About KDA Designs

KDA Designs is a place where I share my passion for DIY projects, home renovations, basic auto mechanics, and various other hobbies.  I have a career in the mortgage industry but also have a very creative side and was raised in a ‘DO-IT-YOURSELF’ household. In my 20s, I purchased a home that was in need of some love and I have documented all the changes I have made over the years. To name of few of the issues in the home when I purchased it; All the bathrooms needed to be gutted, the kitchen was outdated, carpets were old, and every wall in the house needed to be fixed & painted.  I have completed all the bathrooms, most of the kitchen, added wainscoting around the house, refinished the stairs, made a few beds, added hardwood floors, added feature walls, raised ceilings, insulated walls, replaced doors, completed a ton of landscaping, and painted every room in the house.

From a young age, I was constantly trying to re-decorate my parent’s home.  I would get SO excited when my mother would say she wanted to redecorate a room as that meant I would have the opportunity to help her. I probably re-decorated my room half a dozen times in my childhood/teen years. When I was 15, I wanted a four poster white bed but what 15 year old has the money to buy one? I decided to go to the hardware store and buy the supplies to make my own bed. That was my first time making a piece of furniture. Both parents taught me how to drywall and plaster as well as the basics to building. Much of the time, my siblings and I were helping out our parents with projects around the family home.

I learned how to bake from a very young age…it was unavoidable. My mother was always the one bringing cakes to events and baking amazing birthday cakes for us when we were little. In addition, my Oma was the Queen of cakes and pastries with one of my favourites being a chocolate cake layered with dark cherries and a mocha whipped buttercream. I picked up a lot of my techniques from watching them both.  This hobby has taken a back seat to my home renos however from time to time, I will still make cakes for family/friend birthdays

My floral history began as a child watching my Oma arrange flowers for every single family event. She would use her own flowers from her gorgeous home garden and create the most stunning pieces. In my early teens, I was provided the opportunity to work in a florist shop around the corner from my family home. This role became my after school job throughout high school.  The shop owner was an amazing mentor training me on arranging basic bouquets, wedding flowers, creating the ‘perfect’ bow, and even funeral flowers.

Auto mechanics started with my father’s influence. My siblings and I were told we had to learn how to change a tire as well as our oil. That was just the beginning! Many other DIY mechanical projects came my way over the years. I still change my own oil to this day but there are always times I would prefer to take the car into the shop vs putting on my grubbies and getting under the car.

I hope you enjoy perusing my site!  Stay tuned as I will be adding Before/After shots as my projects are completed. If you have any questions or comments, you can send them to kdadesigns1@gmail.com. Thank you!

Kate