Warning: this is longer than the Oscars, so feel free to fast forward to the good parts. 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. And it’s high time that we actually updated it considering it has been ten months since we last shared it! Yowsa.
In an attempt to keep our eyes from crossing when we read it, we separated 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) and there’s an estimated percentage up near the title of each area to indicate how complete it is.
Ok, let’s do this.
-The Front Yard (40% complete)-
Done:
- limbed up the magnolia so it no longer blocks the house (more on that here)
- removed the bushes that hid the house (more on that here and here)
- planted grass in the bare patches where we moved bushes
- 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)
-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
- add window boxes around the house
- add shutters on the side and back windows (they’re only on the front)
-The Carport/Garage (5% complete)-
Done:
- replaced the itty bitty light fixture for a big black lantern
To Do:
- we originally wanted to convert this into a garage, but now we’re leaning towards beefing up the columns and adding a trellis arch around the front so it’s all lush and pretty like a carport with a pergola instead of being closed in and dark like a garage (we’d lose some light from two windows into the laundry room and office if we closed it in). Maybe something like this (but with a covered top and a pergola out front along with beefier columns)?
-The Living Room (85% complete)-
Done:
- painted the walls
- painted the trim (it was dark wood when we moved in)
- gray-washed the beams
- got a new sectional (we get asked a lot how we like our Karlstad – in short: we LOVE him!)
- built a console for behind the sectional
- hung some subtle patterned curtains
- got a new rug, ottoman, and desk chair
- got a larger media cabinet (secondhand)
- built a leaning chalkboard over near the back of the room to balance out the tall slider
To Do:
- add some overhead lighting since there’s none (a pendant centered over the table near the back window and some can lights maybe?)
- turn the fireplace in the kitchen into a double-sided fireplace that also opens up into the living room
- refinish the floors down the line
-The Office (85% complete)-
Done:
- made a built-in double desk
- painted and upholstered some secondhand chairs
- painted and stenciled the walls
- added some sentimental art
- updated the old brass chandelier with new color, bulbs, and a giant shade
- brought in an old chair and added a file cabinet for more function
To Do:
- add some window treatments? maybe bamboo blinds for some texture?
- we’ve always dreamed of adding french doors between the dining room and office (for privacy and architecture)
- we’d love to refinish the floors eventually
-The Hall Bathroom (100% complete)-
Done:
- hung the shower curtain higher
- added some new window trim for more balance (and to hide a demo hole)
- hung a new light fixture above the mirror
- painted the walls
- framed out the mirror
- hung art and made a chunky shelf
- updated the vanity knobs
- added a homemade homemade window shade
To Do:
- nada, at least for now
-The Big Hallway (90% complete)-
Done:
- we’re really 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
- we’d also like to eventually refinish the floors
-The Small Hallway (5% complete… at least until tomorrow’s big reveal!)-
Done:
- spray painted the old door knobs for all the rooms off of the hallway in an oil-rubbed bronze finish (update: they’re still holding up great!)
To Do:
- add board & batten
- paint the walls
- add crown molding
- hang art
- switch out the old light and ancient gold and gaudy doorbell chime on the wall
- refinish the floors someday
-The Dining Room (95% complete)-
Done:
- painted the walls
- painting the back wall of the built-ins dark teal
- hung some homemade curtains
- got a large round dining table along with some chairs
- brought in a chippy old painted buffet (found on craigslist)
- hung some yard sale art that we personalized with painted lettering
- added a nice big show-stopping light fixture over the table
To Do:
- 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)
- eventually refinish the floors
-The Laundry Room (98% 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 for deeply discounted energy efficient ones (and craigslisted the old ones)
- built some custom shelves next to the washer & dryer
- replaced the laminate flooring with cork
- hung some art
- made a clothespin chandelier
- mounted our ironing board on the wall to save space
To Do:
- Possibly add a window treatment (woot! this baby is one of the furthest along, maybe because it’s only 3.5′ wide? haha)
-The Kitchen (85% complete)-
Done:
- painted the brick fireplace
- primed and painted the paneling
- replaced all the old mismatched appliances with energy efficient stainless ones (and craigslisted the old ones)
- knocked out a huge opening to connect the kitchen and dining room (more on that project here and here)
- redid the lighting (added can lights, glass pendants, etc)
- rearranged the cabinets (moved the pantry and the fridge, added a peninsula, etc)
- primed and painted the cabinets (and added new hardware)
- sold our old granite on craigslist and got new white Corian counters
- tiled the backsplash (all the way to the ceiling on one wall)
- added open shelves
- built a microwave cabinet with ventilation to hide it
- hung a new range hood found on craigslist and built a range hood cover
- replaced the old laminate with dark cork flooring
- got stools for the peninsula
- brought in a rug to define the sitting area by the fireplace
- made a fun fabric window shade for over the sink
To Do:
- add something to the back of the peninsula (trim, etc) to finish it off
- possibly add a message board to the side of the pantry? (no chalk since we walk through there and don’t want dust on our clothes if we brush against it)
- 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 another go)
- 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/Big Girl Room (75% complete)-
Done:
- finally cleared out all the clutter thanks to a yard sale, a charity book project auction, and some good old fashioned Goodwill donations
- painted the walls
- made and hung curtains
- got a rug
- brought in a kid-sized table and two chairs for coloring & tea parties (we painted the backs of them red)
- got a secondhand dresser with nine drawers for some pretty awesome storage
- switched out the old ceiling fan for a pendant light
- made a frame collage full of meaningful Clara-objects
- hung three big birdcages on the wall to make an off-centered window feel more balanced
- got all the storage out of the closet so Clara can use it
- got a mattress pad & new sheets for the daybed & added more personalized art & toy baskets (more on that here)
To Do:
- paint the ceiling
- add crown molding
- paint or refinish the dresser
- refinish the floors down the line
-Nursery (90% complete)-
Done:
- painted the walls
- hung curtains
- moved in all of her existing furniture
- hung art and added baskets/toys
- 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 & play fridge for Clara
- redid the closet by stamping the walls and sewing a beanbag to create a little reading nook
To Do:
- hang more art on some of the bare walls
- add crown molding
- eventually refinish the floors
- we’re sure things will completely evolve in here if a future baby ends up using it as their nursery and Clara moves into her big girl room (but nope, I’m not pregnant)
-The Sunroom (60% complete)-
Done:
- spray painted the old slider handles & knobs in an oil rubbed bronze finish (update: they’re still holding up great!)
- painted the walls and the odd unbalanced box of brick
- furnished most of the room using what we had
- hung some art on the walls to make it feel more home-y
- brought in a bookcase for some functional storage
To Do:
- furnish a few still-bare corners
- add some window treatments?
- eventually replace the flooring (the old beige tiles just aren’t our favorite)
-Our Bedroom (80% 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 (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 some curtains
- rearranged the furniture so the room finally made sense (only took us two years…)
- made an upholstered headboard
- finally brought in furniture for the bare wall across from the bed (still haven’t hooked up the TV though…)
To Do:
- possibly convert the window that looks out onto the deck into a french door someday?
- 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)
- eventually 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 (and craigslisted the old one)
- replaced the boob light with a glass pendant (and centered it on the window and door)
- replaced the dated tree border tile with white frosted 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 wall tile so it’s bright white (or add beadboard over it?)
-The Guest Bedroom (70% complete)-
Done:
- primed and painted the walls (we use a primer when we’re going light to dark or dark to light with walls)
- furnished it (mostly with leftover stuff from other rooms)
- hung curtains and a mirror
To Do:
- hang art on those bare walls
- add crown molding
- paint the round mirror so it pops more (or replace it with something larger since it’s a little small)
- replace some of the older just-using-what-we-have furnishings (like our scratched six year old Ikea dresser that has seen better days)
- eventually refinish the floors
-The Guest Bathroom (10% 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 and replaced the mirror over the sink
- replaced the light fixture
To Do:
- paint the walls
- 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
- hang more art on all the bare walls
-The Basement Workshop (85% complete)-
Done:
- cleaned the giant mess that had taken over by donating to Goodwill and the use of a Bagster
- organized all of the tools on pegboards and all of the paint on a built in cabinet
- framed out and painted all of the pegboards
- organized all of the screws and nails in jars that sit on a shelving system for easy access
- created some sawdust-proof art and a functional shelf over the main workspace counter
To Do:
- paint the back door that leads to the basement
- stain the floors and the wood counters?
-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 (80% 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
- failed our first inspection
- framed out the deck
- started adding deck boards
- completed the deck boards & the railing/steps
- furnished the deck (by adding a large dining table, chairs, etc)
- added a brand new french door to lead out there (the old door was rotten and broken)
To Do:
- stain/seal the deck (at which point we’ll finally be “done” with the build, and will share a very belated budget breakdown)
- swag some big bulb string lights over the deck
- hide the utility box with paint or by building it out with a little cabinet
- add greenery in the form of some plantings around the deck to screen the side of the steps and the AC unit
-The Patio (85% 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 (and added a rain barrel to save water)
To Do:
- continue to furnish the patio (other than two adirondack chairs, it’s all just old furniture that the last owners left behind)
- possibly add some lighting (string lights around fence or from trees?)
-The Backyard (90% complete)-
Done:
- built a compost bin
- cleared out a bunch of crazy overgrown beds so we can actually have more grass for dog/kid playing
- removed all the monkey grass that encroached on the charming brick paths
- transplanted a bunch of oddly placed bushes so they made more sense
- reseeded the grass
To Do:
- remove the ivy growing up/chocking some of the large trees
- 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 (we’ve been looking for a sunny spot for them, which is tough since most of our lot is shaded)
- build Clara a swingset? (there’s a public playground nearby so we’re not sure about one at home too)
In summary, it’s amazing to look back at all the done bullets and reminisce… but we still have a lot on the ol’ to-do list as usual! Thankfully we’ve learned to just try to 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 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). And we jump around from room to room just to stay excited and to avoid feeling too forced into doing something that we might not be ready to deal with yet.
We 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. 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.
As of this very moment, we’re thinking that we’d love to tackle these guys next:
- adding crown molding to the three bedrooms without it
- boxing in the porch columns
- redoing the carport
- renovating the untouched guest bathroom
So those are “on deck” when it comes to our to-do list. But enough about us, how do you make your house to-do lists? Do you keep them on your phone? On post-its? On a big online document? Handwritten in a notebook? How do you decide what to tackle next? Is there any method at all to your madness?
Lindsay says
Wow! It’s amazing how much you guys have accomplished in just over 2 years! I moved into my condo a few months before you all moved and I am no where near where I should be. I’m going to blame it on planning a wedding in there, but I think I’m not nearly as motivated! I can’t wait to see what you all do next!
kellie says
Can only say one word….W O W!
Paige @ Little Nostalgia says
You guys have really gotten a lot done! It’s always fun to have big recap posts like this so we can see it all at once.
As for our list-keeping strategy, my husband and I do it differently. He likes Evernote, which is fine, but I like to write things on paper. I know it’s more convenient to just delete something on the computer instead of scribbling out or re-writing, but I like paper! I won’t switch!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, there’s nothing like dragging a line across a piece of paper. I’m addicted to crossing things off!
xo
s
Megan @ Monroe Makeshift says
My system: Whatever annoys me the most gets done first. Ha! I’ve been living in my house for 4 years and there’s still a dimmer switch that need to be changed out in the bedroom, a doorbell that’s too cracked to use, and I’m missing a threshold into my bathroom. But when I sit on the couch at night I see my cluttered office, dining room that desperately needs finishing touches, and a paint color in the living room that’s still not quite right even after 4 tries. So those things will get done first.
Kerry H says
Love the list – it’s so great to have a record of everything you’ve accomplished!
I’m a big fan of the idea of repainting the kitchen – I think a darker color could really make all the white pop and make it look more finished. Just my opinion but I got really excited when I saw that on the kitchen list as a possibility!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahh, that gets me all excited. John’s going to kill you. Hahah!
xo
s
Rachel says
You have really come along way! As a new reader it was fun to see really how much you have changed. Great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Rachel!
xo
s
TJ says
Sorry I haven’t read every comment, so I’m not sure if this has already been suggested, but for the pantry message board, what about having kraft paper hanging from a roll that you can pull down and write messages on and then tear off when you are done?
I have seen it done in a cafe as the daily menu and it looked awesome, very rustic and practical, plus Clara could draw on it and no chalk all over your black blazer ;o)
I can’t find a picture that gives it justice, but kind of like this http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JTPLvb-I3NE/TjVhRKTcskI/AAAAAAAACl8/1VXpKSeIgLo/s1600/oneshot2.jpg
Hope this helps xx
YoungHouseLove says
Really cute!
xo
s
Meg says
Is there a way you can search your archives to figure out how many times you’ve written the phrase “Nope, I’m not pregnant”. It’s probably QUITE a high number! Hahaha
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I bet it’s right up there with “high and wide” and “ceramic animals” – haha! I think if you put it into our sidebar search box it should bring up all the results!
xo
s
Lindsay says
Sherry, I saw these earrings this morning on Zulily and thought of you and your love of bees, so I had to share! http://www.zulily.com/p/matte-gold-queen-bee-earrings-43973-2530655.html?pos=10&e=1&
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous! I love them.
xo
s
Christine says
You guys updated in August too, don’t be too hard on yourselves :)
https://www.younghouselove.com/2012/08/listy-mclisterson-updated-3/
Love seeing the vision you have, can’t wait to see it all come together!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, August of last year makes it six months since an update! Whew! Still overdue, but not as bad. Haha!
xo
s
CohoesMom5 says
Our list is only in our heads. Could this be why it seems like nothing ever gets done? Maybe I need to start a list because I know we have done a bunch of things since we bought the house 2 years ago. And we have a bunch more to do.
I was surprised (and happy) to see that you no longer list refinishing the dresser in the master bedroom. It looks nicely balanced with the stools at the end of the bed.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we love it just as it is now that the room came together around it. Haha!
xo
s
hjc says
I don’t have a list and I don’t get much done – I think there might be a connection? Anyway, amazing, fantastic, awesome job – your house is beautiful! And when I read about the side lot, my brain said “weed-and-fear-fest” which made me laugh. That would be my yard!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah!
xo
s
mary @ B&G JOURNALS says
this post must have been a doozy to put together, but its fun and so very impressive to see all that you’ve accomplished room-by-room and how far your home has come. i am LOVING clara’s new big girls room, its just too sweet.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Mary! It’s definitely one of those takes-weeks posts (especially since I added links to each project mentioned this time) but it’s so nice to have to look back on! Each of these list posts are like a time capsule and I love seeing how far we’ve come!
xo
s
Jessi Alia says
I love how your house is coming along! Just wondering (for fun)if you ever get offers to buy it?
YoungHouseLove says
Never! Any takers? Haha!
xo
s
Lilly says
So. many. lists…my heart explodes! My husband calls me “lists on lists on lists,” and I love the way you’ve tracked your progress so you can focus on success as much as what there is to do next! I am hoping to switch my iron trellis porch beam for a boxy wood one this spring, so I am really looking forward to seeing that tutorial!
Lilly
pancakesandbeetjuice.com
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! Lists on lists on lists is hilarious!
xo
s
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
First of all, I am glad that I am not the only one who names things like Listy McListerson. We call our house Housey McHouserson, my husbands side that I snuggle into Nookie McNookerson….so I am totally on board with your naming! And I love reading through these lists. They are very inspiring. I might just try one myself!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo
s
heather says
I love that you keep to-do and to-done lists of everything in the house. It’s a great way to track your accomplishments. We don’t really keep lists, at least written down on paper (maybe in our heads) but it might be fun to start. Once in a while I’ll post one of my brain dumps on the blog. At this point Andy just let’s me know what’s coming up next and I say “okay”. Once we get more towards the decorating side of things I might make more of a list of everything to do! Right now in the addition all we have left is painting, trimming and flooring. Hard to believe!
Though it starts all over this spring. Guess who’s planning on either a.) siding the entire house including addition or b.) gutting the interior of the original house so we can install the kitchen we got.
Looks like B might be winning out. Another gut job!
(BTW – the sheetrocking and priming is done for the addition, if you want to pop on over to the blog and look. It’s hard to get good photos of right now but in person it’s like BAZOW.)
YoungHouseLove says
Wow, that’s amazing Heather! Congrats on all the hard work! It’s so much fun to follow!
xo
s
heather says
Thanks. I need to get more detailed posts though on how we do things, so I need to make a list of details I want to break down for other people (like wrapping the beams in plastic – you would believe how many sites there are about painting beams, but how few there are about keeping them natural). Andy’s also going to each me how to install some electric stuff “so you can blog about it.” haha. Fun!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah! Have fun Heather!
xo
s
Crystal @ 29 Rue House says
Hi! I LOVE a list but I’ve kind of given up on my big, long dream ones in favor of just my short-term lists – for projects that I can actually see on the horizon. I still know those big things I want to do but I was finding that I never referred to the list so it seemed like a waste of time. Plus I change my mind all the time! :)
Beth says
Just a quick btdt on the swingset idea. Don’t do it! lol. They take up a lot of room, and our experience found that while our kids loved to go to a playground, after the novelty wore off of the one at home, they almost never used it. Granted, mine were 7 and 4 when we got ours, but for the money we could have gone to all of the playgrounds in the state! It depends on the kid, and you know yours best, but especially if they are social kids, playing on the backyard swingset by yourself is not as much fun as going to the park. But they are great if you have lots of other kids over all of the time!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tips Beth!
xo
s
Rochelle says
I highly recommend the swing set/outdoor play toy! We got ours when baby #2 was born. It was so nice to have a park in our backyard on the days when we didn’t feel like packing up the baby and heading out. Now that they are almost 2 and 4 they have tons of fun outside and sometimes I can get a little yard work done :)
YoungHouseLove says
Really smart!
xo
s
Jeanna Sanchez says
Hey Guys, I wanted to ask where you got the pouf that is in Clara’s room? I have been eyeing these for awhile and yours looks like the right size, thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s from joss & main a while back. They tend to come up for sale a lot over there, so hold out for a good price (they seem to go up and down).
xo
s
Stephanie says
Thanks for sharing your to-do list! It’s fun to see what types of things your are still wanting/thinking about doing. I like to keep a handwritten perpetual to-do/to buy list in the bag of my blog journal. The list maker in me loves to cross things off and it’s fun to go back and see if priorities have changed and what new ideas have replaced them.
Christine says
Even if you stopped right now, your house has it going on! Enjoy, enjoy!
Sarah says
I’m so intrigued by a new color for the kitchen! I bet it would look like a totally difference space in a darker/moodier color! That Sesame color is great in the laundry room though. :)
Bonnie says
Wow! You guys have done so much! When I see pictures of your house, I’d never think any of it is less than 100% done. You guys do a great job at not making rooms look less than finished.
I keep my house to-do list on my phone. My husband and I recently started using one of those apps where both people can add to lists, calendars, etc. I want to put my house to-do list on there, but I’m afraid he’ll think it’s his honey-do list. Plus, I try to reveal my grand plans a little at a time so I don’t overwhelm him. ;)
Joan says
Just reading your list of all the finished projects inspires me to keep moving on my four page To Do List!! My last favorite thing I did was to convert my electric fountain (that never got plugged in) to solar with a new pump!
Mary says
I love reading your blog. It is the first thing I look at each morning. This was a great post. I LOVE to make lists so it was right up my ally. My question is – what is your plan when you finish this to do list? Sell and move to another fixer upper?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re obsessed with showing older beat up homes some love, so we’re definitely open to getting a new house or even going in on a rental or beach property with John’s family (his dad has owned rentals for decades and that has always been a “someday” goal for us!).
xo
s
Wrenaria says
Ohhh how fun would having a beach property to fix up be? Love that potential plan!
YoungHouseLove says
Someday we hope to make that a reality. Not this year or anything, but I think it’s a good ten year plan, don’t you? Hahah!
xo
s
Andrea says
This was my question too! I’m really curious about how you see your careers evolving. I specifically say career, because obviously you guys are much bigger than just the blog.
Bonnie says
Wow, you guys have done so much work. I’d never guess that any of it was less than 100% finished. It’s all so beautiful. I love that color on your guest room walls! Can I just move in there? ;)
I use a list app on my phone to keep all of my to-do lists. My husband and I just started using one of those apps that lets you share lists, calendars, etc. I want to put our house to-do list on there but I’m afraid he’ll think it’s his honey-do list. Plus, I like to reveal my grand plans a little at a time so I don’t overwhelm him.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Bonnie! Yes, come live in our guest room!
xo
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MissPinkKate says
Random question: have you ever thought about replacing the tub in the master bathroom? I don’t even own a house (NYC renter), but I’ve watched too many HGTV remodels and now I’m OBSESSED with someday having a deep soaking tub…
YoungHouseLove says
Someday I will have a deep soaking tub!! I never really thought I even wanted one until I took a bath in one at one of the tour hotels where we stayed. I was in love! So someday, even if it’s in our retirement home in forty years, I’ll have a deep soaking tub! Haha!
xo
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Karen says
Looking good so far! Question for you – you mentioned putting beadboard over the tile in your bathroom…I love this idea to update our 60s ranch bathrooms! Have you researched it at all? I’m totally intrigued because the idea of demo’ing all of that tile freaks me out!
YoungHouseLove says
We haven’t researched it yet but it has been done really brilliantly! Maybe try pinterest or google for a link?
xo
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Maddy says
Wow! You better be giving each other high fives with all that you got accomplished. Would you ever switch out the kitchen cabinet pulls? I keep seeing those almost canopy looking (kinda like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/t/202241366?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051&superSkuId=202784242&N=5yc1vZbrh2Z4tg&R=202241366#.USzqrDekkpY) that think of you guys. Just wondering!
YoungHouseLove says
Katie has those and they’re so sweet! We love our hardware (it feels sort of industrial to us which we love with the stainless appliances). Cup-hooks feel more country to us (John actually doesn’t love them but I think they’re gorgeous- especially in Katie’s fancy marble kitchen!) Heck, even John loved them there! Ha.
xo
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Ali Miller says
I would like to nominate your guest bedroom round mirror for a Pinterest Challenge-esque/YHL Book-esque (the yellow branch mirror) makeover! Rather than replacing, you could do something neat to “extend” its size, such as adding spray painted branches.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, I’d love to use that in there but it’s even tinier! We tried holding it up and the fact that the mirror part is so small (like the size of a plate) makes it read really dwarfed, even if we extended the branches somehow. But I want to find a home for him somewhere!
xo
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Wrenaria says
You guys have come such a long way! Your house is really coming together beautifully. I want to come live in your guest room. It and your master are my favorites. <3
As for me, I keep an ongoing house list in a Google doc so I can pull it up on my smartphone whenever I need to (ie to check measurements to see if something is the right size, etc). It's not always as up to date as what's in my head though. ;)
Tara says
Hey Petersiks,
I was wondering, is this the house you are planning to raise Clara in or are you going to sell and buy in a few years? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We go back and forth about what will happen, so we’ve decided since we had no idea five years ago that we would be here, we’ll just stay open to all possibilities and see how it goes! We’re obsessed with showing older beat up homes some love, so we’re definitely open to getting a new house or even going in on a rental or beach property with John’s family (his dad has owned rentals for decades and that has always been a “someday” goal for us!).
xo
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haverwench says
Why not put the vegetable/herb garden beds in the side yard instead? It looks like it gets plenty of sun.
YoungHouseLove says
Weirdly enough the side yard is super wooded most of the time, so any sun spots that you see move by the hour. Maybe someday if I’m really brave I’ll sit out there all day and watch the sun patterns and find the perfect spot!
xo
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heather says
It might be a good spot for shade loving veggies like greens/broccoli, etc. which bolt really fast in sun and hot weather. We actually are doing row covers this year to help keep ours from bolting since most of our garden (and yard) is direct sun. There are lots of veggies/herbs that would love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Heather!
xo
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Sarah says
Phew, I’m totally exhausted already! Keep up the good work guys, your drive and your vision is epic.
Something I’ve always wondered, what do you do when the house is “100% done”? (is it new house time at that point?) ;-)
Hugs from Scotland xx
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I think we know something’s done when we’re sitting on our hands and going stir crazy! That happened in our first house. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves! Haha!
xo
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E.D. says
If your front yard gets more sun, you can make some really beautiful raised garden beds for your vegetables. There are lots of flowers that grow well with veggies, and it can look very nice. There are lots here in our neighborhood (in Charlottesville) since so many backyards have amazing huge old trees, but none in the front. I would never have thought of it, but they look great. Especially ones with some sort of architectural feature, like a trellis pyramid in the center.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks E.D! Almost our entire lot (front included) is shaded during most of the day (we live in an old neighborhood with tons of trees) so I’ll have to really study what spots get sun for more than an hour or two!
xo
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Nina says
Arrgghh …. we had a powder room in the house I grew up in with a full-length mirror facing the toilet. And BONUS! The powder room was right next to the kitchen table! So all sorts of sight and sound childhood trauma associated with it. Sometimes you gotta wonder what possesses people when they make these choices. “Lets put a toilet three feet from the head of the table. That makes sense, right?”
Love your lists!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah!
xo
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Joanna says
Haha I posted my to do list on my blog this morning! It gets me so motivated that it’s out there. I guess you feel the same way. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Amen! Now my head is spinning with all the projects I can’t wait to get into! Poor John. Hahah!
xo
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Elle says
I have a question about how you actually get things done. I have a 3-month-old and a 100-year-old house, both of which need attention. How do you get all this done with the bean, especially when she was younger? Does it get easier as she gets older? I’m looking for a little hope here. :)
YoungHouseLove says
We do 99% of all of our projects when she’s napping or asleep for the night. So I’d say our secret is that we save our energy on “work nights” and then we start projects when she’s in bed at 8pm and go until midnight if we have to! Sometimes even later. This whole thing started as a nights-and-weekends passion of ours, so it’s safe to say now that we have a toddler around the house (who would totally grab a hammer or a paint brush if she was around them) we have gone back to those hours! Haha!
xo
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Lori says
I used to have a list hung on the wall of all the things I wanted to accomplish but it kind of freaked me out :) Our next big project is our living room. My husband wasn’t so certain about removing our fireplace and painting the brick, but I showed him what you did and now that’s what we will be doing! Thank you!!!
Heather says
We’re prepping to sell our house right now (one month until we put it on the market!) so we definitely have a master “must do” list along with whatever little projects that happen along the way.
YoungHouseLove says
Good luck Heather!
xo
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Sarah W. says
It’s so cool to see how far you’ve come in the few years that I’ve been reading. Sometimes I actually forget what things used to look like!
I’m curious, and I’m sure you’ve gotten this question before, but do you ever feel pressured to change/update everything in the house (in order to write about it) even if you liked something the way it was when you bought it?
Also, do you see a moment in the future when you say “we’re done” with this particular house? I mean would you feel comfortable saying that you’re done with your renovations and updates and you’re just going to be comfortable in your home for a while? I guess that’s tough because I know for myself that I won’t ever be satisfied with my projects–there’s always something new to do!
No need to answer this now; I’m just throwing it out there for you to consider some time for a Q & A.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we definitely can relate to never feeling done because the to-do list always grows – haha! But it has been that way since before the blog. It’s just our personality to get in there and get going (we’ve always been bad at sitting on our hands). When we’re actually done, I’m sure we’ll get antsy like we did in our first house… and since this is now a job that supports our family we’ll definitely have to find another project (be it a new house for us, a rental home, a vacation home, etc). The good news is that we definitely don’t spend our time and money doing anything in our own home that we don’t genuinely want to do (there aren’t any “just for the sake of the blog” projects since it’s our money and time we’d be wasting). We love working with what we have, so “saving” things when we can instead of scrapping them (like our hall bath’s original tile) are always awesome little coups!
xo
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Criss says
At one point I recall you painting a gray test spot on your siding on the front of the house? Did you decide to keep it white?
YoungHouseLove says
About a year ago we were toying with painting the porch area in the front of the house, but since the entire back of the house (and half of the sides) are white, we didn’t know if doing the front gray would make sense (and painting the whole back and sides is a huuge job). You never know where we’ll end up though!
xo
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Aly says
You guys could take a lesson from your own book and make that sunburst mirror over the guest bed :-) that yellow would look great, it’d make the mirror look bigger and it’d be dirt (stick?) cheap!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that could be fun!
xo
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Charlotte @ Ciburbanity says
I take no credit for this idea… just the execution, but this sunburst mirror from wood shims is SUPER easy and looks really cool!
http://ciburbanity.com/2013/01/30/joy-and-pain-sunburst-mirror-and-rain/
(Oh, and there’s a Rob Base clip so there’s that…)
YoungHouseLove says
So pretty!
xo
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Nora says
I saw online where somone added display cabinets above their cabinets (instead of moulding). They had doors with glass and little lights installed. It looked pretty and the lights highlighted the tile. I dont know if youd have enough things youd want to put in there/display. Theres always the option of a ceramic animal parade around the cabinet tops…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, always another possibility!
xo
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rachael says
I love lists!! Yours makes me feel like I need to get my butt in gear in our house!
What are your plans for above the tv?
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh yes, I still have to attend to that area! Every night on the sofa I start up at it. I don’t know if it’ll be a shelf or a line of smaller frames or what!
xo
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Thais Bessa says
Please please please intall the crown molding next! Our house has 3 rooms without it (what a coincidence!) and a YHL tutorial would be great!!!
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to tackle that soon!
xo
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Charlotte @ Ciburbanity says
I’m 80% sure that’s why I started a blog… the subliminal pressure is enough to get anyone’s butt in gear. I actually love the way you all have organized projects by room… my To Do list is just one ongoing Reminder on my computer.
But man, is there anything better than checking those boxes?!
Congrats, guys!
xo
Charlotte
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Charlotte! It’s true, crossing things off the list feels awesome.
xo
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stacia says
In regards to the swing set, we have a playground down the street, but when kiddo #2 came along, our swingset suddenly became indispensable. Sometimes the only time The big kid and I could get outside was during the little one’s naps. And having a baby swing for the little one was also a great spot to put her when we were doing other things out side. Now that the big kid is almost 5, it’s nice to be able to send him out in the back yard to play on his own (I can see the whole back yard form the kitchen windows). We scored ours for free on craigslist and just had to replace a few rotted wood parts, sanded it in a few spots, and a fresh coat of weather protectant. So just keep your eye out, something perfect might come along.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Stacia!
xo
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