DIY

Boob Job

Some people call them “boob lights”. They’re those ceiling fixtures that sort of resemble breasts. You see them everywhere and the most basic design can be had for less than $20. It’s what was on our kitchen ceiling and once I set my sights on it, its days were numbered.

DIY Coasters – Published in The Londoner

Forgotten CDs Play on As Drink Coasters Dec 19/16

CDs, once the brave, new technology for recorded music, were left in the dust by digital technology. And in the dust is where they sit, in piles or on racks. Even though we might not listen to them much anymore, they’re difficult to part with. But a quick walk through any second-hand store will show you how little value they have today.  Now that almost everything is downloadable, merchants can’t seem to get rid of CDs at any price.

Hairy Holder

My blowdryer and hair-straightener bug me. When not in use, they just lay there on my bathroom counter, cords tangling and getting caught in a drawer and a cupboard door. They easily slide off the countertop onto the floor, or worse, one of my tender toes.  …

A Cash-ionary Tale

Everyone in our neighbourhood has been watching a major renovation to a home on our street. It looked like it was going to be beautiful. We may have been more interested than most onlookers because part of the project involved dismantling an ugly, dated sunroom – much like ours. A new porch went up in its place.  …

Throwback Thursday – A Painter’s Lament

Eight years ago we refreshed our kitchen. This house was a disaster when we bought it. That’s how we got a great deal on it! And the kitchen was useless, old, and gross. We replaced just about everything including the countertop. Derek knocked out a wall and his brother, Howie, created extra storage. In other words, we made it work. 

Worthy Clickbait

If you’re on the Internet, you know clickbait. It’s often headlined with something that ends with, “You Won’t Believe What Happened!” or “He Never Imagined THIS!” And then you click through a series of slides and bring revenue to a company – possibly Diply here in London – whose owners get paid by the click. The more you click, the happier the ad placers are.  …

A Slow Roll

The slowest house-flip in the province is now complete. This flip was so slow (how slow was it?) that it was more like a slow-speed roll. But now it’s done and we’re out with our shirts still on our backs.  …

Live-Edge Furniture -A New Lisa’s Piece

I remember the first time I saw a piece of live-edge furniture. It was heavily shellacked and not entirely my taste, but the bits of bark around the edge intrigued me. Even though someone went too heavy on the gloss, in my opinion, it still looked like nothing else I’d ever seen. Someone found the beauty in the rough, unfinished parts that told you about the tabletop’s roots – pun intended.   …