Dear Annie Sloan

You don't know me from a hole in the head - ( I'm a friend though of Caroline's here in Montreal though and if that connection helps me at all I'm milking it for all it's worth)
so I know I carry absolutely no " weight " on this matter - but I have a request.

I adore your products - I only use your paints - I scream it out to the world about my love for it -
But I have a dirty little secret...................
I hate waxing.

I look at video's of people waxing - yourself included and you all make it look so effortless - but I don't and never will find it effortless - it's a lot of work ( for me )

I know you're coming to Montreal in the Fall - but that will be long after the sweltering humid heat waves Montreal has in the month of July - and you live in England so you will never know how difficult it is to work with sweat pouring into your eyes - and burning your eyelids so that you can barely open them - and that's just from walking into the kitchen.
I just finished waxing a dresser and I swear to God I think I lost 15 pounds ( of which I will put back on immediately by stuffing my face uncontrollably from the sheer work out I've just endured )

With all the spectacular things you've invented - it's time Annie - it's time.
You need to come up with a wipe on or brush on top coat with a sheen - ( not the same thing you have for floors ) and give us lazy painter's a choice.
Come on - don your lab coat once again ( I can't because I'm simply melting to death as I type this and an extra layer of clothing would completely do me in )

Respectfully yours
( I can only type with one hand - because the other arm has been rendered useless today )
Simply Vintageous....by Suzan
Oh - and I'd love a true black ( while you have your lab coat on - that would just be the icing on the cake )

Suzan says - I'm typing an open letter to Annie Sloan
John says - You're not
Suzan says - I most definitely am
Suzan says - I sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Canada last month too
John says - Good luck with replies - you're completely nuts
Suzan says - I DID get a reply from the Prime Minister's office
Suzan says - And if Stephen Harper replied to me, surely Annie can too?
Suzan says - You can't implement change unless you go out there on a limb and demand  politely  ask for it
Suzan says - And we Canadians are nothing if not polite
Suzan says - Let's hope the Brits are too...............
John says - Oh we are - we're most definitely polite
John says - But we tend to stay away from crackpots..............

I Wanna live there Wednesday # 47

I live in a pretty incredible area - in Montreal, It's an historical neighbourhood loaded with tons and tons of charm - and 20th century architecture, just steps away from the city center, it's also a pretty expensive neighbourhood ( in which I live in servants quarters basically compared to what I'm surrounded by ) 

Because there are days I don't have furniture makeovers to show you - I've chosen Wednesdays to showcase and feature one or two homes that are for sale around here.................( or apartment - or duplex - or teepee )
Keep in mind this is in the heart of the city - so the prices reflect that  - think Manhattan - where these places would cost 3 or 4 times what they're listed for here!
On occasion I'll showcase beautiful homes in other areas - countries - continents - the one thing most of them will have have in common will be their age - because I love old homes with stories to tell, join me won't you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

As I was getting ready to write up this post - I was overcome with sadness.
The realization is hitting home that for the first time in my life I won't be living in the heart of the city with my next move..............finances just won't allow us to buy the size we need in this area.
We've been on a real roller coaster ride in the last 5 years - life changed suddenly with the downfall of the economy - we had to sell our last home to survive really - and when we were lucky enough to find this one we sighed a breath of relief and thought - as small as it is - at least we're still in the city.....( which to be honest with you was MY criteria - not necessarily John's ) 
That was before I decided to paint and restore furniture and sadly this place just can't accommodate it.
I'm up and down about all of it - some days very excited to get into a new space - some days overridden with anxiety about the unknown and other days thinking just stop doing the furniture for crying out loud but I can't stop now - I'm in love with every aspect about this furniture thing - the hunt - the transformations - the smiles on people's faces when they pick them up - the extra bit of income - all of it.
So a move is imminent....,,,,

We haven't even listed the house yet - and I'm all over the internet checking what's out there - 
We sold our last home in 8 hours - a duplex in a very sought after neighbourhood and found this the next day - so everything was very quick - 
The neighbourhood we're in now is a very pricey one and I've noticed they take a lot longer to sell - 
The realtor has appraised it at almost 500,000 - ( we only have 2 bedrooms - and I wouldn't even call one of them a bedroom - it's so tiny - that it's really an office ) and ONE bathroom so fingers are crossed that we're the exception to the rule once again...............but I'm 54 and come from a time when half a million would buy you a mansion - so can't imagine this going for that amount.  At. ALL.
Those of you that follow know that I'm certainly undecided about what I want exactly - except that it not be a new build - 
All this to let you know that this week's home is one that I have fallen in love with - ( again ) it's only 15 minutes out of the city - off the river ( St. Lawrence ) and needs a lot of TLC - A LOT - but let me know what you think of it !!!
It looks like a little English Cottage, doesn't it - I can see roses climbing everywhere in my mind ;)
You'll have to use your imagination for this week's I.W.L.T.W  !!!!!!!!!

Shutters BLACK - first thing!!!

New landscaping - second thing !!!

POOL? ( THIRD THING )

DARK FLOORS - LIGHT GREY'S AND CREAM'S ON THE WALLS

SOOOO CHARMING

LOVE....................DINING ROOM - ALL IT NEEDS IS PAINT AND A NEW CHANDELIER

THE KITCHEN NEEDS WORK - BUT I'M UP TO THAT

THIS ROOM IS OFF THE KITCHEN  -  IT WOULD BE LOVELY OPENED UP - THE PANELS PAINTED WHITE WITH PATIO DOORS LEADING TO THE BACK YARD DON'T YOU THINK?

OK LET'S GO UPSTAIRS..............( THEY REALLY LOVE ORANGE OBVIOUSLY ) 

LOVE THAT THERE'S A LARGE WINDOW ON THE LANDING

DECENT SIZE MASTER - GREAT WINDOWS - AND 2 VERY LARGE CUPBOARDS - A RARITY IN AN OLD HOME

iT HAS MY BELOVED RADIATORS !!!!!!!

SECONDARY ROOM

THIRD BEDROOM

BUT THIS NEXT PHOTO???
IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS FOR ME - 
A CONVERTED GARAGE - WHERE I COULD DO MY FURNITURE

IF THIS PLACE IS NOT SCREAMING " SIMPLY VINTAGEOUS BY SUZAN " I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS!!!
I'D HANG 2 CHANDELIERS IN HERE BY THE WAY - AND PAINT IT ALL WHITE - BECAUSE - WELL JUST
BECAUSE.....................CHECK OUT THE BUILT IN'S FOR MY PAINTS............

IT ALSO HAS A 4TH ROOM UPSTAIRS THAT THEY'RE CALLING AN OFFICE - NO PHOTO 
2 BATHROOMS - NO PHOTOS ( OH OH - GUT JOB'S PROBABLY )

WHAT DO YOU THINK EVERYONE???
DO YOU ALL SEE THE POTENTIAL HERE THAT I SEE?
I'M REALLY IN LOVE WITH THIS ONE..............15 MINUTES FROM THE CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH - I WOULD SAY I MOST DEFINITELY WANNA LIVE THERE........HAVE TO GET MY BUTT IN GEAR TO SELL THIS ONE NOW.
WISH ME LUCK.
SEND POSITIVE THOUGHTS MY WAY.
PUHLEASE!!!!!!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEDNESDAY ALL.
MUCH LOVE,

ok - this is the funniest thing - I thought it was Wednesday today- until Razmataz below commented on it...............and no one mentioned that I was off a day - OMG - I'm losing it I think LMHO.............
Happy Tuesday I guess :)

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