Thursday, March 6, 2014

Building Walls ( a house update )

I'm bucking the system here - going rogue lol - because although I know every one is tearing down walls - I'm actually busy building them!

When we bought this house - there was a very narrow hallway from the front door to the kitchen -
These are the original MLS photos ( that most of you have already seen )


I knew the moment I walked in that the wall on the left hand side ( with those glass panels ) had to go
( as well as that weird contraption off the floor on the right side - which was actually a heating duct believe it or not )

Here's what what was one other side of that glassed wall


it was a long - and very narrow room -here's the other side - they had an office space allocated


which could only be accessed through a small door off the hallway - or the doorway you see above from the back of the dining room - didn't work for me at all - and although this room is bright, because of the wall - it left the rest of the downstairs quite dark -

so......................... we opened up the space and what a difference it's made -

we now have this ( Mr. Gorbachev - TEAR DOWN THAT WALL ) I also had that indentation put in to make the entrance way larger.................


Now if I could have had my way I would have opened up the entire main floor - but it's just not possible with the way this house was configured - it would have meant restructuring the entire place and far far too much work was involved - so this had to do.

Plans change as you go - original ideas turn out to be not so great - and other ideas creep up as the process goes along -

I wasn't so crazy about having such a long narrow space - decorating wise it didn't make much sense to me - so after tearing down walls - I decided to actually build one as well :) separating the spaces




leaving us space for a small dining room on the opposite side of the living room - open to each other
across the hallway................

and a small office on the main floor.

The dining room off the kitchen will now become a family room - for me - in this house - it makes more sense.  It opens up the front of the house - and allows us to entertain a little easier ( if I can ever finish the place and actually entertain that is.............)

I haven't had anyone over for dinner in 3 months - NO one !!!

Before  ( Ok Bliss this one's for you )


NOW - ( the carpet's there to protect the floor lol - I'm not decorating while building is going on )




 at the very least when you walk in the house now it feels a little more open !
And all that gorgeous fake orange panelling is almost completely gone :)




John says - I hope you're not putting those photos on your blog
Suzan says - Of course I am
John says - I'm begging you to stop this - why can't you wait until it's all finished and decorated before showing people this?
Suzan says - Because I'm documenting the process - don't you want to be able to look back and see how far we've come ?
John says - Yeah I do - I just don't want everyone else to be able to ........


I think the kitchen window may be going in this afternoon -

I have never - ever - in my life - been this exhausted - even when I came home from the hospital with 2 beautiful twin girls - even when I had my son 18 months later - THAT was a walk in the park next to this house :)

Have a great Thursday all !
Much love,

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 70

WELCOME TO I WANNA LIVE THERE WEDNESDAY -
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A SERIES ON REAL ESTATE FOR SALE - MOSTLY IN MY HOME TOWN OF MONTREAL - WITH LOTS OF VISITS HERE AND THERE TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE - SOMETIMES IN N.Y. OR NEW ORLEANS - OR PARIS - OR............ANYWHERE ACTUALLY!
I CONCENTRATE ( FOR THE MOST PART ) ON HERITAGE HOMES - HISTORICAL BUILDINGS WITH DETAILED ARCHITECTURE.
SINCE THIS IS A SERIES ON THE HOUSE ITSELF - AND NOT THE WAY PEOPLE FURNISH THEM - KINDLY KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN LEAVING COMMENTS -I WOULD NOT WANT A HOME OWNER TO COME ACROSS THEIR HOME ON MY BLOG AND READ UNKIND THINGS ABOUT IT ( I WAS ONCE CONTACTED WITH THANKS FOR SHOWCASING SOMEONE'S HOME - SO IT'S POSSIBLE )  IF YOU'RE INTO HOMES WITH A HISTORY THIS IS A SERIES YOU JUST MAY ENJOY - THANKS SO MUCH FOR VISITING THEM WITH ME
___________________________________________________________________________________

Happy Wednesday all !!!

I came across the cutest little house - just looking at it makes me feel that Spring is right around the corner :) 
And the interior screams " HAPPY " - homey and cozy and well, happy - you'll see :)

449,000
1600 sq. ft.
Built in 1929
4 beds
1 bath
2 car garage
Realtor: DEAKIN REALTY

Doesn't this bring a smile to your face?


































Sooooo  charming ! Makes me wonder why I'm so afraid of color !  I adore everything about this kitchen - the original wood floors - the original cabinets painted red - the wood island and wood bench and the pot rack !!! ( just in case you didn't get it when I said I adored everything about it lol ) 





















They always recommend that you remove personal items when selling your house - but I'm in love with the fact that they left the collection of Teddies on the bed - it endears me to this place all the more






Loaded to the brim with old charm







What do you think?  Is it ridiculous to say a house looks " Joyful " ?

I think if houses could talk - this one would say


" Love lives here "

It's so perfectly Vintage and inviting!

Hope it brings a little Sunshine your way :)

Have a wonderful one!

Much love,

Sharing with
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