Kim,
DESIGN LESSONS Fix My House!
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Designer Michelle Cook shares her secrets on how to prepare
yourself for a major renovation project.
Living through a renovation
of any size is an exciting but
challenging undertaking. Plans
and finishes have been finalized,
contracts signed and your
contractor has building permits
in hand. Count on his team to
protect your home, seal off
rooms and cover vents.
The steps you take next can ease
the stress of having your home
and life in an upheaval.
A complete bathroom
renovation can be a very costly
endeavour. But with a few
simple, cost effective changes,
your outdated powder room
can become a stylish oasis.
PLAN ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE
YOUR HOME Whether your
renovation includes one room or
an entire addition, plan as many
activities as possible outside
your home to provide necessary
breaks from noise, dust, chaos
and disruption. Having a
temporary kitchen set up in your
home is a great idea, however,
restaurants, family invites and
even takeouts in the park, is a
welcome change of scenery. If
you work from home, consider
temporarily renting office space
nearby.
RESERVE STORAGE
Anything you can do to clear
obstructions on the job site
will assist your contractor and
tradespeople and ensure your
belongings are safe. Renting a
storage locker, friend’s basement
70
or Pod container is an ideal
solution to remove and protect
items in your home. If your reno
involves only one room, consider
removing items, like artwork or
display shelving, from adjoining
spaces.
MOVE OUT During an
entire home renovation, moving
out is obvious. Select a nearby
location so you’re close enough
to drop in for progress checks,
meetings and be on hand for
decision making. When packing,
label boxes in detail or attach a
photo of the contents so you can
quickly access items. If the reno
involves only a few rooms, you
may want to plan a hotel stay if
your home’s water or heat/air
needs to be shut off.
PLAN TO BE WOWED It
may be “Wow, this renovation
is taking longer and costing
more than I expected” however,
building in a contingency to pad
the project timeline and the
budget by 10-20%, eases the
discomfort of the reno-reality
and will lead to the ultimate
“Wow, my home is far more
beautiful than I expected!” - Text
by Michelle Cook
Bathroom mirrors are often
frameless and uninteresting
but they don’t have to be.
Replace your existing mirror
with a one-of-a-kind from a
thrift shop, or visit your local
framer to add a decorative
touch to your frameless version.
Whether it’s deco, modern or
rustic, choose the style of frame
to complement the rest of the
room.
Photo by Stephani Buchman
MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE
WALL
STAY FOCUSED ON THE
END RESULT It’s very common
to experience reno-fatigue
throughout the construction
process. Unforeseen delays
happen, schedules shift and
backorders occur. This is the
reality of a renovation or new
build. To keep the excitement
alive, keep photos of your
design renderings, floor plans,
design boards and inspirational
images nearby to stay
encouraged and remind yourself
of the beautiful outcome that
awaits you.
What are some repairs I can do myself
to update my bathroom?
experience. Either way, you may
never want to go on vacation
again.
LET LIGHT IN
Nothing makes a bathroom
look more outdated than an
HOOKED UP
old light fixture. Adding a
A simple bistro shelf with hooks fancy flea market chandelier
can often be found hanging in or modern sconces on either
a foyer. Change it up by adding side of the vanity will brighten
one to your bathroom. You’ll
up the space in more ways
have a place to hang towels
than one. With so many
and a shelf to show off those
gorgeous fixtures on the
apothecary jars or seashells you market, swapping it out will
have collected over the years. really change the space for
IT’S CAULKING TIME
a relatively low cost. It’s also
easy to do compared to other
Though a practical project,
applying new caulking to your projects. Make sure to hire an
electrician if you don’t know
sink, tub and shower will give
what you are doing.
the entire room a facelift.
Adding a fresh feel to your
REDECORATE
space, this DIY task will also
The quickest update is also the
help to prevent leaks and water easiest one for those of us who
damage in your bathroom for are not handy. Change up the
years to come.
accessories and décor! Nothing
SHOWER THE PEOPLE
YOU LOVE
A new shower head can take
your staycation to the next
level. Depending on your
personal preference, you can
install a dual shower head
with varying pressures and
speeds, or a rain shower that
delivers a softer, more relaxing
beats a new set of white, fluffy
spa towels, a luxurious bath
mat and a coordinating shower
curtain for reinventing a space.
Pick a special piece of art to
hang and add a vase with fresh
flowers to create a bathroom
you will want to escape to.
- Text by Kim Bartley