Yes, I'm alive and well! I'm sure many of you know what I've been up to, but for those that don't, I have just moved to Montreal, Quebec, CANADA!! Yep, you heard right. My hubby was offered a wonderful job contract opportunity that required us to move from central Texas to French Canada! Oui Oui! It's been quite the adventure and I've been too distracted for the blog and creativity as of late! No offense to my lovely followers, but our big move created a priority shift in my life, as you might expect! :)
However, I did decide on a worthy new post! We found a lovely home for lease on the West Island of Montreal, close to the water (aka the Saint Laurent River). It's a great house and I've been settling us in since July. It's really starting to feel like home now...at least to me! I thought a "before and after" of the place would be timely. The problem was, I didn't take any before shots because we arrived after the furniture and boxes did! However, I remembered that I still have the home's real estate listing photos! During our home search, our realtor sent a PDF listing that included small pictures of the house. Voila! A solution to the "no before pics" problem!
WARNING!!
I am not a professional photographer.
I am not a real estate agent.
I am not a real estate photographer.
The PDF listing photos are tiny and grainy and I had to crop them out.
My photos are pretty dark in places, bright in others and a little warped.
My photos were taken with an iPhone 5 (pano mode).
SO...lower your expectations from "amazing home magazine/blog-worthy pictures" to "semi-decent house phone pics."
Regardless of photo quality, I DID enjoy discovering how some real estate pics are taken. You know how they can make rooms look HUGE and spacious? Well, a real camera (DSLR), panoramic mode and lots of light/image editing can make a home look pretty darn amazing! Then you walk through the home in person... Fortunately for us, the home wasn't far off the pics and was to our liking. I recreated 21 listing photos using (almost) the same camera angles. Below is an example of the PDF photo pages. I cropped the pics out and posted them in the size giving the clearest image and the least grain and blur. Plus, it made most of mine look better - SCORE!
This post doesn't really give you a great visual walk-through or layout, but it shows the main spaces. Yes, there are still plenty of changes I'd love to make on the inside, but since it's a leased home, I will hold back some of my OCD tendencies relating to home decor. ;) Some will be fine the way they are, while others may do...for now. We didn't paint, but the owner let us request a color in one room, as they were already hiring a painter. We're using many of the original window treatments (not really us), so we'll see how I do. :) The owners did choose nice wall neutrals and colors and left plenty of wall art to use if we like. Good people and a good home. So, with that introduction, here we go!
Welcome to the Lakeshore Casa!
Then (Summer 2013)
Now (Summer 2014)
Gig'em Montreal!
Entryway then
Entryway now
We want to add a sitting/storage bench under mirror for shoes.
Living Room then
Living Room now
I think I'll be okay with the living room curtains. ($$$)
Formal Dining then
Formal Dining now
Same curtains. Living room is to the right.
Nope, 16 new panels is not in the budget...
...and 16 would also be a DIY nightmare. I'm good.
Kitchen then
Kitchen now
The Fiestaware, Pier 1 plates and Longabergers worked out I think.
Kitchen to Dining then
Kitchen to Dining now
Kitchen Dining then
Kitchen Dining now
Loving our World Market table. Last thing we got before moving.
PS: You will not get a zoom-in of the curtains, with respect to those with a fear of a certain creature. #imaygocrazy
Powder Bath then
Powder Bath now
Sorry for the bright light this one! I'm not good at photo editing...
Back Porch then
Back Porch now
Yes, you are allowed to laugh at our lovely patio furniture. (in due time)
Girls Room then
E's Room now
E's Room - Better pano pic!
Just had to post this one. This room is such a neat space!
She just has too much girlie stuff in it! :)
Girls Bath then
E's Bath now
This bathroom has a step-up entry from inside her bedroom. Complete with her Boston Terriers from a former CC blog post you might recall. :)
Boy's Room then
B's Room now
Sorry for the crazy brightness! And the height of their rods was a bit high for our 84" panels....not sure if I want to rehang and touch up or not...
Boy's Bath then
B's Bath now
A Fightin' Texas Aggie shower curtain to come!
Master Bedroom then
Master Bedroom now
Same rod problem in this room with my 95" panels, even! Those were some tall handmade curtains! Is non-textured wall touch-up and rehung rods worth it?
Master Bath then
Master Bath now
Notice the new shelf cabinet to the left.
None of the baths had ANY STORAGE!! How did they function??
Tiny, RED 3rd Bedroom then
New Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue Creative Space now!
Vastly improved, wouldn't you say? I am enjoying the calming blue over to my fun green chosen in my former space makeover . (Blog post plug!) Thanks to my friend Kelly for the color recommendation!
Basement Family Room then
Basement Family Room now
I keep meaning to take down those sheer panels! Pointless right?
Basement Bedroom then
Basement Bedroom now
My TX guest bedding from isn't great with this room, but it'll do...maybe I'll find a deal. ;) WAY better than the prior room color!
Basement Bath then
Basement Bath now
Another red to light blue! They actually did this before we even saw the house. 50s diner theme for a bathroom? Hmmm...
Basement Office then
T's Office now (HA!)
Due to a broken desk, this room has been put on hold. #moverclaimsubmitted
Backyard (Summer 2013)
Backyard now
Benefits? 1) an added shed (yay!) 2) a clothesline pole (nope) 3) our beautiful TX jumping contraption 4) WEEDS! and 5) pretty sunflowers lining the left side.
OK, just for fun...
POP QUIZ!
(no scrolling up!)
1. How many chandeliers are in my home (now)? (Yes, a bit of an obsession, I think.)
2. What lovely creature is on the kitchen/powder bath curtains? (yeeeaah)
3. How many fireplaces are in my home? (score for winter!)
4. What Benjamin Moor color is my creative space?
5. OK, you can scroll up for this one: Name 3 things that were added to my master bath to make it more functional....excluding the obvious (the cabinet).
6. Besides the Fightin' Texas Aggies, what is another of my boy's obsessions?
7. Guess how many outdoor cooking apparatuses are on the patio (you can't see them all in the pic).
8. What was your favorite space?
I hope you enjoyed the tour! My daughter has been giving her friends FaceTime video tours. It's pretty cute. Perhaps she has room in her calendar for a few more. Just be forwarned of dizziness! :)
As our family makes this a home, we must also remember to keep Christ at home in our hearts, recalling Paul's words to the Ephesians as we embark on this new family adventure...
"I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong."
Thanks for visiting!
Keeping Him in mind,
PS: Pop Quiz Answers!
1. 6 are shown, but 7 total (one in the stairway), 9 when it was listed!!
2. Monkeys! WITH CLOTHES AND A HAT! #killmenow
3. 2, Living and Master , with remotes!
4. Palladian Blue - their most popular blue at the moment
Baskets under the sink for storage
Toilet paper holder! It's the little things...
6. L.E.G.O.S. #killmyfeet
7. 3 - grill, propane turkey fryer, electric turkey fryer (They left a small smoker/grill in the shed! Hubby is set!
8. Mine are my creative space and master bedroom (minus the curtain issue) Feels cozy.
You have made your new house a home Candace. It´s just beautiful, hope you will be very happy there.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you all,
Maja