our new addition // bowen

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the centre of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made"
- Roger Caras

Meet Bowen. He is a Treeing Walker Hound/Coon Hound/Collie. He is pinto in colour and is an absolute sweetheart.  He was at the Georgian Triangle Humane Society since shortly after birth on December 29, 2014. He had six siblings! He was the last one to be adopted and lived there for three months. We applied to adopt him, had a meet and greet and an interview. After a very long 24 hours of waiting and two other applications in on him, we got the call! We are so thankful that we were chosen to adopt this little man. We have the space, the time and the love so why hold that back! 

We are so impressed by the Georgian Triangle Humane Society and their staff. Everyone is fantastic and there are SO many kittens to be adopted! There are a few dogs too who need loving homes so please check out their website --> http://gths.ca

before & after // guest bedroom & music room (updated!)

"All, everything that I understand, I only understand because I love."

 — Leo Tolstoy

The guest bedroom is one of two. It is at the front of the house and features character ceilings, and a shabby antique feel. We chose "Palladian Blue" by Benjamin Moore for the room and used corals and light oranges as contrast colours. We have yet to put some artwork up which will be a surprise to our best friends who stay there at least once a week (stay tuned). The black iron bed suits the room and the colour of the floors tie everything in perfectly. The music room was a light beige colour before which was replaced by "Antique Jade" by Benjamin Moore. It is a fantastic colour that is so calming. My husband always wanted a room of his own to play and write music, so here it is! 

Guest Bedroom

Music Room

first week renovations

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Our first week at Gable Oaks has been busy, fantastic and believe it or not, non stressful. God has blessed us with peace over this place for sure. Our incredible friends have been most helpful and stayed with us the first and second night. It was nice to have people in the house over night to help us get used to it's sounds...or lack there of! It was the ice machine in the fridge that got me the first night.  

So far we have been doing a lot of cleaning and organising, painted the bedroom closet doors white, hall closet door white and bathroom shelves white. They were all primed, off colour and stained before. The guest bedroom is complete as well as the master bedroom. The dining room is painted and in need of a hutch! We didn't expect to be doing any kitchen renovations but it turns out, our ceiling, lighting, wainscoting, crown moulding and trim is all painted white! It was so dark in there before. Along with that, we took down the painted over wallpaper, and have been filling in holes and cracks that have been neglected and covered over. We will be painting in there soon, and the kitchen will be done! Eventually we will upgrade the counter top and back splash but until then, it is very bright, updated and has a country cottage feel to it. The other major task we completed was removing the bright orange carpet in the upstairs hall exposing original hard wood that extends into all bedrooms. The bedroom floors are all refinished, so only the master and hallway remain. 

Our shed, which is original to the home, is over 130 years old and still standing. It used to be used to keep horses, and then bees for many years. It has been called the Bee Barn or Bee Shed by a few of the previous owners, so we will carry that on. It holds so many rustic treasures. There is a lot of barn wood, old windows, barn doors and old tools. 

Photo Credit: Samantha Erin Photography

We also applied for natural gas and got spray foam and concrete quotes. We will be spray foaming in the basement and attic this year as well as pouring concrete in our earth floor basement which will aid in efficiency, dampness, cleanliness and TLC! 

moving into gable oaks

“I give you this to take with you: nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can
begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.” 
- Judith Minty

This past weekend, my husband and I moved into our century home which we named Gable Oaks. Every century home deserves a name, and this one really stuck. There are two gabled ends on the house as well as many white oak trees on the property, hence the name. 

This weekend our family and best friends helped us move to the other side of Oro Medonte. In only three days and with the help of our friends, the dining room was painted a bright pale yellow (from brown), the trim, crown moulding, California lighting and wainscoting in the kitchen was painted white and the wallpaper was taken down. Our master bedroom (now a light gray) and guest bedroom (an antique blue) was painted as well. The carpet in the upstairs hall was taken up, now exposing beautiful original hardwood that we will refinish. 

Photo Credit: Samantha Erin Photography

Photo Credit: Samantha Erin Photography

Photo Credit: Samantha Erin Photography

Photo Credit: Samantha Erin Photography