I’m not going to lie. These days this is pretty much all I want to do (add Burger, Clara, and John in there and I’m even more mooney-eyed and kissy-faced). But to everyone who requested an updated Listy post, I finally got ‘er done. We last shared our to-do list in November, so this check-in is well overdue – and I figured it could make us feel somewhat accomplished just to look at all the stuff we’ve crossed off since then. Picture me making Zoro-esque slicing sound effects with every slash (Teddy thought it was hilarious).
These posts were born when people asked how we organize all the stuff on our to-do list and I explained that we basically have one long run-on document that we update as we go. They said “share it!” and I said “done” and now we post it three or four times a year, just to see where we’re going and to take a second to soak up what we’ve accomplished. The bonus side effect is that looking at all of those not-crossed-off-yet bullets helps to get our brains going so we can plan the next few projects we want to tackle. Plus we get to snap some updated photos. Like a few spring-y outdoor shots like this.
– The Front Yard (20% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove the trees that are dead/decaying/diseased beyond repair (an arborist and a home inspector helped confirm which ones should go)Get all exterior siding and trim repainted (there’s peeling paint, some rot, etc)Dig up all the quickly spreading ground cover(we still have some mulch beds to tackle, but the parts we graded and seeded are groundcover free)Aerate, level, and seed the yard- Make planting beds up front and mulch and plant them
- Transplant some of the crowded/overlapping boxwoods on either side of the portico (around the back or into other planting beds out front?)
- Redo old cracked concrete walkway from the driveway to the front door (add curves and pretty planting beds on both sides)
- Add some nice hard-scaping around the front (we’re so inspired by this house’s landscaping – so we’d love to add some raised stone beds)
- Plant a few green dwarf maples (it’s our favorite thing that we planted one at our previous house – you can see it in this post under the window on the right)
- Add low curved brick borders on either side of the driveway wired with lights (some of the houses nearby have ‘em and we love them)
- Get the driveway paved
– The Portico (30% Complete) –
To Do:
Repaint the portico and sidelights (peeling paint = everywhere)Paint the front door- Arch the portico ceiling (it’s low and one house up the street has an arched ceiling with a gorgeous hanging lantern)
- Paint and panel the front triangle thing once we arch it (or before? the gray triangle just feels flat lately)
- Add a few planters,
a new double-wide door mat, new porch lighting, etc
– The Garage (3% Complete) –
To Do:
Change out the tiny/rusty light over the garage doors(we attempted this, hence the 3% ranking, but we’re not sold, so we might replace them)- Repaint garage doors and add some nice hardware to beef them up
- Add a pergola over the double garage doors with vines creeping over it
- Finish the interior of the garage with drywall to create a workshop on one side and storage around the perimeter (add pegboards, shelving for paint and tools, etc)
- Reuse kitchen cabinets in the garage (they’re dinged up in a bunch of spots around the doors and frames, but would be great for the garage)
- Redo the four steps that lead from the garage to the kitchen (remove old carpeting and paint them? rebuild them completely?)
- Build a box on casters for scrap wood storage in the garage (we need a system to keep it from being all over the place)
- Maybe we should get old lockers and paint them fun colors and remove some of the doors for storage? (love these!)
- Possibly add plumbing for a utility sink out there (we’ve always wanted one in our “workshop”)
– The Foyer (80% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove the doors that block the flow into the kitchen (and the pretty view out the back windows that will someday be french doors)Paint blue trim, doors, and sidelights
Remove wallpaper and repaint the wallsReplace the old foyer lightTurn the extra toy closet in the foyer into a craft and toy closet for ClaraRepaint the foyer ceilingDeal with the grout that haunted my dreams- Replace tile? (only if it’s unsalvageable – there are a few areas where it’s pretty beat up)
- Turn the other foyer closet into a shoe/coat closet with some functional built-ins
– The Stairs (90% Complete) –
Remove the old carpet from the wood stairsPaint blue railing spindles and trimStain the top rails dark to match the runnerPaint the walls and ceilingPaint the stair risersInstall new striped runner with a rug pad under it- Hang some art
- Possibly hang a big chandelier overhead since the ceiling is so lofted above the top of the stairs
– The Half Bathroom (35% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove wallpaperRepaint all blue trim (and door)Upgrade door hardware & hingesPaint wallsNew mirror (something larger and higher – John can only see up to his shoulders now)Paint vanity (use odor blocking primer)Upgrade lightingReplace leaky faucet- Replace vanity & seashell sink (Phase 2) Note: We like to live with kitchens and bathrooms (and give them smaller budget-friendly updates) for at least a year before doing any major gut-jobs or renovations (this helps us get a better feel for how we use the space, and allows us to save our pennies for something thoughtful that we won’t regret (more on that here)
- Replace unsalvageable tile floor? (Phase 2)
- Here’s a shocker since this house is covered with old wallpaper, but we’re actually flirting with adding some cool new wallpaper since there’s no tub/shower in there (grass cloth? something charming like this or this?). Could be fun! Or a tiled accent wall… (Phase 2)
– The Dining Room (10% Complete) –
To Do:
Clean and reseal the wood floors- Upgrade built-ins (remove scrolly tops? build up to ceiling? paint white?)
- Paint all of the blue trim
Remove the wallpaper- Repaint the walls
- Upgrade lighting and curtains
- Add
furniture, a rug (?) and art
– The Living Room (10% Complete) –
To Do:
Clean and re-seal the wood floorsPrime and paint the bright pink wallsTake down the old curtainsWhitewash the brick fireplace wall- Prime and paint the thick woodwork that wraps around the bottom half of the room’s walls (we LOVE it, and think it’ll be gorgeous in white)
- Figure out window treatments (bamboo blinds + curtains? printed roman shades?)
- Add more recessed lights to evenly light the room (there are just three near the fireplace)
- Turn the overhead beams into a coffered ceiling (like this)
- Build/find a nice big built-in-looking cabinet that holds the TV?
- Get gas logs after we save up our bucks (Phase 2)
- Add stacked stone or built-in molding around the fireplace? (Phase 2)
– The Office (20% Complete) –
To Do:
Take down the old curtainsClean and re-seal the wood floorsPaint all the blue trim, baseboard, crown, etc (66 window mullions = yikes)Paint the walls and ceilingAdd a double deskthat J & and I can share somewhere (we’re about halfway through this one, hence half the cross out)- Bring in more storage (bookcase, file cabinet, craft/photography zone, etc)
- Get good desk chairs
- Add curtains/window treatments
- Hang art & create a brainstorm-zone on the walls (bulletin board? chalkboard?)
- Make sure there’s a kid zone for Clara and Teddy (we have a table for them, but we want to update that area)
- Get a big cozy rug
Add two large potted plants (lemon trees? fiddle leaf figs?)
– The Kitchen (35% Complete) –
To Do:
Take down the old curtainsRemove the wallpaperRemove shelves thank flank the sink window and add shelves thereMove the cabinet over the fridge forward so it’s accessibleGet a table for the eat-in areaPaint the wallsUpdate the old kitchen lights(although we’re still on the fence about the pendant near the stove, so that might end up in our bedroom)Paint the pantry door and the door to the garagePrime and paint the woodwork and trimPaint/stain the cabinets(they’re too beat up to keep forever, but they’ll eventually end up in the garage when we do a full kitchen reno)Remove almond microwave over stove and add an inexpensive vent (put microwave in pantry)Update the old almond fridge and dishwasher with affordable fixes (appliance paint and a panel change-out)Organize the pantry (prime & paint it, add shelves & baskets, etc)Update the old counters with concrete & seal them
- Update the old floors with peel & stick tile like our first kitchen (this would be the end of Phase 1)
- Full kitchen reno for Phase 2 (new heated tile floors, new cabinets, new counters, new appliances, backsplash tile, etc)
- Convert giant triple window behind table into french doors leading onto the deck
- Open the wall between the kitchen & living room and add built-ins on either side (sort of like the dining room built-ins in our last house)
- Further pimp the pantry with pull out drawers (and replace the door with frosted glass?)
- Amp up the “command center” area across from the triple windows
- Paint the new kitchen french doors and door to the sunroom (black? charcoal? soft turquoise? white?)
– The Sunroom-Turned-Veranda (80% Complete) –
To Do:
Rip up old carpet and paddingPermanently remove the broken base heaterConvert sunroom to an open covered porch with new columns and no more sliders (many of the sliders are bad and the posts are rotten)Loft the ceilingAdd beadboard to the ceiling and paint it soft blueRedo the electrical to get two fans in therePaint all the trim, window trim, walls, and the french door into the living roomRetile the floor with outdoor-safe stone to upgrade the old concrete floors so they’re less slick, more level, and less stained- Add sconces to the posts around the room
- Build a box to hide the wires that creep down the brick wall near the french door
- Furnish the room with deck-friendly outdoor furniture
- Build a brick outdoor fireplace off of the sunroom after we open it up? Kind of like this, but different…
– Our Bedroom (15% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove old carpeting and install hardwoodsRepaint all of the cream trim and doors white
Add faux wood blinds to all windows for privacy/light blocking
Repaint the walls- Repaint the ceiling (or even plank it or wallpaper it like this for texture?)
- Possibly add built-ins along the entire bed wall so there’s a nook for the bed to tuck into? Or some sort of window seats? More built-in storage would be great.
- Add a ceiling light fixture (there’s nothing in there)
- Bring in art, curtains, etc.
- Add a fireplace (this is a Candice Olson inspired pipe dream)
– Our Bedroom Sink Nook (50% Complete) –
Rip up the carpet in sink area (we didn’t put hardwoods there because we eventually want to tile it)Replace the mirror over the sink for something biggerPaint the walls and the trim and the ceilingStencil and seal the subfloor (to tide us over until Phase 2)Add some simple shelves to the empty side of the vanity for balanceStain/paint the vanity and add new hardware- Phase 2 (a full reno where we knock down a wall and combine the bathroom with this sink nook area)
– Our Bathroom (30% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove the glass shower doorBring privacy to the window with some blinds
Remove the wallpaperPaint the walls and trim and ceiling- Replace the bathroom mirror & upgrade the lights
- Completely redo our attached bath down the line for Phase 2 (the fun blue hex floor tile is in rough shape and we want to expand the footprint into the sink nook area so it’s all one space (soaker tub? tiled shower as well? double sink? should be fun!)
– Our Closet (40% Complete) –
To Do:
Repaint all of the cream trimPaint the walls and ceilingRip up the carpet and stencil the subfloorPhase 2 (we’ll either extend the tile from the bathroom or the hardwoods from the bedroom into here, just have to decide if we’re moving the door or not)- New light fixture
- Organize/build out/pimp the entire space (we’re envisioning cabinetry with drawers, shelves, rods at different heights, etc)
-Upstairs Hallway (75% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove old carpeting and install hardwoodsRepaint all of the blue trim and doors glossy whiteGet all new hinges and door knobs (they’re not only bright brass, many of them are rusted/corroded so they can’t just be sprayed)Upgrade to a Nest thermostat (we hear nothing but great things about them, and John is drooling for one)Stain/paint the bannister and postsPaint the walls and ceilingReplace the old hallway lights- Convert hallway linen closet into built-in open shelves or cabinets with shelves over them (sort of like this?)
- Add crown molding
- Maybe add thick wood wainscoting (like we have in the kitchen and living room) to the upstairs hallway to break up the long space?
- Hang art
– Clara’s Room (90% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove old carpeting and install hardwoodsRepaint all of the blue trim and doorsAdd window blinds & curtainsPaint the walls and ceilingMake a canopy wall for Clara’s bed (with lights)Paint the door to her closet bright pinkAdd crown moldingHang art & bring in things like her play kitchen when the crib moves to the nursery- Make her deep sloped ceiling-ed closet into a little playhouse within her room
- Add a ceiling light fixture (boo! there’s nothing in there!)
– Nursery (90% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove old carpeting and install hardwoodsRepaint all of the mauve trim and doorsAdd wood blinds (for light blocking) and hang curtainsFurnish the room (rug, bring in crib, changing area, toy zone, chair for nursing, etc)Make built-ins on either side of the crib (to accommodate a future twin bed lengthwise or full/queen widthwise)Add crown moldingRepaint the walls and ceilingMake a crib skirt and a mobile, hang art, etcPaint the door a fun color like Clara’s (green?) and organize the closet- Add a ceiling light fixture (boo! there’s nothing in there!)
- Finishing touches (line the curtains with blackout fabric, get a changing pad cover, add something on the crib wall, etc)
– The Guest Bedroom (12% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove old carpeting and install hardwoodsRepaint all of the cream trim and doorsOrganize the closet that’s overflowing with gift wrapping supplies, fabric & sewing stuff, crafts, etc.Clear out all the junk in this room since it sort of exploded when we tackled the nursery(we got this done 48 hours before Teddy was born, just in time for Nonna’s arrival)- Paint the walls and ceiling
- Add crown molding
- Add a ceiling light fixture (nope, there’s nothing in there either!)
- Bring in
a bedand a dresser/desk that can accommodate my sewing machine so this room can multi-task (it has the prettiest view/light – I’d love to creep in there and sew on Sunday afternoons)
– The Hall Bathroom (8% Complete) –
To Do:
- Paint
the door andtrim - Paint the walls and ceiling
- Replace the faucets
and mirrorsand lights for a mini-update (Phase 1) - A complete redo is in order (Phase 2) since the old tile is stained/cracked and the tub & fixtures leak. Maybe we’ll do herringbone slate? Marble? Extra long rectangles of tile like this?
– Laundry Nook (20% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove old carpeting and install hardwoodsReplace the washer & dryer with something more energy efficient down the line(the washer died on this, so we tackled this faster than we thought)Lay something under the washer and dryer(we used wood planks that we stained and sealed like we did at our last house to add stability and blend in with the hardwoods)- Completely redo the nook (new doors for noise control, new cabinets/shelving – or more cabs/shelves if we re-use the existing ones)
- Add a swanky tile backsplash and some great art/lighting (I want to make it a fun little surprise jewel box at the end of the hallway)
– Unfinished Storage Room (0% Complete) –
To Do:
- This will serve as an awesomely large storage room for a while (we have no current need for additional finished rooms), but down the line we’d love to finish it – maybe as a movie room / bunk room for older kiddos? This’ll be waaay down the line, but we dream of:
- Adding drywall
- Getting flooring
- Adding lighting
- Possibly enlarging the windows to let in more light
- Building out the closets (so there’s still some storage under the eaves)
- Furnishing the space with built in beds, a TV, a big sectional for lounging, etc – wahoo!
– General Whole House Ideas (7% Complete) –
To Do:
- Slowly upgrade all lights in the house to LEDs to save energy
- Replace all of the gold/wallpapered/off-white switchplates and outlets in the house (we’ve replaced around 50% of them so far)
- Upgrade to nicer frames, drapes, sheets, and curtain rods over time (they’re not cheap, but we’d love to be “grown ups” someday – even if it takes us 10 years or so to get there!)
– The Back Deck (50% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove the giant oak tree that’s practically growing into the housePatch the deck hole after the tree is removedStrip and stain/seal the entire deckReplace any rotten/ warped boards as we go
- Add double wide stairs off the back of the deck that line up with the new french doors that we’ll add off of the kitchen
- Possibly build a pergola for more architecture and shade off of the back of house where the future kitchen french doors will be (square to the sunroom)?
- Build outdoor furniture like a table or lounge chairs for the deck
– The Backyard (15% Complete) –
To Do:
Remove random slate pieces from the backyardAerate or level the yard
Seed the yard in the fallPlant large holly bushes for privacy from the other houses that our wooded lot backs up to- Transplant a few things for a better layout, like the pretty peony bushes in the middle of nowhere (not pictured)
- Reseed again in the spring/fall
- Build a swing set
- Plant an edible garden (not sure what the deer won’t eat, so I’ll have to do some research)
- Redo the old cracked concrete walkway between the garage and the deck
- Add more privacy plantings around the rest of the yard – tiered trees, bushes, and flowers (we plan to save up for these and add more each year)
- Build some raised planters and hardscaping
- Possibly add a patio area somewhere around the deck?
- Make a wooden lean-to in the corner of the backyard with Clara and then plant some vines to grow around it to make a cool little hideaway
- Build an air conditioner cover with wood boards like this
Whenever we share this list people wonder how we choose what to do next or know what order to tackle stuff in. We just do whatever sounds fun and whatever works with our current budget (barring anything that needs to be moved to the top of the list for safety or other extreme-urgency reasons). We jump around a lot, which seems to keep our momentum up, so instead of being so sick of doing small updates to the kitchen for ten weeks in a row we painted/stained the cabinets over the holidays and recently dove back in to update the counters with Ardex. As for what’s next on the list, we’re hoping to:
-
- continue adding storage/function in the freshly painted office
- finish up the nursery
- organize and paint the guest room
- nix the blue trim in the dining room
- get back outside and do some privacy planting as soon as it’s a tiny bit warmer
What does your to-do list look like these days? Is it super long and detailed? All in your head? Just a few “on deck tasks” to keep you from getting overwhelmed? For some weird reason I feel more in control when I write it all down (just to get it out of my head I think) and then John and I can zero in on a few “next projects” and push the rest into the backs of our minds.
Kati @ This Wandering Life says
I still have a pipe dream that you’ll add a balcony for the master bedroom. Swanky swank!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, that would be awesome! If we could get one off the back somehow (for more privacy) I would love that.
xo
s
Kate says
I agree with many other folks–I think the foyer is my favorite! That light! I die!
How are you liking your washer/dryer? We have the same set and I have mixed emotions about it, haha. Sometimes it’s awesome, sometimes I wonder…still trying to figure it out exactly.
YoungHouseLove says
Really happy with them so far! They came at the perfect time since we’re already doing a ton of baby laundry!
xo
s
Martin says
If I were you guys, having any remaining blue molding would’ve driven me completely insane by this point. Kudos for your strong will/A.D.D.! ;)
Corinne says
We just did our kitchen on the cheap and we did our floors using the allure wood look vinyl floors. They are pretty cheap , look great ( they have some texture to them) and they are soft. I would have liked to do tile but it saved us a ton of money. What really sold me was that Bunny Williams said she used it in her NY apartment in the kitchen. I thought if it’s good enough for Bunny, it’s good enough for me! BTW the fact that you are even checking on a to do list this week is amazing. All the best to you and your adorable family
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip Corinne! Will have to look into them!
xo
s
Chris says
Love your grown up comment. I’m going through the same in my home. We’re both over thirty, have lived in this house for 7 years and have our two kids. I’m ready to move out if college and hand-me-down stuff and into our forever stuff….which this year we do seem to be tackling, but by no means at your place.
Plein Jane says
I’m still so impressed with your storage space! We live in a fairly large house, but there still doesn’t seem to be enough storage. It’s great that you have enough room to see what you have.
I had almost forgotten about the Twenty Northern Friends poster; that would look cute in Teddy’s room!
Thanks for this great post while you’re healing/babyfeeding.
Megan Frank says
Thanks for sharing. I had just been thinking how you guys are moving so fast and accomplishing so much that it made me worry that you’d have to sell your house and buy a new one already in order to get more blog material… but clearly you have so many more big dreams to accomplish! So many of your future projects sound really interesting and I am excited to read them down the line! :)
p.s. I think your son’s name is just about the cutest thing ever.
Katherine says
Amazing as always.
We’ve found that deer won’t eat rosemary, which grows nicely as a shrub and doesn’t require much care.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Katherine!
xo
s
Sonia says
I love what you guys do. So inspirational. I was wondering other than cost do you factor in environment/green/energy efficient/low-toxicity sort of considerations. It would be nice if you can touch on those in your explanation of what you do if you do consider them.
Thanks.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we love working those things in, in fact we have a whole eco/green category on our projects page. We’ve tackled everything from rain barrels and cloth diapers to compost bins and Energy Star appliances. That’s also why things like LED bulbs throughout the house appeal to us!
xo
s
Jess says
I haven’t seen you mention a rain barrel or compost bins for your current house. Is that not something you’ve tackled yet? Any plans on doing that here?
YoungHouseLove says
We don’t actually have gutters here (just one along the back deck, but we wouldn’t want a barrel on the deck) so we’d love to add gutters and then get a rain barrel (and maybe some rain chains) going on! As for compost, we have a little informal compost heap but we’d love to make a more formal bin and post about it sometime! Maybe now that it’s warmer it’s a spring project :)
xo
s
Tammy says
I’m exhausted just reading this and here I thought you were a lot more complete than you apparently are! Colour me impressed and ready for a nap.
Jessica says
Have you seen Ashli at Mini Manor’s bedroom fireplace? It’s lovely! http://www.maillardvillemanor.com/2012/05/fireplace-how-to.html
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous!
xo
s
Addie says
Hold the phone…
“I’d love to creep in there TO SEW”?!
Who are you, and what have you done with Sherry?
:)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahaha!
xo
s
Carrie K says
We originally had two different changing pad covers and after our newborn daughter thoughtfully peed on both of them in consecutive diaper changes, I washed the covers and gifted them to a friend. The white changing pad we have wipes down easily and works with our nursery’s color scheme. AND less laundry! :)
fulori says
1) always appreciate the list updates! even if i then feel like a slacker. LOL
2) LOVE the YHL-style “pin it” icons on each picture. LOVE
3) continue enjoying that adorable baby! (and posting pictures, of course)
:)
Amy says
Thank you for doing this post! Very excited to see the plans for the DIY aspect of the blog!
Also, didn’t you mention something about pitching another line to Target two weeks ago? Any updates?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re still in the process of finalizing things and going back and forth on details, but will let you guys know as soon as something’s official!
xo
s
Angela says
My husband came across my room-by-room list in a binder I keep and looked at me incredulously and said, “What IS this???” Haha! ????
I think I need to step it up and include pictures of each room–I think it will help me to look at the room a bit more objectively and come up with ideas that will really work. Any advice/insight on how you decide on ideas and where most of your ideas come from?
YoungHouseLove says
I have some binders of tear sheets, some Pinterest boards, and a bunch of things we have seen on TV or in person at a place like a hotel (so we might take a photo of those to try and remember them). It’s kind of organized chaos, but it’s weird how if we write something on the list we can usually remember that there’s a correlating image if there is one, so I just go through a few folders and usually can find it.
xo
s
Katie says
whew! With the help of your list + pinterest, you just inspired me to create a full list of dreams for our house – can’t wait!
Amy says
…and congrats on your new addition :)
Morgan says
I can’t wait until you tackle the coffered ceiling in your living room! We have grand plans to do that to our living room ceiling as well down the road and I’m sure you’ll come up with some tips and tricks to share.
Anita says
Congrats on your newest addition to the fam! This list simultaneously intimidates and inspires me, and as a professional number cruncher, you guys have to ease up on the percentages! Just having such a detailed list should up the percentage completed by 10% at least! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha!
xo
s
Toni From says
Next on our house to do list is hiring someone to paint our entryway (it’s a 25 foot wall there and I am not climbing scaffolding. ) Repaint rest of main areas of house, and continue to work in the yard.
Your house is coming along beautifully and your newest addition is so gorgeous!
Laura B. says
I love your home & all the choices you’ve made! We’re redoing our outdoor patio–where do you anticipate buying patio furniture? Do you have any mood boards for it? I’m not having luck finding unique outdoor furniture. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to build something for the patio (like a table or a sectional). There are some great tutorials on sites like Pinterest and Knock Off Wood. Will keep you posted!
xo
s
barb says
Hello and congrats on your newest addition, Teddy! I have followed your blog for quite some time – namely the deck Jon built :) I’m probably not considered your “key” demographics as I’m on the other side of 45 but love all DIY so enjoy your blog tremendously. I noticed your garage doors and the list you included to fix them up. We actually own and operate an overhead door company in Texas and would gladly send you some hardware to create a look more inline with the style of your home, along with instructions on install. We do custom painting of doors as well and would have no problems answering any questions you may have. We’ve been in business for 43yrs so any questions – we can generally answer! Consider our offering as a baby gift :)
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Barb! We don’t accept freebies, but you’re so kind to offer. We can’t wait to tackle those doors and share the pics sometime!
xo
s
Amy says
Spend all the time you can with the baby boy! We will be here when you get back. Soak up these moments they are the sweet spots of life!
Alexis says
Are you guys updating the percentages each time you make a list or are you just picking a percentage? If the items have bullet points and the percentage of items crossed off doesn’t match what you say is actually complete its really confusing. For example, master closet says 40% complete but 3 out of 6 are crossed off which would be 50%. The Upstairs hallway says 75% complete but 7 out of 11 is not 75%. The upstairs storage area section is correct and not confusing, thats an easy one! It would be easier to read next time if you maybe numbered the items or updated the percentages so they match up. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We’re just guessing at the percentages (they’re admittedly very rough, but we do update them each time). The reason each bullet is not the same amount (ex: 5 out of 10 does not = 50%) is because some are much bigger/harder bullets, so in our head a bullet that says we still have to add a light fixture or hang art might not be nearly as large of an outstanding percentage in our heads as a bullet that says “retile the room” which is a giant job. Hope that makes sense!
xo
s
alexis says
Maybe since most of the rooms have lots of little stuff done you should do a graph showing what big jobs are remaining and their estimated percentage. That might be a pain by room but you could do it by phases, show what percentage of phase 1 is complete and so on.
I know when I make lists it helps to see that even if I have 8 things on my list but they are all free or only take a little extra time I’m more motivated to go and knock those things out first.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that would be highly involved, but I’d love to do that someday!
xo
s
Liza says
I love how both of you are completely insync with the home renos. Truly a match made in heaven ; )
Alexa says
This makes me just dread looking at our to-do list! Once you get into the swing of things with Teddy as part of the family, I would love to hear how you manage home projects with a baby (as well as a little girl!) We have a tiny one and have found our home projects almost completely on hold since her arrival 7 months ago. If you are willing to share, I’ll be first in line to read your tell-all!
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to share how that works with a newborn in the mix!
xo
s
thedogsma says
I’m with you on the light by the stove–it’s an attractive fixture in its own right, but I never thought it worked there. If you decide to change it, I have a suggestion. Find one (I know, you have SO much free time!) that has an element in common with each of your other lights–doesn’t have to be the same element–could be color, shape, texture, metal finish, whatever. That way it will look related without having to match.
Feels weird to offer you guys design advice. *blushes*
Here’s hoping the baby sleeps tonight.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Thedogsma!
xo
s
Ashli @ Skunk and Clover says
Congratulations on Teddy Von Tedderstein! And I absolutely love how your house is coming along! I’ll admit it, I’m pretty jealous of that outdoor/patio/deck area, especially moving into spring!
Treana H says
LOVE LISTS! And babies! There is so much to love in this post. I just posted about how I keep track of life and house and wedding projects. I like using pretty paper stuff and my blog.
http://treanastransitions.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/capitalizing-on-your-time/
Have you guys ever heard of Wunderlist? It seems like it would be an app right up John’s alley. Plus, for things like a grocery list, you can share the list with the hubs/wife.
ENJOY BABY SNUGGLES.
:),
Treans
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds cool!
xo
s
Neyir says
Thanks for taking the time to post, Teddy is so lovely, you all look so wonderfully happy! I took a quick look through the comments and don’t think anyone asked – what is the fab building toy on the top of Clara’s table in her room?
YoungHouseLove says
Those are Duplo blocks. Clara loves them (and is just moving into a lego phase too – since John has all of them from childhood for her to play with).
xo
s
Kaitie says
My boyfriend and I are moving to a new place this weekend (holy crap. I definitely don’t feel like a grown up, but we are buying our first piece of grown-up furniture together: a dark sivik grey Karlstad. :D
Sandi says
We have the trafficmaster vinyl groutable peel and stick tiles in our kitchen and love them. They came with the house and we absolutely thought we wouldn’t like them but they are warm and look real (the grout helps) Just thought I’d mention it for when you do something to your kitchen floor.
Can’t wait to see what you do next.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Sandi!
xo
s
Betsy says
Congrats on your newest little one! Love the his name!
I need a list like this for our house. I have a huge whiteboard of to-do list for the house, but it’s kept in the guest room, not in plain sight. I need a office space of my own, stat.
I’ll never understand no paved driveways in Richmond. I lived there for thirteen years, in a west end neighborhood and everyone had different driveways. Gravel, concrete, black top and dirt. Here in Atlanta, everyone has a driveway unless you live out in the country.
Betsy
Heather {A Fire Pole in the Dining Room} says
You inspired us to make our own master list: http://afirepoleinthediningroom.com/2014/02/27/taking-stock-updates-to-the-grand-plan/
It’s simultaneously overwhelming (to look at what we need to do) and rewarding (to see how far we’ve come). It helps to see that even though you’ve touched a lot of your spaces, there are some that are lingering in the low percentiles.
K00kyKelly says
If you’re planning to finish that room at the end of the hall it might make sense to rotate the laundry room 90 degrees when you do that and have it be off the side of the hallway that would then open into the bonus room.
YoungHouseLove says
That could be cool! Will have to sketch it out when we get there!
xo
s
Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt says
I just love reading your to-do list posts! It inspired me to add one to our Kitchen Reveal although it’s not near as thorough as y’alls. We’ve been trying to go through the house and make a master list and then prioritize it. It can be quite hard but I’m inspired. Thanks for sharing.
Here’s my Kitchen Reveal with a small to-do list: http://lovepastatoolbelt.com/2014/02/kitchen-reveal/
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! Go Emily!
xo
s
Sarah says
Congrats to your whole family! Teddy is such a cutie!
My parents’ house is set up a lot like yours and they have french doors in their kitchen, where you want to add some. My dad built their house and these doors are one of his biggest regrets. They are beautiful and add so much character to the space but they are a pain! They are always in the way. Just something to think about as you plan.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Sarah!
xo
s
Catherine says
Would it even be possible to lose the grey triangle and open that up too? Perhaps with some white wood detailing there that you can see through to check out the vaulted ceiling from the street?
YoungHouseLove says
That would be awesome! The other house near us that did that doesn’t have a triangle anymore (it’s arched from the front too) and it’s gorgeous.
xo
s
Samantha @ Fabulous Fabris says
Wow! You guys have done so much already :) The place is looking great.
Krista says
Sigh. I wish we could move through our list as fast as you guys do. We’ve currently been without a shower for, oh, about five months now. Seriously, we have a 3-foot gaping hole in our bathroom down to the studs covered in drop cloths. Giving the kids a bath is doable, but must be done VERY carefully. We want/need to do a full gut job on it, but we just haven’t got up the courage yet. Anyway, I’m curious if you’ve got any ideas for your kitchen appliances. Think you’ll go for stainless again or something different?
YoungHouseLove says
We have seen some really cool new options (like silver toned but not stainless options, and cool white glass fronted ones instead of older white models) so we’re definitely not sure yet, but we’re open to those options too!
xo
s
Mari says
Hey there! Just curious — why did you decide against using the glider you had in Clara’s nursery in Teddy’s? Did you dislike that style with a baby?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually never had a glider in Clara’s room. We had a little round woven chair that was pretty comfy, but the style felt more midcentury ranch than colonial, so we craigslisted it after we moved here and tried it out in a few rooms without really finding a spot for it. This new chair in Teddy’s room is plush and comfy though, so we’re happy with it so far!
xo
s
Morgan says
there is something SO satisfying about crossing things off a to-do list. I often find myself putting things on a to-do list that I already did, so I can cross it of (..I’m not the only one, right? ..right?)You guys astound me with how much you’ve accomplished!!
Jenna says
It’s too bad you don’t live closer! We have some gas logs we’re wanting to sell!
Jill says
I am not sure if you answered this previously but if you do not mind sharing where the light (star pendent) in the foyer came from?
YoungHouseLove says
That was from a local lighting outlet here in Richmond called The Decorating Outlet but I think they’re on ebay and sometimes on Joss & Main too.
xo
s
katalina says
i am so glad that everything went well with Teddy! I have to admit I was visiting a friend that does not have a computer and checked my email and your site for news…
I learned that some of my light switches in my house have gone bad especially the triple ones that you can switch off the same light from 2 switches.
I can’t remember if you switched your light switches to those toggle flat switches. To me they would look cleaner but I thought I read they do not last that long…
I know it is not an imp question in the scheme of baby snuggling and rest!
YoungHouseLove says
We did use those toggle flat switches. So far they have all held up well and still work nicely. Will report back if they all start failing on us though!
xo
s
Kelly says
1. The work you’ve done on your house so far, while preparing for a baby and being pregnant with daily nauseousness and doing the show house and next book is just AMAZING. Wow.
2. Even putting together this blog post is not something I would have been able to accomplish during the first week of my baby’s birth. So extra Wow on that. It is great that you’re keeping up the blog but really, we will understand if you need a bit of maternity and paternity leave!
3. Teddy is beyond adorable. I love that photo of you two. So sweet.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, thanks so much Kelly!
xo
s
Stacy says
I was feeling so unaccomplished with my new home compared to yours at this stage but looking at your list I guess I’m not doing too badly. It must just seem like you’ve done more than you have since you post about it every day. I have to admit the foyer is my favorite room in your entire home so far. It’s light and airy and the floors look beautiful in pictures. The upstairs hallway now that it’s all painted and has new lighting is also gorgeous. I can’t wait to start painting now that spring has finally arrived in New England!
Stephanie says
Dear Sweet P’s,
I love your lists! I read your blog everyday even though my house is technically “done.” But the thing about houses, and maybe more aptly, the people that inhabit them, is that they are always changing. Every year I still make a list of things I want to do, such as upgrade the curtains/rods or tackle a part of my yard that never seems right. That’s what I get from your blog: I may not like or take/do all of your suggestions, but it is sure inspiring to follow along your journey of family/home ownership. I also get such a feeling of family and love from your blog. Thank you for sharing! It is always a sweet reprieve in my busy day!
xo Stephanie/Des Moines
YoungHouseLove says
You’re so sweet Stephanie. Thanks so much!
xo
s
BethY says
Your little Teddy is adorable! Congrats!
I can’t seem to track down the color of the ceiling in your bathroom. I even scrolled back to check your handy paint chart from just over a month ago. (I can not believe what you have gotten done in that amount of time!) I was going to do a bold turquoise in the kitchen but the lighter color seems so fresh.
Take care!
BethY
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Beth! Forgot to work that into that post, but the color of that bathroom ceiling is Spring Mint by Ben Moore.
xo
s