A Colorful Home Office in Progress

You've barely heard a peep from me about our home office in the last year and a half.  So far, you've seen the Expedit - twice (after the Expedit hack, round two and when we made the plywood magazine files) - and the closet-turned-nook.  But that's all I've shown you - for good reason.  The office was our dumping ground when we first moved in.  When it was cold outside and we were working on the kitchen makeover, the office became tool storage (the garage seems so much farther away when it's 35 below out).  When the kitchen was done and order in the house was once again restored, the office took on a new role: acting as guestroom for a visiting friend.  (I drove to my parents' house with my truck and literally stole a bed from their guest bedroom).  You might recall that last year I wanted to use the guesthouse for our Etsy shop, but it became too expensive to heat, so the guest bed was sheepishly returned and all of the Etsy merchandise moved into my office.  Eventually I set up shelves in the basement, and now the Etsy goodies are organized and orderly, but before I could finally see our actual plans for the office come to fruition, it started housing the displaced dresser and chair from our bedroom. 

We really have big plans for the space - I swear!  It won't remain a forgotten room forever.  I'll detail our plans, including the crazy thing we intend to do with the nook, soon (I want to get your feedback on some DIY desk designs too).  Today, though, I wanted to capitalize on the cleanliness and give you a tour, so you can see the space.  I recently dealt with the paperwork crowding my desk, washed the floors, and even hung the drapes from the bedroom - just until my Mom and I sew the new aqua tweed ones.  One day this room will be more than simply where furniture and accessories come to languish.  But today it's clean, so take a peek!

This is one of my favorite paintings by Hubby's Grandpa.  Hubs had this already when we met - reason enough to marry the guy ;)

 

Even if they are temporary, I'm loving curtains in here.  I'm embarrassed to tell you how long I've been staring at an empty curtain rod...

You have no idea how tempting it is to pack those dresser drawers full of stuff!  The dresser is going back to my Mom's, as soon as she makes room for it.  After I stole it (having a truck makes me such a furniture thief), she rearranged all of her bedrooms and no longer has a spot for it.  She's getting the last laugh.

A softer pair of Bert's paintings hang above the dresser, where they will stay when we build new desks.  It's hard to tell in photos, but there is a lot of soft aqua and pink layered in.  The paintings are more colourful than they always look in photos.

The Expedit looks largely the same, except the top shelves are getting a bit crowded with framed prints I can't seem to find a home for; I just stood them up behind my pottery to keep them safe. I stashed my sewing machine up there one day, also hoping to keep it safe, and there it has stayed.

The nook needs some work - melamine shelves are awfully weak.  Sometimes in photos it looks like shelves are sagging because of lens distortion, but these shelves are actually sagging.  We are actually thinking of using this space in an entirely different way...

There you have it, a look at the mysterious second bedroom!  On the horizon: DIY desks, luxurious office chairs, a more practical nook, fabulous tweed curtains, a decluttered Expedit, plus clever ways to hide unsightly tech stuff (looking at you, hulking printer).  For a little walk down memory lane, here's what the room looked like when the former owners were using it as a bedroom, and then when it was empty:

And Then She Swam Away

It's Monday!  I have a funny story about Szuka, which I hope makes you smile.

Last year Szuka mostly avoided the lake, until Hubs and I jumped in one day.  Szuka reluctantly joined us, but then proved herself to be a strong, if a little timid, swimmer.  The fall encroached quickly, followed by the ice, and Szuka didn't get much time to test her sea legs.  Last week I spent an afternoon raking, with Szuka at my side.  She plucked a super mangy piece of driftwood from the shore - just totally rotten and disgusting -  so I tossed it back into the lake as soon as I could get my hands on it.  To my surprise, she dove in after it.  I started tossing stick after stick into the lake.  No matter how far I threw a stick, she obligingly retrieved it.  After last year's tentative swimming, I'm surprised by how much she loves the water!

Here's the funny part.  Hubs and I were sitting on the shore, admiring my handiwork and the view, and she was chewing a stick near us.  Then she heard geese squawking across the bay and took off running across our neighbour's yard.  We yelled at her to come back, and she did - begrudgingly.  She knows she's not allowed off our property - and she knows exactly where the property lines are - but sometimes the urge to protect us makes her willful.  She wouldn't come back and hang around us, but instead decided to wade into the lake and inspect our dilapidated dock (unusually high water levels last year totally destroyed it).

She walked out a little bit at a time, intensely sniffing every segment, until she reached the end.

That's when she started to book it toward the other side of the bay.  Toward the geese.

We just about died laughing at her determined swimming (and creative disobedience).  We called her name and she turned around with an expression that read, "What? What do you want?"

We instructed her to come back.  She looked peeved, but starting swimming back.

We're kind of curious how far she would have gotten, or what her end game was.  We were warned Komondors can be stubborn...

In other delightful doggy news, Hubs and I were having lunch with my Dad when he said he saw a mini-Szuka.  I turned around and spotted a corded pup!  She is a white Puli (which is less common than the typical black).  Pulis are another Hungarian breed, but they have way more energy because they're livestock herding dogs (not guarding dogs, like Komondors).

Her awesome corded coat, made even more special with colourful threads woven around some of the cords, made me regret - just for a second - not cording Szuka.  I'm always envious of people who have corded their Pulis or Komondors because it looks so cool!

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A Budget-Friendly Bathroom, Almost Two Years Laters - What Held Up, What Didn't

In preparation for our exciting reno, the bathroom has been largely dismantled and we're down to the studs on one side.  There's no going back!  Before we ripped apart the walls, I quickly snapped a few photos to show how the budget-friendly spruce held up.  Here's what the painted vanity, painted tile, painted hardware, and painted light fixture looked like when everything was freshly done:



And here's that same view, right before demolition commenced (which is why, if you look closely, it's not as clean - seemed like a waste of time to clean in the weeks days before we started to demo):



As a quick reminder, here's what the bathroom looked like when we moved in:



I have to say that I really, really liked the makeover.  Of course, aqua cabinets would have been even better, but I wanted to work with what was there, like the linoleum floors, the mint counters, and the bisque toilet, sink, and shower, because the goal was to spend as little as possible.  When we bought the lakehouse and started tinkering with floor plans, sketching out mini makeovers, and spacing out/budgeting for major renovations, the original plan was to renovate the bathroom last year.  Unfortunately, the delay in selling our townhouse (plus the disappointing sale price), and the resultant delays moving in and tackling the kitchen meant that we just weren't prepared to renovate the bathroom last spring.  Having a spruced up space made delaying the renovation by a year so much easier.  Plus, it helped me figure out what I wanted for the bath renovation in the long run, and I'm grateful for that time to ponder.

So, how did everything hold up? 

The Painted Bathroom Vanity

It held up beautifully!  I am actually very surprised, because the Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations kit required no sanding or priming (click here to read my post about it).  It made me so nervous to skip those steps, but it adhered perfectly and held up to lots of scrubbing and cleaning.  In one teeny tiny area, where we forgot to put a cabinet bumper, the constant opening and slamming shut of the door rubbed off a tiny fleck of paint.  Cabinet bumpers are a must!  I was provided this product by Rustoleum, but would happily purchase it because it was far less labor intensive and messy than sanding, priming and painting (which we did for the kitchen cabinets), but it held up better than primer and paint.  I have had to touch up the kitchen cabinets in a few spots, but I haven't touched up the bathroom cabinetry (I ignored the little fleck because it was so wee).

Then

Now

Would I recommend it?  Yes!  Whole-heartedly - especially to someone who doesn't have ready access to a workshop or garage.  Sanding is so messy, but de-glossing can easily be done indoors without making a mess (as long as there is good ventilation).

Are there drawbacks?  The colour options are limited, but you get it tinted in-store, and I think that an adventurous person working the paint department could custom tint it.  They did that for me for the tile transformation kit because they didn't have the code for the exact white.  So custom colours could be a possibility.  As for other drawbacks, in can be a bit pricey if you're only refinishing a small set of cabinets - but there are kits in different sizes (small and large).  As I mentioned before, the only tricky part with application is the clear coat, which can end up streaky and is difficult to fix so you need to work quickly, in good light, and get an even application the first time.

The Painted Hardware

I am slightly disappointed with the painted hardware, but I think my sanding/prep work is to blame.  Overall, the hardware maintained its lovely matte black finish, but on two knobs the gold peeked through (see photo below).  It was such a bummer!  I didn't prime (the Rust-Oleum High Heat Enamel spray paint I used doesn't require it), so perhaps that would have helped.  I think that the real problem is that I didn't wipe off the residue well enough after sanding.  If I painted hardware again, I'd sand really well and then clean with TSP - that stuff works really well.  Using metal primer would also be a good idea.



Would I recommend it?  Sure!  It's just paint, and if you have hardware with a nice shape but unwelcome finish, it can be a really cost effective way to update it - especially if you're using leftover paint like I did.  If I was really bothered, it would have taken me two second to fix the gold patches.

The Painted Light Fixture

Gah!  That thing bothered me - not the paint makeover, but the fixture itself.  It's just so ugly.  I will admit, though, that it did provide nice light.  I always looked good in this bathroom, sort of airbrushed, which sometimes resulted in a botched makeup application - something I'd realize in horror when I looked in the truck vanity mirror, halfway to town.  I recently busted two bulbs cleaning it, so now I'm even less enamored with it.  I should admit that I am a hair spray fanatic, so everything in the bathroom gets coated in a light dusting of sticky mist.  The matte surface of the paint made it a bit trickier to wipe the spray residue off, but it also disguised it a bit.  I think a glossy finish would be better for something that requires regular cleaning, but there were no problems with the paint - no chips or loss of paint. 



Would I recommend it?  Yes!  De-brassifying the light fixture made me much happier with the bathroom and it helped tide me over until the reno.  It definitely helped me save money because otherwise I might have been tempted to drop $20-50 on a new light fixture, which would have been a total waste.  I'm probably too worried, but because those bulbs do give off some heat I felt more comfortable using the Rust-Oleum High Heat Enamel spray paint (which has a really limited colour and finish selection).

The Painted Tile

Remember how I goofed that up?  If I'd followed the directions during the application, it would have been amazing!  Despite my rookie mistake, the Rust-Oleum Tile Transformation kit still held up - no damage or chipping, and it was easy to clean.  I have seen people cover tile using paint (like Jenny's bathroom makeover), but I can't speak to how well that holds up or cleans.  I can say that the Rustoleum tile paint ends up super smooth, just like ceramic - and not like paint at all.  I'm overly concerned with how well it cleaned, but sometimes I see a bathroom reno or makeover - with decorative crap littering the toilet tank, for example, and sigh, "that can't be easy to clean".  It's the hairspray thing - it clouds my vision.



Would I recommend it?  If you've got hideous tile and are in need of a temporary solution, I can't think of a better way to simply and cost-effectively update it.  I think of these Rust-Oleum products as band-aid solutions, though, and wouldn't recommend doing this and then investing in expensive new cabinets or something - this is for the budget-conscious, because once the grout lines are painted, close up it's evident that it's a faux finish.

After its budget-friendly makeover, the bathroom got a lot of love - especially from Apartment Therapy readers, many of whom deemed further renovation unnecessary.  Some even suggested taking the spruce a bit further and replacing the sink and counter, for a more permanent change.  But there are (were!) many things to dislike about the bathroom, despite my efforts at gussying it up:

The Portal to Nowhere

The shower portal is probably the #1 reason we want to renovate.



I absolutely hate the shower portal, but I'm happy I lived with it for a year and a half, first.  Had we renovated immediately, I would have been tempted by a modern version, because the shower doors do contain the steam better than a shower curtain, which produces a cozier shower experience - until you step out into the frigid bathroom!  Ultimately, what has bothered me the most is how difficult it is to clean!  Okay, yes, I seem to be a bit preoccupied with how easy it is to clean things in the bathroom, but cleaning the glass doors was a nightmare!  Even after vigorous scrubbing, they never looked perfectly clean, plus they got covered in soap scum immediately anyway.  This is the day after I scrubbed them:



See that grime? Oh yeah, and the door didn't properly open and close anymore.  I can't believe I'm showcasing all of this grossness.  I even left my hand lotion and face wash on the vanity for photos - without putting them in pretty bottles.  They're going to revoke my blogger license!!

It is also awkward to clean inside the tub, because the glass panels prevent me from reaching inside easily.  I am SO excited to have a shower curtain again!  It will be easier to clean everything, and it won't produce such a dramatic temperature difference between the shower and the rest of the room.  Plus, I'm excited for new faucets because the existing ones have taken a beating and just look so sad (that's mostly wear - not all soap scum, but it's some soap scum, I'm not going to lie).



The Counter

The laminate counter, although I grew fond of the mint, chipped and began to peel (they were totally popping up in the kitchen when we moved in, but the bathroom was okay at the time).  Covering it with Rust-Oleum's Counter Top Transformations would have helped, but I didn't like any of the colour choices.  If we were living with the bathroom for longer, I would have probably tried it.  The concrete finish everyone is doing looks cute too, but that looks awfully dusty.

 
The Height

This vanity is SO low: only 30" (including the counter)!  I know we were accustomed to the taller, brand new vanity in the townhouse, which made this feel even shorter, but still - it's so short.  It seems like the silliest thing to complain about, but after you wash your hands and accidentally soak the crotch of your pants right before leaving the house - a dozen times - you start to pine for a taller vanity.  I'm very excited for our new walnut vanity, which will be between 36-37" tall - plus we'll have the bonus of double sinks!

So there you have it, some updates on our budget-friendly spruce (what held up and what didn't), and also a little tour of the grossness to better explain why we're renovating.  If you're curious about the makeover process, here are the other posts about making over the space:

Refinishing the Bathroom Cabinets
Refinishing the Bathroom Tile
The Before and After
Styling the Bathroom with Art & Accessories
Summary of Cabinet Refinishing Options

Now, forget you ever saw my grimey shower ;)

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Shop Talk: What's New

Speaking of our ambitious shop goals, I'm pleased to report that we've had the shop stocked non-stop (say that ten times fast), since re-opening last September!  I joked on Monday about what a feat that is.  When we first opened, about three years ago, we got into this terrible habit of running it for a few months, making a few sales, then shutting down for a year or more, then re-opening and running it for a few months, then shuttering it again.  We've been closed more than we've been open!  It wasn't lack of interest - when we closed corresponded with time I spent in Budapest for my PhD research, first a month long language course, then a four month research stint.  Then Hubs and I moved across the province, so the shop was put on the back burner again.  It's made it decidedly less fun because getting started is usually the hardest part of any task, so this system was really terrible.  But we've now been open steadily eight months or so.  Yay!  I know we should be embarrassed by celebrating this incredibly small feat, but for us - me especially - it feels like a really big deal.

In addition to our shop sales, we've held a few successful Instagram sales, sold some larger vintage items locally, and we took part in a great flea market recently - which was surprisingly lucrative.  We're actually thinking of doing more vintage shows/flea markets, and the pop-up shop I've casually mentioned is looking even better now (we have the perfect venue, but it means performing a Herculean task in 36 hours).  We've even decided to dabble with eBay!  Have any of you listed items on eBay?  It took forever - simply because everything was new to me -  but we put up our first listing the other day.

I have no idea how to eBay, but I'm determined to keep trying.  It's just easier using Etsy, because it's so familiar.  I listed a bunch of new items, actually, and wanted to share my currents favorites...

This gorgeous bowl is West German pottery.   It caught our eyes because it boasts a gleaming green glaze coupled with a brown, faux bois exterior.  Both my Mom and I wanted to keep it, and we might still, but neither of us has the room (if we're being honest).

I had barely reached for these quirky solid wood egg cups when Hubby said, "No."  Wet blanket.  I think they are adorable and they will brighten someone's brunch.  I'm spreading joy, here.

You know me, brass isn't my thing, but that doesn't stop me from loving it in other people's homes!  This brass wall pocket, made in Italy, is a sturdy little guy, ready to hold a small cactus or air plant.  I'm probably going to bite it on the shipping because he's a beast. 

Similarly, "Western," is not how one would describe my style, but when I'm picking for the shop I try to narrow in on things that are unusual, beautiful, or on trend.  Certainly leather is having a moment.  Even if it wasn't, these Western glasses are awesome.

They need to be paired with these bakelite steak knives.  Or this whole bakelite cutlery set.  I have had a number of International folks want to buy them, but I am avoiding shipping to Europe for the time being.  Last time around I spent weeks chasing down a parcel to Italy, although other International shipments went smoothly - now I am a bit nervous.  But I guess this bakelite set speaks to Europeans...

Much more my speed, this Rosenthal vase (designed by Bjørn Wiinblad) has been super difficult to part with, but since moving to a smaller home I've already had to make some tough choices and sell some of my own vintage collection, so I can't really be adding anything new.  Seems counter-productive.  Can't say I'll be bummed if this doesn't sell, though.  This polka dot coffee pot is from Germany, too.  So is this Bareuther Waldsassen vase, which is really striking - like it was sliced from a glacier.  Those Germans have style!

Speaking of vases from my own collection for sale, this teal glass vase was originally for the shop but I scooped it, petted it for a bit, and have decided to set it free.  Hope it finds a loving home, because it's such a substantial piece.  I'm feeling good about it, because my aqua cased glass vase already sold, and so did these aqua shot glasses and these ones. 

Oh, and this teal one is for sale too.  It's identical to a swatch of paint in Bert's painting - but I have one the same size in a more blue teal and, frankly, I'm not much of a gardener so there's no way I'll ever produce multiple vases worth of blooms.

We're in agreement that the "atomic flower" on this Federal Glass luncheon set is a pot leaf, right?

But this is just a puppy.  Well, he's not just a puppy, he's a puppy with a polka dot shoe.  I bought him last summer but I stashed him with the Etsy stuff and only recently listed him.

I WANT these glasses, but I cannot commit to two new colours in the kitchen.  Orange was a big enough step for me.  Baby steps.

Quatrefoil is a fun word.  I've been enjoying typing it again and again.  But the longer I look at it, the more incorrectly it seems spelled.  This pottery piece was made in California - it just feels sunny, doesn't it?

I have reluctantly listed some Iittala - you know my passion for it!  I am still waiting for the right buyer for the whole Kastehelmi set, but I also found a matching ashtray, small plate, and I listed the solid glass polar bear.  I know, he is adorable.  

How could I not buy this milk glass silhouette vase?  It's got everything.  Speaking of milk glass, I love that this Federal Glass set is a full set of six! 

In the wake of my rock casualties, you can understand why I kind of want to keep this hunk of gorgeousness.  But my desk is so littered with junk, you'd never see it, anyway.  Seriously, within reach I've got a pirate pencil sharpener, a camera battery charger, a mason jar, holiday cards (holiday cards) I haven't put away, a book on hat making, a garbage bag tag for the dump, a huge pile or receipts and bills, and a swipe card from when I worked at the University of Ottawa.  Was I supposed to return that?  More importantly, where the heck did it come from?

I have an eerily similar round box on my nightstand, filled with dog treats for Szuka.  Mine is Hungarian Kalocsa, but I think the familiar shape and ethnic handpainted floral design of this sweet box lured me in.  Plus the lacquer is so shiny.

It's been awhile since I shared my shop favorites (February? Where does the time go??), so thanks for indulging me - there are 110 items for sale right now, so it was tough to choose.  Although it's so much more work than I ever imagined, I really enjoy our Etsy shop.  Connecting with people who finally found what they were looking for is the most fun part, and I especially love getting feedback from people who have bought items as gifts.  I've got some fun stories, for sure. 

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Quilted Coffee Bean Mug Mats

Since re-opeing the Etsy shop I operate with my Mom and Mummu, I have had two very lofty goals:

1. Keep it running all year round
2. Add handmade items!

So far, we've met both goals!  Pretty incredible feats, no? ;)

During the holidays, I finally listed some of my Christmas spiders, but this summer my Mom and I are hoping to add many more handmade items.  We're really going to buckle down.  It's not for lack of inspiration that we aren't as productive, creatively, as we'd like: we have more ideas than time - as I'm sure many of you do.  I have to admit, I'd be a lot more amenable to having children if I could be guaranteed a crafty/handy son or daughter who could help me sew, build, and paint.  Knowing my luck, I'd end up with a kid who whines, "can't we just buy it at Walmart?"

"No, now load the bobbin and get to work".

My Mom, as you might have gleaned, is fabulously talented - although she shrugs off any compliments.  She's also incredibly creative, and I can't wait to showcase her talent.  For now, the shop has one teeny, tiny handmade listing: these adorable sets of handmade mug mats.  They are reversible and machine washable cotton (throw them in the dryer, too!), with thermal fleece inside to protect surfaces from the heat of a steamy cuppa.  I don't know what's more adorable: the quilted coffee bean or the polka dot backing? 

So cute, right?  She's been selling these locally, but I convinced her to let me list two.  As we make more items for the shop, we'll post some more sewing tutorials too. 

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