I have since upgraded from sitting on the floor to now typing this from a desk in my new studio (but no chair yet 😅) I've never done a home series of this scale before so let me know if there are things you'd like me to cover 👀 I want every episode to be better than the last with your input. Many thanks to this video's sponsor, visit www.birchliving.com/withwendy to get $400 off your Birch mattress plus two free pillows! If it weren't for our faithful good night's rest on our Birch mattress we might never have the energy to finish this home makeover #BirchLiving
I am in Toronto, too, and would love to know about the experience of finding a contractor and creating a plan. Did you use an architect or engineer at all? I want to renovate the basement in a similarly aged house and am totally lost, so any insights would be appreciated on my part :)
Sometimes in watching renovation videos I get anxious about the decisions people will make (this makes no sense ik!), but realized half-way through this video that I felt so calm, and so sure that you were going to make this space beautiful, vibrant, welcoming. Did not before realize the absolute trust i have in your aesthetics!!
This is so relatable 🤣 Why are we that invested in other people's home renovations? But I agree, I trust Wendy so much, and everything she's showed so far is inspirational rather than worrying ❤❤❤
That is so immensely kind because I very much feel like that swimming swan analogy where the surface may appear calm but there is a flurry of feet wiggling underwater 😂
I love how excited you are about the process yet so calm and humble. Most home renovations I've seen, people become so cocky and rude even to their partners in having an opinion... but you're aware that you don't know correct terminologies and you're learning and asking your husband his opinion it's really sweet... you're vibe is so warm hearted 💓. I'm sure that new home is filled with love.
I love your style of recording/editing. You show a house ripped apart and somehow I find calmness in all the reno.. also the inspo for the powder room is gorgeous.
I've lived in an old house that my parents having been trying to DIY since I was in 5th grade (just graduated college) and they gave up trying to fix it a few years back since neither of them had the DIY spirit, just the cheap spirit so it makes me happy when people get to have their dream homes renovated properly.
I avoid a lot of home reno content because it can feel stressful - the decisions, the costs, the Ontario housing market in general ... But you brought that sense of thoughtfulness and calm from your other videos and I look forward to enjoying the rest of this series (even if it makes me think about all the renovations I'm putting off :) ).
I love how your house is turning out so far with the open concept areas and wide arched doorways. And I think it is great that you are being careful to preserve the wonderful and beautiful historical elements of the home.
oh my gosh i don’t know if someone’s already said it but be careful with toxic paint. i’m not sure how the upkeep of your house was and what they decided to do with that issue, but i recently did a project on learning about toxic paint and over 80% of homes ~100 yrs ago were made with toxic (mainly lead based) paints. and it can also cause some allergens in people (along with pets). no criticism towards you, but i would wish to make sure everyone is staying safe and the idea of toxic paint has been taken into account ☺️ have a wonderful day/night
That's so cool, I hope you are loving the improvements that you have made so far! I have yet to do anything with my house after living 1.5 years here, but I figure I will take my time with it to make it the way I want it to be.
Like Marla, I am hyperventilating with excitement over this series. Good luck with all your renovations! I hope all your surprises will have cheap solutions (highly unlikely, but here's to hoping).
YAAY, MORE WENDY!! Thank you for keeping us updated and for taking us shopping with you! I had to *gasp* at 18:10 because I grew up with doorknobs like those, and I LOVED them! 😍 Unfortunately, my dad can't remember what he did with them when they demo-ed my childhood home to build their dream home (also bittersweet, but their dream home was so much better, so....) or else I would have those on my doors right now. He definitely would have saved them since he's a Depression Baby, and they never threw anything away. 🤭 The stairway looks so good, and I love how savvy your contractor was about reusing the baseboards. I'll bet he already has some ideas in mind to mimic the existing baseboards when he has to put in new ones in Marla's room. Best of luck with everything Reno related, and lots of love to you and your beautiful family from Pennsylvania!
Reno's are exaughsting. We bought a 100 yr old home and did some reno's. Kudo's to you for doing it with a baby!! Looking forward to seeing the completed tour. :)
Hi Wendy! Sending so much love for your new home!! As someone who grew up in an old home, I just wanted to remind you to get your water and paint lead levels checked! Infants are especially vulnerable
Love, love love the video Wendy!!! The way it's been edited and your 'live' voice over, the Jane Austenesque music and tone in your historical commentary. Also loved the “Dan insights/ in sight/in sighs“ (you see it seems we share a knack for improbable puns). We got so much more than the typical renovation video (which I'm a fan of to begin with). I have to admit I've been following you whilst not owning any sewing machine (hahaha) because I simply like the combination of your content/aesthetics and general tone of your channel. But NOW milady, you've entered full fledge into the realm of my possibilities; so indeed, I shall give my undivided attention to the ones to follow, especially given your solemn vow to make each better than the previous one! Loads of love to you and your family xxx
I gasped at your walkthrough at The Door Store! Everything is so gorgeous and detailed! I want to go shopping there so badly. But I’m in Europe so I was visually shopping alongside you 🛍
A big follower of your channel from your sewing, creativity and now as a home owner. I do know that your background is a huge influence on your choices and it is amazing how the home, not house, is moving forward. Good luck on the rest of the renovation and looking forward to future video’s. Take care of your lovely family and yes you. Looking forward to more motivation in creativity.
I love this type of content (design / making home / thrifting) but mostly I just love you and your whole vibe! I'm looking forward to the coming episodes to see it come together bit by bit!
Omg I love this video so much that I can’t even describe how much I love it. Definitely going to be a video I would not stop rewatching for years to come. Just like your bullet journal videos too.
Seeing your baseboard moving reminds me of how irritated I still am that our builder threw out all our original picture rails (when taking out some walls) and added in random new ones that don't match. I only realised when I was repainting. Still irritating 27 years later 😂
You're talking to the wrong person about getting rid of the green. I thought it was your new choice. I love that green. I love going through old reclamation stores, and you get to buy and keep some old door knobs, yay! Have fun doing the remodel. It's not easy with a babe.
RE: The Evergiven (that one big ship) got stuck in Suez Canal it actually still impacts markets to this day, especially (probably even mainly, I'm not sure on that) because of the pandemic wreaking havoc on supply chains already. A lot got delayed (imagine how many other big big ships were forced around the Suez canal, delaying huuuuge amounts of goods to all corners of the world. Together with harbours straight up closing down due to quarantene), things are still a little bumpy. Not catastrophic but I wanted to share this. It is truly mind-boggling how complex trade and good traffic + supply have become.
Wow this renovation looks so clean and organised compared to the one in our house, and we're only doing minor renovations to two places in the house but you'd swear the entire place is being renovated...the entire lounge area is flooded with everything that had to be removed before the kitchen cupboards got removed, i.e plates, cups, groceries, ppts, pans, etc...
I know so much time and video editing went into this video but I was sad to see it end. 😊😉 I simply love to see a home come together. Marla has grown so much! Thank you for an inside peek at your journey to home. ❤️❤️
I love that your husband was totally here for the door store but didn't think about what he had to do there at alllllll hahahahaha my husband and I are the exact same! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and real part of your life. Always a pleasure on this corner of the internet 💕 cheers and blessings to you and yours 🌟
This video was so satisfying. Usually when I see a home renovation video, I feel like the homeowner is trying to squeeze too much content out of it and shows new changes at a snail’s pace (i.e. a video just for tearing down walls or a video just about doorknobs??) I like that you revealed a little more.
Thank you Wendy for the most enjoyable vlog I’ve watched in a while!🤍🌷✨ your editing style gives me major Wes Anderson vibes and I’m absolutely 1000% here for it🫶 (also Marla is the most gorgeous little bebe) 🐝
Wendy! This is so exciting! Well, from my end. I know it must be a bit nerve-wracking for you. Renovating an old home as opposed to a new build is my peanut butter and JAM! I love how thoughtful you are to try to meld the old and new, that you are realistic and open-minded to old house reno surprises and how sentimental you are to leaving your apartment. I can relate. I think the photo shoot in the ‘middle’ stages of renovation is so smart. Cause you’re right, when the renovation is done much of it will be covered up. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to watching how that house becomes your HOME. Love to you, Dan, Marla and Sagwa (is that spelled correctly?)💗
Ah I really liked this! Am excited for the next parts! Really love home renovation things, just seeing how things are changed and how that changes the whole vibe of the house. Although for me it still years away, I am already dreaming about what to do with a house, guess that is why I like building in the sims :P. I really liked that you put it slowly paced, just talking through, explaining everything.
So satisfying! Thank you! (I am an interior designer and balancing desires with a budget is nearly ALWAYS what we do. Your choices look perfect, no apologies!)
I looooove this and can’t wait for part 2! It will be quite a while before my partner and I buy and customize a house of our own, so watching you go through this process is very fun in the meantime ❤
Looooooooved this video! 💖 You have such a good taste and I trust everything will look so beautiful at the end! ✨ And Marla is the cutest baby I've ever seen!! 🥺🥰
Renovation prices… 😩 Spare a thought for us Australians. Here material prices are high for all the same reasons you listed, PLUS the 2020 bushfires mean we still have a massive timber shortage… it’s grim 🙁
I used to date someone in this house. It's really weird to see physical memories being reformed in such a physical way. But I hope that your life here is full of beautiful memories.
I have since upgraded from sitting on the floor to now typing this from a desk in my new studio (but no chair yet 😅) I've never done a home series of this scale before so let me know if there are things you'd like me to cover 👀 I want every episode to be better than the last with your input. Many thanks to this video's sponsor, visit www.birchliving.com/withwendy to get $400 off your Birch mattress plus two free pillows! If it weren't for our faithful good night's rest on our Birch mattress we might never have the energy to finish this home makeover #BirchLiving
I am in Toronto, too, and would love to know about the experience of finding a contractor and creating a plan. Did you use an architect or engineer at all? I want to renovate the basement in a similarly aged house and am totally lost, so any insights would be appreciated on my part :)
Sometimes in watching renovation videos I get anxious about the decisions people will make (this makes no sense ik!), but realized half-way through this video that I felt so calm, and so sure that you were going to make this space beautiful, vibrant, welcoming. Did not before realize the absolute trust i have in your aesthetics!!
this actually makes too much sense to me!!
It's also her voice. Trust me on this one. She could definitely get a side job as a voice-over actress in a heartbeat! 🤭
This is so relatable 🤣 Why are we that invested in other people's home renovations? But I agree, I trust Wendy so much, and everything she's showed so far is inspirational rather than worrying ❤❤❤
I feel like that too!
That is so immensely kind because I very much feel like that swimming swan analogy where the surface may appear calm but there is a flurry of feet wiggling underwater 😂
I love Marla’s snow suit! She looks like a mushroom 🥺🥺🥺
yes! mushie baby! the cutest!
I long to have a snowsuit like hers so badly
The house is being built with love and it shows
The tile joke at @8:25 🤣🤣🤣 I was like Wendy you didn't lol. Also Marla is always too cute 😍
Haha I had to rewind!
Same 😂😂
YES to the Arrested Development opening credits. Love that!
Marla is possibly the cutest baby I've ever seen!
So happy for you and your family!
I LOVE this Arrested Development style intro. It's really so much fun seeing the progress you are making with the house.
I love how excited you are about the process yet so calm and humble. Most home renovations I've seen, people become so cocky and rude even to their partners in having an opinion... but you're aware that you don't know correct terminologies and you're learning and asking your husband his opinion it's really sweet... you're vibe is so warm hearted 💓. I'm sure that new home is filled with love.
Ooh the addition of a linen closet was so satisfying…and that black marble in the powder room? So luxe! Your inspo pick was everything!
So excited for this series! The 2nd hand shops you have in Canada are amazing, there's nothing even close where I live. Can't wait for the next vid!
I love your style of recording/editing.
You show a house ripped apart and somehow I find calmness in all the reno.. also the inspo for the powder room is gorgeous.
I've lived in an old house that my parents having been trying to DIY since I was in 5th grade (just graduated college) and they gave up trying to fix it a few years back since neither of them had the DIY spirit, just the cheap spirit so it makes me happy when people get to have their dream homes renovated properly.
The tile store looked like a literal museum 🤩
Also.. Dan’s reaction to the 2nd Handles joke 🤣❤️ A dad’s reaction to a dad joke!
Loveeeed the Arrested Development-esque intro. Amazing editing Wendy! So excited to follow along on this new adventure!
I avoid a lot of home reno content because it can feel stressful - the decisions, the costs, the Ontario housing market in general ... But you brought that sense of thoughtfulness and calm from your other videos and I look forward to enjoying the rest of this series (even if it makes me think about all the renovations I'm putting off :) ).
a brilliant photo shoot idea!!! so looking forward to seeing all the progress
I love how your house is turning out so far with the open concept areas and wide arched doorways. And I think it is great that you are being careful to preserve the wonderful and beautiful historical elements of the home.
oh my gosh i don’t know if someone’s already said it but be careful with toxic paint. i’m not sure how the upkeep of your house was and what they decided to do with that issue, but i recently did a project on learning about toxic paint and over 80% of homes ~100 yrs ago were made with toxic (mainly lead based) paints. and it can also cause some allergens in people (along with pets). no criticism towards you, but i would wish to make sure everyone is staying safe and the idea of toxic paint has been taken into account ☺️ have a wonderful day/night
Lol loved the tiles getting 'laid' joke - thank you for sharing your process!!!
We are almost a year into slowly DIY renovating our first home and I feel "sort by price" SO HARD
That's so cool, I hope you are loving the improvements that you have made so far! I have yet to do anything with my house after living 1.5 years here, but I figure I will take my time with it to make it the way I want it to be.
solidarity for sort by price! 🫡
I feel like you and Rachel Macksey would bond real hard over redoing your own homes and sewing!
Like Marla, I am hyperventilating with excitement over this series. Good luck with all your renovations! I hope all your surprises will have cheap solutions (highly unlikely, but here's to hoping).
YAAY, MORE WENDY!! Thank you for keeping us updated and for taking us shopping with you! I had to *gasp* at 18:10 because I grew up with doorknobs like those, and I LOVED them! 😍 Unfortunately, my dad can't remember what he did with them when they demo-ed my childhood home to build their dream home (also bittersweet, but their dream home was so much better, so....) or else I would have those on my doors right now. He definitely would have saved them since he's a Depression Baby, and they never threw anything away. 🤭 The stairway looks so good, and I love how savvy your contractor was about reusing the baseboards. I'll bet he already has some ideas in mind to mimic the existing baseboards when he has to put in new ones in Marla's room. Best of luck with everything Reno related, and lots of love to you and your beautiful family from Pennsylvania!
Reno's are exaughsting. We bought a 100 yr old home and did some reno's. Kudo's to you for doing it with a baby!! Looking forward to seeing the completed tour. :)
Being a part of this journey with you is lovely, Wendy! Thank you ❤️
Hi Wendy! Sending so much love for your new home!! As someone who grew up in an old home, I just wanted to remind you to get your water and paint lead levels checked! Infants are especially vulnerable
Love, love love the video Wendy!!! The way it's been edited and your 'live' voice over, the Jane Austenesque music and tone in your historical commentary. Also loved the “Dan insights/ in sight/in sighs“ (you see it seems we share a knack for improbable puns). We got so much more than the typical renovation video (which I'm a fan of to begin with). I have to admit I've been following you whilst not owning any sewing machine (hahaha) because I simply like the combination of your content/aesthetics and general tone of your channel. But NOW milady, you've entered full fledge into the realm of my possibilities; so indeed, I shall give my undivided attention to the ones to follow, especially given your solemn vow to make each better than the previous one! Loads of love to you and your family xxx
I gasped at your walkthrough at The Door Store! Everything is so gorgeous and detailed! I want to go shopping there so badly. But I’m in Europe so I was visually shopping alongside you 🛍
A big follower of your channel from your sewing, creativity and now as a home owner. I do know that your background is a huge influence on your choices and it is amazing how the home, not house, is moving forward. Good luck on the rest of the renovation and looking forward to future video’s. Take care of your lovely family and yes you. Looking forward to more motivation in creativity.
Arrested development style intro is fantastic
I grew up with the glass door knobs. Love seeing you all renovate your new home.
I love this type of content (design / making home / thrifting) but mostly I just love you and your whole vibe! I'm looking forward to the coming episodes to see it come together bit by bit!
The arrested development style intro was 🤌🏾🤌🏾
The Birch footage is so precious! I’m sold…
The intro part of this video was so beautiful and I love following along with the renovations and how it's becoming more and more of a home to you
What a dream to own a house in Toronto. I'm jelly. So happy for you and I love watching your journey in reno-ville.
marla’s snow suit made me giggle a little bit, she’s so cute 🥹🫶🏽
Omg I love this video so much that I can’t even describe how much I love it. Definitely going to be a video I would not stop rewatching for years to come. Just like your bullet journal videos too.
Seeing your baseboard moving reminds me of how irritated I still am that our builder threw out all our original picture rails (when taking out some walls) and added in random new ones that don't match. I only realised when I was repainting. Still irritating 27 years later 😂
THE INTRO IS EVERYTHING
Marla is adorable!
The house is coming along and looking great!!!
You're talking to the wrong person about getting rid of the green. I thought it was your new choice. I love that green. I love going through old reclamation stores, and you get to buy and keep some old door knobs, yay! Have fun doing the remodel. It's not easy with a babe.
RE: The Evergiven (that one big ship) got stuck in Suez Canal
it actually still impacts markets to this day, especially (probably even mainly, I'm not sure on that) because of the pandemic wreaking havoc on supply chains already. A lot got delayed (imagine how many other big big ships were forced around the Suez canal, delaying huuuuge amounts of goods to all corners of the world.
Together with harbours straight up closing down due to quarantene), things are still a little bumpy. Not catastrophic but I wanted to share this. It is truly mind-boggling how complex trade and good traffic + supply have become.
The intro was AMAZING
Wow this renovation looks so clean and organised compared to the one in our house, and we're only doing minor renovations to two places in the house but you'd swear the entire place is being renovated...the entire lounge area is flooded with everything that had to be removed before the kitchen cupboards got removed, i.e plates, cups, groceries, ppts, pans, etc...
I know so much time and video editing went into this video but I was sad to see it end. 😊😉 I simply love to see a home come together. Marla has grown so much! Thank you for an inside peek at your journey to home. ❤️❤️
Love the Arrested Developed style opening :D
I am utterly in love with your tiles, they are stunning!
I love that your husband was totally here for the door store but didn't think about what he had to do there at alllllll hahahahaha my husband and I are the exact same! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and real part of your life. Always a pleasure on this corner of the internet 💕 cheers and blessings to you and yours 🌟
This video was so satisfying. Usually when I see a home renovation video, I feel like the homeowner is trying to squeeze too much content out of it and shows new changes at a snail’s pace (i.e. a video just for tearing down walls or a video just about doorknobs??) I like that you revealed a little more.
Thank you Wendy for the most enjoyable vlog I’ve watched in a while!🤍🌷✨ your editing style gives me major Wes Anderson vibes and I’m absolutely 1000% here for it🫶 (also Marla is the most gorgeous little bebe) 🐝
Wendy this was such a lovely video! Thanks for sharing all your home updates with us, looking forward to following along!
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS! So happy for you guys, it’s gonna be amazing!!! My new favourite mini series on UA-cam. 😍
Wendy! This is so exciting! Well, from my end. I know it must be a bit nerve-wracking for you. Renovating an old home as opposed to a new build is my peanut butter and JAM! I love how thoughtful you are to try to meld the old and new, that you are realistic and open-minded to old house reno surprises and how sentimental you are to leaving your apartment. I can relate. I think the photo shoot in the ‘middle’ stages of renovation is so smart. Cause you’re right, when the renovation is done much of it will be covered up. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to watching how that house becomes your HOME. Love to you, Dan, Marla and Sagwa (is that spelled correctly?)💗
Ah I really liked this! Am excited for the next parts! Really love home renovation things, just seeing how things are changed and how that changes the whole vibe of the house. Although for me it still years away, I am already dreaming about what to do with a house, guess that is why I like building in the sims :P. I really liked that you put it slowly paced, just talking through, explaining everything.
So satisfying! Thank you! (I am an interior designer and balancing desires with a budget is nearly ALWAYS what we do. Your choices look perfect, no apologies!)
Rewatching now and I just can’t shut up about how much I love the video and the edits and idk I just love you and Dan. 🙆🏻♀️
I looooove this and can’t wait for part 2! It will be quite a while before my partner and I buy and customize a house of our own, so watching you go through this process is very fun in the meantime ❤
The way I squinted at the screen when I saw your photographer's name is Whitney heard😂
Looooooooved this video! 💖 You have such a good taste and I trust everything will look so beautiful at the end! ✨ And Marla is the cutest baby I've ever seen!! 🥺🥰
I love the idea of used handles!
I love the black light/fan.?? hanging from the ceiling...
It's looking amazing.. and OH MY GOODNESS.. THE DOOR STORE!! I love their IG account so much
Renovation prices… 😩 Spare a thought for us Australians. Here material prices are high for all the same reasons you listed, PLUS the 2020 bushfires mean we still have a massive timber shortage… it’s grim 🙁
Love watching your house come together and the process! Can’t wait for it to be done to see the final result. It’s going to look beautiful!
You’re making lots of progress. Looking great!
i went “ohh my godd” at all the tiles u showed cause they were so pretty😭
This is so exciting to see the changes and I can't wait for the final reveal!
this reminds me when me and my husband were renovating our house + planning our wedding. So happy the Reno is finally over 🤣
I HAVE MISSED YOU SO MUCH! THIS WAS SO EXCITING TO REFRESH MY PAGE TO!
so excited for this series!! really hope the sorry girls can come collab with u again.
This is so exciting. Thank you for sharing this new adventure with us! Sending love 💕
Thanks for posting this one! It gave me hope someday we'll also be done with our apartment reno (prices are crazy, had to do all by ourselves)
The excitement for the niche was everything ❤️💚🥰
That was an Arrested Development reference at the beginning, right?! Wooo
I was thibking for the beams at the stairs you could also add small horizontal bits and have cute shelfing
I'M SO SO EXCITED FOR THIS SERIES!!!! 💚💚💚
Loved this video!!! The editing was gorgeous
So fun to see the changes. Good luck.
What a wonderful photoshoot
I used to date someone in this house. It's really weird to see physical memories being reformed in such a physical way. But I hope that your life here is full of beautiful memories.
I love this!! Also LOL at your “tiles getting laid” joke 😂
Marla is literally the cutest!!
Im sorry but little Marla hyperventilating over books is THE BEST THING I've seen this year😭😭😊😍😍😅😅
I loved this video so much!!! So calming... Thank you for sharing this process with us.
the editing is just 🤌🏻👌🏼
Omg the arrested development intro…. LOVE
whaaaa, I love this series so much already!
Got to the end and was sad…. Lol excited for next video!
Marla getting so big and more cute!
Love your outfit and your home. Thanks for sharing this sweetie.
This was awesome, thank you for sharing your experiences with us.
That vintage store!!!
ahh the arrested development inspo in the intro we love to see it !!
This is amazing! Love the series already!
AHHHHH I LOVE THIS !!!!! can’t wait to see the next installment!
I flippin love all videos reno. So excited to see how You tackled it ❤️❤️❤️
that tile shop looks like a museum
your voice is so calm🥰
I have doorknob envy, thanks Wendy
Jokes aside, excited to see the changes to your place unfold!