Kitchen Appliances - check!

So Saturday afternoon we went to a local appliance supplier in Montreal. We'd got some quotes already and needed to pick out our kitchen appliances. Our kitchen designer will need them to design the new layout.

Actually, in the morning we went with Graydon. He loved it but it made shopping a challenge. In the afternoon, the kids were left with a sitter and we headed back. Talking with the owner, he told us we were in good company. This was the place favoured by Brian Mulroney, Jean Chretien and Jean Charest among others. No doubt Trudeau would use it if he were alive. This was really no surprise to me. Jennifer has expensive tastes.

While we waited for our salesman, the owner of the shop made us a fine americano with a high-end Miele espresso machine. Actually, I think I pointedly asked for one. I was starting to crash, and we were about to commit to several thousand dollars so I figured a couple espressos weren't out of order.

We got a solid deal on everything. They outdid the previous pricing we had somewhere else and we're happier with the products.

American Range 36" gas stove and oven with a matching VentaHood pro cover .

Along with a Kitchen-Aid counter-depth fridge. They're adding custom handles and frame to match everything else. We also got a Dacor built-in dishwasher and a microwave and a garburator. Our salesman almost had us convinced to buy a big-ass gas barbecue but we controlled ourselves. Costco will do for that purchase. Anyway, Jennifer worked her magic and we got a great price on things, solid rebates. So we dropped a deposit and now it will all sit at their shop for the next 6 or 7 months.

Next week, the surveyor goes over the property. It's an old lot so it'll be interesting to see where the lines land.

We own a house

So it's almost done. The papers are signed, contracts exchanged. We now own a magnificent 1916 semi-detached home in Montreal's NDG neighbourhood. We have one final hiccup that could derail everything. That part's out of our hands. Everything on our end is good. We're just waiting on some final legal details.

It's a solid house that requires lots of renos. So we aren't moving in for at least 7 months. At the earliest.

We had to move fast on this. We bid well above asking. We decided that we definitely wanted the house and made a bid that we felt would guarantee success without overpaying. 6 other offers went in and our strategy paid off.

Even as we were going through inspection, more offers kept coming in. This made us nervous to move things along and remove subjects, etc. And so finally, our offer was locked.

It's gonna need a lotta love. The front deck and porch needs to be rebuilt.

North-West view from the Master

The deck and porch run 9' out from the house. Massive. And oddly, it's the only upper deck on the entire street. All the houses come from the same period, but this is the only one that had an upper deck included.

We're gonna keep many of the original details:

Original 1916 plaster work on the dining room walls.

Great brass chandelier. Maybe move to the foyer?

Original tile work in the front entry.

Stairway landing light fixture. It'll need updating but we're keeping it.

Original lead glass door to front entry.

Follow along and you can watch our progress. If everything goes according to plan, the house will be ours on June 9th. Jennifer is getting the trades lined up. They all seem excited by the project since it's a pretty big job for them. Here's a few more photos on the house. Expect many more as we go forward:

God lives across the street.

Gotta rebuild it. But the original posts can stay.

1940s details in the living room.

Nightmare backyard. We'll deal with this next summer.

1940s tile work in upstairs bathroom.

Kitchen ceiling. Fun!

Lots of the doors have the glass knobs.

Lead glass details at the front entry and the closet.

Fireplace. We're converting to gas and building out. It's too shallow.

View from our upper deck.

Main floor stairs.

Basement. This needs to be stripped completely.

Gotta rebuild. That claw tub is gonna go...somewhere.

View from backyard. Deck needs to be rebuilt.

Sun room on top floor.

Back view from sun room. 

Original tile work in old bathroom. Sadly we aren't keeping it. This will all be converted to Master ensuite.

Street view

Stay tuned for more...