My colouring lesson
We have been driving about our city on weekends, snooping through open houses. Are we looking to move? Maybe, because we have a soon-to-be empty nest. But it's been nearly 25 years since we bought property.
I thought, let's find a cute bungalow or Victorian cottage, one floor for the coming years.
We toured magnificently-fluffed houses. Everyone, tutored by HGTV, puts out artful bowls of green apples, installs granite counter tops, unfurls crisp shower curtains. One untouched exception, a funky little place that smelled like a dank dishcloth, reminded us we don't have the grit for a gut reno.
There's nothing wrong with our house, except that one floor is now superfluous. The neighbourhood is vibrant, our elderly cat knows the sunspots on the floor, Le Duc's wisteria climbs, finally, as he wishes.
When I watch HGTV, I'm astonished by the renos people undertake strictly in order to sell. This seems like going through labour in order to get free coupons for baby gear.
Touring houses, I felt like a mark who sees the con but gets seduced anyway: vintage barkcloth drapes, cool! Look at that collection of flasks! These effects decamp along with the former owners.
A shrewd buyer ignores the art direction, notices the wonky window jams, the panel screwed onto the bedroom wall hiding... what?
I decided to stage our house and live in it: redecorate the tired bedrooms, put my shoes on racks, order fresh towels from Garnet Hill.
We spent a Saturday afternoon pouring sullenly over a ham-sized deck of paint (note: that word contains pain) chips. I dreaded making the decision.
Providentially, we met Canada's colour guru, Janice Lindsay, of Pink Colour and Design at a dinner party hosted by our friends Richard and Maria.
I booked a consultation; in under two hours, this consummate pro read us and developed sumptuous colour schemes for the most-in-need rooms. What a worthwhile service, and a delight to witness an artist at work. We're confident, relaxed and eager to begin.
If you'd like to mine Janice Lindsay's colour mojo– from the science and psychology of colour through inspirational examples of decor– hunt down her gorgeous book, "All About Colour", published in 2008. One used copy is on sale on Amazon.ca; the book is sold out on Amazon.com and Indigo.ca. Hello, library! (Note: Amazon.com asks $250 for a copy. What? The list price is around $30.)
And click here to see Pittsburgh Paints' Coming Home Collection, chosen and described by Janice.
I can't wait for her eye on the rest of the house. But one or two rooms at a time. We're here for awhile.
I thought, let's find a cute bungalow or Victorian cottage, one floor for the coming years.
We toured magnificently-fluffed houses. Everyone, tutored by HGTV, puts out artful bowls of green apples, installs granite counter tops, unfurls crisp shower curtains. One untouched exception, a funky little place that smelled like a dank dishcloth, reminded us we don't have the grit for a gut reno.
There's nothing wrong with our house, except that one floor is now superfluous. The neighbourhood is vibrant, our elderly cat knows the sunspots on the floor, Le Duc's wisteria climbs, finally, as he wishes.
When I watch HGTV, I'm astonished by the renos people undertake strictly in order to sell. This seems like going through labour in order to get free coupons for baby gear.
Touring houses, I felt like a mark who sees the con but gets seduced anyway: vintage barkcloth drapes, cool! Look at that collection of flasks! These effects decamp along with the former owners.
A shrewd buyer ignores the art direction, notices the wonky window jams, the panel screwed onto the bedroom wall hiding... what?
I decided to stage our house and live in it: redecorate the tired bedrooms, put my shoes on racks, order fresh towels from Garnet Hill.
We spent a Saturday afternoon pouring sullenly over a ham-sized deck of paint (note: that word contains pain) chips. I dreaded making the decision.
Providentially, we met Canada's colour guru, Janice Lindsay, of Pink Colour and Design at a dinner party hosted by our friends Richard and Maria.
I booked a consultation; in under two hours, this consummate pro read us and developed sumptuous colour schemes for the most-in-need rooms. What a worthwhile service, and a delight to witness an artist at work. We're confident, relaxed and eager to begin.
If you'd like to mine Janice Lindsay's colour mojo– from the science and psychology of colour through inspirational examples of decor– hunt down her gorgeous book, "All About Colour", published in 2008. One used copy is on sale on Amazon.ca; the book is sold out on Amazon.com and Indigo.ca. Hello, library! (Note: Amazon.com asks $250 for a copy. What? The list price is around $30.)
And click here to see Pittsburgh Paints' Coming Home Collection, chosen and described by Janice.
I can't wait for her eye on the rest of the house. But one or two rooms at a time. We're here for awhile.
Comments
Still, we just replaced our bed linens and bath towels during the January sales, which visually freshens up those rooms with minimal cost and effort.
We just signed with a landscape architect this week to totally redo our front and backyards to make them more water conserving and liveable. The weather here is so nice most of the year and we aren't utilizing our outdoor space nearly as much as we could because of how it's currently landscaped. However, unlike HGTV, no one brings you pretty plans and ideas to compare until you sign on the dotted line and hand over a deposit!
I like the idea of staying in your own home and freshening it up a bit with new paint, linens, etc. Besides, isn't it nice to keep the extra bedrooms for when you sons come to visit.
You have a great idea to stage it to live in!
Loved your analogy re labour and the free baby coupons -- ha!
I adore the red kitchen you have in the photo, and almost any time of year, I have a white bowl with green apples in it on my kitchen table. I find something minimalist and welcoming in it. Not sure why, but it always seems to work.
After 18 months of living with my folks during a major career transition, I'm dying for my own space, with my own colors, and my own taste. Since it may be a while yet before I move, I've decided to stay away from HGTV, decorating mags, and IKEA catalogues. Too much like standing in front of a bakery when you're on a diet!
Pseu:HGTV: I love what they do with $2K but of course no on is paying labour! Landscaping is such an exciting project, please show us!
hostess: Ah, you remind me of my mother who bagged to go "home" (our house, not heaven) near the end of her life... of course, long gone. But home is home.
Belle: I'm having fun picturing you in a house like that of Meryl Streep's in "it's Different". Nice to start but then fabulous?
Beatnheart: Welcome and I'm interested in learning about your jewelry. (This is a pearl site with many discursions.)
diverchic: I'm coming over to see what they did. Readers, diverchic lives in a beautiful old Victorian in my city.
materfamilias: Janice Lindsay is a national treasure. Pics eventually. Have to find a topnotch painter.
BigLittleWolf: I learned a lot about visual appeal going to the open houses. Pulling up my socks!
Chatelaine: Good for you and pls tell me how you like it. Think it will be your cup of tea.
Rubiatonta: Know what you mean. Did not watch HGTV for years but got into it doing treadmill. Worked to (their) desired effect: after 15 years busy living in house, now seeing many opportunities. I like Ikea!
So...we look to renovate and re-paint. I too ordered the book.
Thanks Duchesse.
Christine
Great idea!!
I've done all my catch-up chez toi -- I hope you don't object to the toi and not the vous? -- and what a week.
Thank you for all the up-keep, better than that really. All those products. I think I'll have the Little One send me a care package. I soooo agree about polished shoes. They speak volumes.
How exciting to stage your own house. Will you keep us au courant with before's and after's and all the details?
Have a lovely weekend. I hope it's as beautiful on your side of the earth as it is here.
Some of the colour books are a bit gadgety, but I don't think this one is.
The only problem with an overly-large house, other than the taxes and other expenses it can entail even if paid off, is that it can get to be a burden. Are there likely smaller houses in your own neighbourhood? I love the little house in the picture - here you will find some houses of that style in parts of Nôtre-Dame de Grâce (NDG) in the west end. I'd love to see some houses similar to yours in your area - of course I understand the security issues involved in posting your own!
One facet of "home staging" that always annoyed me to no end was that the householders showing their house were supposed to hide their library away in boxes. I have at least eight wooden bookcases including one that is at least 8 feet tall - hate to think how many I'd have in a family-sized house!
Tish, we've had almost no winter, even here in Montréal which is a good zone colder than Toronto, so spring came very early and there have been some downright hot days. It is cooler now, but everything is green and beautiful.
lagatta: Guests came over last night- everyone has a colour mistake story! But it's only paint.
I rarely show my possessions, for various reasons. Thank you for guessing some of them.
A glorious early spring here, too!
I hope you post results on your blog.