16 Years ago, newly engaged, my now hubby and I bought our very first home together. We chose an open concept, modern interior, new build.  We selected every detail in that house and finished everything from the basement to the exterior landscape.  I learned to sew and made all the window treatments, installed backsplash for the first time with my hubby, installed patio slabs, and even was handy with a hammer and nails as we framed the basement together.  I decorated my little heart out and enjoyed home ownership and married life sans children.

Fast forward 3 years, we had two school age children and didn't love our neighbourhood that we had previously enjoyed.  I nicknamed it "a brick jungle".  It wasn't where a young, active family like ourselves could thrive.  We made a choice to leave our beautiful {still new} home for a 40 year old, fixer upper that was in the neighbourhood that we always envisioned raising our kids in. So the payoff for our beautiful neighbourhood = a not so beautiful home.  But we had VISION!

We had two weeks between closing to strip the house, paint it, refinish floors and liberate all the windows, by literally tearing down walls and tossing carpeting and heavy window treatments.  Fast forward 7 more years, a new roof, siding and insulation {and so much more} and we are ready for a big reno.  Our kids are now 12 and 10 and our family's needs have changed completely from when we first moved in to this old house.

Now we are faced with what floor do we tackle first and how to do everything we need and want to with this home within a reasonable budget that will keep us happy for the next 5-10 years.

I pulled out a small album that holds a few dozen photos of our house when we had our first home inspection before closing and sealing the deal.  

I was shocked.  

I haven't pulled these photos out in ages.  Here I am complaining about every little thing in our home, and realize how much we've done to this place.  Have a look at

a surprising before and after kitchen remodel!

When you first enter the house, a small foyer greets you and this was the view into the kitchen.

Now this is the view that greets us!

{Milo photobombed the shot!}

We stripped the walls.  Removed 7 layers of flooring.  Installed new backsplash.  Painted the cabinets. Hired someone to install granite and added a few simple touches.

Crazy right?!! From this...

to this...

{sneak peek - look at the tea towels hanging on my stove.  Coming to the art shop soon!}

A lot dated and a lot cluttered, but we saw past all of that and added a few our of personal touches here and there, from art to decorative touches!

like this floating shelf ...

and our coffee nook {with my hubby's coveted Nespresso machine} and Apple TV where I can listen to Virgin Radio Dubai {just because I can} and the kids can enjoy videos on YouTube.  It makes for a very social kitchen area.

Now we are talking about moving walls, adding skylights and new built-in cabinetry.  

What I am really dreaming of, is a kitchen something like this...

{photo credit Houzz}

So I thought it would be fun to document our full, home reno here on the blog!  I'll share our design ideas, incorporate a few DIYs and share some fun before and afters!

Before we dive in and get started, do you have any advice for us?!!

We are new at home renos and feel like we have a lot to learn along with some tough decisions to make!

Please share with me!

Nicki

xo