How High’s the Water?
The Water level is rising at our Ontario cottage. We keep asking each other “How High’s the Water?”, which reminds us of a Johnny Cash song.
Continue reading “How High’s the Water?”Category: Old House Reno and Finds
DIY, Fixer Upper, Old House, Cottage Life, Thrifting, Vintage collections, how to
Signs of Spring
This past week in Southern Ontario we have had a lovely quick blast of summer temperatures! We are heading back to colder temperatures again next week, but we’ve had a wonderful time of it while it lasted!
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Spring Head Start – Seed Starting
Get a jump on spring gardening with simple seed starting tips. Learn how to choose the right seeds, create the perfect environment, and care for your seedlings for a bountiful harvest.
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Ontario’s Ice Harvest History
Our mysterious island barn is a legacy of Ontario’s historic Ice Harvest industry.
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Kitchen Pantry Update
A vintage thrifted baker’s rack painted – becomes a pantry. Continue reading Kitchen Pantry Update
Kitchen Island Counter Replacement
We replaced the existing wooden countertop of our kitchen island with quartz. This was a quick refresh to our existing kitchen in our 130 year old home. Continue reading Kitchen Island Counter Replacement
Old House Floor Upstairs Landing
A before during and after story about our 1890s floor refinishing project Continue reading Old House Floor Upstairs Landing
Junque from the Sheds
Our island sheds were filled to the brim with old stuff – and a few treasures that I painted blue. Continue reading Junque from the Sheds
The Mad Trappers
We rescued a marooned red squirrel with a live wildlife trap. Continue reading The Mad Trappers
Island Cottage Life
We love our island cottage. A story about the pros and cons of island life. Continue reading Island Cottage Life
How to Clean Oil Paintings
How to clean old oil paintings at home – a DIY project Continue reading How to Clean Oil Paintings
Dining Room Before and After – Removing Wallpaper
An old house dining room before and after – and how to remove wallpaper Continue reading Dining Room Before and After – Removing Wallpaper
Renovating the Master Bedroom (Part 2)
Part 2 of our Century Home Bedroom Before and After Continue reading Renovating the Master Bedroom (Part 2)
Renovating our Master Bedroom
Renovating the Master Bedroom in our century home ourselves. Part 1 of a Before and After story. Continue reading Renovating our Master Bedroom
Family Room Reno – Before and After
A before and after story about our century home family room makeover. Continue reading Family Room Reno – Before and After
How to Care for and Wash Vintage Linens
Sorting and soaking my vintage tablecloths and linens was easy and worthwhile. Continue reading How to Care for and Wash Vintage Linens
Old House Living Room Before and After
A before and after story about our old house living room renovation Continue reading Old House Living Room Before and After
Polishing Silver – How to, Hacks & Tarnish
I experimented with different silver polishes and silver polishing “hacks” with some success! Continue reading Polishing Silver – How to, Hacks & Tarnish
Home Staging 101
Having our home staged isn’t fun, but we can definitely learn from it. We have had our homes staged a few times over the years. Continue reading Home Staging 101
Midnight Fireplace Surround Makeover
I painted my 1990s green slate fireplace surround to give it an inexpensive makeover Continue reading Midnight Fireplace Surround Makeover
3 Bathrooms Before and After
We renovated three bathrooms in our 1890s home and this is a quick summary Continue reading 3 Bathrooms Before and After
The New Old Bathroom
We completed few small projects in our almost complete bathroom reno ourselves – spraypainting a light fixture and installing a vintage doorknob. Continue reading The New Old Bathroom
Laundry to Bathroom Progress
We are turning our laundry room back into a bathroom in our century home with a little help
Continue reading Laundry to Bathroom Progress
Painting Ledgestone
We were happy to make our ledgestone wall disappear with a thin layer of paint
Continue reading Painting Ledgestone
Airing My Dirty Laundry
We wanted to move our washer and dryer in our 1890s home but things didn’t go as originally planned. Continue reading Airing My Dirty Laundry
Around the House
Sometimes, one thing leads to another and nothing gets done around the house. Continue reading Around the House
How to Remove Carpet Underpad
How to remove carpet underpadding that has been stuck to hardwood flooring.
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Penny Tile Floor – How To
Our DIY penny round tile floor project is finished without too much drama ( why and how to install and cut penny tile and how to avoid bad penny tile installation) Continue reading Penny Tile Floor – How To
Painting old Radiators
Painting radiators in our 130 year old house wasn’t difficult, just time consuming and a little messy. What paint to use and how to apply.
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1990s Gas Fireplace Makeover
We didn’t like our shiny green gas 1990s fireplace, so we gave it an inexpensive DIY makeover Continue reading 1990s Gas Fireplace Makeover
The Cat Door Needed to Go
How to remove and fill in a pet door or cat flap. Nothing against cats – we just don’t have one!
Continue reading “The Cat Door Needed to Go”
Fiddling with the roof
Having to fix or replace a roof is no fun at all. Continue reading Fiddling with the roof
DIY Crackle Paint
How to make Crackle Paint with white latex paint and white glue. A story about refinishing a thrifty mirror with a crackle finish.
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Centre Pedestal Table Makeover
We cut down a thrifted round table until it was just right. Continue reading Centre Pedestal Table Makeover
Kitchen Thrifting
Is it ever OK to grab a neighbour’s discarded kitchen table and refinish it? Of course it is! Continue reading Kitchen Thrifting
Powder Room Reno Gets Rolling…..
We are moving forward with finishing up our downstairs powder room and side entranceway. We had started our penny round tiling project months ago, and then the other day I replaced the toilet and started the tiling in the powder … Continue reading Powder Room Reno Gets Rolling…..
Finally Getting to the Bathroom Reno
Can or should a housewife install a toilet? Continue reading Finally Getting to the Bathroom Reno
Old House Reno – Crowded House
Tearing off wallpaper and painting are suitable projects to do while staying safe at home in a crowded house. Continue reading Old House Reno – Crowded House
Kitchen Reno – Dark Stained Butcher Block
Solid wood butcher block countertops – how to darken light wood counters with food safe stain.
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Old House Reno
Frozen pipes lead to an unplanned bathroom renovation in our 130 year old house. Continue reading Old House Reno
Old House Kitchen Reno – Part 3
We are almost finished renovating the kitchen in our 130 year old house. Continue reading Old House Kitchen Reno – Part 3
Old House Kitchen Renovation – Part 2
Part 2 of 3 of the kitchen renovation in our 130 year old home – cupboards, counter, electrical Continue reading Old House Kitchen Renovation – Part 2
Old House Kitchen Renovation – Part 1 – Before
Part one of our Kitchen Renovation in our 1890s home.
Continue reading Old House Kitchen Renovation – Part 1 – Before
Bedroom Renovation #2
The second bedroom renovation in our old house renovation project. Continue reading Bedroom Renovation #2
Renovation Painting Projects
Chalk painting furniture and copper faux finish of hardware for our second bedroom renovation in our 1890s home. Continue reading Renovation Painting Projects
Snow Day Musings:
There is nothing to do on a snow day but stay inside and ponder things like what is a Bomb Cyclone Continue reading Snow Day Musings:
Pantry Project
Organizing the pantry. Continue reading Pantry Project
Bedroom Renovation Project #1
A bedroom renovation in our 1890s home. Continue reading Bedroom Renovation Project #1
Retirement Renovation
My husband and I retired, became (sort-of) empty nesters, and downsized our home last year. |I can’t say that we downsized too too much, but we certainly took the opportunity to purge prior to our move. That’s not to say … Continue reading Retirement Renovation
Trouble Sleeping?
As we get older, our sleep patterns change, and sometimes we have trouble sleeping. We may have trouble getting to sleep at night, or sleeping all the way through. Certain foods are known to help us get to sleep naturally. … Continue reading Trouble Sleeping?