Which means this time last year, we woke up to a surprise snowstorm…
… that resulted in our UHaul slipping into the gutter of our old driveway (more on that here).
Man, it feels like that was just yesterday. John and I still remember every word of that truck-snafu conversation…
JOHN: Hey Sherry. Walk-through went fine. They’re off to go close and I’m headed to the new house.
SHERRY: Okay, be very careful. It’s snowy out there so drive as slow as you need, even if people are honking at you. Just take your time.
JOHN: I will. Don’t worry.
SHERRY: Great. I just don’t want you ending up in a ditch or anything.
[HANG UP, SHERRY GOES TO PUT HER PHONE DOWN BUT IT IMMEDIATELY RINGS AGAIN.]
JOHN: Crap, the truck is in a ditch and I think I knocked over the mailbox.
SHERRY: You’re kidding right?
[END SCENE, FADE TO BLACK]
On the other hand, it kinda feels like we’ve lived here forever. And sometimes we forget little things about the old house (like where a certain light switch was located, or whether a door swung in or out to open). And that makes it feel like we haven’t lived there in a very very long time. Then again, there are a few light switches here that are still a complete mystery to us, so this house can’t be too “old” to us yet, seeing as there are probably going to be more discoveries as we renovate and decorate and spread out into a few rooms that we haven’t even started to really live in yet as our family grows (like the sunroom and the playroom for example). And no, that’s not a baby-on-the-way hint Mom! But back to reminiscing… it’s so weird to look back a year in our archives and see what our first house looked like empty:
Some of the angles that we shot it without furniture were never possible with furniture, like this one (I stood where the media cabinet used to be)…
You can check out more empty first house pics here. Now let’s take a look back at how our current house looked exactly a year ago on move in day (I literally ran around snapping these pics with our rented UHaul waiting to be unloaded in the driveway):
You can check out more empty house pics here. The funny thing is that a few of those spaces have come a looong way in 365 days…
… while others are virtually untouched (like all of our bathrooms). And a few other rooms haven’t been tackled at all except for plopping down furniture or using them to store a bunch of stuff that we have to garage sale/craigslist (like the sunroom and the playroom):
You can see a full play by play of “before” and “progress” pics here (and all the before and after pics from our first house here). But enough looking back, let’s attempt to peer into the future. We thought it would be fun to list a few of the projects that we have in mind (after we wrap things up in the kitchen in a few months of course), just in broad strokes (there have been a bunch of requests for an updated Listy Mclisterson post, so we’ll have to do that soon for ya in more detail with some fun red cross outs). In the meantime, here’s what we have in mind for taking this still very much in progress house a little further in year two (and beyond!):
- build a wooden deck for dining (beyond the glass sliding doors in the hallway right next to the kitchen)
- convert the carport into a garage (that’s going to be one of those big with-the-help-of-a-contractor projects)
- build a trellis arch/pergola around the new garage door so it’s all lush and pretty
- build a big media cabinet to balance the large console table that we built on the other side of the room (and a bench for the foot of the bed and a cabinet for the inset-wall in the master bedroom?)
- refinish the floors in our bedroom (along with the other wood ones in most of the house, but we can’t do them all at once since we need a place to offset furniture)
- add wainscoting to the hallway that leads to the nursery, playroom, and guest room
- actually paint/furnish/use the sunroom
- actually paint/furnish/use the playroom
- redo/update/spruce up all three of the bathrooms (with varying degrees of actual renovation – some just need a little cosmetic stuff)
- continue tweaking rooms like the living room, dining room, nursery, bedroom, guest room (all of which have entire walls devoid of frames and key items of furniture missing)
- create a defined entryway with a large buffet, art, and a rug by the front door (among other things)
- add crown molding to a bunch of spaces (like the playroom, nursery, guest room, etc)
- double side the fireplace in the kitchen so we can enjoy it in the living room as well
- build a backyard swingset/playset along with a pimped sandbox for the bean (and a play kitchen, and a dollhouse – so many bean plans)
- paint the siding/trim/shutters on the house along with framing out the porch columns so they’re chunky and square (and add another light near the door, stain the concrete, etc)
- take on tons o’ outdoor landscaping stuff (in the front, side, back, and beyond)
- build in the master bathroom vanity so it’s symmetrical (for more concealed storage since we don’t sit there and use it as a vanity)
- build some raised beds in the side/back for an edible garden
- retrofit the daybed in the playroom so a trundle bed can be slipped under it for future bean sleepovers or overflow guests
- add french doors between the dining room and the office (for privacy and added architecture)
- change the roofline out front (add some peaks for dimension and to make it more cohesive with the house’s shape from the back)
- DIY a pool someday (John thinks this idea is insane, mind you)
Of course we’ll do a lot of this stuff over the course of the next few years (our first house took us 4.5 years to finish) so there’s no rush. We just like to remember to relaxxxxxx. Seriously, you can get all crazy and stressed and frustrated if you rush through things instead of taking projects one day and one small victory at a time and remembering to enjoy the ride. And we couldn’t ask for more amazing people to have in the car (the house?) with us. Wait, that sounded weird. We just mean that we’re so honored and excited to have you guys drop in and encourage us as we go. So thanks! You all have a huuuge part in keeping our morale and our momentum up, so we owe you at least ten holiday cookies each. With extra icing and sprinkles. Picture yourself enjoying every last crumb (remember, fantasizing about eating ten cookies = zero calories).
Oh and as for the method to our “project order,” we don’t really have one. We jump around from room to room to stay excited and keep things from feeling monotonous or overwhelming. After a big project (or a string of big projects) sometimes we’re happy to take a breather and tackle the little stuff for a while. And other times we’re psyched to keep our momentum up and start planning the next big undertaking right away. Who knows what’s next. Gotta keep trucking on the kitchen for a while, so who knows what we’ll be in the mood for when the renovating dust clears in there. But one thing’s for sure… if year two is half as exciting and rewarding and memorable as year one in this house, we’ll be over the moon. Is it weird to love a house like it’s a member of the family? What do you guys hope to tackle in the coming year (and beyond!)? Every time you read “and beyond” do you think of Buzz Lightyear, or is that just me?
Psst- Clara is obsessed with big dogs and has no concept of personal space. More on that here.
Shannon says
Love all the updates! This is a personal question…but how much do you think you guys have spent so far on all of your updates? Everything looks so beautiful and I always find loads of inspiration from your blog. Keep up the good work and CONGRATULATIONS on your Anniversary
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, we try to share budget breakdowns for every project as we go but haven’t added it all up. I think the only big projects in this house so far have been the patio (around $1200 I think) and the kitchen ($1700 on the counters and $800 on the floor and $200 on the tile I think) – other than that it has been a slew of semi-cheap stuff (like building our console table for $100 and $120 on our built in desk) and super cheap free stuff (like painting and homemade art and secondhand furniture, etc). It would be fun to add all the budget breakdowns up someday though!
xo,
s
KathyG says
Happy Anniversary! Just looking at that snow makes me cold!
Sometimes my home feels too much like a “project” and not as much a place I enjoy. But then family or friends come to visit, and I see how my Projects makes life so much easier and more enjoyable for both me and them. And it feels like home again.
Kala M. says
This is the first time I’ve noticed the wood floors in your master bedroom. They are gorgeous. I love the wide boards and variety of color. Do you know what kind of wood they are? They will be even more stunning when you refinish them. Though they don’t look like they need it in the picture. :)
YoungHouseLove says
They’re actually reclaimed local pine! Aren’t they cool? They have lots of stains but we can totally see the potential!
xo,
s
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
OMG….it’s been a year already?!?! You have come along way Youngsters!!! Glad to still be following you guys in this home as well!!! It’s been a great ride!!! :)
Darcy says
Happy Anniversary! I love looking at pictures of your first house — I wish I had been reading along back then! But I found you guys back in June from a co-worker, and I’ve been addicted ever since!!
All I can say, is WOW on your list of things yet to do — that is A LOT of stuff — It should keep you busy for the next 5 years (or 20 if you worked on my timeline)!! LOL! Can’t wait to read every step of the way!!
tracy says
wow, so much progress in such a little time! that’s encouraging to me, as we wait for our 1st home to finish being built. i’m a little nervous that i’ll be disappointed when we move in because i have had so much time to plan each room, i hope the real deal is as lovely as it is in my mind! just wondering, do you guys ever feel like your house is all the same colour(s)? i’m afraid that because i love certain colours that the whole house will feel monotonous. you photos don’t look that way, but you guys certainly tend towards a certain few shades. whadda ya think?
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely had an experience using every color of the rainbow in our first house (literally we had a yellow room and a turquoise room and a green room and a gray room and a tan room) and we decided it felt like a crazy house. So we learned to sort of focus our palette for more of a soothing and cohesive feeling. We still use accessories in any color of the rainbow though! And art and curtains and fabrics! We just try to keep the wall palette a bit more streamlined, but it’s definitely a personal preference thing. We firmly believe in making your house make you happy, so if you want every room one color I say go for it!
xo,
s
DanielleR says
I just bought that exact same microwave! $69 at Walmart and they shipped it to me for free.
DanielleR says
I’m not paying attention very well today lol. I just realized I commented on the wrong post!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- no worries!
xo,
s
YoungHouseLove says
Nice deal!
xo,
s
Diane says
I just loved the dark wood floors in your old place and the kitchen in it — small, efficient, gorgeous.
And I love the colors you are using in your new place and especially how cheerful and welcoming your guest room looks.
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
Wow. You guys have do so much in a year! Your home is beautiful and I love getting ideas and inspiration from you.
The hubs and I have lived in the Little House for eight months and we’re not even 100% done unpacking yet! Of course, redoing the Little House isn’t our full time job (but don’t we wish it were). I love the idea of setting goals for the next year. We’re definitely going to set some for the LH!
bex says
Congrats on one year in your lovely new home! You have come a long way and it looks so, so gorgeous! Here’s the only tiny little thing I would mention as you look ahead to next year (and really, who am I to talk!?)…. those dining room chair slip covers. You can do better. I know it. With the work you have done in your kitchen, office space and living room these chairs just look slightly below your impeccable creativity and quality. That’s just my silly little suggestion. Anyways, congrats again and enjoy living in your gorgeous home!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, yes we keep thinking about dying those dramatic and dark. Maybe charcoal or a deep plummy gray color. Will keep you posted!
xo,
s
Penny says
Aww, I love that deep golden brown color!
Sarah H. says
I love seeing the progress on your house! Recap posts like this are so much fun!
Here’s our to-do list for next year:
Finish ceiling in master bathroom
Remove and replace crappy popcorn ceilings in living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway
Paint the outside soffits and porch railing
Reorganize furniture, clothes, etc. to convert our den into a nursery (first baby due in March!!)
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Love me a spring baby! Good luck!
xo,
s
Gabbi says
What an great walk down memory lane! Hopefully, in just a few days, we’ll be having our move in day. I’m sure time will fly to when we get to look back in a year and see how our house has changed. It has come soooo far even in the past couple months! :)
Amy @ Lovely Nest says
this is the awesome thing about blogging: being able to look back over the past year and see how much you’ve accomplished! At times I know I’ve felt like I haven’t really done a lot, but looking back at photos definitely changes my perspective! congrats on year one!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It’s sort of like one big time capsule!
xo,
s
Alyssa says
Great post! I love me some list-making!! We hope to start finishing our unfinished basement which has an egress window for a future bedroom and a plumbed bath for a 3rd full bath in the next 6 months to year. That is, if we don’t sell our house first. We had it on the market for 6 months this past year and one offer came in, but it was WAY low and we just couldn’t accept it. anyway, now we are thinking of finishing the lower level to add some value….but we shall see! We are itching to get to a warmer climate, too cold here in WI for us!! Lol!! great progress on the kitchen by the way! I feel like you guys are flying through that Reno and when you mentioned “finally getting a sink back” in there I thought to myself, it feels like they just ripped out the counter yesterday!! Keep it up:)
Alisha Carey says
I think the best peice about this post is knowing to relax, there is no rush to get all those projects done. After all, what would we do without projects? I was just going over my to do list and realized there’s no rush, it’s not as if we or the house are going any where!
Congratulations on the houseiversary. It’s amazing how much you have accomplished in one short year! Keep doing what you’re doing!
RachelSD says
It’s so great to see all the progress made in your new house! But it’s always bittersweet to think about the old one– this is our first Christmas not at my mom’s house (we had to put her in a nursing home). It’s so weird to start new Christmas traditions in new places.
Jen says
We will be in our house a year this January…BUT we’ve made no where NEAR your progress. I need to read your budgeting posts. It always seems like I have more ideas than spare change – and we like to pay for things with cash in hand.
Sarah Motsinger says
I LOVE all of your white picture frames on the walls. Where do you buy them or are those all custom? They have inspired me to do something similar over my bed.
I love you guys!
PS – Also LOVED the advent calendar!!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re all from Ikea or Target on clearance or thrift stores/yard sales. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Kristen says
Reading this made me realize that yesterday was our five year anniversary of being in our house. I can’t believe it’s been that long! Congrats on getting so much accomplished in just a year, that’s really something to be proud of!
To do list for next year…
1. Master bathroom reno
2. Master bedroom spruce (paint, hopefully some new furniture)
3. Dining room table, not sure what but something needs to be done with that thing!
4. Paint the stair rail (this was on the 2011 list too, whoopsie!)
5. Front yard landscaping changes
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! You can do it!
xo,
s
John says
Exactly one year ago it was my birthday, hopefully I haven’t changed as much as your house.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- hilarious.
xo,
s
Justine says
It’s so exciting to see all your progress! Can you believe I’ve been following for almost exactly a year too? Love you guys :)
~Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, so glad to have you!
xo,
s
Gillian Kerr says
I love how you have a massive list, its not just me then! I think all my friends think im crazy lol!!
You have achieved so much in your first year, it inspires me to achieve as much in my first year in my new home. Here’s hoping i manage it, im on a mission to reuse and recycle as much as possible, following your fantastic example.
Merry Christmas
Gillian xx
carolinaheartstrings says
You have made a lot of progress in only a year. Doesn’t it go by fast. Your improvements are just fantastic. Cannot wait to see what happens “next” year!
Jessica says
Did you know that your moving anniversary is on Taylor Swift’s birthday?!!?
In the coming year, I’ll have an awesome Michigan travel blog… maybe, hopefully.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- love it!
xo,
s
Lindsay says
I’m the biggest Taylor Swift fan ever. So, I love this comment!
Liz says
Dang, time flies. Happy anniversary!
Reenie says
I forgot about your sunroom floor in your old house. I love that!! WOW~ you guys have come a long way. Good job :)
Mona Alicia says
I love what you’ve done with the whole house, but I have to tell you that your guest room makes me smile every time I see a picture of it. I LOVE all the bright fun colors; just thought y’all should know :)
Sarah says
Sherry, John & Clara. You’re welcome! If you don’t mind I’ll just keep dropping by with my morning coffee (I’m lucky – here in Sydney I wake up to a new post!!).
And, thanks for reminding me – of all the things ‘house’ I’ve learnt from you guys – to enjoy the ride and take one thing at a time. I’m not sure renovating our house would have been as fun without reading blogs like yours.
Happy 1st anniversary!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Sarah! Thanks for reading all the way from Sydney.
xo,
s
Ericka says
Wow, you guys have a lot on your list – but you’ve accomplished so much thus far!!! I am amazed at your energy and talent.
BTW, you’re not the only one who thinks of Buzz Lightyear when you read “and beyond.” I have two boys who ADORED Buzz when they were younger and I’ve seen Toy Story 1 & 2 more times than I care to count:) Side note: I cried like a baby when I saw Toy Story 3:)
elaine says
Dude… Love the update and thanks for the zero calories. They were delish. And yes, buzz lightyear for sure :)
Teri says
Time flies when you are having fun!!!
I think it is funny that all of your current house pictures are listed as progress except for the kitchen (which obviously is in progress).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- so true!
xo,
s
Dina says
Congrats! You’ve had a busy and impressive year!
Lots of projects are lined up for us in the cold months:
– side chair re-upholestring
– buffet refinishing with penny/resin top (so excited!)
– tons of cushins to make and cover
– artwork to find or make for blank walls
– DIY light fixtures in several rooms (living with 80s flourescents! Not flattering!)
– organize, organize, organize…
Jacqueline says
I am SO PUMPED for the DIY pool! If anyone can, it’s you two :)
Is it lame that I’m feeling nostalgic about your old house? I know it sounds lame to feel that way about a home that isn’t your own, but I discovered YHL a few months before my fiancé and I moved into our first home and it was the impetus and inspiration behind so much of what we have done and continue to do.
Much love to you. I’m thrilled to see what another year brings!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, we definitely get sentimental about the old house too! It was our first love!
xo,
s
Briel K. says
Aww, your old house! So cute. It looks so picturesque in the snow. I wonder how the new owners have it decorated.
I can’t believe it’s been a year! You guys have gotten so many projects done. Looking forward to the years to come! :)
Brianne says
I love seeing all the changes and differences from your first house. I loved the den in the first house. In this house, I can never decide on a favorite room – I love them all! You’ve accomplished so much in just a year. It’s amazing how much progress you’ve made and I’m sure all your future projects will only make you (and us!) love your house even more!
Chrissy Henry says
HAHA… EVERY time I read “and beyond” I would think to myself “To infinity and beyond”!! Don’t worry it is not just you :)
gena says
I’ll do the old lady thing and say ” Wow, time flies !”. I really enjoy clicking on here and seeing what you young’ins are up to…. really reminds me of my husband and I 26’ish years ago when we moved into THIS old house.
Lavender Hill is STILL a work in progress – I hope she’s never done (I have scores of ideas still in the wings) because then I’d be bored !!!
Congratulations on completing your first year in your home !
gena
http://www.thehouseonavenderhillblogspot.com
Jen says
It’s a good thing you have all those cabinets to paint because after looking at all you’ve done this year, if you don’t slow down, the house will be done soon and you won’t have anything new to show us! BTW, where did the chairs in your guest room come from?
YoungHouseLove says
After typing out that list at the bottom of this post we thought “whew, that’s going to take us years!” – haha. As for those chairs, they’re the Dolce Lounge Chair from Target. I think they still sell them. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
[email protected] says
Holy Moly! That house in New York is unreal! What a great find!
Kath says
Gorgeous! I think my favorite room remains your guest room :)
JulieW says
My grandparents had a garden stool in their living room like the one you have and when my brother was learning to walk he tripped and fell on it and it cut his bottom lip off. But that was close to 30 years ago so hopefully they make them better now. So please be careful with little Clara. And speaking of my grandparents my grandfather built a small stool for the foot of their bed out of wooden spools that my grandmother used to sew with. They reused everything that they could. Their generation could put our generation to shame. LOL
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the heads up! We’ll definitely move that if it gets in the way of the bean! She plays all around the padded ottoman and in the office on the rug (and the kitchen rug) but if she starts hanging out in that area we’ll pop it back in the guest room!
xo,
s
Caity says
Happy anniversary! Just reading it, I can’t believe it’s a year…so I’m sure it felt quick for you guys! :)
Ellen says
OK, riddle me this one, Batman? Why do you keep tackling seriously large and guest impairing projects at the holidays? First the only full bathroom and now the kitchen? Granted, as the host of all sorts of family over the holidays, I cannot imagine such craziness, but y’all have done it twice! Coincidence or is there are reason you aren’t sharing?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- every year for the past five years! We’re either moving or renovating something (kitchen, refinishing floors, bathroom gut job, moving, kitchen again)! Insane!!! We did a post about it last year so we’ll have to update it just to commemorate the streak. Haha. No real reason other than maybe after it gets cold outside we turn our focus inside. Maybe in the winter we get restless so we bite of something big! Hah.
xo,
s
annabelvita says
My mum hosted family christmas in the shell of a house we moved into when I was tiny (the wallpaper was all hanging off the walls, the bathroom barely worked etc), in some ways she said it took the pressure off!
Stacey says
The changes to the house are amazing! You are doing a great job! Also amazing is the difference in the weather… 60 degrees today!
Bethie says
Wow! You’ve really come a long way! Congrats! I am sure I was not alone in being totally excited about your move last year!
PS: You have a closed parenthesis in the following paragraph, but not an open one:
Seriously, you can get all crazy and stressed and frustrated if you rush through things instead of taking projects one day and one small victory at a time and remembering to enjoy the ride).
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks! Off to fix that!
xo,
s
alex says
Of everything on your list I must say im so FREAKING excited about the “dining deck”! What a cute idea for such a strange space.
Missy says
Ever since i’ saw that weird little outdoor space between the addition and the house I thought it would be a wonderful little “secret garden”. I can’t wait to see what you do with a deck and plantings etc.
kelly says
so you guys are currently calling the third bedroom a playroom. But I have to wonder are you planning on having the kiddos share a room someday (our two girls do)
or are you planning on making that a playroom only to convert it into a nursery at a later point?
YoungHouseLove says
I think it all depends if we have another girl (if so, she’ll probably still get the nursery and we’ll make Clara a big girl room in the playroom and maybe someday that will be the girl’s shared bedroom and they can use the nursery as a playroom). We’ll have to see what happens! Either way we’ll make that room a playroom knowing it’ll most likely be Clara’s big girl room no matter what, so we won’t have to undo much (it’ll be one of those phases/build upon things that evolves slowly without too much dramatic undoing).
xo,
s
Laura says
Remember the movie Encino Man? They DIYed/dug their own pool. I’m sure yours won’t be unfinished and filled with brown water :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you never know…
xo,
s
Dana says
Congrats on all that you’ve accomplished so far! The pictures of the house all snowy on moving day make me look forward to some snowy days ahead in the Midwest. Thanks for sharing all of your great stories!