Today we took possession of our new (to us) rancher in Yarrow. It will still be about 6 weeks before we move in. The name of our street is Elizabeth Avenue (my sister in Yarrow is Elizabeth). I love it! Don’t you agree that the name of the street you live on is important?
Now I just need to get over that my official address will be Chilliwack, BC. Don’t worry, I will still be in Vancouver at least two days a week. It’s just that I don’t need to commute there daily!
Check out the ‘trailer parking’ in the front yard – yuk! There are railway tiles everywhere, every single plant in the garden is surrounded with them! They are free to a good home!
When we were at the house the second time for the inspection I casually mentioned that I was taking out the uppers so the owners happily took them to their new place and good riddance, looks better already! I’m about to decide exactly what to do with the whole thing next, I’ll keep you updated!
William and Markus came by with their parents and they loved running around in circles through the living room and kitchen! My friend Tami lent me this dancing rabbit from Easter that sang “I’m walking on Sunshine” and we played it many times to clear the energy!
What do you do to clear the energy and make a house yours beside paint and other renovations?
I had to pick colours for the whole house as Pure Painters is arriving Wednesday already to start painting the ceilings. The first coat will go up in most of the rooms and then the baseboards and flooring will all come out except in the main bath and master. Those I’ll renovate later, not before we move in.
What do you think of our stained glass windows? In the right house I can get it but here it’s just wrong.
Cloverdale Paint has a new Artisan line of paint colours. 288 beautiful, rich, complex shades that they spent 3 years developing. Colours that their paint stores spent most of their time matching are now available in this best-of-the-best colour palette. So when they agreed to sponsor the paint for my new house, I was thrilled! Can’t wait to try their new colours!
Every other room was easy but the 1991 tile had to be coordinated with the best colour. If you can’t choose a colour that flows with the rest of the house, dated bathrooms are the place to ignore flow. I would much rather choose a colour that makes dated tile and cabinets look as best as they possibly can than paint it white so that you don’t have an odd colour in the house. It’s only paint anyway,
William was helping me out, it was a colour party! He kept running around shrieking, ‘We have to pick the paint colours fast, the painters are coming tomorrow!!’.
My nephew is my favourite colour assistant ever!
He was taking his job pretty seriously!
In the end we chose CA184 Glacier. A pretty turquoise that actually does happen to flow with the loveseat and chair that will be in the master bedroom. You can see that it picks up the turquoise in the floor tile.
And for now, until they come out, this colour (on the right) also works with the stained glass windows.
Photos by Maria Killam
Our contractor arrives Wednesday to start the demolition of the shed in the back that will be turned into my design studio, can’t wait!
Related posts:
Do you Understand Neutrals? Take the Bathroom Test
The Best way to Create Flow Using Colour
Would you like to look at an image and know which category of undertones it belongs? Download my eBook, How to Choose Paint Colours: It’s All in the Undertones.
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.
To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!
If you would like to learn to how choose the right colours for your home or for your clients, become a True Colour Expert.
Maria, thanks for sharing your new lovely home. The kitchen already looks so much better without the uppers! Other than paint/renovate I of course do a huge deep cleaning of a new place. And I like to plant something in the yard even if I can’t do a completely new landscaping. It helps remember when you moved in as you see it grow over the years. Best wishes! J
Before I moved into my new house, I lit 3 candles with a lemon, and then I banged a pot really loudly with a wooden spoon around every room, especially in all the corners. I also played some of my favourite music when I did this. It might be weird, but the noise vibrations loosen the old energy from the previous owners. I did this after a thorough clean. After the candles (little votives) were finished, I just threw them away with the lemon. It was amazing how the house felt after that! I also burned some Nitiraj Masala Incense afterwards for clearing and to prepare the space for positive and calm vibes.
Good luck in your new home!
Well it certainly needs help – inside and out. What will be interesting to your followers is how you turn a dated, styleless house into a lovley home.
Having a ranch house built, as we speak, so it will be fun to see what kinds of things you do in yours.
Congratulations again on your exciting new venture. Wishing you much happiness. Your creative imagination will surely turn this house into a place to call home to live fully and dream daily in….. Cheers! xo
I tore out my upper cabinets 35years ago. Never regretted it. Uppers become a “waste” of space for short people. You will love the open space it gives. Of course, I do have a pantry. Enjoy being a first time homeowner too!
love the house! I have the same “light box” in my kitchen and I hate it. Hubby won’t change it out cause he thinks the “stylish” fixtures don’t give enough light…and he’s too cheap to put in pot lights….bummer..I’m stuck in the 80’s
Maria – I can just feel how excited you are about your new HOME. I know you decorate some pretty over the top mansions in Texas – but your new place has more charm and sense of family love than those ridiculously huge places. I agree it needs serious updating but I also get the sense that the house has always been a happy place for the owners.
Karen
so exciting. I LOVE moving into a new house. You are going to have so much fun making it your own! And now it has lots of good ju ju thanks to the Dancing Rabbit and the happy boys!
Congratulations!!! I’m bursting here in Ontario anticipating what you will do with this blank canvas. I love that you took out those upper cabinets – it brings the kitchen up to date already. Have fun!!!!
Your loyalty to Benjamin Moore might be fading? I have been doing business with BM for 30 years, and am disappointed they didn’t offer to furnish the paint, but on the other hand, I am not surprised. Am so happy that you are now a first time homeowner, one more thing off your wish list. Congratulations and have fun with it. P.S. Will be fun watching it take on your personality.
What a lovely house that you will make INTO A HOME! I’m sure you once you get your ‘bossy color on’ it will be beautiful. Turquoise, your wonderful yellow, and pink ~ lots of clean, happy colors. I’m looking forward to seeing it come to life. May your new home be filled with laughter and love and the foundation for many happy memories!
Maria, I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation! You are so wonderful at creating happy places and it will be so exciting to see the steps you go through to complete your new Happy Home. You inspire.
I’m SOOO excited for you Maria!!! Even a welcoming party with music and dancing no less :o)….
Here’s a (maybe crazy) idea for that 1/2 soffit thing in the master bath on the far wall: if you have someone complete that all the wall across and put a kind of skirting, below you could hide some little (rope?) lighting to cast a glow on that wall or artwork at night.
OK, maybe that’s too tacky for you :). Just that thing keeps bothering me. Course I don’t live there.
May God bless all your plans and work and YOU in the new place. YAY!
Oh yes when that bathroom gets renovated I will be doing something about that corner, it totally bugs me!
Thanks for your comment Paula!
x
Maria
I too am disappointed that you are not using Benjamin Moore colors. I can relate to them as I use them every day in my business.
Yay! Your home is already filled with love and happiness! I just heard about Cloverdale paints and how great they were from Heidi. Are they only in Canada? Your kitchen looks so bright and sunny. I’m with you on the stained glass windows- might look nice somewhere but not in your new chic bathroom! Lots of luck- it is so great to be able to work on your own home. So happy for you Maria!! xo
Clear the air of bad vibes with sage Maria! I think the smoke from the dried sage is supposed to get rid of any negative energy… 🙂 I wouldn’t let you nephews do it though–they may burn the house down… 🙂
Many congratulations on your new house!
Congratulations on your new home, Maria. I am excited for you and can’t wait to see all the transformations that will happen over time. Love that you took the upper cabinets out in the kitchen – a huge improvement already! And what an adorable colour assistant you have to help you!! I will have to check out Cloverdale paint. All the best in your new home.
Your nephews have already brought a good energy in to your new home with their laughter and enthusiasm! They are thrilled to have you close by!! Nothing like two little guys running around. I’m visiting with my two Grandboys (2+4) now. Such joy! After you live with those bath windows for a while you’ll know exactly how you feel. I think with paint on the walls and towels hung, they’ll look great!! Much Luck Maria!! xo
Hi Maria,
I’ve moved a lot, and have found the best way to energetically clear a new house is to use Karen Kingston’s method of space clearing. It’s involved, but it works!! Her book is called “Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui.” I’ll send you a message with a link…
And congratulations!! Love all the photos, and can’t wait to see what your magic does to everything! 🙂
Jill
Yeah! I have someone on my side that removes upper cabinets too! It took a bit of convincing for my husband to agree. It’s the first thing people notice when they come in my kitchen. Most comment that they wish they’d do that too. I rehung the cabinets in the laundry room to store all the stuff I use seasonally. So now I laughingly refer to that room as “the butler’s pantry”!
Besides, it is good feng shui to remove heavy obstacles over your head!
Keep going Maria. You are doing great! Just a hint, while you are hacking and bashing, think about losing the angled arches. Square them off so putting moulding around them will be easier. And again, I am soooooooo happy for you. Do you think Elizabeth street is an accident or serendipidy?
Les
Hi Les,
Those corners are the first things that are coming out, they are on 3 entrys!
OMG I just realized it totally is serendipity! 2 special Elizabeth’s including your wife!
x
maria
Congratulations on your new home! “Happiness is your home”.
Aren’t you glad that so much needs changing that way you can put your thumbprint on everything and not worry about tearing out something that was recently installed and expensive.
I agree about planting flowers. It’s Spring, and every time you drive up to the house, you”ll think “this is mine”. It’ll will soothe, prior to entering a possible construction zone.
Looking forward to all those pictures as the projects continue. Have fun!!
Am looking forward to seeing your “magic” bring this house to your home!
I am confused on why you would want to paint now instead of moving in and working with your existing furniture. Could you fill me in on your thinking? Many thanks, and best of luck in your new home!
HI Wendy,
I do have existing furniture so I am choosing colours based on that. The family room will need new furniture so I will re-paint that room when I choose what goes in there but in the meantime it will have a fresh coat of neutral paint!
Great question and I will be posting more about my thought process as we go along! Maria
One thing I did when I moved into this condo was to take one of my favorite things, in this case, a beautiful and elegant wooden cat, and place it on the bar/counter entry from the foyer into the kitchen so it welcomes me as I walk in the door. Everything else was a total mess but at least that act allowed me to claim my space. Second thing was to hang one of my favorite paintings even if where I hung it wasn’t where it would stay finally. Small things but they anchored me and, even though I’m not going to stay here past the first of 2013, at least I’m on the way to making this temporary spot as happy and pleasant as I can until then. Congratulations! The house is so inviting from the outside – it already says “I’m Maria’s” – and it going to be a joy to watch it’s transformation.
Cheers Maria on your new home-your blank slate will be a thrill to watch unfold over the next months/years.
On the bathroom window, I have had good luck with clear glass paint from Michaels and laying over an undesirable colour on glass. I can’t tell whether your window is an interior overlay or embedded between layers of glass. If is is an overlay then recolouring is possible. Anyway, I do like the French design of it. Best wishes!
Maria, I am enjoying this so much! And having grown up in Chwk , I remember fondly trips to Yarrow.
I want to ask you about the stain glass windows.
Is it the colours you don’t like or do you just not care for stain glass generally.
The reason I ask is that I had stained glass pendant lights and I hated the accent color so I painted that part over in grey/black glass paint and it worked well. Made all the difference.
Enjoy your new home! Love reading about it!
Jude Hannah
You know what, I think because the bathroom is so dated I’m automatically hating the stained glass but maybe it’s not so bad. We have them in the sidelights as well in the front entry and that’s where I really hate them but maybe they will stay here in the end. . . I am painting the bathroom turquoise which does work with my decor and those windows!
Maria
I’m so excited for you, Maria!
-Can’t wait to see all of the exciting work to come!
Love the color you chose for the bathroom. What BM color is similar? Did you say the tiles here are dated? OH NO! We just had similar ones installed inn out bath!!!! I love them – I THOUGHT I did…… Ours don’t have the turquoise i them. Can’t wait to see how wonderful you make your new home.!!!! Congratulations!!!! XOXOXO
YES! KEEP THOSE WINDOWS IN THE BATH! You will make that room MAGIC! XOXOXO
Maria – What a wonderful blank canvas for you to do your magic. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Yes, I agree with your gut feeling about the stained glass windows in the bathroom. They are not right for the house. Saffronia
The first thing I did in my new home was to light a candle – orange spice. How fun is this! Can’t wait to see the transformation. Looks like the kids like it to!
It looks like a lovely house, so full of potential. You will make it a warm and inviting home no doubt. As Cathy said above, smudge the place with sage. As you go through each room consciously cleanse the corners, high and low, with the smoke. Opening windows is another way to cleanse the energy in a space. Enjoy your new home.
I live on Elizabeth Street, although very far away from BC… I purchased my home without even walking into it, when I saw it, I just knew that I would live there! 😉
Looking forward to all the magic you’re going to create in your home!
congrats! I love your bathroom wall colour; it will be really relaxing and calm. And I agree with you re the street name, it’s wonderful! We once lived somewhere where our address was a grid reference (like battleships!). I was so glad to get back to having a street name on our next move!
All the best in your first owned home. Congratulations. Several times, I’ve celebrated a new home with partner or spouse, with champagne, while we sat on lawn chairs. What I don’t get is why you dislike the stained glass in the bathroom. Explain?? The next 6 weeks will fly by. All the best.
Congratulations on your new home, Maria. I can’t wait to read about all of the renovations you are planning.
When we moved into our home, we burned sage sticks and said a positive affirmation in every room to clear out the old energy from the previous owners and infuse it with new, positive energy.
Maria,
So excited for you!! I can’t wait to see the transformation from featureless box to an open, welcoming and modern space.
Hello Maria,
I like the bones of this house,nice big windows,the thing about the house that puzzles me is the small doorway in the kitchen,was the arch always that small or altered with a remodel?It just looks all wrong to me.The house is other wise a nice one,that you will turn into a real beauty,
Brenda
I thought I was the only one who thinks your street name matters! My first home was on Teakwood Ln, my current home on Walnut Grove Ln, and my cabin is on Acorn Ridge Ln! Is it a coincidence, or serendipity, that all my addresses have a tree theme to them?!
Maria
CONGRATS!! May God bless your home with happiness and health! How wonderful that Cloverdale Paints will sponsor your paint. I am interested to hear more about them. This will be exciting.. sort of like the way Sarah and Tommy redo a home but more fun cos we will get to be there via your blog 🙂
I think your address is wonderful.. my address is a street number… BORING!
blessings to you and your new adventure!
Congratulations, Maria! Looks like you have a home with great bones that you can make your own. The before and after photos will be fabulous.
My crystal ball is telling me, the present k/cabinets have paint in their futue. (Winks)
Wishing you many wonderful years in your new home. Sincerely -Brenda-
Oops, that shud have read ‘future’.
This is so exciting, Maria. I’m really happy for you… and you never stop amazing me with your very smart business savvy. Good for you on the Cloverdale Paint sponsorship! I’m enjoying following along, and can’t wait to see what you do – I know it’ll be amazing. And I think clearing the old energy has already begun with the cabinet uppers coming down. What a difference that has made already!
I love the paint color Cloverdale 184 you chose in the bathroom! I live in the US and was wondering if there is a Sherwin Williams paint or Ben a Moore that is comparable…thx!
Diane