bedroom

The Queens

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today was a day of moving beds around. Two were dismantled and another was built. Not too shabby of a day. I even had some help without much prodding.

First I took apart the queen sized bed that our oldest was using. It had been all but forgotten about in my wife’s front office. We are going to put the bed and frame into storage until our oldest needs it. All the pieces from the frame are together and I labeled each part just in case they need to reassemble it on their own.

After I dismantled that bed, I moved onto our middle child’s bed. They had been using a twin frame that was originally from a bunk bed. It was a solid pine wood bed and will last forever. So that bed is going into storage as well for the time being. Basically until one of our kids has kids…

Once that bed was out of the bedroom, it was time to build a new bed frame. We had bought a queen sized frame, mattress and blanket set as a graduation gift for our middle. At first they were worried that the bed would take up too much space. But in the end, it was a perfect balance of space needed so they could still have all of their friends (aka stuffed toys) sleeping over. Especially the Hello Kitty stuffies and accessories.

I’m glad that our kids are growing up, yet staying youthful at heart. A new bed and frame will push them into adulthood, but with a good nights sleep to get them there.

Shelf-determination

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Back in July we shopped around for the perfect bookcase for our bedroom. We were determined to find a piece of furniture that would fill the space along our bedroom wall.

Our first place to start was IKEA because of the simplicity and ease of assembly. However, my wife and I were not exactly sold on the designs available. More over, the fact that most were simply a Billy Bookcase with additional pieces added on. Almost everyone I know has owned a Billy Bookcase. It has been a staple of the IKEA furniture line since 1979!

We did buy two of them in red with glass doors, but that was for a display cabinet in the piano room. The one change we made to the bookcase was adding some new knobs to the doors. That in itself made it more elegant looking.

As I stated, back in July we were looking for the perfect bookcase. Loads of online searches, into various furniture stores and we were coming up empty handed. We finally found one at a place in Langley, BC called Renaissance Home . My wife and I thought the bookcase would be perfect. So at the start of August we ordered it. Today it arrived.

The delays were due to many factors. Working in the rail industry, I knew it would be a lengthy time. When we ordered it they told us it should arrive mid-November. The extra three weeks added on was that the bookcase was held up in customs. Knowing all this, Renaissance Home was fantastic in giving us a discount off the initial price. As well they delivered and assembled the bookshelf. It came in three large and heavy pieces that they had to take upstairs around a few tight turns in order to get it to its new home.

It is a perfect fit for the room and we love it. All that’s left now is for my wife and I to unbox our books, add a few delightful knickknacks, and fill the shelves with memories.

Temporary Bedroom

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Since we went away on a vacation last week, we required someone to be here to help our two youngest get to school and look after our home. My mother was gracious enough to travel over from Vancouver Island and take on that task. At 79, we couldn’t ask her to sleep in a kids bed. So we offered up our bedroom.

In doing so, my wife and I needed to sleep elsewhere in the house. So we took over the queen size bed in our eldest child’s room. Since they chose to go stay elsewhere over the past few weeks, it wasn’t going to inconvenience them. It’s a pretty good room in many ways. Close to a bathroom, has a fireplace, it’s own entry to go outside, double French doors inside… but you can hear everything that goes on downstairs in the kitchen and living room.

For me, Sunday was challenging to get some sleep since I have to work night shifts and the noise during the day kept me up. Today, because I am so tired, as soon as I’m done writing- I should be passing out. It’s the last time I need to use this room since my mother is leaving to return to her home.

I noticed that sleeping in our home has a “Goldilocks” feel. Our son’s bed is two small and the next two beds are two soft. But because the master bedroom is ours- it definitely feels like a “Papa Bear” place to rest. Which will be my normal place after this sleep. I look forward to that, but fully understand that our oldest may get cranky sometimes when people aren’t respectful while they try and sleep.

Do you give up your bed for guests, or do you have a spare room/ bed you give them?

The Bedroom: A Comfortable Reading Spot

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I have been enjoying reading once more. Now that we are essentially settled into our new home (almost FIVE months), I am finding comfort zones. Our home is starting to feel more cozy by the day… And not just because of our Christmas decorations.

When I read, generally it’s in bed right before I go to sleep. Right before we moved we had an ENDY mattress delivered. I can’t believe that my sleep has improved so much over these past few months. This was probably the best investment in our health ever made. What ends up happening however, is that I fall asleep very easily about a dozen pages into my book.

On the other side of our master bedroom is a little sitting nook by the balcony doors. I have sat here numerous times on Zoom calls and to read. My wife has also utilized this spot. It is a perfect setting for relaxing and daydreaming. Getting lost in the fantasy world of a good novel is throughly enjoyed.

Our family members each have spots that they enjoy as well. Obviously the teenagers favor their bedrooms. But I am doing the same. Your bedroom is a place of solitude where you can feel at peace. It’s the great location to read a book.

Do you read in bed? Or do you have a favorite spot that you find comfortable? Let me know in the comments.

Showing Where I See From

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I show a lot of photos of the skyline lately. I hope you are enjoying them as much as I do. As pretty as the sky is, it needs to be enjoyed from a great location that is comfortable as well. My favorite outdoor spot is on our balcony outside the kitchen.

I set up a couple of Muskoka chairs facing west. I love their location because of the fact that I can sit with my wife or one of the children and just stare off at the clouds or watch the sunset. This summer has had a few good convos on these chairs.

My inside favorite spot is laying in my bed. Sometimes I’ll just stare off into the horizon and daydream instead of sleep. Both are extremely relaxing.

These are my personal favorite spots around our home. The pool feels like a separate entity all together. That is our chillaxin’ fun times place. Well deserving of its own stories.

Where do you like to hang out in the summer evenings? Let me know in the comments. Or better yet- share a photo!

What A Mess

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Getting my kids to tidy up after themselves is tough. Our main living space is already hard enough to keep clean when five of us are always around. Especially with the fact that we are busy and always on the go. Always.

But their bedrooms are entities entirely unto their own. That is their place of solitude and peace if they so require it. As teens, they do love disappearing into their rooms. I just wish they’d make them, uh, more habitable.?.

Our two youngest are notorious for not making their beds. They’re also pretty good at leaving clothes everywhere as well. My wife and I try to get them to tidy up on a weekly basis. But it feels like their rooms explode into chaos almost immediately.

At least our oldest daughter takes pride in making sure her bed is made every morning. She is also the one who tries to ditch doing chores and hides in her room the most. The biggest problem with her room is she has the dog sleep in there at night. Our dog sheds a lot. Our daughter rarely vacuums her room. There is often little furryballs gathering in the corners.

It’s hard to motivate our teenagers to clean up. Instead of motivation, it usually ends up being empty threats of my wife and I claiming that we will throw everything out if they don’t clean up. But because of our hectic schedules, there isn’t much time to let the kids saunter through cleaning, so the mess just continues.

All parents face this dilemma. And it doesn’t get any better as the kids become teenagers. Oh well.

IKEA

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today I assembled a new bed frame for our oldest daughter. She is turning 16 next month and is rather tall- at 6’2″. Her twin bed wasn’t really fitting her anymore. Lucky for me- a friend was giving away a nice queen size bed frame a couple months ago. So I snagged it up.

It was great that he had dismantled the bed for easy transportation. All the parts were there when I started to work on it today. However, I had no instructions. But since it was from IKEA, how hard could it be? I’ve assembled my fair share of Billy Bookcases in my lifetime.

Most of the bed was easy to figure out. With only one minor mistake that I had to fix (one of the wood slats I had put in upside-down). At one point, I had to refer to the image of the frame my friend had posted just to make sure I was doing it right. After about an hour, the bed was built.

My daughter is excited about her new bed. I hope she appreciates the new bed. Maybe she will wake up in a better mood!

Can I finish this time?

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The other day, I decided to start painting the doors to our bedroom closet and ensuite bathroom.  Not a big deal, right?  We don’t exactly have a large bedroom.

Almost 9 years ago, we began to renovate our master bedroom.  Doing a little bit at a time.  Ripping out the shag carpet (that went into the bathroom as well.  Um, gross) and tearing down the plastic beige blinds.  Years later, we removed the closet that ran the length of the wall and moved out bed to that location instead.  I then began building a closet beside the ensuite bathroom on the wall opposite our bed.  That way, our tv and my wife’s dresser would have a place to go.

Three years ago, my wife left for a Convention in Edmonton, so I told her I was going to install the flooring that we had purchased years prior while she was away.  She was gone for four days, so I chose to paint our room as well and finish her closet.  I was hoping to complete the bathroom, but I was pushing myself too much and became sick with a cold.  So I had to call it quits sooner than I wanted.  That’s where it remained.  

Next week my wife leaves for the same Convention in Edmonton with our daughter.  I am hoping to finish the bathroom and the baseboards in our bedroom.  Last night I decided to take the unfinished doors off and paint them.  I also cut out the spot for the handles.  My ambition is strong.  My drive is there.  My wife hates leaving the house to me because she returns and I have managed to change something without her knowledge or input.  She knows that I am finishing the ensuite this time around and nothing should surprise her.

This may be the first home renovation that gets completed 100%.  That is my goal.  I don’t want to go an entire decade trying to compete it.  Time and money have been major factors in the incompletion.  This month, neither of those should affect me.  All I need is the drive and the passion to get the job done.


Why do I keep old paint cans?