Tips & Tricks For A Bedroom Refresh At The Black House
Welcome to a blog on housing, culture and design by a cross-country Canadian and Toronto realtor!
The time is almost upon us, when COVID-related travel restrictions will be relaxed, and people will begin to travel freely again. But after living under lockdown and in isolation for nearly two years, it stands to reason a lot of people may be a little tentative about going back into the madding crowd. I imagine they may start small, choosing to reintegrate into the world by travelling to locations that are familiar, and by visiting the family and friends.
(Looks like your in-laws may be flying in shortly; I guess this means your ‘Work From Home’ office will have to be converted back into a guest room – good luck with that!)
If there’s a good chance you’ll be having friends or family staying under your roof at some point in your future, today is your lucky day. Because I’m sharing some of my tips and tricks on how to create a space for your guests that will have all the appeal of ‘Home’, no matter how brief their stay.
I’ve been flexing my creative muscles at The Black House On PEI – the comfortably furnished triplex situated in a late 1880s vintage manse located in Charlottetown – that my bestie James and I have been elevating ever since we bought it in 2008. It’s both a ‘Home Away From Home’ we enjoy frequently and what I call an ‘incubator of domesticity & design’.
We came to purchase the property when James, back in 2006, started chatting about buying a bolt hole to occupy when he came from Toronto each summer to perform in the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra – a contract he’s held now for 20 years. Having visited PEI, and James, only once en route to my friend Stephanie’s wedding in Cape Breton, I instantly aligned with its elemental landscape of primary colours, and attuned to the tidal rhythm peppered with notes of windsong I suspect are unique to islands as it reminded me of where I grew up on the ocean in Victoria on Vancouver Island. As our conversation progressed, I suggested we co-purchase a triplex so we could each have an apartment to Age In Place while the third apartment would cover the expenses. “Why Not?” I said, “We can grow old and yell at clouds together!”
So we bit the bullet, and here we are 13 years later! Here’s How We Came To Transform A Vintage Home In Charlottetown, PEI
When Covid made its arrival in March 2020 – and the necessity of lockdowns and isolating became the new norm – we shuttered our Airbnb program. Instead, we offer the suites as short-term furnished rentals for periods of a few months or longer just as we have always done in the off-season. When James called sharing that the Charlottetown Festival had been cancelled (as it subsequently was in 2021) but that the Atlantic Bubble had just announced there were allowing property owners entry provided they quarantine, he suggested that in lieu of his embarking on his annual adventure east, might I perhaps go instead? He said he was excited to experience his first summer in Toronto for 20 years. So we did.
I can comfortably admit now that my Coronaphobia burned bright in July 2020, and that navigating my fear and anxiety about Covid made me irritable and depressed. I was so desperate to escape its grip that within a few hours I had packed my suitcase and my car, with laptops and electronics, books and art, and a prized case of wine I couldn’t wait to savour with my PEI friends during dinners of my own creation that Covid and Toronto had denied. As the City disappeared in my rearview mirror, and I drove east across Canada for the first time ever having always flown by plane for 12 years), it dawned on me I was heading to a place that had chosen me. Three days later I rolled my Samsonite suitcase into the Great Room of The Garden Suite, where I stood still, breathed deep, and exhaled marvelling how a place I bought with a friend for a future far away day was located on North America’s safest, most controlled islands protecting me from a pandemic. And here I am. I couldn’t be more grateful.
An Incubator For Domesticity & Design
The house has always been an incubator for domesticity and design – a refuge to experiment and play plus a respite to research and write. But we also operate it as a fully furnished rental property also serves as a barometer to gauge what’s trending or failing when it comes to the wishes, wants and needs of the educated affluent shelter consumer. For example, since the pandemic’s arrival, every prospective tenant has inquired about the strength and reliability of our Wi-Fi, and asked if the second bedroom can be converted into a space dedicated for Work, Study, Creativity & Reflection. I can confidently say that unrestricted access to the internet and a separate private room devoted to privacy, utility, function and refuge will now be considered essential living. Also, Hello Fresh.
A year ago I wrote, How To Create A Productive ‘Work-From-Home’ Office Space During The Pandemic, when I realized that most of our Toronto real estate clients list WFH office before even mentioning the number of bedrooms they require when filling out our Online Housing Profile. It demonstrates how top of mind it is for many Buyers today.
So when the couple who had been renting our Attic Atelier this past year decided to move to Spain for the foreseeable future, the former second bedroom they had used as a ‘Yoga Chill Out Room’ was ready for a little makeover magic. And because I sometimes dream of hosting my own HGTV show, I made the easiest IKEA-hack in the world by forgoing the purchase of one of IKEA’s hollow-cardboardesque desktops, and instead butched it up by refinishing three 150-year old barn planks using a belt-sander, some varnish and a brush, that were bolted onto two grey IKEA trestles.
How’s that for Simple. Honest. Easy.
Check out my WFH IKEA Hack post that also explores the rising trend of ‘Bleisure’, which is when corporate and creative professionals combine their business travel with an extended get-away as a means to escape the monotony of everyday isolation that has accompanied our Work From Home lives now.
Deep Clean
When a tenant exits, we undertake a comprehensive deep clean where every closet, cabinet and drawer is emptied, every kitchen and dining utensil is washed, while the bedding, napkins & tablecloths, and towels are laundered and even ironed. Draperies get steamed, cushions & throws are sanitized, and slipcovers are sent to the dry cleaners. We replace every dish that may be chipped, every large and small appliance is cleaned, and all the windows are washed. I also include there are all of the essentials like lots of wooden hangars, a kit of needles & thread, a corkscrew & bottle opener, a lighter & matches, a flashlight & candles, a large & mini oscillating fan and, of course, a first aid kit & fire extinguisher. We also make sure each suite is filled with cleaning supplies, laundry products, toilet paper & paper towels, and even a selection of bathing products. And yes, it takes tremendous time and effort, but it satisfies my OCD, but we do it because we always want each suite to be at the standard we demand of ourselves when we’re living here.
Tips & Tricks
Of course, when you’re turning your space inside out you might as well invest in making it present its very best, right? But for who? Am I making it more beautiful for me, or for my incoming guest? As I processed this I realized that if I asked the right questions, and I paid attention to the incoming tenant’s preferences, might I be able to create the right visual and material cues to instantly make them feel like they’re ‘Home’?
A comprehensive refresh fuels and facilitates reinvention. But no matter how clean the space is, successfully creating a ‘sanctuary of domestic bliss’ requires selecting the right scale and proportion of furniture, and then layering it with soft furnishings so the space looks and feels cohesive and comfortable. Even if you’re not a designer, and the scale and proportion of your furniture are not balanced, I believe that incorporating creature comforts aligned to your guest’ preferences and desires will help them feel ‘more at home’ which, at the end of the day, while pretty is nice it’s really about making an investment in showing your appreciation for them.
If you have a furnished rental, understand that when a prospective tenant makes an inquiry about possibly renting a suite, the questions they’re asking typically reflect their highest priorities or their greatest concerns. These often centre around necessity (“Is the WiFi signal strong” & “Can I control the temperature of the space?”) or personal comfort (“Is it noisy in this area” & “Will there be enough hot water if I’m the last resident to shower in the morning?”, for example). Whatever the question, it serves to tell you how this person wants to live. And when these questions are asked, it gives you the opportunity to respond with a reply, and by asking questions of your own to extrapolate more information.
When the questions of a prospective tenant centre around comfort, it gives me the opportunity to ask how they like their environment to be. When someone asks me about comfort, I immediately want to know whether they tend to feel cold or if they run a little hot? Do they like enjoying a long hot soak in the tub, or do they prefer an invigorating shower? Do they like to sleep in or are they ready to run a marathon when they wake up? No one has ever replied that my questions are too personal. In fact, they usually appreciate it, and then I make sure I make every effort to solve it. I’ll let them know we’ve got fans for air circulation (few people have central air on PEI), I’ll buy them a sleeping mask as we don’t have black-out draperies, and I’ll pick up some bathing products that are either amazing for bathing or showering.
I’ll also ask the tenant how they’re looking to use the space, so I can ensure it specifically meets the function and utility of how they live. Or, if it’s not possible I let them know so they can make the decision on whether the apartment is the right fit for them or not. If they tell me they do Yoga to help their body heal from an accident, for example, I’ll ask them where they’d put their yoga mat followed by my suggestion I purchase a larger rubber cushioned mat to lay down first. And while yes, there may be some expenses required by me to accommodate them, spending a few hundred dollars to have a happy incoming tenant is an investment in relationship building. Believe me, these little touches are worth every penny than the scorn of a pissed off tenant protected by rental legislation.
Never hesitate to engage someone about their domestic and design preferences. Questions like whether they drink tea or coffee? Do they prefer a Bodum to a coffee maker? Do they like soft or hard pillows, blankets or duvets? If you can tailor the space and utility of the suite to fit the tenant’s form and function, and then deliver it with the material comforts they prefer in a colour palette they love, they’re going to feel “at home”.
The Attic Atelier Bedroom
Case in point, our Attic Atelier suite already lends itself to cosy, with the bedroom and Work From Home office tucked under eaves on the upper floor. We were fortunate to have the bedroom featured in PEI Living Magazine in 2018, with tips and tricks on how to make a bedroom welcoming and inviting for guests. Here’s that article –> A Black House Bedroom Takes Centre Stage In The Fall Issue Of PEI Living Magazine.
And here’s a photo:
If our homes are our safe havens, then the bedroom is its sanctuary. It’s a corner of calm to retreat, recharge and restore. That’s why refreshing this inner sanctum of a home is always welcomed and yields positive feedback.
When you don’t have the budget for a total makeover the key is to declutter, switch out or rearrange pieces including table lamps, artwork, and soft furnishings like pillows. I always add a fresh orchid or a few flower buds floating in a glass vase for feel-good refresh! I also infuse new energy into the space through the strategic use of colour and accents.
Do you know what else yields dramatic results? New bedding, which is exactly what I just did with the help of my friend April Clow from Sparkle and Shine here in Charlottetown.
There is an art to using linens for dramatic effect though. Mix-and-match bedding is my new obsession. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a feast for the senses – and is a subtle way of creating that sense of sanctuary that a bedroom should emit. And it’s elegant as well.
*After
April reminded me that everyone has their sleeping preferences.
It prompted me to install a heated mattress pad with two controls so they can be set to different temperatures. And I now place both a duvet and a blanket on my beds so I’ve got both preferences covered, as well as a mix of soft feather and hard form pillows, as well as a couple of large ones for those who like to read or use their laptop in bed.
April encourages everyone to mix and match different bedding patterns and textures in complementary colour palettes. We were chatting about all the Canadian designers we love, and we thought it would be neat to create a bedscape that was as Canadiana as possible. So we hit the road and took a look at the product for sale at Homesense that carries Canadian brands like Restore, Colin + Justin and Pavilion Pure. And although this bed doesn’t showcase her, we’re big fans of the florals designed by Canadian Samantha Pynn.
*After
As April says “It’s all about striking a balance between cozy & contemporary, crisp & comfortable”.
Talk about sweet dreams!!
Thanks for reading!
Did you enjoy this post?
If you did, here are some additional blogs related to design and real estate on Canada’s East Coast:
Ikea Hacking For Ikea Hackers
Going East: A Toronto Real Estate Exodus To Atlantic Canada
I Love The Houses In Historic Charlottetown, PEI
A Black House Bedroom Takes Centre Stage In The Fall Issue Of PEI Living Magazine
A Black Garden At The Black House In PEI By Dan Does Design
Dear Urbaneer: How Can I Make My Outdoor Space More Eco-Friendly?
The Increased Desire For Outdoor Space In Toronto Condos During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Incidentally, if you’re a fan of Black Houses as much as I am, here’s two of my posts on my University Student Mentorship site called Houseporn.ca which you might like:
Black Houses In Canadian Urban Settings
Black Houses In The Canadian Landscape
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Steven Fudge, Sales Representative& The Innovative Urbaneer TeamBosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-8000
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*Love Canadian Housing? Check out Steve’s University Student Mentorship site called Houseporn.ca which focuses on architecture, landscape, design, products and real estate in Canada.
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