold a ...
Scotch Expressions Tape Giveaway $50 ARV (Canada only)
What is it about summer that makes me want to spend all of my time working on craft and DIY projects? I keep checking out local thrift stores, online sites and other places to see if there are pieces I can repurpose, up cycle or otherwise fix up. With all the lovely colours and patterns of tape in the Scotch Expressions Tape collection I'll have plenty of options for how to decorate the furniture pieces I find this summer. To change out my décor seasonally, I'll be using Scotch Expressions ...
Do It Yourself, With a Little Help—DK Canada DIY Guide Review
In a recent post, Tazim talked about the importance of taking care of what you have, and it got me to thinking about how lucky I was to grow up with hands-on parents—even if I didn't realize it at the time. In addition to the usual chores, mowing the lawn or doing the dishes, it was I important to my Mom that all of her kids (two boys and one girl), could cook a meal, sew their own clothes, and plant a garden. Meanwhile, my Dad taught us how to look after a house, from basic plumbing to ...
Update the Look of Your Door for Greater Curb Appeal – Weiser Lock Review
And Update Your Security With the Smart Key Feature How old is the lock on your home? We've talked a little bit about the importance of upgrading your curb appeal, and you might be wondering where to start. Our top tip: with the front door of your home. The obvious is of course the old realtors trick of painting your door an appealing color that stands out from the street (it does work). Other ideas include replacing the door itself, whether with version with windows to bring light into ...
Seasonal Decorating with Pinecones
I love the look of natural elements indoors. This time of year I like to change up my décor to include things easily found in nature. Pinecones are great to decorate your space because they are both fall and winter-like depending on how you use them. You can use them in your décor from now until the end of winter, if you'd like. How do you like to decorate for the holiday and winter season? Some of these ideas would work well for Thanksgiving and the upcoming winter season, without having to ...
Pfister Kamato Single Control Lavatory Faucet Review—Renovation Redecoration Project
I like to check out the washrooms (restrooms) in fancy restaurants and hotels. For me, this is a place where top of the line pieces can really shine. It is easy to skimp on furniture and still make a room look nice, but with plumbing, you need something that is both aesthetically beautiful and highly functional. Yes, I am a snob when it comes to plumbing fixtures. There are certain brands that make me go 'wow!' when I see them in places. Nice plumbing fixtures really show how much thought went ...
Pfister Kamato Faucet
A new faucet can not only save you a lot of water, but can also completely change the look of your bathroom. I had a chance to review the above faucet, which you can read about here. This faucet is one of many beautiful ones available from Pfister. I love the way this faucet looks in my mom's bathroom. I am working on renovating and redecorating her home and this has made a big improvement! I love watching the water flow out of this faucet. ...
Renovation Redecoration Project Week of October 16
So far, we have replaced the toilet in the main bathroom with a Kohler, water-conserving toilet. The toilet works really well, and I like the look of it. I know about quality plumbing products, and know that Kohler's range of products are of high quality and look great, too. We have also looked in to paint colours, and chosen some nice shades of yellow for the walls in the main living area as well as the upstairs. The yellow colour is quite neutral—not a lemon or neon yellow! What do you ...
The Beauty of Painted Floors—A How-To Guide {Guest Post}
Painted white floors are a clean, timeless choice for any room. They are associated with Scandinavian design, which is known for its simplicity and modest elegance. White floors serve as a blank canvas on which you can let your furniture and accessories truly shine. However, these beautiful floors are not the fastest or easiest DIY projects, but they are very beautiful and worth the effort! 1. Prepare yourself. This project is going to take at least five days. No walking around in the space ...
