The "Mighty Shower" renovation..... Completed!!

Hooray for great installers!!  I have the best people that I work with and was lucky enough to get them to work on my shower reno.  As mentioned in an earlier post it was a total disaster and the before pictures were just too horrible to show publicly.  The old saying about the shoemaker's kids having no shoes actually seems to be true of other professions like mine.  I should have had this shower done a year ago but just kept putting it off as I wasn't ready for the upheavel of gutting it and the subsequent mess.  Well it was completed in an amazing time frame and the upheavel was minimal as was the mess mostly due to the meticulous trades I had here.  Vince you and George are the greatest.  Thanks you so much for my lovely new shower!!
If you want tradespeople who have integrity, are fair and take pride in their work contact me and I will put you in touch with mine.

I am remiss in not showing the "after" photos yet, however the door was on order so I am waiting until it is installed.

"Before Photo"  A total tear down right back to the studs and below the flooring as it was discovered that the drain pipe was full of concrete from the original installation and could soon back up and cause damage.  Talk about people who are detailed in their work.!

My old shower

"After Pictures to follow".....

Glorious Bathrooms....

Watermarks,  www.watermarksboutique.com/  is the boutique of choice for a complete range of product solutions when considering your next remodelling/renovation project.  They carry the very best in premium & high quality Kitchen and Bath products including an elite selection of beautifully crafted product exclusives available on the market.  This week I was at the marvelous Watermarks. It is like being a kid in a candy store - so much to see and drool over. They have everything imaginable and you want it all!!   Or at least I did. It is a must see showroom for anybody considering a bath renovation or makeover. .  You can choose from traditional elements to ultra modern. There is something for everyone.   Here are a few photos I snapped... (remember I am just an amateur and if you want to see the spectacular range of products visit one of their showrooms in Etobicoke, Burlington or Kitchener.  Take a look at their website at http://www.watermarksboutique.com/

Let's Go to the Movies.....

I used to think I was a little odd in that when I went to a movie, if it had a great "set" I was much more interested in checking out the details of that rather than focusing on the plot.  Recently I have heard designers and decorators indicate they were just like that, so..... now I don't feel so odd anymore.  I still often watch some movies more than once if the set is fantastic like the fabulous Hamptons House Diane Keaton had in the movie "Something's Gotta Give", another movie by Nancy Meyers who teamed up with set decorator Beth Rubino.   I LOVE that house.  Many people have loved that house. It has been said that clients will often mention that they too would like their home to look like the one in that movie.  Oh, and by the way, the move was great too!   Just take a look at some of the fabulous photos below...

Dining Room

Living Room

Kitchen

Dining Room

Erica's Bedroom/Study

Guest Room at Erika's

Jack Nicholson who played Harry had a classy townhouse which we only get a couple of glimpses of...

Harry's Townhouse

Harry's Bedroom

The A, B, C's of Cameras ......

This past week I embarked on a very important task - that of learning the correct way to get good photos.  I took a course offered by Henry's and learned many new and wonderful things about a camera I have had for a few years and one that is already a year old and has never been used.  This was an absolutely great course and the instructor was the best!!  He actually worked hands on with each person individually with their camera and we learned the ins and outs of all those little  buttons and the many options that make for good picture taking.  What makes a photo turn out bright, dark, with shadows, without shadows and so on ..... Hopefully my future photos will get better.

DeBoer's & Benjamin Moore - what a great pair!

This week I attended a colour seminar hosted at Deboer's Furniture Showroom featuring Colour Trends 2010 with Aura and introducing "Waterborne Technology" presented by guest speaker Janice Fedak, Architectural & Design Representative for  Benjamin Moore.  Benjamin Moore makes a point of educating the public and trades about their incredible line of paint products.  This seminar updated everyone on the properties of their products, such as the "Aura" collection and the "Aura Bath & Spa" collection.  This paint will be a dream come true for many in that it covers anything, leaves a smooth texture and a flat finish that is washable.  What more could you want?

Janice Fedak




Some important colour tools we can all use....
     Check out the website for more information...... http://www.benjaminmoore.ca/

After the presentation, we took our time browsing the 4 floors of the most beautiful furniture displayed in vignettes and in some cases enhanced by paint treatments from Benjamin Moore.  I would love an entire home decorated in this great furniture.  They carry dozens of furniture lines, accessories, etc.  It is worth a drop in just to get inspiration and better yet, treat yourself to something fabulous!

This sweet pink and green room would delight any little

girl and send her off to dreamland!

What a clean and contemporary Dining space!

The use of a leather banquet is very popular these days

as it provides compact yet good seating capacity.

This large round Dining Table with Parsons chairs

provides a comfortable way to dine and engage in

conversation with everyone at the table - wonderful if you

have the space! 

I loved this Bedroom vignette - it is elegant and masculine,

yet has a feminine quality with the mirrored side tables.

side tables.

The Mighty "SHOWER" Reno

Well we finally have got around to having the shower in our master bathroom replaced.  It was really in need of a makeover and little did we know what lurked behind and under the old tile.....

What should have been a rather straight forward project - remove old tiles and faucets and replace with new ones which will be much nicer.  When the workmen got well into the project they discovered that we had a huge buildup of concrete blocking part of the drain where you wouldn't notice it.  We were always trying to clear the drain - thinking it was blocked with hair or whatever but alas it was just a lazy way of getting rid of excess concrete by the original builder's trades.  We now have a large hole where the dog could get lost in if she were to get in there..... They have basically gutted the entire shower stall area and will now be replacing absolutely everything, including insulation.  This is good ! BUT -  This will cost more !  Oh well, c'est la vie.

Check this out

IDS 2010

The Interior Design Show 2010 kicked off this year at a new location - the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  The newest and most innovative in international and Canadian products are annually presented by 300 exhibitors, cutting edge exhibits plus over twenty-five Canadian and International design professionals, celebrities and visionaries in keynote presentations, seminars and workshops . . . including House & Home Editor Suzanne Dimma, Interior Designer Brian Gluckstein, Miami-based interior and fashion designer Barbara Hulanicki, Journalist Ingrid Abramovitch and many more . . . The ultimate ideas, products and trends. The Interior Design Show/IDS 10 is Canada’s largest contemporary design event.

Here are some of the beautiful bathroom ideas featured.....

Watermarks had a  fabulous display featuring a great "luxe" look. I loved this wall hung vanity/sink and glitzy mirror.  Unfortunately I am not particularly great at taking photos and this does not do it justice. For a really good look, drop into Watermarks in Etobicoke or Burlington to see just how gorgeous this is!

I am in love with this incredibly decadant and matching lav from Axor.
http://www.hansgrohe.ca/ I could really imagine relaxing in a space like this.

This tub from Wetstyle http://www.wetstyle.ca/ is very minimalist in styling and has coordinating sink/cabinets and wall hung storage cabinet.  I could imagine this in a very modern space or in a country retreat where the natural wood would fit right in.

Tolie Funiture & Accents http://www.toliedesign.com/ had a contemporary display in the current popular Black & White scheme with pops of red for pizazz. 

Napoleon Fireplaces had many gas and
electric styles on display, many that were
contemporary in design.
http://www.napoleonproducts.com/

Andrew Richard Designs offers both ready-made and custom pieces, arranged in a myriad of vignettes to offer suggestions and inspiration.Their furniture brings unparalleled innovation, style and comfort to outdoor custom-designed furniture.  I always look forward to their booth at IDS because it brings some "warm weather" ideas to us in the midst of our long winter.

This is an interesting new product from Surface Innovation Inc in Parry Sound.  It is a flexible Slate Veneer made from real slate and attached to several different backings.  This can be used on many surfaces and is an easy product to install for the "Do-It-Yourselfer".  They have plans to have a supplier in the GTA by spring.

IDS is more than just a show. It is the total design experience