Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

It’s Time for a Reno-Cation!

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It happens every spring without fail. 

The days get longer, the weather gets warmer, and I have the urge to renovate. A few years ago, I turned a spare bedroom into a playroom for Ryder. Last year, we finished our basement. And this year, with the recent trend of our friends buying/selling their homes, we even ventured out to a few open houses.

Could we do it? Would we really take the plunge and buy a new house?

Turns out, the answer is no. Now there are several reasons why we decided to stay put, but at the top of my list is the fact that I can’t find a home (in my price range) that I love as much as my own. Call it pride, call it stubbornness, call it whatever you want – I’m a creature of habit and I love my habitat.

So I decided that instead of changing addresses, I would change my abode – I’m going on a RENO-CATION!

Yes folks, for one week, I’ll be turning off the computer, ordering takeout, and concentrating solely on spring cleaning and redesigning my home. On my agenda:

1. Clearing out closets and organizing paperwork
2. Sorting through old clothes, old toys, etc. while working on a 3-bin system: KEEP, THROW AWAY and DONATE
3. Switching Ryder’s bedroom with our present Study
4. Mounting two TVs which have been kinda laying around for weeks (months?)
5. Painting my entire house with colours inspired by Spring

As you know, paint can make a room come alive! When we first moved in 4 years ago, the builder told us to wait a year or two so the walls could “settle”. Well, with two kids magically arriving in the interim, we’ve never really gotten around to painting our home. So this is it – bye bye drab, hello FAB!

I’ll be taking a reno-cation in the middle of April, so please be advised that I will be MIA for one week. But, I will try to check in from time to time to update y’all on our progress. I’ve got some pretty fantastic companies sponsoring my home makeover (including PARA Paints, a Canadian fave!), so you know I’ll have to give them all a well-deserved shout out. Hope you like before and after photos!

What about you? Now that spring has sprung, are you in the mood for a makeover?

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Comments

  3. Awesome! I wish I had the time for something like that because my home totally needs it! Spring is my busiest time of the year and I'm barely keeping up with what I have to do. Maybe this summer!Good luck…I hope everything goes well for you! We will miss you!

  4. Awesome! I wish I had the time for something like that because my home totally needs it! Spring is my busiest time of the year and I'm barely keeping up with what I have to do. Maybe this summer!Good luck…I hope everything goes well for you! We will miss you!

  9. How fabulous…I can hardly wait to see your pictures. I am a renovate and decorate addict myself and I love to see how other people's inspirations turn out.Have fun! Be daring! Enjoy yourself!

  10. How fabulous…I can hardly wait to see your pictures. I am a renovate and decorate addict myself and I love to see how other people's inspirations turn out.Have fun! Be daring! Enjoy yourself!

  11. I know exactly how you feel. There are some major renos that I am itching to do around my place, but with major renos, you need major cash!I guess I'll stick to some spring cleaning/organizing instead!

  12. I know exactly how you feel. There are some major renos that I am itching to do around my place, but with major renos, you need major cash!I guess I'll stick to some spring cleaning/organizing instead!

  13. "In the mood" you ask…??? Can't WAIT… We are tearin' down walls, hiring a painter, replacing baseboards, building a "built in" at our front entrance… etc… Thank goodness my hubby is a "Handy Manny" and a big DIY Guy – we save a bundle on labour… Have fun Lena & don't forget to post those pics… LOVE the before & after shots. xx

  14. "In the mood" you ask…??? Can't WAIT… We are tearin' down walls, hiring a painter, replacing baseboards, building a "built in" at our front entrance… etc… Thank goodness my hubby is a "Handy Manny" and a big DIY Guy – we save a bundle on labour… Have fun Lena & don't forget to post those pics… LOVE the before & after shots. xx

  15. That's awesome Lena! And a lot of work. We'll be anxiously awaiting your return and look forward to seeing some pic. I'm sure everything will be fab!! Judging by Ryder's playroom, you seem to have a knack at making things look great!Best of luck :)LizaDee

  16. That's awesome Lena! And a lot of work. We'll be anxiously awaiting your return and look forward to seeing some pic. I'm sure everything will be fab!! Judging by Ryder's playroom, you seem to have a knack at making things look great!Best of luck :)LizaDee

  17. @Fiona – thank you!@she- finding the time is the hardest part! That's why I decided to forgo a regular vacation this year, and "renocate" instead ;)@Mimsie – will do! I'm nervous now… hope I won't disappoint y'all!@Rubes – LOL, yup, will definitely have to debut the new look!@Oody – thanks for the words of wisdom! Although I think I'm going to err on the tamed side – at first, I was certain I would go with bold colours, but now I'm starting to like the look of muted paint with modern, bold furniture. I'll have to see…@Karyn – ooh, I hear you. I am still paying off our last reno – the finished basement – from last year. I think that's why I decided to do small things that create big effects this time 'round.@Leslie – SO much fun!!! Sounds like you'll have your hands full – and YOU BET you're lucky that your husband is handy… mine, ahem, isn't – but thankfully we have handy friends and family, so we don't spend too much on labour ;)@LizaDee – thanks so much for the vote of confidence! Anxiously awaiting my reno-cation! xo

  18. @Fiona – thank you!@she- finding the time is the hardest part! That's why I decided to forgo a regular vacation this year, and "renocate" instead ;)@Mimsie – will do! I'm nervous now… hope I won't disappoint y'all!@Rubes – LOL, yup, will definitely have to debut the new look!@Oody – thanks for the words of wisdom! Although I think I'm going to err on the tamed side – at first, I was certain I would go with bold colours, but now I'm starting to like the look of muted paint with modern, bold furniture. I'll have to see…@Karyn – ooh, I hear you. I am still paying off our last reno – the finished basement – from last year. I think that's why I decided to do small things that create big effects this time 'round.@Leslie – SO much fun!!! Sounds like you'll have your hands full – and YOU BET you're lucky that your husband is handy… mine, ahem, isn't – but thankfully we have handy friends and family, so we don't spend too much on labour ;)@LizaDee – thanks so much for the vote of confidence! Anxiously awaiting my reno-cation! xo

  21. Way to go! I just picked up some paint from the Sarah Richardson series at Para Paints. I recommend checking out the colours, they are very nice!

  22. Way to go! I just picked up some paint from the Sarah Richardson series at Para Paints. I recommend checking out the colours, they are very nice!

  23. I'm always in the mood for a home makeover, and now that I'm in my new house, I'm ready to give the entire house my own style. I can't wait to paint!!Have fun on your reno-cation, can't wait to see pics :)

  24. I'm always in the mood for a home makeover, and now that I'm in my new house, I'm ready to give the entire house my own style. I can't wait to paint!!Have fun on your reno-cation, can't wait to see pics :)

  29. Cool! Good for you! The same thing happened to me and the fam a few years ago. My DH convinced me that we should move and start fresh but I loved our neighbourhood and didn't want to deal with the hassle of moving. So we renovated our home with easy changes like paint, decorations and stripping the carpet from our hallway (ok that was a little adventurous but turned out okay in the end) and now we are in love with our home again. Keep us informed of what you do and be sure to take lost of pictures!!!!!!

  30. Cool! Good for you! The same thing happened to me and the fam a few years ago. My DH convinced me that we should move and start fresh but I loved our neighbourhood and didn't want to deal with the hassle of moving. So we renovated our home with easy changes like paint, decorations and stripping the carpet from our hallway (ok that was a little adventurous but turned out okay in the end) and now we are in love with our home again. Keep us informed of what you do and be sure to take lost of pictures!!!!!!

  31. @Tracy D – thanks! Will definitely try to enjoy it!@Kendra – I am IN LOVE with tons of the Sarah Richardson swatches! We picked up a few colours last night and will be scrutinizing them in the daylight today.@Shauna – so happy to hear the move went well! Enjoy your new abode my friend!@DeeDeeH – yup, I'm most looking forward to painting!@Delia – happy to hear that small changes made a big difference! Wish me luck :)

  32. @Tracy D – thanks! Will definitely try to enjoy it!@Kendra – I am IN LOVE with tons of the Sarah Richardson swatches! We picked up a few colours last night and will be scrutinizing them in the daylight today.@Shauna – so happy to hear the move went well! Enjoy your new abode my friend!@DeeDeeH – yup, I'm most looking forward to painting!@Delia – happy to hear that small changes made a big difference! Wish me luck :)

  39. Good luck on your renos!!! I too, have a reno in mind for my DH this Spring…I'm needing the fourth bedroom, which is now a gigantic open area aka my computer room/office to be converted to a proper fourth bedroom….and by 'proper' I mean a wall and a door!! I can cry thinking about the amount of dust this will create in our sleeping space, but my son is now in a tiny shoebox of a room, with – dare I admit – a SINGLE closet! Oh, the horror!!! LOL!! The open 'media room' has a huge window and double closet, so the choice is obvious…make the existing room, my son's new little boy room, and the shoebox, my new office!Now, I just have to figure out a way to break the news to my husband!! LOL!! Wish me luck!

  40. Good luck on your renos!!! I too, have a reno in mind for my DH this Spring…I'm needing the fourth bedroom, which is now a gigantic open area aka my computer room/office to be converted to a proper fourth bedroom….and by 'proper' I mean a wall and a door!! I can cry thinking about the amount of dust this will create in our sleeping space, but my son is now in a tiny shoebox of a room, with – dare I admit – a SINGLE closet! Oh, the horror!!! LOL!! The open 'media room' has a huge window and double closet, so the choice is obvious…make the existing room, my son's new little boy room, and the shoebox, my new office!Now, I just have to figure out a way to break the news to my husband!! LOL!! Wish me luck!

  41. @Farah – thanks babe!@Mala – will do, you have great taste!@Little Miss Kate – ha ha ha, I know what that's like for sure! You'll totally relate when you see my office "before" picture.@Josie.K. – good luck girl! It sounds like a challenging reno – but I'm sure it will bring wonderful results!

  42. @Farah – thanks babe!@Mala – will do, you have great taste!@Little Miss Kate – ha ha ha, I know what that's like for sure! You'll totally relate when you see my office "before" picture.@Josie.K. – good luck girl! It sounds like a challenging reno – but I'm sure it will bring wonderful results!