Main Floor: Backsplash, Paint and Lights!
This post isn't going to have a great amount of writing in it (what? Tina, are you sick?), but a lot of before and after photos!
Essentially, in the weeks since my last post, I've done a lot of painting!
First, we had to wait for our drywall to be complete, including California stucco ceiling! To save costs, after the drywaller had hung and taped, I did the priming, plus painted the ceilings.
After this, I repainted the hallway, as it was getting a little gungy after however many years since I first painted it. Also, weird Ruger likes to rub his body all over the wall.
Shaking with the terror of getting paint on the cabinets, I painted the small part of the exposed wall around the patio doors.
I also touched up the laundry room, which looks the same.
I painted two colours in the living room (which will be the subject of its own post, along with the new office). Not shown to increase suspense!
The powder room is a special case! It was one of the first rooms we renovated in this house (in March 2012, according to my meticulously organized photos) and at the time I wanted a funky Cuba-inspired look. We've since tired of it, so I gave it a more neutral update.
Ooooooh before and after x 3!
1986?
2012
2019
And I finally finished the damn bannisters!
I also spent 900 years painting all this baseboard, quarter round, and casing! Ahhh
Then we installed the baseboards! We still need to do the quarter round, but the house feels a lot more complete.
While not all the lights are in (still need the pendants in the kitchen, the kitchen pot lights, and the office light), we (ok, Rob) finally installed our GORGEOUS front entry and above sink lights!
This one was a little over budget, but we really wanted something different to make our squishy foyer more interesting! I wanted crystals. Rob wanted modern. So we compromised. I call it my DARK CRYSTAL chandelier (incidentally, have you seen the show on Netflix? It's fantastic).
Our little orb lights over the sink I absolutely love! It looks like a Ghost from Destiny (which I would 100% still be playing if they didn't force you to pay every time they update the game, which is GARBAGE).
But what are you likely the most interested in? The new backsplash!
It took us a millennia to decide on a tile. At one point we had 12 samples in our house.
Finally, after exhausting Rona, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Rocha Flooring, we ended up at Casa Bella Tile, in Kitchener. Not only is their location very pretty (Marcy liked their fountain), but the lady instantly showed us the one we ended up picking.
The problem we had was that brown tiles didn't match nicely with the cabinets, white or gray tiles were too plain, and anything with a bit of razzle-dazzle competed with the countertop for attention.
So we chose white penny tiles with copper accents!
Despite all odds, we managed to install all the tile on Friday afternoon.
We discovered that the tiny little tiles could not be cut using a tile cutter, so Rob set up a process with the angle grinder. He did most of the laying and cutting, while I tediously worked on the pieces around the window and wiped off the excess mortar.
We love it!
We also reorganized our house! We moved the dining room into the fireplace room and the couch and Marcy's junk into the other room. As you can see, we now eat closer to the kitchen, which makes more sense. Eventually, we'll replace the shelves at the back with doored cupboards to store china and beer/wine glasses.
What's Next?
- Rob to install under-cabinet lights
- Rob to install pot lights in kitchen
- Rob to install pendants
The Living Room!
- install wainscotting
- plane old floorboards
- stain old floorboards
- install accent wall
- install art and fireplace
- find an entertainment unit
- paint office doors
- paint office
- Move office downstairs!
Essentially, in the weeks since my last post, I've done a lot of painting!
First, we had to wait for our drywall to be complete, including California stucco ceiling! To save costs, after the drywaller had hung and taped, I did the priming, plus painted the ceilings.
After this, I repainted the hallway, as it was getting a little gungy after however many years since I first painted it. Also, weird Ruger likes to rub his body all over the wall.
Shaking with the terror of getting paint on the cabinets, I painted the small part of the exposed wall around the patio doors.
 |
| Yes, Ruger spent a lot of time outside during this reno |
I also touched up the laundry room, which looks the same.
I painted two colours in the living room (which will be the subject of its own post, along with the new office). Not shown to increase suspense!
The powder room is a special case! It was one of the first rooms we renovated in this house (in March 2012, according to my meticulously organized photos) and at the time I wanted a funky Cuba-inspired look. We've since tired of it, so I gave it a more neutral update.
Ooooooh before and after x 3!
1986?
2012
2019
And I finally finished the damn bannisters!
I also spent 900 years painting all this baseboard, quarter round, and casing! Ahhh
Then we installed the baseboards! We still need to do the quarter round, but the house feels a lot more complete.
While not all the lights are in (still need the pendants in the kitchen, the kitchen pot lights, and the office light), we (ok, Rob) finally installed our GORGEOUS front entry and above sink lights!
This one was a little over budget, but we really wanted something different to make our squishy foyer more interesting! I wanted crystals. Rob wanted modern. So we compromised. I call it my DARK CRYSTAL chandelier (incidentally, have you seen the show on Netflix? It's fantastic).
 |
| BAM |
Our little orb lights over the sink I absolutely love! It looks like a Ghost from Destiny (which I would 100% still be playing if they didn't force you to pay every time they update the game, which is GARBAGE).
But what are you likely the most interested in? The new backsplash!
It took us a millennia to decide on a tile. At one point we had 12 samples in our house.
 |
| Muffins! |
Finally, after exhausting Rona, Home Depot, Lowe's, and Rocha Flooring, we ended up at Casa Bella Tile, in Kitchener. Not only is their location very pretty (Marcy liked their fountain), but the lady instantly showed us the one we ended up picking.
The problem we had was that brown tiles didn't match nicely with the cabinets, white or gray tiles were too plain, and anything with a bit of razzle-dazzle competed with the countertop for attention.
So we chose white penny tiles with copper accents!
Despite all odds, we managed to install all the tile on Friday afternoon.
We discovered that the tiny little tiles could not be cut using a tile cutter, so Rob set up a process with the angle grinder. He did most of the laying and cutting, while I tediously worked on the pieces around the window and wiped off the excess mortar.
We love it!
We also reorganized our house! We moved the dining room into the fireplace room and the couch and Marcy's junk into the other room. As you can see, we now eat closer to the kitchen, which makes more sense. Eventually, we'll replace the shelves at the back with doored cupboards to store china and beer/wine glasses.
 |
| We'll also replace the chaise with a low window seat. The mess in the back corner is Denny's new home because he keeps destroying things! |
What's Next?
- Rob to install under-cabinet lights
- Rob to install pot lights in kitchen
- Rob to install pendants
The Living Room!
- install wainscotting
- plane old floorboards
- stain old floorboards
- install accent wall
- install art and fireplace
- find an entertainment unit
- paint office doors
- paint office
- Move office downstairs!
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