Toronto Colonial
This is our current house, #RRColonialCharm, located in Toronto, Canada. We
moved to
this home
in December 2016. Its classic Colonial layout, centre hall plan, and
traditional details won us over.
Garage and Backyard
But it wasn't long before we started making changes! First up was
organizing the garage, naturally. We'd need all our tools in place to get ready for all of the
renovation projects we were anticipating once spring hit.
Once the weather warmed up, we were able to make some exterior changes too. A new garage door instantly upped our curb appeal and we organized the garage for better function. We repainted our shutters from blue to black, added new lighting and accessories, and painted the front door to bring a new black and white exterior scheme to life.
Our back deck got a little bit of love too with new outdoor furniture and accessories. I'm loving navy blue these days. Can you tell?
Once the weather warmed up, we were able to make some exterior changes too. A new garage door instantly upped our curb appeal and we organized the garage for better function. We repainted our shutters from blue to black, added new lighting and accessories, and painted the front door to bring a new black and white exterior scheme to life.
Our back deck got a little bit of love too with new outdoor furniture and accessories. I'm loving navy blue these days. Can you tell?
Living Room
It wasn't long before we tackled the first room, the Living Room. As
one of the featured designers for the
Spring 2018 One Room Challenge, in just six weeks we transformed our living room from plain and purple to
calm and classic.
Installing the moulding made the biggest impact in this room. It set the tone for this space and for the rest of the house. This classic + preppy style is one we've carried throughout other spaces.
With all this time at home working during the pandemic of 2020-2021, I decided my office could use a bit more tweaking. With some new paint, window coverings, and an upcycled desk, it has transformed into a more classic, traditional home office.
Installing the moulding made the biggest impact in this room. It set the tone for this space and for the rest of the house. This classic + preppy style is one we've carried throughout other spaces.
Home Office
We transformed a few other rooms and slowly our house began to feel like our home. My feminine home office is now where I go to work.
With all this time at home working during the pandemic of 2020-2021, I decided my office could use a bit more tweaking. With some new paint, window coverings, and an upcycled desk, it has transformed into a more classic, traditional home office.
Craft Room
Kitchen
A kitchen renovation is still a few years away, but for now it's pretty and functional.
Primary Bedroom
Soon enough, we were working our next project, the Primary Bedroom.
In six weeks, it went from blue and awkward to serene and calm
A few other smaller projects included a rebuilt fence:
A few other smaller projects included a rebuilt fence:
and a
bright white paint refresh of the main hallways.
Dining Room
Bathrooms
Over the winter holidays, we transformed one of our smallest and quickest
projects yet: the powder room.
In the spring of 2019, we hopped back onto the crazy train known as the
6-week One Room Challenge and undertook a spontaneous and extremely challenging makeover of
our
main bathroom.
We took this dated but functional bathroom and infused it with chic French style. This was a complete down-to-the-studs renovation with significant setbacks and time challenges. But it was well worth it to enjoy this pretty and relaxing space:
We took this dated but functional bathroom and infused it with chic French style. This was a complete down-to-the-studs renovation with significant setbacks and time challenges. But it was well worth it to enjoy this pretty and relaxing space:
Guest Bedroom
We finished off 2019 with yet another
One Room Challenge project, the
guest bedroom makeover. One of our easiest renovation projects to date, the transformation was
nonetheless impressive. We were happy to trade this red and glaring room
for a
serene and cozy space.
Basement
The
Spring 2020 One Room Challenge
got us motivated again and we tackled the largest space in our house, the
basement. Over eight weeks (and during a pandemic!), we tackled this large
area and transformed it into
a breezy coastal retreat.
This extensive renovation included a
makeover of our 1970's fireplace and installation of a
basement kitchenette.
A stair and landing makeover helped tie this basement space with the
finished rooms above.
Exterior
Later that summer, we gave the front of our house some attention. A
makeover of our paver walkway
helped bring our exterior style in line with the changes we made inside.
Tween Bedroom
Early 2021 saw us finishing off a room that has been lingering on our To
Do list. We moved into this house when our daughter was just 7 years old.
Her room started as a mishmash of old furniture, someone else's paint
choice, and so many toys.
The next phase was a room that incorporated the latest TikTok trends of
vines on the walls and string lights overhead.
And finally, we landed on a room that was just right. The kid-sized
furniture was replaced and a more sophisticated
tween coastal bedroom
took its place.
