MARC ATIYOLIL Editor-in-Chief marc @ CanadianHomeTrends . com
Who doesn ' t love a good makeover ? I mean a drastic transformation where you do a double take at the before photos and wonder if it ' s the same space !
We are currently working on giving our kitchen a much needed facelift . Now I know what you might be thinking . Didn ' t you just redo your kitchen ? Seems like it but that was over five years ago !
Our initial kitchen reno was a learning experience of what not to do . I was still an eager renovator full of enthusiasm . Now I ' m older and as a busy parent , my enthusiasm is reserved for when groceries go on sale . If you would have told me five years ago how excited I would get to fill up the cart on a good sale , I would never have believed you . But alas , I digress . Long story short , kids are expensive and that forces a person to look beyond the vision for the space and stretch a dollar .
Five years ago , I had woken up early on a Saturday morning and demolished our kitchen before I bought new cabinets . Call it a newbie husband mistake . Those are the moments when you realize that your carefully chosen marriage vows simply cannot protect you from the disaster that is about to fall onto your life . Two weeks of cooking and food prepping on a folding table with no water in our demolished kitchen gave me lots of time to contemplate how things could have gone differently . First lesson learned ; planning is your best friend in a reno ! Plan , plan , and plan some more . Only start your reno when you have a clear vision of your design concept ! My wife Mandy may not remember where her keys are most mornings but she can recite a play-by-play of the events that unfolded that Fall morning more than half a decade ago .
Now that I ' m older and a smidge wiser , I would advise that before you tackle any reno , you take time to sit down and think about your vision for the room . Peruse the many spaces in this issue for inspiration and find items or styles that you would like to utilize . Create a concept and be open to new ideas during this phase of the process . At this time , the plan can easily be modified to try new concepts as everything is still on paper . Once you ' ve finalized your design , you ' re all set to demo and start your reno . Take a deep breath and dive into the wonderful world of renovations !
P . S Please help me in congratulating my wonderful wife Mandy for putting up with me for the last 10 years . Here is a snapshot from our beach-side vow renewal , sans Mother-in-Law .
Photos by Beth Garant Photography
Product Spotlight
Swash TM laundry detergent , available in an amazing scented or unscented option , is a fantastic choice for your laundry room . Made by Whirlpool , this laundry detergent is designed to care for your belongings by using only what you need as using more detergent than necessary can leave residues on clothing , visually fade colors , and attract more dirt . One of my favorite features is the Precision Pour Cap that lets you simply squeeze the bottle and dispense a set amount of detergent each time . I get my girls to help me with the laundry and I don ’ t have to worry about them pouring half a jug of detergent in . This makes it so much easier for them to participate and learn without a lot of waste ! - Mandy Atiyolil , Lifestyle Editor , Co-Host of the Marc & Mandy Show
SWASH , www . swashcanada . ca