Last week I celebrated a whole year of being a homeowner! Time has flown by since I purchased my little home last September right before a busy Labour Day weekend. Many people have asked about my place since then, so I thought it would be fun to show what I've been up to! I feel as though you'll never truly feel like your home is 'done' but after a year, the rest of the projects can wait right?
I was lucky to get one of the last units in this Stratford condo and at that time it was nothing but a patch of dirt and some stakes! The building was constructed by Marshall MacPherson who was a pleasure to deal with. It was such an exciting time as I waited impatiently for about 9 months for it to be completed. Being a new build I was able to pick the paint, lights, floors, and backsplash. In this time though I was able to slowly collect everything I needed, and do a little planning for what I wanted it to include. Since I wasn't rushed, being able to save and watch for deals was a huge help budget wise. A friend did joke that I should write a blog on how to furnish a condo on a budget, so I may as well include some of those deals I scored too!
An important goal in my first home was to have an amazing couch and I found that with this huge Dynasty cuddler sectional from M&M furniture. It was one of my only splurges, but well worth it. My friend had a similar couch and M&M was awesome in helping me find one the same.
One of my favorite things in the home are these 4 framed photographs I took of 4 of my favorite places on PEI. I didn't want to capture them as you normally would, but rather something that looked more like art. From left, the ocean, Red Point, PEI National Park, Bear River Beach. The beautiful quality frames were a bogo deal at Michaels.
Foxhound Collection candle, succulents from Kent Building Supplies and white ceramic dish from Bibles for Missions thrift. Checkered pillows from Homesense, green pillows from IKEA, and leather pillows were included with the couch!
Picked up a new shade at Walmart for this lamp from our old house that was destined for the garbage, and with a little clean it looks great! Curtains were $10 a panel from Giant Tiger. Seriously, the best spot for simple, plain curtains.
The cozy and comfortable living room! I love how the builder included an electrical box for the TV in the middle of the wall so you don't have to run the cords down. TV and mount were both on sale at Best Buy and I saved by not buying a smart TV. With an Apple TV, you don't even need it. The chair is Romeo from Structube, and the prints are from Bibu shop in Barcelona. Frames are IKEA.
I searched for a long time for the right rug, and found this interesting design at Home Depot.
I'm obsessed with the wool blankets from MacAusland's Wollen Mill and have two of my own. This natural wool shade perfectly fit in with my living room colors. They are even made right here on PEI, definitely check out their products!
This little foot stool was in my grandparent's living room for years and years, and as kids we would always flip it sideways and play by rolling ourselves around the floor on it. It was always a symbol of going to Nannie's and I'm so lucky to have it now. A full reupholster and new stuffing by Ladner Upholstery in Charlottetown really brought it back to life.
For my two big house plants I saved on expensive pots and bought regular terra cotta pots, painting them matte black.
This very old plumber's tool chest is one of my favorite things. It came from my Step Father who bought it when he was young and had it in my family's living room for years. I luckily inherited it when I moved in! Now it stores all my board games.
A little $15 chair from the 70 Mile Yard Sale makes for some extra seating!
Purchased this old brown plastic, carpet(!), and wood record player from Habitat for Humanity Restore and gave it what seemed like a million coats of white paint to turn it into my TV unit. The top flips up and it actually works - I often use it for it's radio! The airplane from Homesense reminds me of all my travels, and the sweet little handmade mountains from Modern Jane remind me of my time living in Banff. The antique clock was a gift.
These golden brass birds hung on the wall covered by a large plant for years at my parent's home. I never took any pass of them until one day I realized how interesting they were and asked if I could take them to a new home!
This milk glass light fixture is the only one in the home that wasn't purchased from Kent. I found it for $20 at Riverview Antiques outside Summerside and after no luck searching for the right electric piece to fit, Burke Electric found an old dusty one in their basement and told me it was so old that I could just have it for free! I spray painted it white and it looks amazing. Thanks Burke Electric!
I love to cook and bake for myself and for others, so the kitchen is my favorite place in the home.
This style of stool is pretty common to find and they are all the same, but the best price by far (at the time) was from Kent Building Supplies. They were $45 each, bar height.
Cute little $5 clock from Winners matches perfectly!
Value Village knife block, and a refinished cutting board from Riverview Antiques. Had the cutting board sanded down and shined them both up with beeswax and they were good to go.
I love the simple white subway tiles and this cool textured grey floor from Markan Hardwood.
Still waiting on the perfect photo or art piece to hang above my kitchen table.
This dining room table has seen thousands of meals over the years. It was the table at my grandparent's house and now has a new home in Stratford!
Pendant lights were the most costly fixtures in the home but make a really cool statement over the bar counter. Teacup print from the lovely Inkwell Boutique in Halifax.
The paint color throughout the whole place is 'Horizon' from Benjamin Moore.
I really lucked out on some great deals when Target was going out of business in Charlottetown. Shower curtain was one of them. Mirror from Winners.
Prints from Nova Scotia artist Colleen MacIsaac purchased at Inkwell. Opted for a simple and cheap Ikea towel rack on the door instead of wall mounted one.
Cross stitch from Emmett & Ellie's.
My room! MacAusland's wool blanket with Ikea duvet cover. Prints from Lila & Lola on Etsy and poster frames from Michaels. Flooring is 'Barn Oak' laminate from Markan Hardwood.
These night stands were $35 for both at Riverview Antiques, and with a fresh coat of matte white paint and new hardware from Kent, they look brand new. Stand up mirror from Winners - $60. Lamps from Kent - $15 each.
Where I spend the most of my time at home - the office! This $60 Ikea dining room table makes a large workspace that holds everything neatly. I can't work with any clutter around me, so my desk is actually always this clean! I'd love something more on the walls, but I'm waiting for the right thing.
My new Lacie 12TB backup drive.
Painted this old handmade desk and bought some file boxes from Ikea for some extra storage.
This super cool world map is like a scratch ticket, so when you visit a country you scratch off the foil to reveal the hidden color underneath. I had it custom mounted and framed at Michaels to make it last for years as I scratch away! It's a great motivation as I sit and work at my desk, 20 counties scratched and counting :)
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the tour of my little home! Have a favorite thing? Leave me a comment below!
