Before and After: Living & Dining

Things have been happening over here! You may remember seeing photos of my living and dining rooms in the past. The dining room was at the back of the house and we used the attached living room as an art studio. Our living room was on the second floor, in what is now C's hang out/reading room. It made sense at the time. Kinda.

We bought this house about 8 years ago as a starter home. We planned to stay for 5 years then move to a bigger place in a nicer neighbourhood about a 20 minute walk away. But the neighbourhood started to grow on us and then more young couples and families started moving in, knowing they couldn't afford that nicer neighbourhood 20 minutes away. It was a sketchy neighbourhood when we moved here, but we've seen our street transformed in the last 8 years. The day we moved in a friend said "Well, it's not without its cars parked on front lawns, but it's a good start." Look, D! No more cars!

When we decided to stay in this house instead of "upgrading" to a larger one, we knew we'd only be able to stay comfortably if we renovated. Since the neighbourhood is still up and coming, we couldn't invest TOO much, since we'd never recoup the money. Also, we hardly HAVE any money, so that was a factor…

A light reno was in store, and at least half of it was spent waterproofing and insulating the basement, so that my studio and C's office could move down there, freeing up the rest of the house for living.

Here are the living room and dining room before and afters!

Former dining room.

The former dining room is now the living room.

Living room.

Living room looking toward the new dining room. (Formerly the art room. Are you confused yet?)

Former art room.

The former art studio is now the dining room/library. 

Dining room. 

We love the new spaces. They're still over the top and bold, but more coherent and a little more grown up. Which I guess is what happens over the course of eight years!

Stay tuned, there's more renovations to show you!

Home

There are certain things that make a house your home. And while I'm quite the maximalist and freely admit to loving (subjectively!) nice stuff, there's no item I couldn't live without, and I imagine that most of you feel the same way. When people are asked "What would you save if your house burned down?" everyone says their family and their pets (of course.) That's all that matters. I like lots of things about this old house, but what makes it a home is my husband and our cats; Bug, Squeak, Cobra, Noches and Gringo.

A month ago, my best cat friend passed away. Yukon was 17, and I'd had her since she was a baby (and so was I! I was 19 when I brought her to our first home together.) Yukie and I lived in six different apartments before my husband and I bought the home we live in now.  She was what made each place home. I always looked forward to walking in the front door and preferred her company over almost anyone's (sorry, humans!) She and I truly loved each other. This past month there have been days when it's hard to come home, knowing she's not going to be there. There have been other days when it's been hard to leave, since I have a warm and snuggly brood who hem me in under the bedcovers. AND they set a bad example with their lazing about.

Yukon was Queen of the Cats in this house and her presence is incredibly missed, but still keenly felt. 

I hope that your home is filled with all kinds of love, and that your pets are healthy, happy and know you love them.

Here's to them. 

And to Yukon.