Monthly Archives: January 2012

If you plan it, it will come

Posted in Our Home by

Working day in, day out with project plans and schedules at the office, my friends and coworkers jokingly ask if I also use MS Project to plan out my personal life.  The truth is, I sorta do.  For my wedding, I had built a full schedule with all of the to do’s leading up to the big day.  As soon as we started the reno project, I whipped out MS Project and typed up a plan.  I’ve been a planner and list maker all my life.  I feel a huge sense of accomplishment with each item that I cross off my list (like, to the point that I’ll even write something down that I’ve already done to be able to cross it out).  Scary and a bit OCD, but that’s how I operate.

No matter how organized I am, I know that nothing ever goes according to plan either.

Case in point:

  • Discovering that the wall we wanted to tear down was load-bearing and would require a permit + skilled help to accomplish
  • Discovering that the drop ceiling in our kitchen wasn’t a design decision of the 70′s but rather required due to a lazy man’s plumbing configuration
  • Doing extensive research on custom kitchen cabinet suppliers, selecting one based on the designer and price, then discovering that said designer has been fired and we have to start all over again.

We knew delays would be inevitable on this project.  And, although I get sudden “ugh-i-want-a-kitchen-already!!!” spasms from time to time, I truly and sincerely love every minute of this.

All that to say….we have FINALLY completed the kitchen plans, and they’ve been submitted to the shop for production.  Hallelujah!!! I know a lot of you have been super curious about what it’ll look like, so here’s a sneak peak…

Kitchen Inspiration

Key features:

  • Shaker style cabinet doors, in a warm white
  • Ash hardwood floors
  • Brass accessories (handles, lighting, faucet)
  • hints of color:  tea towels, countertop accessories, upholstered counter stools
  • Hidden appliances: range hood, fridge & dishwasher
  • 9 foot kitchen island
  • Lighting: combo of under cabinet lighting, task/mood lighting and recessed cans
PS – I wish I could take the credit for the kitchen plans, but we actually hired a kitchen designer to help make my vision come true.  I don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of kitchen design… yet :)





Like a kid in a candy store

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I don’t know about you, but I feel like a kid in a candy story every time I receive a package in the mail (remember the days where you used to have pen pals?!?!). Yesterday, I received a pair of these antique brass wall lights for our bedroom:

Boston Swing Arm Wall Light

Circa Lighting

I should have been studying last night, but instead convinced Adam to help me install these puppies on either side of our bed.  And they look bee-yoooo-teee-foool!!  They provide the perfect amount of light for nighttime reading and we now have one less thing crowding our bedside tables.  Hoozaaah!

I’ll post a pic of Le Bedroom as soon as I get the energy to make my bed ;)

Velvet Love: a beautiful Toronto home

Posted in Other People's Homes, Velvet Love by

My humblest apologies for being MIA for the last couple of weeks, things have just been beyond hectic.  In addition to juggling a full time job with all the home renos, I’ve also been studying to take my PMP (Project Management Professional) certification exam.  This is going to be a rough month, so please bear with me as I try to get through it all in one piece!

Last week, I was in Toronto on business but also had a chance to catch up with a few of my close friends in the evenings.  Enter Yolande and Huy’s home.  A home of homes.  A home I dream about each time I look at my warzone-of-a-house and feel discouraged.  Yolande has absolutely beautiful taste; EVERY single piece of furniture and each accessory is unique, thoughtfully placed, and well coordinated.  Here we go, I’m drooling again just thinking about it.

Dining Room

My heart skipped a beat when I first saw this dining room. The use of Edison bulbs had me at hello, but I also love the organic-feeling table, mid-century modern chairs and the black hutch nestled perfectly between the two large windows.

Dining Room, view from Living Room

World map, personalized with flags

How cute is this easy DIY???  All they did was buy a large map, framed it, then placed fabric-wrapped pins on all the places the family visited together (did I mention that they have two 0f the cutest and sweetest little girls I’ve ever met???)

Living room, lamp with gold accents

stairway

I love love love the curved stairway with natural-toned runner.

Master Bedroom

Ahem.  This is in the BEDROOM!!  The splashes of yellow and different patterns add the perfect touch.

Master Bedroom, Sofa + Mirror

Guest Room

The guest room, with a bold floral wallpaper accenting the back wall.

Sydney's Room

Last but not least – a little girl’s fairytale bedroom.  Oh how I would love to wake up to a bouquet of assorted pink pompoms right above my head.


Oh, and get this.  Their home was featured in a Candice Olson Divine Design episode a couple of years ago, when they renovated their basement – check it here.


I can only hope that my house turns out as nice as Yolande’s.  Here’s to hope!!





Kitchen n things

Posted in Our Home by

We got back a couple of days ago from our trip to Nova Scotia, where we spent the holidays with Adam’s family.  It was so nice to spend time with Adam’s mom and sis as well as meet other family members for the first time (my first trip out east!).

I got some amazing gifts too :)

Caleigh

And… Adam, being the amazing husband that he is and (ahem) avid read of velvet toolbox, decided to get every single item on my Anthropologie wish list, noted in a recent blog post.

Remember this?

A real hoot

I own it.  Yep.

And this?

Milk Bottle Measuring Cups

All mine.  muahahhaaaaa!  I also got a cookbook, a lovely apron hand-picked by Adam (not even on the list!), a bread canister, and farmer’s market ceramic baskets.

Now, all I need is a kitchen.

Speaking of kitchen.  Thanks to all of your feedback on Facebook and the blog, the decision on which lighting to pick was a piece of pie.

Kitchen Lighting Option 1

The majority of you picked option #1, and the order has been placed!  Can’t wait can’t wait can’t wait!

What else? Let’s see.  We’ve spent the last couple of days tying up loose ends before the plumbers come in to (finally) raise the plumbing in the kitchen.  Removing all of the old gyprock nails from the kitchen walls, screwing the plywood down nice and tight to avoid squeaky floors, and patching up some holes in the floor where there were previously some vents.  The plumbers will be coming in tomorrow to complete the 2-day job, and then (hopefully) things will start moving quickly.  Electrical wiring in the kitchen, gyprock, flooring, paint, yada yada.