I've lived in my home for almost 14 years (at least it has been my address for that long) and for that whole time I have dreamed of 'fixing' its short-comings. I've plotted in my brain, ransacked my piles of home decorating magazines for ideas and created miles of drawings of how things could work better 'if-only'.. I've always thought the main bathroom is ugly and over-crowded; that only a crazed person would wrap stair treads in carpet (who puts carpet on the BOTTOM of the stair!); that the vinyl flooring in the kitchen and three (!!) bathrooms needs to be replaced and on and on....
Since March I have been knee-deep in renovations. Anyone who has lived through renovations knows that patience is required - everything takes twice as long and that great ideas that seem very simple often are VERY complicated and expensive to execute. But I have a great contractor who I trust and he is trying his best to make my renovation dreams come true.
Here is some work in progress:
Here is a great before and (almost) after photo of a different part of a home:
When I see them side by side like this, I realize what a huge difference it makes! The paint on the walls is just the primer. I'll post a finished shot when it is done.
The renovation progress has also been slowed by my insistence for sourcing materials from Craigslist or the ReStore. Not that everything has been (the treads or paint for example) but I have been surprised by how much I have been able to buy from individuals or a non-profit store.
If you do not know the ReStore, please check it out. In the lower mainland there are two, one in Burnaby and one in south Vancouver - http://www.vancouverhabitat.bc.ca/restores
But Habitat for Humanity has ReStores in many communities across Canada: http://www.habitat.ca/en/community/restores/location
The money you spend goes into their building projects. And you can find amazing items. Home Depot donates a great deal to the ReStores - often most opened boxes that have been returned by a consumer are not re-stocked in the store but rather donated to the local ReStore. You just need to visit often because the stock is always changing. I have found flooring for a kitchen and bathroom, lighting and window coverings.
In addition to the ReStore, I've been combing through Craigslist to find what I need for the renovations. The tiles in the kitchen? They are from someone who advertises on CL. They are a smaller company (run out of a storage locker) and had fabulous glass tiles at a great price. I've sourced a bathroom vanity (and sink), another sink for the downstairs bathroom, the tile for the kitchen/bathrooms/front foyer, wood blinds and replacement appliances (fridge, stove, dishwasher, dryer, washer) all on CL. It takes time but I'm learning that it is do-able.
I am recycling, saving money, but the best thing? I meet really lovely people. 90% of the time we have a great chat about their home or why they are using CL or what they are working on (improvements, downsizing, moving). I may never meet them again but they are part of my community and it makes me happy to know them, for those moments.
