Over the long weekend we committed to working hard on the renovation upstairs.  We bit the bullet and moved our bed into my home office so we could tackle all the remaining framing and drywalling at once. Initially the plan was to finish the spare bedroom side of the renovation, where the bed will be once the entire space is finished, and sleep in there.  Then we could work on building the bathroom and doing all the framing and drywalling for the closet on the other side which was our original bedroom.  This way we would always have a bedroom to retire to and wouldn't feel pressured to devote all our spare time to renovating. We did complete the built-in bookshelf and all the framing, drywall and mudding needed for that area on the spare bedroom side.  We also painted that side and fit the custom headboard for later install.  Once we started planning our next steps, and seeing how time consuming it was going to be to try to keep the wall up between the two sides through construction, we pivoted and just ditched the idea all together. We wouldn't get very far installing flooring without taking the wall down.  It also

Last weekend we came to the point in our principle suite renovation where the wall between the two bedrooms we're joining together needed to come down!  So down it came!     With the major portion of the bedroom renovation set to begin this weekend, I thought I would share the plan for this room!  I did plenty of space plan exploration for our suite, and ended up with 2 options to consider.  These layouts worked with the functional needs, and some of the aesthetic ideas I had early in the design concept (ie. a long low headboard). The most challenging part of the design for this room is the closet situation.  We need more storage space, but with the window locations, and the space being so narrow, it really limits where I can incorporate closets. I played around with a lot of options, including doing cabinetry closets, but ultimately abandoned that idea in favour of a walk-in closet.   This is the final plan that we are going with:     The main requirements we have for updating this space are: Adding a bathroom - with tub and shower separate More storage for clothing A cozy, moody aesthetic to further enhance that feeling of getting away and relaxing   THE

Oh, the good ol' before shots.  I took a full video of the space before we started any demo, so here's a look at what we're working with.  These spaces pretty much look just as they did when we moved in.  Our room has a few newer pieces like the bed and the rug, but for the most part I've just been using things I had from other rooms in the house and from our previous home.   Our home has 4 bedrooms on the upper level.  A principle bedroom and 3 smaller bedrooms.  The main bathroom is up there as well, but thats pretty much it. When we purchased this home we thought we might eventually need a 3rd kids room, but life happening as it does, we ended up not needing it.  The debate then became; should we eliminate a bedroom and gain a bathroom?  After looking at comparables in our neighbourhood we found that many homes had an ensuite, or at least 2 full bathrooms, and the number of bedrooms ranged from 3-5.  We just have the 1 full bath, no ensuite, and are considered a 4 +1 (basement room with a window not quite large enough to be a

I am currently on the hunt for wall sconces for the new principle suite.  I have had one in mind since I first designed the space over a year ago, and its still in my top 3 options.   The Black Mantis Swivel swing arm sconce from CB2 is one of my all time favorites.  I'm sure it has something to do with the mid-mod style, and the slight oddity in the breadth of its swing, but I really love it and have for several years. I have one in my office already, and was completely set to buy 2 more.  Matt (my husband) thinks the swing is too wide to be beside the bed, but I kind of love it.  The deciding factor will be taking the one we have up to the room and testing it out.  We don't want it to be in the way of getting in and out of bed. Knowing this, I am looking for alternatives. I do have some requirements for how these bedside lights will function.  They have to be wall sconces, the night stands will be small and I don't want space taken up with a lamp.  I'd prefer a plug in (although we could

Hey there.  It's me.  Writing again

When designing a space with specific goals in mind, going custom is often the go to solution.  There are so many beautiful, functional options in the retail market, but sometimes its difficult to hit the mark when searching for the right piece.  You might find the look, but the size is wrong.  Or the function is there, but the color is just not right. Textiles are one of the most commonly made custom items.  From draperies to pillows and beyond, going custom for your textile needs just opens up a whole world of possibilities. For some this can seem stressful, but its easier than you think. One of my favorite online companies that offers custom textiles is Tonic Living.  They have a curated collection of gorgeous fabrics and are always updating their inventory with the newest pattern or weave.   Unlike ordering ready made textiles online, where you won't see the true color until it arrives, Tonic Living has a sample program that allows you to order squares of your favorite fabrics to check the color, weight and feel of the fabric.   Tonic Living creates custom pillows, draperies, roman blinds, and bench seat cushions. They also do custom shower curtains, like the one I had

For those of you who have been following me on the old Love Nest Design blog, you know that we had been working on a new family bathroom.  It wasn't a planned renovation perse, but became necessary when we discovered that the drywall behind the shower tiles had disintegrated.  Of course the main bathroom was on the list to get a facelift as some point, so I wasn't too upset by having to jump on this project. Ready for a good before and after?  Here is the before: And the after: We do take on a lot of projects ourselves in our own home but this project was our most detailed by far.  We might have left the realm of the average D.I.Y folks.  Matt, my husband, has an above average amount of experience in construction and is also a plumber by trade.  This project put those skills to the test with the custom wood ceiling.  The space could have been called complete but I just kept thinking about how I wanted to incorporate a more spa like feel. Matt and I escape at least once a year to Niagara on the Lake and stay a few days at the Pillar and Post.  They

I have fallen down the sourcing rabbit hole