barn doors

We decided to put barn doors in our basement on all of the door openings and originally we were going to put raw, reclaimed wood but it's not going to go well with the floor we chose. I'm really loving some of these other options for colour.

Source: birchandbird.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Source: google.com via elaine on Pinterest

Source: desiretodecorate.com via Nicole on Pinterest

love this green door too!

Source: birchandbird.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: remodelista.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Cindi on Pinterest

Source: re-nest.com via Amy on Pinterest

basement reno - columns

I never thought I would love new basement columns as much as I love the new ones in our basement. This is what the columns used to look like:

Pretty huh?

We were actually going to live with them but the problem is that they're actually sinking -- well maybe not anymore but the floor sinks down under each column which would have made it REALLY FUN to put engineered hardwood down. Plus, when we moved in, we had to add a third column because the other two weren't doing a great job. So Mark said "Let's do this right" and he had a guy come in to pour new footings and install new columns. So now it looks like this right now:


I love these columns! The change has made it so much more open which will help fitting our ginormous black leather sectional into the room (provided we get it down the stairs -- but I'm sure I've mentioned that before...).

Next up on the schedule: this week some guys are coming to demo all of the concrete, then the plumbers are coming to put in-floor heating. We found out that it's actually cheaper to put the radiant floor heating then to get rads in the basement so we're sold. After that is done, the concrete will be poured and then we can start on the drywall etc. I can't wait!

ps- Have you seen Janice's basement reno updates? Her reno is moving along swiftly and it's shaping up to be so nice! I can't wait to see the final basement!

furniture window shopping

This afternoon we took a little spin down to King Street East to check out the furniture shops. We're going to start renovating our basement soon and when we do that we're not going to have any furniture left in our upstairs sitting room (this is providing we get our GIANT leather sectional down the stairs in the first place...).

Our first stop was UpCountry and this was our favourite room. I absolutely LOVE this coffee table. L.O.V.E. We would also like something like this fireplace for the basement. The stone is a bit too polished for me, but the idea is similar to what we'd both like on a smaller scale.


Mark liked this couch but it reminds me of the couch my grandfather used to sleep on after his meals... a little too grannyish for me...


This was actually a wall in the basement of UpCountry (I think??) but I thought it was perfect inspiration for the barn doors I want to build for the basement.


We found this couch at Urban Barn and I think it's a contender for upstairs. The price is right and it's super comfy.


Some day I'd like to get some new dining chairs but they're just so darned expensive... these would go perfect with our harvest table. Too bad they're $259 each :(.


After all that window shopping we had to make a beverage stop. Leo sure loves his lattes ;)