1. Basket Weave 

This basket weave-style fence is being allowed to naturally weather to a greyish hue. See the photo below for a basket weave that has been stained.  One  other design difference between the two is the use of a flat 2" x 4" to finish the fence sections to an equal height, whereas the lower photo has the fence posts left taller and then capped. It's a personal preference. I would, however, always recommend 6" posts, which you see in the photo above. We are getting some crazy wind storms in the GTA and stronger posts are a good idea. 

One potential issue with the basket weave is the gaps that occur if a board is warped.  Have a look at the right side, a third of the way up and you'll see what I mean.   I'm curious if that one board could be replaced with a straighter plank to eliminate that gap. 

When I walked by this yard I could see right inside, so if privacy is a consideration you  should opt for a different fence style. 

2. Board on Board  

Board on board is less expensive to construct because you're only finishing one side of the fence. However, all lumber shrinks as it dries and those spaces between the boards can and will become more pronounced over time, reducing your privacy. 

If you opt for this style, have the boards placed right against each other during construction so you  will end up with the smallest possible gap  a few months later.  

As you can see here, horizontal fences tend to accentuate any flaws in lumber. You want to have good communication and clear instructions with your fence builder about your expectations. Do an informal inspection every section and work out any problems before the job is completed.

This style  is not finished the same on both sides; there is a "good side" and a "bad side". This is the "bad" side, because it is less finished with the vertical 2" x 2" support piece in the middle.  

3.  Board on Board - non pressure treated

The fence at one of my favourite homes in the neighbourhood (a David Smalls design) is also board on board, but not pressure treated. I'm assuming cedar, since that is the next most common fence lumber but perhaps it's something else. The takeaway here is  nice, even spacing with good straight boards and a natural stain to finish. Lovely. 

Side note: I believe that drilled hole at the bottom is for drainage, which is a crucial conversation to have with your landscaper and fence builder if your yard has a lot of hardscaping. Without positive drainage you'll have a pond and a skating rink for some of the year. 

4. Horizontal good neighbour

For the ultimate in privacy, you can't beat the "good neighbour" style, so-called because it looks identical from both sides. It is the most expensive to construct because of increased lumber and labour. It is also more forgiving of less-than-perfect boards. But your fence builder does need a carpenter's eye to space things correctly. 

One downside to this style is a distinct lack of airflow. It will contribute to a warmer micro climate in your yard, which may or may not be an issue depending on your orientation and shade coverage. 

Illustrating guideline #1, it's important to measure at least 6" on each side of the sofa. You need more if you have a side table.  The entire table should fit on the rug or be entirely off the rug.  

#2 . When your sofa is against a wall the rug should be about halfway back. 

#3 in action. A rug large enough to accommodate all the furniture looks right in an open plan room. 

Breaking the rules...or solving problems 

I've fallen for a vintage rug once or twice, and they tend to be odd sizes or smaller sizes . But when you like something you find a way to make it work. If you're stuck with a too-small or non-traditional sized antique rug - and you love it - there  are options. If you don't love it, don't invest any more of your time, money or emotional capital into keeping it. Don't succumb to the sunk cost fallacy.  Find a good place to donate it and get yourself the rug of your dreams. 

Solution #1 Layer 
Layering a too-small rug that you love with a right-sized rug is a great solution  I've found they shift around a bit, especially with kids in the house, so lay an anti-slip mat or use carpet tape if that won't damage either rug. 

Solution #2 Mix two small rugs
I love how interesting and unexpected this looks. It's a great move if you have two 5' x 7' rugs. 
​

Solution #3 repurpose
This will only work with lighter weight rugs like kilims and flat weaves. Chairs, benches, ottomans and poofs  can be readily upholstered using an old beloved rug.  If you can't bear to have it cut up, consider a smaller rug as a wall hanging. They can be used in place of a headboard in a casual, boho-style bedroom. 

Solution #4 Relocate it
If you love the rug find a new room for it. - but make sure it's the right size for the job! 

Nothing looked good. The too small, too high windows, the ornate wrought iron railing, the white eavestroughs and landscaping that had seen better days. I even thought the brick colour was weird.  But the neighbours were delightful, the schools great and we could walk to parks and the library and pokey Cloverdale mall where time stood still but had a coffee shop and a bookstore. We were happy but a tad defensive about our choice. Or at least I was. I've always put my insecurities right out there. 

But look! Here's our fella now! He's the same but BETTER. So much better. 

I can't emphasize how much I hated that curving walkway from the driveway. Ugh, that curve. That flagstone, all lumpy and cracked. Worst of all was not having a connection to the house from the sidewalk. Do you know how many trick-or-treaters just walked on by because they didn't want to go up the drive and across? 

But now there is a proper connection between sidewalk and house. A right angled 4' wide walkway that is level and properly sloped for drainage. It's the best. Those boxwoods? They keep my kids from cutting across the grass and wearing it out. Everyone goes up the path now!

Raising the planting bed was a chance to add architectural interest and contrast with '60s-inspired pavers in soft black. The planter is just the right height for sitting and has become a gathering place in the evening. It's wonderful. I'm not a gardener so I chose low maintenance, hardy grasses and a few forgiving perennials. I'm excited to watch it fill in. So happy with our house now. I've even come around the brick colour. 

And let's talk about these walnut countertops for a moment, shall we? Remember that old curving granite top? It was cold to the touch and made a clattering echo-y noise when you placed a glass or plate on it. Oh, and it had a big seam running down the middle because no one can get a 10' slab in a 7' elevator so it had to be installed in two pieces and joined on site. Yuck. Wood is warm and soft, both visually and to the touch. It has great acoustic absorption so it's much quieter. And it was delivered in one great slab so no seams or joins to deal with. Price wise it was on par with quartz, so definitely not a budget option but I think it was a worthy place to splurge. Not replacing the major appliances gave some savings, so let's think of it that way :) 

​

From here we created a wish list:

* More open and bright overall
* More functional space with useful, purposeful storage
* Stylish with a vintage loft feeling

And we discussed the constraints that ultimately determined what was feasible:

* floors are not changing so the island has to keep its original footprint
* appliances are new and will not be replaced at this point (except the microwave)
* plumbing lines can't be moved
* 7' ceiling due to HVAC bulkhead won't allow pendant lights over island
* limited ability to change electrical due condo regulations and expense
* building elevator cannot accommodate a 10-foot stone countertop in one piece, so quartz, marble etc., are not options unless we have a seam (which we do not want)
* client is not moving out during the renovation so the project must be done with in-stock items to minimize downtime
* budget - this is not the client's forever home and the condo may be put on the market

This was the layout that eventually ticked all the boxes: 

I wanted to move the cooking function into the island with a wall oven/cooktop combination to free up some counter space on the back wall, but we couldn't make it work without scaling up the budget for new floors, thousands in electrical and new appliances. It was one of those tough decisions, but I knew the kitchen would be much better either way, so we agreed to keep the existing stove in its current spot and focus on other, more attainable improvements.

Removing those upper cabinets in favour of open shelving completely changed the look of the kitchen. It went from dark and low to airy and open with a glossy tile backsplash. Adding a gable beside the fridge and a fridge-depth upper cabinet puts the refrigerator into better proportion. 

Swapping the 36" double sink for a 24" model means more counterspace and gave us room for an extra base cabinet beside the sink - perfect for cutlery and cooking utensils that were previously stored in the island. 

The island, as I mentioned, is ten-feet long! It's huge but had zero function. Because the laminate floor did not run below the island, we had to keep the existing footprint. But we made it so much more functional by adding back-to-back shelves on the living room side. This gives and extra 60" of cabinet space - and who doesn't need more storage?

Shrinking the seating area down makes it feel more cozy and less monolithic than it did before. 

If there is any question about the impact tile can have, consider these two pre-and-post-backsplash images: 

The final touches are happening this week - please come back for a look at the full reveal!

I have plans, oh yes, I have plans. Dreaming is the best part and I'm in no hurry, on no deadline. I'd like to paint the cedar siding, add some (deer-proof!) planting around the deck to disguise the deck footings, But nothing more than that. I am thinking about wool blankets and lanterns and jigsaw puzzles,  a vintage steel Coleman cooler filled with drinks on the deck in summer and nights around a fire. Here's a peek at the mudroom:

Love. 

This is my first effort at creating a rendered room design. Normally I present design concepts as individual pieces kind of collaged together in Photoshop, but I wanted to offer next-level visualizing service for those who prefer a little more help in seeing how their room will look. 

This room took probably 12 hours of hands-on computer time. Every image has to be sourced, cleaned up, manipulated into perspective (some more successfully than others) before shadows and lighting are added. And those reflections in the mirror and windows! All done by moi.

12 hours per room is not a sustainable business practice, so clearly I have to get much faster and sure-footed before I can actually offer it to clients. But I hope to get there by the new year!