Monday 1 June 2020

The skinny on the BIG: Before Version of my latest BIG project.

                         The BIGNESS of the Exterior-2015 Ridge road W., Shanty Bay, Ontario

I've owned it since December.  Didn't even start doing anything until February. Meandered around the project in March. Got going in April. Moved in in May. Am I done? Not by a long shot. I've only just begun!

You may be asking if Margaret fell off the face of the earth. I've had very little presence on social media since my mom died. I bought this property just outside of Barrie in November. Before Covid changed all out lives, I began a huge project of renovating this very dated property consisting of a 3 bedroom house and another building I plan to turn into a studio/gallery. I have a vision, and hope I can make it really as spectacular as my dreams visualize for me.

What? A home and a gallery. You may be asking if Margaret fell of the face of the earth. I've had very little presence on social media since my mom died. I bought this property just outside of Barrie in November. Before Covid changed all out lives, I began a huge project of renovating this very dated property consisting of a 3 bedroom house and another building I plan to turn into a studio/gallery. I have a vision, and hope I can make it really as spectacular as my dreams visualize for me.
Where? Shanty Bay, Ontario.
Why? A girls' gotta live somewhere. it's very close to why 11, so easy from Toronto. lots of trees, charming neighbourhood, proximity to a large body of water. A place to live. A place to paint.
When? vaguely, owned since December, but moved in May.
How? Waiting, and luck.



ok. The obvious question. Why does the front face of your house not have windows? I suspect the previous owners wanted privacy from the busy road. not sure. Apparently the building used ot be a butcher shop.




The before version of the back of the house. really charming back yard, surrounded by big tall Pine trees. Lauren Harris pines, grandiose, gorgeous. There's a circular garden bed that's quite lovely and surprising me every day as new miracles pop up.



This is definitely the before. all wall to wall carpet: now gone. Fireplace workable? Nope. Not doing that anymore. Plans to change to a gas insert, yet to be done.



This area wins the award for most potential, the possibility to go from the most dramatically  overgrown and slummy, to spectacular, classy and gorgeous. The spectacular is still to come, but if you visit, you'll see it right away.



At long, long last. Dare I say it? My own studio Gallery. 350 square feet on each of two levels. WIP.



On a lovely May day, sun, gardens, grand pines, the back of my studio gallery.

This is my proof to you, of the before version of my house. I have many pics of the inside, but there are already a lot here. If you want to see therefore pics of the inside, let me know and I will add. Since ownership and through the winter, I've been working on making the inside livable, hoping to be done inside as the weather got nicer. Basically though, I have my work cut out for me. The place is semi-livable. Then, I turned to the other building: I am hoping in a week or so, i'll be moving my painting gear and many paintings into the studio. working on it now!
Stay tuned.