Almost six months to the day that we moved out to an apartment and renovations began, we finally moved back into our house. It’s hard to believe it’s the same house — probably because so much has changed. We have … Continue reading
Design by the book
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Oak Bay Renovation
(Read to the bottom to check out and offer your opinion on an interior design dilemma that we’re facing.)
Our renovation has been done by the book. If you’ve been following our project since it began 166 days ago, you … Continue reading
Disappointing delay
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Oak Bay Renovation
Tip to contractors: If you need your clients to postpone moving back into the home you have been renovating for them, don’t wait until the last minute before a holiday weekend to let them know.
We had been looking forward … Continue reading
Back at the shop: A revealing look at meticulous cabinet-making
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Oak Bay Renovation
A lot of the work that has gone into our renovation didn’t take place on site. It happened 20 kilometres away in a 3,000-square-foot shop in Langord. It’s where our contractor, Dave Rannala – or to be more precise, journeyman … Continue reading
Case of the missing desk, the sow’s ear and the silk purse
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Oak Bay Renovation
A dizzying traffic jam of workers and materials hurtles around a renovation site. Just when I think I’ve figured out who belongs to which vehicle parked out front, I arrive to find another tradesman’s van that I don’t recognize.
There … Continue reading
Comparison shopping: Finding the same look for less
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Oak Bay Renovation
There’s a popular feature in homes magazines that reproduces a room full of expensive furniture and accessories for a fraction of the cost. You can also see it on television since HGTV Canada recently started running a U.S. show called … Continue reading
Bedevilled by the details
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Oak Bay Renovation
Who would have thought that a small detail like baseboards would require so much deliberation?
Baseboards – also called skirting boards or floor mouldings – are used to cover the uneven edge of flooring material alongside the wall. They are … Continue reading
While-we’re-at-it-itis
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Oak Bay Renovation
My friend Debbie has many more renovations under her belt than I do. After a recent blog post about tackling another issue that wasn’t part of the original reno plan, she sent me a note: “Sounds like you could do … Continue reading
A real winner
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Oak Bay Renovation
We knew our contractor was a winner when we hired him, but now everyone knows it.
Congratulations to Rannala Construction for winning a 2011 Georgie Award. The Canadian Home Builder’s Association of British Columbia’s housing awards, which highlight and celebrate … Continue reading
The Dirty Truth
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Oak Bay Renovation
In a renovation as extensive as ours, it’s a good idea to divide some duties. My husband and I decided we didn’t each have to be involved in the minute details of every decision. Luckily, Brad was willing to take … Continue reading
