For the past seven years we lived in a one bedroom apartment in Fairview, Vancouver, just bordering on Kitsilano. We loved everything about our neighbourhood; our street was quiet, we’d wake up to the sound of birds chirping, and could walk to the cafes and shops in Kits or on Granville street within minutes. Our place, however, was old, small, and, (ugh), carpeted. But it was ours, and we made a home there – despite having shared laundry and no dishwasher. In this competitive Vancouver rental market, who really cares when you’re actually paying below average rent, and when we were always out of town or saving our money for trips?!

When we found out we were expecting a baby, we knew things had to change, despite this meaning we’d have to let go of our staggeringly low rent. After months and months of searching, we finally found a place nestled on the edge of Mount Pleasant that we fell in love with, and with just enough room for our soon-to-be family of three. We poured over decor ideas on Pinterest and Instagram and spent months slowly filling our apartment with furniture, while bringing home one too many plants along the way. It was so fun to play with a space that has amazing light and – for the first time in a long time – hardwood floors! Finding the perfect rug made us excessively happy (is that a sign that we’re adults now – that a new rug is a source of happiness?!), but this also meant we had to find the best way to keep our new floors clean.