 |
| life lately |
So I figured it was time for a house update.. :)
And my sources of inspiration, as of late..
Ok, now where to begin?
I guess the beginning is always a good spot.
After we made the plunge and got the keys to this well-loved bungalow, we knew it was time to get serious about *sudder* permits. And the first thing we needed to get was a permit for the development of the garage. This was mostly due to that fact that the garage that was on the property was used for raising budgie birds* and not cars. (*Included with that garage was the worst case of mold I have ever saw. Ya. So that was a nice bonus, too).
So, needless to say, Budgie Garage had to go.
Currently, our dining room and sun porch are the garage. We have heavy duty cleaning products, gross black and grey garage storage shelves and motorbike gear taking up every corner of our dining room. The sun porch holds even more of those ugly plastic storage shelves and Tyler's beloved Chevy truck stool.
Anyway, once we knew the paperwork of buying our new home was going to go through, Tyler started the biggest permit process: the permit from the city to get started on our garage. That was May. About a month ago, we got finally wrapped up the process.
Let me break it down for you:
1. The garage we want to build is over-height. (We're adding a loft space on top of the garage).
2. No biggie, lots of garages in our area are over-height; we just need to simply follow the process.
3. Tyler went to a council meeting and showed our plans, what we wanted to do and showed similar surrounding garages.
4. Council debated.
5. (Shhhh.. they're still debating)
6. Council says go ahead! Yay!
7. Oh wait, our neighbour appeals the decision (what?!)
8. Wait 3 more weeks until the appeal hearing.
9. Attend appeal hearing; present both sides
10. The appeal board deliberated for TWO weeks.
11. Last week, after great deliberation, the appeal board approved our garage.
It exhausts me just thinking about it.. haha.. Anyway, it's approved so we're good to go now. :)
Here are some pictures of our backyard and what this whole process has been looking like lately.. It's going to be interesting to see the changes.. we've been staring at a backyard of dirt & gravel for so long now I'm thinking it might just stay like that permanently.. haha.. :)
Anyway... ever since we got that approval letter, my brain has been in major all-things-house-and-DIY-and-reno-related mode! :)
So, here's what I've been loving lately when it comes to anything house related - here are my faves:
1. In The Fun Lane
I adore Sean and Holly's style so much and all they've done to their house! Plus, they live in the same province as me. So that means they shop where I shop. Love that!
2. Young House Love
This young couple (and their adorbs pup and babe) are like rockstars in the DIY-reno blogging world! I find my style a bit different from their's, but they are knowledgeable, funny, smart and write great content. Plus they always have plenty of pretty pictures.. love that!
3. IHeart Organizing
For anything related to details and organizing, this is my number one stop for all my inspiration. Love her layout, her clean and bright pictures and the just-the-right-amount of writing that accompanies her pictures..
4. A Beautiful Mess
This blog isn't just about DIY's and home stuff, it's about recipes and outfits and thrifting and their businesses and all that other stuff that makes up life.. Two sisters run this blog and one of them, Elsie and her hubby just bought a house, so she tends to post more about house stuff on her personal blog and on A Beautiful Mess.. The other sister, Emma, bought a house a while ago, but seems to be a bit more private with that side of her life.. but they are both wanting to post home tours in the new year, so I am excited about that! :)
5. 79 Ideas
This is just a pure inspiration blog for me. The things this blogger posts are rustic and charming and vintage and clean and often lots of white. That is RIGHT up my alley. :)
So, there you have it! Those are my faves.. what are your faves? Where do you draw your inspiration from? I'm sure there are some big-time blogs out there that I have no clue about (shameful side-note: I just discovered Young House Love.. I know.) so let me know of any cute and vintage-y house blogs I should be following!
PS - Sorry for my absence. I've been going through some serious computer woes. But all should be well by the end of this month, so YAY! :) In the meantime, thanks babe for the use of your mini-travel laptop!
xo ~ Jessica
So, needless to say, Budgie Garage had to go.
Currently, our dining room and sun porch are the garage. We have heavy duty cleaning products, gross black and grey garage storage shelves and motorbike gear taking up every corner of our dining room. The sun porch holds even more of those ugly plastic storage shelves and Tyler's beloved Chevy truck stool.
Anyway, once we knew the paperwork of buying our new home was going to go through, Tyler started the biggest permit process: the permit from the city to get started on our garage. That was May. About a month ago, we got finally wrapped up the process.
Let me break it down for you:
1. The garage we want to build is over-height. (We're adding a loft space on top of the garage).
2. No biggie, lots of garages in our area are over-height; we just need to simply follow the process.
3. Tyler went to a council meeting and showed our plans, what we wanted to do and showed similar surrounding garages.
4. Council debated.
5. (Shhhh.. they're still debating)
6. Council says go ahead! Yay!
7. Oh wait, our neighbour appeals the decision (what?!)
8. Wait 3 more weeks until the appeal hearing.
9. Attend appeal hearing; present both sides
10. The appeal board deliberated for TWO weeks.
11. Last week, after great deliberation, the appeal board approved our garage.
It exhausts me just thinking about it.. haha.. Anyway, it's approved so we're good to go now. :)
Anyway... ever since we got that approval letter, my brain has been in major all-things-house-and-DIY-and-reno-related mode! :)
So, here's what I've been loving lately when it comes to anything house related - here are my faves:
1. In The Fun Lane
I adore Sean and Holly's style so much and all they've done to their house! Plus, they live in the same province as me. So that means they shop where I shop. Love that!
2. Young House Love
This young couple (and their adorbs pup and babe) are like rockstars in the DIY-reno blogging world! I find my style a bit different from their's, but they are knowledgeable, funny, smart and write great content. Plus they always have plenty of pretty pictures.. love that!
3. IHeart Organizing
For anything related to details and organizing, this is my number one stop for all my inspiration. Love her layout, her clean and bright pictures and the just-the-right-amount of writing that accompanies her pictures..
4. A Beautiful Mess
This blog isn't just about DIY's and home stuff, it's about recipes and outfits and thrifting and their businesses and all that other stuff that makes up life.. Two sisters run this blog and one of them, Elsie and her hubby just bought a house, so she tends to post more about house stuff on her personal blog and on A Beautiful Mess.. The other sister, Emma, bought a house a while ago, but seems to be a bit more private with that side of her life.. but they are both wanting to post home tours in the new year, so I am excited about that! :)
5. 79 Ideas
This is just a pure inspiration blog for me. The things this blogger posts are rustic and charming and vintage and clean and often lots of white. That is RIGHT up my alley. :)
So, there you have it! Those are my faves.. what are your faves? Where do you draw your inspiration from? I'm sure there are some big-time blogs out there that I have no clue about (shameful side-note: I just discovered Young House Love.. I know.) so let me know of any cute and vintage-y house blogs I should be following!
PS - Sorry for my absence. I've been going through some serious computer woes. But all should be well by the end of this month, so YAY! :) In the meantime, thanks babe for the use of your mini-travel laptop!
xo ~ Jessica
