Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property EDD_Theme_Updater_Admin::$item_name is deprecated in /home3/theloww6/public_html/wp-content/themes/amiable/inc/updater/updater-admin.php on line 50
The Lovelee Home https://theloveleehome.com Simple. Sustainable. Everyday. Home. Tue, 11 Jan 2022 04:53:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 110931299 Dried Oranges: Garlands, Gift Tags, Holiday Potpourri and More ideas! https://theloveleehome.com/dried-oranges-garlands-gift-tags-holiday-potpourri-and-more-ideas/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dried-oranges-garlands-gift-tags-holiday-potpourri-and-more-ideas Mon, 10 Jan 2022 04:38:41 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=454 How to use dried orange slices to “zest” up your holiday decor and gift giving ideas! This is the first year I have made dried oranges. I’ve seen lots of beautiful creations using dried oranges, so I thought I would try this year! I made two large (three sheets each) batches, and was able to create ornaments, a garland and gift tags. Here are the steps I followed, as well as some tips that I learned after each batch to make the drying process easier! Steps to dry Oranges: Wash oranges with soapy water and dry (air dry or wipe with cloth). Make sure you have a large and sharp kitchen knife available. Slice oranges as thin as possible. Using a towel of choice, pat orange slices dry. Try to get as much moisture out of the oranges as possible. Arrange slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 200° Bake for 2 hours and then flip oranges over. Bake for another hour. Check oranges periodically. I found after an hour only a few oranges were ready (fully dried through). I kept checking and taking the oranges that were done off the baking sheet and onto […]

The post Dried Oranges: Garlands, Gift Tags, Holiday Potpourri and More ideas! first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>

How to use dried orange slices to “zest” up your holiday decor and gift giving ideas!

This is the first year I have made dried oranges. I’ve seen lots of beautiful creations using dried oranges, so I thought I would try this year! I made two large (three sheets each) batches, and was able to create ornaments, a garland and gift tags. Here are the steps I followed, as well as some tips that I learned after each batch to make the drying process easier!

Steps to dry Oranges:

  • Wash oranges with soapy water and dry (air dry or wipe with cloth).
  • Make sure you have a large and sharp kitchen knife available.
  • Slice oranges as thin as possible.

  • Using a towel of choice, pat orange slices dry.
  • Try to get as much moisture out of the oranges as possible.

  • Arrange slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  • Preheat oven to 200°
  • Bake for 2 hours and then flip oranges over.
  • Bake for another hour.
  • Check oranges periodically.

  • I found after an hour only a few oranges were ready (fully dried through). I kept checking and taking the oranges that were done off the baking sheet and onto a wire rack, until all were finished drying.

Holiday Uses for dried Oranges:

  • Easy Ornaments
  • Gift Tags

These are a great way to add a natural element to your gifting.

  • String Garland

  • Holiday potpourri

Lovelee Lessons:

  • Make sure you really dry out the oranges before you bake them. The less moisture the better.
  • Try to slice the oranges as thin as possible. It will help them dry quicker and thoroughly.
  • I left the oranges on a drying rack in the oven overnight. Make sure the oven is off! It will help the oranges fully dry.

The post Dried Oranges: Garlands, Gift Tags, Holiday Potpourri and More ideas! first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
454
Suburban Gardening: Harvesting our own food in our Small Backyard Garden https://theloveleehome.com/suburban-gardening-sweet-and-simple/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=suburban-gardening-sweet-and-simple Tue, 07 Dec 2021 04:56:19 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=333 Suburban Garden- Growing our own food in our suburban Home I’m going to keep it simple. I’m going to keep it simple. Just keeping it simple. I keep reminding myself of my garden mantra this year as  I attempt to sneak yet another plant into the garden. “Don’t worry, we definitely needed these ferns… there is a spot in the garden for these… this poor plant needs a home and water..” I repeat as Mr. Lovelee unloads another couple of bags of dirt and extra plants from the car.  Our small garden is such a place of wonder for me. Each year, we learn so much about harvesting, gardening, growing something to fruition and what works in our space. Our little outdoor space is small; but that doesn’t mean we are not able to produce a wide variety of fruits and veggies for our family.  The honest truth is that this year we grew a lot of things from seed and not everything did that great. We also had an unexpected and devastating heat wave- so uncharacteristic for our area, with temps rising into uncharted and record breaking numbers. But these setbacks did make the fruits of our labour that […]

The post Suburban Gardening: Harvesting our own food in our Small Backyard Garden first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>

Suburban Garden- Growing our own food in our suburban Home

I’m going to keep it simple. I’m going to keep it simple. Just keeping it simple.

I keep reminding myself of my garden mantra this year as  I attempt to sneak yet another plant into the garden. “Don’t worry, we definitely needed these ferns… there is a spot in the garden for these… this poor plant needs a home and water..” I repeat as Mr. Lovelee unloads another couple of bags of dirt and extra plants from the car. 

Our small garden is such a place of wonder for me. Each year, we learn so much about harvesting, gardening, growing something to fruition and what works in our space. Our little outdoor space is small; but that doesn’t mean we are not able to produce a wide variety of fruits and veggies for our family. 

The honest truth is that this year we grew a lot of things from seed and not everything did that great. We also had an unexpected and devastating heat wave- so uncharacteristic for our area, with temps rising into uncharted and record breaking numbers. But these setbacks did make the fruits of our labour that much sweeter, and has given us some really good learning points for next year. 

Things we grew:

  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Sweet Peas
  • Blue Beans
  • Lettuce
  • Garlic
  • Zucchini
  • Pumpkins
  • Kale
  • Basil
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Parsely
  • Rosemary
  • Chives
  • Tomatoes
  • Wildflowers
  • Sunflowers

Plants that thrived:

  • Raspberries
  • Garlic
  • All herbs
  • Wildflowers
  • tomatoes

Plants that survived:

  • Blue beans
  • Zuccini
  • strawberries

Plants that perished:

  • Sweet Peas: I transplanted right before the heat wave and they were not happy. Produced one or two, but did not revive. 
  • Lettuce: too delicate for the sunfire heat wave.
  • Kale: currently being enjoyed by a family of grubs- normally kale is a tried and true- super hearty and 

Lovelee Lessons:

  • Ask for starters or babies from other peoples gardens. I asked my MIL for some raspberry babies from her garden last year. We planted, and sure enough, they did not produce last year, but this year they came in hot, with their own babies and produced! We were able to get at least a handful a day during their peak! They mostly did not make it to the kitchen, just into tiny hands and tiny mouths, but they were delicious!
  • Check your gardening zone, and learn what plants will thrive in this climate. 
  • If you are starting from seed, learn when to transplant in the ground. I transplanted mine too early this year and we had a really late frost, and quite a few didn’t survive. 
  • Seed Packs: love/hate. Seeds are a really frugal way to start in the garden (it can work out to cents per plant), but I found not all of them were able to thrive in our back garden. Also, some were variety packs so I wasn’t sure exactly what kind of plant was growing. 
  • Learn about what you are planting and what conditions they thrive in (sun exposure, watering, buddy plants…)
  • Most of us have heard of little libraries, but now there are little seeds stands too! Leave  plant/seed, take a plant seed. Such a great way to share your starter bounty and get a variety of plants. 
  • Check out Farm stands! We have a farm stand two minutes away from us, that is part of a homeschool program. All plants are $2, they are locally grown, and support a great cause.
  • Trade! Or give extras! Or ask for extras! We ended up having so many tomato plants growing from seed- I gave some to my mum, put a few in the little plant stand, and gave some to our neighbours. 
  • Check out programs like Cheerios, save the bees campaign- they will send you a free pack of wildflower seeds to help save the bees! Not only are they gorgeous, its such a cool thing to see and hear the little bees around the flowers. 
  • Save pots from plants you buy, or look at local used sites for free pots. 
  • If you are handy with a nail and hammer, look for free pallets. We were able to get two more beds, a ladder shelf and add a privacy screen to our windblocker with wood from pallets! Lots of large chains and stores have them behind in their receiving section- just make sure they are free before taking them!
  • Check local resources for gardening resources. In our city, Get growing Victoria! Is a local program encouraging families to grow their own food!
  • Use newspaper for planter starters. 

The post Suburban Gardening: Harvesting our own food in our Small Backyard Garden first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
333
Refreshing the Front Entry Way for less than $10 https://theloveleehome.com/refreshing-the-front-entry-way-for-less-than-10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=refreshing-the-front-entry-way-for-less-than-10 Mon, 15 Nov 2021 03:37:44 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=326 Giving our entry way a refresh with second hand peices This is probably the most simple decor update we have done in our house, but probably one of my favourite and the cheapest of them all! It can be easy to forget how important the space you enter into can be. Wether it is a garage, mudroom, front door, side door, it is often one of the most used spaces in the house! Our entry way is the first thing anyone sees when they walk in our home. We have no mudroom or garage entry into the house; everyone, us, dogs, guests, comes through our entry. When we first moved in, the entry way and the stairs leading to the main floor were a disjointed, slick, plastic tile- they did not match the following of the rest of the house and it was a bone of contention for me. When Mr. Lovelee finished the flooring, he also did the stairs and entry and closet. I knew I wanted to revamp to match the floors.  Mr. Lovelee and I had been looking at built in solutions- but the placement of a baseboard heater limited our options. What we knew we needed- […]

The post Refreshing the Front Entry Way for less than $10 first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
Giving our entry way a refresh with second hand peices

This is probably the most simple decor update we have done in our house, but probably one of my favourite and the cheapest of them all!

It can be easy to forget how important the space you enter into can be. Wether it is a garage, mudroom, front door, side door, it is often one of the most used spaces in the house!

Our entry way is the first thing anyone sees when they walk in our home. We have no mudroom or garage entry into the house; everyone, us, dogs, guests, comes through our entry. When we first moved in, the entry way and the stairs leading to the main floor were a disjointed, slick, plastic tile- they did not match the following of the rest of the house and it was a bone of contention for me. When Mr. Lovelee finished the flooring, he also did the stairs and entry and closet. I knew I wanted to revamp to match the floors. 

Mr. Lovelee and I had been looking at built in solutions- but the placement of a baseboard heater limited our options. What we knew we needed- a bench, some hooks and a place to drop keys and dog leashes. 

Enter Facebook marketplace. Within two days, I was able to put together a new entryway.

Second Hand Scores:

All of the things in the entry way were free or super inexpensive from Facebook Marketplace.

  • Shelf- FREE! The catch? It was missing two hooks. But it was solid, and we were able to find two hooks at our local Restore for $4.
  • Bench- $10. Description? “Its a bench, shrug emoji.” However, a bench where you take on and off shoes is such a small luxury. And we could not have built this ourselves for that price with the cost of lumber these days.
  • Cabinet that hides keys, and dog leashes? Free from parents basement. Painted with extra colour from kitchen island samples.

The best part? I was able to sell our original shelf (also a second hand score) with baskets and give away the bench for someone to up-cycle. I actually think I made money on this project. We have since added baskets to fit underneath the bench for shoe storage for the littles ($5.97 in the clearance from Superstore).

Lovelee Lessons:

  • Just because something is “missing” a part doesn’t meant that it cannot be fixed or salvaged (obviously proceed with caution). For us, a shelf missing two hooks was such an easy fix, and this thing is cute!
  • Know the cost of material. Mr. Lovelee would not have been able to recreate this bench with the current cost of lumber! 
  • Sometimes something you have had for a while (or stored at your parents house) can be updated with a coat of paint! Paint samples will always come in handy for small projects like this!
  • Sell what you are no longer using. Our previous shelf held keys in their baskets but they were see through and really wasn’t functional for our family. I was able to sell it on Marketplace (I actually came out ahead $ wise, even after “updating”).

The post Refreshing the Front Entry Way for less than $10 first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
326
Welcome to The Lovelee Home https://theloveleehome.com/welcome-to-the-lovelee-home/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=welcome-to-the-lovelee-home Mon, 15 Nov 2021 03:36:47 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=56 A Lifestyle Blog, with lots of DIY, Home Reno and Sustainable Ideas! Welcome friends! I am so happy you are here! I am Ashton, half of The Lovelee Home, a fiancé, a mother, a beginner DIY’er, and aspiring gardener. I hope you join me, as I show you attainable, simple updates, thrifty tips, frugal finds, and snippets into our Lovelee life. I am a teacher by trade, a dog lover for life, and true believer that simple can be beautiful.  The reason I started this blog is not new, nor unique to me. Simply put, I was looking for a creative outlet, a place where I can write down my thoughts,share photos, and perhaps inspire others to make small changes in their home. I come from a background where writing used to be a job, a passion, a therapeutic outlook for me, part of my academics but somewhere in the last few years, it slipped away from me. So much of my life has changed, and I realized I haven’t written anything for myself besides to-do lists, grocery-gets and work emails in a very long time. So I decided to change that. To write about things I enjoy, to write […]

The post Welcome to The Lovelee Home first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
A Lifestyle Blog, with lots of DIY, Home Reno and Sustainable Ideas!

Welcome friends! I am so happy you are here! I am Ashton, half of The Lovelee Home, a fiancé, a mother, a beginner DIY’er, and aspiring gardener.

I hope you join me, as I show you attainable, simple updates, thrifty tips, frugal finds, and snippets into our Lovelee life. I am a teacher by trade, a dog lover for life, and true believer that simple can be beautiful. 

The reason I started this blog is not new, nor unique to me. Simply put, I was looking for a creative outlet, a place where I can write down my thoughts,share photos, and perhaps inspire others to make small changes in their home. I come from a background where writing used to be a job, a passion, a therapeutic outlook for me, part of my academics but somewhere in the last few years, it slipped away from me. So much of my life has changed, and I realized I haven’t written anything for myself besides to-do lists, grocery-gets and work emails in a very long time. So I decided to change that. To write about things I enjoy, to write about life, to write about what feels good, and to take you along our home reno journey. I hope you stay along for the ride! 

I want to show you that home decor and DIY can be done on a budget. You can find great things second hand or used, and decorate your home in a beautiful way. There are lots of ways to reduce your carbon footprint, create a functional, beautiful space, no matter what the budget is! 

Thanks for being here! All are welcome.

The post Welcome to The Lovelee Home first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
56
Cleaning the Couch: Cat scratches and Stains https://theloveleehome.com/cleaning-the-couch-cat-scratches-and-stains/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cleaning-the-couch-cat-scratches-and-stains Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:08:33 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=306 Couch Clean: “Descratching” and Deep Cleaning Mr. Lovelee and I have wanted a new couch for a while. We bought our current one second hand when we moved into our first home (we’ve had it “new to us” for four years). Over time, with two kids, a dog and a momma who has an infinity for spilling, it has become the stomping ground for stains, dog hair, yogurt cups and whatever else could find its way onto the fabric. We looked for a second hand option, but the reality is that the couch is a great size for our space and it really isn’t in our budget for a new one. Enter my mum and dad, who also have carpet throughout their main floor, and a dog, two grandkids and a daughter who likes to spill. My parents invested in a Bissel Steam cleaner for their house, and as their favourite daughter,  I have unlimited borrowing privileges. Cleaning the couch seemed like the best option (aside from setting it on fire, like Mr. Lovelee wanted to do so badly), especially now that we had access to this incredible tool.  I started by fixing up the fabric itself. About a year […]

The post Cleaning the Couch: Cat scratches and Stains first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
Couch Clean: “Descratching” and Deep Cleaning

Mr. Lovelee and I have wanted a new couch for a while. We bought our current one second hand when we moved into our first home (we’ve had it “new to us” for four years). Over time, with two kids, a dog and a momma who has an infinity for spilling, it has become the stomping ground for stains, dog hair, yogurt cups and whatever else could find its way onto the fabric.

We looked for a second hand option, but the reality is that the couch is a great size for our space and it really isn’t in our budget for a new one. Enter my mum and dad, who also have carpet throughout their main floor, and a dog, two grandkids and a daughter who likes to spill. My parents invested in a Bissel Steam cleaner for their house, and as their favourite daughter,  I have unlimited borrowing privileges. Cleaning the couch seemed like the best option (aside from setting it on fire, like Mr. Lovelee wanted to do so badly), especially now that we had access to this incredible tool

I started by fixing up the fabric itself. About a year ago we house-sat a cat named Rupert. He was completely adorable and rambunctious and a really good test for us if we wanted a cat. Turns out cat sitting was enough for us to get our feline fix, but it was fun nonetheless. However, he did decide to use our couch as a cat scratch post. 

The cat scratches made our couch look especially ratty, but I thought if I could give it a clean and get the scratched off, it might just be salvageable. 

*Make sure to test each step on a small, discreet piece of fabric first to make sure it can take this technique. 

I started by cutting off all the loose ends with sharp scissors. Get as close to the fabric as you can. Do not pull on the threads as this could cause holes or ripping. 

Then using a clean razor, move it in all directions on the fabric, pressing down, applying pressure but be careful not to cut the fabric. I found this also worked on sections of the sofa that had a lot of pills. A three blade razor would work best, but I only had a two blade Bic (leftover from the days of a clean shaved Mr. Lovelee). It seems obvious, but make sure you use a clean razor as you want the blades to be as sharp as possible. 

Taking off the cat scratches changed the couch so much. This was the perfect opportunity for a deep clean. As I was taking off the two blankets, two extra large pillows and at least 4 throw pillows, I realized, one of the reasons we did not like sitting on the couch was because we were trying to hid the stains with all this extra stuff. 

I used the Bissel hand help option. I went over the couch twice. You want to keep going over each strip on the fabric until there is little to know water bring sopped up. You want as little water left over to not cause dampness when you sit or mold if it was too wet. 

The couch turned out incredible! Honestly, something as simple as repairing the legs and cleaning the base really made a difference. The couch feels refreshed, inviting and gives it a new life for the next little while.


“Sometimes an item only needs to be deep cleaned or repaired instead of being replaced.”

Miss Lovelee

Lovelee Lessons:

  • If you cannot afford to invest in a large steam cleaner, there are smaller options that are more affordable. Being able to clean fabric is such a great way to keep items clean, especially if you have pets, or kids or tend to spill a lot. By maintaining fabrics, you extend their longevity, 
  • Renting a steam cleaner is cost effective solution if you cannot afford (or have the space to store) a steam cleaner. Plan a  day to do allll the things (floors, couch, rugs, fabric chairs, etc….). Where I live, Home Depot rents out steam cleaners for as little as $25.00.
  • Being able to deep clean can also contribute to overall health, getting rid of dust, dirt, allergens, etc… Its a great cleaning task to add to your list every few months or however often you can.

The post Cleaning the Couch: Cat scratches and Stains first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
306
Kitchen Renovation: Updating our 2006 Kitchen on a Budget https://theloveleehome.com/kitchen-renovation-updating-our-2006-kitchen-on-a-budget/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kitchen-renovation-updating-our-2006-kitchen-on-a-budget Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:00:12 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=120 Renovating our 2006 Builder Grade Kitchen on a Budget HGTV has lied to me. As a dedicated viewer, and firm believer in “I could do that too,” I thought that the cosmetic update of our kitchen would cost the same amount as my favourite, half an hour flip show, and in the same time frame. My sweet naive goal of a few thousand dollars had to be enough, right? It was only a cosmetic change,  “new flooring, new cabinets, new lighting, new hardware, new appliances, new countertops….” Not to mention labour, permits, electrical, plumbing, etc…But that is what happens all the time on TV. That budget is attainable. That budget is “realistic.” I was literally jaw dropped when I got the quote for us to redo just our kitchen cabinets.  $17, 000.  That was more than our entire kitchen budget! And that was only for cabinets. And so began our start of a more serious DIY home renovation. The back story: We moved into our 2006 build in 2019. Thirteen years doesn’t seem like that long, unless you are talking about home design and builder grade materials. The previous owners had put in new appliances, but it was still dated. […]

The post Kitchen Renovation: Updating our 2006 Kitchen on a Budget first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
Renovating our 2006 Builder Grade Kitchen on a Budget


HGTV has lied to me. As a dedicated viewer, and firm believer in “I could do that too,” I thought that the cosmetic update of our kitchen would cost the same amount as my favourite, half an hour flip show, and in the same time frame. My sweet naive goal of a few thousand dollars had to be enough, right? It was only a cosmetic change,  “new flooring, new cabinets, new lighting, new hardware, new appliances, new countertops….” Not to mention labour, permits, electrical, plumbing, etc…But that is what happens all the time on TV. That budget is attainable. That budget is “realistic.” I was literally jaw dropped when I got the quote for us to redo just our kitchen cabinets. 

$17, 000. 

That was more than our entire kitchen budget! And that was only for cabinets.

And so began our start of a more serious DIY home renovation.

The back story: We moved into our 2006 build in 2019. Thirteen years doesn’t seem like that long, unless you are talking about home design and builder grade materials. The previous owners had put in new appliances, but it was still dated. *Disclaimer- this house and this kitchen was lovely. We are grateful to be in our space, to bring our babies home here, and to have a place where (pre-pandemic) we could gather with our friends and family. But we bought the house with dreams and ideas of changing it to brighten it up, and really create a space that worked for our family functionally, but also represented who were are as family too. And hey, mama loves a bright, fresh kitchen!

Where we Started: Flooring

So, where did we start? Floors. Luckily Mr. Lovelee has experience laying floors in our old home, and in previous projects. Choosing flooring was more difficult that I thought. It is something that is seen from every vantage point on the main level. And it is not something that is easily changed. Our goal- affordable, durable, and light. We wanted to brighten the space, but make sure dog claws, babies dropping toys, mom spilling wine, would survive the mishaps of a family. We ended up going with a luxury vinyl plank from our local home improvement store. 

We chose to use a Luxury Vinyl Plank- it is durable and affordable, easy to clean, and relatively easy to install. We had a price range in mind, and after going to several flooring and home improvement stores, we finally decided on this one. This one is similar if you are in Canada.

The floors were the start of a long process to renovate the kitchen, but really necessary to update the space. Sometimes one thing leads to another, and guess what? Its okay if renovations and changes in your home take time. Not everything is as fast as they make it seem on TV and that is okay!

The Cabinets:

Once the floors were done, we had to figure out the cabinets. How to paint them and what to do with the space above cabinets but before the ceiling. Can we talk about that for a second? It is such a waste of space, and the king of dust collection. So many homes have a space between the cabinets and the ceiling, butI have a serious bone to pick with whoever decided this design was on trend. Okay, maybe for some it is not that big of a deal; my parents have it in their home. My mom changes our her wax paper every few months, gives it a dust, uses it for cute containers, and drapes plants. In my perfect world, the cabinets go to the ceiling, where you hide dishes and holiday dishes and once a year knick knacks on the top shelf.

Our goal for this space was to make it brighter, and bigger. And make our dated space feel fresh. So cabinets to the ceiling was a great way to draw the eye up and make the space feel larger even though it wasn’t. And hey, if I never had to dust/ scrape kitchen gunk off the top of the cabinets I am happy.

Using plywood and crown moulding, we were able to take the kitchen cabinets to the ceiling! Make sure you have a backer on the plywood.

As you can see, the space between the cabinets and celling is hollow; it is decorative, not functional, but makes a huge difference in cleanliness and making the kitchen feel bigger.

I cannot stress this enough, it is worth it to buy the samples! What you see on the paint cards in the store is not always the true colour. And most paint will look different depending on so many factors- lighting, sun position, time of day, etc… I have always found extra ways to use up paint samples. Trust me on this one, get the samples.

Counter Tops:

We got our cabinets from Exotic Stone. We were able to go in store and discuss what would be best for our family, within our price range. We went for a quartz counter, with a little bit of marbling. They also gave us some great tips that we would not have thought about:

  • Recommended rounded corners on our kitchen island, especially if you have little heads walking around at counter depth.
  • Recommended a seamless sink for easy cleaning.

Appliances:

We looked long and hard for appliances. One of the things to mention is that our appliances at the time were in perfect working condition. In this case we had the luxury of time; however, we were also in the middle of the pandemic, and appliances were on back order, had months shipping time or were sold out. We knew we wanted black stainless steel and that an appliance package was what we wanted for a uniform look. We found an incredible appliance package from Best Buy (similar ones here). We also were able to get a matching microwave/ hood fan. Delivered, installed and on sale. They even had a bonus 1O piece cookware gift set. It was worth the wait to find what we really wanted.

As an added bonus, we were able to sell our old appliances as a package (*see Lovelee Lessons for details).

Finishing touches:

The last part of the renovation probably took the longest. The biggest “impact” items (and most expensive) were in place- the space felt different already.

So we waited until the budget allowed and installed timeless, classic and inexpensive subway tile, and searched amazon for quality, but budget friendly pendant lights and kitchen faucets.

The Final Results:

Lovelee Lessons:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask for sample flooring planks! It is so important to be able to see the colour in your home, because based on lighting, something can look completely different in your space! Most stores should be able to give you a sample piece for free- just ask!
  • Test the sample piece to see how it will show wear before you install. Scratch it, bang it up, get it dirty- that will help show you how it will be to clean/ fix once installed.
  • Look for sales and compare prices. If you have the luxury (and/or patience) of time, it is worth it to wait for a sale- often times sales repeat themselves in bigger home improvement stores.
  • Make sure you do your research before you instal flooring yourself! Some floors require levelling, removal, or addition sub flooring, etc… before installation directly on top of them.
  • Sell what you are replacing if you can. For us, our appliances were relatively new, clean, and worked great! They were just not what we wanted for our upgrade. By cleaning them and listing them we were able to add $1000 to our appliance budget!
  • Look for metal scrap bins. Where we live there are free metal scrap bins where you can put metal items. They unload the bin when it’s full as a fundraiser for local charities. We were able to put the sink in the bin- saves it from the landfill, we do not have to pay to get rid of it, and it goes towards a good cause!
  • If you can’t sell, donate or get rid of things for free- at our last property we replaced the appliances- our local restore was not taking these particular models because they were quite outdated, but a local church reached out, said they could use them, and came and picked them up to use in their kitchen! 
  • Obviously the choice to paint is the huge money saver here. Make sure to do your research and know what type of paint is best for your cabinets.
  • It is possible to buy hardware used! Make sure you know the measurements of the drill holes, and how many you need (because you may not always be able to get the right amount when looking second hand- we got lucky- there were the exact # we needed!)
  • Don’t be afraid to use spray paint on hardware, but my best advice is to not use it on high traffic knobs, or ones where your fingers are grabbing around the pull often. Our half moon pulls get used from underneath and have been holding up well to spray paint, but we had to replace our original round knobs that we spray painted as they did not wear well very quickly.
  • It may cost more upfront but make sure you get paint samples! Especially with cabinets, because while you can paint them again, it would probably be best to make it a one time, done! And I have always found a use for extra paint samples

The post Kitchen Renovation: Updating our 2006 Kitchen on a Budget first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
120
Easy Quinoa Salad https://theloveleehome.com/easy-quinoa-salad/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=easy-quinoa-salad Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:51:49 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=211 My Favourite “Go To” Quinoa Salad lunch with Variety: An easy weekday salad is my favourite thing to make on Sunday! Its a great way to use up food in the fridge or pantry and it gets better over time! Plus there are so many different alternatives to this recipe which makes it so versatile. This is the best quinoa salad and it is so easy to assemble! There are so many variations you can make with it, using up ingredients the fridge or in the pantry. The best thing is that is gets better over time! It’s perfect for lunches all week long, and leaves me full without feeling tired. Salad: Cucumbers Tomatoes Chickpeas Black beans Snow Peas Red onion Quinoa I like to add flavour to my quinoa. It adds richness and the need for less dressing. I used a tri-colour quinoa and a veggie base. Any kind of stock would work be great, depending on your preference, but make sure to add that flavour! Grating in a garlic clove is also a great way to add flavour to any savoury grain. I used approx 2 cups of cooked quinoa, 1 cup each of veggies, and 1/2 cup […]

The post Easy Quinoa Salad first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
My Favourite “Go To” Quinoa Salad lunch with Variety:

An easy weekday salad is my favourite thing to make on Sunday! Its a great way to use up food in the fridge or pantry and it gets better over time! Plus there are so many different alternatives to this recipe which makes it so versatile.

This is the best quinoa salad and it is so easy to assemble! There are so many variations you can make with it, using up ingredients the fridge or in the pantry. The best thing is that is gets better over time! It’s perfect for lunches all week long, and leaves me full without feeling tired.

Salad:

  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Chickpeas
  • Black beans
  • Snow Peas
  • Red onion
  • Quinoa

I like to add flavour to my quinoa. It adds richness and the need for less dressing. I used a tri-colour quinoa and a veggie base. Any kind of stock would work be great, depending on your preference, but make sure to add that flavour! Grating in a garlic clove is also a great way to add flavour to any savoury grain.

I used approx 2 cups of cooked quinoa, 1 cup each of veggies, and 1/2 cup red onion. But the measurements do not need to be exact; just use what you have or what you love to eat!

Some other great ingredients that would be delicious in this salad:

  • Corn (canned or freshly cooked)
  • Celery
  • Peppers (Red, orange, yellow, green)
  • Jalapeños to spice it up
  • Navy Beans, kidney beans, red lima beans
  • Green onion
  • Basil, parsley or cilantro

Dressing:

  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1/2 clove garlic, grated
  • Salt and pepper to taste *If you are adding feta cheese, it is naturally salty, so use less then adjust to taste

Sprinkle over salad. Mix well.

Lovelee Lessons:

  • I used lime because it is what we had in the fridge and I didn’t want it to go to waste. This would be equally delicious with lemon.
  • Omit the feta for a vegetarian version.
  • Store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to four days.
  • I add a wedge lime when I am packing this up for lunch. It gives it a little extra zing!

The post Easy Quinoa Salad first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
211
Updating our Tile Fireplace Using Chalk Paint https://theloveleehome.com/fireplace-update-using-chalk-paint/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fireplace-update-using-chalk-paint Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:47:25 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=198 Updating our Tile fireplace: Our fire place was nice. Standard, builder grade. There was nothing particularly exceptional about it. But when we updated our floors, it really felt like it needed something to change with it. We thought about replacing the mantle, or the tile but honestly neither of those options were in our price range. Our budget for the fireplace was zero, so whatever we decided to do, it had to be frugal. “The most significant gifts are the ones most easily overlooked. Small, everyday blessings: woods, health, music, laughter, memories, books, family, friends, second chances, warm fireplaces, and all the footprints scattered throughout our days.” ~ Sue Monk Kidd When we completed our floors in the house, the tile didn’t seem to match anymore. The fireplace felt washed out, and really showed the age of our house. Mr. Lovelee had the idea to paint the tile- matte black to pop off the floor and match the fixtures in the kitchen.  We looked for tile paint but couldnt find the matte look we were going for. We ultimately decided to use chalk paint. Materials Needed: Painters Tape Roller and Paint Brush Drop cloth Primer Chalk Paint Start by taping […]

The post Updating our Tile Fireplace Using Chalk Paint first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
Updating our Tile fireplace:

Our fire place was nice. Standard, builder grade. There was nothing particularly exceptional about it. But when we updated our floors, it really felt like it needed something to change with it. We thought about replacing the mantle, or the tile but honestly neither of those options were in our price range. Our budget for the fireplace was zero, so whatever we decided to do, it had to be frugal.

“The most significant gifts are the ones most easily overlooked. Small, everyday blessings: woods, health, music, laughter, memories, books, family, friends, second chances, warm fireplaces, and all the footprints scattered throughout our days.”

~ Sue Monk Kidd

When we completed our floors in the house, the tile didn’t seem to match anymore.

The fireplace felt washed out, and really showed the age of our house. Mr. Lovelee had the idea to paint the tile- matte black to pop off the floor and match the fixtures in the kitchen. 

We looked for tile paint but couldnt find the matte look we were going for. We ultimately decided to use chalk paint.

Materials Needed:

  • Painters Tape
  • Roller and Paint Brush
  • Drop cloth
  • Primer
  • Chalk Paint

Start by taping off your mantle. I would recommend putting down a drop cloth, especially if you just put down new flooring!

Use a coat of primer. We used this primer that we had left over from painting our cabinets.

At this point you are very committed to painting your tiles!

We could not find a true matte black, but the charcoal ended up being the best choice. It is a softer colour than true black, and pulls grey, or navy depending on the light.

We ended up doing three coats of paint. The can says not to roll on chalk paint, but we found the finish with the brush was streaky. Roll at own risk, but I love how it looks now. 

This was such a simple update but really makes the space feel more modern and crisp. 

Lovelee Lessons:

  • Paint can be the simplest way to update a space! And usually one of the easiest things you can change if you make a mistake or choose a colour you don’t like. However, this one was kind of an all in or nothing project.
  • Painting might not work on all fireplaces if you use them all the time or they are wood burning! We do not use ours very often, and it does not give off very much heat, it is mostly for the “ambience” so we felt safe doing this. You can purchase tile paint made for heat.

The post Updating our Tile Fireplace Using Chalk Paint first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
198
Easy DIY Wall Feature for a Nursery or Bedroom https://theloveleehome.com/easy-diy-wall-feature-for-a-nursery/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=easy-diy-wall-feature-for-a-nursery Thu, 11 Nov 2021 03:34:10 +0000 https://theloveleehome.com/?p=271 The Easiest Feature Wall for less than the cost of a fancy coffee My daughters room has been ever evolving since she was born. I wanted to create an accent wall on the back side of the crib.  At first I wanted to use wallpaper, but I realized that could easily cost hundreds of dollars. So I decided to paint a feature wall. Honest moment: I was nervous. Even though it is just paint. The best thing about paint is that is can usually be changed relatively easy. Do not be afraid of paint! Materials Needed: Stepladder Paint brush/ Sponge/ Something to create the pattern Sample Paint Drop cloth (optional if you do not trust yourself!) Paper and Painters tape to test patterns First Steps: Clean your wall (or repaint with a base colour) Pick your paint sample (I was able to get a paint sample as well as one from the clearance section at the hardware store). I always find use for paint samples! Paint/ Sketch/ Draw your vision for your wall. I wanted mine to be organic, and easy which is why I chose not to use a stencil, but if you are looking for a more uniformed […]

The post Easy DIY Wall Feature for a Nursery or Bedroom first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
The Easiest Feature Wall for less than the cost of a fancy coffee

My daughters room has been ever evolving since she was born. I wanted to create an accent wall on the back side of the crib.  At first I wanted to use wallpaper, but I realized that could easily cost hundreds of dollars. So I decided to paint a feature wall.


Honest moment: I was nervous. Even though it is just paint. The best thing about paint is that is can usually be changed relatively easy. Do not be afraid of paint!

Materials Needed:

  • Stepladder
  • Paint brush/ Sponge/ Something to create the pattern
  • Sample Paint
  • Drop cloth (optional if you do not trust yourself!)
  • Paper and Painters tape to test patterns

First Steps:

  • Clean your wall (or repaint with a base colour)
  • Pick your paint sample (I was able to get a paint sample as well as one from the clearance section at the hardware store). I always find use for paint samples!
  • Paint/ Sketch/ Draw your vision for your wall. I wanted mine to be organic, and easy which is why I chose not to use a stencil, but if you are looking for a more uniformed pattern a stencil (even a homemade one would work great)

Time to Paint!

Next: Go for it! I started in one corner, going down in a line, then up, trying to place the sponge in between the previous two on the side. It was not perfect and there is no specific spacing in between, but I love the casual look it gives.

Depending on what style you are going for your pattern could be as little or as big as you want, as spaced out as you like, any colour you want… the options are endless!

Add a few personal touches, plants, your favourite quote. Whatever you feel serves you best! I like minimal plants, handmade stuffies made with love from Nana, and a statement wreath, I made when I was first pregnant.

The whole wall took less than a few hours (mostly because of little sweet baby/ toddler distractions- one who continually wanted to streak his little hands across fresh paint), and cost less than $7 (Canadian). Its not perfect but that is okay! It adds dimension and interest to the space that wasn’t there before!

Lovelee Lessons:

  • Sponging paint onto a wall can be tricky. I used an old sponge I had around, but I wish I would have added a handle (like a stamp) to the back end of a thicker piece of sponge. My fingers kept getting paint on them, and you can see small finger marks in the pattern if you look closely.
  • Make sure to get off any excess or your pattern could run (this happened in a few spots for me). It is not super noticeable unless you are looking up close, but I wish I had taken the time to take off the extra paint to avoid this. 
  • Have fun! At the end of the day, it is just a wall!

The post Easy DIY Wall Feature for a Nursery or Bedroom first appeared on The Lovelee Home.

]]>
271