Thursday, March 14, 2013

Getting close!

Looks like we'll be moving in next Tuesday or Wednesday. Very exciting! As it gets closer, the place is buzzing with activity!



lots of busy guys everywhere.

and more plastering (and note the new wainscotting, which had to be rebuilt in places).

 
Keith and the crew are also working their magic on the finer woodwork: custom mouldings and things. Lovely, lovely work.


 Windows and window hardware are being repaired.

Somebody's working on a complicated electrical plan.


Meanwhile, new things are arriving every day!
The back door frame, with transoms above. Nice choice, Steve! Or was that Keith?


Bathtub, which Fifi thinks will go in her room!


So many new things, and Andrew's pressuring me to make more decisions about lighting. Whoa! Enough already. I just finished deciding paint colours for 10 rooms! The decision-making centre in my brain is exhausted!

Meanwhile, we demonstrate some fine parenting by letting our kids play around in the construction debris. You can see the nails from here!

But, as kids will do, they find fun and creativity everywhere. Here's today's sculpture. 

They have a collection of treasures they excitedly gather and bring home almost every visit: lengths of copper wire, chunks of wood, bits of tile, lumps of grout: it's all good! The best was the visit to the stone slab store where they scrounged for beautiful pieces of granite and marble (or, rather, "crystals and diamonds." 

A couple of purchases I though I'd show you. A vintage Chinese apothecary chest (from Antique Market, of course! Half that ticket price, btw) for my makeup cabinet. Do you think it will hold it all?


While we were in there, I spotted the antique desk I've been coveting over in the "sold" corner and I gasped with disappointment....

.... but then Andrew reminded me that it was actually us who bought it. Oh, right! There's just too much going on at once!



Sunday, March 10, 2013

Decision-making.

The designing and shopping for this project have been extremely fun, but all the decision-making has been stressful. In the last few weeks, we've made hundreds and hundreds of decisions. In the heat of the moment, each one seems to take on monumental importance.

The builders call us almost daily about something they need a decision on: should this shower inset go here or there? Where do you want wall sconces in this bathroom? Do you have a design for the entranceway closet? We're also making decisions about purchases we'd normally consider for weeks or months (or, in fact, for us, even years!)

Like this one, made in a snap.

(Praying it wasn't a bad decision, Martha!)

This one, agonized over (have to keep reminding myself: it's only a house, for heaven's sake!)




Lots to think about:

So, what the best way to make decisions? Well, Andrew came up with a plan for deciding about lighting. (We had 54 lighting fixtures to choose!)



  Step 1: print up Pinterest pictures.

 (there were 8 pages like this)

 Step 2: get some help cutting them out.


 
Step 3: sort into stacks, according to room.


Step 4: get out floor plans.


Step 5: process of elimination. Yes, no, maybe.

Step 6: scotch-tape to floor plans.



Step 7: enlist visiting Grandparents to babysit.


Step 8: go shopping! Haven't counted, but I think we bought about 25 fixtures today, both vintage and new. Here's a selection.
(for front entranceway. The middle bit is wooden, quite lovely)

(Train lamps for the built-in buffet)

(French hall light for the staircase!)


(couple of sconces, chose the glass on the right)



(hallway nook)


All with the help of this lovely fellow from our favourite East Van store, Antique Market.

After playing with Grandparents, the girls came to help load up.



and a few purchases from Restoration Hardware....
task lights for either side of the kitchen sink.


Three of these, I think.


Downstairs bathroom, and, in a different finish, little wall that leads from dining room to kitchen, if I recall correctly.


"Vintage Barn Pendants" for front porch.


 (We had lots of fun at Restoration Hardware. They're lovely there.)

Big spending day. Yeesh!

We even bought a couple from Etsy, including this one:
(I forget where that one goes; I'm overwhelmed and tired!)



Andrew sent me the list of what's left to buy. Oh well, we got a good start today anyway!

main floor
Front porch 2x sconce (glass only)
Back porch 2x sconces
DS bath flush mount
dining –chandelier(s)
3x bar pendants
kitchen 2x sconces

upper
powder – overhead
bath
overhead
2x sconces
1x pendant
girls room 2x chandeliers (lighting warehouse)
master bed 2x makeup sconces

Friday, March 08, 2013

Ever heard of SNU?

Surrey New and Used. Takes about an hour to get there. If you're looking for a used toilet it's definitely worth it.


We went looking for doors; we weren't lucky, despite the selection.

Radiators.


Lockers.

Bathtubs.

A balm for the eyes. One thing about the drive to Surrey: the view can be sublime (unretouched photo!)

Thursday, March 07, 2013

Floors!

Just popped in after taking girls to school and actually gasped when I came up the stairs and saw the floors. What a change!