Progress and Bunnies

Hello there! Anyone still around? I feel like I haven't done a 'proper' post in so long that everyone has gotten bored and left! Well, hopefully, some progress photos and adorable bunnies will have you running back.

After 'one of those weeks' last week, I was expecting something to go very wrong with our friday sofa delivery. You know those weeks.... the weeks where you're just waiting for it to end because you're worried that there is still time for something else to go wrong? Anyway, thankfully, the sofa arrived safely and all that happened was I didn't have the proper change and had the pay the delivery guys an extra five bucks. I think I can live with that.

We had spent last week trying desperately to make some room for said couch because just a few weeks ago and up until recently, after our final 'stuff delivery' from Hubs' Mom's basement/garage, our living room looked something like this: (and by 'something like' I mean 'exactly like')

Terrifying, isn't it???  Can you see our desperate (and clearly futile) attempt at instilling order?  Those five colourful images framed by the dining room door.  They look ridiculous now that I seem them in this context but at the time, they were the only thing keeping me sane.

Slowly but surely the living room becamse livable once again.  After a few carloads of donations, a few of recyclables and garbage (have I seriously been carting around old grocery flyers for three years?) and quite a lot of trips down to the basement, the living room looks like this.....

Yay! 

Behold the most wonderfully comfy chaise I could have ever asked for!  From EQ3 and made in Canada!

And the new and long-awaited for sofa by Lind - also made in Canada!  

Doesn't the coffee table look great in front of it?

As you can see, there is still a lot to do - that's why we call them progress shots!  For example, there is about 6 feet by 12 feet of empty white space above the sofa, which I now have to figure out what to do with.   Oh and remember my post about saying 'No' to beige?? Well, if you haven't noticed, besides the bookshelf my living room is VERY neutral - isn't irony wonderful?  In my search to create a wonderfully colourful and warm space, I have ended up with a neutral, white one.  We're slowly working in bits and pieces of colour here and there, but it's going to be a little bit before the whole space comes together.  But the progress is encouraging.

And I promised bunnies, didn't I?  Well,  I wouldn't want to disappoint!

Georgia and Doyle.

Hello.

Bye-bye!

Danny Featured!

Thanks to awesome Kim at Desire to Inspire, Danny was featured in this week's edition of Monday's Pets on Furniture.

Go check him out!

- a.

Painting Progress

Last I left you guys, I had attempted a journey to finish a list of insane proportions.  Needless to say, I had a minor emotional breakdown and the list didn't get finished.

But, before that happened, some painting did get accomplished.  Most of it is actually finished (apart from the ceilings, an extra coat in the dining room, the front hall closet and one medallion) but I don't have proper photos yet.  I do, however, have some fun progress shots!

So, in regards to paint colours, the last time I was talking about a new colour scheme, due to my older, reliable sofa being replaced but a younger, more attractive piece (sniff).

After much deliberation, it was a completely fluke that helped us decide on a colour scheme. Hubs and I were sitting on the new chaise when we noticed that his shorts (navy with pinstripes), his shirt (a coral coloured t-shirt) and the chaise all looked really nice together! And that was it. My sister came to visit and we went to Benjamin Moore to get our paint!

I'm a huge fan of Aura paints - really low-VOC, virtually no smell and it covers like no paint I've ever used. Two coat guarantee, no matter what colour (even RED).  However, once we got to BM, I saw their "Natura" line. It has no VOCs and doesn't smell.  It doesn't cover quite as well as Aura (because nothing does), but it's available in every possible colour! Now, I'm not sure if you know anything about no-VOC paints, but it's the dark colours that are the most toxic, because the  volatile organic compounds are found in the pigments, themselves.  So, most no-VOC paints I have come across only come in a range of whites and pastels.  BM has managed to create a no-VOC paint that still works with dark colours.   Sometimes, I love technology.

 

Our colours.

 

Our first attempt at some colour;

it's amazing how different colours look in the store, on a swatch.

 

The stairwell colour - no more beige! (Pardon the mess.)

 

Bye bye baby-tealy-blueish-green.

 

Oh Danny, what a schmuck!

 

Ahhh... I love white walls :) BM Marble White & BM Colonial Brick. The brick colour is very surprising. Sometimes it looks a little pink, other times or orange or even a dark red. I love how it changes with the light - it makes the space so dynamic.

Every day we find proof of idiocy/laziness and getting an idea of what this house looked like at one point. This wall paper in the dining room, dark teal walls and trim in hallway, living room and upstairs, seafoam green carpet.... Serious.

 

Again!? Seriously, dog.

I know - not that much for you guys to look at in terms of the painted spaces. There will be more of that to come soon. I promise!

Happy Birthday from Danny!

I guess Danny, our beloved Blue Heeler/Aus. Shephered mix wanted to call me to wish me a happy birthday. 

How nice.
-a.