Toronto Semi Detached
The story of this blog really began in May 2007 when we purchased our first
house three months before our wedding. It was a two-story, semi-detached house
in Leaside in midtown Toronto. We loved the traditional character of the house
but when we purchased it, it was covered in sea of pink carpet (even in
the bathroom), cat hair, and floral wallpaper - a real fixer-upper.
We started tearing out the carpet the day we got the keys and slowly renovated
it over the decade of living there.
Eager to try out the power tools we got as wedding gifts (yup, we had a table saw, a nail gun, and a router on our registry!), we started with the simplest room in our house - the dining room.
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Dining Room
Eager to try out the power tools we got as wedding gifts (yup, we had a table saw, a nail gun, and a router on our registry!), we started with the simplest room in our house - the dining room.
Down came the wallpaper and out went the pink carpet. HandyMan figured out
the layout for
the wainscot which we built
out of MDF, hardboard, and a pine chair rail. New plantation shutters and
drapery and lighting
brought the room to life. We built
the first of our radiator covers and added some
drapery and lighting
to create a stylish space to enjoy our meals.
But tastes changed, and years later, we transformed this yellow room to a
bright and airy tropical space.
Home Office / Big Girl's Room
Stuck indoors because of the abundant snowstorms of winter 2007, we
spontaneously decided to give our home office a facelift.
A
quick coat of paint
added instant cheeriness to the space then the real work started. Some
MacGyver-ing of
IKEA countertops and bookcases
created a functional office for two. To soften the hard lines of the
cabinetry, we added an
art gallery wall, drapery, and an
inspiration board. The office was a great
place to work and create.
As it turned out, we stayed in our house long enough for some rooms to get a
second makeover! That home office? It was eventually transformed into our
daughter's big girl room. Handyman built a window bench & bookcase in one and we maximized storage in the closet.
And after procrastinating for many months, I finally sewed up a DIY roman blind to complete the room.
Kitchen
After hosting a few family get-togethers over the holidays, we quickly
realized our 1950's kitchen was not going to cut it. With a stove
that couldn't even fit a cookie sheet and a serious lack of counterspace,
the kitchen needed an overhaul from top to bottom.
Starting in the spring of 2008, we
demolished
the room,
framed out the walls, and
repaired the floor joist. We had the pros come in to do the drywall and electrical work, then we
painted and
laid the floor tile. After figuring out
the cabinet layout
and
selecting appliances, the
cabinets,
countertop, and
backsplash
were installed. Small details like window trim,
brushed hardware, and reproduction lighting
added to the bistro look we were going for. We
DIY'd a chalkboard and installed a TV, transforming the kitchen into a marriage of style and function.
Soon after we finished the kitchen, we found out were expecting a baby!
Nothing motivates you to get home projects done faster than a new baby on
the way. So in full nesting mode, we decided to undertake two renovations at
the same time - the main bathroom and the nursery.
Primary Bathroom
The bathroom was the scariest room in the house. I'm not even joking.
Not only was it small and cramped, but it had carpet on the floor (ewwww!)
and a floor to ceiling hand painted
mural of Monet's Waterlilies.
HandyMan busted out his architect drawing skills and we came up with plans
for the
bathroom layout
and
floor tile design. With two rooms on the go, we brought in the professionals to do the
demolition, the
drywall, installation of the
tub, and the
gorgeous floor tile. Going for a Parisian bath look, we picked some
sleek fixtures
and a mix of simple white tiles. HandyMan installed
all the wall tiles
himself. New
window coverings,
artwork, and a
frosted door
finished off the space, giving us the
blissful bathroom
we craved.
Nursery
The nursery was a space that had to be multi-functional. We knew our baby would be staying in our room for a while and grandma would also be staying over and needing a place to sleep so we designed it as a guest bedroom with nursery touches.
The room lacked any personality and storage space. By adding built-in wardrobes and a window seat over the radiator, we added storage and created a real focal point in the room. To keep things soft and sweet, we added plush carpeting, DIY heirloom artwork, and bunting. We decorated with whimsical accessories, creating a room for all of us to enjoy.
Primary Bedroom
After the baby arrived, we decided it was time to focus on the bedroom. We framed out the wall around the bumpout, leaving a flat wall that would allow for better furniture layout and creation of a dramatic panelled wall. The vintage vibe was enhanced by the custom floral curtains, artwork and lighting.
Now its our favourite room in the house!
Living Room
By 2011, we decided it was finally time to renovate the first room you see
when you enter our house - the living room.
The 1980's
wallpaper was removed
and we figured out
the furniture layout. HandyMan then built the
fireplace frame
and we spent agonizing weeks trying to
decide on fireplace tile, finally creating something both
modern and classic. The
perfect grey paint
was put on the walls,
supersized art
was hung, and we found and repainted a
hutch
and dresser to add some vintage charm. Everything came together to create a
room full of
colour and pattern.
By 2016, it was time for a refresh. We added an accent with
removable wallpaper
and
updated some of the dark and drab furnishings.
Basement
In 2012, we embarked upon our biggest renovation yet: our 700 sq ft
basement.
The formerly dingy stairwell became a stylish mini-mudroom with the
addition of custom trimwork. The charming original milk door turned
mailbox was retained but received a needed update with bright aqua paint
and new hardware.
Basement Bathroom
Our second bathroom, the Van Gogh sunflower bathroom (yes, another floor
to ceiling mural!), was transformed into a modern vintage stunner.
Beadboard wainscot paired with modern graphic wallpaper for an appealing
mix. We added storage with open shelving and decorated with vintage
touches.
Laundry Room
The large laundry room was functional but severely lacking in storage,
counterspace, and style. We came up with a new galley-style layout that
maximized use of the space while a glass tile backsplash, Ikea cabinetry,
in-floor heating, and stainless steel countertops that we installed
ourselves really created the ultimate laundry room.
Craft Zone / Home Office / Playhouse Under The Stairs
And in the main area, the closed off kitchenette and playroom became a
large open space that featured a craft area, my favourite spot in the
house. Read about the awesome
red metal chairs and the harvest table I spent years looking for
here.
There was also room for a home office...
and hidden playhouse under the stairs.
Back Deck
While work was going on inside, a bit of work was happening outside
too.
As a first step, we
built this bench
for our back deck, added some
lighting
and posts and a handrail to make it comfortable and safe. After a few years, we lightened
things up...
and created
a beachy escape
we enjoyed almost year round.
Garage
The garage was another area that had been
organized. Adding pegboard and storage nooks in the rafters and between the wall
studs has kept our collection of tools and scrap wood organized. HandyMan
also added plastic sheets around the perimeter which can be dropped to
create an
impromptu paint booth
for our painting projects.
Front Garden
The front entry of our house has had a bit of a makeover too. Small
changes like adding the modern house numbers
and
removing the storm door
helped clean up the look. But it was not until we got a
new front door
and installed a
new overhead light
that our house really started to shine, all year long.
In 2015, we embarked upon one of our most ambitious renovations and rebuilt
the front walkway ourselves.
All the effort was worth it as we got the curb appeal our house always needed.
