Adding Curb Appeal Even With Strict Condo Rules + Small Budget

December 13, 2013

Adding Curb Appeal Even With Strict Condo Rules + Small Budget

Now that I can finally show you the outside of the townhouse, I wanted to share some photos of the teeny, tiny little spruce we gave it to boost the curb appeal. As you know, with condo rules we couldn't change much: the door colour, exterior colour, mailbox design and colour, trim colour, lighting choice, door style - they are all part of a master design scheme. Don't feel sorry for us though, because that also meant that exterior care and maintenance were up to the condo. Every spring they cleaned our gutters, inspected the brickwork, made necessary repairs, etc. - we even got a "free" roof. Although it was unnerving the first time I heard a stranger stomping around on the roof, and spotted a ladder propped against our bedroom window, this perk far outweighed our lack of creative input.

This is what the townhouse looked like when we first toured the property in 2009:

Looks like someone hated gardening more than me!

The next spring, I made the left side "flower bed" (if I can call that dirt-heap a flower bed) deeper and planted a small yew bush, which I refuse to prune. Lily of the Valley flowers (my favorite!) were both mailed to me by my mother-in-law and pilfered from my grandparents' garden and transplanted to the right. We also swapped out the dated brass door hardware for a pretty brushed silver handle and lock (obscured by the condo-issued brown storm door).

The house certainly looked more loved after our efforts, but I guarantee Martha Stewart would feel embarrassed for us. Sadly, by the time we went to sell years later our little spruce had faded. The orange mulch had turned blah and the salt had wreaked havoc on our lawn. The colourful mat, which was originally teal, turquoise and orange (look at me coordinating) had become disgusting. Even the mailbox was looking worse for wear.

We didn't do much to get the exterior ready for sale but we did plant some grass seed, splurge on fresh mulch, buy a crisp new mat, and add a colourful potted plant. Oh yes, we also restored the mailbox with a quick blast of black spray paint. I still refused to prune my yew.

Adding curb appeal with strict condo rules

During our original sprucing, I made a wreath with my Mummu, a devoted crafter. I added teal-grey eucalyptus (the same colour as our exterior), plus gold and coppery glittery bits to complement the orange door. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

These small changes made the exterior of the townhouse more welcoming and helped boost our curb appeal, without spending a lot of money - or breaking condo rules!

How to improve curb appeal, even with strict condo rules & a small budget

Zooey Deschanel in Person + Other Goodness

I've been a little stressed out about selling the townhouse and finishing up my dissertation but luckily, what seems like ages ago, Hubs and I bought wristbands for an outdoor music festival happening in Ottawa right now. With the prospect of carrying two mortgages looming, we're in serious penny pinching mode so I'm so happy we had this little treat all paid for, just waiting for us. Around here we often joke about Past-us looking out for Future-us, like the time we went away for a trip and I hid the key to the filing cabinet inside the spare toilet paper roll in the bathroom. Past-me knew Future-me would forget where I put it, but knew that Future-me would eventually reach for the spare roll and, voila, the key! Past-me somehow knew I'd need a little fun right now. We've been going almost every night and it's been such a sweet way to cap off a day.

The teenager that dwells within me is super excited I got to see Weezer (of course, I've only been a fan since I was 10). We also saw The Black Keys, Dixie Chicks, and Mother Mother, in addition to Hub's favorites - what Jessica Day refers to as "computer music". Speaking of New Girl, last Friday saw us ankle deep in mud to hear She & Him and they were fabulous. I was wowed by how much energy Zooey has, plus her voice is so much more powerful live than in their music videos. And she wore a pretty dress.

Photo from the Ottawa Sun

Photo from Ottawa Citizen Bluesfest Digital Lounge

I actually bought a pretty dress of my own with the She & Him concert in mind. When we last went to the States I bought a few dresses (I live in summer dresses), and when I bought this one I said to Hubby, "I'm totally wearing this for Zooey!"

Embroidered Dress

But then it rained and it was a muck-party by the time She & Him hit the stage. I ended up wearing my weirdo-attracting orange dress (this one), not caring if I ruined it. Of course it survived. And it hasn't lost its mojo, Hubby is my witness. The flats I wore serve as proof of my fandom. I waded to the muckiest area to get super close, at which point my shoes ensured as much mud as possible gushed in. Totally worth it.

Oh yeah, and on our way to Weezer, I spotted this lovely vintage chair curbside. With a move looming, Hubby has been even more reluctant to facilitate my garbage-picking but I convinced him to help me shove this in the car and we made it to the concert only slightly dusty. It's a project, for sure . . .

Such a swell week. I needed this. Check here to see if you're having a swell week and are the winner of my giveaway with Olive Leaf Stencils. Happy weekend!!

Treasure Hunting Report: Ottawa Antique Show

Hubby and I went to the Ottawa Antique Show Friday. I always go the first night, because it gives me some time to think a purchase over and return over the weekend. Little things (like a McCoy planter) I have bought on the spot, but the year we bought three Lotte lamps, I asked that the seller hold them overnight and I returned the next morning to buy them. I just needed to sleep on it (in hindsight, why?). This time, we accidentally arrived really early, about 4:30pm, and there was already a line! Ottawa is a city of treasure hunting early birds. By 5:00pm the line had snaked around and was blocking the door. You can actually see me, with Hubby lurking behind, in one of Kim's photos (below). I don't know why I look so grumpy: I had a full tummy (Hubby insisted we eat a ridiculously early dinner in case we were at the show until late), empty bladder and was at an antique show!

Photo from Desire to Inspire

The show was great! We spotted some familiar vendors, but new booths as well. There were some fabulous pieces for sale. I favored so many of Kim's picks that by the end Hubby would spot a pick of hers, hide her tag, ask if I liked it, then celebrate if I didn't love it. As in, "a-ha! It was a Kim's pick!". It was triumphant for him. Whatever keeps him entertained, I guess!

I was on a mission: silhouettes, McCoy pottery, Pyrex, Iittala . . . I'm trying to build and grow existing collections so they have a WOW factor, instead of investing in random little items here and there. Although I also seriously considered a very small pair of silhouettes, I only purchased two small items (I'll tell you what I bought in a minute).

I loved these little silhouettes, but they just didn't suit the rest of my collection.

There were many beautiful items to ogle, especially for folks without such a narrow focus as mine.

I have wanted a Lea Stein fox pin forever, but I'm not a huge fan of red.

Found out Hubby doesn't like Russel Wright dinnerware - which I had thought about starting to collect!

These 1970s teak tables would provide amazing storage in a living room . . . like our living room!

So tempting . . .

Even with all this temptation I stuck to our money-saving goal, but did come home with one sweet treat that was a total surprise: antique Fort William post cards that round out my existing set, which we hung in the stairwell in floating frames. The bridge on one is the same bridge Hubby and I were almost swept under last time we took out our very small sailboat, on a trip to our hometown. The Lake Superior slips were closed for renovations, so we took the boat on a river and had a terrible time that ended up with us paddling, ditching the boat, hiking back through rough brush, shimmying around a chain link fence (dangling over a cliff), emerging covered in burrs and then waiting a lifetime in the setting sun for someone to help us tow the boat back. I HAD to get that postcard!

This one was actually mailed! I wish the seller hadn't written the price on the postcard. I have no functioning erasers.

Did any local readers hit the Ottawa Antique Show this weekend? Even though my purchases were small, I'm so happy with what I found and I'll be back next time - you never know what treasures will be there, just waiting to come home to the townhouse! Kim's so lucky: she got to snap photos before the show opened (most of mine have people's bums in them as they hunched over to investigate items, or were snapped in a hurry before someone's bum entered the shot). See her photos on Desire to Inspire and Closet Rivalry.

Get Ready for the Ottawa Antique Show

This weekend I'll be ogling the beautiful wares at the Ottawa Antique Show! I thought my local readers might like to know, but to everyone else: it's worth the drive. The Ottawa Antique Show is one-stop shopping for anyone who loves vintage and antique finds. Some of the best dealers comes together, in an airy and spacious spot, and showcase their goodies, bringing you sweet deals you might never otherwise find.

You can find all of the details at the Ottawa Antique Show website, including show information, how to get a discounted admission price, and more about the individual vendors. Tickets are $10.00 per person (children under 18 get in free), but that ticket is good all weekend.

The show runs April 5-7, 2013, at Carleton University Field House, Bronson Ave. and Sunnyside Ave.

April 5th: 5pm - 9pm
April 6th: 10am - 5pm
April 7th: 10am - 4pm

Have fun treasure hunting! I'll be sure to share some photos of the show, plus any finds that might make their way home to the townhouse, next week. In previous years, I've bought a cameo necklace, pearl earrings, a McCoy planter for my collection and a silhouette for my collection. I'm pretty sure I won't be leaving empty handed this year, either.

Thanks to Michele, from Ottawa, for reminding me that Kim, of the hugely popular blog Desire to Inspire, will be sharing her picks on Friday!

P.S. Speaking of treasures, don't forget to enter my current giveaway from Berlin-based Etsy seller laKattun.

Treasure Hunting Report: Hoodwinked

I've been had.

You might have seen this minty green tray around the townhouse. Normally my best finds comes from thrifting or yard saling, but I actually bought this tray at my favorite, upscale mid-century shop, right here in Ottawa, over a year ago. I loved the colour and the shape. I thought it had an unusual glaze for a vintage piece (kind of matte), but that made me love it more. I paid $20 or $25 bucks for it. I know, I know. Steep. But so minty! I love mint.

It hangs around the kitchen mostly, corralling tomatoes and kiwis.

Imagine my excitement when I found the exact same tray at Value Village!! Imagine my disappointment when I flipped it over and saw this:

That's right! It's a flippin' Martha Stewart tray, made in CHINA. I'm sure the antique dealer didn't know and I doubt this was a malicious "get the customer" scam (which is why I'm not naming the shop). I still like the tray, but I bet dollars to donuts I paid more for my used one than it originally sold for.

This is why I will sometimes spend hours researching items that go into our shop. I'm so nervous about accidentally selling something newer, because so many newer items have such a vintage aesthetic. Have you ever bought a faux-vintage something, thinking it's the real deal?

P.S. We ran out of internet - for our billing period - with Rogers yesterday (I've been playing too many Mother Mother songs on YouTube), so I am going to take a long weekend from blogging. See you all Monday!

P.P.S. Yes, I bought the second tray at Value Village. It may not be vintage, but the Value Village find was a sweet price ($2.00) and I love having a pair.

Light up the (Laundry) Room

It has been six months since Handy Hubby and I did any work in the basement and we literally stopped mid-task, so there are tools and supplies everywhere! Although we prettied up one corner, there is still so much to do (and so little money to do it with). Other than my being abroad for four months, a major hurdle has been that some un-fun tasks (more wallpaper removal for me, drywall for Hubby) are looming, discouraging us from trudging down into the basement. We both know that if we can just get through those tasks, we can get to the fun stuff, like making over my work desk, painting the walls, making a curtain rod from scratch, making some fun art, building and styling shelves, etc. But we've been dragging our feet. I have a ton of ideas swirling around in my head (A brightly coloured laundry room floor? An inventive solution for hiding our ugly washer and dryer? Unexpected accessories?), but I can't get to them until we suck it up and just finish this stage. I see light (haha) at the end of the tunnel, though, because we're doing one fun thing: pondering lighting options, oohing and ahhing over different types of fixtures, deciding how many we need (and how inexpensively we can snag them).

We toured the Diefenbunker with family on Sunday, and I really, really liked the simple, industrial lights I spotted there (See? Cannot take me anywhere):

So maybe the industrial look might work well in the laundry room?

1, 2, 3, 4

On the other hand, the basement has greige walls and carpet, so the (pretty teeny) laundry room might be the place to splash out and try some fun and colourful:

1, 2, 3, 4

Or maybe something colourful and industrial? I'm really trying to squeeze every last drop of joy from this decision because after we decide on a light fixture, it's back to this.

Seesaw

Frankly, anything is an improvement on what is there: a big-ass fluorescent that was (presumably) pulled from a dumpster and a socket for a naked bulb that was (inexplicable) empty, and, despite being functional, left right beside the fluorescent. What the H? Did they do this just to torment us?!? The former owners have left us scratching our heads, whimpering, "why, why, why?" sooo many times.

A decision soon, followed by some actual progress. The basement is also where the magic happens for other projects, so I have a total traffic jam of ideas for things I'd like to make or fix or re-do, but until we make progress many (but not all) projects are on hold.

P.S. For Ottawa folk, the Diefenbunker is kind of cool. If not for the history, go for all the retro office furniture and orange tape dispensers. Scary news Canadians: even in the event of a nuclear blast, the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation will still be in existence, so you'll have to keep paying your mortgage (even if you can only pay in beads and seeds). Way to take away our silver lining, suits.

Can't Take Me Any Where

Last week went by in a whoooosh because we had family visiting us Wednesday through Sunday. As an added twist, I had been in Thunder Bay (surprise!) prior to that and flew home Tuesday night. With company in town we hit some Ottawa sites, trudging through the snow to go to museums and comedy festivals. I took lots of photos, but not always of what I was supposed to. Tell me, does this happen to you: when other people are hamming it up in front of sculptures and museum displays, are you snapping photos of things that inspire you? My vacation photos are predominantly pictures of weirdly detailed angles (usually ideas for paintings I'd like to create), inspiration for ways I'd like to shape our decor, or just things I find visually intriguing so I can file them away for later ogling. I spend more time seeking out inspiration than I do learning about the subject at hand. Case in point: our trip to the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.

I'm not sure I can tell you much about the (amazing) aviation museum, but I am feeling awfully inspired to add more touches of weathered, but polished, wood and welded accents to the townhouse. And also maybe some antique crates. Some objets d'art (propellers anyone?). I'm (loosely) seeing bits of early aviation in everything now, like this Gus Modern table.

Gus Modern Hull Table

Some of the ideas churning in my head are abstractly inspired by early aviation, but this idea of hanging propellers on a (turquoise!) wall is 100% steal-able:

It works.

Houzz

This table, made from parts of a Jet engine, very literally adds a dose of aviation inspiration to a room.

Custom Made

For something smaller, I love these aeronautical trays.

Trays4Us

The props in the museum - crates, old machinery, vintage labeling - in addition to early Canadian logos, were also inspiring.

So yes, I'm basically feeling inspired to add more industrial touches to the townhouse. You know how much we loved welded furniture (like Hubby's desk, our bedroom furniture and the coveted little table), now to pair it with some warm wood, weathered crates, hints of vintage travel and retro graphics. Something subtle, because I'm not sure I can fit a propeller anywhere.