Lifestyle: 5 tips for a Successful Kitchen Reno

A Little Fixer-Upper

A year and half ago, my husband and I took the plunge and purchased our first home. It was a tough process - especially considering the overpriced real estate market in and around Toronto and we were outbid (by a lot) many times before we found our little nest.

When we finally found the one- we just knew. It had more than what we expected of our first home and it made it so clear that all of those offers we had previously lost out on, we lost because our perfect little place was waiting for us somewhere else.

All that being said, there was (and is) still work to be done to bring the house up to our vision. Obviously, I had my sights set on fixing up our kitchen first, but there were other more pressing situations around our home that needed attention right away.

Anyone who has undergone a kitchen renovation knows that they cost a pretty penny and require a lot of moving parts to come together.

Today, I thought I'd share my tips on getting through a kitchen renovation - unscathed, smiling and while staying on your budget in case you're about to take a project on yourself.

Get inspired

Inspiration is key when you're starting any home reno. I've been dreaming and drooling over kitchens since I was about ten years old (I'm the kid that watched HGTV religiously at ten years old). When it came time to tackling my own kitchen, I knew the exact look I was going for. Since my kitchen is also my studio for a lot of my video and photo projects, it had to be functional and photogenic too.
I wanted a kitchen that was light, bright and airy and we definitely lucked out in the natural lighting department.

If, you weren't a decor obsessed kid like I was and you don't know what you're looking for exactly, I'd suggest looking at magazines, Pinterest or Instagram to define your decor style. Once you have a few pictures you like, study them for themes or linking features. Is there a colour, finish, style or element you are drawn to? Slowly picking out design features that you are attracted to, will help you decide what your personal style is.

Make changes in stages

My biggest tip is to make changes in stages. Yes, this means that your renovation project may take longer than you anticipated, but it also means your stress level will be more manageable and you can also be mindful of your budget. I cook a lot of homemade meals so my main goal was to never be out of a working kitchen for more than 24 hours. So far, we have managed to stick with that goal and we are about 80% finished with this project.

Working in stages also allows for you to stop, step back and make sure everything has a cohesive look. When you are too close to a project for any period of time, it's easy to lose sight of the big picture. Step back and see if everything looks the way you imagined and make any changes or tweaks to your plan as needed.

We decided to change what we absolutely could not live with first, as it would make the biggest impact in the space. We started with our cabinets and went from there, making the more noticeable changes first to extend our budget.

Think outside the box

Just because the previous owners had a certain setup, doesn't mean you need to follow suit. Try to think outside the box to maximize your space and impact.

The previous owners of our home used the dining area as an extra living space with a couch and television.

We knew that wouldn't work for us as we wanted to be able to host friends and family for dinner. We added a dining table that extends to allow for larger gatherings. We also felt there was some wasted space around our island and cabinetry. By giving ourselves some time, we were able to figure out some imaginative, affordable solutions to maximize our space, add some design elements and shop around for savings.

Splurge and Save

My personal style is a blend of high and low price-point items which combine to create a beautiful finished look. Think about your dream items and where your dollars will make the most impact.

I knew I wanted to upgrade our existing cabinetry, appliances, countertops and sink. I also wanted to add beautiful lighting.

When we looked a little closer, we realized our existing cabinets were solid oak and in amazing condition. We decided to paint out our cabinets, which allowed us to save thousands of dollars on the project.

We also DIY-ed our cabinet and shelving extension which gave us extra space without breaking the bank.

This allowed us to really upgrade on dream elements like our incredible white with grey veins quartz countertop, marble backsplash and my favourite - our white SILGRANIT sink from BLANCO Canada.


Silgranit is a natural granite composite material and comes in a variety of colours. Going with a white undermount sink, really elevated the look in our kitchen as it blends so perfectly with our counters. Once I heard that the sink was scratch, heat and stain resistant - I was sold. Plus- the sinks are made in Canada and Germany!

I selected the PRECIS 1 3/4  - a sink with two basins - with one of them being 3/4 of the size. I wanted everything in the kitchen to have a purpose, whether it be aesthetic or functional, so I was excited to see that Blanco also has gorgeous faucets. I was looking for that professional chef style so I went with the DIVA Faucet in Stainless Steel.

I also love that I could add accessories which help me to attain that sleek look I was going for, like the capflows which hide any little food bits trapped in the drain and the steel grid which allows me to dry dishes in the sink itself so I don't have to clutter my counters with a drying rack.

There's nothing worse than seeing dirty dishes on the counter or piled in the sink when you're trying to relax. In our open concept home, it was important to select a sink that is deep enough to hide our dishes from sight until we are ready to wash them!

By saving on certain elements of our kitchen design we could use more of our budget on luxury items that increase the value of our home and elevate the look of our living space. So I'd recommend you look for elements you can save on, so you can spend a little more where it counts!

Allot extra time

As with any renovation project, expect to hit some snags. For us - we approached many custom cabinet builders to take on our extension project. Contractors would commit and then cancel since it was such a small job.

We decided to take it on ourselves and DIY it but coming up with a feasible and affordable solution took us a little longer than we expected. Also, when you're looking for a specific stone or tile, you can expect to have to wait for a special order or even make a cross border shopping trip happen. Make sure you allot extra time so that you can slow down and make the best decisions for your reno project. Allow the time to measure twice and cut once - you'll be glad you did.

Hope these tips and tricks help you out when you take on your own home/kitchen reno project. Let me know if you have any tips you would add! I'm sure I'll need them when I tackle the bathrooms. 

A special thank you to BLANCO Canada for sponsoring this blog post. As always - all views and opinions are my own. 

Lifestyle: Holiday Decor and Favorites

Home for the Holidays

If you ask me, there's no place like home for the holidays!

I love being surrounded by all the warm and fuzzy feelings that come this time of year. Family gatherings, special meals and lots of quality time. 

Everyone has some time off and is generally a little bit happier - which is a welcome feeling especially during the freezing Canadian winter. 

I really look forward to this time of year and enjoy decorating my home with wintery and Christmasy touches. There's lots of red in my closet and there are some special foods which make appearances on our dining table as well. 

Today, I thought I'd share some of my absolute favorite things to have around during holiday time. 

There's things that keep you cozy, winter comfort foods, special decor and even a few items that make the holidays a little easier.

Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more home, travel, style and food content!

Lifestyle: A Fresh Cut Tree

Christmas Tree Tradition

Growing up, my family purchased a fresh cut Christmas tree for about 10 years in a row. My dad loved the scent and the look of a fresh pine and I was definitely with him on that one! When I got married, my hubby and I decided to bring that tradition back and purchase a fresh cut tree of our own.

Living in a condo, it also made a lot of sense since we didn't need to store a bulky tree in our tiny locker.

It's our fifth year getting a fresh Christmas tree and I have to say I still love this tradition. We make an outing of it and enjoy selecting the perfect tree to bring into our home.

We look for:

• fullness (it should look good from all sides)
• the shape (we like a slender cone) 
• freshness (it should be nice and green)
• trunk (you want enough space at the bottom to put some presents)

We always get a Fraser Fir and have found that they have a great scent and retain most of the needles until after New Year's.

Here, I'm sharing my other tips when it comes to bringing home a fresh cut tree. If this is a tradition you may want to try in your own family, you'll find all the information you need in this video.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

Lifestyle: Autumn Finds and Faves

Autumn Favorites

Autumn is such a great time of year. I love the colours, the fashion, the style, the chill in the air and the sunshine too.

Sometimes I just feel so lucky to live in a place where I can experience all four seasons! (Other times, I'm just way too cold - ha ha)

Today, I'm sharing my favorite things to use and have around during the fall.

Hope these finds help you create some warm, cozy vibes in your home too!

If you like the things I share, please subscribe to my Youtube channel for more video content in the coming months.

Lifestyle: Autumnal Decor at Home

Decor Update for the Fall

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons.

Actually, scratch that- I love all the seasons! 

Well really, what I like the most is the change of seasons.

It's an instant refresh and the perfect time to reset. I love reorganizing and changing a few things around my home as the seasons change.

Even the smallest tweaks and special touches add a fresh energy and vibe to your space.

I thought before I refresh for the winter months, I should share some of my special touches for Autumn. 

Metallics

This fall, I've really been into metallics. I've been warming up my space with rose gold and copper tones.

I've also been loving playing with different textures. This candle that I got as a gift really adds an element of interest to my otherwise neutral display.

Scents    

When I buy my own fall scents, I look for something with a hint of warmth and spice to celebrate the season. This year I went with a cinnamon scent which will last me well into holiday time. (It looks so new and pretty I haven't even burnt it yet! I need to get on that.)

Natural Elements

Over the years, I've noticed that I'm all about adding natural elements to my home. I do this year round, but in the fall I'm all about the tiny pumpkins. I bought these little white ones at the beginning of the season and they've literally lasted me until now! 

Another element I added this season was some natural greens. A few branches of something in a vase really adds a bit of interest and colour to your space. This time, I experimented with some dried botanicals instead of fresh ones and I really liked the muted tones for fall.

On my dining table, I stayed within my natural toned palette and went with some seasonal squash. 

The good thing is, these veggies keep well at room temperature, so you can always cook your display when you're done using it as a centrepiece. Here, I used a mix of acorn squash, pumpkins and butternut squash.

Porch Decor

I carried the Autumnal theme out on to my porch with these rustic wooden elements and some heirloom pumpkins. I just love the look of these perfectly imperfect little guys, and had fun experimenting with the muted orange and green tones. 

Chrysanthemums are a great outdoor flower for the fall and these ones really livened up my porch during October and most of November. You can have lots of fun with the different varieties and they come in so many pretty colours!

Right now as we head towards the end of November, I'm fighting the urge to buy all the holiday decor! 

The displays are all so lovely but I'm looking at things through a more minimalist lens these days and it's important to me that I truly love each and every thing that comes into my home. If we don't love it - it just doesn't belong. (You can read more about how I've adapted minimalism in my home here)

So that being said, I'm starting my seasonal decorating by removing all my Autumn touches and de-cluttering the space. Removing some extra elements like photos and table decor will really help give me a clean canvas to enjoy my little holiday touches in December and January without feeling overwhelmed by "stuff".

How do you get ready for the change of seasons in your home? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below. 

Lifestyle: Flower Arranging Tips

What to do with "day-after" flowers

Last month, I was lucky enough to watch my friend's little sister tie the knot in a beautiful ceremony and romance was definitely in the air. The bride and groom were so in love and you could tell the entire room was just so happy for them.

I love when you can actually feel the positive vibes at a wedding or event!

It was a beautiful night and I was just happy to attend and be a part of it all! Before the night ended though, my friend insisted I leave with one of the stunning centrepieces, saying she knew I'd put the flowers to good use.

The gorgeous florals were by Sarah at Precious Flowers in my favourite colour palette so I couldn't really say no (Sarah also designed my own wedding centrepieces and bouquets so it was also kind of nostalgic).

I was so excited to take the flowers home and was already thinking about what I would do with them the next day.

Have you ever left a special event with a beautiful centrepiece to take home or had a friend bring you flowers as a hostess gift? You can either leave the arrangement as is and enjoy it on your dining table, or you can rearrange it and spread it all around your home.

I usually opt to rearrange bouquets for a couple of reasons:

1) I'm a crafty person and flower arranging is a relaxing hobby for me.

2) Taking flowers out of the floral sponge they are arranged in and putting them in water will extend their life.

3) Splitting an arrangement means you can enjoy them more and in different rooms.

4) You can arrange the flowers according to different colour palettes which may suit your home's aesthetic more.

In short, for me- all signs point to rearranging.

Flower arranging tips

Thought I'd share some tips on how to rearrange your own flowers into little bunches of prettiness to place around your home.

• gather a few different sized vases and think outside the box- glassware, jars, mugs, teapots and watering cans all make great flower vases

• carefully take apart your existing centrepiece and organize your flowers according to colour and type

• fill the various containers with warm water and some flower food or a teaspoon of sugar (acts as plant food)

• trim the stems and add them to your various jars and containers, designing as you go along (you can arrange by flower type/colour for a monochromatic vibe or mix and match according to what you think looks good)

• Don't forget to use the greens! They add a nice visual break to florals

• Once you are satisfied, have fun placing them stylistically all over your home. You will be surprised how many small arrangements can come out of one large one!

Hope you enjoy these tips and it helps you make the most of your day-after centre pieces and bouquets.

A special thanks to my friends Sheekha and Sheveta for sending me home with these beauties!

Home Decor: a budget-friendly facelift for your home office

Spruce up your work space

When you work from home, you have to do different things to keep yourself motivated. To be honest, I've never been one to use a "home office." Growing up, I did my homework in the kitchen or dining room and I often left the table to see (ahem, taste) what my mom was simmering on the stove.

When I put a desk in my bedroom, it was really used to store random things and as a place to leave my clothes when I didn't feel like putting them away. Is anyone else guilty of that?

When I moved into a condo, there was a den but with no windows in there, it quickly became a place to store our books and paperwork. Over the three years I lived there, I really only used it as a work space once. 

Now that I've moved into a new home, there's an extra bedroom to play around with. For now, it's serving as a place to work out and get some work done too. The table that served as a condo sized dining table has now become my desk and I figure, before I start using it as an extension to my closet, I better get it all set up!

A Home Office

If you ask me,  a home office is less about the furniture and more about functionality. How does the space make you feel and can you get work done there?

Before you decide which space to use, you may want to consider a few things:

• lighting
• temperature
• distractions

I know for instance, that the basement wouldn't work for me as the temperature and lighting would not entice me to spend time there. Earlier, I had been working in my family room but I find sitting at a desk to be much more effective. Also, it can't hurt to distance yourself from the television, fridge and other distractions!

Find a place that works for you and that makes you want to buckle down and get to work.

Set up

As a content creator, it's so important to have a work space that inspires you so you can make the magic happen. 

I placed my desk near a window so I'd get lots of natural light and a little bit of greenery in my space from the trees outside. 

If you don't have a window, make sure the light in the room is nice and bright. Add plants or some fresh flowers to bring nature in to the space.

I added a small decorative bulletin board where I can pin inspiring images or post-its and reminders. 

It was also important to me to have something on my desk that inspired me to stay focused. I decided a piece of artwork with a meaningful quote would be perfect. I plan to switch the art out when I feel my office needs a little refreshing.

I also added a candle that I can light when I need a little mood booster and a pretty mug from my kitchen is serving as a container for supplies. You can also use a glass jar for a little more character.

Stay on Budget

For this project, I reworked a few things I had around the house and gave them new purpose in my office. The only purchase I made was a desk calendar, as I felt this was important to help me plan my content and also to ensure I stay on top of any deadlines. 

I decided on a calendar with a natural and gold theme so that it will match with whatever pop of colour I decide to add to my space the next time I want to shake things up. 

With a little creativity, you can easily freshen up your space without having to spend much at all. The total cost of refreshing my office space was $30 for the calendar and artwork. 

You definitely don't have to go out and buy a fancy new desk to create a work space. Use a table you already have and set it up for success. Instead of art, use a framed photo of your family to bring some warmth to your desk, or even play around with a pretty notebook, journal or inspiring book cover. 

Really, your imagination is your only limit. 

Bonus - I find that my laptop has also found a home here and is no longer hanging out in my family room. 

There's nothing like a little de-cluttering, organizing and rearranging to make your home feel refreshed. 

I hope this post inspires you to find a quiet, cozy corner of your home in which to create a space you can escape to when you need to read or get some work done. There's really nothing like having a little space to call your own.

Happy decorating!

Lifestyle: January Favorites

These are a few of my favorite things

Today I'm sharing my favorite/favourite (I'm Canadian!) things to make the winter months a little warmer and cozier! I'm also sharing some natural products as well as some ways to keep yourself feeling calm and zen.

If you ask me, all of these favourites are mood enhancers too - but I think its because I love being cozy and try to bring the calm vibes in my home.

Check out my recommendations in this video.

Some of my favourites include:

Clear Glass Cups from Ikea http://bit.ly/2fDwpta

Eucalyptus leaves, your local florist 

Saje Diffuser/Nebulizer http://bit.ly/2k67bXg

Persimmons http://bit.ly/2kgJw8Z

Organic Tazo Chai teabags http://bit.ly/2k63AIo

Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Soap http://bit.ly/1rcTEP6

Organic Virgin Coconut Oil - any grocery store

Ginger Kombucha Tea- Whole Foods, Fortinos, Loblaws (Health Food section)

Let's Connect

What are your current favorite things? Would love to hear about it in the comments below! Or you can find me on Instagram @angeliesood and share with me there. Would love to hear what your go-to products are right now.