At just a little over a year in our home, we’ve accomplished a lot but have even more to go! It can be extremely overwhelming to think you can tackle it all quickly – both logistically and financially. For us, we want to spend time in our home to get spaces right before moving on a project. This plays into what takes priority, and I’ve got that list for you below! I’m including a ton of our little things, or rather, the non-sexy items to be realistic with what goes into maintaining a home and what goes into picking and choosing what to invest in, and when. We’ve got our entire vision for our home mapped out, which goes into 2025 to be realistic – and will certainly go beyond then as our lives change! Buckle up, we’ve got big things coming slowly but surely due to the season of life (we have a 3 month old baby boy in case you missed it!). Whether you’re a recent follower, or just want to catch up – I shared a full recap of our renovation journey here. Let’s get into it and see how well we stick to this for the remainder of 2023!
Power Washing
We actually just checked this off our list a few weeks ago and BOY was it worth it. While I was pregnant, I became so fed up when I’d look out the window each morning to find complete filth built up under our woodwork. At least locally, we found an amazing company that provides “soft washing” with safe soaps and materials that literally made it look like we got our house repainted. WELL worth it – especially for the cost. Transparency – it was only $500 for our 2,900 sqft home.
Electrician Punch List
We have a number of things that we need to tackle – moving outlets, removing light fixtures (some overkill), fixing little issues and making sure all of it is done safely. It’s smarter to wait until you have a bunch of things to work through as most electricians charge by the hour. So, our electrician will come out in a few days to knock out that batch of about 2 hours of work!
Exterior Trim Repairs
A few pieces of wood detail trim have rotted (non-termite damage) around the house and on our front awning. Even though we eventually want to redo our entire exterior, these little things will prevent further damage and are easy fixes for G to knock out!
Primary Bathroom Decorative Trim
We decided at the end of our project that we wanted to continue the mirror trim work onto the opposite wall and into our water closet. It’s a simple, affordable project that G can quickly tackle in the next few months! This will then finish up that space completely, which is so nice to call a space done!
Shed Paint
We are so grateful to have already had a shed when moving in since we do not have a garage, but want to update it to not only look more aligned with our aesthetic preference, but to correct some mud damage that has stained the bottom from not having rocks to prevent splash during rain. More to come there! If you have paint suggestions – message me or comment here! Our exterior is a muted mid-tone blue.
Nursery Repairs
Some of G’s DIY built-in shelf trim work needs to be caulked and filled – life got in the way and simply, he just didn’t get around to finishing it up. It’s easy to get distracted and we try not to beat ourselves up for not prioritizing completing a project before starting something else! But, we pick and choose and move on.
Living Room Fireplace
There are later plans to completely redo the fireplace in this space, but for now, we want to do a DIY treatment to the stone to lighten it up and fit our style a little more.
Final Deck Repairs & Staining
Greg replaced most of our rotted deck last Summer and will be finishing a few spots this year. Why didn’t he do it all at once? Simply, he ran out of time as he has a full-time job and wanted to balance enjoying some of his free time! While he loves learning new skills, it can be a lot to constantly work on renovations. Once complete, it has to sit for a bit to properly weather naturally before we stain or paint it. So, he’ll start this in July and aim to finish in the Fall. We can’t wait to give a cohesive look to the deck once and for all!
MLCO Office Built-in Shelves and Bench
This project has been a dream of mine that I haven’t been selfish enough to prioritize! When we first walked the house, I just knew this was the solution for the wall. I dream of my kids posting up to read or color, the dog peeping out the window, friends and family enjoying a dessert after dinner when we transform the space for holidays! This will be another DIY by G – can’t wait to bring you along in-real time for this one since we kept our pregnancy offline til the end!
Secondary Bathroom Renovation
We already started this with a few cosmetic updates consisting of paint and wood trim work – I simply couldn’t stand to look at the outdated design and tin wall coverings – see original Home Tour here. This will be nearly a full gut, with the exception of wanting to keep the claw foot tub! We’re suckers for it. We hope to start in August with new tile as the first piece to tackle! This will be a DIY with the exception of plumbing and electric.
Laundry Cabinetry
As renovation projects go, we scope creeped when we thought more about the function of spaces. When we decided to add moving laundry upstairs, we tabled plans for cabinetry due to time and wanting to space out or spending. We’re now beginning researching options and have a solid idea of what we want to do – I can’t wait to share!
Mudroom Renovation
We may be pushing it to squeeze this one in, so don’t hold me to it! Honestly, we’ve gone back and forth on wanting to do this right away due to how much function it would bring us. But, we want to do it right and stew a little longer on the plans while we continue to save up. Currently, its an empty room so this will consist of new flooring and finishes! We may also do some temporary functional updates that I will share. Otherwise, hope for the main project to happen in the Fall!
Beyond 2023
I’m going to save what our full plans are for now – but trust me, they are big. From a full kitchen renovation, to a garden, a basement finishing and much more! Stay tuned and thank you for doing so!