While ceramic and stone tiles are durable, easy to maintain and hygenic if the surface you are installing them on is wonky it could make the installation of the tile to be compromised. Adding a Ditra sub-layer uncouples the floor from the tile (preventing cracking), waterproofs the floor, helps with load-distribution, and vapor management. Ditra is specifically designed to allow the installation of ceramic and stone tile over any even and load-bearing substrate.



I hope you’ve found these tips helpful. Next week we will be installing our new washer and dryer and counter top.


As always be sure to check out the Official Participants in the One Room Challenge and the other Guest Participants Week 2 progress.


Be sure to follow me on Instagram for details on my progress and other fun stuff.

 I had a bit of material left over from when I recovered my dining chairs so I decided to make a few matching napkins for the table. I love these stripes and I'm a sucker for coordination.
 


The hanging centerpiece is a branch from the oak tree in my backyard. I suspended it to the ceiling with fishing line and packing tape (if you try this be sure to test the ceiling first, sometimes the tape can rip the paint off eek).

Are you excited for another One Room Challenge? Me too. We just moved into new house (again) and we are slowly renovating it (again). We finally have a functional kitchen (reveal coming soon) so I thought I'd tackle one of the other rooms as part of The One Room Challenge fall 2019. The #ORC gives me the motivation I need to accomplish a room makeover goal in a tight timeline (six weeks to be exact).


The Room: The Laundry Room
This 1990's laundry room needs work. I know I know it has its charm but I need something a bit calmer and more "me". It's right off our family room so guests can see. I want it to have a bit of pop  but still neutral enough to blend in with the rest of the house.



One of the coolest things about this space is the laundry chute. It actually sold me on the house (before I realized the top of the shoot was in my youngest bedroom and now I'm terrified he'll try to go down lol).


The Plan:
Here's a moodboard of the plan. I've always wanted a checkerboard floor and I think the laundry room is the perfect spot!

What do you think of the plan? I'm super excited and can't wait to get started.

Be sure to check out the official designers participating in the One Room Challenge and the guest participants at Calling it Home. 

Also, follow me on Instagram to stay up to date on my progress and fun quips.

Thank you to my brand sponsors The Home Depot,  Schlage Canada and Spoonflower.


Special thanks to the event sponsor Better Homes and Gardens and to Linda of Calling It Home for creating this event.

Traditionally knobs are used for cabinet doors and pulls are used on cabinet drawers however these days anything goes. You will often see people using knobs for drawers for consistency or based on the size of the drawers. Of course we often see pulls being used on cabinet doors as well so it really is a personal preference.


My personal preference is long horizontal pulls running the length of the base cabinets (whether they're drawers or doors).  I have been known to install pulls horizontal on base cabinet doors just to maintain that line. In my new kitchen we went the traditional route with knobs on the doors and pulls on the drawers and I think it looks great.


There are pros and cons to each option: Knobs tend to be cheaper and easier to install but they can often get caught on things like clothing etc.  Pulls can have a big impact but are often more challenging to install and can be a bit awkward as a door pull.

There are a few things I love about adding wall art to a space, number one I love how it adds instant colour without painting the wall. I also love that it can convey a feeling and tone for the room. Lastly, probably my favourite thing, I love that I have the option to change out the print down the road (hello mini makeover).  The art in the photo below is a piece called "circles on canvas" from Décors Véronneau a Canadian retailer of various wall art and artificial plants.  I like this piece because it has curves, which adds a sense of calm and happiness to a space plus the colour repeats from my kitchen adding to the harmony in my home overall. These are just a few consideration I make when selecting wall art and below you will find a few more of my tips on how to choose the perfect wall art for your space.


The first thing I would suggested when selecting the perfect wall art for a space is to trust your gut.  If you like something, you will always like it. Chances are you will be looking at this art work for a long time so make sure it's something that you like and that "sparks joy” (yes I’m jumping on the band wagon).



The next suggestion I have for choosing the perfect wall art is to look around your space and try to pull inspiration from the hints of colour existing in your space. For example, I decided on blue because my kitchen just off this space has navy blue cabinets and I loved the repetition. Décors Véronneau has a wide selection of wall art to choose from so you’ll be sure to find something to suit your needs. They have everything from palm leaves, to geometric abstracts, to chevron prints. Plus many of them have free delivery!



Also, if you're thinking about adding new accessories to your space keep your wall art in mind. For example, I decided to add these mint green cascading succulents to my space which pull directly from the print (and are also available at Décors Véronneau). I tried the arrangement on the table but I preferred it on the shelf in the end.

 

Our kitchen reveal is almost ready but to be honest I'm still contemplating whether or not to paint this wall a dramatic blue (like the cabinets). In the meantime, I'm super excited to share a sneak peak of the gorgeous lighting we've installed. As part of the Modern Handmade Home series we've partnered with Mitzi Lighting to share some fun lighting transformations and my top 5 wall sconces for the kitchen. The sconces in my kitchen are Winnie from Mitzi Lighting. I love the lighting at Mitzi, it's modern with a traditional twist and they're always updating their selection. When I decided to opt out of upper cabinets in my kitchen I knew I needed some fun lighting to add interest and make the space pop. These lights have really hit that mark. I feel like they give my kitchen an old world bistro feel, if that's a thing lol. Scroll below for my Top 5 Wall Sconces for the Kitchen.





Top 5 Wall Sconces for the Kitchen:
1. Julia from Mitzi Lighting
2. Winnie from Mitzi Lighting
3. Alyssa from Mitzi Lighting
4. Everley from Corbett Lighting
5. Garden City from Hudson Valley Lighting
Be sure to check out the other bloggers in the #modernhandmadehome series to see how they've changed their spaces with Mitzi Lighting: Thalita from The Learner Observer, Lindi from Love, Create, Celebrate and Colleen from Lemon Thistle.

I picked up some balloons, checkered table clothes and mustache straws to take the Pizza party them to the next level because well it's me.




They started the party by handing out paper chef hats for the kids to write their names on and decorate. Then they gave each child a ball of dough to kneed and flatten. We chopped up some cheese, meat and veggies and put the pizzas in the oven. 



I couldn't help myself so I made some additional pizza party favours complete with pop bottle bubbles, pizza stocks and felt mustaches. 


I loved that they took care of all the prep and clean up and I especially loved how happy it made my son. He and his friends had a blast. There's nothing I love more than seeing the smile on my son's face and hearing his hearty laugh. His birthday is a wonderful reminder of the day he made me a mom - I love you little man.