Yesterday marked two weeks of being in our new house, so we thought it warranted an updated glimpse into each room’s progress… or lack thereof.
On one hand we feel very accomplished for having already tackled things like painting Clara’s room, buying and assembling a new bed, removing a bunch of bi-fold doors, raising our shower curtain, and unpacking everything – especially considering we were tied up with family stuff for a few days over Christmas. On the other hand, we’re still feeling pretty unsettled. Most of the important stuff has found a place in our new abode (not that it will necessarily stay there for the long haul), but the house is still riddled with piles of things waiting for a home (think picture frames, tools, rugs, etc). Here are some of the rooms that are looking the most presentable so far.
The living room (aka the future dining room) is finally cleared of boxes and we even organized some storage in the base cabinets of those built-ins (although the objects on display are just shoved there, so don’t judge the arrangement just yet):
Here’s the kitchen:
And the family room:
Next we have the sunroom:
And Clara’s room (curtains are up, but there’s no art or new light fixture yet):
Here’s the hall bathroom:
And the guest room bath:
The master bathroom:
And the main hallway:
Then there are the rooms that are semi-functional, but still feel pretty darn disheveled. Like our master bedroom (we have yet to organize the closet, work out a nightstand solution, purchase another dresser, etc):
The office (see that pile of tools in the corner, yeah- they need a home):
And the laundry / mudroom (which is in desperate need of some more built-in storage and a few organizational solutions):
Then there are the close-the-door-when-people-come-over rooms that are basically not at all useful yet… and therefore have become dumping grounds for items in limbo. Like the guest room that we revealed this morning (who wants to stay over in there?):
And the playroom / future kids bedroom (yikes- not so kid friendly yet):
So that’s how things are looking two weeks after moving in. Clearly there’s lots left to tackle and we’re actually working on a giant to-do list to share with you guys (and to help my type-A wife feel more organized). Then it’s off to Home Depot for some supplies…
Psst- You can check out Day One pics here, you know, just for fun.
Katherine says
You’ve really come a long way! I’m sure it’s frustrating to not have everything in it’s place right away. Moving is no fun!
Can’t wait to see all the changes that you’ll be making to your new house!
erin m. says
Wow! You guys have already made a lot of progress (as far as unpacking goes, it usually takes me forever!!)
And I love the built-ins in the living room!
Ginnie says
Everything looks great! Did you guys have to leave behind your front load washer and dryer? If so, do you have any plans for your laundry room, such as an energy efficient washer?
YoungHouseLove says
We didn’t have to, but we chose to “convey” our washer and dryer with the sale of our house (to get a quick sale and the price that we wanted). We definitely plan to upgrade our new ones to energy efficient front loaders when we see a killer deal…
xo,
s
carolinaheartstrings says
You are making progress!
Holly says
ah, the potential! I have to hand it to you guys though, if it were me I’d be feeling pretty overwhelmed right about now! But I know you guys can handle it, you’ve showed us how before and I look forward to it again!
Jaque says
I’m totaly in love with your new sunroom!
AnaLisa says
You guys do great work. Love the spaces you design. Simple, timeless, fun, elegant.
Rebecca @ the lil house that could says
I love your new office entrance flanked by those built ins. Best part of the house! So far that is…. I’m pretty sure I am going to love the fireplace in the kitchen when that’s all done :)
Marsha says
Where is your kitchen table bench? I loved how you all had a bench at your table in your old house!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Marsha,
The bench doesn’t work as well with this layout, so it now lives at the foot of our bed.
xo,
s
OurSoundHome says
I am so glad to hear we are not the only ones to take a while to settle in and really feel at “home.” We moved into our first house in early September, and are finally starting to feel more cozy and at home now that we are unpacked, have started putting art up on the walls, and hung curtains. We still get anxious because we have lots of projects we want to get started, but like you, we take “small bites” and just take on one at a time. Excited to see your progress!
Corinne says
You guys are so far along in the making-it-all-look-good department for only being there for two weeks! The place looks great!
When I moved into my house, we staged everything on one side of the garage to enable easy access into the house (it’s an attached garage). I moved here in September, and now it’s almost 2011 and I still have tons of boxes with just little bits needing to be unpacked, both in the garage and throughout the house! I don’t have much in the way of storage or shelving, so it’s tough to put everything away
when it doesn’t exactly have a home.
I do have one quick question though, and I can’t find the answer by doing a search for some reason! Where do you think I could find good quality, nicely priced bedding for a day bed? I received a very old day bed for free but only have full-size bedding for it!
YoungHouseLove says
Since our daybed has a regular twin mattress in it, we just use a twin fitted sheet as a daybed cover and toss some pillows on it. If we want to make it up for sleeping we just add a twin comforter. We got our fitted sheet from Target and our pillows from Bed Bath & Beyond but lots of other major retailers would have that stuff for you as well. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jessica F. says
Look at all that room you have! Yey!! Ubber exciting :) Cheering you on here…
Jill says
Hi!
I’ve just discovered your blog and absolutely love it! I love your style, and willingness to work with what you’ve got! Funny enough, as I am home on vacation I turned on Nate Berkus show for the first time, and there you both were! I’m excited to see what you will do with your new house–you’ve inspired me to get back to decorating my house again-especially after all the abuse it takes from 2 young boys and a dog!
Corinne says
Thanks, Sherry!
For some reason I thought you had daybed-specific stuff on there. I was being told that twin size stuff wouldn’t be “right” but felt like that was wrong. Obviously, my gut was telling me the way to go!
gina says
You’re more moved in than me. We bought a foreclosure when my son was 6 months old. We had a toilet in our upstairs hall (waiting to be put back after ceramic tile was finished) for so long that I started decorating it for the holidays.
Son is almost 10 and you have less cardboard boxes than I do.
…sigh… ;)
erica says
When I first saw the dark beams in the family room I was sure they’d look better lighter. . . but with your furniture they look so amazing! They remind me of something you’d see on househunters international:)
lynn says
WOW – you’re making great progress. I love how you’re reworking the floor plan to best suit your needs. I recall from a previous post you’re going to have the former living room be your dining room and entry area. I love the idea of sitting at the table in front of the big window and I’m wondering if you’re planning to physically block the entry area off from the rest of the room?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lynn,
We have ideas for defining the entry space and the dining area so they’re visually set apart, but we’re not 100% sure what we’ll end up going with. We promise to post all about it when we tackle that area!
xo,
s
Tia says
Your new home is wonderful!!! The family room is my fav so far :)
monica says
Looks Great! I think your progress is amazing! I especially love the curtains with the wall color in Clara’s room. Can’t wait to see you open up the area between the kitchen and the future dining room!
Any chance you thought of putting your desks on the wall where the couch is and vice versa in the office? Just wondering ’cause I THINK (if I have the plan right in my head) that would mean that you would get to look out towards the street/front yard instead of the car port/future garage – which might be handy/more pleasant – given all the time you will be spending at the desks! Plus when you first walked into the house and looked right, you would see the couch instead of desks – which might be easier to keep “neat” looking!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Monica,
We tried that layout but liked the current one better. For now. Who knows where everything will end up though!
xo,
s
Sarah says
Hi guys :) You are making tons of progress! It must be so fun! Obviously you have big plans for the new abode so what I’m wondering is, what’s something that you wish you could renovate or update with a twinkle of your nose? I know you’ll eventually get to everything and some things that you may want to do like yesterday will have to wait so you can fund it, but in a dream world what would you just LOVE to tear up/update/and get going on?
Have fun!
Sarah
YoungHouseLove says
We actually believe in living with things for a while before tackling any major undertakings like opening walls and restructuring layouts (just to be sure our ideas are the best ones for the space- and living there for a while helps us determine that). So if we could twinkle our nose, maybe we’d wish that all the paneling was primed and painted in the kitchen, but that should only take us a day or so, which isn’t so bad. We actually like DIY, so we don’t mind having to actually do the work ourselves.
xo,
s
kelly says
I can’t wait to see how you transform these rooms! Love the vintage tile in the first 2 bathrooms, are you planning to keep it?
YoungHouseLove says
We are for now- who knows if we’ll renovate that room a few years down the road though!
xo,
s
Katey says
Do you have the washer and dryer from your other house? Or are you going to be using the stacked washer and dryer that are in the picture in this post?
YoungHouseLove says
We didn’t have to, but we chose to “convey” our washer and dryer with the sale of our house (to get a quick sale and the price that we wanted). We definitely plan to upgrade our new ones to energy efficient front loaders (and craigslist the existing ones) when we see a killer deal on a front loading washer/dryer set, but for now the current ones actually work really well, so there’s not a huge rush.
xo,
s
Adam says
If I lived within a reasonable distance to you guys, I would take a set of those bi-fold doors off of your hands. I have been waiting to find a set for the closet which houses my water heater. Oh well, I will have to keep checking my nearby Re-Store over here.
eileen marie says
You are making me lust for a bigger space (we are currently “stuck” in our <1000 sq ft condo due to Chi-town's crappy real estate market). We are totally scared to start a family in our tiny 2 bdrm, but c'est la vie. We will definitely take A LOT of your advice when we do eventually sell. (My husband already jokingly refers to YHL as The Book of John & Sherry :) since we take so many cues from you 2 -a necessity when trying to eliminate an entire room of crap ahem, stuff.)
Your new space looks so big and open! I love the tile in the yellow bathroom, well actually in all 3 bathrooms! I thought you sold that PB couch that is pictured in the family room shot -or is that a different couch altogether? I can't wait to see how great a sectional will look!! Btw, where is the little side table with the "Xs" for legs (fam. rm.) from (I'd check the source list, but I don't remember it at all! Where was it hiding??)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Eileen Marie,
That white sofa is the one that used to be in our living room under the window next to the dining area (we sold the sand colored PB sofa from our den). As for the x-based side tables, they were next to the white sofa in the living room so we just plopped them down next to the sofa again in the new place. Got them from Target a while back (from the Victoria Hagan collection). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
katy says
Looking great!!!
Question:
I love that West Elm daybed and I also have a 3 year old who needs a big girl bed (still in the convertible toddler bed/crib deal). Would you say that would work as a kid’s bed? I don’t want a “kids” looking bed, rather something that will grow with her…
thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s actually our plan- to make it Clara’s big girl bed when she’s older!
xo,
s
nue says
Wow! This most definitely looks like the perfect space to grow into. It’s going to be interesting how the rooms will be laid out since the current furnishings don’t seem to fill up the space like casa uno. I hope you’re able to update on projects, rearrangements etc. real time. I think this is what is the most exciting for us readers!
katy says
oh cool…thanks! I know someone asked about the mattress earlier, but is your’s a “daybed” mattress (which is what the WE site says it needs) or a regular twin mattress? thanks again : )
YoungHouseLove says
Just a regular twin mattress (which we got a lot cheaper). Works perfectly!
xo,
s
Melissa @ SassyMommy says
Great job! Be proud of your work! The journey just begins… and the real fun too- decorating is the best…
Monica says
You guys have made some pretty impressive progress for having moving just over two weeks ago, and right around the holidays no less! I can’t wait to see this place grow with you guys!
Irina@CanDoGal says
Yep, I know the feeling. I’m still feeling kind of unsettled 3 months in. Now that you have some stuff arranged, I’m getting a full sense of the beauty of your new house. It’s going to be stunning once you get your mitts all over it :)
Carshena says
Your house is beautiful just the way it is! I can’t wait to see more! Hey did you guys hit up any after Christmas sales?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Carshena,
We did some online looking around but actually stayed in (we got a nice white Christmas) and enjoyed family and friends!
xo,
s
rhiannon says
i really like the chandy in your office. maybe not exactly in the condition it is, but it’s still pretty cute. i think it adds some sophisticated class to that room. if it was painted a fun color… hmmm. :] might not be the vibe you’re looking for, but it really stuck out for me in this post.
Lady says
How do you guys decide the order in which to tackle your rooms and projects? Do you do one room all at once, or a little in each as you go? I have several rooms that I’d like to change (some complete re-dos; others only have small things, like paint and storage), but I’m not sure how to prioritize them. Any tips?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lady,
We’ll be sharing a bit more of our process as we go (and in our to-do list post coming up) so stay tuned! We basically just write everything down and tackle things that are bite sized and approachable while we save up for the bigger projects. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Emily S says
We just moved 2 weeks ago as well and it makes me feel a lot better to see your place looking just as, um… well let’s just say, not put together, as mine does. I am super overwhelmed by needing to do so much to so many rooms I don’t even know where to start, and my house doesn’t even need to be rennovated!! Great big kudos to you guys, you seem to have been blessed with far more patience than I have! At this point I am just annoyed!
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
lookin’ great so far!! Great job for: moving right before Christmas, and having a wee one to tend to! We never had that much stuff unpacked by 2 weeks in (with no baby, either, lol)
Candice Price Silver says
Hi guys
Just wanted to drop you a line to say I’ve been following your blog for awhile and as a first time renovater you’ve really inspired (and helped) me! So much so, I’ve actually started my own blog to document the transformation of my apartment in Sydney into something hopefully as polished and lovely as your House No 1!
Thanks so much and I’m sure I will be referring to your ‘projects’ section often as things progress over here!
Good luck with No 2 (so much potential!).
Cheers
Candice
Erin says
hey guys – I love the way the house is looking so far – and with the holidays that’s impressive! One question for you – are you not using the sleeper sofa in the guest room or playroom? Noticed that you had it in the office for now with the current layout.
Also,on one of your previous posts about the bi-fold doors you mentioned going over options for the separation between master bedroom and the bathroom – what about doing a pair of frosted glass pocket doors to keep the view of the bathroom out of sight but still let the light in?
Keep up the good work – very inspirational!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Erin,
We’ve got the second daybed in the playroom since we eventually plan to use that as Clara’s big girl bed- and we want to get a proper full sized bed for the guest room. So leaving the sleeper in the office is nice because we’re used to using that as a place to sit/nurse/hang out while the other is working (well, John doesn’t exactly nurse while I work but you get the point) and down the line when we add french doors leading into the office we think it’ll make a nice overflow guest room if the other one is packed for the holidays or something.
As for the frosted doors in the bedroom, they’re definitely on our list of things that we’re considering… who knows where we’ll end up but we’ll keep you guys posted whenever we work on any rooms!
xo,
s
mribaro says
I like the new place for the horns! Excellent :)
Jamie B says
So much space, you have a lot to work with!
Is the sunroom warm, is there a heat source?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jamie,
Yup, it’s heated and cooled thanks to it’s own heat pump in that room. We just turn a dial and it heats up or cools down, plus there’s the fan. Should hopefully get lots of use when we’re more settled…
xo,
s
Laura Karagory says
Looks great! And makes me feel better about the shape our new house is in… We moved in September, went through the period you are in now, and have plunged into projects. We thought we had a plan to tackle them one at a time but currently have 5 semi-major ones going on at the same time. Can’t wait to see how you develop a one at a time plan and stick to it. Hoping it helps us wrap up the ones we’ve got going; and adds ups our style sense!
Happy new Year.
Brandi says
I’m so impressed that you’ve unpacked your decorative stuff and that the house is looking settled! We moved into a new-to-us house 5 months ago and I have all of our frames, candles, vases, etc. stuffed away in the guest room while we endlessly paint trim, walls, etc. I miss our stuff and can’t wait to get it out!
Mary W. says
WOAH that place is going to be gorgeous! The rooms are gigantic even with all your stuff in them! And most of the floors are divine. Congratulations! I love it!
Anita says
Awesome! You guys have done a lot. I love love your sun room. I’ve been window house shopping in my area ever since you guys moved (actually it’s just a coincidence. We’re getting to that point where we need more space too. And new projects!) :D
Ack! I see fluorescent lights in your kitchen! Our dining room was like that too and all my pictures would always come out yellow. I hated it. The hubbers finally took them out last year and our plaster ceiling fell down! ahahha what a nightmare on new years.
Happy New Year in your new home!
Kelly says
I cannot wait to follow you through the renovations. Two things I’m itching to do (virtually) knock down the wall in the kitchen and paint the brick in the sunroom. So excited for y’all.
Kellie Buelo says
Wow, this is a BIG house. I can’t wait to see what you guys do with it. You guys have already made a TON of progress. Love these progress posts so much but it gives me the bug to be doing things to my own home {and not stuck at the office!}
Happy New Year!
Snickrsnack Katie says
I have asked this before but don’t know if it ever got answered. Are you only able to fit that stackable washer and dryer? Do you miss your wonderful front loaders? I couldn’t live without my front loaders!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Snickersnack Katie,
We actually don’t mind the current washer and dryer but we can easily upgrade to stackable front loaders (nothing next to each other, but we’re thankfully already used to the new configuration).
xo,
s
Sandra says
Your house is so much further along than mine was two weeks in. We’ve been in our house 3 years and we STILL have two rooms that we’re working on. My husband has a hard time letting stuff go. I can’t wait to see the progress of the house and I’m really interested to see how you will enhance the laundry room/ mudroom.
Angela says
Excellent progress! Already the house looks like yours, well done. My husband and I are moving into a new townhouse next week and can’t wait to put some of your ideas in to practice.
Do you have any color recommendations for painting a tall set of two book cases. The wall paint is a light tan, and since we are unable to paint I was considering adding color with our possessions. They will go in our office where the main furniture is a brown/black color.
Also any suggestions on how to brighten up a kitchen that is primarily dark oak and stainless steel.
Thanks,
A x
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Angela,
We have yet to pick a bookcase color and brighten up our kitchen but we’ll share all the details when we got to those projects! Taking things one day at a time keeps us from being overwhelmed so forgive us for not having all the answers right away!
xo,
s
Sarah says
Happy Holidays & Happy New Year Sherry, John, Clara & Burger!
You both have done a lot in just 15 days!! (Including setting up your Xmas tree for the second time!)
Give yourselves a pat on the back, RELAX and, if you must, just work on that to-do list :-)
Kristin says
Great progress! Where was Burger when you were taking these pictures? Usually we are playing “where’s Burger” since he is always lurking in the background!
YoungHouseLove says
Sleeping! The nerve.
xo,
s