home renovation – Francois et Moi

Tips for Saving Money During Your Renovations

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 18:46:26 +0000

This post is sponsored by American Express Personal Loans. All opinions are my own. Three years ago, Ken and I bought our first home: a duplex. A two-unit home where we planned to live on the main floor and lease out the 1-bedroom apartment upstairs. It was a charming 1930’s Tudor in Minneapolis that didn’t look like a duplex from the outside (which I loved!) It was well cared for but was old and needed updating. In Minneapolis, nice duplex properties run at a premium, because there just aren’t that many of them that go up for sale. We jumped at this awesome opportunity, full well knowing we had our renovation work cut out for us. Even before signing the purchase agreement, we had a list of projects we wanted to tackle to create a home that suited our tastes and our 21st Century lifestyle, while remaining a safe space for us and our tenant to call home. We got to work right away, updating both kitchens, and addressing peeling paint inside and out. Over time, we added board and batten in Sylvie’s room, installed a murphy bed in the office, and created a paver patio and garden in the […]

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Francois Renovates: 2016 Home Projects (Before & After!)

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Dec 2016 14:00:29 +0000

With a full year of home projects under our belts (and because I’m pregnant and unapologetically sentimental right now), I decided to take a look back through everything we’ve tackled in this house so far. Seeing it all rounded up in one place, I almost couldn’t believe how far we’ve come since closing in July of 2015. Though much of the main kitchen and the upstairs apartment kitchen renovations (we have an upstairs apartment that we rent out) were tackled at the end of 2015, finishing touches and the actual blog posts went up in 2016, so I decided to include these spaces as well. I’ve linked each before/after pairing back to the original post in case you want to see more or are looking for a product source. I hope you enjoy the walk back through this year’s home projects as much as I did! Main Kitchen Renovation Living Room Makeover Dining Room Makeover Upstairs Apartment Re-design Backyard Re-Design (Apartment Therapy Renovation Diary) Photo Credit: Kory Kevin Studio Guest Room / Office Makeover Think this post is worth a read? Please share! Francois Renovates: 2016 Before & AftersClick To Tweet Follow

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Claire & Jeffrey’s Inspiring Kitchen Reno

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:08:58 +0000

Since Ken and I started seriously talking about buying/renovating in Minneapolis, I’ve developed a heightened sense of awareness for home renovation stories, especially those with impeccable style! In April 2013, fellow Minneapolites, Claire and Jeffrey shared their DIY Kitchen renovation with Apartment Therapy, and not only was I brimming with Minneapolis pride to see these two local creatives featured on one of the original lifestyle and design blogs, but also super inspired by their kitchen’s massive overhaul and transformation. Check out their entire reno process, budget! and more before/after shots here! Before: After: I love that they committed to saving and restoring many of the home’s original elements. The hardwood floors, mouldings, and backdoor are beautiful details that nod to the home’s history while the modern details keep it feeling light and fresh. My favorite details are the Tandem Made live edge walnut shelf, the DIY concrete countertops, and the Schoolhouse Electric Sconce (shown in the first image). A truly inspiring transformation; hats off to Claire and Jeffrey! Photos via Apartment Therapy.

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