EXTREME WHITE

Received a couple of interesting comments this week regarding renovations:

 "I hope your flooring install goes smoothly. I am so chicken to do some house renos. We have the money set aside, I just go frozen when I have to make decisions like what kind of tile and where it should go (replacing the carpet in the dining room over to tile = who puts carpet in their dining room!)"  Living Rich on the Cheap

"I can relate to your post so much, especially with using the word "frozen". For me, it's the intimidation factor and the fear of looking stupid. My carpet is trashed and was due to be replaced about 5 years ago. On more than one occasion I have walked into Home Depot, start looking at carpets, and within 10 minutes my pulse is racing and I just leave!! I have noticed that in a few places in my house the carpet has lifted away and I told myself to just start ripping it up, and having the bare floor would be motivation for me to just get over my fear and either figure it out or swallow my pride and ask for help.

Here's my question to those of you who are savvy about these things: My walls need painting too. Is there a particular order that these renovations should be done? Walls first or carpet first? I have baseboards, do the baseboards need to be removed for the carpet to be laid? I assume that walls should be painted first so pain doesn't drip onto new carpets, but is that the only consideration? It's the baseboards that have me confused about when to do what". Freckles

The intimidation factor is huge! So many choices and what do I know?? Not that much! There are times I wish that instead of spending several thousand dollars on new flooring for my basement that I had just painted the cement floors instead. But then I think "resale".  And that's part of what is driving me right now. People want to buy a house that they don't have to put any money into so when the time comes to sell (if I sell) then I either put the price of the house lower or install flooring. So I bit the bullet. 

I picked Home Depot because they are close to me and are Canadian. And also because I could do everything from the website. I never set foot in the store regarding this adventure. It was all online and by telephone (hi Sue!) When I printed off the contract (at home) I noticed that the baseboard on the order were not the size I wanted so again, went on line, perused the selection of baseboards and found what I wanted...made a phone call to Sue who then changed the order and refunded $34 to my credit card because the ones I wanted were on sale! This is how I like to do renos!! 

**Sue found another error, something to do with the underpad which saved me another $130 - again she just credited it to my credit card. Never did I have to enter the store til the deal was done!! The selection of flooring is all online and I filled in a request form to get my basement measured and to receive a quote. Easy peasy and no stress, except for the part where I had to pay :( Once all was arranged I did have to go to Home Depot and pay. 

Regarding Freckles query: yes, baseboards do have to be removed to install carpet. Depending on what shape they are in they can either be reinstalled or you can order new ones. All the choices are on the Home Depot website. Painting before or after installation? I've done both. I've been working like crazy getting the basement walls painted with EXTREME WHITE and just finished a couple hours ago. I'm sure that after the flooring is installed there will likely be some touchups needed. If you wait to paint after installation you'll need lots of drop cloths to protect your new floors. 

So...by the end of next Thursday I'll have new flooring, new baseboards and fresh white walls in the basement!  I'm thinking it'll be worth the $$ and pain. (My shoulder's killing me!) I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the installers don't have any problems - like cracks in the foundation or something....!!

Recent updates:

Flagstones in place of patio stones

This all had to be cleaned up to install new carpet - DONE!

Living with the subfloors during hardwood installation.

Mattresses etc in the living room - what fun!

I wonder where my tax forms are??

Those walls are now painted and the stairs
are covered in new carpet.

While painting today I had a deep thought. Yes, painting is one of those activities that puts me into my right brain - the creative side. I was thinking about my dad - he had a lot of anxiety and depression that he dealt with over several decades. What I came up with was this (and this has to do with the FROZEN problem.) A lot of the time the IDEA of something is more overwhelming than actually doing it. When I thought about getting the basement flooring done it was overwhelming - just thinking about all I would have to do-where to even start!! But the process wasn't that bad - definitely not as bad as THINKING about it. I'll let you know if that holds true after the installation is done!!

Next renos: foyer, bathrooms

March Challenge: Take 3!

Thank you Carla for setting up this challenge. The March Take 3 challenge involves deciding on a personal goal (in the area of health/fitness), a decluttering goal and a financial goal. To learn more about this challenge go HERE!

So...let's

Finance Goal:

• Get my taxes done and hopefully get my refund before the end of March. This money has to work hard for me. I am taking Living Rich on the Cheap's advice and buying a nice area rug for my living room that I can take with me to PEI. Sooner or later I will be putting my condo up for sale and a gorgeous area rug in the living room that will set off and protect the new dark bamboo floors will fit the bill. I also have my eye on a tabletop candelabra for the patio area to replace the one HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED took with him when he moved out. I saw one on Amazon that should do the trick. 
• Save $3500+ (rsp interest, part of my tax refund? and payday savings transfers from my paycheques). That will put me within $17,000 of reaching my savings goal by the end of August. I am very determined.

Personal Goal:

• I road my bike 3 times last week. I'm happy with 3 x weekly until such time as I can start riding to work everyday. Right now that seems impossible but I'm sure the snow will all melt by April...May? So I will continue to ride my stationary bike a minimum of 3 x weekly, more if possible.
• This Friday March break begins. I've only been juicing for breakfast due to working so over March break I am going to juice 2-3 x daily since I'll be at home. To help with this I'm going to pick a few new juice recipes and get the shopping done for that by Friday. I want to be in great shape for RETIREMENT!

Decluttering:

• I'm already on top of this one BUT I have a big job for March which is removing the laminate flooring in the basement. I will have to hire a junk removal service to haul it all away. Good riddance!! 
• Remove the wallpaper borders that still remain in 4 rooms during March break so that painting can begin!! 
• Believe it or not I have totally decluttered ALL rooms in my house! BUT when my sister told me how much it was going to cost to move her stuff to PEI I've decided to get rid of whatever I can't fit into my truck - maybe I'll pull a trailer too, haven't decided yet. Or maybe whoever buys my house (could be students since I'm close to both the college and the university) will want/need some furniture. So I'll be selling or giving away what's left and I'll buy new/used/antique once I'm in PEI. As it is I've been living in PEI for 2 months a year and have managed just fine with what I have there. The idea is to live a more simple life and the thought of reducing what I have doesn't bother me in the least.

So that sums up my March goals - we'll see how it goes. I may try to exceed what I've laid out here as an extra challenge to myself since these goals are what I planned to do anyways, challenge or not. 

Thanks Carla for inspiring me to think through my goals!

Does an Art Attack Constitute an Emergency?

 This has been a family week. Sometimes I go months without seeing any family members beyond my immediate wee nuclear family of Michael and Kazi but this past week saw us connecting with extended family members on a couple of occasions.  


The week started with the death of my brother-in-law. His health was poor and an illness took him quickly. My niece and nephew, who I think of as kids although they are both over 40, handled the arrangements with sensitivity and maturity. The service was casual, yet intimate, a time to reflect on the life of a  good man. 


As the week progressed there was some good news: my brother's wife who has been in hospital the past three week due to bronchial pneumonia was finally well enough to come home! 


Then, last night, some of us gathered to support my other brother who was holding an art show in his studio here in London. These pictures are from his art show, which continues today and tomorrow. However, visitors will find that most of his paintings have been snapped up by his many patrons, friends and family members.  In fact, by the time we arrived at around 8pm (the show opened at 7:30pm) most of the work was sold. I still managed to purchase a painting, so did my oldest brother, another nephew and my daughter! 


Yes, I had an "art attack"!! As I look around my living room and think of the other rooms in my house I know I didn't NEED another painting - every wall in my home contains original artwork - mostly paintings by my talented brother. But when it comes to art NEED doesn't really play a deciding role. Art tends to be an emotional purchase - one prompted by the feelings that are evoked upon viewing said work. A painting can transport me to another place, another time and fills me with a longing to be inside the frame rather than outside of it. The purchase of such a piece can provide moments of quiet contemplation and the fulfillment of little pockets of yearning in my soul that need filling. 


For me, that is a very important function. That is why I never feel a moment's hesitation or guilt in purchasing paintings from my brother. And if that means writing a cheque from my emergency fund then so be it. In this case a piece of my tax refund will cover the payment. And I will be the richer for it.

My brother is in the centre of this photo with his hand
on someone's shoulder.

See anyone you recognize? Yes, there's Michael and my
daughter in her bright red shirt is hiding behind him
being camera shy.

Lots of supporters! My brother paints both portraits and landscapes.
The past few years has seen him concentrate on landscapes of
Ireland. He visits there usually once or twice a year.

Even this painting, which was labelled "work in progress",
was sold. Sure which I could see it when it's finished!

Here is my purchase, entitled "The Shannon".  For me this painting
makes me think of my view of the HUGE sky in PEI, the
way that I see it from my yard at Crofters Lane.
The unusual light, the stormy clouds, the infinite expanse of it.

Both of my brothers are in this photo. The artist is busy talking while my other brother is standing next to the lady in red - all you can see is part of his little grey head peeking over someone's shoulder.

Ireland influenced landscapes.

Would have loved to buy this one too, but someone beat me to it.
It is entitle: "Snowdrops"

Tomorrow I will be spending more time with my niece and nephew as they
need help with my brother-in-law's house. It needs to be cleaned,
decluttered and readied for sale.
More family time :)