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The finish line – for now – is in sight

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 No - not done yet, but getting ever closer. I decided on the backsplash tiles for the kitchen. It will have large subway tiles, with a slightly wavy surface. The colour is between the white of the cabinets and the grey of the walls. The countertop is busy so the backsplash will be plain. The tiles were purchased today at Olympia tile, getting a 30% discount on the total because I had my countertops done by Ottawa Granite Pro. The boxes of tiles are too heavy for me to lift so Robin will pick them up when he does the job, three weeks from now. The living room is very blah with the beige loves eats on the beige-ish floors. I have yet to decide on an area rug. Furniture shopping in Toronto over the weekend gave me some ideas but nothing has been decided. I got in contact with my decorator and she'll come over after her vacation, during the week of August 18th. I will also pick her brain about drapes for the living room and atrium area. The tv gets too much light right now to be able ...
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Getting close to finished

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 The kitchen has turned out great. The painting will be finished tomorrow. I've been looking for tile for the backsplash. My original idea was for something distinctive, but was talked into looking for something more neutral, so as not to either clash with, or take away from, the "busy" quartz countertop. I am still not convinced about what I'm going to choose, but there is a sweet 30% discount available at Olympic tile because I bought the countertops at Ottawa Granite Pro. The counter is the same as in the main bathroom. Because the kitchen is quite neutral, I've chosen turquoise as my accent colour for some new countertop accessories. I believe I have accumulated enough of them now and will shut down the shopping expeditions to Home Sense and its sister stores. I will post pictures when painting is done. I might even include the little Icelandic gnome. Installation of the countertops, with their under mount sinks, went very smoothly. They all look great. Despit...
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Let there be drapes and colour and a microwave

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 It's starting to come together. Changes are still in the works, some of which should happen soon and others will take a while longer. Today, the bedroom got all dressed up in the new blackout drapes. They are blingy like the overhead light and do exactly what they should - prevent the sun from waking me up at 4 am. Well, I guess technically that is still an assumption since this will be the first night they will be put to the test. But although they "puddle" on the floor a little, I'm quite happy with the overall look. Lighting is still under consideration for the office. For now, just remember that the colours are not exactly as they are "in real life" nor is it as dim. But that lovely desk lamp does a marvellous job as a wireless phone charger, a USB charging port and oh yes, producer of light. The kitchen got the final appliance installed today - microwave/exhaust fan. It took me some time to figure out how to make it start. Instructions referred to a ST...
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Why should my renovation go faster than anyone else's

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 Progress has not been the "word of the day" for over a week now. The kitchen is useable but incomplete. The correct doors for the cabinet over the fridge have been the holdup. I've been promised that Thursday of this week, is finishing day for that most used of rooms. The remaining handles will be attached. The screws that came with them were too short for the thickness of the doors and drawer fronts. The kitchen guys (Ottawa Kitchen Solutions) ran out of them. They were also short of the the supports for the shelves so the pantry shelf is biding its time above the fridge. I did load up the pantry pullout shelves with small appliances, although the coffee maker will always live on the counter. The former broom closet, thoughtfully full of shelves (thank you Lois), provides lots of storage too. What remains is to determine what sort of door will be installed - and in what decade - to complete that corner. My good friend Peggy brought her handy self over and put up some ho...
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Progress - even slower than the pilgrims

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Thursday came and went with little progress, other than loosening the countertops and slightly enlarging the opening for the pantry. Well, I mustn't forget the installation of the toilet in the bathroom. The shower rod is standing in the tub - makes it tricky to properly hang the shower curtain. I can't get it back in place. All in good time I suppose. Friday (today) was another story - a very good one. I went off to play golf and that went reasonably well. When I got home around 1 pm, it was hard to get in the door. All the cabinetry was occupying any previously available space. But there was evidence of activity and progress. I had an appointment and headed out again in search of lunch, and then to my destination du jour. The transformation by the time I got home was terrific. The cabinets and drawers are all essentially installed and most handles have been attached - just missing a few long enough screws. The old piece of laminate countertop is sitting on the new base cabine...
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FINALLY - more progress

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Well, it seems like a long wait since anything has happened, that could be even remotely considered progress. A few little things have been purchased, picked up or delivered to the door. Amazon brought the drapery rod and new blackout drapes for the bedroom. I think they will be a nice addition to the bling in that room. You'll just have to wait to see the finished look. IKEA's curbside service has proven helpful on two occasions. It's worth the $5 charge to not have to wander through what seems like hundreds of kilometres of the store itself, and to end up only with "what you came for". A few items are still out of stock - notably the pullout shelves for the closets. All in good time. A purchase from IKEA of a KALLAX shelf unit seemed like an easy do-it-yourself build. Well, maybe not so much to someone with 10 thumbs and insufficient strength to push the shelves into place. The little wooden pegs that hold the shelves in position are easily hammered into one sid...
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It's been a while

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 I got rather excited a week ago when the kitchen cabinet supplier said that all of the cabinets were complete and ready to go; and the doors would be in by the end of the week. Well, that elation didn't last long. Since that message he has not replied to any messages from the contractor. I'm getting really frustrated. If he would reply with a date that the cabinets will be delivered, or can be picked up, then we have something to work with. I'm sure there are no more boxes than I had moved in here, but the impression is they are multiplying. Of course many are flattened now and will return to their point of origin in the next couple of days. I have not yet decided about the packing paper. It seems a waste to put it in the recycling so maybe I'll have the office manager post a sign saying that packing paper is available to anyone who is moving. In fact, I don't care if they move as long as I get it out of here. Once the boxes and paper are gone from the living room ...
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