More Cleaning and Pricing

As we get closer to Friday, the store is starting to fill up more and more. Today Spring bulbs we set out and pricing signs were made.

There was also a great deal of cleaning going on all over the place.

(Aunt Jeanette even got a honk from a car passing!)

Mom also spent 8 hours today in the kitchen baking away. I think she made 100 buttertarts, a dozen mini pies and half a dozen pies!

Working on signs.

Only one more day of getting ready!

The Kitchen Renovation and Getting Ready to Open

Is it Friday yet?

These past few weeks seem to have been a whirlwind of contractors and shopping and building and setting the shop up...

There always seems to be a million things that still need to be finished before we open. However, slowly but surely, everything is starting to come together.

And we are so excited!

Two more days.

Tables and chairs have been painted and set up for the sitting area.

Some hardier floral is making it's way out into the store. Fragrant Lavender and Pussy Willow branches came in this week, along with Pansies. Tomorrow the Hydrangeas and bulbs come in, and Thursday, all of our cut flowers.

Our antiques are being tucked among everything. This charming little bunny is one of my favourite recent finds!

And of course, now that the kitchen is complete, baking has begun! Everything needs to be tested before we open...

You can see here how the kitchen was coming along, but it's actually finished now. Holes were covered, mixers and ingredients and shelves with dishes have all found their new homes.

Opa unloading a trailer full of skids to recycle into some shelving for the outdoor garden center part of the store.

This will be the small garden center to the side.

He had lots of help from Willen.

And of course, Hudson was not happy at all about having to stay locked inside... He just wanted to be outside working with the big boys.

Setting Up Shop and Beginning Kitchen Renovations

Now that all of the renovations are complete, with the exception of the kitchen, setting up the store has officially begun. And it's coming together very quickly.

There are even some Oxalis that have arrived early for St. Patrick's Day!

All the wonderful antiques and treasures that have been collected and stored away are finally being taken out and placed on displayed throughout the shop.

These old ceiling tiles were recently salvaged. They are sizes and styles unlike ones I've seen before. They are the perfect display for over a mantel, above a bed, or even a trio of them behind your living room sofa. Each one is unique.

They also picked up a few new bistro sets, perfect for sitting outside with a coffee and pastry as you watch the boats sail through the canal.

Hand-tied bouquets and a variety of cut flowers to make your own arrangements with will soon fill these old sap buckets cleverly displayed on this antique church pew.

The storefront is really starting to fill out as they get closer to opening.

Some more treasures in the sitting area.

Here you can see where they've taped off where the kitchen will be. It's in the back, but it will be visible from the storefront.

This last major renovation starts this coming week. They've already received their appliances and everything.

And finally, working on some signs.

Wedding Flowers and New Store Counters

Though the store has yet to officially open, my parents have had weddings booked throughout the the last year.

However, a couple weeks ago, my mom finally did her first wedding in their new store. It was much nicer than spending the day in the basement.

I also wanted to show you their new shop counters.

My uncle came across these three antique counters in an old barn. Of course, given how beautifully they are suited to the store, my parents didn't hesitate bringing them home.

Two are the same and the third is slightly different.

The one above is being fitting with brackets to house baking that doesn't need to be refrigerated.

This one will be fitted so it can keep pastries and tarts cool. It also needs a piece of glass for the top.

And this last one will be the cash counter. Because they will have storage underneath, you don't want to see through the glass. Their solution was to wallpaper over the sides with a tin ceiling style wallpaper. Then they will put something under the glass to block out the top.

It's coming along quite nicely.

Working On The Storefront

We've now moved down into the store front, and have begun working on renovating it.

Up first is painting.

One of the great features of the store is that all of the windows are brand new. The whole space is very bright and open. However, the dark trim and dark ceilings have really dulled it down. So, we've started painting all of the trim and sills and doors and ceilings white.

It makes such a difference.

You can see the newly renovated entrance. It's waiting a fresh coat of white paint.

Looking towards the back of the store. Can you see how much of a difference a crisp, white ceiling will make?

Even Molly came along to help Aunt Jeanette paint windows.

Ryan in the stairwell going up to the apartment patching... everything.

Interesting fact about the store:

There is a lot of damage on the ceilings and on the walls in the store because there was actually a zombie movie filmed here called Dead Before Dawn. Christopher Lloyd was part of the cast!

Local paper, Welland Tribune described it as a "fast paced adventure comedy that follows a bunch of college kids as they accidentally unleash an evil curse that causes people to kill themselves and turn into Zombie Demons, aka Zemons." 

I'll take their word for it.

The Apartment - Coming Along

Just checking in with a progress report.

Above is a part of the adventure you haven't seen yet.

This is the cottage.

It's perfect... In a very run down and dilapidated way. It has so much potential though, doesn't it? It's off  to the back of the property and was previously used for nothing more than storage.

My parents have grand plans to eventually fix it up, and rent it out as a cottage.

I will soon take you on a tour through the inside.

Another feature I hadn't shown before is their balcony.

Sounds fancy doesn't it?

I was a little scared venturing out on it... in my knitted slippers... on a frozen steel roof. But with a little attention, it will be a lovey little spot off the kitchen to sit with your morning coffee and watch the boats go through the locks.

That's right. The canal is just in the distance. Right beyond this beautiful historic building.

And now for a few updates.

You can see above, that they've added a few more touches to the living space. Painting, curtains etc... It feels more like them.

They've also done a major update in one of the bedrooms; the really rough one that was being used as the work room. Due to a lot of ceiling damage, they replaced it with bead board. It instantly updates the room.

Now they will move onto patching and repairing the walls before painting.

They also ripped out the old carpet.

One of the biggest transformations I've seen was the bathroom. Remember the dated royal blue tile? Gone!

In it's place is a clean, beautiful bathroom.

I am so in love with the character of this building. It makes all the difference in the world!

Isn't the brick behind the laundry area just beautiful? My mom is nearly finished painting an old cabinet they bought back in the summer to house towels and things.

It's all coming along.