Last year I steadfastly refused to write a post with home goals because I felt as if I was treading water attempting to balance being a mom, blogging, and keeping the laundry monster from eating us alive without adding home makeovers into the mix. But then something strange happened– our kitchen renovation started a waterfall effect of ‘unsticking’ my to-do list, and moved me forward on truly creating a home we loved. Suddenly, I was embracing our home and choosing paint colors and creating projects that increased my home’s happiness factor ten-fold.
Finding time to blog about them?
NotSoMuch.
Plus, it’s hard showing the not-so-pretty stuff to the entire world. No one likes to reveal their flaws. It’s all part of the process though, and I’m so grateful you’re sharing this journey with me. I owe you my flaws, too. It’s all part of the journey, sharing the way we’ve designed our home to fit our family… and yours too, hopefully! But fair warning, there’s some UG-LEE pictures coming up ya’ll.
Here’s the projects we hope to tackle in 2013, plus I can’t wait to share the ones we finished these past few months like the kitchen renovation and simple but life-changing dining room makeover*. Of course, I’m looking to you (yes, YOU over there, I see you!) for advice and ideas to keep this list unstuck and my home tweaking going strong.
* You think I’m exaggerating.
1. Spruce up the entryway.
The previous owners painted the entryway (and all the way up the stairs) a cold gray. It’s time to change it; I’d love to paint it a warm gray or the same ‘greige’ as the kitchen. Plus paint the trim white to lighten things up, and perhaps add in a little somethin’ somethin’ for the light fixtures. An entryway should be welcoming, not cold. Let’s fix that.
2. Paint the front door.
The front door has seen better days… waaaaay better days. Now, what color to paint it? I’m leaning toward black, but I’m all ears for suggestions for what color you’d choose. The funkier the better, I have little imagination when it comes to color.
3. Tile the kitchen backsplash.
My last big renovation to-do is to tile the backsplash, and I’ve insanely decided to do it myself. I’m totally crushing on carrera marble or even stacked tile, I think it would really lighten up the kitchen and give it that finishing touch. Anyone have DIY tile advice for me? Advising me to hire someone is also welcome, especially so I can justify it to my husband. 😉
4. Repaint the dining room hutch.
WOW. This hutch doesn’t look this horrible in real life, does it? WOW WOW WOW. It’s time to either get rid of it or paint it, STAT! {friends who have been to my home, please tell the truth– is it really this horrible?!) When I first bought it at a thrift store I liked it’s classic lines, thinking a quick paint job would fix it. That was seven years ago. It’s time to either paint it or move on.
5. And repaint this kitchen hutch, too.
Back when I had green countertops, I had to repaint this hutch black so it didn’t clash. But now my kitchen is screaming for color, so I’d like to paint it something fabulous. Or replace it with floating shelves for a cleaner look. Decisions, decisions! What would you do?
6. Fix the tiled desk.
This, my friends, is the desk they tiled on our HGTV episode of Rip and Renew. And this, my friends, is what happens four years after HGTV tiles a desk. These tiles continue to fall off, and I’ve hired people to put them back on which is getting expensive. Unless I want it to look like this forever, I’m going to have to retile it myself. Sigh.
7. Paint our coffee table(s).
Like the dining room hutch, these end tables are another fifties-era ‘golden oak’ style furniture. But I’m so in love with faux bamboo I had to snag them, and we’ve LOVED using the two end tables as our coffee table. There’s storage room underneath for big baskets of kids’ books, and we can move them around as needed. Here they are pushed together because Bee was using it as a ‘bridge’ {ah, to peek inside the mind of a two-year-old boy would be fun indeed.} For the over toddler-aged crowd, they look really cool slightly pulled apart but still grouped together. Now, what color to paint them is a different beast all together. Thoughts?
8. Paint the walls of our living room, again.
I went through color picking insanity when I chose this gray-blue. But you know what? I chose this color because I thought others would like it, not because I loved it. I’m done trying to fit my tastes to various trends, instead of focusing on my own personal style. I’m hoping to have an a-ha moment where this room’s color DESTINY will be revealed to me!
9. Master bedroom mini-makeover.
Our bedroom is blah, which I used to think is relaxing but now just think is just blah. I have some ideas to spice things up in here– the decor, that is. 😉
10. Paint the master bathroom and create better organizing systems for my makeup.
I used to love this green, it’s such a happy color. But I’m yearning for a more sophisticated ‘Stone’ tone in here right now, so it’s time for a repaint. {In case you’re wondering, the DIY towel storage is still holding strong and I LOVE IT. Such a great ‘investment’ for under 20 buckaroos!}
11. Add storage to the garage.
I’ll spare you photos– for now. Currently we have approximately 4,593 wagons, strollers, and cozy coupes in here. Room for a car? In our garage? As if.
12. Fix-up the basement.
Again, I’ll spare you photos. We can’t afford a major basement renovation right now, so I’ll be happy just to create an organized space for laundry and CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER. It’s embarrassing.
13. Gulp… a Big Boy Room for Bee?
I don’t even want to think about this. But he turns 3 in May, which means it might be time for a big boy bed. SNIFFLE. I still remember planning this room while living in Hershey, and adding the finishing touches to his nautical nursery just days before he arrived. Can anyone fault me for wanting to hold onto babyhood just a teeny bit longer?
OKAY. So who’s ready to hold my hand as I fumble my way through these home goals? And to hold both my hands when I FAIL MISERABLY at achieving them?
What’s on your list, home-wise, for 2013? And is it totally disturbing that I keep typing ‘3012’ instead of ‘2013’? For me it is. I’m trying to pause time over here, not speed it up a thousand years or so. 😉 Now, your home goals. Let’s hear ’em!
This is an exciting list! All the projects sound like a lot of fun. Hmm, about the hutch, I’m so into blues lately. But don’t listen to me because almost all my accessories are that color!
Jessica, I have a blue obsession too. I was thinking blue as well, so I think it’s meant to be!!
THREE?! How is that possible?! I love the look of his room though! Your projects inspire me….need to get cracking on my house!!
I know, a three year old! Not so much a baby anymore. So sad for me!! And your house is gorgeous, you are such an inspiration for organization and making your home work for your family. I hope someday you’ll guest post again about it. 😉
How about Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint for the hutch?
That’s a FANTASTIC idea, I was thinking the same thing! Do you have a favorite color?
Lucketts Green is gorgeous!
I am right on board with you on making your house YOURS and not following the trends just because they’re popular. We bought our home last year and the builder had it professionally decorated, and while the colors are nice, they’re just not me. I’ve been terrified to do much of anything in there because everything is so well done, but this year is the year!
As for the hutch, I think the lines of it are great, it just needs some updating with color. I agree with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint or Annie Sloan chalk paint. So easy and fun!
I’m definitely leaning toward both the Milk Paint and Chalk Paint, we’re on the same page for sure. Miss Mustard Seed might be coming to the area to promote her book, and if I get a chance I might just corner her and force her to help me choose a color! Have you used it before? I’m interested to see which colors look best, I always lean towards blues, greens, and ‘greiges’. I know gray is such a popular color, but I’m still a tan girl at heart!
MMS Milk Paint is a great product, just make sure you watch her tutorials and try it a couple of times on different surfaces/scraps of wood before you tackle the hutch. That’s how I got familiar with the different effects (chippy or not, with bonding agent or not).
I also want to change the colors of the house, I’m inspiring blogs in Europe, with very white and craftsmanship. I just cover my locker room, which was dark, with white contact, it was quite interesting! good luck! – Vanya – Brasil
Vanya, that DOES sound interesting! I love making dark rooms light, European blogs sound like a great place to find inspiration.
hope you get soon, I’m curious and this will be a motivation for me! (laughs) kisses
Carrie: We are doing many of these same projects in our new house; it’s a big job! We’re literally painting every room, new curtains, updating Shane’s room into rocket ships and space theme, and organizing the finished basement into a playroom and craft area. Busy busy, but I can’t wait until it’s complete! Good luck to you guys with your projects.
-Kristen
I hope you’ll post pics on Facebook, K! Shane’s room sounds amazing, Ben will be VERY jealous. Our basement is unfinished unfortunately, and I’m estimating it would cost too much to finish it the way I’d like. So, it’s going to just be a minor makeover on that front. I’m not sure how you do it all, PLUS work full time! Email pics as you get stuff done, you know how much I’d like to see the final result!
This is a fun idea! I HATE resolutions, but I think I could make a resolution to complete 13 projects – little or large (ish)… Walking around the house and snapping pictures this morning! I love your hutch, but would paint it too – can’t wait to see what you do! Also, a backsplash would look awesome! And I personally love the idea of a black door…
Wow, I love all of these goals. An exciting year is ahead of you for sure!!
What a great post. You are inspiring me to do the same! The photos make it so much more tangible.
You are going to be a busy bee in 2013! I like the idea of painting your front door black. We tiled our kitchen ourselves and it is totally doable but you’ll need to rent a wet saw. We ended up buying one after we did the kitchen because we’ve tiled two bathrooms since then. Good luck on your projects!
You have inspired me to make a list of my own!
I love the idea of a house list… helps to move things along and turn my thoughts and dreams into a reality with a schedule. Thank you! As for those kids growing up, I had one leave home this year and it was bitter-sweet. Just remember, you have all those rocky teenage years to prepare for it… and surprisingly it helps. 🙂
We have a big list of to dos to tackle this year and calling the repairman to get some started has gotten us moving through the list too. Best of luck and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out!
First photo, I thought, what a gorgeous door!
Second photo, I thought, No! Don’t paint the door! 😉
I wish I had a solid wood front door instead of chipped white steel. But I know it probably looks more beat up in person than in the photo. If you like the wood you could try Miss Mustard Seed’s vinegar and oil wood treatment. Or paint it and it will be gorgeous. Even a painted wooden door looks better than a painted steel door.
I wish you the best of luck this year in beatifying your beautiful home! Our goals are simply to finish painting over the builder’s grade yellow paint, drastically declutter, and otherwise get the house ready for potentially selling it (because we want to live in it in it’s “finished” condition for a while instead of waiting ’til last minute).
Thanks for your inspiration!
You are so right, the wood on the inside isn’t bad but the wood on the outside of the door is terrible– faded, worn down, and discolored. I’ve been looking at Miss Mustard Seed’s paint colors, I don’t know about the vinegar and oil treatment but I’m definitely going to check it out! As for your philosophy of sprucing up the house and living in it’s “finished” condition before selling it– GENIUS. I 100% agree with that. It’s amazing what we can put off and then fix to attract sellers… why not fix it now and enjoy it?! Keep me updated, I can’t wait to hear the progress.