Listy McListerson: Updated

Warning: this post contains more words than a handful of housewives can sling around in one of those two hour reunion episodes. So feel free to skim it or read it in three sentence intervals over the next five years. These posts actually came about when people asked how we organize all the stuff we have on our to-do list. We explained that we basically just have one long run-on document, and when folks kept asking us to share it (and update it as we went along), it sounded like our idea of a good time. So it’s high time that we actually updated it (sorry to everyone who has been asking for this for a while!).

You first saw it here and then saw us revise it here and here – and in those past few posts, it always felt kinda jumbly and crazy (which is usually par for the course) so I decided to try to clean it up for this update, and organize it by room. I also thought it would be nice to separate what we’ve done in each room from what we’d still like to do, so we have an active list and a wahoo-it’s-done list (you know, for spur of the moment Elaine-like happy dancing). Then I added in how finished each area is (in the form of an estimated percentage up near the title of that area). So without further ado, a to-do list that might still make your head spin… but hopefully a little less.

-The Front Yard (25% complete)-

Done:

• limbed up the magnolia
• removed the bushes that hid the house
• updated some garden beds, added landscaping

To Do:

• we still have a lot of things to transplant/plant/trim/figure out (we tackled three of about ten garden beds out there)
• change the roofline out front (add some peaks for dimension and to make it more cohesive with the house’s shape from the back)

-The Front Porch/House Facade (35% complete)-

Done:

• furnished it with stuff we had from our first house’s porch
• planted some shrubs/flowers
• painted the front door yellow

To Do:

• frame out the porch columns so they’re chunky and square instead of ornate and curvy
• stain the concrete porch floor to gussy it up
• paint the porch/rest of house’s siding a moody gray color (and the cream trim a nice crisp white)
• add window boxes around the house and shutters on the side and back windows (they’re only on the front)

-The Carport/Garage (0% complete)-

Done:

• Nada

To Do:

• we can’t wait to convert it into a garage (once we’re more sure what we want with regard to windows/door/etc)
• add a trellis arch around the new garage door so it’s all lush and pretty
• replace the light fixture for something awesome (big and lantern-ish maybe?)

-The Living Room (70% complete)-

Done:

• painted the walls
• hung curtains
• gray-washed the beams
• got a new sectional
• got a giant rug (it’s a huge room, so we initially didn’t even realize how big of a rug we’d need)
• built a console
• get a larger TV

To Do:

• we still have a lot of bare walls (need art, and some furniture in the corners near the kitchen)
• still want to DIY/upcycle a bigger media cabinet for our new bigger TV
• also want to add a tall armoire or bookcase-ish cabinet to the wall with the sofa on it (over by the window where it’s bare)
• replace the doors with french doors (including the one in the hallway that leads to the deck for a total of three)
• turn the fireplace in the kitchen into a double-sided fireplace that also opens up into the living room
• make the beams in the ceiling into a coffered ceiling (create boxes instead of just lines) for a more luxe effect
• refinish the floors down the line

-The Office (85% complete)-

Done:

• we made a built-in desk
• painted and upholstered some secondhand chairs
• painted and stenciled the walls
• upgraded the old brass chandelier with new color, bulbs, and a giant shade
• added a chair and a file cabinet for more function

To Do:

• some of the walls are bare
• we definitely need some window treatments
• add french doors between the dining room and office (for privacy and architecture)
• we’d love to refinish the floors eventually

-The Hall Bathroom (5% complete)-

Done:

• hung the shower curtain higher
• added some window trim for more balance (and to hide a demo hole)
• hung a new light fixture above the mirror

To Do:

• paint the walls
• frame out the mirror
• hang art
• paint the vanity and update hardware on it
• add a window treatment
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• accessorize the heck out of it (my favorite part…)

-The Big Hallway (90% complete)-

Done:

• we’re so happy with our frame collage and the console table that lives in there, so we’re not planning anything major

To Do:

• laying a fun patterned runner down on the floors would be nice
• eventually refinish the floors

-The Small Hallway (0% complete)-

Done:

• Nada

To Do:

• add wainscoting
• paint the walls (hmm, or maybe wallpaper above the wainscoting)
• add crown molding
• hang art
• switch out the light
• replace old hollow core doors with solid paneled ones
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• refinish the floors

-The Dining Room (70% complete)-

Done:

• painted the walls
• painted the back of the built-ins dark teal
• made curtains
• got a large round dining table that’s functional for our big family
• hung some art
• brought in a chippy old painted buffet and hung some yard sale art over it

To Do:

• the entryway area that we want to add is only about halfway there (need art and other furnishings/accessories to “define” that area)
• we want to personalize the yard sale art over the buffet (it’s feeling kind of hotel-ish to us, but the size/price was right)
• add a nice big show-stopping light fixture over the table
• deal with the chair issue (whether they’re frumpily slipcovered or not, they’re still not our dream chairs – so maybe someday we’ll get it right…)
• build a giant lazy susan for the middle of the table, so it’s awesomely functional when we host dinners (sometimes stuff in the middle is hard to reach)
• refinish the floors

-The Laundry Room (95% complete)-

Done:

• painted the walls
• removed the old shutters from the window
• frosted the big glass side door
• painted the cabinets & replaced the hardware
• replaced the old washer & dryer (and craigslisted the old ones)
• added built-ins next to the washer & dryer
• replaced the laminate flooring with cork
• hung some art
• made a clothespin chandelier
• hung our ironing board on the wall

To Do:

• Possibly add a window treatment (woot! this baby is the furthest along, maybe because it’s only 3.5′ wide? haha)

-The Kitchen (85% complete)-

Done:

• primed and painted the paneling
• painted the brick fireplace
• replaced all the old mismatched appliances with energy efficient stainless ones
• knocked out a huge opening to connect the kitchen and dining room
• redid all the lighting (added can lights, glass pendants, etc)
• rearranged the cabinets (moved the pantry and the fridge, added a peninsula, etc)
• primed and painted all the cabinets (and added new hardware)
• sold our old granite on craigslist and got new white corain counters
• tiled the backsplash (all the way to the ceiling on one wall)
• added floating shelves
• built a microwave cabinet with ventilation to hide it
• hung a new range hood found on craigslist and built a wood cover
• replaced the old laminate with dark cork flooring
• got stools for the peninsula and painted them
• added art
• brought in a rug to define the sitting area by the fireplace

To Do:

• add something to the back of the peninsula (trim, etc) to finish it off
• add window treatments over the sink (maybe a fun fabric roman shade)
• possibly add a message board or chalk board to the side of the pantry
• beef up the crown molding around the room (it’s skinnier than the stuff in the dining room, living room, and office…)
• continue to add coziness/finish off the sitting area by the fireplace
• add trim to the top of the cabinets (we tried this once and didn’t like it, but we keep wondering if we should give it one more try)
• beef up the hood like we mentioned in the reveal post (still contemplating this option)
• repaint the walls??? (this is a big wild card that we go back and forth on, so we’ll have to see where we end up)
• eventually reface the fireplace to have a chunky wrap-around wood mantel and a pretty stone/tile surround and hearth

-The Playroom (0% complete)-

Done:

• Nada

To Do:

• everything (ack! the room is full of secret book projects that we can’t auction off for charity until Fall when the book is out along with other stuff we need to deal with and yard sale/reuse/craigslist, etc)
• then once it’s cleared out we have to paint it, furnish it, accessorize it, etc (it’ll eventually be Clara’s big girl room and a possible future kiddo would move into the nursery)
• specifically we’d love to retrofit our daybed in the playroom so that it looks built in with a trundle that can be pulled out beneath it (so it can sleep two people instead of one in a pinch – good for kid sleepovers I think)
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• refinish the floors down the line

-Clara’s Room (80% complete)-

Done:

• painted the walls
• hung curtains
• moved in all of her existing furniture
• hung art and added baskets/toys for form & function
• replaced the light fixture with Clara’s capiz chandelier (the only light we brought with us from our first house since it was so sentimental)
• built a play kitchen for Clara
• redid the closet by stamping the walls and sewing a beanbag to create a little reading nook for her

To Do:

• hang more art on some of the bare walls
• add crown molding
• paint or stencil the ceiling
• refinish the floors
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• we’re sure things will completely evolve in here if a second baby ends up using it as their nursery and Clara moves into her big girl room (and nope, I’m not prego Mom!)

-The Sunroom (0% complete)-

Done:

• Nada (we just plopped down old furniture from our first house, without much rhyme or reason – and now it’s full of secret book stuff too)

To Do:

• paint the walls (which are lofted, so that should be interesting…)
• whitewash the brick wall (keeping the old brick character but making it less jarring and orangy-red)
• furnish the room (most likely with a lot of stuff we already have)
• add window treatments for some optional privacy
• upgrade the fan to either another more modern fan or a light fixture we love (since we have an AC unit in that room)
• replace the doors with french doors
• add some open shelving or something built-in on the walls (or a big bookcase – the room needs something)
• hang art
• create some sort of fun ceiling detail since it’s sloped in one direction (ex: hang a ton of lanterns or paper pendants from the ceiling)
• eventually replace the flooring (the old beige tiles just aren’t our favorite)

-Our Bedroom (60% complete)-

Done:

• took off the dated bifold doors between the sink nook and the room
• hung a mirror over the sink window (and removed an off-center medicine cabinet on the right wall)
• removed the granite backsplash on the sink to make it look more like a piece of furniture
• got a new bed (since we sold our first home with our bed since it was built into the sleeping nook)
• painted (and then repainted) the walls
• traded the old brown fan for a light and playful Ikea chandlier
• hung some art
• hung curtains
• rearranged the furniture
• made an upholstered headboard

To Do:

• convert the window that looks out onto the deck into a french door
• bring in furniture for the bare wall across from the bed
• possibly raise the ceiling to follow the roof line (so it’s a nice peak with a ton of cozy ambiance)
• update/paint the sink vanity
• possibly tile the entire back wall of the sink nook with something dreamy and gleaming (it’s a small space so it won’t cost much)
• make/buy/refurbish a long bench for the foot of the bed (ours is too small and a bit darker than we’d like)
• add french doors between the sink nook and the room, just for more architecture
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• paint or even wallpaper the closet and amp up the built-ins with molding to add more polish
• refinish the floors

-Our Bathroom (75% complete)-

Done:

• hung the shower curtain at ceiling height
• painted the walls
• hung some art
• painted the off-white trim and door a glossy white
• added privacy to the window with frosting film
• replaced the toilet
• replaced the boob light with a glass pendant (and centered it on the window and door)
• replaced the dated tree border tile with white glass subway tile

To Do:

• in Phase Two we’d like to retile the floor (maybe with gray hex tiles) and possibly reglaze the beige tile so it’s bright white
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges

-The Guest Bedroom (60% complete)-

Done:

• painted the room
• furnished it (mostly with leftover stuff from other rooms)
• hung curtains and a mirror

To Do:

• add crown molding
• hang art on those bare walls
• paint or rub-n-buff the round mirror so it pops more
• replace some of the older just-using-what-we-have furnishings (like our scratched six year old Ikea dresser that has seen better days)
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• refinish the floors

-The Guest Bathroom (5% complete)-

Done:

• removed the most awkward mirror in the world that hung on the back of the door (it reflected your whole body while on the toilet)
• hung a new shower curtain and added a bath mat
• hung some art
• replaced the mirror over the sink
• replaced the light fixture

To Do:

• paint
• possibly replace some of the tile (not sure what we want to work with and what we want to upgrade so that’s TBD)
• get a glass shower door instead of a weird cubby hole with a curtain
• frost the window for privacy
• replace/spray paint the old door knobs and hinges
• hang more art on all the bare walls

-The Basement Workshop (0% complete)-

Done:

• Nada

To Do:

• clean the giant mess that has taken over
• after a major organization-fest, we’d love to create a functional workshop/tool cave (with storage, some fun stuff on the walls, a painted concrete floor, a more finished feeling, etc)

-The Side Lot (10% complete)-

Done:

• Planted two trees

To Do:

• Plant a bunch more trees (we want to naturalize it and make it sort of an orchard – now it’s just a weed-and-leaf-fest)

-The Deck (60% complete)-

Done:

• cleared/transplanted the bushes and shrubs in the way
• mapped out a deck plan and got it approved by the county
• demo’d out the rickety old balcony
• dug our post holes and framed out the deck
• started adding deck boards
• completed the deck boards

To Do:

• complete the railing and steps
• furnish the deck (by adding a large dining table, chairs, planters, etc)
• add a pergola or just swag some big bulb string lights over the deck
• add greenery in the form of some plantings around the deck to screen the side of the steps and the AC unit
• create a paver patio beyond the deck for a place to park the barbecue

-The Patio (70% complete)-

Done:

• cleared out all the weeds/bushes/dead trees to make a spot for a patio
• planned and purchased materials to build the patio
• leveled the ground, laid gravel and sand, and laid our pavers
• created a custom curved edge and landscaped the area around the patio
• built a rock box for Clara to play in (and added a rain barrel to save water)

To Do:

• furnish the patio (other than two adirondack chairs, it’s all just old furniture that the last owners left behind)
• add some lighting (string lights around fence or from trees?)
• add some other fun outdoor activities, like a large outdoor chalk board along the brick wall and maybe even a slide for Clara

-The Backyard (0% complete)-

Done:

• Nada (well, we did build a compost bin, but that’s it)

To Do:

• remove the ivy growing up/chocking some of the large trees
• clear out a bunch of crazy overgrown beds so we can actually have more grass for dog/kid playing
• remove the brick path surrounded by monkey grass that leads to nowhere in favor of more grass
• plant some trees in the way back to naturalize that for more privacy (we’d love a nice grassy yard with a big woodsy forest behind that)
• add raised bed gardens for vegetables, fruits, and herbs
• transplant a number of pretty shrubs so their placement makes more sense
• reseed the grass that has died in various areas
• paint the basement door and remove the old broken screen
• build Clara a swingset
• build/buy a shed for storing things instead of stuffing the basement with them
• hang a swing from a tree out back
• add a modest in-ground saltwater pool (my pipe dream, John’s still not necessarily on board)

Of course we’ll do a lot of the remaining to-do stuff over the course of the next few years (our first house took us 4.5 years to finish) so there’s no need to cry for us or anything. Haha. We’ve learned to do our best to just enjoy the journey and take things one day/project/victory at a time. And seriously, is there anything more fun than crossing things off? As for the method to our “project order,” we don’t really think there is one. We generally just do whatever we’re in the mood for (barring anything that needs to be moved to the top of the list for safety or other extreme-urgency reasons). So we definitely jump around from room to room just to stay excited and avoid feeling too forced into doing something that we might not be ready to deal with yet.

We generally like to keep the bigger projects that we want to save up for in the back of our mind for a while (until we’re feeling more sure about our approach so there’s no shoulda-woulda-coulda going on later). Thinking about those long term/bigger projects keeps us excited to squirrel away as much loot as we can to make them a reality down the road. And seeing all the crossed off smaller items reminds us that bite-sized undertakings can really keep you motivated and excited to keep moving. After a big project, 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 project right away. But enough about us, how do you make your house to-do lists? Are they on your phone? Or are you old school and you actually have a piece of paper that you consult? How do you decide what to tackle next? Is there a method to your madness?

Psst- Check out this floor plan post which might make some of the major layout changes & renovations that we’ve listed above a bit more clear. And check out our Current House page to see a ton of the crossed off projects mentioned above.