It feels like it’s been a long time coming: we started planning this reno in the fall, the action began early in the new year, and I can finally say we are officially done! I had a vision for the space, which my fantastic designer Meredith Kirk quickly identified as “Farmhouse Glam”, and with her […] Read more…
This was the first piece of furniture my dad ever built, back in 1978. It has now become the final piece of furniture in our newly renovated home, in our cozy nook by the stairs. A special thank you to my mom who painted it white (Casement – Fusion Mineral Paints) and added the cute […] Read more…
When we started to plan our main floor reno, one of our goals was to maximize space, starting with the area above our stairs to the basement. As you can see in the “before” photo, the old railing was ridiculously long. Placing a buffet in front broke up the space somewhat, but we knew there […] Read more…
Now that the big items are in place, it’s time to accessorize! I knew the space needed some personalization, and fortunately our designer, Meredith Kirk, was on the same page. When I asked her what she was thinking for the large wall above the sectional, her vision was clear: a large mirror to reflect the […] Read more…
I am told that this chair was first considered Grandpa’s. My dad remembers as a teenager finding his father (who had a Grade 8 education) in the rocking chair every evening, cigar going, reading a newspaper, magazine or quite often one of the university English novels that one of his children had left sitting around […] Read more…
While we’re not ready yet for a full reno reveal, today I am excited to share the before and after of our oak buffet and hutch, which was refinished by Thistle and Feather: Timeless Furnishings Reinvented. When we first built our house I was *really* into natural oak. We chose natural oak cabinetry, hardwood floors, […] Read more…
We are officially under renovation at the Winn house! I promise I will be sharing reno tips and tricks in the future, as well as lots of details about our decision-making process, the benefits of working with a designer and how we’re surviving without a kitchen, but for now here are a few quick updates! […] Read more…
There will be a hiatus before my daughters’ cooking show returns…mainly because we don’t have a kitchen! For now, please enjoy Episode 3 – and you have to make these brownies! P.S. If you’re new here, you may not have heard that for special occasions my mom puts together the dry ingredients for something yummy […] Read more…
It was a big year for This Mom Loves, with a complete site redesign thanks to Amanda at Effervescence Media. (I highly recommend her!) Did you know that in addition to blog posts, there are now pages for my TV segments and published articles, a spot to find my celebrity interviews all in one place, […] Read more…
Even if you’re not a fan of “resolutions” per se, I think we’re all looking for ways to make sure the upcoming year is our best ever. To that end, I decided to call upon some of my expert friends to help point us in the right direction…and boy, did they ever rise to the […] Read more…