Initially I started out with 2 cupboard poles to hang the burlap but switched halfway through the project and created the boxes seen in 'the rope wall idea.' I used four 3x1's, 12 feet of burlap, and 50ft packet of rope.  Clamp two of the 3x1's together and mark where the hole will be.  Select a drill bit the same size as the rope.  The plan for the bottom of the burlap 'frame', was ...

Prime the wall with 2 coats of weatherproofing guard and once dry, run a bead of silicone caulking around the perimeter of the area.  Plan how the tile should look before placing it on the wall.  Mix the thinset so its the consistency of toothpaste.  Smooth a generous layer of the thinset about as large as a single 12x12 tile onto the wall.  Place the 12x12 tile onto the thinset and press it securely ...

This is what the stairs looked like at the beginning of the week. Its taken one and a half weeks for the stairs to get finished which is due to snow days that kept the flooring guy (Russ) at another project before he could make his way over to us. The old carpet from the stairs has been ripped up and the new wooden steps are finally in place. Except…they squeak!! We hate squeaking!!! The ...

The kitchen is starting to show signs that it is a kitchen again. Warren slaved all weekend to get the new cabinets onto the wall, not without shimmying (a new DIY word for me) the backs of many of the cabinets to get them to align with each other. You see, our walls aren't straight - the joys of quick construction which is part and parcel of the homes in our neighbourhood ...

I love to create using Photoshop. I can't draw or paint so using editing software is ideal for me. I'm no expert but I enjoy making pictures and Powerpoint stories for those who need it. Its my outlet for a bit of creativity. A friend asked me to do a picture story for a Christmas monologue he's performing for his church and the verbage has wonderful pictures to draw ...

After a mix up with ordering the wood and a case of Strep throat, the contractor brought a small army of men to get the wood flooring installed 2 days later than scheduled.  And they installed that wood in 4 hours. I was impressed.  The sanding took over 3 hours to do because they sanded the new wood and the existing wood (to blend the two) three times.  A thick layer of ...

This past weekend I cleared out the kitchen cabinets and Warren dismantled the kitchen.   One by one he removed the cabinets, leaving behind the telltales brush strokes of the various colour schemes our walls have been put through. We counted 4 colours: blue, beige, green and chocolate brown.   Our kitchen was emptied and with most of our kitchen in the basement, it feels like we're living the life of some of those ...