I’m a Pisces and have always felt a sense of calm when around water. I love the ocean and the sounds of waves crashing on shore are like healing words being sung to my soul. Reflecting on that tonight, I found this quote and it resonates with me so much: “Half of me is filled with bursting words and half of me is painfully shy. I crave solitude yet also crave people. I want to pour life and love into everything yet also nurture my self-care and go gently. I want to live within the rush of primal, intuitive decision, yet also wish to sit and contemplate. This is the messiness of life - that we all carry multitudes, so must sit with the shifts. We are complicated creatures, and ultimately, the balance comes from this understanding. Be water. Flowing, flexible and soft. Subtly powerful and open. Wild and serene. Able to accept all changes, yet still led by the pull of steady tides. It is enough.” ― Victoria Erickson Ps: thanks @ontarioframing for the pic. I’m also always a sucker for a good sunset. Always will be. 
I had some interesting feedback last night about including a pot filler in your kitchen renovation. I would. Always. If I can! So I’m team pot filler! Are you team pot filler?! Yay or nay? And why? I’d love your feedback! There is no wrong answer! (As long as you’re nice!) Happy Friday!! Ps: the pot filler I’m installing in the Stone House is from @amstandardca Studio S collection in matte black 😍 • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
Now that the shelves are cleared off, I’m pretty sure Taz thinks the whole kitchen is just one big cat tree. Orrrrr maybe he’s inspecting my work? 😬 Old houses present unique challenges, like floors that aren’t level, which in turn means ceilings that aren’t completely level (can you see it?). It’s going to be tricky to tile but once everything is done, you won’t be able to notice..... Which brings me to my next point. Sometimes, especially with old houses, you have to accept and almost appreciate the “imperfections”. We’re often told to rip it all out! Fix everything! Level everything! And while I agree in theory, that was just not possible here and I actually think it adds character because, ya know what??! This house is OLD! It’s so OLLLDDDDD! 🤣 The floors will be a little out of level because this house is over 170 years old and that’s okay! Obviously I fixed them as much as I could, but I really feel like this is a lesson in appreciating the beauty of imperfection. I’m also loving the way this space is coming together with my @rocpal_ cabinetry and shelving, @division_9 tile backsplash and @hanstoneca counters in Montauk. Light and bright! I think Taz agrees 🐈 😉 • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
Waste not want not! Another thing I keep a lot of...is excess building materials. Savings is savings, right?! And I love keeping things out of the landfill if I can. I had a bunch of leftover @trexcompany off-cut deck boards that were just under six feet from a previous project. Luckily this deck is just under twelve feet wide so I realized that I could put them all to good use if I split the decking down the middle with what I call a “spine” or a board installed perpendicular to the other boards (which requires extra blocking and a bit more time but also adds a nice detail as well). It was a little more complicated to transfer the spine down the stairs but with a little extra attention to detail (I think I also like the challenge) and my @dewalt_ca cordless track saw (whaaaaaat), I think it worked out prrrrrrettty well! And I didn’t have to buy any new material! Helpful hint: I marked out where my spine would land and then I ran my deck boards long so I could cut them out with my track saw afterwards for a super super straight line every time 👌 • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
Messy hair. Messy overalls. Messy boots. Messy home. Messy (beautiful) life. • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
In my stories last week I spoke about this stained glass piece that I salvaged from an old church. It was being thrown out (can you believe it?!) and I walked up to the men dismantling it and asked if I could have the stained glass portions of it (there’s four others in my garage similar to this). I’ve had them for almost eight years and never felt like I had found the perfect ‘home’ for them. I’ve had to move them several times along with other salvaged treasures I’ve kept over the years, admittedly sometimes cursing my hoarding ways....until this happened! When I first started gutting this space I realized that this door had an arched opening with red glass in it (it was covered up, again...mind boggling) but after I uncovered it and the sun started shining through, the red glowed and it was almost a little off-putting (in my stories I said demonic lol swipe left to see what I’m talking about) I knew I wanted to replace it with something but had no idea what, until I remembered this piece! I thought to myself...”could it fit? There’s no way it’s going to work!”...until I popped it into place and it FIT PERFECTLY. Although it’s actually supposed to be vertical and not horizontal, I still LOVE it for this space. There’s so much natural light pouring in. I love the deep windows in this house and have them filled with plants which makes this stained glass even more suitable. It feels so good looking around this space, sunshine pouring in and knowing deep down that everything happens for a reason, at the right time and place. Even if you have to wait for what feels like forever, for it to fall into place. It’s the little things to make my heart happy. And this is one of them. • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
A New Years motto: “Progress Over Perfection” When you’re so immersed in something, (in my case it’s the Stone House project and my own self transformation and healing) it can be hard to see the big changes you’re making. I’m most definitely a perfectionist and find myself getting discouraged when I feel like things aren’t happening as fast as I think they should. Sometimes all of those little actions and steps that you take daily can feel so small and fruitless. I have to constantly remind myself to take a moment to really sit back an evaluate just how far I’ve come. I’ve realized that all of those steps and actions created something beautiful...something that is still a work in progress (aren’t we all) but that is beautiful nonetheless. And really, most importantly, it was all of those tiny steps that made it worthwhile in the first place. Happy New Year everyone ♥️ Ps: this was one of the pictures that was on the original real estate listing for the Stone House • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
What’s one thing you’re grateful for this year? As I sit and reflect on the crazy mess that was 2020, I’ve realized that there’s still so much I’m thankful for. One of those things is this beautiful Stone House project that’s kept my mind and hands occupied and my heart filled up enough to navigate some pretty rough waters. I’m thankful for my abilities, my determination and most importantly my community of friends and family that I’ve always felt right there by my side. Bye bye 2020 don’t let that beautiful new front door hit ya on the way out! • • • • • • • • • #katebuilds #femalecontractor #buildwomenup #buildlikeagirl #dirtyhandscleanmoney #renovate #renovation #contractor #makeithappenforyourself #youcantbewhatyoucantsee #WomenWhoBuild #buildwomenup #womenwhobuild #buildlikeagirl #hgtv #hgtvcanada #stonehouse #stonehouserevival 
Merry Christmas guys! It’s been a tough couple of years but more than anything, I’ve realized there’s always always always a reason to be grateful. Sending love, light and resilience to you all 🎄♥️