Lessons learned

So it's been more than 2 months since we've started the renovations to my upper-duplex condo and as you can guess it's been a long and treacherous journey with many ups and downs. And it's not over yet. Just like a horse arriving at the stables, it seems like we can't get there fast enough. I've learned a lot along the way, here are a few lessons learned :

1-It will take MUCH longer than expected, however well, you think you've planned your renos because 

          a-suppliers don't carry anything in stock (it always takes 2-3 weeks to come)

          b-your contractor is working on other projects at the same time or the plumber/electrician etc. he's contracted doesn't work on Fridays or Mondays so the job won't get finished before the next week

          c-sometimes you just can't make up your mind about what to buy

2-Supervise the work your contractor is doing day to day especially when he's working on the finishing touches. Take off from work if you can (you probably will have to). Know that contractors don't usually read the instruction manuel. Send your contractor a list of tasks left to be done that he can check off.

3-Be confident in your design. Contractors will usually complain about things not being standard or might even try to bully you but remember that it's your house and you're the client.

4-Don't feel awkward about asking your contractor if he's competent for a particular task. Installing tiles for example, requires a certain expertise and you'll save much more money in the long run if you hire the right person for the job the first time rather than having to do it over.

5-A hood should be 24" to 30" above your range.

6-Always order 10% more tiles than needed.

7-Grout with sand is for tiling when you have more than 1/8 of an inch between your tiles and grout without sand for tiling with 1/16 of a inch between your tiles. The wrong grout won't stick. 

8-Always install the kitchen cabinets without the doors, then the countertops and then cabinet doors. They should go in last so they don't get scratched.

9-Make sure your contractor hires someone to clean and vacuum your home regularly. It should be in the contract.

10-Don't hire a contractor by the hour because you'll definitely lose money. Remind your contractor that you eventually need to move back into your house before you forget where you actually live.

The Quartz countertops in Pure White  are in :

Yeah!! :

The gaz cooktop :

The undermount sink with a 10° curve for easy clean-up (rather than a 0° edge which requires a toothpick to clean) :

Montreal is a Small Town

Since we've started renovating our house, I've discovered a whole new realm of shopping. No more shopping just for ME! but also buying stuff for the house.  

So after going through many Decor magazines made in Quebec which are useful because they supply you with a list of shops that you can actually visit (and not as tedious as going to Milan...if I only had the time ;)) I've been all over the city (and the internet) to find what we need for our place : appliances, bathroom fixtures, light fixtures, countertops, tiles, etc. What I've realized (which kind of depresses me) is unlike Montreal's fashion scene, Montreal has a very small decor/design market. Basically, the choices out there are quite limited (in my price point anyway, which is not super high, like most of us). 

Most of the stores carry the same brands and lines and the only thing that differs is what is shown on display. And what also mystifies me is why the most simple designs are always the most expensive...

However I did find some great items and I'm hopeful that when it all comes together, it will look great.

Ciot, is a great place to get started with its amazing showroom and helpful sells staff. It's a one-stop shop for tiles, stone countertops and bathroom and kitchen fixtures. You can also visit Mondial their sister company for better deals. 

Also, it's good to know that Ciot is the main distributor of Caesarstone and Aquabrass. So basically they can give you the best price out there for those two products. 

Our cabinets are being installed (without the doors for the moment). But still, Hurray !!! :

Before :

After :

The "Might As Well" Syndrome

The fastest way to bust your budget is to fall into the "Might As Well" Syndrome which has sort of happened to me.

We're demolishing the kitchen walls and bathroom, so dust will be everywhere, might as well redo the electricity (+4000$)

We're ripping out the bathroom floor, might as well insulate it (+600$)

We have space in the island, might as well put in a wine fridge (+850$)

We're varnishing the kitchen floors might as well do the hall and entrance (+200$)

We might as well recover the fireplace (+300)

We might as well put in thicker stone countertops (+2000$)

We might as well get that really cute Swarovsky crystal light fixture in the bathroom(200$)

Obviously you don't want to overspend. But whether you put in cheap or high end products, you are going to spend the same amount of money on labour, so you might as well put in quality products that you'll enjoy for a long time especially if you plan to live there for a while.

Here are some of the light fixtures I've chose from Union Electrique.

Two of these for the kitchen island :

This one is for the dining room :

This one will go above the bathroom pharmacy :

A small splurge...a recessed light fixture with crystal pendants (they will be in clear crystal) :

Letting go is essentiel

So far, the hardest part for me in this whole process has been the decision making. Choosing tiles, appliances, light fixtures, countertops, bathroom fixtures, paint color for the cabinets, etc. You don't want to make a wrong decision...but perfection is an ideal that has never been reached. Your plans might have to change because of structural issues or what you find behind a wall or because the tiles you so desperately wanted is out of stock or cost 26$ a square foot. In the end, there are bound to be some imperfections so you just have to let go, face these obstacles and find solutions. And you'll be proud to say (or at least think it) : Wow! I chose it and I love it...And it looks great (hopefully).

Here, more progress

The kitchen and bathroom with insulation installed:

The wall between the kitchen and future dining room is no longer there...feels so much larger!

Ugly Before Nice

I haven't had a chance to update my blog in a while since we've been staying at my mom's during the renos, which isn't a bad thing at all. Home-cooked meals (not made by me), clean (and ironed!) laundry, extra pair of hands to take care of Elsa...Thanks mom, I feel like a teenager again!

Here's what our place looks like right now. Like they say, it has to get ugly before it can be nice.

The bathroom:

The kitchen:

To Go For An Ikea Kitchen or Not To Go For An Ikea Kitchen? That Is The Question

I went to Ikea yesterday, waited in line for 20 minutes (forget about it on the week-end!), finally sat down at the computer (PC why do you taunt me?) and tried to recreate my kitchen plan on their software. It takes patience and precision because after 45 minutes I wasn't too far along. I got discouraged and left before finishing. I think I need to rethink this whole Ikea thing or borrow a PC and do the planning at home with a nice bottle of wine. Problem is, if your kitchen is an odd shape or size or needs custom pieces, you're kinda screwed. 

As for the quality of Ikea cabinets, I'm pretty convinced that they're just as good as many other suppliers. They use Blum systems for the hinges and drawers, they have a 25 year guarantee and they cost about half the price. You can go to this link which a friend of mine sent me (merci Françoise!) to read about satisfied Ikea Cabinet owners.

Buying Ikea Cabinets is a grueling process but if you have the time and patience and the know-how to install them (Ikea can also provide that service or perhaps an experience contractor can do it too), you can save a lot of money on the cabinets enabling you to put in stone countertops and a nice backsplash which will really give your kitchen the WOW factor. 

Not so good :

Better :

What you see on the right of the picture is the frontal view of the adjacent wall. At the bottom, upside down is the island.

Animal Print Pacifiers

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciate the invention of pacifiers. On more than one occasion, they probably allowed for a few extra hours of sleep, so they're a really great invention. However, I find that they can be kind of ugly and can overwhelm your baby's face.

That's why I like Mam pacifiers which are not as big and come in all sorts of cute designs like these animal print ones. (Plus they meet all the safety requirements and babies usually like their shape.) They are hard to find though; I've hunted they down in some Jean Coutu pharmacies, at Clement, and Goldtex Textiles 8875 Rue Salley, Lasalle, QC H8R 2C8 :

www.mambaby.com

www.clement.qc.ca