Well, well Montrealers (and others from Quebec, like me!) we are awfully quiet aren't we??

To break the ice, let me start by saying Hello! This is my first Cure, though I have followed those from the last two years...I hope to get quite a lot done in the next few weeks!!

Who else is in this time around?

Hi! I am a montrealer too and I just signed up. I bought a cute little condo by Parc LaFontaine over a year ago. I love it even though between the mortgage, student loan and rest of bills, i don't have the funds to do what i would like. But I will do what I can and I look forward to being here!

Nice to meet you girlfriendtd!

Hi Montreal!

Good luck on the Spring Cure and keep one another going (and feel free to pull your friends in).

It's great to finally have a place for local voices. Please let us know how it works for you.

Hello all! Bonjour a tous!

Thanks for breaking the ice girlfriendtd... I didn't want to post until I had "before" pics taken. I've posted them on the main flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/homecure/

I just moved to the city, so I'm hoping to fix up my apartment as well as explore and get to know the local thrift shops in the process. I'm also trying to (mostly) work with what I've got. If you have any great recommendations for great local thrift sources post 'em here!

I've put an object outside, made a list of repairs, and bought flowers this morning... going to mop today and clear all the old salt pellets from winter out of my entranceway.

Hello! Not from Montreal, but Ottawa which is close enough.
I'm in my first apartment which is a Victorian home's basement, so I am starting nearly from scratch and trying to make this teensy space a good and comfy place to cook, paint, sew, and just relax.
Plants and furniture are well over taken care of, but I have yet to search out the repairs needed.
I'm only going to be here a year, so I'm into bring it with me improvements or ones that I can not invest too much in and leave here. My focus points are my kitchen (big but ugly) my bathroom (hockey tape caulking? Seriously!) and my bedroom. My living/dining area is pretty nice, but I am hoping to make my studio more efficient.
I'll get some of my semi-before pics up soon.

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips from the book on the kitchen. I ordered from Chapters/Indigo but it hasn't arrived yet.
My kitchen is going to be my hardest room, and will likely continue work into later weeks. I have a few little shelving construction plans in mind, but other than that, I'm at a loss for ideas.

Quick description: 10x10 (including all counters) faded looking white square. The cabinets are laminate with those long wood handles that make a stripe on the bottom of the doors., off white laminate counters, that have been used as cutting boards at some point. Appliances are off white with dark wood handles, floor is off white and very stained. It looks like someone has dropped heavy knifes on areas.

There is a very deep window above the sink that I use for herbs, and I already have a knife magnet. My color scheme seems to be green/yellow from the plants and the fresh colors of all of my hand towels. I'm renting, so 'neutral' is important, and I prefer things that are inexpensive or that I can take with me when I move.

Any suggestions are welcome. As a usually inspired person, I am quite blank on this!

Hi all!

It's week 2! Here's what's in the book for this week:

Deep Treatment:
Fix one thing in your apartment yourself.
Clean your kitchen from top to bottom and thow away old food.
Buy a water filter and use it.
Run your hands over every wall in your apartment.
Clear space for an outbox.
Clear one surface and use the outbox.
Buy fresh flowers.
Determine your style.
Find a new recipe and cook one meal at home.
Choose the date of your housewarming.

What's everyone up to?

@ Nolan: The book doesn't have a lot of specifics regarding kitchens per se, but does talk a lot about making spaces work for you. This is especially true of the kitchen! So above all, think about what will make it a more comfortable and functional place to cook.

For the chopped up counters, I might suggest buying a couple nice big butcher blocks and laying them over the worst sections – useful and portable. A rug might do the trick for the floor.

Hello All!

Looks like my message concerning a Montreal group on Flickr has been delented... That's sad! Anyways, I had a question for your about Eco-friendly products brands, in case you have any suggestions on where to find real good ones...

I have been doing repairs by myself this week, like putting contact paper on my kitchen countertop which now looks fab! I have also replaced the floor in my laundry room/closet.

This weekend, I'll be working on the kitchen task & I will be trying a new recipe with friends as we all gather for a lunch after yoga. Can't wait!

@ christine_z: what is your style? I'm very much into the 50s style and my favourite thrift stores are Cité Déco and Jack's (on Amherst Street), Couleurs (on St.Denis), Village des Valeurs (there's one at the corner of Pie IV and Ontario), Armée du Salut (the one on St.Hubert) and Friperie Renaissance (there are several stores in Rosemont, Villeray, Hochelaga, etc.). Good luck!

@ IsabelleS: Those are GREAT recommendations! I am looking for two nice, solid wooden dining room chairs with arms, so will check them out in the next few weeks.

I was actually at Village des Valeurs on Sunday. I went to the one on Jean Talon W - is there one that's better than others?

I'm so glad to see others in Montreal doing The Cure! Sadly I'm not able to really start yet since I'll be moving for May 1st. For now I'll be doing a huge declutter and putting a lot of my furniture on freecycle before the move and gathering some ideas and getting inspired.

I'm moving to a studio apartment from a 4 1/2 that I now share with a roommate. I'll have to be well organized and clutter free since my baby will be joining me in September! It's a challenge but I'm up for it!