BUILDING
my NEST
Behind the build: the real-life journey of designing, renovating, and personalizing my own space.
I’m a designer, renovator, and relentless problem-solver with a soft spot for old houses and a knack for making them shine. This is where I share the real-life side of home transformations: the wins, the messes, the lessons learned, and the moments that make it all worth it. If you love a good before-and-after, want tips from someone who’s lived through the dust, or just enjoy following a renovation adventure, you’re in the right place.
Follow along here and on Instagram to see what I’m cooking up next!
THE DOUBLE LIFE OF A DESIGNER (Or… Maybe I’m Clark Kent? 🤓🦸♀️)
You know those Instagram-perfect design feeds where everything is styled, serene, and spotless?
Yeah… this isn’t that post.
✧ My closet is organized by rainbow.
✧ I love pretty details.
✧ Most days, I look very “put together.”
Would We Do It All Again? Lessons From Using Our New Kitchen Every Day
I spent a lot of time thinking about how we use the kitchen and what we need to store. Every inch was thought out:
Drawers, drawers, drawers — as many as possible, with dividers and inserts to maximize every square inch.
Pull-outs for spices and spatulas.
A 4-bin pull-out for garbage.
My Dad: The Man Who Reads the Manual (Because Of Course He Does)
If you’ve ever wondered who those thick product manuals are actually written for — it’s my dad.
He’s the guy who reads them cover to cover. For fun.
He’s also the guy who will happily spend hours (days, even) researching something online — a new car, a software update, the perfect cat name. (We once got a cat and he spent DAYS deep in research, only to proudly announce he’d chosen “Dusty” — for Dusty Springfield, naturally.)
That curiosity and love of learning has always been one of his most “classic dad” traits. If you asked a question at dinner, he might not know the answer right away — but you could bet that by the next morning, after hours of research at the computer, he’d have it ready to tell you (whether you still cared or not).
Which Design Picker Style Are You? (And Why It’s Sabotaging Your Selections)
Why do builder selections feel so overwhelming — even if you love design?
It’s not because you’re bad at decisions.
It’s not because you “don’t have an eye.”
And it’s definitely not because you need 17 more Pinterest boards.
The real culprit?
Your natural design “Picker Personality.”
Kitchen Reveal: What I Love Most About Our New Space
What is "done," really? As I write this (June 1st, 2025), there are still a few baseboards to fill and caulk, and a couple of paint touch-ups thanks to less-than-careful contractors. Chris and I always joke that our projects reach about 90% completion before we dive headfirst into the next one.
But in terms of professional work, the project truly wrapped when the quartz backsplash was installed in March 2024.
Living Through the Mess: How We Built Our Dream Kitchen (One Weekend at a Time)
There was no time wasted in this reno! We rolled straight from demo into building. Our microwave conveniently died just before demo started, so we were working with a toaster oven for the duration—which definitely kept us motivated to move fast.
What 20 Years in Fast-Paced Manufacturing Taught Me About Designing a Cohesive Home
I’ll admit it — I don’t really need moodboards. I can assemble an entire space in my head and see how it will come together. (Chris finds this equal parts impressive and annoying — he’s more of a “visual learner.” I'm more, you know, I see dead people… except it’s tile, lighting, and cabinet pulls floating in my mind.)
But here’s the thing: moodboards aren’t about me — they’re about helping clients make faster, better decisions.
And as someone who’s spent 20 years making fast, critical decisions in the medical device manufacturing world (where lives are literally on the line if you hesitate), I know the value of a good process.
Why We Transformed Our Home’s Exterior (and What Had to Come Down First)
When we bought this house in October 2021, I knew from day one that big changes were coming. It was a sweet, quiet neighbourhood with river access (well… quiet until we discovered we were under a flight path — thanks, pandemic-era real estate!). The house sat on a lovely half-acre lot with tons of potential — but from the street, it just wasn’t me.
A 1960s red brick home with a small hip roof and a late-80s addition that didn’t quite match, it had zero curb appeal. The front step led straight into the house with no space to sit and chat with neighbours — and certainly no spot to enjoy a Friday night beer in the summer.
Because of My Mom (A Mother’s Day Story from Behind the Brand)
I had a different post planned for this week.
But with Mother’s Day around the corner, I kept thinking about how much of what I do — and how I do it — was shaped by one person: my mom.
If you’ve followed Nest & Notion for any length of time, you’ve probably picked up on a few themes around here:
→ Home should feel like you, not like someone else’s Pinterest board.
→ A little creativity goes a long way.
→ You can figure out (or DIY) almost anything.
→ Bold choices are good choices.
Well — I didn’t pull those ideas out of thin air.
I grew up with them.
Behind the Brand: My Office & Studio Renovation
Welcome to the heart of Nest & Notion — this is the space where I plan, design, and create for my clients (and occasionally for myself and a cat or two).
This little room has seen some things over the years: once a bedroom, then a hybrid office/craft space, and eventually a full-on storage disaster zone while we tackled other renovations.
Why We Gutted Our Kitchen: The Before + Our Big Reno Plan
When we bought this house, I knew the kitchen was going to be the hardest thing to live with. Having come from brand new homes, stepping into an '80s galley kitchen — complete with flat panel doors, wood strip handles, and mismatched appliances — felt like going back in time. And not in a charming way.
Confessions of a Serial New Build Buyer: What I Wish I’d Known Before Picking My Finishes
Your Design Centre appointment is not the time to “figure it out.” It’s the time to execute — fast — on decisions that will lock in the entire look of your home.
And trust me — I’ve seen it happen: people walk in confident, then twenty minutes later their eyes are glazed, they’re stress-picking floors, and they just want to get out of there.
Here’s the truth: this is your HOME. It’s probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make (unless you’re buying a private jet — and if you are, call me from it so we can chat finishes for that too).
You deserve to walk out of your Design Centre appointment feeling excited — not full of regret. And I’m going to show you how to do just that.
From Engineering to Elbow Grease: The Story Behind Nest & Notion
If you’re here, you’re probably wondering who I am, what Nest & Notion is, and whether this is just another interiors blog full of trendy buzzwords and curated coffee table stacks.
Fair warning: it’s not.
I started Nest & Notion because I’ve lived the chaos. Not the Pinterest kind — the real kind. The kind with demo dust in your hair, wrong grout colours in your pantry (it’s definitely purple, and no one can convince me otherwise), and decision fatigue so bad you start questioning your own existence over faucet finishes.
After managing multiple renovations, designing three homes (and living in them), and turning two very broken rental properties into actually-livable spaces, I realized two things:
I love design.
I really love solving problems.
like what you
SEE?
LET’S DESIGN YOUR NEST TOGETHER
If you’ve enjoyed this peek inside my own nest and want to make your own project easier (and more beautiful) I’d love to help. Whether you’re dreaming big or just updating a few key spaces, I bring real-world renovation experience and a designer’s eye to every project.
Let’s create a home that feels as good as it looks and works beautifully for YOU.